Variety (October 1952)

'VAKIKTY'r LONDON OFFICE 9 St. Martin's Fl*c*, Trafalgar tquir* 10 DJTF-RiVAXIONAL Pfo&tJBfr Closed Brit Studios Get New Lease On Life Via U.S. Telepix Production London, Oct. 21. A new lease on life for shuttered British studios is following the de- velopment of U. S. telepix produc- tion in London. One plant, which has been dark for some time, re- opened recently, another will swing into activity in 1953, and ne- gotiations are proceeding for re- opening a third. Exotic Dancers Barred From Mexico's TV Mexico City, Oct. 21. TV is out for exotic hoofers even if they are properly dressed. That is the edict of the Ministry of Communications and Public Works, in charge of radio affairs in Mexico. ' . n i ii* WlI »ror ! Exotics are unsuitable entertain- Sees Alliance With IV ; ment for the increasing family public tele is claiming, the Min- istry explained. $ Int'l Union of Exhibs Paris, Oct. 21. The International Union of Film exhibitors composed of France, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Israel, 1 f*L # f U # I. The first studio to turn oh »he|Swit?erlandj_ ? _nd_ Spain has^ | (jOVl. LIMBI llltS electricity was the British National outfit at Elstree, which has been taken over on a long-term lease by Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. His outfit began production on an immediate program of 39 features for National Broadcasting Co. The first group will keep the studios busy for a minimum of six months, and re- newal contracts are expected to lead to a policy of continuous film- ing. The next plant to be opened probably will be the former J. Ar- thur Rank experimental lot at Highbury, North London. This out- fit is being taken over by Norman Collins, former British Broadcast- ing Corp.-TV boss, for his recently formed High Definition Films, which is using the television elec- tronic technique in production. Collins returned last week from a trip to Canada, where he set a deal for telepix productions with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. New equipment will be installed before the company gets into full scale ac- tivity. The third reopening probably will result from negotiations initi- ated by the IJanziger Brothers, who are lining up a prpgram of 39 half- hour “Crime Club" films. Scripts for these are now being readied and lensing will start as soon as studio space has been arranged. Several other projected telepix ventures are being delayed be- cause of the tightness of available studios. The recent shuttering of so many lots has put a premium on available stages, and many of those that are in circulation are consid- ered too expensive for the modest requirements of a telepix program. fined its program* on TV. Secretary Andre Trichet, of the National Fed- eration of French Cinemas, ex- plained the stand taken during recent session in Venice. Aim of the organization is the safeguard- ing of the exhibitor's economic in- terests. M-G Aussie Setup Arthur Canberra, Oct. 21. Calwell, deputy leader Main point on the agenda was 0 f Her Majesty's Labor Opposition the question of TV. The union felt government here, has declared in that video was not a danger but a the House of Representatives that means of progress and there had to Metro was adopting unethical tac- be an alliance between film and tics to force minor independent TV rather than enmity. Trichet out- Aussie exhibitors out of'business, lined a possible future program for Calwell blasted the U.S. organiza- the use of film houses in the tele- tion for allegedly buying up the vision setup. He felt TV could be small independent theatres and divided into two sections, one des- then releasing films in them which tined only for the home and an- currently were showing in other other exclusively for large screen theatre television. Indie Brit Film Prods. Leery of How Eady Coin theatres of the same city, thereby putting other theatre owners in the same district at a disadvantage. If this sort of thing was allowed to continue, more and more small men would be squeezed out of busi- ness, Calwell charged. Calwell suggested to politicians f a QliAvfe present that action should be taken IS Diverted to JllOttS done in the U. S. by divorce- London, Opt. 21. ment action whereby no distributor Independent British film produc- had the right to operate also in ers who look to the extra coin they the exhibition branch of the busi- get from the Eady fund as their ness. The Robert Menzies Liberal means of survival are becoming government may give some atten- apprehensive at the way in which tion to Calwell s suggestion. a substantial amount of revenue is being diverted from feature pro- Indie Exhibs Back of Move duction to shorts. At least $700,- Sydney, Oct. 21. 000 was received by shorts film Industry insiders here believe makers last year as their cut t e independent exhibitors operat- Buenos Aires Legit Houses Plan New Plays for Spring to Fight Slump Buenos Aires Niteries Badly Hit by Recession Buenos Aires, Oct. 21. Nitery business has been badly hit by the current recession, but nitery operators merely up their prices to cover the decline, arguing that anyone with enough money to visit a nitery today doesn’t care what he pays. Some spots charge $8 for a jigger of synthetic Scotch and "$10 for a chicken. Some of the old-type cafes on the Avenida Cor- rientes, which formerly served cof- fee, or chocolate and cakes, beer and pretzels with a femme band, are now being converted into auto- matic bars with juke boxes. First of these to open recently is Cuba Libre on Calle. Esmeralda. Despite the recession, concert managers are lining up many name longhairs for 1953. A deal is being mulled to bring Leopold Stokow- ski to baton a series of the state symphony orchestra concerts at the Gran Rex cinema late in 1953. BRIT. STUDIO WORKER WAGE PARLEY FAILS London, Oct. 21. After protracted negotiations lasting more than a year, efforts to draft a comprehensive wages and conditions pact to embrace all stu- dio personnel have collapsed. At a meeting last Friday (17) between British film producers and the pro- duction unions it was agreed to record their failure to agree. Two years ago machinery was set up within the industry to plan this comprehensive studio pact and thus avoid drawn-out parleys with each of the constituent unions. The Joint Industrial Council, with reps from the British Film Pro- ducers Assn, and the film labor organizations, has'been hammering away at the problem ever since. Last week’s meeting failed to reconcile the opposing viewpoints. The next step wil be delayed until all parties concerned consult their respective leaders. Because of the delay in negoti ating the new pact, producers were forced earlier in the year into separate negotiations with some unions for cost-of-living boosts. These were agreed speedily with the Electrical Trades Union asd the National Assn, of Theatrical ami Khre-'Employees.—-After - a hassle the Assn, of Cine Tech- nicians agreed to similar terms. fund. While the producers’ share of the Eady revenue is calculated on the distributor gross, there is a special procedure for estimating the Eady payments, for shorts. In view of the fact that income nor- mally earned by shorts is restrict- ed, the fund directors agreed that the gross should be multiplied two and a half times before calculating the Eady share. With this special incentive as an encouragement, there is a growing tendency "among some major dis tribs to use British-made shorts varying in length from one to three reels in support of a top feature which is too long to carry a sup- porting film. By dispensing with flat rentals (usual for a second feature) and by charging around 10% for these shorts, the distribs are garnering substantial coin from, the fund. It has been estimated that a short booked on this basis could earn as much as $50,000 in film hire and a like amount from the Eady fund. Although such bookings cannot legally be interfered with, several prominent indie producers fear that if the practice is sepfously ex- tended it would ma'ke^deep inroads into the Eady fund, and thus ab- sorb much of the capital which was raised primarily to aid feature film production. Praesens’ ’Heidi’ Winds After Swiss Shooting Zurich, Oct. 21. Praesens Film, Zurich, has just completed its first feature produc- tion in over a year (last, was “Four in a Jeep”). It is a new filmization of Johanna Spyri’s novel “Heidi,’ done in Hollywood in 1937 as Shirley Temple starrer. Italian Luigi Comencini directed from screenplay by Richard Schwcizer. The cast is composed of Swiss and German talent. Little Elsbeth Sigmund, a new Swiss discovery, has the title role. German screen and stage favorites Theo Lingen and Willy Birgel also have im- portant parts. Outdoor shootings were done on location in the Swiss mountain area of the Grisons. ing in the same zones where Metro also runs theatres made the ap- proach to Calwell in an effort to have governmental action taken to halt further expansion by the American distrib in Sydney and Melboure suburban territory. Un- der local chief Bernard Freeman, Metro controls a circuit of some 10 houses playing its own product exclusively. Major squawk by the indies is that Metro spots key pix into its own suburbafi houses on day-and-date schedule with Metro’s city houses; hence when they (in- dependents) buy the product natu rally the pix are weakened box officewise. Some time'’ago Melbourne indies threatened political action against Metro unless it halted the day-and- date setup and the alleged pressure on minor exhibs. Airing in Parlia- ment this week of Metro’s cur- rent operational setup indicates that the indies are carrying out this threat. London Legit Bits London, Oct. 21. Norman Payne and Jock Jacob- ’Limelight' $20,300, New High in London London, Oct. 28. ‘Limelight,’* new Charles Chap- lin pic, brokq the house record at the 2,200 seat Odeon Leicester Square with $20,300 in its first week. Film is playing continuous run rather than two-a-day. Most crix lauded the pic but a majority of them declared it was overlong. , ... ... Chaplin starrer is holding so sen.-./MCAlJiave.’.XLiQsed „.<J.eal .rtrongly 4hat-.it--ma.y-.evf*n- top $2.1.^-. Emilc Llttler and Tom Arnold for 000 in its second week. Jane Morgan to play femme lead In the London Casino Coronation Revue opposite Vic Oliver. Show Fin He follows L. & A. pantomime, “Jack A1 UUUiemdK.ers Tinas i i ' j i * i i, ..» * Another House in London Chester and terminates mid-March. T , _ , . Ronald Shiner, star of George .... , . London, Oct. 28. Sc Alfred Black and H. M. Ten- Although it has been squeezed nent's “Seagulls Over Sorrento,” ou * the Strand Theatre to make Apollo Theatre hit, throwing a way for H. M. Tenncnt’s produc- special party Nov. 16 to celebrate tion of “The River Line” George 1,000 performances. Beliak's "The Troublemakers” Bill Fraser, currently starring in switched to the Comedy Theatre BBC’s “Henry VIII” on its Third yesterday (Mon.), where it will Program, has been signed by Litt- continue for the next three weeks, ler & Arnold for a featured role It replaces Jack Hylton's “The Ap- m their Xmas pantomime, “Jack pies of Eve,” which folded Satur- lie London Caisino, day (25) after a run of less than after which he will be featured in a fnrtnlpht a new film for London Films which Desmond* W. Berlin’s Film Prod. Fails to Perk Because Of Internal Disputes Berlin, Oct. 21. Studio capacity in West Berlin and West Germany should be able to produce 70-80 pix annually and about 30% can be made in West Berlin studios. This contrasts with 80% of all German films being made here before the war and the 20% in Munich. Situation now as regards Munich and Berlin is just about reversed. In 1952, the pix released and in production totaled 57 in West German and West Ber- lin studios. The reason is not artis- tic or technical but a question of economy and jurisdictional prob- lems. While Berlin offers many advan- tages there is little production as talk goes on about a new form of the German film organization. In- dustry men don’t know yet whether to build up a strong film bank which could finance a number of small producing outfits or to set up sev- eral big producing companies. The present film situation here is one of internal disputes, but all linked with local film production hope for an early solution. At present there are three pix being made in West Berlin studios: “The Well at the Gate,” a comedy by Berolina, produced in Agfa col- or and directed by Hans Deppe; “The Merry Vineyard,” a comedy by Magna which will be distributed by London Films and directed by Erich Engel, and “Sun in My Heart,” a Pontus production. The East Berlin studios have three pix in production: “Ernst Thalmann,” biog of the German ex- Commie leader; “The Undefeated,” a political propaganda pic, and “Mischief Makers,” a juvenile film. stars Alee Guiness, Yvonne dc Carlo and CelU Johnson .,. Googie Withers takes the Peggy Ashcroft role in the Terence Rattigan hit, “The Deep Sea,” at the Duchess when the latter quits to star next End theatres and plans a further year in Stratford at the Avon Festi- transfer on conclusion of the lim- val season, ited run at the Comedy, O’Donovan, who pre- sented “The Troublemakers” in as- sociation with L. Linder, II. Cooper and F* Glenn, is continu- ing negotiations with other West Buenos Aires, Oct. 21. Almost all legit houses here are putting on new plays this spring to counteract the boxoffice drop caused bv the serious industrial depression. In spite of this slump, producers in Buenos Aires are op- timistic about the future, believ- ing that a bumper harvest of plays in December will adjust things again. Result is a mad scramble to lease the city’s small number of theatres for 1953. Because of the general decline in Argentine, a good many legit companies cut short their runs and are starting Dn tours earlier than usual. Biz on such road tours to date has been uniformly good for all companies having some screen or radio connection. Engagements are generally for not more than one week. Most legit talent now doubles from the radio and the screen to stage and these tours are consid- ered excellent way to build up their screen and stage careers. Mecha Ortiz will close the run of “A Streetcar Named Desire” at the Casino Nov. 2 after being there since July, and will tour Rosario, Cordoba and Santa Fe in this and the other play, “El Mai Amor” (The Wrong Love) she pro- duced this year. Comedienne Olin- da Bozan is also on tour as is the Spanish “Song From Spain” com- pany which had an unprecedented five-year run at the Argentino Theatre. The Casino Theatre reopens Nov. 7 with a musical revue. The revue’s star will be Flamenco dancer Lola Flores, due in soon from Spain. Another importation due is the ballet company, headed by Claude Marchand, signed by Francisco Gallo, for the Astral Theatre in (Continued on page 12) London Film Notes London, Oct. 21. Nat Cohen, managing director of Anglo - Amalgamated Productions, Ltd., planes to New York, Dec. 20, to confer with Nassour Pictures anent further joint Anglo-Ameri- cair film “prodactioh'next'" year' at Merton Park studios, England . . . He is taking print of the first joint effort, “Street of Shaddws,” which stars Cesar Romero, Kay Kendall and Edward Underdown ., . Joseph Janni, head of Vic Films is to film his biggest yet when he starts shooting the Shakespearean classic, “Romeo and Juliet” next January in Italy ... in Technicolor film will be made for J. Arthur Rank release, and will take about 26 weeks, With Castellani, a top Italian director, at the helm . . . Michael Anderson, who was recently handed longtermer by*ABPC, gets his first assignment, “Will Any Gentle- man?” the 1950 stage hit... George Cole is to play the Robertson Hare role . . . Shooting starts Nov. 10 at Elstree studios. Monarch Films start the “Lilli Marlene” sequel titled, “The Wed- ding Of Lilli Marlene” Nov. 3 at Southall studios . . . Arthur Crab- tree again will direct and Lisa | Daniely again will have top role. ADMISSION TAX RELIEF DRIVE MAPPED BY CEA London, Oct. 21. Looking ahead to the future, the Cinematograph Exhibitors Assn, is now propping, on more scientific lines, its campaign for admission tax relief. It is collating detailed statistics with which to bombard the government and private Mem- bers of Parliament before next year’s budget is introduced next spring. Accent of the campaign, as al- ways, will be to seek relief for smaller theatres, and the associa- tion’s accountants, in part of their inquiries, have concentrated on theatres with a capacity of 750 seats or less. Owing to the method of tax calculation, however, it is unlikely the CEA will be able to proceed with a suggestion that it should campaign for total relief on all admissions up to ohe shilling (14c). Although it is realized that the tax scale and the Eady levy may be related ultimately, the exhib cam- paign is concerned solely at this stage with what theatres remit to the government in direct taxation. The major argument to be used (no statistics have been available thus far) will be the serious in- crease in exhibitors’ operating costs. ^Advance Ducat Deal On ’Pacific’ London Run London, Oct. 21. With the consummation of a third advance ticket deal, the Lon- don edition of “South Pacific” has established a new local record. When the play opened last Nov. 1, ticket brokers invested $280,000 in seats covering the first 24 weeks. Subsequently, they invested a sim- ilar amount for the ensuing 28 weeks. Last week they bought in ad- vance again, to* tfie tune of an- other $280,000, covering the first 28 weeks of the second year of the production. This latter deal in- volves the period when Julie Wil- son takes over the starring role from Mary Martin. The brokers made their deal without waiting to see Miss Wilson's performance. From its opening last November until the week ending last Oct. 11# “South Pacific” had grossed $L- i 290,942 here.