Variety (April 1953)

PICTURES Wednesday, April IS, 195S Norling Asks interim’ Standards; Plugs Single-Projector 3-D System Industry should set up certain “interim" standards of a fundamen- tal nature to cover it until there . has been a natural adjustment in 3-D and widescreen, developments, John A. Norling, Loucks & Norling Studios prexy and head of the So- ciety of Motion picture and Tele- vision Engineers’ stereo committee, said in N. 'Y. last week. Norling, a 3-D pioneer, also feels ''the industry is- overlooking an im- portant cost-saving factor in failing to concentrate on the development of single-projector 3-D systems, which could save millions in added print costs. He has, for a long time, h^d his own single-projector process which, if anyone wanted it, could be ready in “less than three months." For the producer it involves the print- ing of the left and right eye views on a single strip of film in a novel way. Exhibs would have to lay out “less than $2,000" for a new pro- jector head which is interchange- . able with standard projector heads and fits any standard make pro- jector. “Conversion of the industry to this system would cost only a fraction of what the industry spent in converting from silent to sound films," Norling believes. Polaroid Corp. has the Vectograph, another system for permitting single-lens 3-D projection. Loucks & Norling meanwhile is going ahead with the manufacture of additional of its special- 3-D cameras and expects to have eight of them ready in ^three months’ time. It already has a non- exclusive deal with RKO for use of the camera, based on a down- payment and a percentage of the gross. Talks with other studios for use of the Norling camera are going on. U. S. Sec. of Treasury Would K.0.18-Month Dodge for Pix Stars Film work abroad involving Hoi- ! lywood talent, on the increase over! past months, likely will be sharply curtailed if Secretary of the Treas- ury George Humphrey has his way about the tax benefits of making pix on foreign terrain. I Producers, directors and many performers have been showing in- creasing preference for European lensing, at least partly because if they’re abroad 17 out of any 18- month period their earnings are exempt from U. S. income taxes. William Wyler, John Huston, Hum- phrey Bogart, Clark -Gable and Gene Kelly, among others, have been on extended stays in Europe lately. In a letter this week to Rep. Daniel A. Heed, chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, Humphrey called for revision by Congress of the tax law setup so that “highly paid individuals" would be denied the 17-month tax, exemption. He said the tax relief bill was intended only for tech- nically-skilled persons. Release Super-W Pix Like a Cadillac—Stevens Film companies, along with handling program pix, should have a “Cadillac" division, that is, a ■ separate operation for the release of upper crust product, according 4 <° ,^ e ? r Se Stevens. He wants the A" pic given individual treatment, such as done with David O. Selz- nick’s “Gone With the Wind" and Duel in the Sun," instead of being a part of- the overall product pack- age over the season. Stevens, having wound up his commitment with Paramount with delivery of “Shane," Alan Ladd-. Jean Arthur-Van Heflin starrer, figures now on entering into indie production. He disclosed he pur- chased rights to Paul Wellman’s novel, “The Commancheros," but has no immediate lensing plans. Joan Bennett Inked For Rome-Cairo Colorpic ‘Nile’ Producer Marion Gering and Miguel Salkind of Rome's 0belisco-< Film Co. inked Joan Bennett to star in “Storm Over the Nile." To be lensed in color, venture is scheduled to go before the cameras- in Rome July 20. Additional shoot- ing in Egypt is planned in Septem- ber at the M.I.S.R. Universal studio in Cairo. Gering, who recently completed an underwater film tagged “Main Street, Under Sea," is readying a second such project. It’s tentatively due to roll either in Bermuda or the Bahamas next January, based upon a script by Gering and A. J. Palmerio. Bronson Hartley will handle the lensing and Martica will star. They had similar chores in “Main Street.” Exhibs Attack 3-D ‘Confusion’ With alleged distrib trade prac- tice abuses involving rentals, clear- ances and runs already a main tar- get of exhibs, theatremen are sharply attacking the film com- panies for the current confusion in the industry brought about by the introduction of new projection methods. Exhibs charge that the 3-D hoopla, coupled with the vari- ous alleged trade abuses; has placed the industry in a state of confusion even overshadowing the introduction of sound and the pe- riod of the major antitrust suits. Main barrage is based on the complaint that the studios, with their Vast resources and technical brains, have made no effort to in- troduce 3-D in an intelligent, or- derly manner. It’s pointed out that other big Industries have re- search laboratories working con- tinuously in developing new prod- ucts Or improvements and, in most instances, exchanging ideas within their trade. As a result of the indecision and the new 3-D and widescreen proc- esses announced each day, exhib orgs continue to caution their mem- bers to go easy in installing new systems. Both . Theatre Owners of America and Allied States Assn, admit to their members that it’s im- possible to give specific advice. AIL they can do, they note, is to inform theatremen with the info at hand and then it’s up to the individual exhib to make his own decision. ALLIED DROPS AD PLAN IN HIGH RENTALS FIGHT A plan to takes its case against high film rentals to the public via extensive advertising has been dropped, at least for the time be- ing, by Allied States Assn., it was learned this week. Original idea aimed to point out why exhibs were not booking certain pictures. Campaign, which would -have been patterned after the A & P's ex- tensive fight against the Govern- ment antitrust action, would have cited that because of distrib rental demands, exhibs would be forced to hike their admission’prices, with the public being asked to shell out more coin for film entertainment. Although individual exhibs re- portedly expressed a desire to chip in for such a campaign, it was felt that such a drive would not be appropriate this time, since Allied would be accused of at- tempting to influence the Senate Small Business Committee. Senate body holds Washington hearings later this month on industry's trade practices. Meanwhile, individual exhibs have been taking space In their local newspapers to explain why certain theatres are by-passing the , so-called “big" pictures. 4 * f Emergence of stereophonic sound as a byproduct of the industry’s current rash of 3-D and wide- screen systems has observers won- dering whether the pic biz. hasn’t unconsciously latched on to an- other big.plus factor for its filnfs. Excitement over stereo sound is shared by exhibs and studios alike amidst indications that it lhay be a standard item for all pix, regard- less of their dimension. At least two studios, Universal and 2Uth- Fox, already have announced that all of their future productions will come through with multi-channel sound. AiTd both the Loew’s and RKO circuity are studying whether to install it. While most exhibs agree that di- rectional sound gives added attrac- tion to their shows, current equip- ment costs and lack of standard- ization are retarding factors. Stereo sound units now cost any- where from $11,000 up and can in- volve extensive wiring jobs. Ex- hibs are also scared off- by the thought that, where multi-channel sound is currently available on separate tracks via magnetic re- cording, several companies are at work attempting to. put stereo sound on one film together, with the picture. Various Solutions Experiments are under way at 20th which must have stereo sound for its Cinemascope widescreen system. According to Earl I. Sponable, 20th research head, the company is studying various solu- (Continued on page 25) . Exhibs Drive To Cal Real Estate, Licensing Fees Although not as highly publi- cized as the industry campaign for the elimination of the 20% Federal admission tax, exhibs throughout the country have been quietly but forcefully pitching for a reduction in real estate as- sessments and license fees. Drive is not on a concerted national level, although info and experi- enfces with various local authori- ties have been exchanged at ex- hib conventions. •' Campaign is strictly on a local basis, with each individual exhib or regional cir- cuit rep‘dealing with the tax or li- cense department in the city or town where the theatres, are lo- cated. * Argument presented by exhibs is that although downtown or neighborhood property values may have increased, theatres, as single- purpose structures, have suffered as a result of the offish b.o. They’re also citing decentralization of pop- ulation, and parking and transpor- tation problems which tend to take business away from the down- town * houses. Point the exhibs are driving home is that the prop- erties are" worth less as theatres, although the true market Value of the real estate may be higher. In Philaledphia, the Stanley Warner Corp. has already received assessment reductions for six the- atres totalling $96,000. However, the company is protesting an as- sessment of $4,227,200 .for 1953 for a group of other houses. In Detroit, municipal authorities are cooperating with theatreown- ers in reducing assessments on theatre properties. In South Caro- lina a bill has been introduced in the legislature • whereby state li- cense fees would be at a flat rate basis, rather than so much per seat. Measure, supported by exhibs, would levy $25 annually on the- atres with 250 or fewer seats, and ifp to $300 a year for • larger houses. At present, seat taxes range from $1 to $2 annually de- pending on population. Clement Quits Par IntT Due to Health; Hoff In Roger C. Clement has resigned as. secretary and cdUnsel for Para- mount International Corp. after a 20-year association with the com- pany, it was disclosed in New York yesterday (Tues.) by George Welt- ner, president of Par foreign op- eration. Clement is retiring from business for reasons of health. Moving into the secretary’s spot is J. William Piper, who heretofore served as assistant secretary. Re- placing Clement as counsel is George 6. Hoff, formerly an at- torney on the staff of the U. S. Dept, of State and associated with the law firm of Appleton, Rice & Perrin. Italo Pix Deal Nix Surprise To Trade Italo government’s nixing of the proposed new film deal with the U. S. pix industry surprised com- pany execs in N. Y. last'week, es- pecially since the Motion Picture Assn, of America had appeared confident that the agreement, worked out '4n Rome by MPA A prexy Eric Johnston, would be ap- proved. It’s generally believed, however, that Johnston, who was due back in Rome from his Point 4 trip Monday (13), would be able to straighten out matters at the high government level. Objection to the pact came against the increase of remittables from 37 WVo to 40%, the 2V4% representing the cut fn financial aid to the Italian industry from 12V6% to 10% of U.S. earnings. The head of the Italo government’s for- eign currency department, a career government official, who was ab- sent from Rome when the deal was’ negotiated, declared he couldn’t spare the added dollars. It’s believed in N. Y. that block- ing of the deal represents as much of an internal tiff among Italian officials as it reflects concern over Italy’s dollar position. Under the terms of the suggest- ed 14-month agreement, U. S. dis- tribs would continue importing 225 pix a year. As in that past, 50% of their revenue would bt frozen, with compensation deals authorized to unthaw that coin where possible. Another 40% would be remittable and 10% would go to the Italian industry as a loan. Remittances from Italy under the current deal, which expires June 30, came to approximately $4,000,000 annually. Blocked funds at present total about $5,000,000. SELZNICK TO BALLY REISSUES ON VIDEO Hollywood, April 14. David O. Selznick is readying a nationwide television campaign this summer to exploit the reissue of 20 of his old theatrical films. First on the list will be “Duel in the Sun," followed by “Tom Saw- yer.” Currently recovering from minor surgery, Selznick said the oldies will be given full-scale ballyhoo as if they were new. WB Music Director Kudos • Mechanicville, N.Y., April 14. Ray Heindorf, director of music for Warner Bros, in Hollywood, will be honored here May 9 at a community celebration marking the 50th anniversary of Local 318, AFM, # to which he belongs. Former resident of this Saratoga County community will be presented with the key to the city by Mayor Thomas E. Ryan. Day has been designated as Ray Heindorf Day. Chris Miller, of Local 318, is general chairman wun me economists once again in the saddle, the industry has be- gun to reappraise the dollars-and- cents value of the word “wide- screen." Conclusion apparently is that, as far as the public is con- cerned, the payoff is not in the method, but in the size of the pic-' ture. j As a result, there’s b^en a grad- ual swinging away from compli- cated optical devices to achieve widescreen effects. Instead, stu- dios are adopting the view that, for an interim period at least, any large screen, carrying a magnifica- tion of a standard picture, will serve the purpose. New line of thinking has been emphasized in recent days by an- nouncements of the Universal sys- tem, which involves no more than an ordinary panoramic screen with a special light-reflecting coat- ing; installation of a Metro-devel- oped screen in.M-G houses abroad; adoption of a large 50 ft. by 30 ft. screen by Radio City Music Hall in N. Y., for the showing of “Shane,” and so on. Move for simplification is sparked by two outstanding considerations., 1. Studios are concerned over their $300,000,000 backlog, which any sudden switch into a new form of presentation could sharply de- preciate In value. 2. Exhibitors, while not unwill- ing to gamble, are tackling this new problem with the twin thought of making their installations as in- expensive as possible and to as- sure themselves of a steady sup- ply of product. As long as an effective and prac- tical way is found of both utilizing standard • feature productions and changing the aspect ratio of the screen to make pix presentation more attractive, why go overboard on expensive systems that essen- (Continued on page 20) D.C. to Begin Hearings On 20 % Tax Repeal Bills, Statute of Limitations Washington, April 14. Film industry has an important stake in a number of bills and legis- lative actions currently being weighed and upcoming here this week. On Monday (20) the House Ways & Means Committee will begin a day of hearings on various bills in- troduced to repeal the 20% Fed- eral admission tax. About 20’ such measures, introduced by various Congressmen, are in the hopper. A bill designed to repeal tax ex- emptions for persons who work and live abroad for 18 months was in- troduced in the House today (Tues.) by Rep. Danjel Reed (R., N. Y.). Measure, if passed, would become effective commencing with coin earned Jan. 1, 1953 (see separate story). Slated for introduction later thi^ week is a bill proposed by Rep. Chauncey Reed (R., 111.), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, effecting treble damage suits. On the basis of Reed’s bill, a court would have the discretion to give a complainant anything from actual damages suffered up to treble damages. Under the present law, treble damages are mandatory. On Thursday (23) the House Judiciary Committee will study a bill by Rep. Kenneth Keating (R„ N. Y.) which would set a Federal statute of limitation of five years on treble damage suits. At pres- ent there is no Federal statute of limitations, with the Federal courts accepting those of the different states which vary from one to 12 3 fears. A Federal law would es- tablish a uniform statute of limi- tations. Distribs have pitched for a three-year limitation while exhibs have advocated a seven-year pe- riod. After weighing the Keating bill, the Judiciary sub-committee settled on the five-year stanza, which it is reporting to the full committee.