Variety (September 1952)

14 nVHEaBTATHiiNAL 'VAKIUTVr CONDON ofKieil. 1 St, Martlit'l Triifaliiat* f<]u«r# Longron Legit Shows io Arg. Show Lore o( Stage; ‘hosts’ to 900 Mark Buenos Aires, Sept, 9, - To anyone not acquainted with real size of Buenos Aires, it is un- believable that legit productions .here can enjoy-suc-h-phenomenally. long-runs as those which have been general over the last decade. This stems partly, from the fact Argentine people are. great theatre patrons, often prefer the comfort of a theatre seat to their homes. This accounts for the fact that Orlando Aldama’s comedy, “When Ghosts Hunt Partridge” has just closed at the Astral Theatre after completing 900 performances in the last six consecutive years. The play would still be running if the star, Luis Sandrini,. had not in- sisted on closing because he had film commitments in Spain. Pro- ducer Francisco Gallo,' however, has a promise,from him that there will be another* revival next year. And since Sandrini has .purchased the film rights,, he naturally is agreeable to resuming in “Ghosts.” “Ghosts” probably has been the ■'biggest moneymaker in Argentine legit history, and has set up San- drini in the millionaire, category for show biz people. His legit, add- ed to his very considerable screen and radio earnings amassed over the past 10 years are enabling him to take a vacation trip in Europe with the whole family, including mother, brother and sister-in-law. Sandrini is due to. make a film in Spain for Spanish producers, but directed by Argentine Lucas Demare from a script authored by Argentine writers Nicolas Poridal Rios and Carlos Olivari. After the picture is completed, the Sandrini family will tour Europe, not return- ing until next February. “Ghosts” is not the only legit show to enjoy a long fun here. A Spanish musical show, “A Song Came From Spain,” has just com- pleted its fifth year at the Argen-*' tino. Revues and musicals of this type are the most popular legit entertainment here. Actor-Producer Narciso Ibanez Menta’s production, “F. B.,” by E*- rique Suarez de Dezzai" has already passed its 350th performance. Al- though due to close shortly, the actor plans reopening in it next year. It is customary for most legit companies to close during the sum- mer . months in Buenos Aires be- cause the weather majces theatre- going unpleasant and none of the legit theatres has air-conditioning as yet. However, sock business is still ’being done by the translation of “A Streetcar Named Desire,” which the Mecha Ortiz Co. produced at the Casino in July. Although legit biz has not been ^ as smash as last year, most pro- ' ductions have run beyond the 100th performance and many have gone to 150. MANY VARIETY SROWS ON BBC FALL LINEUP London, Sept. 16. When the fall radio season opens here next Sunday (21), the accent will be on variety. Several new series have been lined up by the British Broadcasting Corp. to run alongside the return of former pro- grams. These broadcasts will be featured on the Home and Light Programs, both of which are pop wavelengths, Major addition to the variety se- ries will be a program featuring and written by P^ter Ustinov, entitled “In All Directions.” It starts Sept. 26. Another newcomer is the All Star Show, which replaces “Music Hall.” Cicely Courtenidge stars in the new show, “Leave It To Me.” Holdovers include the Hermione Gingold-Richard Attenborough pro- gram, “Home..At Eight;”.the Billy Cotton Band Show; “Double Top” featuring Anne Shelton and Alfred Marks, the Carroll Levis Discovery series, and “Educating Archie,” starring Archie Andrews and Max Bygraves,. Einem Opera for Salzburg Vienna, Sept. 16. The Salzburg Festival committee has decided to include the world preem of Gottfried Einem’s opera, ‘The Trial,” based on the famous novel by Franz Karka on its 1953 program. It is to be produced by Oskar F. Schuh with settings by Caspar Neher. Miralles Spanish Ballet ' In Sock Madrid Preem Madrid, Sept. 9. After a five-month tryout in the provinces, the Soledad Miralles Ballet Co. has made its bow in Madrid, first at the Teatro Carlos III and at present at the Lope de Vega. • Miss Miralles is known in the States, where she resided and worked-during the war. Actually the new company has come into being, thanks to American angels, who are trying to bring it to the Americans. Miss Miralles is an energetic woman, a good dancer of the- Car- men Amaya type, and has a good voice. She has drilled her com- pany of 20, including three out- stading guitarists, to a precise, enthusiastic rendering of flamenco dances, songs and scenes. Accent of th6 show is mor^-on music hall than on artistic ballet, but it’s evi- dently what the public wants. Dur- ing this Madrid season the two large theatres have done excellent biz, thanks to fine scenery and cos- tumes. * Trouble Looms For Aussie €ovt. Fix ■ Sydney, Sept. 9. There is ‘a lot of hush-hush here but inside reports indicate that many obstacles loom for the De- partment of tne Interior, govern- ment-controlled unit now bidding for Ealing’s Pagewood pic studio here. These must be surmounted before cameras can turn on the mooted film production lineup. In- dependent pic producers aver that the government should not break into film production in opposition to them, pointing out that anyway the D.O.I, is a losing proposition for the government. Funny twist to inside reports is that other governmental depart- ments favor the indie producers’ viewpoints. Some departmental chiefs have indicated that with the expansion of the key Kingsford Smith Airport’s runways to nearby Pagewood, it would be impossible to make pix at the studio because of the roar from jet planes overhead. Those favoring the D.O.I. bid into major production blast this negative attitude by saying that studio production could be timed to miss the planes; also that it would not slow production. Ealing decided to quit the Aussie production field several months ago following alleged lack of gov- ernment financial cooperation and moun ting overhead. An indie group headed by Charles Munro was prepared to enter into a 50-50 agreement with Ealing on continu- ous film production, but the gov- ernment’s Monetary Control Board nixed the plan to raise capital lo- cally. Nip Racetrack Gambling Supplaij^s Lottery Rage Tokyo, Sept, 9: Government and private lotter- ies, long Japan’s chief betting at- traction, have been supplanted in 'postwar gambling^ on horse, bi- cycle, motorboat and auto racing. National and municipal tax col- lectors are raking in the yen as the nation flocks in increasing num- bers to the tracks to see the racing ponies and gasoline- and human- propelled contestants. Professional bike racing, which began at Kokura, Kyushu, in No- vember, 1948, has zoomed in popu- Tarily- 'Unlir there are now 60 courses in the country with 36 metropolitan and prefectural gov- ernments and 143 municipalities operating the races. In the 1951- 52, there were 674 races held, at- tracting 18,785,000 persons. Ticket sales brought a net profit of some $10,000,000. Although the bang- tails are in second place in popu- larity poll, more enthusiasts are going to the horse races now than , before the war. Fish Sues Pickles , London, Sept. 16, Dan Fish, British independ- ent producer, has issued a writ against "Wilfred Pickles, alleging breach of contract in connection with a musical fea- ture in wlTich the thesper was to be the star and narrator. Film had been scripted by Geoffrey Bridson who, it is claimed, was engaged at Pickles’ suggestion. In addition to a claim for damages. Fish is also suing for 16ss of profit. Raw Stock From Italy May Help Arg. Film Prod. Buenor Aires, Sept. 9. Basing their hopes on the 6,000,- 000 meters of raw stock which they still expect • to receive from Italy under the Italo-Argentine trade pact signed recently, local produc- ers are renewing plans for in- creased pix production although the Italian celluloid will be enough for only 25 pictures annually at most. Foreign distributors, too, are very dubious about whether Italy will be able to deliver as much film, stock as expected by native producers, stressing that previous pacts were difficult of implemen- tation. Another stumbling block is the fact that although- a previous deal permitted the exchange of Italian for Argentine product, there have been virtually ho Italian pictures released over the past year. Spanish actor Jorge Mistral has arrived here to work in “Count of Monte Cristo” for Argentina Son Film' under Leon ^Klimovsky’s di- rection. Producers here hope the importation of Spanish players may open a market in Spain for Argentine product. Mistral is being sought by, Mexi- can produ^^Gregory Wallerstein for the le^'ln a film version of Eduardo Borras’ Argentine legiter, “The Lighted Lamp,” now at the Comico Theatre. This Wallerstein pic would be done in Mexico. Hugo del Carril had temporarily shelved his idea of making an Argentine version of Emile Zola’s novel “Teresa Raquin” because he understood that French studios also proposed using this yarn. But since no French production has been started, Del Carril is reviving his plans and would make the pic- in October on his return from the Cannes Film Festival. Alberto Closas or Jorge Mistral are being gandered for the leads while vet Spanish legit actress, Lola Mem- brives, will have an important role. Agent Ben Shipmen has left Buenos Aires after failing to work out a deal for Laurel and Hardy to make an English-language pic- ture in an Argentine studio. Some major radio webs have been try- ing—to—e ntice ' these—comics—mtH Olfbeat Pk Shorts at Venice Fete Offer Okay Fare for U.S. Art Houses Fraitcb-Londbn Finiskes FiYfrPix; 2 Set kr U.S. Paris, Sept. 9. Franco-London Films continues as one of • tl'ie more active local producing firms, having just com- pleted some five new pictures. Three were turned out in France, one in Italy while the fifth Is a French and Italian bi.-lingual co- production. French pix include “The Minute of Truth,” a Jean Gabin-Michele Morgan-Daniel Gelln starrer; “The House of Silence,” directed by G. W. Pabst, and “Night Beauties,” with Gerard Philipe and Martine Carol. It was directed by Rene Clair. Italian venture is Vittorio De Sica’s “Hello, Elephant!” the Ptench-Italian bi-lingual production jointly directed by Roberto Rossel- lini, Claude Autant-Lara and Yves Allegret is “The Seven Capital Sins.” Both “Elephant” and “Sins” are scheduled to be released in the U. S. this year by Arthur Davis Associates. local radio for years. Interamericana-Mapol has fin- ished “L’Inevitable Monsieur Du- bois,” with Juan Carlos Thorry, Malvina Pastorino and Beatriz Taibo. Argentina Sono Film has leased space on the Mapol lots for a film' in which Narciso Ibanez Menta is starred. Sono’s own lots are being readied for shooting Alexandre Dumas’ “Camille,” in which Zully Moreno will co-s’lar With Carlds Thompson. POLES GIVE SHOW BIZ CELEBS NAT’L PRIZES Washington, Sept. 16. A number of show biz figures were among^ the Poles who recent- ly were awarded top national prizes and decorations by that govern- ment. Emba.ssy here announced that the winners included Karol Frycz, stage designer; Jan Kurnakowicz, for playing the part of the gover- nor in “Inspector General” and Jakub Rotbaum, as stage director. Last named spent several years in the U. S. Lesser honors went to Janusz Warnecki, Kazimierz Dejmek, Zdzislaw Mrozewski, Lidia Zamkow and Kazimiera Rychter in pictures and the stage. ^ A joint prize was given to Alek- sander Ford, director and writer of the film, “The Young Chopin,” and to its cameraman, Jaroslaw Tuzar* Few U.S. Pix Hit By Can. Censors Washington, Sept. 9. The reaction of New Zealand censors that current U. S. films re- quire less cutting than in recent years is followed up by Canadian censorship groups which also feel that Hollywood is shaping up its features better for the world mar- ket. This is indicated in a report on Censorship in Ontario, Canada, which is pointed out here by Na- than D. Golden, director of the Department of Commerce film di- vision. The Ontario report, for the year ending March 31, 1952, shows that of 461 American films submittjed to the Canadian censors, 404 were re- leased unchanged for general screening, another 28 were classi- fied “adult” and only 27 required cuts. Two Hollywood pictures were- rejected entirely. Both were char- acterized in the report as third- rate and based on chorus girls and burlesque. Says the Ontario ' censorship board in part: “Entertainment re- viewed during the year may be’said to have attained a high level in good taste and skillful handling of adult themes. Less material of an objectionable character was ob- served than ever before. ... It reflects an impressive development in the maturity of consideration given to production in the ,U. S. an d the Unite d Kingdom.” the censorship 461 were American, while 61 were from Britain. Golden also reported that “Bro- ken Barriers,” first 35m feature ever produced in New Zealand, was preemed in Wellington in July and drew well. Italo TV in Preview At Venice Pix Fete Venice, Sept. 16. In its infancy in Italy, neverthe- less TV became a strong draw in its first practical preview at the Venice Film Festival. Large audi- ences gathered nightly to witness five demonstrations and tele inter- views outside of the film palace preceding each night’s show. The crowd got glimpses on several sets set up outside. Shows were also beamed across the lagoon to the Rossini Theatre in Venice proper, where they were big-screened for audiences awaiting the start of film fete and was set up hurriedly, with resulting confusion and uneven results. Kinks are now being ironed out, although many of the tech- nicians are undergoing their first practical experience with the new medium. But to Italians view- ing the demonstrations for the first time*, its sock* impact is felt despite experimental quality and Initial faults. Venice, Sept. 16. The Venice Film Festival which came to an end Saturday (13) had many shorts and offbeat pix which could serve •as programmers for stateside art houses or in special situations. Sidelight of the fest was a series of special showings .dedicated to the avant garde film movement. Among these a few stacked up as worthy material for pairing with specialized pix in the art house cir- 'cuits stateside. Pierre Kast, ypung French director, had three films entered which used painting and drawings in an original manner and were shorts of 'verve, and sly penetrating comment. “Women of the Louvre,.” run- ning 35 minutes, is overlong but an interesting looksee at the ideal female that comes out of the con- secration of the artist to woman. A series of rapidly-edited shots of painting and statuary show the face of woman through the ages as .seen by the great artists of yester- day. His “Disasters of War” is a fine essay on Goya’s prints of war’s horror. It is also .well edited and scored with a fine guitar accom- paniment. “To the Four Winds” is an amus- in eye view of what the Martians would think of the earth if they found only a dictionary remaining. Film is done with dictionary illus- trations and has a chance to .make wry comments on the progress of man. This, too, is overlong at 35 minutes. Jean Mitry had a more abstract entry in “Themes on De- bussy,” in which the music is in- terpreted by^ rhythmic cutting of water and landscapes. U. S. Avant Garde Pix Most avant garde entries were of American origin, showing that the young Americans seem to be the few rare ones who can afford to make, personal experimental films. Ian Hugo, a banker turned artist, contributed two interesting films. His “Aiy-Ye” is a series of South American scenes which fi- nally come to have a catching in- terest backed by a fine impromptu Negro chant. This gives an offkey picture of South America. His other pic, “Bells of Atlan- tis,” is strictly in the experimental key, with some interesting use of electronic music, which is some- thingJSollywood should look into. A German short, called “The Mask of Death,” runs a tight 10 minutes and by the means of one dancer u.sing ma.sks evocates the death of a juggler, knave, harlot and king as death comes for them with the swirling cape. Als(f of interest is a full-length Spanish film, “Judas,” that could do for Spanish-language houses. Film poses an interesting theme but is done in a pedestrian, plod- ding manner. It sets up a small town where the Passion Play is ^J'form^^every year. The man role. In real life he is a scoundrel who dispossesses widows and kicks dogs and children. Pic is reeled off as a morality play and Jacks conviction. However, if this story could be rewritten with force and movement setting up the contrast between the two actions, it might make a story of interest for a Hol- lywood remake. Argentine film, “Dishonored,” is a slick tale of intrigue mixed with an attempt at- social -reform of bru- tal conditions in prisons. Plot is conventional but mayhem and dra- matics could slant this for general situations in language nabe houses. Also shown was a Brazilian en- try, “Sands,” made there by Italo director Carlos Mastrocinque. Film emerges as mediocre fare of pas- sion and murder in an outpost of civilization. This is strictly local Mosk. U,S. Auto Travel to Mex Soars Mexico City, Sept. 16, More U. S. motor tourists than during any month since the open- ing of the eastern Mexican section, of the Pan American Highway en- tered this country through Nuevo Laredo, opposite Laredo, Tex., in August, according to the Travel Club of Petroleos Mexlcanos, the official oil company, August showing was particularly good because most of these motor tourists traveled to here and else- where deep in Mexico instead of merely visiting points near the border, the Travel Club stated.