Variety (March 1950)

MISOBIXARTV Wednesday, March 8, 1950 By JOSEF ISRAELS, II 4 Vienna, Feb, 21. Faschirig (Mai'di Gras) season draws to a close with a sock b.o„ registering close to 2,000,000 ad- missions to some 2,Q00 public and semi-public balls Held in Vienna. To foreign observers the affairs have been plenty luxurious and gay. What they've marked is the decline of the waltz. Here, in the city of Johann Strauss, the dance floors emptied by half this year when the orchs went into , d.rei viertel takt. The Viennese like foxtrots, sambas, rumbas and polkas, in that order. The stately waltz is for a.k.’s and ’tourists. That means loss of One of the town’s, real spectacles, the sight of 1,000 couples in evening dress waltzing in perfect time and Totatton^r ound fa big ballroom as if directed by Cecil B. de Mille or Willi ForSt. Oldtimers report that this year’s Fasching outdid even the much remembered times of the monarchy for sheer volume, fun and expense. The affairs ranged from medium- size club balls for 100 or so people to the giant Gschnasfest and Artists Ball which run for three and two n lights respectively, Gschnasfest this year drew the biggest attend- ance of all Vienna parties. Held in all rooms of the Kunstlerhaus, It clocked crowds of 3,000 to 4,000 on each of three Saturdays. Parties run from 9 pm. jjtill unconscious and have been known to reach the breaking-up stage the next after- noon. More War Fix? Comparative success of war pictures recently continues to sharpen the trend toward them bn production schedules. Lat- est indication was registration with the Motion Picture Assn, of America title bureau last week of ‘‘Operation Java Sea” and ‘Torpedoes Away,’* Both claims were staked out by RKO; m GETTING THAT TV YEN Having just completed a picture on the Mediterranean isle of Ma- jorca, Herbert Marshall arrived in New Yor k Jksi w week andf is now “belatedly” getting into television. Actor is auditioning for the: new medium in a program based upon one of his old radio shpvte. . Majorca pic, Marshall said; was turned out by Alsa Films of Paris and deals with trafficking in drugs. Titled “Black Jack,” the film was directed by Julien, t)uvivier, and other cast toppers include George Sanders, Agnes Moorhead and Pat- ricia Roc. Coal Strike Induces ‘Battleground’ 2d, 12 O’Clock’ 3d Feb. Golden Dozen 1, “Samsqh-JDelilah” (Par).. 2, “Battleground” (M-G). 3, “12 O’Clock High” (20th). - 4." “Sands Iwo Jima” (Rep). 5. “The Outlaw” (RKO). 6. “All King’s Men” (Col). 7. •‘Foolish Heart” (RKO). 8. “Stromboli” (RKO). 9. “Willie Home” (20th); 10. “Montana” (WB). 11. \“Mrs; Mike” (UA); 12. “Malaya” (M-G). WILL MAHONEY THi INIMITABLE Boys, : I’m a lucky-, guy! No wor- vies because I’ve got a good man piloting me, JOE GLASER OF -• AS- SOCIATED booking GORp. and -‘Samson and Delilah” (Par); which loomed as a potentially mighty boxoffice picture late in January* roared ahead to become national winner last month, ac- cording to reports from Variety correspondents in 24 representative ; key cities. The Cecil B. DeMille opus landed in first place every week during the monfh,. grossing an estimated $1,345,000 for the month. It was closely pressed by “Sands of IwO Jima” (Rep) the first week in February but after that drew away from the field, “Samson” was third in January: “Battleground” (M-Q), winner of seventh place in January, came, through strongly last month to take second spot by a handy mar- 1 gin; Picture racked upi nearly $920,000, finishing second twice ^ , Paris, March 7. The new switch on Paris night clubs is that they are making easier coin during tea dancing than at night when champagne buckets are on the tables. Most clubs are depending on the after- noon revelers to help them pay expenses in the boites. Reason for large grosses before dark is tea ComeS 'in pots at 600 francs ($1,75) a tiny, kettle. Except for a bag of Lipton’s this is all clear profit. Baccara, L’Aiglon, Club des Champs Elysees and Claridge have decided that tea dancing is the difference between black and red ink, At the moment the Club des Champs Elysees is' only open in the afternoon. Most clubs are griping because lack of franc-spending patrons and some may fold before tourist sea- son starts. One new one will open in April when Brick Top, who ran a string of t successful and snooty f> ; boites before the war, takes over nother club in Montmartre. Golf Championship St.-Andrews, March 7. Bing Crosby is filing an entry in the British Amateur Golf Cham- phionship, to; be played on this famous Scottish course from May 22v- Star is entering from the Bel Air Country Club of Los Angeles, where he's rated as a three-handi- cap golfer. The flurry of act cancellations, brought on by the recent coal strike, has prompted the inclusion of a special strike clause in some newly - made booking contracts. | Though most of the. talent buyers who asked, out during the strike were treated amicably by the.book- | Ing agencies, a number of them ! aren’t taking any chances bn the same thing happening again. | According to a number of N. Y. bookers, news of the strike nearing I an end Saturday (4) brought im- I mediate. requests for talent, with ; a fair percentage of buyers in town 1 Monday <6), the day after the i strike's official end. The weekend j news was also responsible for a I pickup in business in most situa- tions. . ■ | ■ Alert Exhibs to Phoney Video ‘Talent’ Agencies In the wake of the police drive in Hollywood against seven tele- vision talent agencies as “rackets,” Gael Sullivan, Theatre Owners of America’s exec director, has alert- ed exhibs throughout the country to be on the lookout for similar activities in their home territories. Special bulletin to TOAers requests theatre men to advise Art Arthur, exec secretary of the Motion Pic- ture Industry Council on the Coast, if they spot any illegal agencies. “If exhibitors have any reason to be suspicious of people showing up in their towns and cities and claiming Hollywood identities, they need only get in touch with Arthur for accurate identification, and any available information on their cred- it standing,” Sullivan said. Thor- ough probing of talent schools, dancing schools and contests for screen tests should be made before exhib participation, TOAer added. Driven from the Coast, these “shady promoters” will undoubted- ly turn up elsewhere to renew thieir trade, Sullivan said. Minneapolis* March 7. $920,000, Jinisning second twice SOCIATED BOOKING CORP. and With overflow crowhs attracted oJcio^Hieh” 8 (20th) 4H^sa^4^I*tai^ at the to the trial of Laura Miller, accused captured third position. NEW YORK •:•. of murdering her married sweet- “Iwo JiiUa,” champ in January, f heart, at Glencoe* Minn.; hear here, showed enough sustained strength Charles Novak, owner of the Oriel, 1 despite^ h^ing •{“?, S?l^rovS 6 hid'^cro^ fcs^u^the^S.Zv tb lfw”«RKO)la n ded fifth slot after carry the proceedings to his show- icings Men” ?Coi) iiioved house. The testimony went out m AU lvl ^f a j V ? 1 movea uu uifAcu- " ■■ f'P; - v^ ture obtained a Jot of additional Washington. March 7. bookings. i F.vtendinff indefinltelv a wartime ?.* th * °SS l A? ro f th St mfci • "Foolish Heart” (RKO) fin- Extending lndenmteiy a wartime , Free.” The theatre was filled seventh while “Stromboli” regulation, the Bureau of Internal throughout the trial, arid Novak (RK r» was eichth first-week blank- Heyenue ruled the past weekend gained considerable publicity, not e t unveiling ®nab’ling theBergman that American business firms with , only in his home town, but also; fii m: to cop second place that week. earnings frozen in foreign coun- here. LOcal papers showed pictures “When Willie Comes Marching tries need not pay income taxes of people reading the signs and Home .. (2 oth), although a- bit on those earnings until they are also of the, crowds In the show., S p 0 tty on initial play dates, dis- Paris, March 7. I played sufficient draw later to | take nirith money, i “Montana”, (WB) was 10th best; “Mrs. Mike” (UA), 11th, arid “Ma- laya” (M-G) rounded out the Gold- en Dozen. Runner-up films Were “Eiffel Tower” (RKO), “Chain Lightning” Oscar Straus, who turned 80 (WB), “Ambush” (M-G) and “Red released. This,means until dollars house. I ^ ! playSl Sufficient draW 'Wer to are released for remission to_ the __— ... . ; take ninth money. U. S.- or unless the foreign earn- , n I "Montana” (WB) was 10th best; the ruimg Straus, Busy & . On Film, Stage Chores e - R ^ up fllras ^ ere .. Eiffel nons tied up in countries all over Paris. March 7. Tower” (RKO). “Chain Lightning” ' ?!; Oscar Straus, who turned 80 (WB), “Ambush” (M-G) and “Red yesterday (Mon.), is still active deSPlte KiS yearS ‘ The T ienneSe ' Cis” (U) shape up as two of th* *> or “ composer. ”OW an American s t ron gest new entries. They ran The drive* to‘renew the wartinfe citizen, expects to leave March 18 , almost a dead heat for second- reeulaUon got S wav abouta ior Munich where his newest place coin the final week: of th. vea? 1 ‘ago 'Kilt Moved * slowly operetta, “Her First Waltz,” is month, both inidcatlng they will be through the mills of the Treasury s^ed‘o^open at the State theatre heard from plenty. Aside from its Dept and Bureau of Internal Rev- March 24. . “22*- enue. At o'ne time it got a hypo Aside from the operetta, Straus opening-week, tipoff on Fianeis from the California: congressmen, is busy working On a film which 's the fact thSt it is the next pic- who went to bat for the industry. Sacha Gordine is producing here Jure to play the N. Y. Paramount. Just how much American niimey • ^ ^ Viennese origin and is fooling plenty ot exhibitors by i is frozen is uncertain, but Eric i- u ..Ta. vicnucat; ^ v.'. . Kiic . ooc Johnston, prez of Motion Picture around several^ separate Althmieh^di^nnintinff iri N v Assn: of America, stated early in sequences on the order of Somerset, A hough disaPpointing ir R January that the iced Coin in Brit- Maugham's “Quartet.” ; uheie caught by. the ^downbeat, ain would be down to $6,000,000 Gordine project, titled “La | ?h* by June. At one time Hollywood Ronde*” stars Anton Walbrook, | ri^k had about $50,000,000 of its profits and other cast toppers include i in foreign countries tied up be-lsimone Simon, Danielle Darrieux,! ^ cause of the dollar shortage. Isa Miranda and Fernand Gravet. se ssion « Auotheiv new film* Tln ee J: ■ Shooting schedule calls for comple- ?*** Home” (20th) opened big at v tion bv Anril 1 StrsiK who the Y. Astor, its initial playdate. CANADA LEE'S KORDA PIC ? composing the film's score, returns , “ sta p Fright” (WB), which Canada Lee flew to London Over to the H. S. late this spring. Mmi'/S the weekend for confabs with Sir ———-—— ^ Sacha Gordine is producing here I lure to play the N. Y. Paramount, under Max Qphuls’ direction. Pic- i The Walt Disney “Cinderella” is British Pic Producer Enclosed find check for $.,....... Please Send VARIETY for I'O . . i r livv' (Pleas* Pi'lnt Nanio) l reef ify . • • • • •.. •. • • • • • • • • •. .Zone... State. Regular Subscription Rotes _ Oit« Year—H Q.00 Two Y«ors---$18.00 CdHoda and Foroign—$1 Additional ptr Ytar Inc. 154 Wait 44th Stroot Now York 19, N. Y. British Pic Producer . Zo!t y a n h will 1 °Drodu?e nt unde7 h Si'j Refused Vfea SS Red “Third Mail” (SRO),, racking up Alexander's banner. The actor was ' Washington, March 7. nice grosses, indicates sojid future l one of a number of Negro players . Iver Montagu, British film pro- P?“' bl,ltles once It gets, additional of whom Zoltan shot tests in New d i' c , e £. J? Included in the delegation York a couole weeks aco 1 12 Europeans whoni the U* S* Dcsi Wife , (Par)^ also new last } l w^^ir^inV^rr -q State Department has just refused month, managed to finish seventh v vmu leturn po ine u. s.-tnis visas to visit this country. Thev one week and become a runner up week and, .if conversations work were to come here representing the another stanza. “Borderline” <U) ATrica‘with‘sJvCTal other < AmSiean Congress of Partisans of [ an ded in eighth actors Tater Se fhi. mnnfh ^ win Peace, described by the State De- 'hg runnerup two other sessions. partment as “the leading overall “Hasty Heart” (WB) proved disap^ 1 the Alan Patoivhook ad - pt?ltl011 of Commuriist-front organization in pointing boxdffice-wise des p i te the Alan Paton book, the world.” (Continued on page 24) I . ", ' Montagu was listed by the State .' ——— u>. 1 ■ u ‘Department as a “British film pro- ^ , yt’’ •••^i . n wood Comes to Haiti ducer, director and scenarist, and i Bob Hope Chairmans Port au Prince, March 7. active in many phases of motion NflHnniil Paler Hi-ivft Among forhver filmites here picture, production. He has been a diiuiidi r msy Urive in Haiti are Richard Barthel- Communist Party member since Bob Hope will chairman the first mess, Rex Ingram, who direct- 1932 and is a member of the Daily nationwide cerebral p a 1 s y earn- ed Rudolf Valentino in “The Worker, editorial staff.” j paign, being conducted under the Four Horsemen,” and Ramon Among Others in the group auspices of. the United Cerebral Novarro in “Ben-Hur”; and ( turned down were painter Pablo Associations, h e a d e d by Andre Roosevelt, Of the Oys- ( Picasso, and Rev. Hewlett Johnson, Leonard H. ' GoMenson, United ter Bay Roosevelts, who pro- known as the Red Dean of Canter- Paramount Theatres prexy, Hope i du ced the big-grOssing “Goona J bury, will liit e very medium of com muni- Goona.” Roosevelt is now riian- ——.—— cation in pitching for: the cam- aging director of the swank >n, • • paign, which begins in Maj^. News- • new Hotel Ibo Lele. Skinner qc Pranpli Pin reels of the comedian’s acceptance Barthelmess and his wife are unip|M?I Ao l 1C11L1I 1 11 of the Chairmanship Monday (6) island-hopping in the West. Iriv London, March 7. will be shown on both theatre and dies. Ingram, in delicate ; “Skipper Next to God,” by Jan television screens, health and now a Moslem in |de Hartog, which was tried out at Functions of the drive are to i felig'ous faith, says the only the Embassy theatre in 1945, has 1 raise S5,000,000 the first year, pre- i i.Vt 1 n hlm rf en acquired by^ J. Levi, French | sent the public with facts about the ? — retiremen would be a -.. film producer, to be inade into film disease and further scientific study §cnpt to suit James Mason. , m France, of cerebral palsy; Paramount has Phiy OIL Broadway for some turned out a three-arid-one-half n tbe 6 reat est artist of his ; months in 1948, with John Garfield minute Alan Ladd short trailerizing . time * ‘ starred. I the subject. the Alan Paton book. H’wood Comes to Haiti Port au Prince; March 7. Among former filmites here in Haiti are Richard Barthel- mess, Rex Ingram, who direct- ed Rudolf Valentino in “The Four Horsemen,” and Ramon Novarro, in “Ben-Hur”; and duced the big-grossing “Goona Goona.” Roosevelt is now riian- aging director of the swank new Hotel Ibo Lele. Barthelmess and his wife are island-hopping in the West. Inr dies. Ingram, in delicate health and now a Moslem in religious faith, says the only thing that would tempt him out of retiremen would be a script to suit Janies Mason. He names the British star as “the greatest artist of his tiirie.”