Variety (April 1953)

indies, UA Cling to 2-D Pattern; Sked45 Pix, Only 2 Are ‘Roundies’ Underlining indie filmmakers' hesitancy anent departing from the conventional &D, United Artists has the greatest product lineup in its recent history, numbering 45 and only two of these are slated for the 3-D treatment. UA has varying percentages of owner- ship in more than half the pic pro- gram, it’s understood. Distrib has taken the position that “it’s the picture that counts,” that a good property will sell re- wardless of dimensions: and screen aspect ratio. Of the two in 3-D nne is the special filhuzation of the upcoming Marciano-Walcott bout in Chicago. Other is Victor - Sa- ville’s “I the Jury.’* The 45-pic sked comprises prod- uct already completed and await- in'* release, some now In various stages of production and others financed to the extent that their delivery is virtually guaranteed. UA has plans to release the line- up at the rate of three pix a month, It’s believed, on the basis of two relatively ■ important productions and one lesser-scale entry per month. Arthur Krim, UA prez, will leave N. Y. next week for another swing of Europe, looking in on current releasing deals with indie produ- cers and lining up new pacts for the future. U.S. Distribs Hope Loan Will Let ’Em Remit Here $8,000,000 of Brazil Coin U. S.” distribs are hopeful of re- mitting the more than $8,000,000 In blocked revenue in Brazil as soon as terms for the $300,000,000 Import-Export Bank loan to that country have been finalized. Thi’s is expected to come about , within another week. There is little doubt that the American film companies are in- cluded on the list of importers whose accounts with the Brazilian government will be settled once the loan money is available. But allocation of import permits con- tinues subject to Brazilian study. Licenses for the last half of 152, and the first half of '53, have been issued but not liberated, since at present there are no dollars avail- able to cover them. Following passage of the free tnarket Jaw in Brazil earlier this year, the government sharply cur- tailed its list of essential imports, which now does hot include Amer- ican pix. U. S. distribs are wait- ing for the Brazilians to indicate what merchandise can be import- ed and paid for, at least partly, at the official rate of exchange. „ Brazilian government is known to be anxiou§ to avoid renewed ac- cumulation of blocked balances by U. S. distribs. Two avenues open to the Bra- zilians include a quota on imports or unlimited imports and partially- blocked revenues. Latter course would be preferred by the Ameri- can companies, since it offers hope for eventually getting the money out of the country. Picking Jury in Jeffers’ $200,000 Libel Vs. SEG # Hollywood, April 7. . Selection of a jury has startc in the Mike Jeffers $200,000 lib action against Screen Extras Gui and 36 individuals, three years ar one day after SEG “dared” Jeffe to sue. Individuals were all mer ? rs the SEG board at the tin n i libel - P^tis attorney Ro crt W. Gilbert. fi/ C eS~ s, <. com P laint is based i i <vm SEG i . New sletter” of April 9o0 which described him as ami 1 ? 80 ® ? n( * a would-be dictato ml as part of “Commie-influenci Conference of Studio Unions hhri irf also declared “SEG dar nun to sue us for libel.” Plan to show a series of film classics has* been worked out by Richard Brandt, head of Trans-Lux Theatres in N. Y. First pic booked under the project is “Counsellor at Law,” 1934 John Barrymore starrer. Brandt said in N. Y. Monday (6) that'he had run into opposi- tion when he took his idea to the majors, with the latter hesitant to let go of the old pix as competition to current product. He hopes that, if “Counsellor” makes a hit, the distribs will* loosen up. Pic is a Realart release. Cinerama Gears Gearing its product for extended long runs, at least six months in most cities and longer periods in New York, Cinerama is making a careful study of the dxtent of the trading area of cities in which it plans setting up showcases. Feel- ing that the population of most cities would not be sufficient to carry an attraction for a half- year’s run, outfit is convinced that it must bring in patrons from the surrounding territory. In Detroit, for example, where the company opened its- first show- case outside of New York recently, biz Is being sought from the sur- rounding states. Bally and adver- tising is being planned to saturate the entire Detroit trading zone, the pitch being that “when you visit Detroit, Cinerama is a must stop.” Another aspect of the campaign is special solicitation of group busi- ness, with bulk orders being sought from clubs, churches, business organizations, and schools. In New York, Cinerama has set up a spearate department, headed by Mrs. Diana Sheean, to seek the group business, including conven- tions, benefits and tours to New (Continued on page 15) Widescreen Coming Into Its Own, Says Downing “After* all the trial runs in Hol- lywood, it’s evident that the wide- screen is coming into its own in one 'form or another,” sdys Radio City Music Hall president Russell V. Downing. “There’s no telling which system ultimately will be adopted universally, but one thing is certain: the new changes are ex- citing. '■ “Everyone has become aroused to do something different. It was with . that spirit that we (at the Hall) looked around for a suitable production for new usage of our screen, which is the largest in the world.” (The Hall will show Para- mount’s “Shane” in the new Par- advocated screen, aspect ratio of ! 1.66 feet in width’ to each one foot of height). | Hall is giving “Shane” the wide- screen „whirl because the pic, with its many panoramic Shots*" especi- ally lends itself to that treatment, said Downing. He nixes predictions anent the future, because it seems unlikely that, all conventional 2-D films will fit into** that 1.66 screen pattern. Hew M-G 0’Seas Screen ' New panoramic screen, skedded for installation in various Metro theatres abroad, made its debut last week (3) at M-G‘s Forum The- atre at Liege, Belgium. Screen is 18 by 32 feet and carries the mag- nified image from a standard print^ Special screen, developed at the M-G studios, requires a slight al- teration in the aperture plate and* a lens of proper focal length, ac- cording to Arthur. M. Loew, prexy /of Loew’s International. Faced with confusion caused by the introduction of 3-D and wide- screen processes and dissension among exhibs regarding high rent- als and pre-release pictures, the industry, both the distribution and theatre ends, is being confronted with a hassle on the labor front. Although an open split between the industry and laborites hasn’t developed, there are definite signs of union rumblings and discontent among the rank and file. Situations, stalemates and prolonged wrangling are springing , up in cases where p^cts are r . expiring and talks, get underway for renewals. So far the disputes have been confined to a ^handful of unions, involving either exchange workers or projectionists. There is no im- mediate prqblem involving studio technicians, since the Coast basic agreement now in effect provides for .a .reopening on wages and working conditions on Oct. 25, 1953. The 3-D impact on the in-! ‘dustry is also influencing 'labor negotiations, especially among pro- jectionists who are demanding in- creased pay for handling the depth pictures. Basic disagreement, however, be- tween the film forces and unions in current talks revolves about*wages. Labor outfits involved charge that the film outfits^are adamant in re-: (Continued on page 15) No Single System For U, Says Daff; Owes It to Exhibs Assurance that Universal at no point plans , to make a complete switch to any one specific 3-D or widescreen system, “because we have a definite exhibitor responsi- bility and intend to live up to it,” was voiced lasl week (2) by Alfred E. Daff, U exec v.p. Commenting on U’s newly-dem- onstrated wide screen, which in- creases the light factor from one to four by dint of a special coat- ing which can be Applied to an ordinary muslin screen, Daff said he didn’t think the' accomplish- ment of a depth illusion on wide screens without glasses would mean much in the long run, since the effect was too slight to be of real impact. * U’s new screen is of the all- purpose variety and Is adjustable according to the.size and type pic shown on it. While it isn’t being caught napping on the current 3-D trend—U has one stereo film fin- ished and another planned-^Daff indicated the company is banking heavily on its system, which is within range of all exhibs and, Jbe- sides the screen, requires no more (Continued on page 20) \ GoldensonSees a Screen Suited for All Purposes One screen that will be adapt- able to all the new lensing and projection developments is antici- pated by Leonard Goldenson, pres- ident of American Broadcasting- Earamount Theatres. “There may be a series of systems in use,” he said, “but I’m confident that one theatre screen will be developed which can be put to use with them all, one which can be masked in and out, depending on the Bize of the film, and can show either 2-D or 3-D.” Further, there’s not going to be a complete Industry switch away from the conventional “flats” pat- tern, Goldenson declared. “Some films lend themselves to 3-D, others to the widescreen treatment. But there still will be films Which are best in 2-D.” New Italo Pic Distrib Deal May Unthaw $5,000,01)0 U.S. Coin in Italy No 3-D Oldsters? Although primarily a gim- mick to reduce the number of projectionists manning the booths, N. Y. circuit ops nego- tiating for a new pact with Projectionists Union, Local 306, are suggesting that pro- jectionists over 65 be retired because of the hazards of 3-D. Theatremen point out that the 3-D 5,000 feet ’film maga- zines weighing over 50 pounds are too heavy for the oldtimers to pick up. The convential - 2,000 feet reels weigh about 20 pounds. 20th May Farm Its 3-D be to Other Co. Twentieth-Fox may not release its own 3-D production, “Inferno,” because 20th execs consider han- dling of a stereo film requiring polarized viewers inconsistent with their advocacy of the 20th-devel- oped. CinemaScope widescreen process. - Studio originally had skedded three stereo pix but later'cut that total down to one. Twentieth execs are now discussing whether it wouldn’t be best to turn “In- ferno” over to an outfit like United Artists and concentrate en- tirely on Cinemascope. Projected move underscores the widening gulf between industry factions advocating widescreen pix and those favoring 3-D with glasses as a permanent feature of the biz. !, Meanwhile, 20th will be in a position of showing a complete CinemaScope feature before “The Robe” is finished. First print of “The Robe” is due in N. Y. in September and is skedded for Oc- tober release. “How to Marry a Millionaire,” however, should be ready in Augdst. At present, lit- tle likelihood is seen for 20th to make the plunge With “Millionaire” since the distrib has already an- nounced that “The Robe”' , wiU be its first CinemaScope opus to reach the public. 20th Sets 20 Big-Budget CinemaScope Features Hollywood, April 7. An afl-out^CinemaScope program of 20 high-budget pictures for re- lease starting in October and run- ning through .1954. was announced by Darryl F. Zanuck, 20th-Fox pro- duction chief. Program calls for one release perTnonth in October, November and December and one every three weeks in the following year. .* Three spectacular films slated for screening in 1953 are “The Robe;” “How to Marry a Million- aire” and “Twelve'Mile Reef,” all in production. “Reef” went into work yesterday (Mon.) on location off Key West and will contain the first undersea scenes ever filmed in CinemaScope. For the 1954 releasing program the company is readying “Prince Valiant”, starting Ma^ 11 in Eng- land; Irving Berlin’s “There’s No Business, Like Show Business,” June 22; Zanuck’s personal produc- tion, “The Egyptian”, “Hell and High Water”, “The Queen of She- ba”, “Desiree”, “Three Coins in the Fountain”, “Sir Walter Raleigh”, “The Racer”, “Prince of Players’, “The Story of Demetrius”, “The Wandering Jew”, “Jewel of India”, “The Gun and the Cross”, “The Cannibals”, and “The Story of Jeze- bel.” Barbara Peyjton and Tom Neal Sighed for “The Great Jesse James Raid',” to be produced by Robert L. Lippcrt, Jr. + New Italian film deal, consid- ered an extension of the current arrangement rather than a new pact, gives American distribs the right to make compensation deals which could result in unthawlng approximately $5,000,000 in frozen earnings in Italy. Agreement further permits Mo- tion Picture Assn, of America members to import a “surplus” of 30% over and above the stipu- lated import limit of 225 pix for work and dubbing purposes. It removes the official 'rental ceiling when the current pact runs out in June. And it exempts all films, going through Italian distribs, from paying towards the 10% “loan” to the Italian industry. Execs in N. Y. are still uncertain over whether or not- the pact, agreed on between MPAA prexy Eric Johnston and the. Italians, cuts off further Italian financial aid out of U. S. funds to support distribution, activities of Italian Films Export in -this country. It had been announced that, none of the additional 10% aid under the deal, which runs through August, 1954, could be utilized for that purpose. Big question mark is whether money frozen under the current arrangement, • which sets aside 12Vfe% for the Italian industry, can still be allocated to IFE’s distribu- tion end. If it cannot, the explana- tion would lie in the fact that the new deal is seen as merely an extension of the old one. Pact, negotiated by Johnston, (Continued on page 20) Educ’I, Biz Groups Fight Attempt to Toughen Md. Pix Censorship Statute Baltimore, April 7. Amendment extending film cen- sorship; pending in the ' General Assembly at Annapolis, is meeting plenty opposition from local edu- cational circles as well as business firms affected. Sydney R. Traub, chairman of the Maryland Board of Censors,, is pushing amendment, introduced, last week, that would require board censorship for aTT privately shown 16m used?for ad- vertising or. sales training pur- poses. Board censorship would also cover films utilized in the munici- pal schools as well as those shown or loaned by the Enoch Pratt Free Library, municipally-controlled li- brary system. Milton Stark, president of Stark Films, local producer of industry and medical films, is spearheading opposition to the amendment. As spokesman for the National Audio- Visual Assn., Stark is petitioning for a hearing before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. Stark is backed In his action by the Advertising Club of Baltimore. Dr. John H. Fischer, superintend- ent of Baltimore schools, and Miss Amy Winslow, director of the Pratt Library organization, are vigorous- ly campaigning for defeat of the amendment. Amendment also seeks to change wording of the present censorship law. “Decency” is added to the present standards of morality and the word “profane” is substituted for the term “sacrilegious,” which the Supreme Court has ruled un- constitutional. Incidental to extension of pow- ers and change in wording, the amendment calls for a raise in Tratib’s yearly salary frqm $3,200 to’$6,000, in addition to a raise for the other two board members l from $2,750 to $4,500. Cal. Lot Sale Okayed Los Angeles, April 7: Sale of the California Studios to Gross-Krasne, Inc., for $135,000 was affirmed by Judge Newcome Conde In Superior Court. Court denied the petition o£ Te&dt and Arlynne Sherman, daughters of the late Harry Sher- man, former owner, to set the sale aside.