Variety (August 1949)

pinrcTRES WfJnfKlay, Augu«t 31 . 194, Wanger s ‘Joan Doing Smash Biz Abroad, Helping Of set Domestic Lag Smashing overseas grosses of4^ W'alter Wanger’s “Joan of Arc” are helping the Ingrid Bergman starrer dig itself out of the hole caused by its costly production plus distribu- tion nut. While the RKO release has been doing only moderate do- mestic business, if judged by its negative cost, which exceeded $4,- 000,000, “Joan” is now taking on the appearance of one of the peak foreign earners. Only hurdle which may prevent the spectacle from re-! French supporting ca.st. Plans call covering its heavy nut are the crip-' for daily shipments of Hhn from pling currency restrictions in most ■ Paris to London for the tinting ,, IMPAA May Job With De Rodiemont D €k ft* A • M# Aft«A i ^ To F^ht Southern *6000(13116$’ Bai A Kelly in Paris Hollywood. .4ug. 30, Gene Kelly, and possibly another Hollywood thesp, will be the only Americans in "An American in Paris,” to be filmed in the F'rench capital by Metro next January. Technicolor picture will be pro- duced by Arthur F'reed with a Hollywood, Aug. 30. Film editors at Paramount are working at top speed this week with nine pictures in the clipping process. That’s one-third more than the number handled by that depart- ment at this time last year. foreign countries. In the six overseas spots where the film has already precmied, it has consi.stently racked up hcalthy- to-spectacular grosses. Pic’s draw in foreign countries is no surprise to RKO-ers, since it parlays the Bergman name, an international flavor and an epic particularly ap- pealing to Catholic nations. IriMcating its strong pull in non- Catholic as well as Catholic coun- i tries. “Joan” opened this week at the Century theatre, Sydney, Aus- tralia, with a big take despite mixed reviews. Prospects of a long run on the Aussie Hoyt circuit, showcase are good. Three-month { run at the Pavilion, London, has already been registered, with a gen- eral release over the Odeon circuit at favorable terms in the fall now slated. In Dublin “Joan” did a big two months at the Metropole. In its other three engagements at’Port' au Prince, British Guiana and the Barbados, film played day-and-date In two “A” houses in each situa- tion. Business was strong in each of the Caribbean sectors. RKO is plunging heavily on its Continental ad budget to pave the way for the film’s mass European preem in October. Counting on tremendous earnings, company has ^ booked the film to open simulta-' neously in every big European city west of the Russian line during the month. All major cities in France, Belgium. Spain. F’ortugal. Nether- lands. Scandinavia and Switzerland are blanketed for the October drive. Additionally, company is concentrating on Italy, where some 25 cities and towns will preem the , pic in October. process. 111. Allied to Act On Films Over TV Chicago. .Aug. 30. Striking at a problem, which may meet with oflicial action this fall. Van Nomikas, veepee of Allied Theatres of Illinois, last week said the eontinued release of recent product to television stations "was unfair to the main source of profit to the distributor. ” Comment was occasioned by schedule on video station WGN which has British product teeing-off .Aug. 28. As yet, nothing otTicial has been done, but after Labor Day this item will receive consideration at the first fall meeting of .Allied. Mono’s British Prod. Teeoff Stalled Until Jan., Says S. R. Dunlap Originally due to start in Octo- ber, Monogram’s production in Britain likely won't get underway until the first of the year according to Scott R. Dunlap, executive as- sistant to Mono prez .Steve Broidy. Just returned from a two-month Junket to England, he .said in New York last week that the company’s joint production program with As- sociated British Pictures Corp. had been moved back due to a lack of space in the latter’s Elstree studios. Under an agreement inked long ago with ABPC, Monogram expects to turn out two .Allied .Aitists pic- tures for its ’AO-'.'iO season at Els- tree. Three stories are now being considered with the final decision to be made by Broidy prior to .Jan. 1 w'hen the studio is expected to be available. Casts and directors will also be selected by the com- pany chief. Meanwhile. Dunlap contemplates making two Allied .Artists pix on his own in a 12-month period. At least one of these, he said, will be filmed in Britain.. Scripts for the duo haven’t been decided upon as yet. On the basis of his recent Els- tree inspection tour, the Monogram exec declared that the "well- equipped” plant was htimining at rapacity and added that its modern facilities match most Hollywood lots. .After a one-day stopover In New York for confabs with Broidy. he planed to the Coast Friday '20'. 10 ADDITIONS GIVE METRO 25 PRODUCERS Hollywood, Aug. 30. Ten producers added to the Metro roster in recent months make a total of 2.5 lined up to handle the studio’s program of 40 features for 1949-.50. Newcomers include Armand Dcutsch. Z”. Wayne Griffin, Voldemar \ etlugin, Val Lewton, Frank Taylor. Norman Krasna, Richard Goldstone. Nich- olas Nayfack. Chester Franklin and the producer-writer team of Nor- man Panama and Melvin Frank. Veteran producers on the Metro lot include Joe Pasternak. .Arthur Freed, Jack Cummings. Clarence Brown. Robert .Sisk. Sam Zimbali.st, Sam Marx. William H. Wright. ^ Pandro S. Berman. Carey Wilson, | : Leon Gordon, Edwin Knopf, .Arthur j 'llornblow', Jr.. Sidney Franklin and Gottfried Reinhardt. Rhoden Relents, t Won t Insist On Bid Disclosure Kansas City. .Aug. 30. Revolt against competitive bid- ding recently staged by bigtime circuit operators led by Elmer C. ' Rhoden, head of Fox-Midwest chain, is sputtering out. Rhoden, j who has been insisting that his | circuit will not bid for product : unless a distrib agrees to disclose , the terms of a w'inning bid. has i now relented. Circuit topper is of-; fering bids in a number of situa- tions where he previously refused to buy competitively. , Rhoden’s change in altitude ap-' parently follows a recent huddle i which he had w'ith Charles .Skou- ras. National Theatres head, in Los Angeles. Since no other NT exec took the same stand as Rho-j den, it is believed that he has with- drawn his objections at the urging j of Skoura.s. ! With Rhoden retreating from his ' skirmishes with major disiribs on competitive bidding, it is expected that other big circuits that have objected to an extension of that method of .selling product will al.so revamp their views. .Number of j the larger chains have recently' been peeved because smaller houses have grabbed off choice product which ordinarily would have wound up with the circuit. In ' each instance, the small fry have outbid their larger competitor. ' Rhoden had declared at an ex-' hib meeting here that he would insist on all winning bids being ’ opened for inspection by a losing rival. Disiribs, on their part, have refused his demands on the con- tention that such disclosures would pry the lid off business secrets' which<i^.^e no concern to anyone ^ but the^strib and his customer. For a time, Rhoden refused to | book product sold competitively.! by distribs in a number of his situations. Another Circus Story Hollywood, Aug. 30, Columbia has sent writer Ralph Bettison to Gainesville. Texas, to gather material for “The Gaine.s- ville Story,” built around circus in which all 12,000 of town’s populace takes part annually. This makes tnree circtis pix up- coming, including Cecil B. De Mine’s for Paramount and Burt Lancaster being starred for indie Norma Productions, 0 N.Y. Labs Renew Talks on Contract Reps of the majors’ lab com- panies in the east and lab tech- nicians Local 702 reopened inten- sive bargaining sessions this week for a new pact to cover approxi- mately 2.000 workers. Both sides agreed to remain in virtually con- tinuous session until a settlement is reached. Current talks were paved last week by a meeting of Richard F. Walsh, prez of Local 702 s parent body, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, and proxies of several major companies which operate labs in the east.' It’s understood that agreement on the basics was reached at the latter meet. Local 702 is demanding a cut in working hours. Subsidiary de- mands call for a welfare fund and increased vacation time, A re- fusal by the companies to meet the union’s proposals almost led to a walkout last month but Walsh’s intervention led to resumption of talks. New contract would he retroac- tive to the middle of .June. EL Has Backlog of 15 Pix; 4 New From Rank Hollywood, ,Aug. 30. With the acquisition of four J. Arthur Rank productions for U. S. distribution. Eagle Lion has a , backlog of 1.5 pictures to tide over the current shutdown of produc- tion on the lot. Newly imported films include “The Gay Lady.” “Obsession.” “.Spring in Park Lane” and “The Glass Mountain.” Eleven films previously on the li.st, including five from Rank, are • Against the Wind. ” -.A IMace of One’s . Own.” “Weaker .Sex, ” * “Once Upon a Dream. ” "Lttlcr of Introduction,” “'riapped,” “Port of New York." “Zamba. Fhe Fighting Redhead ” "Down .Mem-' ory Lane” and “The .Story of GI Joe,” a re-release. RKO TO DISTRIBUTE WANGER’S GARBO PIC Hollywood. .Aug. 30. Walter Wanger’s “Lover and Friend." .starring Greta Garbo' and James Ma.son, will be released by RKO. It will be Miss Garbo’s first pic in eight years. Production ' .starts Sept. 1.5-in Italy. - ! Gusseppe Amato, Italian produ- | cer, and Massamo Rizzoli. Italian i indu.strialist, are as.sociated with i Wanger and Eugene F'renke in the production. Budget is .set at .$1,100.- 000. with a third in dollars, two- ' thirds in frozen lire. Wanger, in N. Y.. planes to Rome shortly to Join Mi.ss Garbo, director Max Opuls. Ftenke and production manager Gordon Grif- fith. Film is an adaptation of Honore de Balzac’s novel “Duchess of Longeais.” U-I Speeds Shooting HoII\\\00(1, Aug. 30. I’nivcrsal-International is prop- ping foui- pictures to start within the next four weeks, in addition to the foui' currentl.v facing the lenses, with a number of others slated to gel the gun in November. (’urrent activit.v on that lot con- trasts with the shutdown period last icar. Metro’s 7 Comedies Hollywood. .Aug. 30, Seven comedies will have been turned out by Metro before the end ot the .year. 'I’o dale, onejs com- pleted. four are in work and tw'o will start early in October. Ready for release is "Adam’s Rib.” (’urrently before the cam- eras are “Key to the City ” ‘‘Plea.se Believe Me.” “The Rig Hangover” and “The Yellowvf’ab .Man ” Slated to start in (Vtoher are “Father of the Brule and "'I’he Retormer and the Redhead.” Raibourn^s Return Paul Raiboiirii. Paramount v p. and fiscal expml. planes to .New A(»rk Irom London Fridav i2i after a month’s .^ilay in Britain. Raiboiirn was stiidving the eur- KMicy .>ituation in Biiiain with an eve to using Par s lio/eii pounds accumulated in the pa.vi icai. H’wood Pix Cited As Aid in Teaching History Washington. Aug. 30. Hollywood films, especially ed- ited for classroom use. are proving eflective in teaching history in .schools throughout the nation. Lat- est to be released tor this pur- pose are “The Howards of Vir- ginia, ’ “Wells Fargo.” “Tennes.see Johnson.” “Brigham Young” and j “Drum.s Along the Mohawk. ” Naming of a special commilloe j by the National ('oiincil for the Social .Studies to cooperate with the Motion Picture Assn, of Amer- ica in cutting teaturc pictures for school use, MF’A.A rev<'als. empha- ■ si/cs the importance of Hollywood hims as an educational tool The (’ommitice. headed hv Dr William H. Hartley, of Towson .Slate I'cach- ers (’ollegc, Towson. .Md . is w(»rk- ing closely with the F.diicational Services Department of MPAA and I leaching Film (’u.stodians. distri- niiion atfiliatr, in excerpting pic- luics lor cla.ssroom length. i N. Y. to L. A. Robert Benjamin Jack Benny Irving Berlin Myrt Blum Frank Borzage Steve Broidy Bullets Durgom John Garth 3d Mrs. Henry Ginsberg Burl Ives •John Joseph Sidney Kingsley Ho Roos Herbert P. .Silverberg Michael Todd Michael "Vallon Johnny Weissmuller f Europe to N. Y, Marian Anderson Barney Balaban Sidney Bernstein Jack Bregman ('aroiine Burke Eugene Cohen Morton Downe.v Francois Dupree Jacques Fath (ilenn Ford Sir Cedric Hardwicke Oscar Homolka Sol lliirok Hedy Lamarr Lesli Lear Gerald Mayer (’hailes Miller Mrs. Robert .Montgomerv George Raft Paul Raihurn Claude Rains Maegregor Scott .Murray Silverstone (’ornclia Otis Skinner .Spvros P. Skouras Alida Valli Lawyers Settle With Sorrell, Union on Fees Los Angeles. .Aug. 30. Herb Sorrell and the Confer- ence of Studio Unions made an out-of-court settlement with Frank Pestana and William Esterman. at- torneys. w ho had demanded $24,720 for legal fees. Understood tlie settlement was for $15,000. Conference previously filed a counterclaim of $27,941. declaring the law.vers had withdrawn more than their salaries and expenses from union fund.s. Motion Picture Assn, of Am- - may join with Louis de Roch^!f“‘* in tests in Memphis and Atian?'®''* •the censorship by flueer's -Xost BounSiil” w"”- being kept from the screen n ** Sion as to how the MPAA can k aid in the battle i, expe^' come out of sessions probahi? be held next week bMwe,^,^ i A.s.sociation’s general counsel c. , ney Schreiber, and de Rochemonr' J attorney m this matter jS ’ Samuel Rosenman. ’ '^^‘*** Moral encouragement anri promise of legal cooperation h * already been given the nrod,^* of the semi-documentary on Negro bias by Eric ^ohne “* ,M PA A topper, in reply to ^ from de Rochemont. declared r Iwive persistently fought againi censorship on the .screen l I complete accord with vou that ii"' ■notion pictuwgreat• of TOmmumcatio^ri^enmi,d to i? same rights of freediim of exorl. Sion as press and r.idio .. i you will take legal acllon toprotm i lho.se rights. In this I have 1 structed our attorneys to cooperai* I in any way they can.” Lawyers will explore the aii vantages of the MPAA’s going’ beyond mere cooperation and actually joining in as a party to the action, as it did in Hal Roach" suit against Memphis censor Llovd 1. Binford on “Curley.” Piriur# industry lost in the lower courts and ease is now on appeal in the lennes.see Supreme court. It i.« listed for argument in October Johnston said last week. ••\Ve intend to see it through to the highest court in the land.” No financial arrangement haj been made as yet regarding the cost of the “Curley” action, sim* no bills have been submitted vet and the matter hasn’t ari.sen. How- ever. it is expected that MlM.t memhers will share in the co.st of the local Memphis coun.sel. Edward (’. Raftery, of O’Brien. Dri.scoll. Raller.v & Lawler, who is reppin? the .MPAA from the New York end. is doing so as counsel for United Artists, the “Curley” di.strib. It is expected that some similar ar- rangement might be made in the case of “Lost Boundaries ’ if the MP.AA Joins in. In any ca.se, Rosenman will have complete access to the papers and experience of Raftery and the <C’ontinucd on page 20' L. A. to .N. Y. Edna Best Eddie (’antor .l(•.seph De Blasio Bruce Dodge Ibrahim Ezz-EIJin ('ookie Fairchild -liidy Garland Ray Golden Benny Goodman Edith Head Eunice Healey William Heineman .Sonia Henie Boris Karloff Barrett Kiesling •lill Kralt Walter Lang Charles Le Mai re .loe Losey .loseph Mankiewicz Mary Mason Lon McAllister Ernest McChesney Howard S. Meighan •lohnny Mercer •lohn Monks, Jr. Ken Murray P(‘ter Opp Max Gpuls .Sidney Pink Irene Rich •lane Russell 'I'aft Schrejber Lamar Trotti •loseph A. Walsh Fred Waring •lohn F. Wharton Pal Williams Cobina Wright Herbert I. V'at«'S N. Y. to Europe Rolierl Bu.seh •lack (’onnolly Peter .Scott CONK Henry Morgen