Variety (April 1953)

UVdnesday, Aprfl l f 1953 FICTUBKS 7 CHAINS WHITTLE WEAK LINKS Pact Scribes Lopped to New Low Amid Studio Economy, Uncertainty Hollywood, March 31. - - With the accent on economy, general shearing of contract writ- es by the majors, an aUtune low of 53 pact scribblers now exists, a «tudio-by-studio survey disclosed vesterdav (Mom). An estimated 156 writers the majority working on a veek-bv-vveek basis, are toiling at the majors, this figure reppmg an- other alltime low. Pact writers got the heaviest axe in the past month at 20th-Fox, where 16 contractees working a month ago slimmed down to eight. There are 35 scribblers at 20th, highest number in town but the new policy there emphasixes writ- ers for weekly or assignment basis, not pacts. Metro sliced its scribblers from 32 to 26 in the past month, but still leads with pacters, with 19. -Warners also is pinkslippiug writ- ers cut from 18 a month ago to 11. Of ’ these, three have producer- writer pacts. Columbia, with a. heavv production sked, is going t along at an even keel with 26 j scribblers employed, only four under pact, and these are producer- writer or writer-director deals. UI has 25 writers, compared to 28 last month, six under contract. Paramount is holding to 17, five under pact. Republic has none under contract. RKO’s three of last month have been cut to two, neither under contract. The figures empha- size the fact that part of the gen- eral tightening-belt policy in Hollywood, caused not only by the falling b.o. but by the uncertainty due to 3D and widescreen pictures, the studios are reversing the for- mer policy of stressing termpacts, preferring hiring writers for spe- cific assignments. Allied Likes the First Nat’l Drive-In Con?. So Much It’ll Go One-a-Year Milwaukee, March 31. Highly pleased with its first Na- tional Drive-In meeting held here last week in conjunction with the annual- convention of the Allied Independent Theatre Owners of Wisconsin, Allied States Assn., the parent body, has determined to hold a separate ozoner. parley each year. Plans are alrea'dy under way for setting up next year’s meeting. Al- lied’s feeling is that its members who operate ozoners reqihre a sep- arate confab to discuss issues per- taining to specifics in the drive-in business. With more than 700 ozoner ops from every state, in addition to reps from Puerto Rico and Canada, get-together here covered every as- pect of ozoner operation, includ- ing development of 3-D and wide- screen projection. Herbert Barnett, prexy of the Society of Motion Picture and Tele- vision Engineers, told the group that endless problems of 3-D pro- jection remain to be solved prior •to 3-D’s becoming standard with ozoners. On the question of trade prac- tices, the ozoners were warned by (Continued on page 87) SKOURAS SPEEDS UP SUPPLY OF LENSES w Hollywood, March 31. increased numbers of lenses for CinemaScope cameras and project I 0r s at an early date were promised ~£ yr ? s Skouras at a meeting of «*i 6 m?^ on F^cture Industry Coun- cil. The 20th-Fox prexy also an- nounced that more theatre equip- “1^. t?r CinemaScope than was aK® ll lS* y ex P ec ted trill be avail- able this year. Meanwhile, *20th-Fox will Install nemaScope screens in three -sizes or demonstration purposes in the- coifnfJN*? 7 throughout the 7 “ ntry * Installations will be in hous m i dd le and small-sized Don't Wait, Pard •This week’s candidate for the film title most likely to be changed: “If I Don’t Come Back, Read This.” Charles K. Feldman listed it as an original feature with the title registration bureau of the Motion Picture Assn, of America. Whitecollarites Ask Strike Vote Stalemated in negotiations for a new pact for New York exchange employees, the Motion Picture Homeoffice Employees Union, Lo- cal H-63, repping white collarites, has requested permission from the parent organization, the Interna- tional Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, to take strike action. Pending a reply from LA. prexy Richard F. Walsh, the union has agreed to hold another confab with the film companies, with Commis- sioner Louis Stone of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service sitting in. Meeting is slated to take place this week. According to the union, film- eries have completely rejected all demands, including' a 37V£-hour week, wage hike and three-week vacation after 10 years’ employ- ment. Union claims that the only counter-offer made by the film companies is for extension of the recently-expired pact for another two years. Russell Moss, Local H-63 topper^ declared that the filmeries did not cite inability to pay but pointed to upcoming difficulties facing the industry. Union con- tends it is seeking the same con- (Continued on page 27) LA. Fed. Court Denies Injunction Vs. ‘Rouge’ Los Angeles, March 31. Injunction asked by Moulin Rouge Montmartre of Paris to stop distribution of the film, “Moulin Rouge,” was denied by Judge Leon R. Yankwich in Federal Court. Plaintiffs were given 30 days to amend their complaint and file again. Defendants included Jose Ferrer, John Huston, United Artists and others. Judge made his decision after viewing the pic in the court- room. I Parlay of 2-D, 3-D, Widescreen, TV PROMPTS SALES S**" Potent Hypo for Theatre Biz Hakim Gets U. S. Rights To British-Made ‘Dare’ Former 20th-Foit producer Andre Hakim, who recently organized his own outfit, has acquired the United States sales and distribution rights to the currently-shooting British film, ‘They Who Dare.” Being produced by the Mayflow- er Co. (Maxwell Setton and Au- brey Baring) in partnership with Sir Alexander Korda, the film is currently shooting on location, in Cyprus with Lewis Milestone di- recting. A Technicolor production, it concerns the activities of Brit- ish Commandos in the Mediter- ranean during World War II. ■ Company expects to spend 10 weeks in Cyprus and another six weeks in London for interiors.* Akim Tamiroff has a leading role in the picture. Zsa Zsa Out of ‘Female' Hollywood, March 31. Pix producer Albert Zugsmith dropped negotiations with Zsa Zsa Gabor for the starring role in ‘Te- rn ale of the Species” because of her demands for choice of a direc- tor and leading man. Lili St. Cyr has been inked for the role instead. .Pic rolls in June in Majorca. ‘ Yictor Stoloff will direct. Policy of major theatre chains to lop off marginal houses as a means of enhancing the economic structures of the exhibition com- panies was further spotlighted within the past week on several fronts. Loew’s disposed of a few neighborhood spots; RKO Theatres board has adopted a policy of ter- minating leases of properties which “do not contribute to the profitable operation of the busi- ness,” and. both United Para- mount Theatres and National The- atres similarly have been re- linquishing non - money - making houses. ^ Circuit operators hav_e taken the position in many instances that the- atres which operate in the red over any lengthy period are too much of a burden and might just as well be sold or shuttered. Con- clusion being drawn is that, as a result of market changes over re- ] cent years, it’s too difficult, and often impossible, to somehow con- vert a losing theatre into an in- the-black operation. Commenting on this in his an- nual report, UPT president Leon- ard Goldenson said: “The industry seems to be evolving towardi a situation where fewer theatres will exhibit better pictures. Nu- (Continued»on page 95) Color Scheme “It’s easy to spot a film man these days,” comments Charles Boasberg. “He’s wearing a green glass over one eye and a red one over the other.” RKO sales chief is more concerned over 3-D than ever since eight pix on that outfit’s sked are depth pix. Eye Strain & Distortion Of Stereo Lensing Are Eased in New 3-D Camera + A new 3-D camera which can be adjusted to zero inter-ocular sepa- ration, and takes the distortion out of stereo photography, was demon- strated in N, Y. Monday (30) by its inventor, Floyd A. Ramsdell, Worcester Film Corp. prexy. Rams- dell on March 10, ’53, was issued patent number 2630737 * on his camera which actually consists of two Bell & Howells built into a single casing. Cameras are facing one another at fight angles, with a movable mirror mounted between them. One photographs through the mir- ror, . taking a conventional two- dimensional picture, while the other works from the reflected image. Ramsdell illustrated the prob- lem of obtaining correct inter- ocular. The mirror is adjustable to place the picture to be lensed in its proper relationship to the camera. Where other cameras have a minimum inter-ocular of three- quarters of an inch, his can be moved to absolute zero, Ramsdell showed. Elimination of eye-strain is part of the resultant improve- ment. He disclosed he was discussing use of the camera “with several studios,” and that he was building others. Arthur DeBra of the Mo- tion Picture Assn, of America has | a financial interest in.the new de- vice which, it’s said, should be of great importance in the developing 3-D field. Demonstration Monday involved both slides and cdlor film. While j the Ramsdell camera is in 35m, j test footage shown was in 16m. Various scenes, emphasizing the applicability of the camera for long and medium shots as well as closeups, were screened. Polarized viewers are needed to get the 3-D effect. Green Threatens 20th-Fox Via SEC Impression that Charles Green, chief protagonist in a. threatened proxy fight at 20th-Fox, might have called it quits on his announced intention to topple the 20th man- agement was dispelled last week (26) when he told the Customers Brokers Assn, in N. Y. that a proxy letter embodying his complaints against the management would be filed with the Securities and Ex- change Commission some time this week. Green, who didn’t appear par- ticularly anxious to talk about 20th at the start, preferring to recall his past proxy battles at the Twin City Rapid Transit Co. in Minne- apolis and the United Cigar-Whe- lan Stores, was quickly drawn into a discussion of his plans re 20th. Pinpointed by the brokers, he informed them that his group had offered Darryl F. Zanuck, 20th production chief, the company presidency “if he wants it;” that he had a slate of officers for the company all drawn up in case he should win his fight, and that he thought he owned as much stock in the company as its president, Spyros P. Skouras. Extent of Green’s holdings of 20th stock is a matter of consider- able speculation since^ he's been (Continued on page 95) Par Process Cleanses 3-D Viewers for Re-Use Effective means of sterilizing po- larized glasses- to permit their re- use in viewing 3-D pix has been developed by Paramount. Appara- tus, in which Par has no invest- ment, will be distributed by a new company, Steriloptics, Inc. Outfit is owned by a group of industryites, including Herman Goldstein, prexy of Electro-Aire, which built the apparatus for Paris experiments; Izzy Rappaport, Bal- timore exhib, and Joseph P. Ken- nedy Industries. Important aspect of sterilization is that insurance cos may refuse to honor liability risks unless viewers are cleansed to avoid eye infec- tions. Par’s purpose in experimenting with germ-killing equipment was to forestall a shortage of polarized viewers. Unit peddled by Steril- optics uses a high concentration of ozone to destroy germs. Method was devised by Dr. Leon Warshaw, Par medical director, according to Par v.p. Paul Raibourn. Distribs Fete Cravenne Robert Cravenne, rep of the French Unifrance org Which pro- motes distribution of Gallic prod- uct abroad, will be the guest of honor and will deliver a report today (Wed.) at a luncheon thrown for him by the Independent Motion Picture Distributors Assn, at. 21 In N. Y. . French* film exec, who’s here to arrange for a French Film Week in October, is skedded to report on conditions in the French indus- try and on the production outlook. Social Maneuvers For ‘Titanic' Bow at Norfolk Bally tying in the world premiere Of 20th-Fox's “Titanic” with an amphibious assault landing and a gala ball for Navy Relief is set at the Norfolk, Va., naval base April 11-12. A group of stars from N.Y. and Hollywood will attend, along with mag reps and trade and lay press. Top-ranking Navy and Army brass are skedded to attend. Among the officers are Admiral W. M. Fechteler, USN, Chief of Naval Operations; Gen. L. C. Shep- herd, USMC, Commandant U. S. Marine Corps, and Gen. J. R. Hodge, USA, Chief, Army Field Forces. Pic stars Barbara Stan- wyck and Clifton Webb. With a hassle obviously brewing between studios advocating the wide-screen medium as against those pitching 3-D requiring the use of Polaroid specs, one group of industryites is taking the un- usual view that there is no need for standardization. The feeling is that both methods offer differ- ent values, giving the industry a chance for the first time in its history to offer patrons a variety of entertainment. By employing polaroid-type 3-D as well as CinemaScope plus con- ventional flat films and theatre TV, these tradesters maintain that theatres can put forth the most potent array of entertainment ever offered to the public and multiply the reason for theatre attendance. They argue that producers will have to use the utmost discretion in determining which story proper- ties are most suitable for particu- lar medium, be it 2-D, 3-D. Cin- emaScope or the new Todd-AO process. It’s pointed out that the only standardization necessary would he that involving similar equip- ment for each particular medium. Under present conditions, these filmites note that most theatres in the U. S. can be equipped for Polaroid 3-D because of the com- parative low cost. CinemaScope, they maintain, appears to be at present a medium for the larger key houses, although, it’s conceded, it could come shortly within the range of the smaller situations. Despite enthusiastic exhib recep- tion of 20th-Fox’s CinemaScope, there was no indication that thea- tre men would junk the present 3-D systems. In fact, there are (Continued on page 29) AO Expands Its Board But No Mention’s Made Of Schenck-Todd Ties Brief annual stockholders meet of American Optical Co. at South Bridge, Mass, yesterday (Tues.) voted to expand the AO board to 14 members with the addition of four new trustees. Walter A. Stewart was reelected prexy of the optical outfit which is making the equipment for the Todd-AO 65m widescreen process. Total of ^56,000 shares were repped at the meet at which AO’s tieup with Magna Theatre Corp. never came up. Trustees elected to the board were John S. Cole- man, prexy of the Burroughs Add- ing Machine Co., Detroit; Dr. Brian O’Brieu, American Optical v.p. in charge of research; E. Wel- don Schmaucher, v.p. in charge of AO operations, and Donald F. Val- ley, general v.p. and director of the National Bank of Detroit. Officers elected with Stewart wete George E. Baskie, v.p. for finance and treasurer; Irving W. Wilson, v.p.; Henry S. Woodbridge, v.p. for biz research and biz devel- opment;* Rodgers Donaldson, secre- tary and general counsel; John A. Richitelli, comptroller, and E. D. Mitchell and W. H.. Rogers, as- sistant treasurers. American Optical annual report issued three weeks ago showed net sales for 1952 at $17,000,225 and a net of $2,407,504, equalling $2.96 per common share. COURT TO DECIDE WHO OWNS ‘SECOND FACE’ PIC Los Angeles, March 31. Suit to establish ownership of the motion picture, “Second Face,” formerly titled “Skin Deep,” was filed in Superior Court by Sunset Securities Co. Film co-starred Bruce Bennett and Ella Raines. Defendants are Nassour Studio^, ELJ Productions, Eagle Lion Clas- sics, RCA, United Artists, Consoli- dated Film Industries, Edward J, Leven, Ella Raines, Eugene Vale, Roland D. Markson and H. A* Gins- burg.