Variety (March 1950)

riCTIJflES British government may be* launching . something |iew in the way of restrictions against Ameri- can film companies. Ministry of Labor, it was learned this - week, insisted that 20th-Fox agree to ex- change of production talent before issuing the necessary work permits to producer Nunnally Johnsoji and director Jean Negulesco. Duo are scheduled to turn: out “Mudlark” for 20th in England and, now that they have received the necessary British clearance, will sail Satur- day (4) aboard the Qitieen Mary. v Under terms of the agreement, which were finalized, over the weekend, 20th must at some future date import a British producer and director to lenS a major film in the U S. peal is believed to be the first of its kind insisted upon Tby the British, who heretofore: have levied no restrictions on top production personnel. New tactics probably reflect the attitude of the British film unions, who have long been claiming that American pro- duction in England throws their members out of work. Johnson and Negulesco expect to be gone about four or five months, since “Mudlark” is to be lensed in its entirety in and around London, To date, Irene Dunne is the Only talent signed for the film, with casting, for the role of Disraeli presenting difficulties. Both Alec Guinness, cur retit iii the Broadway production of “Cocktail Party,’’ : and Sir Ralph Richardson have been mentioned for the role, but Johnson said that he would conduct tests in England before deciding. Most of the surrounding talent will also be recruited from among British actors. Johnson declared he would also spend time in England, working on bis script for a film biog of Ger- man Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, which is to be next on his 20th production schedule. While 20th is mulling the idea of tensing that picture in North Africa, site of much of Rommel’s military activ- ity, Johnson said a definite de- cision on that has not yet been made. Wednesday, March 1, 1950 British Coirtmiea* Blast London, Feb. 23. The British Communist Party conducted a vitriolic campaign against the American film in- dustry. during the recent/ elec- tions but the Commies received a complete setback at the polls. Aiming at British cine- . ma workers, the Communist pitched Up statistics purport- edly showing that, the influx of Hollywood pix caused local unemployment r among studio technicians. J. Arthur Rank was also cas- tigated for “selling out” to Hollywood by cutting its film production to a minimuhi. Both private producers arid the Labor Government were pilloried for yielding to “American pressure” during the pre-election stumping. All . Communist candidates, how- . ever, went down to defeat. Too Well for ‘Bike Thief “Bicycle Thief/* prize-winning [.Italian film of 1949, won't get the Production Code seal unless cer- tain- sequences are deleted. Motion Picture Assn, of America execs are reportedly withholding approval primarily because the actual bi- cycle thief doesn’t get his come- uppance before the fadeout. Mayer-Burstyn, handling distri- bution of the film iri the U. S., are caught in the middle due to refusal of the pic’s producer, Vittorio De Sica, to accede to the MPPA sug- gested cuts. ‘3 Husbands’ Ruled Not 3 on Inclie producer I. G. Goldsmith won the right Monday (27) to use the title “Three Husbands” over 20th-Fox’s objection that it in- fringed on its “Letter to Three Wives.” Goldsmith got his green light from an arbitration commit- tee in New York set up by the Mo- tion Picture Assn, of America title registration bureau. “Wives” was an adaptation by Vera Caspary from John Klemp- iier’s novel of the same name. “Husbands” is an .original by Miss Caspary,; who is the wife of Gold- smith. Arbitrators held that the similarity in labels was not suf- ficient to cause confusion. Goldsmith came into New York front the Coast' over the weekend for the arbitration hearing and re- turned yesterday (Tuesday). “Hus- bands,” which United Artists will distribute, is about half completed. Goldsmith puts “The Dungeon” before the cameras March 21 with John Ireland, Mercedes McCam- bridge, James Barton and Emlyn Williams. Financing: on the pix was ar- ranged by Joseph Justman, head of Motion Picture Centre studios. Goldsmith, in , addition to defer- ments, put up $ome coin of his own. Rest of it cornes from Walter E. Heller & Co: of Chicago, with Justman putting up completion bonds. and guarantees and giving studio deferments. - .Goldsmith. : jKasu jiepped.-/aL J;he. arbitration hearing by Robert J. Rubin/ counsel for the Society of Independent .Motion Picture Pro- ducers, and Harry Buckley of United Artists. The David Q. Selznick-Sir Alex- ander Korda tiff broke out into a new. rash of moves and counter- moves this week when all possi- bilities of burying the hatchet i were abruptly ended. Former U. S. Secretary of War Robert P. Pat- terson was named by the N. Y. Federal district court as arbitrator of the tiff, between the two produ- cers after they failed to agree on a substitute for Joseph M: Schenck, originally named in distribution contracts. Hearings- in Patterson’s office begin today.. (Wed.) Timed with this development, Selznick went to court yesterday (Tues.) with a cross-motion against the British filmmaker, demanding in his turn an injunction barring Korda from showing the present version of “Gone. to Earth” in the eastern hemisphere. DOS also brought a complementing action in London’s Chancery court asking the same relief. After a verbal clash before N. Y. Federal Judge Irving Kaufman, temporary stay pending arbitration on Korda’s suits against Selznick was extended to the present plea of DOS. Repping Selznick, James Hayes, of Donovan, Leisure, Lom- bard, Newton & Irvine, asserted that “Earth” will be a “flop” in Europe and that the bad notices would hit both the earnings of the film in the U/.S. and the reputa- tion of Jennifer Jones (Mrs. Selz- nick), who stars in the pic. Louis (Schwartz &) Frohlic’f, Britisher’s attorney, countered with the argument that Selznick has no right to supervise the eastern ver- sion of* “Earth.” Hayes claimed that under distribution pacts, the film must conform to the story line laid down in the agreement. Court was told by Frohlich that there is no danger of the film being re^ leased before arbitration decides the dispute one way or the other. As the legal score now stands, Selznick/ wants Korda stopped (Continued on page 23) Mare Spiegel, former special rep abroad for RKO, Was officially named this week as the Motion Pic- ture Assn, of America’s representa- tive in Germany, Marion Jordan, who currently holds that post, is leaving- in June to join 20th-Fox. ? Spiegel sails on the lie de France March 11 to take up his post at Frankfurt. He’ll work with Jordan until the latter leaves/ Jordan, in- cidentally, will not be assigned to Germany by 20th, but after a stretch at the h.o. will probably be sent to some Other area. Spiegel announced his resigna- tion from RKO a couple of weeks ago in order to accept the MPA A spot. He was in Germany during the last three months of 1949; set- ting up RKO’s staff and organiza- tion there arid Serving as secretary of the American film board, which j consists of the chiefs of the various j companies. j On his return he’ll become ex [ officio topper of the board . and Watch out for the interests of the American industry. That includes negotiations with the U.S., High Commissioner’s office and With var- ious German governmental organi- [ zations. A native of Milton, Mass., Spie- gel Went to school in Germany, France, England and Switzerland. . (Continued on page 18) 20% or Nuttin’ Washington, Feb. 28. The objective of the current film industry legislation cam- paign is total repeal of the 20% admission tax, according to Abram F. Myers, chairman of the taxation committee of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations. Warning industry members; against the use df the term, “war exCisri taxes,” Myers is pointing Out - iri letters to in- dustry leaders that there was a 10% admission bite before the wartime rate was imposed. Repeak of the war tax would still leave the industry saddled with a 10% ticket tax. Only complete .abolition pf the- 20% bite -will correct the ‘‘wholly 1 , unjustified’’ method Of taxa- tion* Myers claims. REX MAYS BI0PIC A dea> is currently being nego- tiated by publicist-ant hor' Jolm Barclay for a biopic of the late! Negro actors for roles in the film. Zoltan Korda, who will produce “Cry, the. Beloved Country” under the-bannex-of—his—brotheis-'&ip Alexander Korda, planed out of New York for London over the weekend. He was accompanied by Alan Paton, author of the book from which the picture is. being adapted, They expect to go to South Africa in mid-March to be- gin production on the film. During his two weeks’ stay in New Yprk, Korda shot tests,of 12 Sez Secretary Snyder Washington, Feb. 28. The Administration has taken a roundabout; way of informing Con- gress that it is not really opposed to a reduction in the 20% admis- sions tax. Carter Barron, Loew’s rep here arid a member of the tax- ation and legislation committee of the Council of Motion Picture Or- ganizations, has been “authorized” by Treasury Secretary John Sny- der to make, clear that he is not un- friendly to some relief for the pic- tiiregoer. . Snyder*, who pointedly omitted to mention films as a subject rating downward revision of .'its. wartime excise rate when .he testified re- cently before the House Ways and Means Committee, made his new position clear iri a session with Bar- ron, , “Secretary Snyder,” declared Bafrori iri a statement, “authorized me to say that the attitude of the Treasury toward relief .'from' this tax was not frozen and that he tes- tified to this effect be/ore the Ways and Means Committee. Secretary Snyder . pointed out his statement before that committee in which lie said,"? if it is clearly shown that someone has failed tq come for- ward and show us. a very distress- ing situation, we would be glad to consider it. . “Because this 20% tax on admiV sipns has become increasingly un- popular with our patrons, and has so sharply affected the business of every motion picture theatre in the Jiatlou, jve /have found:niost^mOm^ bers of Congress most sympathetic with our problem. It is good to know that the Secretary. of. the Treasury shares this concern on the part of the Congress.” Los Arigeles, Feb. 28. Damage suit for $47,000,000, . _ ed by the Conference of Studio auto racer Rex Mays. Film will be | He took the tests back: to London , Unions against IATSE and the ma- based on Barclay’s yarn, “The Rex j with him and will decide there on : jor film lots, has been set back to Mays Story,” which appeared in which of the players will be inked. [ May 31 in U. S. district court. Speed Age mag. . 7 ' ■ Two or three will be* selected. Barclay was recently given the; While in New York he also saw right to peddle the story by Mays’ • “Lost in the Stars,” the legit mu Widow. Judge William C. Mathes, orig- inally assigned to hear the case, will be shifted to another Federal • sical version of /Beloved Country-” ’ district early in May. 11 Washington, Feb. 28. Following the effective presenta- tion last week of the Industry’s case for a reduced or abolished Federal admissions tax, fllmites have received private assurances from members of the House Ways & Means committee that this in- fluential group will recommend a substantial slash in the tax. Equally important is the fact that industi'yites have been told that the committee will recommend the cut “on the rule.” This is a parliamentary term which means that the tax bill can- not be amended on the floor of the House. The Toill must then be either approved or voted down in toto Without any change which could cut the ground from under an admission tax reduction. More- over, President Truman; will; not be able to veto the bill iri part if the committee takes this action. He Can only approve or disapprove the bill, including his own recom- mendations, as a complete meas- ure. Plea for a repeal of the tax was made by Abram F. Myers, National Allied board chairman, and Gael s Sullivan, exec director of the The- atre Owners of America/ Sullivan has sent out a further appeal to , TOAers to keep up the fight in a i Communication which tags indns- (Continued on page 15) L, A. to N Y. Gilbert Adrian Toiiy Bartlett George D. Burrows Macdonald Carey Jack Carson Peter Cookson Janet Gaynor George Glass Robert Golden Jack Goodman Michael Hall Sherman; Harris Irene Hervey Bob Hope . Pat Knight Stanley Kramer Hedy Lamarr C: J. Latta Parke Levy, Harold ,;Mirisch Mickey Neilan George Raft Jane Russell George Sidney Frank Sinatra —Elizabeth Taylor / ^ “ Edgar Ulmer Michael Visaroff Cornel Wilde Robert Young ' . **• ' ,* Europe to N. Y. Joseph Calleia Peggy Cummins Bernard Delfont Christian. Dior Greer Garson Sol Hurok . : Phil. Hyams Joseph Kirby Raymond Lovell Herbert" Marshall Richard Pleasant Joseph Ruttenberg •4- Film industry, with television’s rapidly-mounting competition con- fronting it,has marshalled its forces in a mass endeavor to pro- mote theatre TV and thus /try for a revenue-producing ally. Sixteen different organizations, represent- ing all phases Of the industry, have signified their intentions to partici- pate in the upcoming hearings on large-screen videb before the Fed- eral Communications Commission in time to meet/ the Moriday. <27r deadline. Unification of so many varied segments of the industry for a com- mon cause has seldom b e en equalled in industry history/which underscores the determined inter- est in theatre TV by all participat- ing groups. Once the FCC has set a date for the hearings, each of the 44 organizations will have to pre- pare testimony and demonstrations for their appearances. Requisite time, money and effort which will thus be expended means that the exhibitors, distributors, equ ipment manufacturers, etc/, want to stake out their claims for theatre TV, even though they might not be able to provide the service to their cus- tomers for some time to come. That the industry might be pre- paring to shoot the works on the- I atre TV Is. also pointed up by the ‘ four d iff e r e n t manufacturing groups which have signified inten- tion of taking part at the hearings. One of the chief bottlenecks in de- velopment of the medium to date has been in getting equipment or- ders filled. At least 12 exhibs, for example, have signed orders for equipment on which they are still (Continued on page 23) Up to 10 Pictures a Year David O. Selznick is aiming for distribution by his Selznick Releas- ing Organization of 10 pictures a year. He hopes to achieve that goal, he revealed in New York last week, within two years. The pix will be made in this country : and abroad, DOS said, by indie production units working un- der his banner. Setup would be similar in many ways to pattern used by Sir Alexander JCorda in England. Individual producers made the films with supervision, financing, distribution and some of the talent provided by Korda. Selznick hopes to have several units operating under that format in the U. S. before he leaves for Europe in. April. He’ll set up fur- ther units In England, France and Italy. Films made by these producers will be for general American dis- tribution. They will not overplay the art house product that Selznick hopes to acquire abroad in com- pleted form for distribution by a special SRO unit to be headed by Manny Reiner. These pix will also be released by SRO in some for- eign countries via a growing for- eign Setup, Selznick. said lie now has seven branches in France ( hav- ing bought out his partner Per- rier) and is releasing British, French and Italian product there. SRO also recently opened offices in Brussels, Manila,' Santiago, Chile, and Mexico and plans six exchanges in’Germany. N. Y. to L. A. Alexander H. Cohen : John Dali : Ned E. Deplnet Paulette Goddard Ben Goetz . I. G. Goldsmith Sydney Gross Lee Holland -©aVie •Knpp* r-r- * •• Milton Krasne Frank McCarthy Thelma Ritter Thomas G. Rockwell Adolph Xukbr N, Y. to Europe Valerie Cardew Victor Hoare Nunnally Johnson Van Johnson Zoltan Korda Jean Negulesco Anita LaPierre Felix Marouani Alan Paton Arthur Pincus Frank Ross Carl York - 1L