Variety (January 1950)

Wednesday, January 18, 1950 PICTIJIIES IS Ail -indie producer, currently in New York from the Coast on a publicity jaunt for his initial picture, is proving about the worst pos- sible press agent for hlniself. Talk of his eccentric antics in dealing with newspaper and mag people at interviews Vet up by his press staff g preading aro u nd rapidly . So muc h so that if anyone figured he was worth the effort, he’d undoubtedly find some ^arp editorial knives in his backr One of his tricks is arriving for interviews loaded and then getting oh his khees (in public places) in front of the newspaper people in mock respect for their power, Lillian Ross of The New Yorker and Kay gluilivan of Parade mag recently went through this experience and a few mbrc Which made them leave the interviews with assurances they’d neVer write anything good about the guy ho matter what. Com- paratively young; he’s reputedly a self-made millibnaire. ^ ; *'The dutlaw,” which continued to astound RKO last week with its high grosses and holdovers, got: $3,023,000 and played 6,300 engage- ments when United Artists was hahdUng^^^^ UA turned it over to BKb last year, follbwing acquisition of the latter company by Ilbward Hughes; Who made the film as an indie. f Engagements were limited under UA handling since the Jane Russell starrer did hot haye a Production Code Administration seal and held a condemned rating from the Legion of Decency. Both those deficiencies have sihCe been remedied via cuts made in the pic and changes in the 'advertising,' Wheu Warners filmed ‘‘Somewhere in the City” in 1948 it was top- iined by five thespS then under studio contract: Yiveca Lindfbrs, Ed- mond O’Brien,- Darie Clark,, Virgihia Mayo and Gordon MacRae. Si^ then three of them have been lopped off the studio payroll: Now the picture: is about to be released as ‘‘^Backfire,” starring Virginia. Mayo and Gordon MacRae. They are still under contract;. 3 Jax Park Detree • ' Chicago, Jah. 17. of thre e major di s trib utors For the American trade Francoise RoSay will get third billing, below , Joan Fontaine and Joseph Cpttbh iri; the Hal Wallis production, ‘‘Sep*^ tember.” When the plcttire is shown in Europe the French gaTs name will pirecede the title. She is better known pyer there than most.Hpl- : lywpod'.sta^rs.: . TAX « STAIESrJHIT! Washington, .Jan. 17. New York’s Governor Thomas. E. Dewey stiil faVprs having the admissions tax released to the states by the; Federal government —=-but: admits legislatures ought to Canvass the situation, carefully to preverit excessive use of thb bite. Dewey has explained, his posi- tion in a letter to Abram F. Myers, chairman of the committee on Tax- ation and Leg! latioh of Council of Motion picture Organizations. Lat- ter- took Dewey to task in a letter of Jan. 5, after the governor had told his legislature it ought to have the admissions tax Instead of the Federal government. “I recoghize the merit of the point of view you express,” wrote Dewey. - ”1. think'that it would be most advantageous to ptbcure the ! skill, release of the taxes to the states, as X have already indicated, and then consider each year, as niust be. done in each .1 e g is: I a t u i* e, whether they should be used to the fullest extent or whether they are excessive.” Auto Continued from page 3 other distribs. He held no for black-ink operations for any divorced distrib without'the tough- est sort of fight. Par’s toppers , are Viewiug with, concern the failure of theatres ,to turn in grosses compara ble to those of a few years ago. It is the feeling among company e^ecs that the theatres are not playing along With distribution in getting maxi- mum returns for pix. Instead, it is said, pix are being yanked at the first sign of slipping grosses. Backed by Zukpr. Balaban’s glopmy predictions Were backed. by Adolph Zukpr, board chairman, in a Gpmpahiori: talk at ,the meets. Zukor intimated on Philadelphia; Jam 17. A damage suit for $250,000 against the producers and distribu- tors of “The Big Wheel” was filed in y.S. District Cpiirt here (11) by WiUiam A. Hollaiiid, winner of the 1949 Memorial Day race at the Im dianapolis. Speedway; • Holland’s bill Of complaint de- clared the film was based on the actual race. In it, Holland asserted, *‘an actor impersonates himself as yoUr plaintiff and is saved from defeat in the last lap by the hero of the play, pprtrayed by Mickey Rponey, only because of the break- down of the herp’S car.” In actuality^ Hplland averred, bp won the race “through his great endurance and experience and finished far ahead of the field.’^ The pic deceived the pub- lic, damaged his reputation aiid be- littled his prowess, Holland con- tended and Jn addition to money damages he asked the' film be re- strained from further showings. The. suit was filed against United Artists, the distributor, and Popkin, Stiefel, Dempsey Productions, pro^ ducers of the film. Specifically named were Harry M: Popkin, Sam Stiefel and his hrother, Alex G. Stiefel (who runs the Carman the- atre here), Jack Dempsey, former heavyweight, champ, and Rooney, who was a partner in the film’s production as well as the star of the pic. In Chi rose 20% above their bei^t yeav in the first year of Enforce-; ment of the Jackson Park decree, and 25% in^the, second year, which Was last year; Thomas McGpnnell, Jackson Park theatre; attorney; said:-; last'week. McGohneli said that the local mariagers of each major had given' him those figures independeiitiy and that later , he bad coiifirmed them when he had occasion to sub-' poeria the books of the chaihs. One is 20th*Fox, but Mc.Coiinell Vi^ould not name tbe other two, plher than to;'say that they were major cpm^ ■paiiies.- Speaking last Thursday (X2) be- fore the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers;, he point- ed out that the increased business came hot froni the Loop; but from the neighborhood hbiiS;es.:.This, he said; Was’ due, to, the clause in the. diecree Timiting. first-runs ih Chi to two Weeks and eliminating clear- ance-.. V ■•>'- ■■ iVIcConhell cited the increase in nabe biz as part of a general busi- ness trend. Pointing out that even the iarge department stores were moving into the neighborhoods and largi&r audiences as a result. In line with thia trend, he de- ciared, such a movement to the neighborhoods would have come ffeiooner; or: later even without thei Jackson Park decreed He said the decree v^as making the business more alive and competitive and was as a result giying thb public a better product. Heflm’s JOHN F: RYAN named John F, Ryan, former vice-prexy of the American Newspaper Guild’s New York chiapter, lias been named business agent for the eastern Screen Publicists Guild. Ryan was named by ; the newly- elected SPG board to fill the spot recently vacated by Len Gold- smith, who resigned; The appointment is subject to ratilication of the Guild’s mem- bership, which will meet later this monthv Hollywood, Jah. 17. Van Heflin, who recently ankled Metro, drew his first freelance job as ^ star in ”Gost of Living,’’ to be produced by” Horizon Pictures, headed by Sam Spiegel and John Huston, Picture will be made for United Artists release. MeahWhile, Horizon is readying “Reniiiniscences of a Cowboy” for Columbia release, with Spiegel producing and Huston directing. ; to Ask ^hik Aid to Tax 20th^ox Meat in N.Y. Abram *vF' Myers; National Al- lied's genffij^T^^counsel and chair- man of the tax committee of the CbUhcil of Motion Picture Organ- izations,■ will cariT his plea; for ex- hibitor support of COMPO’s anti- tax fight into 20th-Fox’s showman- ship meeting next week. Myers was tapped ak guest speaker at the •meet; along with, N. Y. Times film critic Bosley Growther and Louis Ruppel, editor of Collier’s maga-^ zine; - V . ■ Showmanship conclave, /sched- uled for thb 20t;h homeoffice next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Will be attended by at least 75 ad-piiblicity. representatives of af- filiated and indie circuits from all parts of the country. One of the purposes: of: the huddles, in addi-. tiOn to mapping out campaigns for 20th product, is the discussion pf industry-wide problems, . Which in- cludes the Federal amusement tax. Thus Myers will detail to the dele- gates the' part to be played ^by ek- hibs in fighting for repeal pf the tax; which they In turp are ex- pected to carry back to their in- dividual homeoff ices.: In addition to the circuit reps, 20th is also calling in for the meet its own field exploitation staffers Buenos Aires, Jan. As U. S;' film impUrts continue stymied on the plea of shortage of dollars; exhibitors have to fill their playing .tims in even the most im- portaht firktrun theatres with re- issues or odd pix picked up here and thprc. ^Moanwhile, film fanai turn to open-air: pursuits Or legit for their eritertainment. ,, U. S. distributprs’ hopes that mediation by n^w D.S. Ambassador Stantpn Griffis would succeed in persuading the Argentine govern- ment to grant licenses for imports of new pix, regardless of the dollar shortage,, haye been vain ; Up to how. Ambassador Griffis is afi- ticipatihg further talks with Argen- tine Finance Secretary Ramoii A. C^ereijo; but the latter only iseems disposed to renew an offer of a quota of 200 pix a "year foi* tha U.S. companies/ The distributors would prefer to shutter altogether in' Argentina, rather than accept a quota system. Some bbservers believe that tha Argentirie governmeiit is playing the film negotiations the hard way, hoping to impress the U.S. with the fact that unless dollars ara made avairable through EGA. pur- chases of Argentine produce, na trade, can be done betweeri the twa Countries. According to these pb- servers, the Argentine : statesmen believe that the Holly wood,, pix industry is especially susceptibla to psychologicai treatment of this kind, and in its turn influences tha other industries and eventually tha State Dept. 'The. fact that this sort of thing is likely to prove a boom- erang is lost on the local people; who have puffed themselves into an exaggerated idea of their own importance in the world schCme of things. ADRIAN McCAUHAN NEW AMC PRE9DENT Hollywood, Jan. 17. Presidency of the . Artists Mana- . . .. . . ,, ,gers Guild became a fulltime job to give them ^ opportunity to talk election of Adrian McGal- Map $3,500,000 Fund Jeff Liyingstoh Heads Ad-Pub for U on Plans, are now. set for the film industry to play a big part in Brotherhood Week, which will be held Feb, 19-26. Under sponsor- ship of thC; National Gonference of Christians and Jews, prelimi- nary drive is mapped to raise $3,- 5()0,000 to finance the project. .Ex- hibs are being asked to sign a min- imum of 10 Individual pledges to back the program. Ted Gamble, midwe.st circuit op-! eratbr, i.s serving as national chair- ^ man. Max E. Youngsteip, Para-1 jnount’s national ad-pub director, is handling the campaign. Alfred W. Schwalberg, Par’s distribution veepee/ heads the di-stributors’ out local problems. Slated to at-- tend are Eddie; Yarbrough, 20th rep!/ in San Francisco; Eddie Solo- mon, Chicago; Ted Tod, Kansas City; Jimmy Gillespie; Dallas; Phil Engel, Boston, and Sam Glasier, Toronto. In addition, Gabe Ybrke, of 20th’s studio publicity staff, will also be on hand. Delegates will hear talks by 20th prez Spyros P. SkOuras and vee- pees A1 Lichtman, Andy W, Smith, | .Tr , and Charles Einfeld, with the ' * ' latter presiding. They’ll also view several upcoming 20th films and attend the preem at the Broadway Roxy Jan, 26 of “12 O’Clock High,” which is being sponsored by the Air Force Assn, as a tribute to the Eighth Air Force. Roxy is to be man, who had previously func- tioned for 11 years as ex;ecutive ad- mini.stratpr. In the past, only members of the guild served at prexy. McCalman succeeded Bert Allen- berg, who became chairman of the board of directors. Other new of- ficers are Sam Jaffe, first veepee; Edd Henry, second veepee; Alan Miller, secretary, and Sam Norton, Kalmine Unloads His Last WB $5 CoiQuioo Washington, Jan, 17. - ^ j , -v 4 Trend of the times in theatrt closed throughout the day In prep-j witnessed Harry aration for the preem that evening; COMPO Maps Continiidd from page 5 tiii I committee, while Gael Sullivan, Pointing up Its plans for an im exec difectbr of the Theatre Own- tensive drive in 1950 to boost U. S. j ers of America, and William L. , V A : Ainsworth, prez of Natipnal Alued, returns on J. Arthur Rank s n " l serving as co-chairmen of the ish-made pix, Universal has upped j cxhibs’wing. Jeff Livingston to the post of exeC ^ / ■ ■ ; ^ in charge of ad-pub for the Rank . . , . 1, r 4.1, I product. Promotion follows.shortly strongly that a number of tha ma- I the naming of Irving Sochin Jors were showing better profit re- j 35 new saies chief of ll'.s Prestige turns than the situation warranted I handles British films. > because they were fading to take ' realistic writeoffs oii story prop- erties and losing pix at the end of the year. This sort of practice^ he asserted, could well nieap troublte. in the future for these distribs. Paramount, Ziikoc said, had never pushed off the evil day bn writeoffs, and never would. When a loss occurred, the company would take its niiedicirte. and go .ahead. Zukor also felt that dis- tribution sans exhibition has' a hard row to hbe. ; ^ Jy Meet centered its attention on '“Samson and Delilah;” Par’s top ■offering for 1950. Film will be sold at 70% to all cpihers, it was in- dicated at the conclave. Others talking at the conferehces were Paul Raibourn, Company veepee, and Y. Frank Freeman, studio ■fexec. Top h.o. execs attended as well as all division chiefs and theii' aides. ... . ]Kce Raps Ohio Ceiisprs For Guts iii -Europe’ Charging that local cen.sbrship . . , boards are treatinigfilririgoers Tike Aim pf the shuffle is. tp co.rdi-1 infants who iTiu.st .be: protected nate activities on British; product! from the real ities of life, Elmer more closely, with U r®8ul^t Sales . pf fbe Natl.wial I chores. For one, William Ai Scully^ ’ (Council oh Freedom from Censor- i company’s distributipn veepee, has cKfr, ha.s asked tlie Ohio CensPr reps in parallel, moves to,fight the ship, has asked the Ohio Censor .! Federal tax. A. C. MyriCk, head I M./Kalmirie, Warner Bros. Veepea in charge of theatres/ unloading hii i last 1 bp shares of the company’s I $5 par common stock, to be ship- shape for the consent decree, j Kalmine gave away the stock, ac- . ... , , 'cording to the Securities and Ex- prexy, to. serve a^ auxiliary .head . change Commission’s report for*th« of the committee in order to facili- j pgj.fp^ ^ pec. 10. ^;te flow of the material. Mption [ biggest recent film transac tipn Picture Assn, of America was also ; liecently saw Matthew Fpx^ of Unl- requested to assign Robert Cham- Pictures, get rid of his war- director’ to rants for 28,000 Shares of Universal thp job pf GOMPCL tax .research - Tfie stock shift occurred and compilation Pf data.. 1 he com-, pjg 3^ iggf/ , inittee also hailed the move _pf i Sam Wplf, of Monogram Pix, Richard F. Walsh, Pi'pz dCthedn- $25,000 Shares pf Mono- ternational_ Alliance/ of Theatrical, gratn :$1 common; upping his hold- irigs.tp:27^500 sharesv: Loewis, Inc., ^ocal to^get behind. the m- further increased its ownership of dustry s tax reduction Hfiht,. Loew’s Bbston 'Theatres $25 com- ^^-^*^^,^,*^^ ^01011, by purchasing ariPther lOO Theatre Owners Pf Iowa and. Ne- ghares. It how has 125,275 shares, braska met with affibate chain. decided to make a stronger pitch hoard to restore cuts recently • of the exhib prgahizatioh, ; an ipr ih Europe;” i npunefed that his members were in ^ , noidines of A«;«;ociateri ^ ‘Hungarian import being released j favor of passing on to the pubile tion Pietures lanital *itnpk hv landed in art houses around the , fj. g hy Lopert Films. Rice ; any savings made by the reduction chasing 150 shares It nbw^i couhtry. .1 said the Ohio action was the re-' or repeal of the lax. Myers report- * W 300 shares of Golumbia Pix. no par common, retaining 10,028 shateS. The Jules E. Brulatour Corp. built up its holdings Pf Associated M(^ pur- repeal Of the lax. Myers report- In many sectors of the country ,sg|l. of a“narrdw prejudicial atti-! ed the decision of the Ibwa-Nebrasr, . . .... . U has found, the art houses inade- tude.” / | ka exhibs to the Wasfiingtbn meet/ / y tii/i? Kf -• quate in number and Volume of j Qhio’s Censorship Bbard scis.sored ; |ng:-. 1 UWr Wa®®® business to: turn in satisfactory several sequences , in the film, j Attending the GOMPO commit-1 Erwin - H. Ezzes, sales exec in grosses for Rank’s films. Morebver.^ w showed a group of Euro- ' tee conclave were, besides Myer, United World Films, Univer.sar* change in ad policy is envisaged ! pean children, orphaned by the} Jack Bryson; MPAA legislative 16m and television sub$id> has in an attempt to take greater ad- war, looting and murdering, Lo- j rep; Julian Brylawski, Theatre been named veepee and director of vantage of the long runs racked up pert is planning to bring legal ac- i Owners of America rep; Morton the company, Ezzes will coiitihuot by British pix in metrppolitan cen-1 tioii against the Ohio cCjWiprs on.' Sunshine j Independent Theatre in his present spot Pf supeiVising ters, i grounds of infrihgemerit of Jrec- Livingston handled the road-' dpm of speech. ; shows on “Hamlet’! for U and prior j Rice ppinted out that the film to that .Was in charge of United ■ had passed the censor boards pf Artists’ campaign bn “Henry V»” I all other states and was endorsed another Rank opus. ' by several film councils. Owners pf America rep; Oscar, theatrical distribution of narrow-^ Boob, of the Melropolitan Motion • gauge pix. Pmttire Theatre Owners; and H; M. | At I the same time, Edward 8 . Richie, Loew’s aide to the commit-[ Riley has been tapped as manager tee. No futura meeting date was j of UWF’s educational films div^ set. ) sion.