Variety (August 1952)

PicruMU Martm-Lewis^Jacb' Tops July B.O., Comedies . and spectacular' pic tures were winners at the nation's boxoffice in July, the first five hi# gest grosses falling into that cate- gory. With several signs pointing to an upbeat at the wickets, includ- ing a very big July 4 weekend, the outstanding feature of last month’s film biz/was the strong showings made by many productions despite record heat and both the GOP and Denis' national conventions. Although getting started after the middle of . July, “Jumping Jacks” (Par) took a toehold on fitst place last month/ according to Reports from : ’ VAhiety correspond- ents in 25 key cities. The Martin- Lewis comedy edged out /‘Work- ing Her - Way' Through College” (WB), which was a strong second. •‘Jacks” in numerous spots was running ahead of “That’s My Boy” . and Jn others about even or .just a bit better than “Sailor' Beware/’ previous M-L comedies for Part A screen adaptation of “Male Animal,” the draw 6f “College” became evident country-wise early last month, ft wound up first in weekly boxoffice returns two weeks in July jmd never dipped below fifth. Pic is one of top grossers in some time from WB. Despite its initial disappointing pace in some of the bigger keys, “Scaramouche” (M-G) perked to grab third position by* a large mar- gin nationally. “Pat and Mike” (M-G), with a hefty assist/from the drawing., power of Spencer Tracy, copped fourth. This Tracy- Hepburn starrer was fifth in the June national boxoffice sweep- “Robin Hood” (RKO-Disney) opened up well early in July but after that tended to drop off na- tionally as new, strong fare was launched in opposition. It" easily landed fifth place, however, finish- ing first one week in Variety’s weekly boxoffice survey. “Lovely to Look At” (M-G) fin- ished sixth, a bit disappointing for this strong musical. Film followed (Continued on page 6) July’s Golden Dozen 1. “Jumping Jacks” (Par). 2. “Working College” (WB). 3. “Scaramouche” (M-G), 4. “Pat and Mike” (M-G). 5. -“Rob. Hood” (RKO-Disney). 6. “Lovely Look At” (M-G). 7. “Francis to West Point” (U). 8. “Clash By Night” (RKO). 9. “Winning Team”. (WB). 10. “King Kong” (RKO). 11. “Diplomatic Courier” (20th). 12. “Lydia Bailey” (20th). Todd s ‘Venice to Test Theatre TV $ * t , For Future Legit Snaper, Kirsdb Huddle Wilbur Snaper,^ president of Al- lied States As*n„ will be in Chi- cago next week to huddle with Allied’s convention committee, headed by Jack KIrsch, on the org’s upcoming national conclave. Allied toppers will tee off the get-together with a board meeting Nov. 15-10. Regular convention, at the Morrison Hotel, Chi, fol- lows. v HWaanhy, August fi j 9sj Experimental theatre television pickup of a part of - Mike Todd’s “Night in. Venice” tomorrow night (ThUrs.) Is expected to determine largely .what course big-screen video entrepreneurs will follow in staging entertainment shows for their medium. Considerable differ- ence of opinion exists over whether a show staged for a live legit audi- ence will be equally good for thea- tre TV. Plans for a half-hour pickup of part of the first act of the show are being supervised by Leo Rosen, big-screen video chief for the Fa- bian circuit. Actual televising from the show’s origination point at Jones Beach State Park, Long Island, will be handled by the Du- Mont network's closed-circuit de- partment, under the supervision of Norman Drescher. Pitcures will be beamed to the Warner Theatre on Broadway, which has been shut- tered all summer, where a ifroup of exhibs specially invited by the Fabian execs and including toppers of both indie and affiliated circuits will watch the results. Todd is not charging a fee for the pickup, presumably because there will be no paid audience at tir ~ I the Warner and also because he PfcJIPf* Pip hopes that if the test proves suc- naiMW I CdLC I ItJ cessfu^ he can then set a deal for the show to be piped Into a group of theatres throughout the country. Pending the outcome of the experi- ment; no deal will be set for the theatre TV rights. In addition, it has not been determined whether Todd would permit any theatres In the metropolitan N. Y. area to be included in a network set up to re- ceive the show. Indicating how opinion varies on (Continued on page 19) Pa. Censor Board Reverses Nil On Michael Todd is nfr longer asso- ciated with Cinerama, the tri-di- mensional type projection system which will go-on view at the Broad- way Theatre, N. Y., in September. Dudley Roberts, Jr., prez of Cine- rama, Inc., disclosed this week that the Broadway showman has re- tained no financial or other inter- est in the project. Lowell Thomas, who was asso- dated with Todd in Thomas-Todd, the predecessor company to Cin- erama, Inc., is chairman of the board of the new corporation. He and Todd together were originally charged with the making of the film for exhibition by Cinerama. Roberts, a Wall Streeter who is now giving virtually his entire at- tention to Cinerama, said that re- lations with Todd were amicable. He explained that the producer may contribute to the publicity and exploitation if he sees fit, but that a new publicity rep was now be- ing hired. Todd was mentioned as doing special promotion for Cin- erama after his departure some weeks ago as production chief. Members of the Cinerama board include, aside from Thomas and Roberts, voilinist* Efrem Zimbarist, radio exec Paul Kesten, attorney Tom Perkins and Thomas’ mana- ger, Frank M. Smith. The nation’s newspapers as if recognising In recent month, t they have almost as much to fear from toads of TV a, h have in general been showing a much more friendly atm,, •?? F ms t picture industry. Latest indication followed the recent P 1 * the Dept, of justice of the 18m antitrust suit, which is widelv ,7? g hy as a backdoor method of forcing sale of pix to tele ly iewed Press which commented on it wAs universally favorahl* film industry. One. of the strongest of the 6ohiments wm i he to The New York Times tost Frid.y (1) by J*"fc GofcMtto '° Iun » TV-radio editor. He columned that the Government acting Per * below the belt and unrealistic in asking that produced w * s /costing $1,000,000 or more provide them to a medium pix pay much more than $25;000 for their ’use. whlch *»n Widespread support for the pic industry in a public , previously indicated by the press of the nation inrecentrln as ship tests. New papers are particularly strong in cheering &’ wood on in this fight, since they obviously see^gove^ment^ Uy “ ship of films leading to encroachment of their own doSab infhi TJ. S. Supreme Court fight on “The Miracle” and in the'rn^i v Ohio test of newsreel bluepenciling, newspapers have been vb tually unanimous in editorial support. en vir ‘ There is, of course, still plenty of Occasional sniping by column ists and headline writers looking for an angle. A lot Of thL w ever, is done in ignorance, as in.the recent cast of the “Sick s£v Movies” column by Sylvia Porter, highly-reputed economic, k for the New York Post Miss Porte? liter Vote an a^Wif ? mittrng her surprise at all the things she didn’t know about the £ biz when she turned out her original piece, pic A major test of newspaper friendship will come soon with th« campaign now gathering way for elimination of the 20% tax nn theatre admissions. It hasn’t gathered sufficient momentum yet publicized enough to produce newspaper comment. Conn’ cil of Motion Picture Organizations, which has been spearheading the-campaign and which has in part been responsible for the gen- Pix Caught in U.S.-French Political Muddle; New Subsidy Deal Blows Up Hughes’ Tunnel Signs of renewed activity by Howard Hughes in personal pic- ture production are seen in his registration with the Motion Pic- ture Assn, of America last week of the title “Tunnel Beneath the River,” The RKO studio topper has ini tiatedno new personal film projects for about three years. He is still h n i * m working on “Jet Pilot,” which has CMliUirdllll long ^ een * n production and which VC115UI ollip I CM is slated for X(? i eaS e this year. Toledo Judge to Eye Contested Newsreel Philadelphia, Aug. 5. Another victory on film censor- ship has been won', this one in Pennsylvania. • The State Board of Censors has reversed itself, fol- lowing an appeal, on a nix on “Peace Will Win.” Pic purports to be a documentary on the Sheffield- WarsAw peace congress in Poland in 1950. Pennsy board refused it a seal on March 19, after it was sub- mitted by Henry Beitscher, Philly director of the Progressive Party, for showings to private groups. Board said it disapproved the film because it is “not proper—in the judgment of the board; it tends to corrupt and debase morals.” Progressive Party brought the issue to the attention of the Amer- ican Civil Liberties Union. It pro- vided counsel, William Allen Rahill and Prof; Clark Byse. They -argued at a hearing on appeal April 2 that since the purpose of the film obviously was to influence public opinion, it was entitled to the constitutional protections of freedom of speech. Argument was also advanced that aside from the civil liberties question, the pic would not in any way debase or corrupt morals. Mrs. Jack Donahue Suing- WB for $3,790,000 in L.A. Los Angeles, Aug. 5. Damages aggregating $3,790,000 were asked in a suit filed against Warner Bros, in Federal Court by Mr6. Alice M. Donahue, widow of Jack Donahue, the dancer, and daughters Barbara and Constance. Plaintiffs charge Donahue was ma- T V f arner fil m, “Look K- llv< : r LmIn .S" Marilyn Miller bio pic. Suit declares the characterization of the late dancer vas wholly untrue and fictional, Without any.factual basis.” Similar actions were filed origb ant/flrst u tah ’ Where the def «nd- * summary judgment which w^as later reversed by the Circuit Court of Appeals, DeMille Pact Talks Continue While He Preps ‘Commandments’ Hollywood, Aug. 5. Cecil B. DeMille has reached no decision on a further contract with Paramount but he has a large staff working on “The 10 Command- ments.” Technicolor production has no starting date. DeMille has had a number of talks with studio head Frank Free- man on a one-picture pact to fol- low his two-film deal concluded withv delivery of “Greatest Show.” He hasn’t talked with any other studio, saying he feels “very com- fortable” at Paramount, indicating prospects are high for a new Para- mount deal. ' RKO SUES WRITERS FOR ‘IRENE’ RIGHTS RKO filed suit in N. Y. Federal Court Monday (4) against James Montgomery and Harry Tierney to compel them to turn over to it the copyright renewal rights to the mu- sical, “Irene.” The major claims that under a 1937 agreement the defendants promised to deliver the renewal rights but never did. With book by Montgomery and music and lyrics by Tierney and the late Joseph McCarthy, “Irene” preemed on Broadway in Novem- ber, 1919. The musical was noted for its title number And “Alice Blue Gown,” among other tunes. Toledo, Aug. 5. Emulating the U. S. Supreme Court, which insisted on having a first-hand look at “The Miracle” before handing down its precedent- making decision on that pic, Judge Frank W. Wiley, of Municipal Court here, has requested a screen- ing of the Fox Movietone newsreel which is the basis for the current legal contest of Ohio’s censorship law. He’ll see It in connection with the hearing of theatre opera tor Mortin G. Smith on Friday (8). Wiley ■will find the reel, • of course, highly devoid of anything censorial. It was made up espe- cially for the test of Ohio law, which compels newsreels to be submitted for official o.o.Ing before being tossed on theatre screens. Smith, cooperating with the Motion Picture Assn, of America and the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio in the test, was arrested (Continued on page 19) L e A. to N. Y e Robert S. Benjamin Mort Blumenstock Renee Carroll Montgomery Clift Pat DeCicco . Howard Dietz Helen Ferguson. Benny Fields Barry Fitzgerald Richard Grayson Julie Harris. William' J. Heineman Alfred Hitchcock Harry Homer Rock Hudson Gloria Jean Ben Kadish Frank King Maurice King Pat Knight Jason Lindsey Marilyn Maxwell Bob McElwaine Abe Olman Jan Peerce Arnold Picker ZaSu Pitts William Saal Louis Schonceit Bob Schwartz Blossom Seeley Robert Sherwood Nate Spingold Franz Waxman Max E. Youngstein Lee Zuckennan Private Showing Of ‘Miracle For Chi Leaders Nixed Chicago. Aug. 5. Private screening of “The Mira- cle” for a group of top-echelon business, civic and social leaders here was nixed yesterday (Mon.) by threats of police action. Showing of the disputed Roberto Rossellini- Anna Magnani entry from Italy was slated for the. Surf Theatre today. Although no tickets were being sold, with admittance strictly by invitation and a censorship license is generally not required for such showings, cops notified Henry and Elmer Balaban that the pic couldn’t be screened. Police Com- missioner Timothy O’Connor said the theatre’s license would be re- voked if “The Miracle” were shown. O’Connor added that anyone else showing the film would be ar- rested. Nevertheless, attempt was being made today by Ed Meyer- *y rep of the American Civil Liberties Union, which has interceded on behalf of distributor Joseph Burstyn, to arrange a scre en* n g in the hall of the Chica- go Tribune. Newspaper indicated (Continued on page 19) N* Y. to Europe Ed Begley Martin Begley Yvonne De Carlo ■ Jack Dietz Elizabeth Eustis Leo Genu Bob Hope Brian Desmond Hurst George Jessel Arthur B. Krim Frankie Laine Vera Ralston Wallace A. Ross Samuel Schneider Sol A. Schwartz Herbert J. Yates ' Paris, Aug. 5. American film ‘ company rep* here thought they had an agree- ment last week to break the im- passe On new Franco-U. S. pic- ture pact; only to have It blow up in their faces. Deal would have re- stored to the Yank* almost the 121 import permits they received last year and have provided for a sub- sidy to .set up a French sales and promotion organization in the U. S. Arrangement was made between reps of the French industry and a U. S. delegation headed by Fayette W;. Allport, Ted Smith and Eugene Van Dee, of the Mo- tion Picture Assn, of America. It was merely .a preliminary, how- ever, since the final deal must have the • okay of the French govern- ment, U. S. industry toppers in New York and the State Dept. Arrangement. was that the French industryites would get a letter outlining terms of the new deal initialed by Michel Fourre- Cormeray, French government film' boss. This was to serve as basis for discussion'by the MPAA and Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers in New York. Instead of inking the agreement, as scheduled last Thursday (31), Fourre-Cormeray said the govern- ment wanted to “study” it and let loose with a tirade on the whole U. S.-Fr£nch relationship. He (Continued on page 48) Europe to N.’ Y. Kitty Carlisle Deanna Durbin Maurice Evans Charles Feldman Edna Ferber John Gielgud. Leonard Goldensor Barry Gray Moss Hart Hugh Hastings Libby Holman Burl Ives E. R. Lewis Arthur Lubin Richard Myers Norton V. Ritchey Emmett Rogers t« Ronald Squire Helen Traubel Mllly Vitale Jack Warner George Weltner Billy Wilder John C. Wilson N. Y. to L. A. Ed Ashley Ward Bond Alfred E. Daff Pat Duggan 1 Ruth Gordon Herman Hoffman Garson Kanin Gabriel Pascal Milton R. Rackmil Herbert T. Silverberg Spyros P. Skouras Michael Sloane Betta SC. John William Thomas Charles Vidor