Variety (April 1953)

18 INTERNATIONAL • Three Bonnie Pix, Set in Heather, Boom Scot Hope for Own Industry Glasgow, April 7. Increased production of feature- length pix in Scotland is raising hopes of a native film industry, at present non-existent. U. S. com* panies, lensing location scenes against spectacular Highland back- grounds of hill and loch, are large- ly responsible for the trend. In addition to ‘'Rob Roy,” cur- rently in production for Walt Dis- ney, two more pix with a ^ Scot background have just been named. Ealing Studios (London) have completed plans to star Paul Doug- las, Hollywood actor, in a Michael Balcon production of “The Puff- ers.” Pic will be produced almost entirely on location in Glasgow, the Crinan Canal area, and West- ern Scotland. Columbia Pictures announced filming of “The' Black Knight,” based on Sir Walter Scott’s “Young Lochinvar.” Lensing, in Techni- color, starts in Scotland this sum- mer, probably in July. At present, Walt Disney is film- ing “Rob Roy” at Aberfoyle in the Trossachs, w.k. scenic area. Rich- ard Todd and Glynis Johns star, with Finlay Currie, Michael Gough and James Robertson Jus- tice featured. James Bridie’s “The Anatomist” Is likely to be filmed in Edinburgh. Metro had planned “Brigadoon” for Scot locations this summer, but this will now be lensed entirely in Hollywood. 1 Beware of 3-D’s Novelty Staling, Specs Paling, Sez Brit. Exhib Topper Liverpool, April 14. Film exhibs here agreed that, if Polaroid specs have to be worn, 3-D films will not stop the drift from film houses. If they can be seen without visual aids, they add, then they are likely to fill the- atres, provided story value and production quality are okay. W. J. Speakman, past president of the British Cinema Exhibs Assn., said it had been said there “was nothing wrong with this business that a good picture can- not cure.” He agreed that the use of glasses would be a disad- vantage. After the novelty appeal, the business would depend on whether a film was good or bad he said. He thought that eventually there would be a wider Screen suitable for* the small cinemas, to enable them to operate with 3-D, just as talkie apparatus became available. He thought history would merely repeat itself. A Rank Organization spokesman said that, at Leeds, between 3,000 and 5,000 people saw the 3-D show on the-first day, and there were no complaints about the use of glasses. Govt. Hides B.0. Figures But Arg.’s’52 Biz Off Buenos Aires, April 7. Cost of living figures for 1952, issued by Argentina’s Ministry of Technical Affairs, show that the index—which stood at 100 in 1943 and 180.4 in 1948—rose to 562.9 in 1952 and soared to 581.2 in Janu- ary, 1953. This spiralling cost of'living is affecting the entertainment field here considerably. Because show biz has dipped, the Ministry, is re- luctant to publish figures for last year’s total boxoffice receipts. Con- trary to usual custom, these have not been released. During second week in March, total film grosses for the 25 first- run film theatres in Buenos Aires were $148,626, definitely below av-! erage for previous years. 1 Teeoff of the legit season has brought disappointing results. Pro- ducers are pulling in their horns, and casting around fof shows which can be produced with smaller casts, and which they know from the experience of other countries have sure-fire b.o. appeal. - 1 In face of acute food shortage, which is root of all the troubles, the public finds legit admission scales of from $1.80 to $2.50 too heavy for the average family bud- ft-get. Dublin Legit looters Ousted, String; Orch In Dublin, April 14. Led .McCabe, prexy of Illsley- McCabe Productions, which con- trols Olympia Theatre here, has announced dismissal of theatre orch’s entire brass section. He says present make-up' of orch was de- signed for vaudeville, which was theatre’s policy before Hlsley-Mc- Cabe acquired the .property. He now wants an all-string orch, which he regards as more suitable for. hjs current policy, mostjly legit productions. i Union reaction has not yet shown itself, but there will be resistance to project, particularly as a minor brush between Theatre Union and Federation of Irish Musicians re- cently ended in victory for Union. Tooters are looking to Union to strengthen their position. Failure will undoubtedly strengthen Fed- eration for fresh attack on Union in this and other theatres. RKO’s Paris Theefer’: Disney’s ‘Water Birds/ Mt Climbing & Pic Pioneer Paris, April 14. RKO has set up a “threefer,” pic show. It’s combined three medium- length documentaries into an off- beat film program. The French version of Walt Disney’s “Water Birds” (“Oiseaux Aquatiques”) is flanked by a 56- minute reportage on the climbing of Annapurna by the Maurice Herzog expedition, plus a 80-min- ute evocation of the life and con- tribution of the great French film pioneer,. Georges Melies, in “Le Grand Melies.” Well balanced, and the many-faceted lure of this triple feature is insuring it a good run. “Victqire Sur I/Annapurna” was made in 16m Kodachrome and blown up on 35m Technicolor by Marcel Ichac, who accompa- nied the mountain climbers. This has been taken for distrib by RKO, and with hypo of the best- selling book on the climb by Her- zog, in the U. S., this might be a good offbeat entry, if backed by another good documentary. Though this lacks the exciting footage of "Kon Tiki,” it is a colorful report on the beginning of the trek through little known Nepal to get to the highest mountain in the world, the Annapurna, “Le Grand Melies,” produced by Armor Films and directed and written by Georges Franju, is a Wasteful homage to this ex-magico, who introduced the poetry of fan- tasy and special effects to the film. It traces the early magico days of Melies, played by his son Andre Melies, and then segues into his first contact - with films and his production activities. Film has some good clips from his early pix such as “Trip to the Moon” and “The Phantom Chariot” 'with an abundance of fine trick - effects -that have rarely been topped. Direction by Franju has the delicacy of this simple man who loved to delight children and grownups with his fantasies. Camerawork is. tops and period recreation fine. This would be a fine filler for any art house pro- gram. Mask. New Mex Pix Distrib Co. Mexico City, April 14. Mar jo Cal vet, .ex-20th-Fox public relations chief here, and Rafael Arzos, prominent local pieman, have organized a company here to distribute French and German pix in Mexico. They will import di- rectly from Europe. Calvet for some time has dis- tributed selected French pix here. 30tli Legit House For Arg. Buenos Aires, April 7. Group of 17 young men, mem- bers of an experimental theatre as- sociation, The- Independents, are bucking longstanding shortage of legit theatres ifl Argentina. They’re adding, a 30th to the city's list of legit houses. Group has underground prem- ises in 50-year-old building known as Pacific Railway Building. 3-D to Depend on Color, Specs NSG: Adelphi Head Manchester, April 14. « Arthur Dent, head of Adelphi Films of London, saidjn a talk to film men here that the future of 3-D pix would depend on (D the use of color* and (2) films of feature length. “After more experimentation and research, 3-D will ultimately be accepted in place of the present- day talkies. But it will never make headway while there is, so much distortion as there is at present,” he said. “From the various sys- tems being tested, one will become standardized and accepted by all sections of the industry.” He said the system Which em- ployed Polaroid specs was unlikely to have permanence. Lensed In Rome Rome, April 7. A new Technicolor version of “Romeo and Juliet,” directed by Renato Castellani »for Rank-Uni- versalcine in a coproduction ven- ture, finally got rolling here this week after more than two years’ preparatory work. An 18-year-old English girl, Su- san Shentall, has just been signed for her first screen role as Juliet, and will appear opposite Lawrence Harvey as Romeo. Among others, Flora Robson will play the nurse. Milton Krasner is the cameraman, with costumes de- signed by painter Leonor Fini. Plans call for a month’s interior work in Rome, followed by exten- sive location shooting in Verona, Siena, and other Northern towns. AUSTRIAN ACTORS BAN | LEGIT-JUMPS TO PIX Vienna, April 7. Desperate economic situation of* Austrian, and’ to a lesser extent, German, actors is reflected in a recent collective action by a group of theatre owners’ and directors’ organizations united in an Asso- ciation of the German Language Stage. They publicized a decision to blacklist actors who break live theatre contracts for picture, work without permission of manage- ments. Decision on what’ consti- tutes a contract breach will rest with a specially-constituted The- atre Court. In Austria, a top stage actor is lucky to make over $100 a month (with a few big name exceptions). In Germany, stage figures are somewhat better, but in general do not constitute a living wage. Result has been that players must pad out stage earnings by radio, and especially picture work. Since studios are scattered from Ham- burg to Munich, Gottingen and Vienna, this has often meant play- ers. walking from a Stage engage- ment to pick up a* few weeks of profitable film work. Legit Shows Abroad LONDON (Week ending April 4) Affairs of State, Cambridge (8-21). Call Me Madam,-Coliseum (3-13). Dear Charles, New (12-18). Deep Blue Sea, Duchess (3-6). Dial M Murder, West (0-19). Escapade, Strand (1-20). For Better Worse, Comedy (12-17-52). Glorious Days, Palace (2-28). Happy Marriage, Duke York (8-7), Little Hut, Lyric (8-23-50). London Laughs, Adelphi (4-12). Love of Colonels, W. Garden (5-23-51) Love From'Judy, Saville (9-25). Mousetrap, Ambas. (11-25). Paint Wpgon, Her Majesty's (2-11). Paris to Piccadilly, Pr. Wales (4-13). Quadrille, Phoenix (9-12). Redheaded Blonde, Vaudeville (4-1). Reluctant Heroes, White (9-12-50). Ring Out Bells, Vic. Pal. (11-12). Seagulls Sorrento, Apollo (6-14-50). South Pacific, Drury Lane (11-1-51). Three Cheers, Casino (3-7). Water of Moon, Haymarket (4-19-51). Wonderful Time, Hipp. (10-21-52). Woman- Importance, Savoy (2-12-53). Young Elli, Criterion (4-2). CLOSED LAST WEEK Stalag 17, Princes (4-4). Wild Horses, Aldwych (10-6). .SCHEDULED OPENINGS (Figures denote premiere dates) Dangerous Curves, Garrick (14). Sunday Breakfast, New Lindsey (15), Living Room, Wyndham’s (16). Seagull, Arts (22). AUSTRALIA Week ending Feb. 28) 11 Whlto Horse Inn, Empire, Sydney. Larger Than Life, Tivoli, Sydney. Seagulls Over Sorrento, Royal Sydney. South Pacific, Majesty’s, Mel. Casslno, Comedy, Melbourne. Follies Bergere, Tivoli, Melbourne. Annie Got, Gun, Majesty’s, Bris. LaBohcme, Princess, Mel. Take It Off, Royal, Bris. 'VARIETY'* LONDON OFFICE S ft. Martin' s Piece, Trafalgar Square l^MKaasaaaMai 1 ——J ■■ Same Old Pix Ads-Crix Squabble Retired in British Press Hast —♦ Gassmaim, Abba Actors In Bologna Legit Fete Rome, April 7. The third National Theatre Fes- tival, organized by the city of Bo- logna, is winding up a successful run of four weks, with most top Italian Theatre groups guesting in the northern city for a series Of plays. . Among companies featured are Vittorio Gassmann’s successful Italian Art Theatre, Luchino Vis- conti’s “Stabile di Roma,” the Rome Jkittle Theatre directed‘by Orazio Costa, Grass! and Strehler’s Milan Little Theatre, Marta Abba’s Pirandello, group, as well as the little theatre units from Genoa and Florence. Program featured many classics and two new plays: Ugo Betti's “Ispezione” and Luigi Squarzina’s “Tre Quarti di Luna,” Latino Ballet ,a Sock ‘Sleeper’ in Rome; May Tour U.S. Via Sol Hurok Rome, April 14. Just in from an Israeli stand and off for a second Swiss tour, the dance group, Latin American Bal- lets, directed by Joaquin Perez Fernandez, already on the road for two and one-half years, is one of the most successful units in the field. Because of a lack in large- scale bally, this ballet group has acted in “sleeper” fashion in most stands, bringing plaudits from audiences and crix. Amount of reprises, extended runs, and follow-ups tells the story. Outfit has performed through- out Europe and South America. U.S. tour is still a possibility, though group is booked well through this year, and two previ- ous talks re a stateside swing (with Sol Hurok) failed to jell. Felix Maruani is handling in Eu- rope (from Paris). Unusual values offered by the formation result from a combina- tion of ballet with the folk dances of various South American coun- tries. Combo of these factors, as well as talent and timing of the troupe, plus splendid, colorful garbing, unusual music and rhy- thms, are likely to please the bal- letomane as well as the seeker of vthe unusual. There’s plenty* of the latter in the varied numbers based on traditional cults and dances of Peru, Panama, Paraguay, Mexico, as well as Argentina and other countries' below the bbrder. Unit has three complete pro- grams for use in extended runs, and travels with its own scenery and costumes. Joaquin Perez Fer- nandez guides the entire show with seasoned hand, keeping show fresh despite its long tour. Group works as a unit, . and despite specialties, there are no in- dividual stars. All are functional and very capable. Sofia Knoll and Alfredo Rodriguez Mendoza pro- vide strong piano accompaniment to the various typical instruments ,used onstage. Hawk. Dutch Bands in Hassle Over Pay for TV Work The Hague, April 7. Long-smouldering TV conflict broke out here over the question of payments to orchs playing for TV as well as radio. The Dutch Television Foundation, which con- trols all telecasts, refused to offer anything extra to members o^ Me- tropole Orch when sought to play a benefit concert for flood relief. Main point was that Metropolers were going to be paid for their work by the radio network. They insisted, however, that TV should kick in with something, too. Row was involved since fees for the concert were being turned over to flood relief. But TV chiefs were afraid to set a precedent. Metropole Orchestra had full backing of the organization for or- chestras, the Dutch Radio Union (which supplies the country’s net- works). All agreed it was time that TV started paying for entertain- ment it was getting gratis. TV Foundation, however, stood firm, so the Metropole refused to play for the show. London, April 7. Charges against the picture in- dustry of using advertising as a means of bringing pressure to bear on critics were made at the annual conference of the National Union of Journalists, by Henry Bate, the union’s prexy. He suggested that exhibitors and distributors were unnecessarily sensitive about the crix criticism. A number of newspaper employ- ers as individuals were, he said, prepared to resist this pressure. He referred to the “admirably firm line” which the Beaverbrook Press took when the American film companies objected to notices and withdrew their display ads. Th© attitude of the Beaverbrook group was a showdown of importance, but nothing was done 1 collectively by other national newspapers in their support. He said one newspaper leader declared that if this were allowed to pass, the freedom of the press was gone. He cited no official nego- tiation nor retaliatory boycott of film advertising, the newspapers being left to fight alone. Bate stated that during the past year the NUJ’s Ethics Committee had had cause to consider certain cases where other film companie$ were attempting to exert pressure. The union, he said, had made its attitude clear, and would defend the right of legitimate criticism. Mistake to Tailor Brit Films for U.S. Market, Sez Ealing’s Balcon British producers would make a grave mistake if they tried to tailor their pictures to what they believe to he the requirements of the American market, Sir Michael Bal- con, head of J. Arthur Rank’s Eal- ing Studios, said in N. Y. last week (9). “As far as I am concerned, I am an uncompromising national- ist, but in the nicest sense,” Bal- con asserted. “I will make no con- cessions to anyone when it comes to artistic integrity. I make films that I believe in, and I try to make them as good as possible. To me, these are the basic ingredients of success.” Balcon, who arrived here last week for a three-week stay, ad- mitted he personally was in favor of the British industry setting up an office to .promote its pix in the U. S., but added he did not think producer factions in England would or could get together on such a .scheme. Ealing exec said he was very pleased with the “Group 3” setup in Britain, in which young talent gets a chance to experiment. The unit in ’53 again plans to turn out eight pix and, according to Balcon, may be made into a testing ground for budding British 3-D production, “Whatever you in the U. S. do, we know that we eventually have to follow suit in Britain,” he declared. Primary purpose of Balcon’s trip is to participate in pre-preem pro- motion for his latest film, “The Cruel Sea.” Based upon Nicholas Monsarrat’s bestselling novel, it’s scheduled for a June unveiling with Universal-International distribut- ing. “I’ve also come to learn about 3-D,” he added. Producer had no comment to make about the new medium, aside from noting that he would scrutinize Hollywood devel- opments with an “open mind.” Balcon, who frequently has re- ferred to Britain’s amusement tax as a “crushing burden,” saljd that the industry is anxiously dwaiting presentation of the government’s new budget to Parliament. It’S 5 due for disclosure within the next week or 10 daj's, and will show whether the film business ha's been granted any # relief. Current admissions tax runs about 40%, compared te the U. S. impost of 20%. Ealing's production rate, Bafcon revealed, will be geared to six pic- tures in 1953, same as last year. Along with the Pinewood studios, another Rank affiliate, the two units will make about 20 films. Producer, who headed for the Coast Friday (10), has turned out such pix as “The Man in the White Suit” and “The Lavender Hill Mob” since becoming Ealing pro- duction chief in 1938.