Variety (April 1953)

Veter Pan’ March B.O. dump; Hans’ 2d, ‘RoiKe’ 3d *Sbeba’ 4th !^2iS?S& J * Two Sides to Upped-Scale Hassle Generally a sluggish month at- 1 film theatres because of Lent and Federal income tax headaches* March this year proved as. desul- tory as ever at the# nation's box- office. Trade at first-run theatres obtained a nice boost from the Academy Awards near the end of the month. But otherwise, only the hardiest grossers made much head- way during the month. “Peter Pan” (RKO-Disney) cop- ped first place at the boxoffice, soaring from third place in Febru- ary to a dominating position in the last 31 days. It wound up with nearly $200,000 better than the nearest b.o. rival in four weeks. “Pan” was the only pic to come near the $1,000,000 mark in that period. “Hans Christian Andersen” (RKO-Goldwyn), fourth in the pre- ceding month, finished second in March. Danny Kaye starrer held in second slot nearly every week in the month. “Moulin Rouge” (UA), with, a lift from the Oscar awards, nabbed third position by a narrow margin. •Tittle Sheba” (Par) was a close fourth, with Shirley Booth, star of the film, winning the Academy best actress award. Academy hypo was sufficient to boost the pic to its highest level at end of the month. Prior to that upsurge* it never rose above fourth posit ion. “I Confess” (WB) r new Hitchcock wieller with Canadian background, won fifth money, although a bit spotty some weeks. “The Stooge” (Par), February boxoffice winner, wound up sixth. The fact that it had completed most of its first-run (Continued on page 20) 20th-Foi Fix Rentals Up 17.6% in ’53; $93,166,603 Take Registered in ’52 World-wide film rentals of 20th- Fox for the first 10 weeks of 1953 are 17.6% ahead of the same pe- riod in 1952, according to 20th prexy Spyros P. Sko liras’ report to the stockholders last week. Film, rentals in 1952 came to $93,166,- 603, compared with $92,489,357 in 1951. Company and its subsidiaries showed a consolidated net of $4,- 747,587 for the year ended Dec. 27, 1952, representing an improvement of $439,158 over 1951. Two factors, however, preclude accurate com- parison between the two years. 1. The 1952 net includes $1,077,- 755 as a special credit, represent- ing an adjustment of accounting procedures to bring foreign earn- ings to the same date as domestic operations. Previously they had lagged behind by five weeks. 2. 1962 results include only 39 weeks of earnings of domestic the- atre subsidiaries, totaling $1,491,- 715. Theatres in 1951 netted Fox $2,180,192 for a full 52-weeks’ op- . (Continued on page 24) Stereo Sonnd Seen 3-D Bonus by U’s Rackmil Stereophonic sound is emerging as one of the bonuses from the current 3-D and widescreen excite- ment, Milton R. Rackmil, Universal prexy, said in N. Y. yesterday (Tues.), following his return from the Coast. Stressing that U is gearing itself to compete in all the various di- mensions while not neglecting its 2-;D output, Rackmil disclosed that his studio too is at work on a widescreen process. Rackmil re- turned from the studio over the weekend with U exec v.p. Alfred E. Daff and Charles Feldman-/U general sales manager. They had been to the Coast to <. discuss pro- duction, in the light of 3-D devel- opments, and to set releases through the rest of the year. XJ has one stereo pic, \‘It Came From Out of Space,” completed and an- other In the works. Arriving in.N. Y. Monday (30) were William Goetz, U production chief, and A1 Horwits, studio ad- t°PP er - <? oetz . Who had seen 20th-Foxs Cinemascope on the Coast and is enthusiastic over it commented that it Was a mistake to try and compare Cinerama and Cinemascope. He expects to leave next week with his wife Edith for f cruise aboard yacht in the Caribbean. March’s Top 12 1. “Peter Pan” (RKO) 2. “Hans Andersen” (RKO) 3. “Moulin Rouge” (UA) 4. ‘‘Little Sheba” (Par) 5. “I Confess” (WB) 6l “The Stooge” (Par) 7. “Bwand Devil” (UA) ' 8. “Naked Spur” (M-G) 9. ‘The Star” (20th) 10. “Jeopardy” (M-G) 11. “City 'Neath Sea” (U) 12. “Niagara” (20th). RKO Ad Dept Cuts Cue More Lopoffs Virtually clean sweep of the ad- ; vertising department at the RKO jj homeoffice. is regarded by persons J close to the operation as the fore- j runner to other personnel changes [ in the interest of economy. James | R. Grainger, RKO prez, is bent on j cutting administrative costs in the face of continued ted-ink entries on the books, it’s said. Decision was made some time ago to switch the ad department to the studio. However, it was also said That a limited staff would be kept on in N. Y. Let-out of eight persons last Friday (27) conse- quently came as a surprise and had reps of indie producers releasing through RKO doing a bum. Their concern centers on problems which they’ll now encounter in preparing a quick ad. for, perhaps, trade papers in the absence of artists at the film company. ? Only persons remaining at the h.o. are Ben Grim, ad manager, and Lou Gaudreqtu, who has-.handled the business end of the depart- ment. Released were Carl Moss, Stanley Sherwin, Jack McCarter, Hal Sloan, Frank Samfelippo, Lucy Robinson, Muriel James and Vivian Moses. In another switch, Milton Mphr has been named RKO’s assistant publicity manager in N. Y., effec- tive April 6, moving from the Par- amount h.o. flackery staff. He’ll work under eastern publicity head Mervin Hauser.. Spot 'fras left open when Fred Goldberg exited two weeks ago to become publicity director of Italian Films Export. New IFE setup, in- cidentally, now has'Bernard Lewis as coordinator of promotion for Italian pic production and distri- bution. Rep. Heller Joins "Repeal 20% Admish Bite’ Solons Washington, March 31. Still another bill to repeal the 20% admissions bite was. dropped in the hopper of the House of Rep- | resentatives last week by Rep. Louis B. Heller (D., N. Y.). In .an accompanying ’Statement, Heller said the tax was “a wartime measure which still remains on our law books, although it was to have been automatically repealed six months after tlie conclusion of World War IL” Heller said the Federal yield from the admish tax has “declined from $505,000,000 to only - $312,- 000,000 in 1952—a decrease of nearly 40% within six years.” He : said the tax was responsible for the shutting down of many! theatres. I I Coyne’s N.T.-D.C. Bicycle Routine on COMPO Biz Robert W. Coyne, special coun- sel for the Council of 4 Motion Pic- ture Organizations, is spending more time in Washington than at his New York headquarters lately. He returned to home base over the weekend after another in his series of stays in the nation’s capital, and expects to be off to D. C. again shortly. In addition to work on the in- dustry campaign for repeal of the' Federal 20% admissions tax, Coyne is on the lookout for opportunities for the film trade to lend its co- operation to the Eisenhower Ad- ministration, such as. the defense effort, U. S. bond campaigns, -etc. Columbia yiatwday (Tues.) di* . closed - estimated coosoPdaied net earnings of $247,000 for the 2i | weeks ended last Dee. 27 in a. sharp drop from the, corresponding pe- i riod a year previous. Profit was ! equal to 17c. per common share. Final 26 weeks of 1951 brought a net of $437,000, equal to 45c. per I share. I * . 1 1 1 mm N.Y. Court Riding Eases Proxy Stockholder-Dip Into Pix Corp. Treasury A recent N. Y. court ruling, per- taining to , stockholder-corporate relation, is seen by industry at- | torneys as having, a far-reaching j effect on film companies. The de- cision follows, in essence, a 1950 Delaware ruling, which stipulates i that successful insurgents in. a proxy figlit for the election of di- rectors could pay their expenses out of the corporate treasury. Major film companies are incor- jporated either in New York or I Delaware. With film stockholders increas- ingly needling management (espe- cially at 20th-Fox where a serious challenge to the present regime will be made at a May meeting) the N. Y. and Delaware corporate laws could make serious inroads on corporate funds. In addition, it’s believed that chance of recov- ering expenses may induce a larger .number of shareholders to-chal- lenge management policies. , N. Y. decision stems from a case involving Fairchild Engine & Air- plane Co. A principal stockholder felt, that an employment contract between the corporation and one of the directors was unfair to the corporation. When an attempt to get the corporation to modify the pact failed, e he formed an in- surgent stockholder committee which proposed its own slate of directors. . Both management and insur- gents undertook an expensive cam- j paign to present their arguments to the stockholders, with manage- ment shelling out $33,968 and the insurgents $127,556. The insur- gents won; the disputed contract was cancelled, and the expenses of both groups were paid out of the. corporate treasury. WHO WILL "SADIE’ BET: YUL, CHARLTON OR JOSE? It’s a tossup among Yul Bryn- ner, star of the Broadway hit, “The King and .I," Charlton Heston and -Jose Ferrer for the role of Rev. Davidson in Columbia’s “Miss Sadie Thompson,” 3-D musical version of Somerset Maugham’s “Rain.” Brynner takes leave of the Broadway musical shortly and re- portedly can have the role if he wants it. Col execs were highly pleased with his tests. Starring Rita Hayworth, the Jerry Wald production will be filmed on location on the island of Kauai in the South Seas. Shipping *of equipment will start almost im- mediately, with the majority of the cast and crew being flown to the location site. Curtis Bernhardt is set to direct. Ontario Drops Age on Kids Attending Films to 14 Toronto, March 31. Amendment to the Theatres Act has reduced from 16 to 14 years the minimum age whereby chil- i dren in Ontario may attend film showings without an adult after 6 p.m. Plan whereby the 14-year-olds and under may attencf Saturday or legal holiday matinees is un- changed. . j N.Y. Film Trade to Assist On Catholic Charities Total of 55 film tradesters in N. Y. have been named to serve as part of the Cardinal’s Com- mittee of the Laity' in the 1953 Catholic Charities drive, John J, O’Connor, Universal v.p. and chair- man of the motion picture com- mittee, announced. George J. Schaefer, indie pro- ducer’s rep, is treasurer of the drive and L. Douglas Netter, Jr., of Altec Service, is v.p. Furore over the increasing number of films sold at. rental terms which lead to advancing admission pri ces ex hibs say they must up ticket prices when distribs insist upon top percentage serves to spotlight the arguments advanced on both sides. It’s a hassle that began years ago and seemingly Is unending, for the producers adamantly reject theatremen’s reasoning re tilted scales and the exhibs; in turn, with equal vigor brpnd as invalid the position taken by the producer-distribs. Exhibs $ay that a policy of steady admission prices is the only sound one; a fluctuating admission range * confuses the public. Further, it conveys that the pic for which advanced, prices are charged is a worthwhile entertainment and that the pic bringing the standard tariff rate is so-so. Also, it’s asked, why should the companies collect a percentage greater than standard with above- standard pix when .they don’t accept a cut lower than standard with sub-standard product? The distrib side is—in.any other field the “quality” commodity brings top money; why not films? Any hard and fast rule against upped scales would discourage the production of important, ex- pensive pix. The returns are in on numerous films—“Quo Vadis,” “Greatest Show on Earth,”—establishing that the public will not balk at increased prices. This, of course, is all apart from the legalistics involved. Dis- tribs are enjoined from forcing advanced scales. Forgotten’ Theatre TV Still Stirring; Eyeing B’way Musicals, Ballgames — —-— ► Almost forgotten during the ad- Flock of Screen. Tent ° £ “ d ^ d “ creen Flock of new screens, espe- ^. theatre telemion sbU has a dally designed to meet 2-D, 3- hard core of advocates. However, D and. widescreen projection even among this group, serious requirements, is being offered' concern is developing since not a by manufacturers. RCA Victor single closed-circuit event has announced one using a silvered . ****** • 3 I surface last week, and so did been offered to exhibs since last the Trans-Lux Corp., which in- December’s telecast of the Met- dicated the cost of its screen opera’s “Carmen,” excepting a is “substantially higher” than cuffo educational event in three ordmay screens. New York theatres. Sol Lesser Productions has acquired U. S. distribution rights for the British-de- veloped Stableford screen, which will be manufactured by Dofiford Corp. of Kansas City and is concave in shape. 1 Spec Lack Balks British Hwana’ London, March 31. There, is a feeling of frustration at London h.q. of United Artists, as prospects of a record gross for “Bwana Devil” are being thwarted by inability to provide Polaroid viewers for audiences. There are enough spectacles in.the country to service the four theatres where the 3-D film is now playing, but no prospects of adding to the stock for some time to come. If the picture could be given normal distribution, UA reckons, its British gross could amount to over $1,300,000, but that figure could only be attained so long as it is able to exploit a novelty. Once that aspect is lost, the film’s poten- tial gross will doubtless be af- fected. Since its opening a week ago in four key Rank theatres in London, Birmingham, Leeds and Glasgow, “Bwana” has been playing to rec- ord biz. In London the Odeon Mar- ble Arch is likely to gross as much as $17,000 in the first, stanza; with four performances a day, it has been playing to VA capacity houses daily, while both Sunday shows were at SRO level. This business has been repeated in other situa- tions with the exception of Glas- (Continued,on page 29) N. Y. to L. A. James R. Grainger Otto Preminger Joseph M. Schenek Sam Taylor Mike Todd Europe to N. Y. Ned Clark Katherine Dunham Louis Hayward Samuel Matlowsky . N. Y. to Europe Art Buchwald Virginia Bolen Arthur Freed Zsa Zsa Gabor Jascha Heifetz Edward G. Robinson Sara Spiegel Lana Turner Robert Whitehead With none of the so-called the- atre TV promoters, such as Thea- tre Network Television, Tele-Con- ference and Closed-Circuit Thea- tre Television, putting forth an at- traction, exhib forces, sparked by •S. H. (Si) Fabian, are attempting to line up presentations on their own. Leo Rosen, of the Fabian org, is spending full-time on closed cir- cuit activities. Rosen has a file full of proposed events, both of the entertainment variety and ones geared for pres- entation during off-hours. The dif- ficulty in finalizing pacts, based mainly on cost factors and salaries for union help, has seriously de- layed advancement of the medium. Both Rosen and the theatre TV en- trepreneurs have discovered that producers of events being consid- ered for telecast have an exag- gerated opinion on the value of their attractions. Complaint is that they are demanding astronomical figures, forgetting that they are pricing the show out of the reach of the ordinary theatre-goer. Rosen has been bullish on a pro- posed telecast -of a Broadway musi- (Continued on page 20) L. A. to n. Y. Anne Baxter Milton Berle Earl Blackwell Bernard Charm an Charles Coburn Al Daff Arlene Dahl Brad Dexter Howard Dietz Dan Duryea Tennessee Ernie Charles Feldman Roger Ferri Gracie Fields William Goetz Paul Gregory Milton Grossman Al Horwits David Jacobson Lamont Johnson Robert Kintner _ lisa Kirk' Fernando Lamas Karl Malden Joseph L. Mankiewicz Gene Markey Robert O'Brien Norman Panama •Buddy Pepper Jerry Pickman Vincent Price ' Milton R. Rackmil Edward G. Robinson George Rosenberg James L. Saphier Joseph Schildkraut A. W. Schwalberg Spyros P. Skouras Alexis Smith Jan Sterling Robert Wagner Jack L. Warner , Edward Walter • Cara Williams Joseph Vogel