Variety (April 1953)

ISTFJtXATIOm •VAWCTT'S* LONDON OFfICI S flh Mstfin't Pltcti Tnftlnr S^vsra IS Set for Eire Easter Home Festival Dublin, March 31. 4- F e^" ^ d ^°™!40^ear4)W Matinee Idol ’ Top % Film Wage Earner Tokyo, March 24- Icelandic Story for Him Stockholm, March 24. For the first time a novel by an Icelandic author will be used as the background for a film to be shot in Iceland. Titled “Salka Valka,” it was written by Haldor Kilian Laxness, who is here com- i plating - the screenplay. The film! will he produced by Swedish pro- jdueer Nordisk Tonefllm, who will send a big unit to Iceland shortly. Leading role will be played by ftfaj-Britt Miss on with Holger sons of artistic professions. Eiji Yoshikawa, author of feudal age novels, earned $42,000. 0 three weeks on Easter, is bringing j in a full lineup of legit shows. Abbey is reviving Lennox Robin- sotfs 1 Span’s perennial matinee idol,{Lowenadler, Folke Sundquist and serving it upwith ! 40-year-old Chieio Kataoka of Daiei j Nils Hallberg in support Helping a ^ored L I Studios, led film stage players In with the screenplay,, is Swedish Mae lima. 1 1952 earnings, according to figures playwright Rune Lmdstrom. ^bey producer Tomas MacAnna. releas&d ^yt he income tax officials The Hilton Edwards-hluffiaeljjj^ Kataoka was paid $34,000 MacLiammoir Dublin Gate irro -, iQT ^ "before the cameras ductions will stage the first Mi} ^ Actress ftfichiyo Sognre, production of Christopher ttys j p rp< AT1 rty frg glarriTig from a Scho- **A Sleep of Prisoners,” and mak- j studio contact was femme Ing a double bill of it with W. B. } leader ^th an income of $23,900. Yeats’ "The Countess Catnleen. | ^ novelist topped all other per Stanley Illsley-Leo McCabe combo 1 — is reviving the production of Mary Chase’s ‘“Harvey” at Olympia The- atre, Illsley again playing Elwood P. Dowd. The Theatre Royal is producing ] a spectacle, ‘Trumpet Cali,” which involves most of the leading Irish vaudeville artists and detachments of Irish Army and Naval Service. “Everyman” the Salzburg moral- i y play, is slated for the Capitol (seldom used for legit shows) with Dr. Erast Lothar in from Austria to produce. Christopher Casson plays the lead The Gaiety will stage a revival of “La Vie Pari- sienne.” f ■. Longhair concert sked is heavy with visits by Jose.Iturbi, Cam poll (violin). Sir John Barbirolli and Halle orch, Vienna Boys’ Choir \ and special concerts by the Radio Fire arm Symphony. Frame Tax Relief Major Chains Hying Up To" Brit Quota in 1st 6 1 V 1 ** f* X ’ UiUjr <NUU,ww 1 C 2 >» auuucuujf M0S4 riTSt-KlffiS CEA’s revised schedule. J In support of its repre London, March 31. A newly-formed trade associa- tion for independent theatre opera- tors has submitted an alternative tax relief scheme to the Chancel- lor of the Exchequer to that ad- vocated by the Cinematograph Ex- hibitors Assn. The new group, called the Assn, of Independent Cinemas, has sug- gested to the government that there should be a flat rate conces- sion of $42 per week for every the- atre in the country. They claim this would help the small theatre owner and would-cost the Treasury ] only $500,000 less annually than London, March 31. support of its representa- ^ ^ L „ . | tions, the AIC points out that more With the first n a if of the current j that} 40 theatres have gone dark quota yean ending today (TuesJ, a i ^ the last year and at least 200 roundup indicates that the three j are on the market. They major circuits are running ahead j .piaim rr mny British picture thea- of sev -! fees have lost about half their for- era * x firet-nm bouses j mer because they cannot be are falling short of their legal re-. ^ pro fitably quireinents. j * Under the provisions of the Films ; Act, none of Jthe circuits is allowed i K*SuIliny oei IOT XlilLl Condon, Continent London, March 24. Latest U. S. novelty over here, the Roller Derby, booked by Fosters’ Agency, in association wi^h tiie William Morris Agency, will be under the aegis of Harringay Arena boss Frank Gentle. This is the first time-that any imported novelty has been presented at the Arena by Gentle on Ids own. Previously ice shows and ice pantomimes were always done by him jointly with Tom Arnold. The Arnold office told Variety . it was out of the derby setup because it only pre- sents shows imported direct, not through intermediaries. Although show is hooked for 12 weeks with options, Harry Foster, who personally closed the deal, be- lieves it will run through the sum- mer, with bookings already set for France, Spain, Italy and Switzer- land to follow. Opens here in May, according to present plans. either exemption or relief and all have to play the full 30% quotas, which is the equivalent to approxi- mately eight weeks of British screen time in the half year. Asso- ciated British has given playing time to British films for 10 ‘weeks in the period and the Gaumont and Odeon. groups have nine weeks j eaeh. Iu the half year, one of the J. Arthur Rank pre-release theatres,^ the Gaumont, Haymarket, has \ fallen short on quota with only six weeks of playdates for British prod- uct. The same circuit’s Leicester Square Theatre is 100% above re- quirements with 16 weeks, the Odeon, Marble Arch, has played British films for-12 weeks and the Odeon, Leicester Square, for eight. The only other West End theatre which has met its requirements is the Rialto where, under the relief scheme, they are only obliged to give two-and-a-half weeks playing time, and have wound up the half year with four weeks. Paramount’s two first-runs, the Plaza and Carlton, are both short on quota, with six and four weeks respectively. Metro’s Empire has played three-and-a-haIf weeks while their adjacent Ritz has had only one week of British fHirre Warner’s showcase winds up the half year with four weeks of British films screened. Stmts in Rome, Madrid Rome, March 24. Mikhail Rasumny, in addition to appearing in “The Great Loves of History” for producer Victor Pah- Icn at Cinecitta, has been set for a picture tins summer in Madrid. This is^FIighf Into Darkness,” by Don Appel, to be produced and di- rected by Edward Blatf. Rasumny will play a character lead. Edgar* G. Ulmer will direct “Loves” as a-filmed TV series in 3d half-hour segments. and first three will be combined as a feature for world theatrical release. Hedy Lamarr will star in stanzas depict- ing romances of historical figures. TV series and the feature will be in English. Shooting starts around June 1. Rasmnny’s last Hollywood fea- ture was Paramount’s “The Stars Are Singing.” Trace Ma jesty’s Theatre History in BBC Series London, March 31. First of a series of four radio programs embracing the history of Her Majesty’s Theatre will be aired by the British Broadcasting Corp. tonight (Tues.). Present house wSs opened in 1897, but the airer will go back 250 years to the time of the opening of the original theatre of that name. The radio treatment, devised and arranged by Charles Brewer, London Legit Bite London, March 24. - Jack Buchanan is expected to haVe financial interest in the Terence! de Marney play, in which de Mar- ney stars himself. Play is “Dan- gerous Curves,” by Peter Cheney, and will be. tried out at Sfeeatham Theatre, April 27, with Hippo- drome, Golder’s Green, to follow . . . Thelma Ruby has been added to the cast of Stephen Mitchell and Stewart Crmckshank’s new revue, “High Spirit,” which will have a ! provincial tryout, opening at Aber- deen March 30, and comes to the Piccadilly Theatre early May. New legit* shows are encounter- ing trouble in getting provincial pre-West End tryouts. Reason given is that big shows now tour the provinces after a long London run,_ and are given a four-week run. instead the former one to two- week run . . New play by Fred Emney and Jack Melford, “Here Comes the King,” with former starred, will be presented by Jack Hylton, with Warren Mitchell like- Three Names Pitched For Canada Govt. Him Post Ottawa, March 31. With Artfiur Irwin, Canadian government film commissioner and head of the National Film Board, skedded for foreign diplomatic service, the following are being mentioned as his successor: Dr. A W. Trueman, president of U. of New Brunswick, now a member of the board; Walter Herbert, secre- tary of the Canada Foundation, and Dan Wallace, a former NFB secre- tary, now executive assistant to Paul Martin, Federal Minister of National Health and Welfare. Irwin is slated to leave shortly for Australia as Canada’s High Commissioner there. Paradise’ Ends Shooting London, March 31. Filming of "Paradise,” the Alec Guinness, Yvonne" De Carlo, Celia Johnson starrer, was completed over the weekend at the Shepper- ton Studios. Directed by Anthony Kimmins, “Paradise” will be released in the States in the early fall by Lopert Films. Legit Shows Afetoad LONDON (Week ending March 14) Affairs of Slate, Cambridge C8-21X Call Me Madam, Coliseum (3-15}. Dear Charles, New 02-18). Deep Blue Sea, Duchess (3-6). Dial - M Murder, West (6-1S). Escapade, Strand <l-20>„ • Wr Better Worse, Comedy 02-17-525. Glorious Days, Palace (2-28). Happy Marriage, Duke York <B-7>. Little Hut, Lyric (8-23-50X London Laughs, Adelphi (4-12). Love of Colonels, Wyn (5-23-5D. Lore From Judy, SaviHe (9-25). Man, St. MdSlin’s. Meet Callahan, Garrick (5-27). Mousetrap, Ambas. (11-25). Murder Mistaken, Vaudeville (10-0.- Paint Wagon, Her Majesty’s (2-11). Paris to Piccadilly, Pr. Wales (4-15). Quadrille, Phoenix (9-12). Reluctant Heroes, White (9-12-50). Rms Out Belts, Vic. Pal. (11-12). Seagulls Sorrento, Apollo (6-14-50). Shrike, Princes (2-13-53). South Pacific, Drury Lane (11-1-51X, Three Cheers, Casino (3-7). Water of Moon, Haymarket (4-19-51). Wild Horses, Aldwych GO-6). Wonderful Time, Hipp. (10-21-52). Woman Importance, Savoy (2-12-53X Young Eliz, Criterion (4-2). CLOSED LAST WEEK The Man, St. Martin's CL-20). will be narrated by Martin Lewis and Derek Prentice Protrramc will j - added to the cast. Show ! assToss-tts music "Faust; from r "Balalaika” •Pygmalion” with;week. Will tour the sticks for miter Sweet, J seven weeks, prior to coming to the others. West End, and SCHEDULED OPENINGS (Figures denote premiere dates) Murder in Cathedral, Old Vic €31). Stalag 17, Princes (4). Redheaded Blonde, Vaudeville (4L Or. in Bean Street, Embassy (8). AUSTRALIA (Week ending Feb. 28) White Horse Inn, Empire, Sydney. Larger Than Life, Tivoli, Sydney. Seagulls Over Sorrento, Royal Sydney. South. Pacific, .Majesty's, Mti Cassino, Comedy, Melbourne. Follies Bergere, Tivoli, Melbourne. Annie Get GUn, Majesty's, Bris. La Boh erne. Princess, Mel. Take It Off, Royal, Bris. French Fil Trinidad’ Is Top American Grosser Gielgud’s 'Richard’ For __ Rhodes Cent Exhibition London, March 31. John ' Gielgud’s recent London production of ’‘Richard II” will be featured at the Rhodes Centenary Exhibition in Bulawayo this sum- mer. Gielgud planes to Southern Rhodesia next July with most of the original London cast including Herbert Lomas and Eric Porter. They will open J uly 20 for a limited run. A new theatre is being built-in Bulawayo for the Centenary, with celebrations opening May 30 with a Scottish vaude fortnight starring Harry Gordon. Other attractions will include the Halle Orchestra, Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet and Covent Garden Opera Co. Opera company repertory will include Benjamin Britten’s coronation op-^ era, “Gloriana.” Nips bunch Own 3D Pic Systems Tokyo, ft larch 24. Hypoed by widespread curiosity here about 3-D films, Toho Stu- dios has begun production nf its own three-dimensional films, using a process called Tovision, which is similar to Natural Vision. First attempt is a two-reel romance di- rected by Takeo Murate and Shi- geru Tajiri. Expected completion date is March 31, with release in April It will be titled, “Jumping Oat Sunday.” The studio began shooting its second Tovision short thifs week- This dance revue short is titled, "I Am Marked.” Tovision requires polarized glasses. Cameras and projectors currently in use can be easily transferred to Tovision use. Shochiku Studio’s production head, K. Takamura, will visit Eu- rope next month to huddle with the inventor of CinamaScope in Paris with a view to using the system in Japan, He also rill study Soviet 3-D methods. -Meanwhile, the Shiga Bros. Lab- oratory here has developed a sys- tem called Panorama Cinevision which requires no glasses and which can utilize existing equip- ment. Only added device is a con- vex prism placed before camera lens to reduce visual angle from* 150 to 50 degrees. Concave prism will be placed before projector to reverse the angle on a semi-circu- lar screen three times the normal size. Mitsubishi Electrical Mfg. Co. has received orders from Shochiku for its polaroid-tvpe glasses. Di- chromes, for use during the Sho- chiku-United Artists exhibition of “Bwana DeviL” Company is now producing about 40,000 specs per month but expects to increase to two or three million a month when enough equipment is acquired. Londoa Film Notes London, March 24. Sonar Colleano, Simone Silva and Andrew Ray will costar in Tempean Films’ *Tm in the News,” an original film on newspaper life which goes into production this month . . . Edne Connor, playing feature role in the Jack Hylton- Sam Wsmamaker’s “The Shrike” at the Princes Theatre, engaged by Alexander Korda as technical music adviser for latest Korda- Graham Greene’s picture, “Heart of the ftlatter ” . . . Betty Box’s next film for J. Arthur Ranfe re- lease is titled, “The Hand and the Flower,” based on Jerrard Tickell novel of same name. Ralph Thomas will direct, with femme lead taken by French star Odile Versois. Shooting is slated to start in April. Steedman Metro’s Aussie Sydney, March 31. Benue Freeman, ftletro’s Aussie topper, has appointed Ossie Steed- man as general sales manager. He takes over the post held for 28 years by the late Dave Lake. Steedman joined Metro back in 1930 as a clerk in Perth. In 1945, he was named branch manager cov- ering the Victorian-Tasmanian ter- ritory. ^ Paris, ftlarch 31. ,* Gallic films are the biggest grossers here this season, with color and comedy the lures. Topper is the first French Technicolor pic, “Un Caprice. De Caroline Cherie,” which chronicles the amorous ad- ventures of the Gallic Amber and includes lots of unyeiling of the Martine Carol chassis. Playing three big houses, the first week grossed a good $69,000. Comic Femaniel is,a bucolie opus, “Le Boulanger De Valorque,” about a baker who goes on strike, is pull- ing in second money in its second week in three big theatres, with $40,500. Next coih is going to “Affair in Trinidad” (Col), which grossed $43,500, actually second money for a first week. Following is the new Jacques Tati comedy, “Les Va- cances De Monsieur Hulot” which, in its second week, drew $30,000. The Sacha Guitry satire on honest men, "La Vie DTJn Honette Homme” was next with $18,500 at two houses. Next up is the French version of “The Big Carnival” (Par), which already played here in its original version. This took in $18,000. The Jean Renoir Franco-Italo Techni* color film, "Le Carrosse D’Or,” next best, took in a mild $15,000 in its second week. Final tally is the U. S. indie sex film, “M&m and Dad,” with $12,900. Provinces were giving top money to “Snows of Kilimanjaro” (20th ) f “Affair in Trinidad” (Col), “Lime- light” (UA), “Scaramouche” <M-G), and the Gallic pix "Plume Au Vent,” "Le Boulanger De Val- orgue” and “Adorables Creatures.” See ‘Rising Hopes’ For British-UiL Equity Pact On Alien Actor Issne London, March 31. There are rising hopes of a set- tlement between British and Amer- ican Equity on the alien problem, but any agreement reached during the current negotiations here will need the blessing of the enforcing authorities on both sides of the Atlantic before it can come into effect In other words, any pact will need endorsement hy the U.S. Department of Justice and the Brit- ish Ministry of Labor before it has any real meaning. It has been provisionally agreed in London that once all outstanding points have been cleared, the Brit- ish union, together with Alfred Harding, who is repping U.S. Equity in the negotiations, will go hand in hand to the ftlinistry of Labor, explain what they propose and seek official blessing. It is assumed that the American union will make a similar approach to the Department of Justice. After two weeks of heavy con- fabbing, the two unions have recon- ciled most of their differences, but some proposals submitted by Amer- ican Equity have not been accept- able to the British thespers who have come forward with their own counter-proposals. There was a slight hiatus in the negotiations while Harding sought advice from New York on these alternatives. Despite reports to the contrary, it is understood in London that the provisions of the MCCarran Act have not proved a stumbling block to the negotiation? and that none of the proposals made by either side conflicts with the principle of -that legislation. All decisions so far taken fall within the frame- work of the Act, as well as comply- ing with pie appropriate labor and immigration laws in Britain. WB, Far Northern Set Film Deal in Aussie Sydney, March 24. Reported here that Warners and Far Northern Theatres have final- ly agreed on product terms follow- ing a long holdout Loop, headed by Charles Munro, operates a chain of theatres in the important Queensland sector extending as as far as ^Cairns* Deal also will cover certain Brisbane nabes in which Munro is interested. Holdout is understood to have been brought about by the refusal of Munro to pay certain percentage terms for WB fare*.New pact will be signatured thig week by M unro and Stanley Higgins on, WB local managing director.