Variety (October 1952)

•VAHUTY'*' LONDON OFFICi • St. Martini Flact/ Trafalgar Square Pfistn&rr INTERNATIONAL 13 New D.S. Agency, Doing Work of ECA, Uses Radio, Fix to Blanket Europe • Paris, Oct. 21. The Mutual Security Agency, the new monicker of what was for- merly the Economic Cooperation Administration, is doing a big job in blanketing free Europe with in- formation as to the aims add work- ings of the program via radio and films. The radio beaming of the MSA~ patter is a large-scale job being run by Gene King, previous- ly of WOE, New York, and WCOP, Boston. King has applied his com- mercial knowhow to this idealogi- cal form of dissemination. He has found a vast difference between the workings of commercial radio and the needs for a network in- volving 18 countries with all sorts of complications arising from lan- guage barriers and national sen- sitivity. King said that selling an idea called “Democracy” to Europeans via the ether called for special gim- micks. He explained that ratings here were measured by how much the Red vote went down. He has learned the airwave habits of the Europeans frohn scratch. The European lives with state controlled radio and most propa- ganda is heaped at him mainly through this medium with news- papers second and television still a negligible factor here. The av- erage European is sensitive about America, and the MSA people must stay in the background and feed their show's through people who can put it in their own lingo. This also entails realizing that what may go in Denmark may not do in Italy. Main objects of the info service to make clear four themes: the promotion of Free Trade Unions as a defense against Communism; increased industrial production; common defense and political inte- gration. Records show that produc- tion has risen enormously, and the Schuman plan, pooling coal and iron of ex-enemies, is a fact. MSA headquarters in Paris con- trols the radio affiliates in 18 coun- tries; Great Britain, Austria, Neth- erlands, France, Yugoslavia, Tur- key, Sweden, Trieste, Switzerland, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Western Germany, Italy, Greece. Ireland and Norway. All the American Embassies in these countries have radio setups of their own to deal with local condi- tions. Via a system of integration, the State Dept, and the MSA fa- cilities have been merged in these countries, with the result there has been a smoother operation, less du- plication and a cut in outlay to tax- payers. * The. MSA radio setup in Paris has three studios, 40 tape machines and eight engineers. A normal week finds 150 tapes recorded and distributed on the Continent. King pointed out that MSA is entirely different from’the Voice of Amer- ica and Radio Free Europe or any other operation having its own transmitter. King explained it can only work through already es- tablished national hookups. BBC SEEKING NEW PIX SHOW FOR TELE , r . London, Oct. 21. With “Current Release” program firmly established as a major TV show, the British Broadcasting Corp. has initiated negotiations with the picture industry for launching a new film feature. The P r . 0 j® c .t».. which, is_ now. being., disr cussed with the major companies, aims at a monthly program com- piled from old films whose com- mercial potentialities have long been exhausted. Such a compilation of feature films would have a marked “mu- seum appeal” for televiewers but would not hypo the boxoffice in the same way as “Current Release,” " luc ‘h consists of excerpts from up- coming and provincial programs. If. the new 7 program matures it is likely to be produced by W. Far- Jjuharson SmalCwho also does the C urrent-Release,” the fortnightly Program. 'I he BBC initiative in opening industry talks on another film pro- grain is indicative of their growing desire to get motion pictures to fill no the expanding program sched- ule They see no hope of getting TV 11 r its to latest product, and there- oro nre exploring an alternative course. MPEA Asks $1,950,000 Be Unfrozen by Nips Tokyo, Oct. 21. Motion Picture Export Assn, spe- cial envoy Richard T. McDonnell returned here last week deter- mined to effect the release j)f the remaining 30% blocked yen held here by Japanese government in the accounts of U. S. film distrib- utors. This amounts to around $1,950,000. McDonnell said he would not re- turn home until he had unfrozen the remaining blocked yen. He added that he hoped to get it all in dollars instead of part dollars, part sterling, as done last summer. At that time McDonnell succeeded in releasing 70% of the $6,500,000 fund, 40% of which was sterling, later reconverted to dollars, and 30% in dollars. French Actors Shuttle From Stage to Films As Legit Season Opens Paris, Oct. 21. French actors are busy between legit and pix chores as the new season gets under way here. Ar- letty, of the film, “Chlldrefti of Paradise,” who played in the legit version of “Streetcar Named De- sire” here, is back in the new Marcel Achard play, “Les Com- pagndhs De La Marjolaine,” op- posite her is Bernard Blier who appears in a lot of films. Edwige Feuillere is back with her annual legit presentation of “Camille” which Is a top solo femme appeal boxoffice success here every year. Pierre Fresnay, the top biopic interpreter, is preparing a revival of “Hymenee” for the stage. Georges Guetary, after completing a film “Feather in the Wind,” is slated for an operetta “The En- chanted Route,” which is to play the ABC Theatre. Jean Marais, after finishing two pix, is back at the Comedie-Francaise to play two roles in- Paul Claudel's “Hostage” and in “Mithridate.” Francois Perier and wife, Marie Daems, now doing the legit ver- sion of the Jean-Pierre Aumont “A Lovely Sunday,” will appear together in Jean Stelli’s new film, “A Woman’s Treasure.” Madeleine Robinson, now in the successful play, “The Queen of Clubs,” will play the lead in a new film, “The House of Crime.” Michel Simon, with three *of his pix on the mar- quees here, will be represented in legit here by “Flaminco.” Nicole • Maurey, who v r as In “Harvey” here is the femme lead in the new Bing Crosby starrer, “Little Lost Boy.” Other French actors going in for English-speak- ing roles are Gerard Oury who plays in the new Walt Disney film, “The Rose and the Sword;” Claude Nollier. Colette Marchand and Suzanne Flon all in the John Huston pic, “Moulin Rouge.” and Nicole Courcel and Brigette Au- ber in the “Foreign Intrigue” series being lensed here for Amer- ican TV. Courcel is now in the new hit play, “Zoe.” Brasseur in Legit Pierre Brasseur, who was in the -Jean-Paul Sartre -leg-iter -‘Devil and the Good Lord” last year did two films in his spare time. Bour- vil will partner Georges Guetary in the new operetta, “The En- chanted Route.” Maria Casares, actress in Jean Cocteau’s film “Orphee,” is now with the Come- die-Francaise in “Don Juan.” Daniele Delorme, who starred in the film, “The Mad Girl,” is now rehearsing Ibsen’s “Doll’s House” for both stage and screen. Gerard Philipe. one of the top film draws here and known for “Devil In The Flesh” and Fanfan La Tu- lipe.” has been doing legit work in the Theatre National Populaire. Micheline Presle, who has play- ed in U.S. films, is back starred in a new pic version of “Camille.” She has Q also done legit work here. Marline Carol, who has become a topper here with her sexy roles, has little stage experience but has come into her own on the screen. She has done three big pix here this year. Fearon’s M-G Aussie Post Sydney, Oct. 21. Joe Fearon, long representative in London for the Hoyts’ film cir- cuit here, has resigned to accept an important post as aide to Ber- nie Freeman, Metro chief in this territory. Fearon left London to take over a post with Melbourne’s radio sta- tion 3 XY, in which Hoyts hold an interest. Understood that Fearon was not too happy in the new ra- dio post after being in theatre management for such a long time and accepted Freeman’s offer. Fearon will look after the theatre end of the Metro setup, with “Quo Vadis” as his first assignment O’seas Opera Pay Keeps Stars Home ‘ .Vienna, Oct. 21. Economics of international oper- atic engagements are increasingly absorbing the attention of Euro- pean singers, who wonder whether it’s so. profitable anymore to grab an American booking, even the Met Opera’s. It’s' noted, true enough, that only La Scala at Milan can compete with or outdo the‘Met. At the top Italo spot, $ featured singer can knock down $400 to $600 a night, tax free, and expect to work twice a week through a 10-month season.* In Vienna, big names continue to appear for prestige, since coin rarely exceeds $150 a night, with taxes taking a 30% bite from for- eigners and even more from na- tives. This accounts for the fact that much of the top Vienna talent is available in the hottne house only at the start and finish of the season, filling in in between with sugary dates in t^e U. S., Italy and Ger- many. The latter country is now paying good names approximately $250 a night, less 25% tax. Met figures are a cut under those of La Scala, take home pay consid- ered. But booking at the N. Y. house does open the door to radio, TV and above all lucrative concert dates for the better draws, so it’s still quite a magnet, despite tax complications. Blames Admission Tax For B-L Prod. Losses London, Oct. 21. Heavy incidence of the admis- sion tax, which channels off more than the producers receive, was blamed by Harold C. Drayton, British Lion chairman, for the company’s production losses. Ad- dressing stockholders at the. an- nual meeting, he explained that in the last three years, the treasury- had claimed more than $13,400,000 from boxoffice receipts of B-L pro- ductions, whereas its own share was just over*$9,000,000. Drayton appealed to the gov- ernment to take decisive action to help the producing industry and suggested .they should lop off a large proportion of the tax and put it at the disposal of British producers. He urged that this -be done without increasing admission prices. Although the corporation’s adverse balance now amounted to over $5,600,000, lie insisted that production and general runrfing costs had not been the main fac-! tors contributing to B-L losses. Canada’s Pix Receipts Up Over 11% in Year Toronto/ "Oct. ~2C“‘ ' Canada’s film take for 1951 was 11.4% ahead of the previous year, with the 2,689 situations’ showing a gross of' $96,319,583. This does not include $11,887,226 obtained via a 15% amusement tax. This 'is highest film take ever recorded in this country, according to Domin- ion Bureau of Statistics' report. Breakdown of Bureau’s figures shows Ontario (531 houses) gross- ing $38,052,587; Quebec $22,629,- 851: British Columbia, $8,740,857. Drive-ins showed a heavy increase, with 82 ozoners grossing $3,347,- 670 as compared with previous year’s take of $2,287,679 by 61 situations. BARON PANTO LEAD London, Oct. 28. Bert Montague signed Bunny Baron to play lead in his panto- mime, “Cinderella,” opening at the King’s Theatre, Hammersmith, Dec. 24. Slump in Filipino Exports’ Earnings Hits Film Grosses; Manila Biz Off 30 % British Reject Indie Coronation Film Fete London, Oct. 21. A proposal by an independent distributing house to organize an international film festival im- mediately prior to the Coronation has been nixed by a joint commit- tee of the four major industry as- sociations. The project, which was begin promoted by Regent Films, aimed at showing two films a day, mainly Continental ones, at the New Gallery. Viewpoint of the British Pro- ducers Assn., which was agreeable to the other organizations, was that any film festival in London in Coronation year should be sup- ported by the whole industry, and not be just an individual company operation. Big Havana Pix Houses Back to Stageshows As Peace Parley Succeeds Havana, Oct. 21.. Havana’s larger film theatres resumed stageshow this past week- end following 1 a truce with the Assn, of Artists (entertainment union). This was agreed on --at a meeting presided over by Minister of Labor Jesus Portocarrero and attended by officials of the vari- ous unions connected .with stale- shows. Under the law all first-runs and houses having over 2,000 seats are required to use stageshows regu- larly along with films. Theatre chains containing at least one first- run or a house with over 2,200 seats must have one theatre using shows. Some smaller theatres have been getting around the law by pre- senting orchestral music between film showings. Larger houses pro- tested that this was. evasion of the law, but that if the smaller house could get away with it, they could also. Early last week they substituted “musical interludes” for stageshows. Under the agreement between theatre owners and the union, the status quo will be preserved until Nov. 3. Large first-runs will pre- sent shows, smaller ones will con- tinue musical interludes. Mean- while, a commission composed of five theatre owners anJ.an equal number of union reps will at- tempt to find a satisfactory solu- tion. 4 British Exhib Groups Seek New Juvenile Pix London, Oct. 21. The exhibiting industry, divided j into four distinct groups, is to bal- lot for the first share in the new output of the Children’s Film Foundation set up a year ago on an all-industry basis with finance pro- vided out of the revenue of the Eady fund. Total output of the first year will comprise six fea- tures, six two-reelers, six shorts and a colored novelty film. The four exhibiting groups will comprise' the threemajor circuits,' Odeon, Gaumont British and Asso- ciated British, plus the indepen- dents. Each of the four groups are to draw lots for the exclusive first- run share of the product. ‘Bachelors’ Heads For Scot Touring Record Aberdeen, Scotland, Oct. 28. New Scot comedy, “Bachelors Are Bold,” by T. M. Watson, is breaking records on a tour through Scotland, with SRO biz the rule. When present itinerary winds up here Nov. 15, company will have played to upwards of 150,000, an all-time record for any play ever to tour Scotland. In Edinburgh, “Bachelors” played to nearly 35,000 during the festival. Cast is headed by Dun- can Macrae, Scot legit actor, who is presenting the tour jointly with the author. ■ A decline in world market prices for such Filipino exports as copra and fibre has been a factor behind a 30% dip in Manila theatre at- tendance this year as compared to 1951, according to Vicente A. Ru- fino, In partnership with his brother, Ernesto, he operates six first-run houses in Manila. Rufino, who is making" his first visit to New Yoikan 22 years, re- cently arrived ip the U. S. for a medical checkup and to confer with top foreign department execs of major distributors. Although less money is in the hands of the filmgoing public, he said in New York this week, “people still turn out for the ‘big’ pictures.” Paramount’s “Greatest Show on Earth,” Rufino pointed out, ran five weeks on advanced admissions at one of his houses. Price scales, incidentally, have seen little post- war change. In fact, . he added, when the admission tax was raised from 10% to 25% in 1949 “we absorbed part of the increase.” Designed to help native film production, a 10% “exhibitors’ quota” is on the books, but Rufino noted that this provision is not rigidly enforced. He estimated that his theatres use no more than 2% Filipino pix with the balance of playing time devoted to Holly- wood films. Major reason for this is that there are not enough do- mestic features to fill'the quota. Despite the biz slump this year, Rufino feels that the outlook is bright. Three new second-runs are now under construction in Manila, and his own circuit plans to raze its 900-seat Rialto next year to make way for a 1,200-seater. Al- though the government exercises import controls there are ample construction materials. Rufino brothers operate their theatres through Luzon Theatres, Inc., and the Eastern Theatrical Co., Inc. Vicente is prez of Luzon and general manager of Eastern while Ernesto heads Eastern and is g. m. of Luzon. Accompanied by his wife, Vi- cente Rufino is making a trip around the world After sailing from Manila for the U. S., they visited Hollywood early this month. Couple sail for Europe on the S.S. United States ^Friday (31), and later will plane “ for Manila from Rome. TUC’S O’BRIEN ASKS PERPETUATION OF EADY London, Oct. 28. While the Britishmlm industry is still undecided on the future of the Eady levy, through which a sub- stantial subsidy is handed over from each admission tab to British producers, the labor movement un- der the leadership of Tom O’Brien, M.P., Trades Union " Congress prexy, is to ask the government to take any necessary action to in- sure its perpetuation. Its economic committee has asked the Board of Trade prexy to receive a deputa- tion. By taking this action, the TUC is hoping to force a quick decision on the issue. It appreciates the im- portant part the Eady fund plays in maintaining a degree of pros- perity in British studios. At the same time, TUC would urge the government to take steps to restore the distributors’ quota which was wiped .out in the 1948 Films Act. It now is barred by international agreement. - SatchmoTouringltaly Milan, Oct. 21. Louis Armstrong and his band will tour Italy starting from Milan Oct. 22 under the management of Luigi Ivaldi, who represents the Lew and Leslie Grade Agency for Italy. The same impresario is or- ganizing a four-month tour of West Germany for the Buster Crabe show, “Water Parade,” starting next January. A tour of Europe will follow. Ivaldi is the Italian agent-im- presario with probably the largest number of American acts under contract in Italy. ‘Remains’ in Brit. Nov. 10 Manchester, Eng., Oct. 28. “Remains to Be Seen,” by Rus- sel Crouse and Howard Lindsay, is set to open here Nov. 10. Inked for leading parts are Naun- ton Wayne, Diana Dors and Dick Henderson jr.