Variety (September 1952)

^nscmjLA^ Hollywood Entries Nab Good Reaction As Venice Film Fete in Final Week PiSRimr "Wc^^Kcaday, Scpfember 10, 1052 Venice, S^pt. 9. With tlie Venice Film Festival scheduled to wind up Friday (12t after almost three weeks of screen- ings, Hollywood entries so far have reaped a good audience reaction but have drawn a mixed critical re- ception, Both “Carrie” (Par^ and •"Phone Call From a Stranger” (20tlii were lauded from a techni- cal standpoint. Metro’s “Ivanhoe,” Robert Tay- lor-Elizabeth Taylor costarrer, was complimented for its color and me- dieval atmosphere. Two British en- tries, “The Importance of Being Earnest” and “Mandy” likewise were greeted by good aud response but so^so critical reaction. Its weak point was a lack of subtitles to ex- plain the wordy dialog. Subtitling isn’t obligatory under Venice Festival regulations and many -countries enter features without the captions. Italian critics object to this with the beef that they frequently miss the nuances of a subject unless translations are affixed. “The Quiet Man” (Rep) is subtitled in Italian. “Carrie” and •"Stranger” had French titles, while •Tvanhoe” had none at all. Stiir awaited here are “Death of a Salesman” (Col) and “The Thief” (UA), which is show'ing out of competition. “Thief” will have no subtitling difficulties due to its dialogless proceedings. Warners* •‘iVliracle of Our Lady of Fatima” is also scheduled to be run off. Yank pix, incidentally, consistently have drawn the heavie.st attendance. GRAYSON IN WARNERS' ‘GRACE MOORE STORY' ' Hollywood, Sept. 9. Kathryn .Grayson will star in i ‘The Grace Moore Story” as the first of four pix she’ll make under a new Warner cont;ract. Others will be “Saratoga.” “Trilby” and “Mademoiselle Modiste.” “The Moore Story” will be pro- duced by Henry Blanke, with Gor- don Douglas directing from the John Monks, Jr., screenplay. Contract permits Miss Grayson to make concert tours. She hopes to make a European trek next sum- mer. Meantime, the film fete looks to r^ck up another record turnout. *-cket sales for the documentary and children’s film contests which preceded the big show indicated a strong jump in interest over pre- vious years. Now, with only a few more days to go the feature fes- tival hjas been packing ’em in at both the 1,000-seat film palace and (Continued on page 45) INTELLECTUAL DINNER' DRY-RUN FOR AM OR TV Mrs. Bob (Mildred) Considine and socialite Bea Bredin have an “intellectual dinner conversation piece” program idea which, after a dry run of several weeks, they think may become a radio or TV program. It would be called “What’s New?” Title derives from discourses on what’s new in their fields, as discussed in two or three minute ad lib talks by specialists in the respective categories. The dry run idea stems from a proposal to tee off the show in an upstairs private room of the Stork Club, N. Y., once a month or possibly fortnightly, on Thurs- days, with 200 invitees as paid customers for a $5 dinner ($8 a head to include everything), where Mrs. Considine and Miss Bredfn would call on guests to talk in- formatively and entertainingly on sundry subjects. Among those in- vited, Bennett Cerf would talk on books; H. V. Kaltenborn on foreign affairs; Sylvia Porter on finance; Eddie Rickenbacker on aviation; John Daley on news; Red Smith on sports; somebody on entertain- ment, etc. First dinner is slated for Sept. 18. Theory is that this would assist many bored Manhat- tanites to spend at least one din- ner periodically with a sort of Intellectual purpose in view. No Immediate Decision • ^ On the Replacement For Gertie Lawrence in ‘King' No immediate decision will be I made by author-producers Richard Rodgers and Osc^ Hammerstein-2d about a permanent replacement for Gertrude Lawrence as star of “King and I,” at the St. James, N. Y. Constance Carpenter, un- derstudy,* has been subbing in the part during the star’s illness, and will continue in the assignment un- til further notice. Celeste Holm ; took over as star during Miss Law- rence’s six-week vacation this sum- mer. Despite news of Miss Lawrence’s death Saturday morning (6), tlf^ regular matinee and evening shows of the musical were given that day and the performance w'as played as scheduled Monday night (8), but last night’s (Tues.) show was cancelled out of respect for the star’s memory. Other Broadway theatres dimmed their lights for one minute at 8; 30 last night, and, in London there was a similar ob-' servance at 7:30, curtain time there. Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon. A notice posted Saturday on the bulletin board backstage at the theatre read, “This morning’s event has been a very great shock. Kindly refrain from discussing it in the theatre and avoid tears or' other demonstrations in the presence of performing artists.” Despite Miss Lawrence’s death, . her estate will continue to partici- j pate in the “King” profits, her con- tract calling for a 5% share from all sources. That had reached a total of $14,845 as of last June 28. Her 109o slice of the gross ceased when she left the cast The star’s estate will also continue to receive royalties for her performance in the “King” album and other Decca records. It is not expected that the actress’ death will have any effect on the operation of the Cape Plaj'house, Dennis, Mass., where she and her husband, producer Richard Aid- rich, have their summer home. Aid- rich manages the strawhat through Aldrich Productions, Inc., in which Miss Lawrence and he were part- nered as majority stockholders. Aldrich also manages the Falmouth Playhouse at "Coonamessett, Mass., and the Cape Cod Music Circus at Hyannis. FRANK LIBUSE Club Lido Champs Elysecs, Paris, Franc* One week, two weeks, thr.ee weeks, four weeks, five weeks, six weeks, seven weeks, eight weeks, nine weeks ten week.s, eleven weeks, twelve weeks, thirteen weeks, four- teen week.s. and NOW FIFTEENTH WEEK. Personal Management AL GROSSMAN 1270 Sixth Ave., Xew York CT 6-8422- Japan’s TV Gets Financial Boost Tokyo, Sept. 2, Television in Japan, recently authorized by the Japanese gov- [emment, is off to an impressive ! financial start with' $1,800,000 in vested by some 52 concerns and orders for $1,000,000 worth of j equipment. (Contract for construc- tion of a transmitting station and a studio has been granted. Work will begin next month. Reacting to the listing of TV stock in Wall Street, the Yamaichi, Nikko and othe'r securities compa- nies in Japan are also investing in the fledgling Japan Television Broadcasting Network Co. Taiyo Securities, a Japanese-operated Los Angeles concern, also has invested. Leading Japanese angels are the Yomiuri, Mainichi and Asahi news- paper publishing companies, Ya- wata Iron Works, Oji Paper Man- ufacturing and Toho Show Indus- try. The $1,000,000 order placed in the U. S. is for mobile transmitters to cover sports and other outdoor events. Cars are being tested in America and are expected to be delivered early next year. ‘STAR IS BORN'MUSICAL FOR JUDY’S COMEBACK , Hollywood, Sept. 9, Musical remake of “Star is Born” will mark Judy Garland’s return to J films next year. Pic will be the first of three tinters Sid Luft, Miss Gar- land’s husband, will make for War- ners. “Star” starts after the birth of her expected child in January. Others on the slate are “Man O’ War” and “Snow-Covered Wagon.” On “Man,” Luft already has 5,000 feet of color film lensed of the great racehorse before he died four years ago. Subscription Order Fornn Enclosed find check for $ Please send VARIETY for&® ^ 9/10 (Please Print Name) Street City. . Zone. ... State. Regular Subscription Rates One Year~$10.00 Two Years«^$1S.OO Canada and ?oreign-»-$l Additional per Year Ibc, lS4.W<irf Sfruet N«w York 34. N; Y. Who Did What to Ike? Washington, Sexrt. 9. The Demmies are gloating and the GOP' is doing a burn over the poor lighting used in Philly’s convention hall for the telecast of 'last Thursday's (11) Eisenhower kickoff speech. Televiewers all over the country were shocked by worn looking, gaunt faced Ike until they realized that the camera pickups on platform showed everybody on the anemic side. General reaction, despite a sock speech, was that candidate “looks bad.” ' Complaints launched with NBC for poor image of the Republi- can standard bearer in a half-hour show with reported overall cost of $100,000 are said to have resulted in some fast buck pass- ing. Blame was laid at doorstep, of the newsreels, which were re- sponsible for lighting, and on penny pinching of Republican ar- rangements committee, which reputedly saw chance to save about $300 by pooled lighting Demmies are chortling over the incident. Regardless of the real culprit in the cause celebre, lighting will be given top priority in future political telecasts. Mickey Rooney Appeals $32,761 Govt Tax Rap Washington, Sept. 9. Mickey Rooney has filed an ap- peal with the U; S. tax court from a claim of the Bureau’of Internal Revenue for an additional $32,761 in taxes and interest. (Dase involves Rooney, Inc., for which the actor vvorkecl in 1945, 1947 and 1948. Revenue bureau i says this was' a personal holding company and that Rooney re- ceived all the assets when the cor- poration went out of business. Rooney denies it was a personal holding company and that he should be required to pay addi-! tional taxes. He said th^ extra tax 1 bill resulted “almost exclusive^ • from neglect and loose manage- ment of a* small, close corporation.” He said he did not manage the cor- poration himself and had no knowl- edge of its accounting practices. • Reds Sought to Infiltrate Talent, Ad Agencies To Control Info Outlets Washington, Sept. 9. Communists sought to infiltrate talent and advertising agencies in New York, in the party's drive to control cultural and informational outlets in this country. This was disclosed last week when the Sen- ate Internal Security Sub-Commit- tee relea^d testimony by Harvey M. Matusow, a former informant for the FBI while he was a mem- ber of the Communist Party in New Yorlc. Matusow, who appeared before the Senate probers last February, saief'-the Commy Party in New York used to send him around to various “weak shops—weak, so far as the union was concerned.” He referred to the United Office and Professional Workers Union—one df those expelled by the CIO and now in the DPOA. ’ At one time, Matbsdw’ lesMficid, he was sent up to the William Mor- ris Agency in an attempt to get a job there. Matusow, in telling of the at- tempt to infiltrate advertising agen- cies, said “the first attempt was at Grey Advertising Agency, where I was employed, and I was a member of that local and very active in tfie attempt to organize advertising. The local itself was under the di- rect control of the Communist Party members in the local who were working at Grey Advertising Agency. “The attempt to organize Grey Advertising Agency, was part of a plan for the party to infiltrate into advertising, to have something to say abbut the kind of advertising copy that comes out in relation to national campaigns, to keep, if pos- sible, as much bad publicity away from the party and, wherever pos- sible, favor the trade union move- ments controlled by the party, and a general part of their plan of in- filtration into the arts, dramatics and otherwise.” ‘FINN’ FINISHES KELT’S TAX-FREE STAY ABROAD Hollywood, Sept. 9. Gene Kelly’s next Metro starrer will be “Huckleberry Finn,” to be filmed in Culver City, thereby up- setting his plan to remain over- seas for 18 months for income tax purposes. Actor was originally assigned to star in “Brigadoon” over there early next year but Metro shifted its production schedule and set back the start of the picture until late in 1953. Kelly will return for “Finn” late this year when he com- pletes “Invitation to the Dance.” currently filming in England. He will have been away less than a year. Jessel to Toastmaster Pioneers’ Blumberg Fete George, Jessel has formally ac- cepted the inviation of the Motion Picture Pioneers to toastmaster the outfit’s jubilee dinner honoring Universal’s board chairman, Nate J. Blumberg. Dinner is set for Hotel Astor, N.Y., Nov. 25. Jessel returned from Israel last week and plans to devote the next few weeks to fund-raising activities for the. United Jewish Appeal. He Is also planning film biography, “Tales of Jessel” and a film version of*'‘Rip Van Winkle” to star Jimmy Durante. He stars on the NBG "All Star Revue” nOxt week,’ 40 Nations Lay Groundwork For Geneva, Sept. 9. Groundwork for a new interna- tional copyright treaty, covering all major countries outside the Soviet orbit, was laid last week when reps of 40 nations gave pre-*- liminary approval to a new intaedV*. national copyright agreem^ht known as the General Univers^ Copyright Convention. Treaty wa? drafted at a 4hree-week conference;, held under the auspices of United Nations Educational, Scic|Y** tific and Cultural Organizatlott (UNESCO). Luther Evans, Librarian of C^k-. gress, and the U. S. delegation vta the conference signed for the IL*J^ but Congress will have to modif^ the current copyright law be^otia it goes into effect. Evans conceded that it may be difficult to get.it passed through Congress. Jolm Schulman, attorney for the Sof^^. writers Protective Assn., was bnir of Evans’ advisors at the conclayif'. Major change for the U. S. Cojpy- right Law, if the new treaty, Jj/i. accepted, involves the preset clause limiting the copyright pVq:;. tection of an English-language book published outside of the U. S. to five years unless the book is also published in the U. S. in that p^ riod. The new convention estaib- Jishes a general minimum of 25. years for copyright protection granted to all works by authors in their native language. The basic difference between European and American (U. S. South American countries) copy*, right systems would not be affected by the provisions of the new treaty. Under the European setup,- works are protected for 50 yeaiiS after an author’s death. In the American system, the protection continues for a fixed term aftet the original copyright. In the U.S. the copyright term is limited to two 28-year terms. It’s not expected that any counj*- try will reduce the term of co;^-- right protection to meet the 25-* < year minimum recommended in the new treaty. The invention will be put into effect pfree months, after ratification hy^2 countries, including four using the Americi system. Andrews ^eds Tried To Sabotage Col’s Taris’ Hollywood, Sept, 9. Attempts by Communists to sabo- tage the filmii^ of Columbia’s “As- signment Paris” were described Sunday night (7) by Dana Andrew* in a radio interview with Bill Tusher, ABC commentator. Pic- ture, filmed in Paris, has an anti- Re d theme. During a love scene with Marta Toren, with Notre Dame in the background, Andrews said, the electricians refused to turn on the cathedral lights although the peo- ple in charge of the edifice were perfectly willing. Other Commies, he said, broke through the police lines and tried to interfere with the filming. His conclusion was that the French Reds were bent on sabotage. Lsidd to London for Pic London, Sept. 9. • Alan Ladd is due today (Tues. to take up his starring role in th( Columbia British production; “Th^ Red Beret” which will be made b; Warwick Film ProKictions. Location work on this Tecirnl color pic started last week a Abingdon*