Variety (November 1950)

Wednesday, November 8, 1950 PICTURES SEE COMPO-TOA COMPROMISE Stanley Kramer-Sam Katz com-f bine has resumed its abortive nego- tiations of last summer for acqui- sition of a controlling interest in United Artists. Paul V. McNutt and Frank L. MnNamee are under- stood to have informed Mary Pick- ford that they will drop their op- tion and retire from the scene if she is able to make another deal ihe feels more favorable. Kramer and Katz have had a number of talks in the past month with Miss Pickford and one meet- ing with her co-'owner in UA, Charles Chaplin. They refuse, how- ever, to enter into any serious, de- tailed negotiations while Miss Pick- ford continues to talk to other peo- ple regarding a UA deah it is un- derstood. The Kramer-Katz team is admit- tedly anxious to acquire control of UA to use it for distribution of the annual program of pix they are planning. They reportedly are irked, however, by Miss Pickford’s insistence on discussing possible deals with a whole variety of peo- ple who have appeared on the scene since it has become evident that McNutt and McNamee are un- able to resuscitate the company on the basis they originally proposed. What has particularly burned Kramer, it is understood, is that most of the men with whom Miss Pickford has talked are of the pro- motional type, unequipped to pro- duce pictures themselves. As a re- sult, as soon as they have talked with the UA co-owner they have come to see Kramer in an effort to make a deal by which he’d pro- (Continued on page .25) Harold Wilson Nixes U. S. Visit Request Harold Wilson, president of the British Board of Trade, has de-^ dined the invitation of the Motion Picture Assn, of America and the Society of Independent Motion Pic- ture Producers to visit this coun- try. They had asked him to be their guest Jiere at a formal sign- ing of the Anglo-U. S. films agree- ment which became effective Oct. 1. In cablegrams io MPAA prexy Eric Johnston and SIMPP chief tain Ellis G. Arijall this week Wil- son expressed his regrets. He said he had hoped to get to the U. S. in the near future, but the situa- tion in England now made it ap- pear impossible. Johnston and Amall also ten- dered an invitation to R. G. Somer- vell, exec of the British Board of Trade, who administers the films agreement. No reply has been re- ceived from him as yet, but it is understood he will accept. Newsreelers Snarled On Truman Assassination Try Washington, Nov. 7. Last week’s attempted assassina- tion of President Truman was de- scribed by newsreel men here* as the biggest picture story they’d had since the Truman inauguration in January,' li949. And niost ^ of them, were caught off base for it. Seems Mr Truman was slated to dedicate an equestrian statue of Sir John pill at Arlington Memorial Cemetery, across the Po- tomac River in Arlington, Va., with, the British Ambassador and others taking part. So the reelers went over early to set up their cameras and. prepare for the big doings. But the two crazed Puerto- Ricans elected to shoot it out with the Presidential police at Blair House. Only two newsreel men left on the D. C* side of the rivfer were Robert Denton, Of Paramount News, who was doing office duty, and who reached the scene of the shooting first; and Pathe’s George Dorsey, also working in the of- fice, who came Mong a moment or so later. It took a little longer for the report to reach the cam- era crews at Arlington cemetery. Next Not for UA—If Unless the Stanley Kranier- Sam Katz combo succeeds in acquiring control of United Artists, its next picture will not be made for that company’s release. Kramer has one more film to make after “Cyrano” for UA under his five-picture deal, but the pictures do not have to be produced consecu- tively. Kramer and Katz plan mak- ing their next group of films for the new unit they recently set up, with distribution yet to be determined. The pic due UA would be made for it at some Indeterminate future date. Self as Possible Denver, Nov. 7. Robert Selig told Variety here yesterday • (Monday) that he will not be available for the presidency of Theatre Owners of America next year even if he is elected. He indicated he was irked with the in- ference that he had sent word to the TOA convention in Houston last week that he would be avail- able this year. Selig is executive assistant to Frank H. Ricketson, president of Fox-IntermOuntain Theatres. He was nominated, by Ted Gamble in an exec committee session at Houston last week for the top TOA post and was central figure in an intramural hassle that finally re- sulted in the compromise reelec- tion of Sam Pinanski as prez. The young exec reportedly had backing for the post from Charles Skouras, prez of National The- atres, of which Intermountain is a subsid. It was understood that Skouras was prepared to give him (Continued on page 25) Rossellini Still Says RKO ‘Done Him Wrong’ ' Paris, Nov. 7. Roberto Rossellini and wife, In- grid Bergman, arrived here last Friday (3) for a couple of weeks’ stay. Rossellini, who first pretend- ed he was only here on a visit, ad- mitted later that he came to fight the RKO release of “Stromboli.” He again sought ah injunction be- fore the French court to prevent further showings of this picture. In the meantime, the first-run showings in three Paris first-runs and in key cities will be about over, About $120,000 gross in Raris alone is looked for. Rossellini had. reportedly tried to settle with RKO for $100,000 cash, but was definitely turned down by RKO. He says he permitted the Amer- ican version to be used for the gala sendoff at the Opera here, but never okayed any public com- mercial showings in France. Ac- companying to Paris is M, Monaco, prexy of the Italian Authors. Chi PirstTRuris Hit By Initial Admission Hike Chicago, Nov. 7. .Chi theatres, in their first move to raise prices, have upped morn- ing admissions to 55c from 50c; in the Loop area. Both Balaban & Katz houses and the indie Oriental have raised ticket take, but after- noon and evening prices remain the same at .the present 98c top. Nabe houses have been loath to hypo admissions, due to falloffs in attendance. Several nabe spots have cut prices, but action hasn’t spread. Next 10 days probably will be critical in the life of the fiedgling Council of MOtibrt Picture Organi- zations. Within that period likely will be determihed whether COMPO and the powerful Theatre Owners of America—representing almost half the houses in the coun- try—can continue to live together or whether COMPO will attempt to go on its way minus TOA. It is believed likely that a com- promise can be effected on the two hurdles which kept the TOA board from approving continued membership in COMPO at the ex- hib organization’s annual conven- tion in Houston last week. They are a desire for greater representa- tion on the) COMPO exec board and a demand that COMPO re- strict its operation to the national public relations field. A committee headed by Ted Gamble will attempt to work out terms with COMPO execs Ned E. Depinet, Arthur L. Mayer and Robert W. Coyne prior to the ses- sions of COMPO s exec board in New York next Thursday and Fri- day a6-17). Allied Resentful Major block to such a compro-Zj mise lies in the attitude of Allied States Exhibitors Assn., TOA’s rival in the national exhib field and one of its nine fellow constit- uents in COMPO. Abram F. Myers, board chairman and general coun- sel of Allied, expressed consider- (Continued on page 22) Cold^n, Jr., Into Army Hollywood, Nov. 7. Samuel Gbldwyn, Jr , who re- cently plahned becoming a pro- ducer in association with Gbldwyn, Sr , has had his plans thwarted by the U. S. Army. Young Goldwyn has been noti- fied to report for active duL short- ly after Jan. 1. He was a 2nd lieut. during the last war and served in Germany. " Ban on Hecht Pix London, Nov. 7. -The ban that has kept films in which Ben Hecht has had a hand from showing in England during the past two years is expected to be lifted in part tomorrow (Wed.). The Cinematograph Exhibitors Assn, general council at that time is slated to remove its nix from Hecht pix which are already in this country. Move applies to 20th-Fox’s “Whirlpool” and “Where the Side- walk Ends” and United Artists- Lester Cowan’s “Love Happy. (Continued on page 25) >» The $20,000,000 indie production fund which Bankers Trust Co., N. Y., held out to the industry last winter went a-glimmering this week. Ellis G. Arnall, prez of the Society of /Independent Motion Picture Producers, notified Alex Ardrey, exec y.p of the bank, in- dications were , that indies would not provide information required as a prerequisite to establishment of the huge financing pool. The plan was hatched jointly by Ardrey and Arnall early this year. Ardrey, at a meeting set up by Arnall on the Coast of some 80 indie producers, offered to make $10,000,000 in bank money avail- able. In addition, he snid he would be instrumental in establishing an equity capital fund of another $10,000,000 to provide secondary financing. As a prerequisite, however, Ardrey pointed out that it would be necessary to show that indie financing over a period of the past 12 years or so was profitable for the investors. If it .proved $o, he said he’d go ahead; if not, he'd forget the idea. He proposed that Bankers Trust would pay the freight for the nec- essary statistical study by an in- dependent accounting agency if producers with requisite experi- ence would open their books, (jeorge Bagnall, former Coast v.p. of United Artists, was named by (Continued on page 25) By HERB GOLDEN A hush-hush session of top in- dustry leaders in production, dis- tribution and exhibition is current- ly being planned. It will frankly be a “what-are-we-goirig-to-do« about-it?” meeting to plot counter- measures to the inroads on filni grosses by TV and other forms of competition and to consider ways of reviving the faltering boxoffice. Powwow is an outgrowth of a session held for the same purpose among about 25 of the top exhib- itors in the country at the Theatre Owners of America convention in Houston last week. The circuit chiefs, whose holdings represent investments of millions of dollars, met at a private dinner sponsored by New York theatreman Simon H. Fabian. Secret session was a grim, no- kidding affair, with all those in at- tendance cautioned against talking about it. It wound up with a sug- gestion from Charles Skouras, prez of 20th-Fox’s circuit-owning subsid, National Theatres, that another similar meeting be held with top- (Continued on page 25) i Story’ To Be Done by Buckner Hollywood, Nov. 7. Robert Buckner is writing and will produce “The Mussolini Story” late next year, with title role to be played by an Italian lawyer, “a perfect double” for the late dictator. Producer did con- siderable research on film while making “Deported” last fall. Hud- dling with witnesses to the killing of Mussolini. Buckner plans lensing on actual location although attorney-actor would first be brought here for several months to learn English. Several European companies have planned such a film, but it never materialized. Buckner said one Spanish company had planned Mussolini pic with Charles Boyer in the role. “Mussolini” would follow Buckner’s next for UI, “Wild Bunch.” National Boxoffice Survey Cool Weather, Election Day Boost Biz; ^Eve’ Champ Again; -Lady/ ‘Get By/ ‘Miniver’ Next Best More seasonable fall weather, along with usual upbeat on Elec- tion Day, is lifting biz in key cities covered by Variety this session. In some spots, the upbeat is only slight, but exhibitors view any im^ provement as a relief from recent dull weeks. “All About Eve” (20th) is stand- out champ at the wickets, taking first money for second week in a row. It will wind up with more than $100,000 better than its clos- est rivM, “To Please a Lady” (M-G), which in turn is showing up much better than the third place winner. ‘Til Get By” (20th) is exerting surprising strength for a musical at present time to take third, Fourth money goes to ‘Miniver Story” (M-G), which is helped by $100,000 from second Week at N. Y. Music Hall. However, despite this strong money total, the British- made is not .faring at all well in many locations. In fact, “Rio Grande” (Rep), sans any major circuit affiliation,, is making a much stronger showing on individual dates. Republic special is easy fifth-place winner, although just starting out this week. In four keys, this western opus ranges from fine to big, be- ing the lone strong moneymaker in slow L.A. Undoubtedly will soon be heard from more. “Glass Menagerie” (WB) is fin- ishing sixth, while “Harriet Craig” (Col), new this stanza, is managing to wind up seventh. “Two Flags West” (20th), ‘‘Right Cro.ss” (M-G) and “Tripoli” (Pair) round out the Big 10 list. “Wyoming Mail” (U) and “Petty Girl” (Cpl) pace the runner-up pix in that order. ^ Besides “Rio Grande,” some of other new* fare hints promise. “De- ported” (U) is shaping up well, with nice N- Y. session and okay trade in Boston. “Two Weeks With Love’’ (M-G) also shows po^ tentialities. being fine in St. Louis and fancy in Cleveland. “Milk- man” (U) looms bright in Milwau- kee and fairish in Baltimore. “Three Hu.sbands” (UA), also new, is rated light in Boston. “Pestlnation Moon” (EL) looks nice in St. Louis and trim in K.C. ‘‘Walk Softly, , Stranger” (RKO) shapes fine in Toronto. “Desert Hawk” (U), strong in Providence, is sock in Detroit. “Toast of New Orleans” (M-G) is fancy in Chi. “Rocky Mountain” (WB), okay in N. Y., is fair in Balto. “Life of Own” (M-G) looms niee in Toronto. “Joan of Arc” (RKO,) on a re-booking in Washington, shapes okay. “State Secret” (Col), oke in N. Y , is nice in Washing- ton. “Union Station” (Par) looks great in Denver. (Compute .Boxoffice Reports on Pages iO’il), Trade Mark Registered FOUNDED BY SIME SILVERMAN Published Weekly by VARIETY, Inc. Harold Erichs. President 154 West 46th St., New York 19. N. Y. Hollywood 28 6311 Yucca Street Washington 4 1292 National Press Building Chicago 11 612 No. Michigan Ave. London WC2 8 St. Martin’s PI., Trafalgar Sq. SUBSCRIPTION Annual . .. $10 Foreign ... $11 Single Copies. . 23 Cents ABEL GREEN, Editor Vol. 180 120 0O*(^ No. 9 INDEX Bills .... Chatter .,.. Film Reviews ......... Football House Reviews. Inside Legit .,....... Inside Music . ...... ^.. Inside Pictures ....... International . > ....... Legitimate ...... ^.. Literati . .. Music New, Acts-. .. i. .., Night Club Reviews.. .. Obituaries .. — .....,. Pictures .............. Radio . .... .. Radio Reviews. .....,. Records I . . . . ...... Frank Scully........,. Television ........... Television Reviews..... Vaudeville . ...... 62 70. 6 71 63 64 48 19 14 64 69 47 62 58 71 3 26 38 48 69 29 34 57 DAILY VARIETY . (Published In Hollywood by Daily Variety. Ltd.) $15 a Year—$20 Foreign