Variety (May 1952)

ncrvmBS Weanc»J»y, W»y 2}, l9 Sl New deals pacted by United Art»4~ ists with Edward Small and Sam' Spiegel in the past week strength- en possibilities that the'distrib’will have its desired 36 features for re- lease in 1953* In addition to Small and Spiegel, a flock Of other film 1 * ^makers in a recent period have committed themselves to delivery, of product to UA in future months* Small’s contract-signing followed his departure from Columbia, where he had been operating on H partnership basis the last couple of years. Split was caused by dif- ferences with Col bi'ass over his • *ale of earlier-made properties to television,. Small will lens 13 pix for UA, 10 or .which are slated for •delivery by ttye end of ’53. First, set to’go before the cam- eras on June 2, will be “Kansas City 117,” John Payne-Coleen GJray costarrer which’ Phil Karison will direct from a screenplay by George Bruce and Harry Essex. Production of ihe second is skedded to roll July 15. This will be '’‘Return of the Corsican Brothers,” starring Louis Hayward, directed by Ray Nazarro and scripted by Richard Schayer. I Small has set up’ production headquarters at the Samuel.Gold- wyn studio, Hollywood, and. is now assembling a staff' under Ben Hersch, general' manager and pro- duction supervisor. The producer reported that scripts for his entire ' 13-pic program are finished or near completion. • • Spiegel’s New Beal • Spiegel, whose last was “The African Queen” for. UA, will do four pix under his hew deal, first of which is set to start shooting in London on July 15. This has :the working title of “Melba,” based on the career- of Nellie Melba, the singer, and will be done in Tech- nicolor. According to Spiegel, (Continued on page 16) Helprin Leg Fractured, Hit in London by Auto London’s keep-to-the-l$ft traf- fic proved too much last Week for Morris Helprin, U, S. rep of Sir Alexander Korda. Habit got the best of him as he got to the. centre of a London street and he looked the wrong direction. Ytesult: a fractured leg, bruises of the hand and various contusions. Also a threatened lawsuit by the owner pf the car which hit him to recover the cost of a damaged headlight. Despite' the injuries, Helprin flew back to; New York the follow- ing day to have his leg set and has been confined to his home since then. He expects to be in his of- fice on crutches next week. Hollywood, May 20. * Edward Small Productions / Is reyamping the script of “Prison- er’s Island” to take Advantage of a. front-page story. Rewrite will in- corporate a. new angle /based on the capture of Brig.-Oeh. Francis T. Dpdd' by .Communist prisoners on, Koje Island. • Michel Kralke, -producer, ' is sending an assistant to Washing- ton for .stock footage and details, ,of the Rapture. ’ Law as ‘Latuko’ City Investing Has 500G Prod. Stake Krim to Huddle With Chaplin On limelight’ Distrib Arthur B. Krim, president . of United Artists, leaves N. Y. for the Coast within the next few days to resume talks with indie; pro- ducers on distribution deals. It’s expected Krim ‘also will see ■Charles Chaplin regarding the re- lease of Chaplin’s “The Lime light,” which is now editing. Chaplin, who owns 25% of the UA outstanding stock, has yet to enter into an agreement covering his film with the company. How- ever, initial discussions have taken place and it’s held highly likely that a contract will soon material- ize. There have been no hints on possible terms, except that “fa- vored nation" deals are against the policy of UA’s management. « In the past, Chaplin and Mary Pick- ford, also a 25% owner, had the privilege of releasing pix through UA at terms giving the distrib 25% of the gross • rentals up to $800,000 and 10% on income above that figure. Shortly after he became prez last year, Krim announced that such deals, which obviously are highly favorable to the producer, would not be entered in the fu- ture. He feels that stiffer terms are necessary for the distrib to operate profitably. G. Templeton Heading To Germany on Govt. Pic Job • • • Hollywood, May 2Q. George Templeton has left for Washington enroute to Germany to head- the motion picture division of the State Department there. He had come back here, following his appointment last month, talking jwith writers, directors and other creative talent about joining him abroad. He found many “more than willing to go.” Templeton will make no deci- sions until he reaches his head- quarters in’ Bonn and surveys the situation.- He’ll probably recruit •.technicians there. Most of actual •production will be around Munich, Berlin and’ Frankfurt. Although he’ll be gone two years, Templeton will maintain his indie company, Templeton Productions, under su- pervision of Dan Packer, who’ll en- gage in both theatrical and tele- vision production. Investment of more than $500,- 000 lias been made .by the City In- vesting. Co.', N. Y., in three pix be- ihg produced ' by. Sir Alexander Horda In England.' Cl has a heavy financial'stake in the Lopert Film Distributing Corp., which has re- leasing rights to the pix in the U. S. \ Robert W. Dowling, prez of Cl and. chairman of the board- of Lo- pert, concluded the new deal with Korda prior .to returning to New York fVopi London last week. Par- ticipating in the negotiations were Ilya Lopert, prexy pf . the distribu- tion outfit, and Morris Helprin, U. S. rep for Korda. They returned with Dowling. , Pix in which Dowling bought a stake are “Gilbert & Sullivan,” which went* before the cameras April 15; “The Sound Barrier,” which is completed, and the next Carpi Reed film, which has not been started and is untitled as yet. Deal differs basically from Cl’s previous arrangement with Korda. A couple of years ago, Cl, through the Lopert outfit, made an advance of $1,080,000, against a percentage, to Korda for distribution rights to 13 films. They included' 10 com pleted pix for $280,000 cash down, plus $400,000 on delivery of “Tales of Hoffmann,” and $200,000 each on delivery of- “Cry, the Beloved Country” and “Outcast of the Is- lands.” • . That was -purely a distribution arrangement; with Lopfert getting a (Continued on pa^ge 13) F-WC Circuit Pitches Pix Via television Los Angeles., May 20, . Wuhlngton, May 20. , Testimony df.Itfned to show that Corn, (20th-Tox subaid) used the war . an ejeuse to hold back TV develop menu by Scophony Corp. was given the Federal Communications Cora- Newarjc, May 20. Miffed at a restraining order which permits the showing in New- ark of the controversial - African documentary film,. “Latuko,” Pub- lic Safety Director John B. Keenan said today (Tues.) that he will press for legislation which would give authorities the right to say that certain films can be shown only for non-profit and in places hot regularly used for general- enter- tainment. New York State has such a safe guard, Keenan pointed out. He declared that the restraining order had handcuffed the police “in the performance pf their sworn duty.” Keenan expressed fear that the court decision would encourage a traffic of obscene films displayed at “smokers” of an undesirable type. ' , Temporary injunction restrain- ing -the city from interfering with the shewing of the film was issued here yesterday'(Mon.) by the Chancery Division of Su- perior Court. As. a result of the ruling, handed down* by Superior Court Judge Freund, the Newsreel' Theatre here resumed presenta- tion of the film immediately fol- lowing the judge’s decision. Newark police, who ' had con- fiscated a print of the film and ar- (Continued on page 13) Brit. Govt. Refuses To Halt Sale of Denham; No Quota Threat Seen London, May 20. The Government tonight (Tues.) declined to intervene in the sale of the Denham and Isleworth studios, .refusing to accept the assumption of Labor members of Parliament that the studios’ retention would increase production, save dollars and strengthen the British hands in forthcoming Anglo-American nego- tiations. Questions raised in the House of Commons last week by T. A. Swingler yielded a written answer which he regarded as un- satisfactory. In his question last week, Swingler implied that the reported sale. of Denham to Electrical and Musical Industries, which would use the plant for non-film making purposes, might hamper the pro- duction of an adequate supply of product to fulfill the 30% quota. Reply for the government by Henry Strauss, parliamentary sec- retary of the Board of. Trade, agreed that there would be official concern if lack of studio space made the quota impossible to ful- fill but he did not consider that such a situation had arisen. Nor did he feel that it would arise if the Denham lot was no longer available for filming. 20th-Fox Off to the Races With New-Kind of lst-Run: Kangaroo Gets Headstart 20th-Fox got a lot of publicity mileage out ,of * the “Cscape’ r (the company’s pres* agents will swear it was strictly accidental) of Zip, a five-foot kangaroo that it was im- porting from California to New York for the opening at the Roxy of a film named (of all things) “Kangaroo.” The Houdini of. Mar- supials made its getaway while being transported from LaGuardia Airport and was reported cavort- ing between the Whitney and Grace estates near Roslyn, L. L New York papers, aside from the World-Telegram, shied away, but the Long Island papers went for the yarn hook, line and kangaroo. Last heard from, they and L.I. po lice—possibly with a. little help from Stirling Silliphant’s press de- partment at 20th—were organizing r. helicopter search and a kangaroo posse. . Long Island Star-Journal head lined the story: “Zip Zigs As Po lice Zag; It’s a Kangaroo, Not < Gag.” First major western circuit to go .thi*slon yesterday (Mon.) at ro. in heavily for television sponsor- sumption of hearings on Paramnfinf ship is Fox-West Coast, which takes antitrust issues. GPE and Pa* the plunge Thursday (22.) on “Un- jointly held 50% Interest in Scru cle Archie’s Komedy Klub” over phony, which they were required tn KNBH. Deal calls for 13-week op- divest, fix: 1949 by the consent d* tlon segments spreading over one cree.. year. Pitch is aimed at selling kids. Commission counsel Max Pagliu on the idea of going to film houses, produced a memorandum in March Idea is to plug three films each' 1944, in which Arthur Levey, prexv week with m en ^ Dn -F-WG thea- of Skiatron Electronics & Televi- tres where they are showing. First sion Corp., which has acquired Sco- films to .be plugged are “Kan- phony patents, informed Par vee- garoo,” “Ivory Hunter” and “Belles pee Paul Raibourn that’ he could On Their Toes.” oot accept explanations by GPE of its inability' to develop Scophony TV sets “when other companies fair more heayily committed to the war effort have been making progress in this regard.” Levey told Raibourn: “I have for some time had a growing convic- tion that the objects for which GPE became .associated with Scophony have become increasingly obscure.” Memo was based on a letter to Levey from Earle G. Hines, prexy of GPE, saying that war shortages of material and personnel prevent- f (Continued on page 13) Picture* 3x4 Feet For The Home Revealed By Skiatron at FCC Probe Washington, May 20. • .Skiatron is currently working on a pilot model of its Supersonic event, as with previous-bouts lined projection, receiver permitting TV up by TNT. . -programs to be shown at home in Indicating how theatre TV has pictures three-by-four feet, Arthur matured during the last year, it/s Levey- testified. • At hearings on anticipated that -both' filmery par anti-trust issues. Skiatron in- grosses ' and their payment for herited patents held by Scophony, rights will surpass a six-figure in which Par and General Preci* mark for the first time. sion , owned, a 50% interest until Fight is to be staged J.upe 23 1949. Commission has been hear- at Yankee ’ Stadium, N. Y. TNT ing evidence that Par and GPE prexy Nathan L. Halpern predicted suppressed development of the that some 40 or . 50 theatres, would Supersonic receiver, be linked together for the event The Skiatron receiver, or “pro- and said that an even greater num- lector” as - Levey prefers to call it, ber may tie in if the telephone J s about the same size .as a 16m company is.'able to clear additional home movie projector and operates facilities. It’s' considered doubtful in a; similar manner, throwing a that the fight will reach any the- tv picture on -a wall, screen or atres on the Coast, since there is treated window shade. The projec- only v one TV relay line \vest of tor ‘contains the usual knobs for (Continued on page 55) • tuning in stations. -v Levey told Variety following the SWG Name* MacDougall hearln « Skiatron plans to Hollywood, May 20 ( Continued on page 13 ) Ranold MacDougall has been: named to Screen Writers Guild exec board, replacing Sloan iNlb-»| ley. Latter ankled because he is now in a supervisory position; as story editor of Revue Productions. The SWG membership meeting Wednesday night (21) will include report on Guild hassle with RKO over the - -Paul Jarrico' screen- credit on “Las Vegas Story.” For Theatre Tele Theatre Network Television this week signed for exclusive video rights to the upcoming Sugar Ray Robinson-Joey Maxim; lightheavy- weight title fight, thereby opening up the programming void which has confronted big-screen TV since last summer. While details of the deal were v not revealed, -it’s be- lieved the International Boxing Club, which', is.promoting' the-.bout, will receive a percentage of the gate in each theatre carrying the 100 Industry Leaders Enter Pic Golf Tourney Almost 100 industry leaders have entered the /film industry- golf tournament being sponsored, by New • York’s Cinema Lodge of B’nai B’rith at the Vernon Hills Country Club, Tuckahoe, N. Y„ to morrow (Thurs.). Those scheduled to participate are .Spyros Skouras, Si Fabian, Abe Schneider, Harry Braftdt, Geojfge Skouras, William Brandt, William White, Burton ‘Robbins; Leo jaffe Martin Moscoftitz; Abe Dickstein Edward L; Fabian," Mak A. 'Cohen, Harold Rihzler, Solomon and Mor- ris Strausberg, Morrie Goldstein Robert Sherman, Paul Lazatus, Jr. A1 Rylander, Howard LeSleur Mortimer Wormser, George Horn stein and Len Gruenberg. . Participation is open to all mem- bers of the film and allied Indus tries, Alfred W, Schwalberg Is chairman and Harold Rinzlcr is co chairman. ' N. Y. to L. A." Julie Bennett Charies Boyer ’Olivia de Havilland John Farr.ow Lester Gottlieb Sir Cedric Hardwicke Alexander S. Ince Leo McCarey Les Thomas N. Y. to Europe Larry Adler Earl Blackwell John Byram Marian By ram Joan Caulfield Saul Goo*dman Charles Laughton Herb Leder Cele McLaughlin Leonide Moguy -’Maynard Morris Stephen- Pallas Gregory Peck Leonard Pepnarlo Benno Rabinof •Sylvia Rabinof Tino Rossi Sidney Sheldon Europe to N. Y. Glenn Ford Burl Ives Milton R. Rackmil Jonas Rosenfield John Shubert Jerome Whyte L. A. to N. Y. Larry Adler Dana. Andrews Val Arms Ted Ashley ' Lauren-Bacall Humphrey. Bogart Vanessa Brown George D. 'Burrows Mtacdonald Carey Richard Carlyle Carleton Carpenter Janis Carter Sidney* Chaplin Richard Conte Stanley Donen • Roger Edens Eddie Elkort Nanette Fabray Ed Gardner Paul Gross Henry Hathaway Arthur Homblow, Jr. Dr. Herbert Kalmus Otto Lang Sammy Lewis Frederick Loewe Joseph Mankiewicz Daniel Mann John Nasht Donald O'Connor Mike O’Shea Harriet Parsons Gregory Peck’ Jan'Peerce . Frank Pitmtfn ■ Vera Ralston Debbie- Reynolds 'William Saal Sidney Sheldon Jack Smith Lou Smith Walter Starckp Kay Starr Abe Steinberg Harry Steinmaft Don Weis William Wilder Herbert J, Yate*