Variety (August 29, 1951)

Wednesday, August 29, 1951 Nt PWsnftT U. S. Seeks Top Hwood Exec to Run Reich Pix Biz as Offset to Reds Hollywood. Auf. 28. * The State Department is seeking , n experienced film producer and administrator to spend a year or two in the American Zone of Ger- many and revitalise the Western Germany film industry and coun- teract Russian film propaganda coming out of the xone under Red influence, it was learned today. The civilian Hollywoodite would be called upon to help Western Germany produce better films and to produce 30 propaganda films for the State Department. A high echelon film man is sought, since his influence will be needed to ob- tain much-needed help from Holly- wood sources. It was emphasized that better films from the Western Zone, to be shown in the American Zone. Cen- tral Europe, and other countries would make a potent voice in be- half of democracy. Last week the State Department held a secret screening at Para- mount studios of a Russian film of the 1950 East Berlin Youth Rally, especially staged to show the sate- lite nations the rosy conditions un- der Russian rule. The film, in color, ran for one hour and was attended by some 50 film execu- tives. producers, writers, and di- rectors of all studios. The depart- ment wanted expert reaction on the film and to stress the impor- tance of combating such propa- ganda with better films from West-' em Germany. It was pointed out that the need for such a Aim boas in Western Germany is just as critical as the need for Hollywood experts for the (Continued on page 20> 5-Man Group to Conduct H wood Hearings; Hope To End Probe With Session Washington. Aug. 28. A five-man subcommittee of the House Un-American Activities Committee will conduct the hear- ings. which open in Hollywood Sept. 17. committee counsel Frank S Tavenner announced last week. Tavennei* added that “this will be the end of our Hollywood investi- gation. However, if the committee should develop new information that should be looked int«K then, of course, we will have to follow it up.*’ Tavenner said the hearings would go for a week “or more.” Mem- bers of the committee said the ses- sions would probably last from two to four weeks. While about 60 wit- nesses have been subpoenaed, not all of these will be called, it is ex- pected. On the other hand there may be some witnesses who have not been notifled thus far. The subcommittee will include Hep John S. Wood (D., Ga ), the chairman of the full committee; Donald L. Jackson <R., Cal.); Clyde Doyle <D., Cal ); Charles E. Potter <R. Mich.), and Francis E. Walter (Continued on page 1#X DEP1NET WANTS TO EXIT COMPO IN DEC. Ned Depinet, RKO Pictures prexy. says he will bow out as President of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations when the board of directors holds its final meeting of the year, probably in D« (‘ember. Depinet also said that he had been so busy with COMPO's Movietime U.S.A." campaign and J ,s own company affairs that he hasn't had a chance to appoint a dominating committee to select a R, ate of new officers for the or- ganization. Speaking of the manner in which enthusiasm and * plans for the *‘ovietime drive art snowballing m all parts of the country, the ovipo chief asserted that he oped the campaign's success , ” ht change Arthur L. Mayer's 'mention to resign as executive vi ee-presldent. JRPj 4.B% Wall St. Reports Persist on That DROP CUES TILT 1 ^ Mayer ^ en f° r Republic Piets Stern to Coast on Metro Holoban Yarn Confab Mike Stern, European corres- pondent who broke the Maj. Wm. V. Holohan story in True mag. planed to the Coast yesterday (Tues.) to discuss pic sale of the yarn with Metro. It’s understood that Metro gave Stern an advance for a 30- day option. Stern, who headquarters in Rome for True and Fawcett Publications, will return there after Metro hud- dles. The expose of the OSS murder In True forced the Defense Dept, to break the story in the press the day before the mag hit the stands. Johnston Advises Truman Hell Quit GovL; Back to Pix • » Washington, Aug. 28. Clinching reports that he will re- turn to the Motion Picture Assn, of America in October, Eric John- ston has notified President Tru- man that he intends to leave his position as Economic Stabiliter and go back to the film industry. Johnston is now on a nine- months' leave of absence without pay. While he has put in a full- time job for the Government, it is understood that he has constantly followed the progress of matters being handled by MPAA. He was particularly interested in the step- by-step-progress of the recent ne- gotiations in London, which re- sulted in a new, more favorable Anglo-American film deal. For several months after John- ston moved in as top aide to mo- bilization topper Charles E. Wilson, there was considerable speculation whether he would go on to other posts in the government. One ru- mor was that President Truman in- tended to name him ambassador to a major country as a reward for his services. Another was that he might enter politics in his home state of Wash- ington. Recently Variety dis- closed that he would not continue in Government work after comp’e- tion of the leave of absence given him by MPAA. Agnew Heads U.S. Salary Stabilization Board Over Pix, Radio-Video, Stage Washington, Aug. 28. The Salary Stabilization Board today (Wed.) will name a three- man committee to make a two- month tour of the nation, con- ducting private hearings with em- ployers and employes in the arts, including motion pictures, radio, television and the stag*. The committee will include Neil Agnew, former Paramount veepee; Philip F. Siff. formerly with Leh- man Bros, and former member of the board of Selznick and United Artists, and Roy Hendrickson, ex- official of the Department of Ag- riculture. The Salary Stabilization Board is concerned with the higher-bracket income groups, in contrast to the Wage Stabilization Board which handies unions and low-scale wage earners. After two months on the road, tha committee will return to Wash- ington and present its findings to the board. There will be no pub- lic hearings. Persons in show busi- ness with salary problems may write Joseph B. Cooper, executive director of the Salary Stabilization Board, Washington 25, D. C. Figures on gross Income during early 1951 fiscal periods, available now for six companies, reveal film business down only 4.6% from the previous year. Since the latest of the reports filed does not go be- yond the end of May, Just when the present boom in theatre grosses started, the survey strongly hints that total income for major com- panies this year may well exceed that of 1950. Going back further, a new study of gross revenue figures for eight companies, complete through 1950, also serves to pretty much con- found the prophets of doom who recently have painted the industry as pauperized and on its death bed. Total gross for the eight companies in 1950 was $878.096,000—larger than any year prior to war-inflated 1946. The 1951 figures available to date are those filed by the com- panies with the Securities A Ex- change Commission. They cover fiscal periods of varying length, since the film firms do not all start their bookkeeping years on the same date. The companies whose figures are available to date and the fiscal (Continued on page 22) DOS 'Exploring’ TV, 16m Release David O. Selznick. in New York yesterday (Tues.), admitted he was “exploring" the idea of making his old pictures available to television. He is similarly “exploring," he said, the possibilities of the 16m market. Producer declared he has not made up his mind yet as to what his future course regarding TV re- lease will be, but said he was look- ing into any method that might add to the potential income of the numerous films he has made and owns. Selznick arrived in New York Monday (27) on his way to Europe. He flies out today (Wed.) for the Venice Film Festival, where he’ll make the "Golden Laurel Award.” which he annually donates to films (Continued on page 14) ■■ — ♦ Louis B. Mayer and a couple of .. 0 n . . close business associates in N. Y. Honor 3 Warners As * n ?<* sh * co.«t would uk. to »<- quire control of Republic, if two < Pinnoorc nf fksa Yaar considerations can be worked out, I lUDtXlO 111 I11C I vdl Wall .AMPTM Insist aH this tx.ox.lr Harry M., Jack L., and Albert Wail St. sources insisted this week. Despite conflicting reports from Warner will be honored as “Pio- Hollywood, it was firmly stated neers of the Year” at the annual that Mayer would be willing to go dinner of the Motion Picture Pio- along on a deal, if the terms are neers in mid-November at the agreeable. Waldorf-Aatoria Hotel. N. Y. Whether the takeover will be Jack Cohn, president of the consummated, is said to hinge upon organization which is composed of (1) Rep prexy Herbert J. Yates' founders and builders of the Indus- willingness to part with his con- try, reported that the Warner trolling stock ownership, and (2) brothers are recipients of the 12th Yates’ agreement to "fair terms." annual award by unaminous vote Yates has never given any hint, of the bqard of directors. It is the however, that he’d be willing to first time more than one individual sell. As far as can be learned, the has been honoied by the Pioneers. Rep prexy has displayed no inter- ■ — est in selling control. ■ > | | a If the closely-knit Mayer group Moderate Action sa topper would concern himself pri- v marily with the lensing of only Knin/r Ivl Afinnfl li«i to P* bu dget product. Other pix on D6In2 iTldDDca DV the ,ot in(,|udin « westerns and ac- »r J tion films, would be in the charge j- - _ _ of a subordinate. I D A Daw Under the present thinking, the ■ .rfinOHCS l\C I IX business fnd of the Rep operation VUUIVUVO 11V 1 1A would be handled by Mayer . s part _ Middle-of-the-road Catholics now (Continued on page 18* are bending efforts to resolve dif- - ~~ ferences between the film industry I if a xlnffpri laPPrilll and outside organizations with l-HCWTUI Joyce O’Hara, acting president of SMe of Pix, Sez Mayer; America, a key figure m A th" com Mag Runs Strong Reply ciliation move, the Catholic lay- r anu uuisiur ui nam/.ai ions wmi Joyce O’Hara, acting president of SMe of Pix, Sez Mayer; America, a key figure m A the com Mag Runs Strong Reply dilation move, the Catholic lay- Llf( •• sU oped a cog aome- men are out to avert any atrlngent where -. , n the • 5U „, y - 0 , ' he fl , m ■*£' “ onjuatlfled picket- bll Aug , 3 Arthur L ing of cer taln films. '.hich could Mayer, exec v.p. of the Council of reflect upon themselves or the film M olion picture Organisations. e **' * . . . , . , writes in a letter that will appear The movement, which is being p , rt in thls wetk ; lMU , o y th , undertaken on an experimental publication. Declaring that he basis for the time being. Is aimed feel, the mag has "done a real. If to prevent demonstrations by such unintentional, disservice." Mayer outfits as the Catholic War Vet- men goea into a. lengthy refutation erans when the latter feel a cer- of the Life facts and the angle it tain pic or screen performer is “ob- took jection.ble" or suspect of 100% Meantime. Andrew Heiskell. pub- patriotism. It was recalled several i i8he r of Life, expressed some sur- months ago the CWV unit in New pr tse to Variety this week on the Jersey posted pickets outside thea- tres showing Charles Chaplin’s re- issue of “City Lights." They ob- jected to Chaplin on the allegation he was linked with Communism. The middle-of-the-roaders are (Continued on page 18) (Continued on page 20) National Boxoffice Survey Cooler Weather Helps Biz; ‘My Boy’ Champ for 3d Consecutive Week; Disney ‘Alice 2d, ‘Show* 3d Trad* Mark Registered POUNDED BY SIME SILVERMAN PublisPod Weakly by VARIETY, INC Harold Ertrha. President 154 Weat 46th St Now York It. N Y New York It. N Y Drop in temperatures in many principal cities is keeping film the- atre trade in the upper brackets this stanza, although most exhib- itors habitually do not look for any upbeat until Labor Day. Such up- trend promises to be vigorous this year, judging by the nuifiber of new, strong pictures just being launched this week. "That's My Boy” (Par* is box- office champ for the third consecu- tive week, despite the pic be- ing on holdover or extended-run in many key cities covered by Variety. The Martin-Lewis com- edy is surprising many exhibs by its sustained strength. “Alice in Wonderland" (RKO- Disney) is finishing second for third week in a row, it, too, dis- playing marked staying power. “Meet Me After Show” «20th), al- though just getting around exten- sively this session, is pushing up to third place. “Capt. Horatio Horn- blower" (WB), third last week, is capturing fourth spot. "Show Boat" (M-G), now largely finished with its bigger key first- runs, still is showing enoueh to win fifth money while "Iron Man" <U* is moving up to sixth position. “Ran AH Way" (UA), with a batch of new bookings, is pushing up to seventh. “Sirocco" (Col) wil be eighth. “Cyrano" (UA), "Happy Go Love- ly" (RKO), “Rich, Young. Pretty" (M-G» and “Mask of Avenger" (Col) round out the*Golden Dozen la that sequence. “Belvedere Rings Bell" (20th) and “Oliver Twist" (UA) are runner-up films. Besides “Iron Man" and “Show,” [ which promise to be heard from additionally in the future, some six or seven new pix look like po- j tentially big grossers "David and Bathsheba" (20th) now is sock in two spots, its first dates in keys covered by Variety. “A Place in Sun” (Par), whlrh opened last night (Tues.) at N. Y. Capitol, also shapes as a smash newcomer. It is holding sock in second L.A. and Frisco weeks. "Flying Leathernecks" <RKO), also new. currently ranges from great to huge. “His Kind of Woman." from same company, which is hefty in Minneapolis, shapes sock in Chi and wow in Philly. “Jim Thorpe" (WB), smash in N. Y., is smart in Philly and big in Cleveland. “Here Comes Groom" (Par) opened big in To- ronto. "The Strip" teed off very good in Cincy while "Disc Jockey" is rated good in Denver. "Best of Badmen" (RKO) shapes nice In Toronto. “Thunder on Hitl" <U) still is good in third Bos- ton week. "M" (Col) ia nice in Washington and Detroit. “Kon- Tiki" (RKO) looms neat in Boston and good In K. C. and N. Y. “Sec- ond Woman" (UA» looks fine in Denver. “Apache Drums" (U) la okay in K. C. (Complete Boxofflce Reports on Pages 6-9) Hollywood II 6311 Yum St root Waihinyton 4 1*92 National ITess Building Chlcaqo n 61* No Mlcnlgan Avo. London WC1 S St Martln'a PI . Trafalgar Sq. Inside Television 30 International 10 Legitimate 57 Literati 61 Music 41 New Acts 56 Night Club Reviews 54 Obituaries 63 Pictures 3 Radio-Television 25 Radio Reviews 34 Records 44 Frank Scully 61 Television Reviews ....30-31 Unit Review 56 Vaudevil le ....... ... 49 OAILV VARIITY (PuMlahed Ui Hollywood h| Dally Variety. Ltd l SIS a Year. M0 Foreign