Variety (May 1950)

u INTERNATIONAL ^AlllltrS' CPN»0N OPPICI • ft. Marlin'! PI«co/Traffalftr HuBf* Vienna, Api:il 25. -f*' ' ■. ■ ' ■ ■'—' Kevival this year of the. Ober- ■Ra|.|.«iiU T^int TroUDe liS ammergau tpassion Play in Ger. l>arraUW many will be followed in 1951 by $et fOP RlO, BueilOS Alt6S the reopening of the eelebrated Buenos Aires; April 25. Bayreuth Festival, . \ Managehient • of the Odoon This will be a jubilee eelebrat- theatre has set a*deal with French in g the 75th ye^ since the doors actor Jean: Louis Barrault, hf the of the Wa^et Festspielhaus were Marigny Theatrie in j^ris, to bring opened for the first time. New a legit company to Biienos Aires productions of the “Ring,” ”Pars^ in june. Barrault will first Rlay e fai” and perhaps ■Tristan and season Ih Rio de' jaheiro,. sailing Isolde” are planned, from France April 29* Management will be in the hands Barrault’s wife, actress Made- of Wieland and Wolfgang Wagner, leine; Renaiid, is in the troupe, two grandsons of Richard Wagner, It*s expected that the actor will Their mother, Winifred Wagner^ produce “Volpone” and “Hamlet’- will not be able to participate acr for the Argentme tour, tively* 3he was convicted follow- ing the war of being a minor Nazi offender, and will not be able to accept any sort of employment until 1952. Wieland Wagner will produce and design the settings* His brother will be the busioOss man- '.ager. Hans Khappertsbusch and Herr bert; Karajan are ,slated to conduct. It’s understood that Wilhelm Furt- ^Skating vanities’ Sock •In Second Swiss Date Zurich, April 25. in their second Swiss engage^ ment, Harold Steinman’s “Skating Vanities” aio playing to excellent houses. at Hallenstadlon, Zurich. The " original 13 performances, April IS to 24, had to be extended by three more shows before their takeoff to London. In the first eight days an audi- ence of 70,000 attended, a record for this country. * Washington, May 2. Film producers of India are cast- ^ ® -1XU X nffer te around for a larger share of the wangler turned do^ ^ world’s markets, with indications take^part. He gave Prjpr commit- they have their eye on Britain ments as the reason, but his re- J ^ fusai may 4stem from the Nazi taint which Bayreuth took on during the Hitler years, and the fact that he ® * Pictu^r Ph^ographic himselAas been accused of having collaborated with the Nazis. films in the British market ,: Already^set for major rmes, itis providing a careful re-editing job understood, aw Kirsten Flagstad, made and the film was dubbed Hotter’ Boris Christoph and into the Bnglish language.” . Lily PjaDel; / Trade press of India indicates It’s estimated: that it will require that surveys have been made in 5Q0,000 Deutsche marks (about Iran. It has been recommended $120,000) to finance the festival, that the producers make films in After the first year it is . supposed the Persian language or dub some to beeooie. $elf«:-supporting. For of their, best product with a 1951 the money Will be raised by Persian soundtrack for distribu- a recently formed, orfanization, tion in Iran andsurroiinding coun- “Friends of the Bayreuth Festival. ’ tries. The Wagner i^stsplelhaus was Commerce Dept, adds . that the’ not damaged during the war, but business in the'Allied :z6ne of gome minor operations will be nec- Germany has, been hit by the high essary to make it ready to house j^^mission taxes which are about the Wagner operas after .serving 33%, Attendance has fallen off as an amusement palace after the considerably in the p a s t six surrender* During the.^ past ^ few months and this is attributed to years; instead^ of “Parsifal, The the heavy taxes. Ring” and “Tristen and Isolde, the SUrvifey of the Italian film indus- marquee carried ^uch billing as: tty, released by the-CQmmeree “VarieterRevue>;-;^esang—Musik— Dept,, discloses, about/52,000 em- Tanz^HumOr _ un ^Jongleur-Akro- ployed in the industry and about batik—Eintritt 2 DM* 525,000,000 tickets sold annually, — , . : ' " Hollywood product has about 80% of the Italian market at pres- ent and appears to be strongly en- trenched, Italian laW provides that the theatres must show do- _ . mestic producit for 20 days of each A . quarter, or 80 days per year. ; than 70%. b£ the, films pix product m screened in Australia last year the Aussm zone_ a deal were American, Commercfe re^ conclimed in London. ,Pi3r : Will ports; although remittances are probably gp through the Hoyts’ 50% of the 1946 base ban- year earnings* This means about died, by British ^npire Films, now $3,500,000 in dollars are permitted devoted to ^J. *^hur Rank British to be remUted each year: product, plus Eagle Lion, Alued - ■■ Artists, Monogram and certain ^ i other indies. Sovict Benin Screened Formerly, the BHtish division of t„ Visi MArWiu 20th-Fox handled the Rank fare. 4*1 via iVlorrus New deal now gives this product to Paris, April 25. BEF, a subsidiary of the Rank Or- Boris Morros, an American in- ganization in Aussie territory. All dependent producer, has managed Rank pix will now be released to bring ^‘Fall of Berlin,”* a Soviet through Greater Union Theatfes, film here from Moiscow* A U. S. a 50-50 partner with Rank, instead Rmbassy sCreeningimpressed view- of via the opposition, Hoyts. ers by the production’s fine color. Last week 20th-Fox took over direction, east and acting. Battle the distribution of Republic prpd^ arid mob scenes were said to have uet, previously booked to BEF. It’s been well done. Pic ran three known that 2Qth-Fox is keen to re- hours; Zurich, April 25. Zurich Schauspielhaus and Stadt^ theater, earlier than Usual, have ahnouriced plriris for this year's traditional June Festival Weeks, starting end qf'May. Schauspielhaiis will present a' varied prograiri of British, French arid Italian legit troupes, such as London’s Old Vic with Shakes- peare’s “Hamlet” and Goldsmith’? comedy, "She Stoops to Conquer,” P a ri s, Gorupagiiie Dramatique Francaise with Louis Jouvet’s di- rectiori of “The School of Women,” by Moiiere (with sets by the late Christian Berard),. and Milan’s Piccolo Teatro; della Citta di Milano with Goldoni’s comedy ”A Servant of Two Masters.” Schauspielhaus also plans to stage, with wn cast, Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” open-air per- formances of Moreto’s classical Spanish epmedy, “Donna Diana,” and, for the first time in Switzer- tarid,; Hugo von Hofmanrithars ‘T3as Gerettete; Venedig’* (“Venice Rescued”):* ' Stadttheater . has invited guest singers . from the Paris Opera Gpmlque for a performance of Massenet’s “Werther,’- and from the Scala di Milano arid Teatrp delVGpera di Roma for Puccini’s “Tosca” and Rossini’s “Barbiere di Siyiglia.” Other guest singers are expected to* appear in Mozart’s VNozze di Figaro” and Beethoven’s '“Fidelio.’’ Three musical works by Arthur HoUegger; to. he staged on the saime evening, will represent, Swiss contemporary opera and ballet. * ~ No definite dates have been fixed yet.,- " ‘Maedchen’ Die Mnll^ In Mex-French Same Tinie A simultaneous production of “Maedcheri in Uniform” in Mexi- can (Spanish) and French may be put into productiori in- Mexico City iri July* Producer Rudolpb Lowenthal* who obtained the re- make rights to the filmv bas 'defi- nitely slated the Mex yetaiop for mid-July. However, Lowenthal is eriroute to. Frarice to try and set up a deal for the simuljaneous pro* duction of a French version. Hell remain* in Paris for about 15 days, coritinuirig ori'tri Western Germany and then to Madrid where he’ll catch the Film Congress; which begins; its meet there May 15. 'The producer’s “Rancor of Earth” will .he; show at; the Con- gress, which runs through May 25. \ AS-PATUEl build Bi’itish biz after the Rank ■takeaway: Ban London, April 25. Move to reverse the ban on Ger- man vaude artists frorii appearing in British Halls has failed. Special meeting of the Variety Artists Fed^ eration endorsed the ban by 35 to 28, but a further postal ballot may be taken in’the near future. , The ban^which also applies tri Jap artists-^Was imposed for a 10 year period in 1945. It was chal- lenged by postal ballot two months ago and Upheld: by a 3rl majority. It’s now uriderrtood that the Ministry of Labor is concerned at its continuance, as it may affect British artists in Germariy. Skaters appearing iil two British ice shows in Germany say they have been threatened with expulsion because •f the ban. ' “Berlin’s” propaganda, however, was so. blatant tq suggest it would get laughs anywhere outside of Russia. Picture shows Russia lick- irig the Germaris unaided, through Preihier Stalin’s: strategic genius. A strong love story theme is woven through the' pic, and other high poirits include Hitier’s mar-^ riage and suicide after he drowns thousands by flooding the Berlin subway. Morros recently visited Moscow where he has relatives. Marius Goring flying to Amster- dam to iriect his actress-wife Lucie Mannheiin, who is returning from Germany where he has just fin- ished a three months’ legit season . . Philip King working on new farcical play,. “Part Haste,” which he expects to finish early May. Show is likely to be acquired by Peter Dearing, who has author’s other hit, “On Moridaj^ Next,” cur- rently at the Comedy theatre. ■ Skike llireat Now Off Dublin, May 2. Concession? offered by theatre^ owners at conference with union officials, following serviGe of strike riotice on 5.0 theatres and cinemas in Dublin area, have resulted in the proposed strike being called off* New conditions include upped pay, three additional Sundays free in a year for staffs of Sunday houses arid re-grading of some nabe houses to bring staffs into higher wage groups; ; Agreement has been accepted by workers by a 300 majority, and will be formally signed between the Irish Theatre and Cinemas Assn, and Cinemas Branch, Irish Transport and General Workers Union, in the near future. .v<» iFigufes show weeks of tun) London, May 2. - “Beau Strategem,” Lyric (53). “Black Chiffon,” West’ster (53). “Bonaventure,’? Vaude (21),. “Brigadoori,” Majesty’s (55). “Castle Air/’ Adelphi (21), “Cry Liberty,” yaudeville (2). “Eliz. Slept Here/’ Strand (27). “FaHeh Angels,” Ambass. (21). “Folies Bergere,” Hipp (30). “Green Bay Tree,” Playh’se (2). “Harvey,” Prince of Wales (70). “Heiress,” Haymarket (66). “Home at Seven,” W’ham (8). “King: Rhapsody,” Palace (33). “Knights Madness,” Vic. Pal. (7); “Lady Mislaid,” St. Mart. (14); “Larger Than Life,” York (12); “Latin Qt. 1950,” Casino (7). “Man With Umbrella,” D’ch’s (4). “Mr. Gillie,” Garrick (8). “Oklahoma!” Drury Lane (152), “Ori Mon. Next,” Coinedy (18). “Ring Round Moort,” Globe (14). “Sauce Piquante,” C’mbr’d’ge (11. “Streetcar,” Aldwych (30), “Traveller's Joy,” Crjiteribn (99). “Treasure Huiit,” Apollo (33). “Vpnus Obs’ved,” St. James (15). “Way Things Go,’' Phoenix (9). “Wild Violets/’ Stoll (12). “Worm’s View,” Whitehall (158). “Young Wives Tale/’ Savoy (42). ; Ottawa, April 25.,: Quebec Productions of Montreal took top honors in the seOdnd anr nual Canadiah Film Awards. /Pres- eritations and screeidng of wlniiiUg films were riiade iri the Elgin the« atre, Ottawa, by Prime Minister Louis S. St. Laufent. Paul. L*Anglais and Rene Ger- main accepted the award for Que- bec Productions, /which was given, not for any specific film, but’ for “sustained creative effort in estab-'| lishing a feature length industty (in Canada) against». enormous odds.” . Other awards went to Pierre. Petel, National Film Board, for Terre de Cain,” a documentary on life along the north shord of the St Lawrence Riyer, judged the year’s ’ bert theatrical short; to Ronald Dick, NFB, “Science at Your Service,” as best non-theatri- cal sponsored film; to Morten Parker, NFB, “Family Circles,” best nonrtheatrical, open; to Claude Jutras; of Montreal, “Mouyement Perpetuel,” best amateur producr tion; to Real Benoit and Andre de Tonriancour, Moritreal, “Priroitive Artists of Haiti,” special award, and Norman McLaren, NFB, “Be- gone Dull Care,” abstraction in color to Oscar Peterson’s boogie beats, a special award. Judges were Ray Lewis, .editor of Canadian Moving Picture Di- gest; James Cowan, fiack chief for J. , Arthur Rank Organization in Canada; Herb Whittaker, Toronto Globe and Mail screen critic; Bruce Adams, director of the To- ronto School Board’s teaching aids centre; George Patterson, TorOrito Film Council, arid James McKay, of Graphics Associates. ‘Aime/ ‘Idleness’ Are Due For Preeins in Vienna yiehna, April 25. Theetre in the Josefstadt has rights for the German-language premiere of Maxwell Anderson’s “Anne of the Thousand Days.’’ Translation is by Frederich Schrey- vogl, who also translated Ander- son’s “Elisabeth and Esse:^c” in 1935 for the Burgv theatre here. “Anrie” has been acquired as a starring yehiele for yetetan Paula Wesseley, most popurar stage arid ‘ film actress in Austria and Ger- many/ who draws the audUeiices regardless of what she plays iri. • Terence Rattigan’s “Love; iri Idle- ness” -.(“O Mistress Mirie” on Broadway) will be given its Ger- riian-language premiere next month in the Akademie theatre. The main roles Ayill !;ie played by Al- fred Neugebauer* Hilde Wagener and Heinribh Schweigei*. • Ulrich Bettac will direct. / Picture theatre biz In' Singapore, Malaya and Borneo is following the present general world pattern. It has declined from the Wartime peak but now Is leveling off* and holding firmly, according to Wan Tho Loke,' owner of the'Cathay, deluxe house, in Singapore, arid a circuit of 24 theatres In Malaya and Bbrheo; Who now is in Ne york. He’s looking at new film product as well as surveying the newspaper field, latter Interert be- Irig because he recently bought the Malaya Tribune and Sunday Tribune in Singapore.; He’s driv- ing to the Coast, returning to his home via San Francisco. Loke al- eady has been in Europe, and cairie over on the Queen Mary from London..' While the Malaya-Borneb area has a quota. whirt* forees exhibitors to show British pictures for seven days in every 70-day period, there is free export of U. S. distribution dollars. Loke explained that Sirigapore, ' where his ace. I.IOO- seater is located iri the Cathay building, has a population of 1,000,000. The Cathay building, which also houses a restaurant and apartments, is the only skyscraper in the city. ^Hls theatre propertieis, which he owqs outright, are run by an oper- ating group ip which Loke has a controlling*^ interest. Loke sold a riiinprity Interest iri his chain to Jv Arthur Rank a couple of years ago. He Said British screen fare is goirig over better there thari previously. : ; ?» '/ ■Boke’s theatres, which cqrrently use 'Metro arid Paramount product exclusively of jtbe American fare available, are Suffering from the current tax bite on admissions. The gbyernmerit takes $I out of $3 admittance fees, arid wiU not per- mit the theatres to bobst their scale, although filiris. offer virtually the only form of amusement there: This $2 that the eXhib gets is the saiqe that he obtained before the war*. Exhibitors. feel the pinch since Operating costs have gone iip 400- 500% since the war ended. Actual volume of biz is greater than be- fore the war, Loke stated, which is about the only brCak the exhib has been getting. ^ADCEFIQUANTE’LOOKS GOOD LONDON TIDBIT London, May 2. • Cecil Landeau’s new revue, “Sauce Piquante,” which bowed at the Cambridge last Thursday (27), lacks the wit and satire of its predecessor, “Sauce Tartare.” But it’s lavishly staged and dressed; has some firsirate dance numbers, and a few bright soiigs. With judi- cious pruriing—-it ran over three hours opening night—it has a. good chance of repeating the success of “Tartare.” > Moira Lister, making her debut as a revue star, is supported by a big ■ cast, which includes Douglas Byrig, Joan Heal; Muriel Smith, Halama & Konarski arid Sara Lu- zita. British Vaudersv Warning London, April 25. Warning to British vaude artists to act cautiously before accepting engagemerits abroad has been made by the executive committee of the Variety Artirts Federation, Vaude pertormers are instructed to insist on a standard contirient of Europe contract and. to insure that work permitls, have been ob- tairied through the appropriate channels. Set Rpeord in Italy / Genoa; April 25. •Highest port war disk sales fig^ ures are being set here by press- ings of music tom “The Thircl Man.” “Harry Lime Theme” and “Cafe Mozart Waltz” bave been re- corded by all major Companies, and demarid has skyrocketed after each successive ?cFeening of the pic. Decca, which has original zither soundtrack by Anton Karas, esti- mates sale of more than 70,000 platters in first six weeks, accord- ing to a company spokesmari. Airiong other heavy sellers (with, recordings by Italian combos) are Columbia, OGD, Duriiirri, Odeon arid Parlophon. WELTNER*S aUKnaE Weltner, Paramount's foreign chief, returns this week from a nliie-day quickie swing through Erigland, France and Ger- many** ; If Barney Balaban, Par pfexy, goes to London with other U. S. film company toppers on the final- izing of a new trade agreertient, I Weltner may join him.