Variety (February 1951)

•*. ■ Wednesday, February 21, 1951 C TILL I IT X PICTURES I A SWG Presents Annual Prizes; ‘Eve,’ ‘Sunset,’ ‘Men Kudosed Ll|[D, Allied ‘Exploration’ Seen Delaying .1 Hollywood, Feb. 20. 4* - ■ . Prizes for the best written pic- rww C- Wine QAIP , °ne definite holdout from mem- 4ni'ofl of the vear were handed out “MS bership in the Council of Motion \ * it. j judflHtent Vs Goldridrfi Picture Organizations, and the pos- here tonight (Tues,> at the third , ,,' wwZ elbllity of « second, this week annual awards party of the Screen Robert^Goelet, Sr., wealthy New serve( j to deprive the org of the in- tVriter, Guild «t the Hotel Ambas- by nSifauU iS feasUenSruf ** " sador. * N. Y: supreme court last week A i lied P independent Theatre Prize winners in each category from Goldrldge, Inc. Latter firm 0w „ ers of E asfern Pennsylvania, were Joseph Mankiewicz and Mary j* **} °FPI l ,' za i ,? se ‘ r p ,. n ^ at a meeting held in Philadelphia Orr for "All About Eve," comedy; cOMm^Ttas Ks^detVm/naUoS t> Tiyf iif l*tvi \x m (in i **pftntnpu ^ in Tfalv PirfiiPA u/aq to°stfy 0 'outside S the COMPo” fold! D. M. Marshman. Jr.Mor "Sunset "Rapture,” in Italy. Picture was decid / d n Ust October, re- Boulevard,” drama; Michael Blank- recently released in the U. S, mained unchanged. fort and Elliott Arnold for ' Broken Goldrldge owed the elder Goelet Unit's membershio meeting was Arrow,” western, and Carl Fore- a total of 25 promissory notes followed bya conclaveofitsboard man for "The Men,” which "best which were granted overa two-year 0 f governors. Sidney,E. Samuelson, depicts the American scene. Mu- period. They amounted to $237,- head of the ou tfit, said COMPO sical comedy award, with a tie vote, 000. Interest _and costs increased was ne ither on the agenda nor was was split between George Wells, the sum to $303,957. Foreclose ^ acted upon- at either session. for "Three Little Words,” and Sid- proceedings were instituted when HoWever, there remained the possi- ney Sheldon, Herbert and Dorothy Goldrldge failed to meet the notes. k;;u v 0 « co n r c e that the Eastern Fields, for "Annie Get Your Gun,” Western hemisphere distribution of Pennsylvania unit might take up Irene Dunne presented the “Rapture” was handled by Eagle the matter some tipie in the fu- Christopher awards, which were Lion Classics. ture. announced last week in New York). —; Group’s meeting followed by a to Lamar Trotti for "Cheaper By mm* vvy Tew days the Washington session the Dozen” arid to Frances Good- YL/» M 1V1 WotfA of the Allied States board, at which rich and Albert Hackett for "Fath- I jll. ITIIII. VVfflVt* COMPO was formally indorsed, er of the Bride.” Christopher • P This was expected, since general prizes of $5,000 were open for the ^ counsel Abram F. Myers and other first time this year to screenwrit- A nfll // Allied officials stated at the or- ers and are confined for pix pro- ^IHriS rAlllll Lu ganizaitori’s recent New York ses- viding good family entertainment. *** * sion they’d give it support. George Jessel emceed for pres- - mi V7 /I Elected to rep Allied on the entation of the prizes, aired by |~ \| V VIaI/i COMPO executive committee were NBC. |H 11. I g uldlC i Trueman T. Rembusch, Abe Beren- Highlighting the evening were son, Benjamin Berger, Jack Kirsch, skits lampooning the industry, Minimum wage standards for S", a . per ’ Nath ’ with casts including Jane Russell. „ «e nnn i_ a.i._ , an Yamins and H. A. GOie. - N. Y. Criterion Signs For Three Hallmark Fix Criterion theatre will be the New York firstrun outlet for three recently completed Hall- mark < Productions under deal an- nounced yesterday (Tues.) by Jack Thomas, Hallmark’s v.p. and gen- eral manager. Hallmark, headed by Kroger Babb, has three pix completed, first of which, "The Prince of Peace,” is set to open at the Criterion March 23. "One Too Many]’ follows “Prince” at the house. In August, Criterion will premiere "Secrets of Beauty.” ‘'Bjfbb' and' Murph McHenry, publicity head for Hallmark, are due-in New York from the Coast this weekend to set up' exploitation plans. announced last week in New York). —; Group’s meeting followed by a to Lamar Trotti for "Cheaper By mm* ny Tew days the Washington session the Dozen” arid to Frances Good- YL/» M 1V1 MfotfA of the Allied States board, at which rich and Albert Hackett for "Fath- I jll. ITI|||. VVfflVt* COMPO was formally indorsed, er of the Bride.” Christopher • P This was expected, since general prizes of $5,000 were open for the ^ counsel Abram F. Myers and other first time this year to screenwrit- A til'll / / Allied officials stated at the or- ers and are confined for pix pro- ^|| ||| |S AIHll LfLr ganizaitori’s recent New York ses- viding good family entertainment. *** * sion they’d give it support. George Jessel emceed for pres- - mi V7 /I Elected to rep Allied on the entation of the prizes, aired by |~ \| V vIaI/i COMPO executive committee were NBC. If f llg 1 g UldlC i Trueman T. Rembusch, Abe Beren- Highlighting the evening were son, Benjamin Berger, Jack Kirsch, skits lampooning the industry, Minimum wage standards for S", a . per ’ Nath ’ wlh casts including Jane Russell, more than 75,000 workers in the an I ^ a ™' i " s _ a “ d 5'«; h , p i Mane Wilson, Paul Douglas, Ar- fl mu«;pmpnt and recreation industry Looming a s the second possible Dabl, Edward G. Robinson (Continued on page 18) and Claue Tievor. Scenes fiom fective April 22 under an: order ; 1 : the pnzewmning films were enact- signed today (Wed.) by Industrial 110 C ni . * nn Pmiliirarc • ^ s l ar ,^ w !lp bad appeared Commissioner Edward Corsi. The llv fOrClgH ftlOQUCClS in them. Bette Davis and Gary decree sets up a general minimum n n«y a . • Al } v bout of 75c p er hour for the entire ln - From 11 lountnes Eye, and Bill Holden and Nancy dustry, with only a few specific ex- > 1T •_ Olson ployed a shot from "Sunset C eutions AlJflll Kw MPA A Ilmf Boulevard.” Jeff Chandler did a Ce ]£w pay standards provide a dif- AIflefl “ mrM U ™ br 'f, f s ^ en ® Trom^ Broken Arrow,” ferential with lower wage scales Motion Picture Assn, of Amer- while Jack Webb and Dick Erd- outside the metropolitan area. Di- lea’s Advisory Unit for Foreign ^ a scene from The meetly affected by the order are a Films assisted 113 foreign filmpro- The musical comedy con- dumber of motion picture theatre ducers from 22 countries iri its in- *" cl . uded A Howard Keel, employees, including cashiers, itial year of operation. Units ex- Shelley Winters, Arlene Dahl, and cleaners, porters, matrons, ticket- tensive aid to overseas filmmakers songwriter Harry Ruby. takers, doormen, ushers and vari- was disclosed in New York yester- ous other minor groups. Others day (Tues.) in its first annual re- iiTinatirmn in . irn within the scope of the ruling are port. , ^ songwriter Harry Ruby. WE1SNERS TAKE OVER LAUREL’S ’DELLA’ golf caddies, bowling alley pinboys, etc. As submitted by Unit exec-di- rector B. Bernard' Kreisler to I AYIPPT WII A’ Tn preparing the wage ukase, MPAA international division chief L/IUIUjL O vLLLfi Commissioner Corsi okayed the John G. McCarthy, the report notes Laurel Films* Robert Alda-Janis recommendations of a minimum that throughout the 12-month Paige starrer "Double for Della” wage board Tor the industry over atretch some 77 of the 113 pro- •uge siarier, Double Jor Della, which Supreme Court justice Fran- ducers or their reps made personal has been taken over by Welsner c j s x. Giaccone presided. That a trips to New York'to secure first- Bros. Productions, which retitled wage minimum should be pre- hand details^ on the nature of the it "Two Gals and a Guy.” Ac- scribed for film theatre employees group’s unique assistant program. qulsition of the picture marks the was vigorously opposed, last year Figure Includes three producer- initial step of the Weisners into by various exhibitor organizations, execs from Italy, France and Swe- filmmaking. While definite pro- At public healings held in New den, who came to the U. S. at the duction plans are somewhat vague York by Corsi the Independent MPAA’s invitation to serve as at the moment, the new outfit is Theatre Owners Assn, and Metro-! liaison delegates between the Unit said to be mapping several films politan Motion Picture Theatres and filmmakers of their respective for shooting in New York. Assn, protested that part-time em- countries. Almost half of the in- Irving Welsner! reDortedly. is a ployecs. should not be embraced dustryites making the trek came ° _ / + * r * ■ Tfolif QnH TTronna F.micofinoc wealthy real estate operator whose family has film theatre holdings in the metropolitan area. Brother Sidney is an attorney. Weisners originally had a'large financial in- terest in Laurel-Della, Inc., a cor- porate firm set up to produce "Double for. Della.” Last week the brothers decided to purchase (Continued on page 18) COL TALKS TO RATOFF ON FOREIGN PROJECT from Italy and France. Emissaries were also sent from 16 other coun- tries. Report points out that as a re- sult of Unit-sponsored free screen- ings of overseas product for New York’s 72 foreign films distribs, U. S. release rights were negotiated for four features and one featur- "Double for. Della.” Last week Hollywood, Feb. 20. u.&. release ngnts were negouatea the brothers decided to purchase Columbia is considering produc- Tor four features and one featur- the entire film It was recently 't-iori of a couple pictures in Britain ette. After previewing seven other completed in Niw YoA and s?or- to use Up some & its frozen pound futures ^nd lS.jshorts the Unit ing is due tri be wrapped up within earnings. Pix would be made by advised their producers that these a month. Distribution will be Gregory Ratoff, who arrived from- pix were impractical for the Amer- Lhroueh Eai?lP Linn Classics- New York last week for confabs on • iclun market. tlirougli Eagle Lion Classics. Although Laurel Films with- ! w a a ■ * ■■iiiirnnnn drew from "Delia,” it’s under- Harry Cohn. These discussions,.its , I Af A| Oftg MCMDEDC stood that the company will con- understood, concern talent and liVWUi >WU PWW tinue as a separate entity, with I Mndred details. . ■. «»r CifUEIt DIKTU John Arent remaining as head. Ratoff remains on the Coast for dCCIV D/il/llLll UUdIEIi Firm turned out such, pictures in abo . ut two^ . g0 _ e n s f ^ Members of Moving Picture Op- the past as ‘‘Guilty. Bystander,” £ a i' is ar l d erators Local 306,.New York, at a the project with company prexy Harry Cohn. These discussions,.it’s stood that the company will con- understood, concern talent and tinue as a separate entity, with | x t John Arent remaining as head. Ratoff remains on the Coast fpv Finn turned out such, pictures in abo . ut weeks, then goe^s to Meanwhile, former Laurel prez Rex Carlton is believed to be re- u ^ . II J » . mtr A„. AO U1UUU LDUUQCAt' wauici nao uccu sidering a p.a. stint in a TV show. retained . on a mon th-tc-month basis T “ ‘ following a vote on Jan. 3 to fire . —' H*.* VWAk AU MVAA\> TVW liV MV * V mm m ■ * *-* turning to production as a prob^ Kazan-Mlller-Hook , him because of his Communist able producer with the Weisners. T?oll* TLwkiiol. P art y affiliations. - Sacher is a In engineering their last week’s rOr A^OI, rails inrougu trustee of the Jefferson School, deal the brothers also took over Hollywood, F$b. 20. party’s indoctrination-institute, a play, “Fifth Print,” by 'Will t>eAl for Elia Kazan and Arthur J Advocates of Sacher’s ousting Yolen. It was’formerly Qri LaiU'el’s Miller to make “The Hook” for i have been urging a big turnout of schedule. Yolen will serve as a Columbia release has chilled. ! members at this morning’s sessions department liaison man, with .the MAll?r. was tq.jdo, the. Stojjy.'.and |iin> order .to bring, the issue to ( a Weisner'iOrganizationvuu ih ( ’ •> , screenplay,'Kazamto direct..'if' 1 i <|*he'ad4 , -'n.ih'u:>‘f i 1 ’ * K “ v ’ Philadelphia, Feb, 20. ■ Trueman T. Rembusch, president of National Allied, gave a compre- hensive picture of TV and its fu- ture effects on the motion picture , industry at the 13th annual mem- bership meeting of Allied of East- ern Pennsylvania in the Broadwood hotel yesterday (19). The all-day sessions were at- tended by 125 theatreowners rep- resenting some 350 houses in this area, who voiced severe criticism of local industry problems at the open forum sessioris conducted by Sidney S. Samuelson, president and general manager of Eastern Allied. At the forum the film men bitterly Assailed the "brutal sales policy of 20th-Fox,” particularly to "Halls of Montezuma,” and were sharply critical of Metro’s alloca- tion of pictures in this area. An- other major gripe was the rumored. 50% policy ori "Samson and De- lilah” and the feeling expressed from the floor was that it would he better not to play the pic rather than pay that price. - Also a subject of contention was alleged price discrimination by the (Continued on page 18) MACKEE ASSEMBLING CHAIN OF 20 OZONERS Buffalo, Feb. 20. ‘ New circuit of drive-in theatres is in process of formation by a financial syndicate seeking proper- ties in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Smith Management Co. of Boston will reportedly oprate the ozoners. Understood MacKee Theatre Service Co., Gotham concern, is acting for the syndicate in acquir- ing the properties; MacKee is said to have assembled 20 units so far for the group. MacKee Noncommital W. E. MacKee, head of chain, ad- mitted in New York Monday (19) that negotiations to Acquire the drive-ins were under way, but he refused comment on the manage- ment phases. Awarded 85G in Suit, Charged Print Ruined Washington, Feb. 20. Dean Dickason, lecturer and pro- ducer of . travel pix,. has been awarded. $85,000 in his $100,000 suit against National Geographic Society. Dickason had charged National Geographic with having ruined his original 16m print of "There Is No. India,’’ which the So- ciety. had borrowed for a showing at Constitution Hall, March 5,1948. .Trial opened Jan.-29- in District of Colombia su’pbfkwf CoWrt, 1,) ' ;Vt ' Willingness of Allied States Assn, to explore possibilities of establishing an industry arbitration system was regarded by distribu- tion-exhibition advocates of arbi- tration ori Monday (19) as being "encouraging.’’ However, in some quarters, Allied’s long-range ex- ploratory program: was seen as a delaying action, without much hope of immediate steps to put a plan in work. Inasmuch as Allied plans to make no report on its arbitration study until the association’s May : r board meeting in Kansas City, this to be followed by a general membership vote at the October national convention in New York, progress appears to be stymied un- til late this year. . There is some hope that Allied may be. urged to hypaaction so that delay can be held to a minimum. Questions to be determined are types of cases to be arbitrated and mechanics for handling them. If Allied can be convinced that. ex- pediency in setting .up', a system will eliminate considerable litiga- tion, some sort of a tentative work- ing agreement, may be created so that it can become operative after the next Allied board session and before the national convention. Leaders of Theatre Owners of America yesterday (Tues.) with- held all comment on Allied’s ac- \ ceptance of bids to enter into arbi- tration talks: Full study of Allied’s plans will be made before TOA will make a statement. It was in- /dicated, however, that a formal statement might be forthcoming before end of week. ^ Allied Bd. Maps All-Out Fight for Bow Rentals Washington, Feb. 20. Board of the Allied States Assn, in annual mid-Winter session here last week decided to go to the mat with the distributors on film rent- als, and also to slug it out on the matter of getting more prints of pictures. The Allied leaders made one conciliatory gesture, however, by indicating an interest for the first time iri a compulsory arbitra- tion program for the industry; they decided to look into the matter— without any commitments. Once the subject of film rentals reached' the floor in the behind- closed-doors session, all other topics were pushed aside as the indie exhibitors got down to what was closest to their hearts. Chief beefs were against 20th-Fox, which was alleged to be . doing the most thorough job of wringing the last buck out of the rental contracts. A three-man committee —. Nathan (Continued on page 20) PRODS. TO JOIN GUILDS IN PAY-FREEZE FIGHT . Hollywood, Feb. 20^ Peculiar problems of the film industry in the .proposed freezing of wages will be outlined in a joint petition by the Screen Actors, Di- rectors and Writers Guilds for presentation to the War Stabiliza- tion Board. Understood the Pro- - ducers Assn, will add its support to the petition. At a recent meeting of the three guilds it wa§‘ pointed out that a national wage-freeze order cannot be applied to talent in film pro- duction, due to the complex nature of the employment. Petition will ask for clarification of the order and. specific rules to guide talent and studios in application, of the freeze to individual cases. Coast Suit Vs. 3 Majors ? Los Angeles, Feb. 20. South Side Theatres, Inc., filed an antittrist suit for $300,000 against three major film distribu- tors and two theatre chains, charg- ing refusal to service the plaintiffs with firstrun product in Los An- geles' and Inglewood. Defendants . are Metro, Para- mount, Columbia, Griffith-Coleman^ ' Inland' Wdst'TObltrds 1 ,