Variety (September 1952)

Beplemher 10 , pmmff MCVinKBS RAP MSIRrS KO LEADERSHT British Demands for U.S. Slash In Anglo Com Shrugged Off By Yanks Washington, Sept. 9. ' Demands b^the British negotia- tors here^or^ severe cut in coin being remitted from England by the U. S. industry Is not disturb- ing Yank execs. It has been cus- tomary British bargaining practice to make stiff demands early in the talks on Anglo-U. S. agreements, while in turn the Americans al- ways start out by asking for free remittances. Negotiations on the agreement to become effective Oct. 1 began yesterday (Mon.) and continued today. It is expected that they'll continue for a week or more. Sir Frank Lee, permanent Under- secretary of the British Board of Trade, who heads the delegation, reportedly asked for substantial re- ductions in dollar remittances all along the line. While exact details of the behind-closed-doors meetings have not been made public, it is understood that the British would like to get a cut of at least $5,- 000,000 in the basic $17;00(),000 which Hollywood is now permitted to take out in dollars. British, it is reported, are like- wise anxious to reduce the amount of bonus payments without dis- couraging American production there. Bonuses for pix produced in British studios and for help to British production amount to about one-third of what the Yanks spend on film-making there. Bonuses* added about $9,000,000 in the past year to the basic $17,000,- 000 . While the British demand for cuts is not worrying the American negotiating team, U. S. distribs are pretty much resigned to the fact that they’ll get less from the Brit- ish in the new pact than in the current one. Combo of economic conditions in Britain and the fact (Continued on page 15) U.S. Tourists Snared For Renoir Pic ‘Reaction' At Rome Preview Rome, Sept. 9. With the aid of the American Express, i about 100 American tour- ists were corralled to witness a sneak preview of an English-lan- guage film 'made in Italy. Film was “The Golden Coach” starring Anna Magnani and directed by Jean Renoir. Desiring to gauge audience re- action to the film, which will be released in the U. S. shortly, Renoir appealed to the travel agency, which succeded in round- ing up tourists who were willing to take time off from sightseeing to view a film. On the basis of the reaction of the audience, which Renoir said constituted a good cji-oss-section of the American pub- Mc, the director fs incorporating s^e^Kihanges in the final version. The Technicolor film will be brought to New York for the finalization of a releasing deal. DEKE AYLESWORTH IN ST. LUKE’S HOSP, N. Y. Merlin Hall (Deke) Aylesworth is still in St. Luke's Hospital, New York, in a rather weakened con- dition because of a disinclination to eat. He has been seeing nobody but his secretary since June, for he has been under treatment for a liver ailment. Recently a day and night nurse became necessary in a bid to feed him and bolster his resistance, The veteran showman was the first president of the National Broadcasting Co. and was prez of RKO Radio Pictures and publisher for Roy Howard of the N. Y. World Telegram. Latterly he has been consultant to Mrs. A. I. DuPont (annual DuPont radio awards), Cities Service and kindred ac- counts. Pete 'Jones, head of CS, and Aylesworth’s very good friend, has been In constant touch with me showman. What President Installed the First ^Victrola Corner* In the White House? * fr * one of tho many odhorlal feokures In the special RCA VICTOR NUMBER in P^Sriety OUT THIS MONTH At Least 50 TV Station Licenses Sought by Theatre Interests 2 Major TV-ers, In Return, Fail To Dent B.0,s Return to the air of two major tele shows over the past weekend failed to dent the strong pic b.o.' that has prevailed throughout the nation since mid-July. Exhibs ad- mit that is not much of a cue to what may be expected later in the season, but they see it as at least, the cause for some minor optimism. Resumption of the big TV shows has been awaited, with interest— and some trepidation—by the en- tire film industry. As in the past tvfo years, pic execs have awaited anxiously the return of the big names*"to the air to learn whether strong summer grosses will con- tinue in face of such competition. They did not in 1950 and 1951. The two big shows that went back on the air over the weekend were the Sid Caesar-Imogene Coca- starrer, “Your Show of Shows,” and “The All Star Revue.” which led off with Dennis Day as its top name. Both preemed on Saturday (6) evening. Actually, it will be a couple weeks yet before there's a more substantial, test of TV versus film theatres this season. That will be Sept. 21, when Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis make their initial ap- pearance. Before that, however, there will be George Jessel on the “All Star Revue” next Saturday (13), and Jimmy Durante the following Sat- urday, while Milton Berle returns to the air next Tesday (16) and “I Love Lucy” (Lucille Ball), Monday (15). Film biz over the weekend wasn’t (Continued on page 15)* Deep exhibitor concern has been detected in various parts of the country on the film industry’s ab- sence of leadership in counter- attacking the Government suit which seeks a forced sale of 16m pix to TV. Theatremen are dissatisfied with the continued silence of the Coun- cil of Motion Picture Organiza- tions concerning the case and want a mapping of strategy on just how the Department of Justice move should be resisted. Henderson M. Richey, exhib re- lations chief for Metro, related that theatremen in the northwest are more disturbed over the mat- ter than any. other adversity facing the Industry. Richey returned to New York this week fallowing meetings with exhibs in Seattle, Portland and San Francisco. The M-G exec told Variety yes- terday (Tues.) they're convinced that further protestations -to the Attorney General on the individ- ual basis would be meaningless. When the suit was first instituted numerous theatremen and theatre organizations wired strong objec- tions to the AG and other officials in Washington, but no overall in- dustry counter-measure to the suit has ever been taken.. The exhibs, Richey relayed, are (Continued oh page 15) Objective London: ‘Burma’ Waits 7 Years But FinaflyTashes In London, Sept. 9. Seven years after “Objective Burma” was suddenly pulled from the Warner Theatre following a hostile press and public reaction, the firm returned to that house last Thursday (4), and gave the the- atre one of its best opening days of the year. Gross fell just short of $1,500. Objection to the film was origl nally based on the fact that the yarn made no mention of the role which the British 14th Army played in the Burma campaign. At the time of its first presentation in 1945, the film had been booked for general release on the Associated British Circuit. The ABC topper, D. J. Goodlatte, is awaiting the re- (Continued on page 53) Zanuck Due in From Europe for ‘Snows’ Bow Darryl F. Zanuck, 20th-Fox studio chief, will arrive in New York from Europe by plane next Tuesday (17) and following day will attend the premiere of “Snows of Kilimanjaro,” which he produced, at the Rivoli on Broadway. Zanuck is now on the Continent at work on final preparations for “Man on a Tightrope” and “Able Seaman Brown,” which begin shooting abroad within the next week. RCA Board Chairman Gen. David Sarnoff In an Interesting piece titled There*s Nothing More Permanent Than^ Change reviews the constantly Improved electronic recording technlqnes it * it one of the many byKne features in the special RCA VICTOR NUMBER in P'SaRwff out THIS MONTH AFM Pact Would Cut Rescoring Of Oldies’SoId to TV \ Washington, Sept. 9. Theatre operators are getting into television in a big way, a num- ber of them applying for the limit of five stations and some going into competition with other exhib- itors in the same cities for prize j-channels. An analysis of applications filed with the Federal Communications Commission shows that at least 50 TV station authorizations, are be- ing sought by theatre interests. In addition, according to a spot check by Variety of radio lawyers in Washington, another 10 to 15 ex- hibitor applications are due to be filed within the next month. Next to radio broadcasters (in- cluding those identified with news- paper interests), theatre operators may well become the most impor- ant factor in the TV broadcastihg ield. At present, only a handful of exhibitors own video outlets. The majority of theatre appli- cants are going after the uncon- tested UHF channels but a good many will battle it out In hearings against radio station operators for coveted VHF channels. Some of hese contests will see exhibitors pitted against newspaper owners (Continued on page 16) A new contract being offered by the American Federation of Mu- sicians to indie film producers would facilitate the showing of old pix on TV via an easing of the mu- sical rescoring restrictions. Under the new AFM deal, indie producers would not have to re- score their old product at all if they pay the original musicians on the pix productiop 50% of the pre- vailing TV picture rrate.. The current pact has proved to be a big,barrier to the indies in sending their pix into TV. The AFM has been insisting on full re- scoring of the musical tracks of such pix at full scale. New AFM pact is seen opening a new fiood of films into video since the re-recording problem would be eliminated with a con- comitant 50% cut in costs. An- other controversial feature of the old AFM pact, the 5% contribu tion on each pix gross to the Mu sic Performance Trust Fund, is be- ing retained intact. National Boxoffice Survey Pix Biz Holds Well; ^Paleface^ New Champ, ‘Widow^ 2d, ‘McLain' 3d> ‘Glory' 4th, ‘Jacks' Sth Raibourn’s Speech Address on “Motion Pictures and the Future” will be delivered by Paramount v.p. Paul Raibourn before the communications section of .the Centennial of Engineering symposium in Chicago Friday (12). Par exec will trace the history of development of the standards which make it possible to show 35m films throughout the world. Address has been 5>rlnted in pamphlet form and will' be avail- able for distributlod. • There is the usual post-Labor Day dip in evidence this week at the key city first-runs covered by Variety but a healthy to strong undertone is noted in many of the bigger cities. Much cooler weather in many localities was a factor in maintaining strong biz in numer- ous keys. “Son of Paleface” (Par) is push- ing up to No. 1 position with some 14 important playdates plus nu- merous holdovers and extended- runs. Bob Hope comedy is showing nice to smash trade in most loca- tions. “Merry Widow” (M-G), sixth last week, is taking second spot,- only a Step behind the champ. “Big Jim McLain” (WB) con- tinues in third position, same as last week. “What Price Glory” (20th)| champ last session, is wind- ing up in fourth slot while “Jump- ing Jacks” (Par), with some new bookings, is climbing to fifth after slipping way down a week ago. “Sudden Fear” (RKO), a strong fourth last stanza, continues high in the competition to cop sixth money. “Dreambbat” (20th) is showing an improvment to cop seventh place, with “Big Sky” (RKO) in eighth. “Affair in Trini- dad” (Col) is ninth while “Les Mi- serables” (20th) is 10th. “World in Arms” (U) and “High Noon” (UA), high on the list for many weeks, will round out the Golden Dozen in that sequence. “Untamed Frontier” (U) and “Lure of Wilderness” (20th) are the two runnerup pix in that order. “Just For You” (Par), new Bing Crosby starrer, hints promise, be- ing big in Baltimore and good in Philadelphia. “Crimson Pirate” (WB) is big in its second N. Y. week at Paramount. “Monkey Business” (20th) is rated nice on its N. Y. preem at the Roxy. “Devil Makes Three” (M-G) is merely okay in N.Y. and Buffalo. “Quiet Man” (Rep) continues great in third ses sion at N.Y. Capitol. “Will Rogers” (WB), good in Detroit, shapes up slow in Chi. “Island of Desire” (UA) is fine in Montreal. “Son of All Baba” (U), nice in Providence, looking good in Boston. “Somebody Loves Me” (Par), also new, hit a torrid pace In its initial week in Chi. “Woman of North Country” (Rep) looms good in Louisville. “Where’s Charley” (WB) is rated fair in Frisco and Toronto. “Car- rie” (Par) shapes up lively in Min- neapolis, good In L.A. and oke in Indianapolis. “One Minute To Zero” (RKO) looks solid in Seattle and L.A., be ing tops in latter key. “Lost in Alaska” (U) Is sturdy in Providence but not so good in Chi, (Complete Boxoffice Reports on 1 Pages 10-11). U’s Pirated ‘Unde Tom,’ 25 Years Old, Hot B.O.; Court Impounds Prints Lexington, Ky., Sept. 9. The U. S, marshall here has seized and impounded three prints of “Uncle Tom's Cabin” following obtaining of a court order by Uni- versal which claimed that an indie distrib was illegally selling the pic- ture. Seizure writ, Issued by Judge H. Church Ford, of the U. S, Dis^ trict Court, followed U's request Friday (5) for unspecified damages and injunction and seizure and de- struction of the negatives and prints. . U alleged that Howard G. Under- wood, of - ine Grove, near Lexing- ton, sometimes distributor of ex- ploitation-type medical films! was (Continued on page 18) Trado Mark Registered FOUNDED BY SIME SILVERMAN Published Weekly by VARIETY, 1NC> Harold Erichs. President 164 West 46th St. New York 36, N. V Hollywood 21 0311 Yucca Street Washington 4 1202 National Press Building Chicago 11 G12 No. Michigan Ave. London WC2 8 St. Martin's PL, Trafalgar Sq. 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