Variety (August 1952)

United Artists said yesterday > trues.) it had ‘not yet determined ■what action’ it would take regard- ing its contractto release "En- counter,” Paul Muni starrer made in Italy. Roy M. Brewer, Coast rep of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, charg- ed Monday J25) that the film was produced hy persons identified with Communism and threatened to call on IATSE projectionists to refuse to show it. UA said that all it knew of the action hy the. Hollywood American Federation of Labor Film Council was what it had read in the news- papers. Its decision on whether it will release the pic will await for- mal word from the Council. According to word from Holly- wood, the Council will ask UA not to distribute. “Encounter” and ex- hibs not to play it. “If both of these methods fail,” Council' stat- ed, “we shall then institute meas- ures to call upon our fellow union- ists: in the projection rooms of American theatres not to show it/’ Statement was . contained in a letter to the House Un-American Activities Committee. It asked the initiation of legislation at once to ban importation and < showing in this country -Qf films made abroad by persons identified as .“holding membership in or loyalty to the Communist party.” ‘Should Be Govt.-, Job' Letter) signed by Brewer, chair- man of the Film Council, declared such policing should be work of the Government and not individual citizens. It also pointed out that Hollywood is Veil aware of the danger of Communism, and as a result of the crackdown many per- sons believed to be subversive had gone abroad. Brewer added thatje Hollywood, Aug. 26. , , Bore Schary expects to wind ''The Hoaxers,” factual, document- ed 50-minute expose of Commu- nism. in. America/ within two or three weeks for October release. Herman 1 Hoffman, who turned out “The MGM Story” last year for Schary, scripted and acted as as- sociate producer on the film, which a number of top Metro stars will narrate. Reelage, gleaned from Govern- ment archives, libraries-of differ- ent newsreels* starts with the Rus- sian viewpoint toward, the U. S. in 1917, time 'of revolution, and comes up to date. Metro plans regular film release. Pic stems from Communism-ex- pose Idea sold to the studio more than a year ago by Victor Lasky and William Hebert under the title “Big Lie.” Lasky expanded on the idea, which later was taken over by Allen Rivkin. $962,493 Profit For 20th-Fox In 1st 6 Mos. of '62 Twentieth-Fox earnings for the first six months of the current year looked plenty upbeat in view of the poor first quarter but the profit J jl fell short of what had been ^ „ . _ _ _ idicted by prexy Spyros was also unfair In depriving worirCM'ouras a few months ago.. I r ru - 1 .. I ^ . J ml _ _ p. (Continued on page 6) Cal. Exhibitor Scorns Him Council, to Make PicWith. ‘Unfriendly 9’ Hollywood, Aug. 26. Simon Lazarus, Monrovia the- atreowner, said here today (Tues.) that he was going ahead with plans to produce a pic in Hollywood utilizing the services of the “Un- friendly Nine.” Latter is the group that went to jail rather than dis- close its political affiliations in testimony before , the House Un- American ’ Activities Committee in 1-947. It was Lazarus’ request to the Hollywood American Federation of Labor Film Council for‘“coopera- tion” that led to a letter yesterday from the Council to the House com- mittee asking legislation to ban pix made abroad by alleged former Hollywood Communists or sympa- thizers. Lazarus’ request for “coopera- tion” was nixed. He then advised the Council that he would shoot abroad if he couldn’t get coopera- tion here. Now, however, he says he’ll go ahead in Hollywood in any case, although*he hasn’t a start- ing date, story, studio space or per-, sonnel. The e x h i b declined to name those of the “Nine” he planned to use, but said he had formed a cor- poration to make the pix on an indie basis. Decide Whether/Kiss’ Can Be Released to TV Los Angeles, Aug. 26. Whether “A Kiss For Corliss” can be released for television will be determined Thursday (28) by Benno M. Brink, referee in bank- ruptcy. “Corliss” is one of the four films involved in the legal affairs of the Nassour Bros. The others are “Cover Up,” “Without Honor” and “Don’t Trust Your Husband.” Brink approved the sale of the foui pix to television several months ago, but later the James t/* ^aphier Agency tried to block the televising of “Corliss” on the ground that it owns TV rights un- dn- a deal with P. Hugh Herbert, h.it If' £ Federal Court ruling Jh/r d t th . H?. phiel ' action . and now the fate of Corliss” is up to Brink. Statement issued la$t Thursday ( 22 ) disclosed that 20th’s net for the half year amounted to $962,493, equal to 35c per common share. At the company’s stockholders' meeting in New York May 21, Skouras forecast, a profit of $1,200,- 000, or 43c per share of common, for the period. He made it clear though that crystal-balling future earnings with any degree of ac- curacy is pretty tough. The new six-month net compared with $1,071,113, or 30c per common share, for the first half of 1951. Although the net was higher, pre- ferred stock divvy requirements caused the lower amount in per- share earnings. Earnings for the second quarter of ’52 soared to $928,492, or 34c per share, compared with a profit of $196,337, or 3c per share, for the second quarter of ’51. ’Twentieth’s net for the first quarter of this year was a. slim $34,001, equal to lc per share. Commenting on this at the stockholders session, Skouras said the quarter was the worst on the books since he has been president. Rentals for the entire 26 weeks climbed to $43,998,793, as against $42,566,350 for the first half of ’51. Theatre receipts dipped to $27,- 614,580, down from $28,741,913 in the first 26 weeks of last year. 2 Indie* CNi On T% Rights to Film Couple qf Indie Uutflts clashed] k thii week over television licensitof rigid* to “Jungle Fury,” which was produced by' Sigmund Neufleld. Chemical Bank k Trust Co. ob- tained the film via mortgage fore- closure, and Television -Exploita- tions, Inc., .picked URthe TV rights, according'to the latter* However;. Regent Pictures has been negotiating sale of the TV rights to tejecasters. As. a conse- quence, Television . Exploitations filed suit un New York .Supreme •Court seeking an injunction and an accounting of any monies ob- tained by. Regents- for the pic. Hearing is set for Sept. lO, 20th Defers Divvy Action Because the corporation’s di- vorcement is due on Sept. 27, 20th- Fox board of directors has post- poned dividend action until Sept. 29. Management of the film com- pany at that time will recommend to the board a payment of 25c per share of common stock for the third quarter to be made the latter part of October. It’s expected-that the directorate of the new theatre- company also will meet Sept. 29 to consider diwy acton. National Theatres’ funded debt agreements restrict dividends to a maximum of 50% of the^net earnings of the previous year. "Ac- cordingly, the theatre company will be limited in 1952 to dividends of a maximum of about $1,150,000; of which $500,000 already has been declared and paid up to the parent corporation. OF ABC, DPT . Washington, Aug. 26. As anticipated, examiner Leo Hesuick closed the record last week on the six months old Federal Com- munications Commission - Para- mount package heatings, .paving the way for late autumn approval of the merger of American .Broad- casting Co. and United Paramount, Theatres, and license renewal of Paramount Pictures’ video station in Los Angeles, KTLA. Termination of the hearings should also , result in a solution of. the thorny Par-DuMont control question, on yhich testimony was heard when the proceedings began last January. The hearings were brought to a conclusion . when Resnick’ turned down a request by Commission counsel Frederick Ford to resume ^sessions in two months for testi- mony .on* current antitrust actions against Par. Ford wanted time to gather evidence on ‘the Milgrini drive-in suit, the National Screen Service case* and. monopoly charges against* Madison Square Garden, which indirectly involves Par through interlocking directors. Resnick denied the request in compliance with a directive from the Commission to wind up the hearings as soon as possible. .The Commission had previously ruled out antitrust testimony based on activities prior to 1948 and, while leaving it to Resnick’s discretion to keep the record open for evi- dence on recent antitrust matters, called for a “speedy determination” of the proceedings. With "the do.sing of. the record, as of Aug. 20, lawyers for parties to* the proceeding were given 30 days to submit proposed findings on the merger and Par license re- newal issues, and 20 days on the Par-DuMont control question. Lesser’s New HQ 400-Seat House Hollywood, Aug. 26. Sol Lesser is concentrating his film business activities, both foreign and’ domestic, in a new spot here recently purchased from Charles Boyer. In addition to offices, the building will contain a 400-seat theatre for the screen- ing of art pictures. New headquarters, will accom- modate all of Lesser’s organiza- tion and affiliated companies,* in- cluding Thalia Productions,. Odys- sey Productions, Jungle-Adventure Films, Sequoia Productions, Real Adventure Films, Principal Pic- tures, Art Films International of Stockholm and Western Hemi- sphere Holding Corp. Barney Briskin, his general manager, will remain on the RKO-Pathe lot to handle Lesser productions. Darnell in Italo Pic Linda Darnell has been pacted by Italian producer Giuseppe Amato for a film to be made in Italy. Pic, as yet untitled, -vvill go before the cameras in Rome later this year. Screenplay has been written by Cesare Zavattlni, writer of “The Bicycle Thief” and “Shoeshine.” Sports Europe to N* Y. Bert Block Kay Harrison Herbert Kalmus Edythe Latham Fritz Mahler Sydell Robbins Nicola Rossi-Lemeni Dorothy Sarnoff Menasha Skulnik N. Y. to L. A. Mort Blumenstock Michael O’Shea Billy Reed Deter M. Robeck Harold Rome Foreign Telemeter Right$ * *• . Toronto, Aug; 26, First lorefgfi-rights franchise of International Telemeter Corp/) in- cluding exclusive manufacture and distribution of- equipment in Canada, has Jieen personally bought by J. J. Fitzglbbons, presi- dent and managing director of Famous Players (Canadian), con- trolling some 620 houses across the Dominion. Jean A. Poullot, son of A. Pou- liot, dean. of. the faculty of sci- ence, Laval Uv, Montreal, will head Fitzgibbons* new venture. Since 1949, Pouliot has. been chief of the Canadian Navy’s elec- trical laboratories in Otiawa. N.Y. Indies Go For Bingo, Etc. Despite opposition of the city’s License Department and organized exhib associations, a group of un- affiliated theatreowners in the Greater New Ytfrk area are pro- ceeding with plans to launch a drive for the revival of Bingo, Banko, Screeno and other ccin giveaways. Exhibs, mainly ops of small-seater nabe houses, are set to meet after Labor Day to out- line strategy and weigh the legal angles. Leaders of the movement, con- tinuing their request for anonymity until the legalities are settled, said an attorney would be hired by the group. ^ Meanwhile, support for the re- turn of the games came from th£ two New York projectionists Unions, Local 306, International Al- liance of Theatrical Stage Em- ployees, with more than 2,000 mem- bers, gave tacit if not wholehearted approval. Union’s prexy,* Herman Gelber, noted, however, thSKt his outfit would prefer .other b.o. lures. He indicated that better pic- tures and technical advances, such as tri-dimensional films and big- screen video, would provide more lasting b.o, attractions. Staunch support for the move- ment came from the Independent Motion Picture Machine operators, an unaffiliated outfit repping about 250 boothmen, WB’s 25c Divvy Dividend of 25c per share was declared payable by Warner Bros, at a New York meetings of the board of directors Monday (25). Coin is payable Oct. 4, 1952, to common stock holders of record Sept. ^ 1952. L. A. to N. Y. John Barrymore, Jr. William Bendix Richard Boone Leslie Caron Sam Colt Arlene Dahl Dee Engelbach James Flavin George Foster Gale Gordon Virginia Gordon Ward Green Abner J. Greshler Cedric Hardwicke Bill Hayes Dody Heath Jean Hersholt Ted Howard Hiller Innes Lou Irwin Arthur Klein Paul Kohner John Kriza Jesse L. Lasky Mary McCall, Jr. Horace McCoy Marilyn Monroe Wayne Morris Patricia Neal Martha Raye Jack Shaindlin Spyros Skouras Frank Stempel William Thomas Lupita Tovar Don Vanni Hal Wallis VqWttUy, August 2 7. 1952 or to Lift ; Latuko Mayor Marti? 1 H^Kranelly 6 'i. weighing requests of the An I, CWI» Liberties UuW to Police censorship ban on two »|, tures. Pix involved are “The m . »cle£ fllm involved in ful ..Supreme Court decision .African dotmern^ which was nixed on the ground "hudity and cruelty to anSs- CM™** police first banned “The Miradle’ last year-prior to the high court ruling—on the ground that it “features immorality” a£d “exposes a religion to ridicule” Police censor board stood by its decision recently when it received a new application for a license to show the picture. 10 - ACLU has indicated that if the mayor turns down its request on “The-Miracle,” it plans to exhibit the pic Ih a theatre so that an ar- rest will follow, leading to a court test/ ‘ As yet the outfit hasn’t set |.any strategy on “Latuko,” first awaiting the mayor’s decision. - Reason, for the intended action on “The Miracle” is that ACLU had planned an earlier showing of the film but abandoned the plan when theatreowner Elmer Balaban •was threatened with the loss of his license if the screening were held. ACLU, acting as distributor in Chicago for Joseph Burstyn, owner of the U. S. release rights, countered, with a private showing at the Unitarian Church here. Five . screenings were held for invited organizational leaders, clergymen, attorneys, judges and other com- munity officials. Edward H. Mey- erding, executive director of the ACLU, reported that an over- whelming majority voted for pub- lic exhibition of the film and (Continued on page 20) Pix to File Answer This Week to Ohio’s Brief on Censorship Toledo, Aug. 26. • Film industry’s answer to the brief filed last week by the At- torney General of Ohio upholding the state's right to censor news- reels will be filed here Friday (29) in Municipal Court, where the case of Martin G. Smith, exhib who showed an uncensored newsreel, is being heard. . State’s brief, running eight pages, declared that newsreels and motion pictures by their nature present different problems as re- gards censorship than do news- papers, magazines and periodi- cals. Brief, signed by John J. McCarthy and Louis R. Young, Toledo’s director and assistant di- rector of law (city prosecutor), (Continued on page 22) N. Y. to Europe Marian Anderson Claudio Arrau Catherine Ayers John Barrymore, Jr. Lawrence Bland Robert Breen Georgia Burke Cab Calloway Helen Colbert Hal Cooper Joseph Crawford Blevins Davis Zelda Dorfman Helen Dowdy Ella Gerber Kenneth Hibbert LaVern Hutcherson Joseph James Eva Jessye Samuel Kornblatt Moses LaMarr Jerry Laws Urylee Leonardos Joshua Logan Jed Mace Samuel Matlowsky fa John McCurry Bryan Michie •Leontyne price George Quick Walter Riemer Howard Roberts Wolfgang Roth Robert C. Schnitzer Leslie Scott Alexander Smallens Isaac Stern Helen Thigpen Arturo Toscanini Jack Trado William Veasey William Warfield Ray YAtes