Variety (May 1950)

VcJnegjay'y M»y I0» 1950 , Tokyo, May a/ Way has "been payed here for production Of Mms in Japan by U S. companies ias i means of thWihg the yen they have piled up since the close of the wac. Re- laxation of the production regula- tions Was ’ cbriteined In a prCvi- ously-ahnounced change by the Su- preriie Command, Allied; Powers, In rules regarding import pt films, These permit import of pix by all- comers instead of solely through the Motion Picture Export Assn., : as previously* - , j Since there are large quantities of tJ; S. funds blocked in Nippon, it is anticipated that Yarik coin- panies will start hunting story ma- terial that might be suitable for filming here. George P. Breaks stonV of the Coast indie Breakston- McGowari production unit, is al- ready iri town looking over prps^ pects fori filming a script labeled ‘•Tokyo Pile 212.'• * Producer’s ten- tative plan, is to lens the story here largely With native talent and to release it here and in the U. S. Another irtterestedvforeign visi- tor is French film magnate Andre Patilve, president of the Piscina productiondistribution syndicate. Paulve told a news conference after his arrival in Tokyo last week : that he will study plans for a joint French-Japanese film undertaking with a pic to be produced here. Latest SCAP ruling On produc- tion provides that “non-Japanese nationals, firms, and other orgari-^ izations may be llcerised to pro- duce in Japan for domestic release or for export" providing all regu-; latioHs aifectlrig native producers are observed, and that all raw film is imported, Regardirig distribution; new rules (Continued on page 14) S&S on Chi llioatre Chicago, May 9. Appeal by Essaness circuit on February court decision, wiiicli took control of Oriental theatre away from pssaness, is on the point of being dropped, with Essaness president Edwin Silverman hud- dling With Randolph Bohrer, Ori- entars priricipal stockholder; on unloading his interest in theatre. Sale’ of Silverman’s interests, which according to outcome of court battle must be about 45%, would give Bohrer interests com- plete control, with James Booth’s hold on management of 3;400-rseat . vaudfilmer solidified. Reports had mentioned Silverman’s price as $250,000, but reliable sources held it was far below that figure. Oriental had been run by Ess- aness until Circuit Judge Cornelius Harrington in February ruled that Silverman held less than a major- ity interest of stock in theatre and, therefore, the group led by Border was justified in removing liim from the board of directors, Bohrer’s ' group had done so in August, 1949; but when Booth had tried to take oyer theatre, he found guards in his way. Court said, with Bohrer as plaintiff; erisued, and Judge Harrington’s decision put Bohrer in final eohtrdl. Silverman and Essaness had ap- pealed decisloh, but with Silver- man now trying to sell out, it’s un- likely that the appeal will be caiv ried further. ^ , Detroit, May 9. . suit for $1,050,000 was filed in Federal court last week by the B. Go. against W. S. Butter- nelq Theatres and major film pro- ducers. The plaintiff, owner of the Huron Pontiac, charges it lost joo0,000 in revenue through the de- fcndanls’ vioiatiori of Federal anti- trust laws. Treble damages are sought. ■ De Sica to Get Oscar This Week Hollywoodv May 9. yittorio de Sica, Italian produc- er, will get a belated : Oscar this week in Rome. It was awarded in March by the Academy’s board of governors for maklrig “Bicycle Thief/’ named as the best foreigh- lariguago picture released iri the U.S, during 1949. , Presentation will be made by' Daniele Amfitheatrof, currently on his >yay to Flprence to represent Holly wood composers at the Fourth International Congress of Music, May; 13-19. 9 9 With gradual contraction of its operations abroad, Motion •Picture Export Assn, is consolidating its staff and facilities with those of the Motiori Picture Assn, of Amer- ica in New York. , It is giving up its own offices June 1 to move in- to MPAA headquarters. Some of the staff, including the publicity department " headed by Bernard Mazer, has already been Cut arid there will be further slices . at the end Of the month. Number of activities now carried on by the MPFA ; staff will be consolidated with those . of MPAA workers in order to Save expenses. Thine will be no changes in exec Personnel or reps in the field for the co-op U. S; distrib agency. William Levy, assistarit to Irving Maas, v.p. and. general manager, will be in charge when Maas takes off for Japan May .15 on MPEA business; Maas will be away about four weeks. > Contraction of the MPEA was expected when it was set up in 1946 by the major companies , to handle their product in territories where postwar conditions maide normal distribution impossible or unprofitable. Thirteen countries were included, comprising Russia and six other Iron Curtain nations; four occupied countries, Germany, Austria, Japan and Korea;. and Holland and Indonesia. In accordance with intentions, companies are taking over theif own distribution in each country as conditions normalize and there is a possibility of commercial op- eration at a profit. Thus Holland, Indonesia and Germany have re- verted, with a likelihood that Jap- an and Korea may go next, par- tially depending on the findirigs by Maas during his forthcoming trip. Meantime, the Iron Curtain niar- ket is shrinking with the change in (Gontinued on page 18) , Hollywoodi May 9. New contract between,the Screen Extras Guild; and major studios sets up a miriimuiri daily wage of $15,56 for professional atmosphere players. Contract runs to Oct; 25, 1953, with the right of either party to reopen negotiations, on Oct; 25, 1951, ■ v:./. . : butstanding feature of the new pact is the elimination of the old $9.45 rate for crowd extras; Here: after no registered extra player can be denied unemployment in- surance under the California law because he refuses to take $9.45 calls. • Other ratea for extras under the new agreement- are ; polo riding, $50; camel or elephant riding, $50; sulky driving, $35; water polo play- ing, $35; football or basketball playirig, $27.50; baseball playing, $22.23; bowling, $15.56. FIIOM JF DUE Because, of the overshadowing effect of the Jackson Park decree, the Chicago situation has become the most lucrative spot for exhibs on an anti-trust berider^ Two suits brought for treble damages have already been settled by the ma- jors in the Windy City and a third is currently in the works. Two of the three mean payment of heavy colri to exhibs, both being repped by Seymour Simon, former Dept, of Justice attorney. 1 ; Tbird-in-a-row would cover the three suits ; now . pending against the majors hrought by Van A, No- mikos, Chi exhib. Latter is un- derstood to be demanding $100,- 000 as the price for dropping his trio of suits. Nomikos and the distrBjs reached a tentative deal for ^0,00,0 some time back but the exhib then upped his demands to $100,000, Action brought by Ridge: thea- tre, Chi, has just been settled for approximately $286;000. What cut of this Simon takes as his fee has not been disclosed. Anotiier suit filed in the name of the Kimbark theatre has been adjusted for $9,- 000 plus some breaks on clearance arid;ruri.;;. Most lucrative settlements are stemming from three or four sore spots in the country where one or another affiliate dominated the situation for many years. In Chi, , of course, Balaban; & Katz,' United Paramount subsid, ruled the roost, In Philadelphia* Warner Bros, cir- cuit has been top dog. Record payments of $1,050,000 are being made, to Wiliiam A. Goldman in philly;-.',- ;^ ■;•, String of settlements may shat- ter the united front of majors in these anti-trust suits. Understood the Little Three^—^Universal, Co- lumbia and United Artists—are growing restive under the increas- ing financial strain. Their attor- rieys would like to fight more of the suits rather than settle. Image as Sharp As 35m Pictures Key Washington, May 9. The success of theatre TV de- pends upon projecting. an image as sharp and clean as that pres- eritlj^ provided by 35m films fOr, without this; according to indus- try experts, “it has nothing to af- ford.'^ Largely, this is wrapped up in obtaining a wide enough barid from the FCC, which has given no indication of what, if anythirig, it will provide for. the- atre television in the ultra high frequencies. - Survey here based on the briefs filed with Fee by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, 20th-Fox and Para- mpurit Television Productions— the leaders in the field—show there is substantial technical dif- ferences in the industry proposals for sharp theatre TV. For exam- ple, their ; recommeridations for total spectrurri space for the Serv- ice were, respectively; 3,000, 1,- 200 arid 360 megacycles; Although RGA recently announced a: system for sending 625^1irie pictures oyer an 8 megacycle channel, SMPTE; has iridicated the standard 4 mC picture band width .may be suit- able. Par and FoX are both ex- perimenting with 4 me width arid find it insufficient. Par urges 10 arid Fox 8 mes as the minimum suitable for theatre video. They are just as far apart on what the ultimate Width of ; the theatre TV band should be., Twenti- eth reCoiniriehds 17 me and Para- mount wants 25. .SMPTE is under- stood to favor something in the vi- cinity 6f 30 me. Twentieth and Par both favor six operatirig groups in the field and SMPTE is willing to go along oh this aithough it believes ^0 would be a better number. How^; ever; par believes there should be four channels per operating group; 20th is satisfied with two and SMPTE is holding out for six, Smairs: ^ ^ ^ iteppehs GoidVyii^ I^^ Hollywood, May 9; ^ Edward Small will start filming his long-delayed “Valentino; As 1 Knew Hirin’* May 25, at the same time reviyirig activity on the Samr liel Goldwyn lot, shuttered since the COiripletioh of “Edge Of Doom’’ several months ago; Small has received assurance froih •Jitbth Goldwyn and Mary Pickford that his production Will riot be disturbed by the legal has- sle between the two owners of ; the studio. T-r- p.O;tagF(Nrces Chicago, May 9; : of drawing power at the boxoffice is^ forcing most of Chi- cago’s first-run theatres into poli- cies of one Week of first-run playr irig tiirie. This: was accentuated last week When the Chicago the- atre, Balabaii & Katz fiagshipi and biggest house iri the city, an- nounced that it was embarking on a one-week yaudfilm policy. Only top-drawer attractions will rate two weeks, B&K toppers ahnouriced.; Other first-run houses have or are adopting this policy. B&K houses, are, of course, limited to two weeks anyway by Jackson Park decree, but priental, which can play un- limited runs., will also adopt one Week vaudfilm policy for most of the summer. RKO, which Operates tWo first-run houses, Palace, and Grand, are allowed to play extend- ed runs in one provided other takes up the slack; Palace has been playing, one-weekers steadily, with Grand playing the long runs, but even the Grand has come down; to two Weeks, and on occasion plays a one-weekei*. ■ United Artists aqd Roosevelt, other B&K houses, are- alternating between one and two weeks* State- Lake, second largest Loop B&K house, plays two weeks. B & K’s Garrick has been on one-Week pol- icy, playing mostly adventure pix and reissues. Only theatre in Loop on extend- ed-run policy is the Essaness Woods, which averages four to five weeks per film. B&K toppers have set only three Commitments for Chicago for two- weekers for this summer. First is May 12, with special vaude show. Second is for Andrews Sisters, in late June. Last is special disk jock- ey show in July. Decisions of Chicago and Orien- tal will affect vaude acts adversely. Most name acts play here twice a year on theatre/dates, generally once at Chicago and puce at Orien- tal. Change to one-week policy will force house bookers to try to get acts in four times per year. Acts Will naturally balk, feeling 4: Power of local bluenose organ!- zatioris to censor films will get an- other going-over in; the federal courts, despite the . Supremie Court’s refusal Monday (8) to hear an appeal from the action of the Memphis cerispr board in banning, the film, ■ “Curtey/* U. S. Court Of; Appeals in New Orleans yesterday (TUes.) caleridared for June 5 a hearing on the appeal of indie; pro- ducer Louis de Rocheirioht from a lower court decision refusing ah injunction against the Censorship of “Lost Boundaries’- in AtlArita. . Even though the Suprenie Court nixed ari appeal in the “Ciirley" case, there are two factors leading industry observers to believe that de Rpehemont might succeed in his court battle. For one, the Memphis hoard reversed itself by okaying “Gurley” after its original riix, so that producer Hal Roachi could prove no damages, inasmuch as the picture could; eventually play in that city, Thus, Hie Supremo' Court decision had been anticipat- ed in part. Secondly, the de RocIiOt mont ease more clearly involves the .Constitutional question as to the "Permissibility of local censor- ship than did the “Curley” actipn. Judge Samuel I. Rpsenman will argue the case for de Rochemont, In a prior district court hearing, Judge M. Neal Andrews described the Atlanta ban on“Boundaries” sis “thought control,” but said lie was bound by a, 1915 decision of the High Court iipholdirig censor- ship. He; recognized that the ques-^ tion appeared to need re-examina- tion in light of later cases; Judge Rosenriian plans to argue that the 1915 decision cannot stand in the (Continued on page 14) Bum’s Rudi, Atty Sez In Extended-Run Appeal Chicago, May 9. Chi circuit court of appeals last week heard Jackson Park attorney Thomas C. McConnell declare that frequent grants of extended first- runs in the Loop by Federal dis- trict Judge. Michael Igoe are de- stroying the jp decree, McConnell spoke in an appeal on Judge Igpe’s power to grant spe- cial extensions to pictures which! Would run longer than the two Weeks allowed under the decree. The exact extension appealed was the eight-week Tun given to. “Gome to the Stable” (20l:h) nearly a year ago. The three circuit judges have the case, under advisement. McConnell argued that the only way an exception. could be' made to the decree was if circumstances unthought of at the time of writing of the decree had occurred. That is, if the situation has changed in any great , way since the decree was written, relief could be grant-. (Continued on page 18) rARAHOVNT ORDERED TO PAY 50G lEGAl FEES Paramount has been directed by the. New York suprenie court to _ ^ . I pay $50,000 in lawyers’ fees plus that s too much. It s c^PCPlcd to i a group of at- unknpvvn.s, however, because | ^Qj,j 2 gyg acepuntants who of need for greater talent, and band i^^ppea minority stockholders in a ■ shpws, which have shown^marked ; settled. Peace pact had weakness in second weeks here. ^ Hollywood; May^.9^^ FredTic Mafch is being starred Iri ‘’Four Eyes,’’ of nine se- resulted in Barney, Balaban, Par's prez, agreeing to ’slash his pay- . checks to $2,000 weekly, a cut of $1,000 per week* Suit had attacked an agreement giving Balaban $2,000,000 in convertible potes in return for a loan to the company. In making the allbwarices; court ruled that Par has beriCfited by $236,000 from the settlement. Big- quences to be included in Metro’s! l>- 2 yu,uuu irom me seuiement. Big- “It’s a Big Country.” He replaced i ^est collector is Pomerantz, Levy, Edward G. .Robinson, who exited pic after a billing squabble. Filin will be March’s first since 1948, when he made “Ari Act of Murder” for Universal* He^^-^ cently starred iii Broadway legiter, “Now' I Lay Me Down to Sleep,” w'ith his Wife, Fiorence Eldridge. Schreiber & Haudek, lawfirm rep- ping number of plaintiffs. Firm will be paid $34,250 on a plea foT a $165,675 aliow^ance. David Berdon & Co;, account- ants, asked $35,000;; w‘as hrinded $5,000. Remairiing sum is appor- tioned among other attorneys.