Variety (August 22, 1951)

*VARimr • M. LONDON OPFICI INTERNATIONAL IS Berlin Gets RCA, CBS Tele, Via ECA Setup, After Myriad Headaches By BILL CONLAN Berlin, Aug. 14. Television is.the No. 1 topic here Io<lay, and there is a real reason why. Both Radio Corp. of Ameri- ca and Columbia Broadcasting Sys- tem are in town to put on the big- pest TV display outside of the l S. Not only is it a giant dem- j tatively titled “Rainbow Square.’* * * ' * which is scheduled to open Sept 27 at the Stoll. Prince Littler pro- Mnni in Rome for * 1311 ’ * Rome, Aug. 14. Paul Muni has arrived to take over leading role in “A Bottle of Milk.” Aim to be made in Italy starling Aug. 27. Film wiii be pro- duced in Pisa and Leghorn. The Tlreenia studios, in Pisa, recently put in working order after not j being used since the war, will be | ussd for all interiors. Alberto Two American singers. Martha Salvatore has arranged for Ananc- King and Gloria Lane, are due in London this week to start rehear- sals on a new British musical, ten- 2 U.S. Singers Set For ‘Rainbow Square,’ London l Cool Weather Booms West End B.O.; ‘No Highway’ Stout $15,000, Tram’ IMG; Disney’s ‘Alice’ $13,700,2d on si ration, but also the complexi- ties encountered are immense. Berlin is spread out for many miles. When RCA’s Dick Hooper canie in last week with 29 techni- cians. he discovered that it was quite a job to set up a transmitter find suitable locations for some loo video receivers. Every mid- night the RCA people returned ex- hausted from the incidents and struggles they encountered in this quartered city. Last night was the opening night of the demonstration. Only two hours prior to the start, the open- ing had been called off. It seems th o the RCA antenna atop the I .city t'sH was alse sharing the same spotlight with the Berlin po- j lice car radio frequency. When H( \ started to test in the after- noon. the Berlin policecar system v i' thrown into chaos (there are 1 ooO.OOO Communists attending a youth fest in the east sector, and all western units are on the alert). It was reported that every tlmd RCA tested, Dick Hooper's face appeared on the windshield of each Berlin policecar. * The U. S. com- pany’s reps Anally talked the Ber- lin police Into using another fre- quency. 2 Cameras Blew at RCA Show During the demonstration two important cameras "blew” and the program was changed. A live show «( Titania Palast was not put on until 10:30 p. m., and the TV Aims, which were used during the break- down. were rather poor. A crowd of about 12,000 Berliners lammed the Stadtpark in front on the RCA stage. There w’ere several Commu- nist agitators who were sent into the crowd to start trouble, but the Berlin police took care of them promptly. By the time the live vshnw was ready to start at Titania a lot of the Rerllners had gone (Continued on page 18) duction is budgeted at $150,000. A musical play set in present a book by Guy Bolton and Harold | Talent Exec Paul Nathan ing the Aim via Italian and Araeri can sources, and will be produc- tion manager. Joe Losey came in from the U. S. to direct. Bcu Bn Lilianscript concerns the adventures of a small boy sent to a store to buy a bottle of milk. . last week for approximately 4,000 -- —; London West End theatre workers. -♦ London Theatre Wages Tipped $9,000,000 Per Yr. _ London, Aug. 14. Wage increases, ranging from 12Vi% to 15%, went into effect Purcell,, the latter also contribu- ting the lyrics with music com- posed by Robert Stolz. Production is to be directed by Robert Nesbitt. Among the British cast already inked fop the show are Bruce Trent, Sonnie Hale, Alfred Marks and Vera Peers. Miss Lane ap- peared here last season in ‘‘The Consul.” in which she previously sang on Broadway. O’Brien Asks For Probe of NFFC FRENCH CINEMA BIZ London, Aug. 14. The granting of an additional credit of $5,600,000 to the National Film Finance Corp., following an interview between Sir Hartley Shawcross, Board of Trade prexy, and Tom O'Brien, M.P., general secretary of National Assn, of The- atrical and Kine Employees, has been followed by a demand for an inquiry into the management of the NFFC. In a letter to Shawcross, O’Brien declares the decision to provide the extra coin has been received with considerable satisfaction, but he considers it unwise to leave the matter there since a number of people are not happy about the NFFC affairs. "Public funds.” O'Brien wrote, "cannot be squandered on mental defectives on the one hand, who believe they are the heaven-sent geniuses of the producers’ para- dise. nor on the buckled brains of those who. on the other hand, have been found wanting. The BOT has , . - . t! J e P° wer to investigate the affairs DOWN 12£ SINCE ’46, Fund and the extra money for the NFFC, O’Brien believes there is a gleam of hope for the British Aim industry, with the possibility of. reviving the interest of Anancial old pictures that they had seen circles and private Anancters. As the industry cannot afford to j se « take any more chances, however, A 1 fl— . . Paris, Aug. 14. Despite the absence of any TV in France worth mentioning. French cinema attendance is de- creasing considerably. The 426,- Ooc) 000 payees of 1946 have dwin- dled to 370.000,000 or a 12% drop In Paris, where the gross take is _ „ shout $18,000,000 yearly, biz is off; O’tyrien urges the BOT topper to 25%. Lyons, with $6,000,000 call a conference of top Aim execs yearly gross, the drop in attendance | *° hear whether the NFFC, in Its is 21%. I present form, is best suited to do France is not overseated: there the job for which it was created are 5.145 houses with an average a *)d whether the present manage- tcating capacity of 500, meaning ment is for the good of the in- one seat per 16 inhabitants, as com- dustry as a whole. He also con- Pared to one for 11 in Italy, and siders that his suggestion of an one for 12 for England. : Anglo-American Film Negotiating Urges H wood to Heed European Mkt Demands Hollywood, Aug. 21. Europe is a great and imposing market for Hollywood, and pro- ducers here should attempt to meet its demands. Paul Nathan, talent and casting director for Hal Wallis, reported upon his return recent- ly from . m three-month survey abroad. Sent by the producer pri- marily to scout fresh talent, Na- than, during his European stay, was a close observer, and returned with many opinions pertinent to Hollywood production. ”ln Europe, they're all movie fans. They’ll tfbe up to see a good movie , . . and they’re very interested in movie stars,” Nathan observed. "Each country, of course, likes different kinds of stories . . . and different stars. But. generally. I’d say, they want sex and adven- ture ... or musicals and comedies. And love stories. Beautiful lovq stories. Everywhere 1 went, this was a No. 1 request. "They are not keen about prob- lem stories . . . they have had enough problems of their owm to solve. And they are a little tired of the American gangster Aim. Un- less they are loaded with action, I don’t think they want them. West- erns? Yes! A good western is ap- preciated all over Europe. “I think any unusual foreign background interests them. Cast- ing he’ps. too. They worship for- eign players. "Musicals are great all over Eu- rope. They like the beautiful Tech- nicolor and the pretty girls. And the American jitterbugs and music. “Comedies, too. are popular all over Europe, but rather than the sharp-talk comic, they prefer the pantomime artist. They will see a Chaplin picture again and again, and Laurel and Hardy were play- ing in many first-run theatres . . .* (Continued on page 54) Higher wages follow conclusion of a new agreement negotiated by the National Assn, of Theatrical A London, Aug. 14. The advent of the August holiday season coincided with the end of the warm spell to give the West End its best week in months. Biz this last stanza has been well ahead of average, and newcomers and holdovers benefited from this mi- nor boxoffice boom. Indication of the sharp upturn is shown by the fact that "Alice in Wonderland” and "Law and the Lady.” both did w th * ! more in their second rounds than of West End Theatre Managers. They apply to stage technicians, electricians, backstage and front of house staffs. This is the A/th agreement con- cluded by NATKE in the industry during the last few months. Total additional wage bill is around $9,- 000,000 per year. Tourist Traffic To England Up 8% London, Aug. 14. Despite a drop in tourist traffic from America, the number of over- seas visitors to Great Britain in the first six months of this year jumped 8% compared with 1950. According to Agures released by l . ^ x the British Travel fc Holiday Assn. * tay another fortnight, with "Amer- almost 282.000 tourists had come can * n P* r * s ” scheduled to follow to the country by the end of last on 26 June. Gaumont (CMA) (1,500; 50-$1.70) As tourist traffic is normally ; —"Chicago Masquerade" (GFD) heavier in the latter half of the I *nd "Iron Man” (GFD> (2d wk). opening sessions. Best newcomer was the 20th- Fox 8riti«h-:n«dc. "No Highway/* which got a rousing $15,000 in its initial week at the Odeon, Leicester Square. Another so?k new entry was WB’s "Strangers on Train,’* which finished its opening stanza with a stout $10,500 at the Warner. UA’s "Sound of Fury” did a good $d.7u0 ui its second round at the London Pavilion stand, after open- ing to a powerful $8,500. Estimates for Last Week Carlton (Par) (1,128: 70-$1.70>— "Love Happy” (Monarch). Not helped by adverse notices, but did fair $3,000 in Arst three days. In ahead. 'Tales of Hoffmann” (BL> <16th wk), big $4,300. Empire (M-G) (3,099; 55-$1.70>— "Law and the Lady" (M-G) and stageshow (2d wk). Strong $21,900 after opening week’s $19,000. To year, the Travel Assn, confidently expects that the total will reach the 700,000 goal. That would be a record figure which will yield al- most $280 000,000, a big part of which would be in dollars. Prospects for increased Ameri- can tourist traffic, the BTHA be- Shaping fair $5,000 after average $6,400 opening session. ‘Golden Horde” (GFD) and "Frances to Races’’ (GFD) opening Aug. 16. Leicester Square Theatre (CMA) (1,753; 50-$1.70>—“Alice in Won- derland” (RKO-Dlsney) <2d wk> Powerful $13,700, and about $500 lieves, depend largely on the out- ahead of opening week. Stays an come of the cease-fire negotiations other week only because of advance in Korea. Successful solution of release date. "The Frogmen” the conflict would probably give a (20th) follows Aug. 16. last minute fillip to transatlantic London F-vilioa (UA> (1.217; 50- tourist traffic and compensate for $1.70)—"Sound of Fury” <UA) <2d the decrease during past few "wk). Very good $6,700 after sur- months : During June, for example, prise $8,500 opening round. "Mur- 17.357 U. S. travellers booked into Britain. Although this figure was 14 % ahead of 1949, it represented a drop of 9% over last year. before, and would still stand in line Tourists Flood Spain Barcelona. Aug. 14. Flood of tourists is proving big ’They love pratfalls, pie-throw- ing type comedy. The dialog is (Continued on page 18) COWAN QUITS WNCOX TO PRODUCE INDIES London. Aug. 14. Maurice A. Cowan, for the last .der, Inc” (WB) opens Aug. 17. Odeon, Leicester Sq. (CMA) (2.- 200; 50-$1.70) — "No Highway” (20th) (2d wk). Excellent $8,500 or better for weekend after opening at fancy $15,000. Stays at least one more round, with "Decision Before Dawn” (20th) as next pic. Odeon, Marble Arch i JMA> <2,- 200; 50-$1.70)——"Man in White Suit” (GFD). Not quite up to hopes still good at $9,500 or near. Con- tinues for another two weeks. Plaza (Par) (1.902) (70-$1.70> — Red Mountain” (Par) (2d wk). Nice lhfre.se in attendance cannot 1>e | Arthur Rank on th* future of] hll* ure. oTwl’n t'iM-ed to prohibitive prices since Denham Studios. windfall to theatres and shops here. Americans. English and Swiss find everything very cheap here as Compared with other spots. Local pdople are delighted with ihe visiting gentry. At Sitges. sea- side resort, 30 miles from here. — — the mayor of the village staged ® r near » following good $8.- a free show of Spanish dances at : frame. Continues, the Retiro Garden Theatre for 1 . *! a,to (LFP) (592 : 50-SI 30» — tourists. Local residents and the Tales of Hoffmann" (BL>. Opened Spanish summer colony had to pay ,econ< * West End run here at as usual. strong $2,000 in first three days, Film houses and legit theatres atter tow months at the Carlton, here are nearly deserted Outdoor Sl J^ s on niteries also are doing fine biz de- 1 , Warner (WB) (1.735; 50r$1.70»— ia a i ii i rftnOAre on 1 r. ” t lifts . n ■ • spite it being a mild summer. tN\\ are 11 times less than the 1938 Purrs, while the average cost of i : prices are 23 times higher. Shortage of funds in most families "here the cost of living spiral has v "ikrd havoc, is blamed mostly for dx’ biz decline. BBC to Air Discussion On U^.-British Policies London. Aug. 21. An Anglo-American transatlantic discussion on "How far should Liitish and U. S. foreign policy be J'»*‘»rdlnated" 1* to be aired via the 'iKish Broadcasting Corp. on Thursday <23>. It is to be a re- Corded program arranged in co-op- ** r ‘(ion with the University of Chi- c,1 £o Round Table. ! wo British politicos, who have J**' n officially concerned with for- J'un policy, will debate with two nu mbers of th* U. S. Senate about ;"*• causes and effects of the dif- Y’lrnces between British and ;S can foreign policy. They 1 1 be Senator Edwin Johnson and fcHntor Karl E. Mundt, with !i n( ,V L B V t ! er '. a Conservative M.P. Gates New Mono Topper In Europe, Gt. Britain Shuffle of personnel in sales Mex Tourists Spend SC5.000.000 Mexico City. Aug. 14 Tourists spent $65,000,000 in Mexico during the first half of has acquired film rights of R. C. Sheriff's "Home at Seven.” for which he bid against U. S. in- terests. Among other subjects lined up ^ 9< *>1. the National Tourist Coin- are "Where Was Wych Street?”; j mission has announced. It secs an "It Had To Be You,” based on j even bigger yield during the last "Lea Femmes” which will prob-i of the year. About 75% of wing of Monogram International ably be made as an Anglo-Ameri- ! tourist trade comes from the U. S. Corp. was announced by prexy can musical; an original comedy, | The commission is particularly Norton V. Ritchey last week. Ber- I "Life Is Sweet,” and a story about gratified about the increasing nun?- Strangers on Train” (WB) (2d wk). Second weekend did pleasing $5.- 800 after handsome $10,500 initial week. Stays a third, with "Com- munist for FBI” (WB* beginning Aug. 23. * nard J. Gates sailed over the week- newspapermen. * end for London where he will i headquarter as supervisor for Great Britain and Europe. Gates, who previously was Latin Amer- ican supervisor, also will continue to hold down that post. He re- places William Satori, who returns to U. S. for homeoffice assign- ment. Unaffected by the switch are Clifford Dickinsin, Mono rep in Ixmdon, and Ernest Wettstein in Paris. Both will stay in existing capacities. Moore’i BBC Musical Disks London. Aug. 21. Phil Moore taped a series of four musical programs for the British Broadcasting Corp. before he planed back to U. S. last week- DANES TIGHTEN SCREWS ON VS. DISTRIB COIN Washington, Aug. 21. Danish government has tightened Mexico. Mez City Studio Boss Quits Mexico City. Aug. 14. Richard Tompkins has resigned , as general manager of the Churu- 1 ture division, Galindo New Mexico Studio Head Mexico City, Aug. 14. New director general of the Churubusco film studios here is Cesar Santos Galindo, veteran film j! 11 ( hristopher Mayhew. a Labor! man. He succeeds Richard Tomp-1 w * • putting on the British case. * kina, who resigned recently. I or M i * i busco pic studios here. RKO and end. They are to b*» aired during ( a Mexican syndicate established P ro & ram Mmes on Sunday the plant six years ago. Tompkins n ‘ttzuu u . _ . had managed the studios for four wun chanteuse Dorothy Dand~ years. Reason for his quitting has r age, Moor* recently completed not been revealed but he an- a four-week cabaret season at the J nounced that he will continue at- tending to RKO’s remaining inter- ests in the plant and that of Cor- mex for feature and shorts pix pro- duction and TV making. Tompkins is making a quick biz visit to N. Y. and Hollywood. His general manager successor baa not yet been named. Cafe de Paris. He may return in October for another nitery engage- ment. Other Foreign Hews On Pages 16 and 16 ber of Europeans, mostly Frenc h ] ^. Spaniards, vacationing in the screws a little more on the amount of dollar remittances it is permitting for American films. For the current year, reports Nathan D Golden, chief of the National Production Authority motion pic- ture division, a total of about $490,000 has been allotted for film dollar remittances; this is a reduc- tion of $42 000 below 1950 ’ Only 90% of the 1951 quota,” said Golden, “was allotted for im- mediate distribution, and the re- maining 10% will be retained pend- ing eventualities during the course of the year. Rilm rental receipts due United States producers in ex- cess of these dollar remittances will continue to be blocked to the account of the producer. No pro- posal has been made yet for use of the blocked funds.” V: \