Variety (April 1953)

20 PICTURES Pfa&MET? Wednesday* April 15, 1955 Indies Continuing War With IFE: Weigh Legal Steps Re Subsidies U. S. Sock Usl Continued from page 14 Continued use of American ■* “subsidy” coin, to finance its dis-! tribution activities in this country, will bring Italian Films Export into legal conflict with the indie distribs of foreign pix here, the indies are contending this week. At the same time, the Federal Trade Commission is reportedly taking renewed interest in the IFE operations. While- the Italian- government has nixed the proposed Italo-U.S. film deal, negotiated in Rome by Motion Picture Assn, of America prexy Eric Johnston, it's under- stood that any new agreement will embody a clause specifying that future aid money to the Italian in- dustry from the American majors can not be utilized, for IFE dis- tributing operations in the U.S. Indie distribs, while recognizing Johnston’s inability ’to make a ret- roactive deal, nevertheless see re- strictions on future subsidies as an empty gesture, since the Italians still have at least $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 left. This is coin ac- crued from major distrib assist- ance to the Italians under the cur- rent deal, amounting to 12V£% of their revenues. The lira are cov- ered by dollar exchange, if the government wants to allocate more money to IFE. American indies believe, that if IFE continues distributing with the aid of any U.S. subsidy coin, the Italo org is vulnerable under both the antitrust laws and the Webb-Pomerene Act. It’s still hoped that the Italian government will honor the “spirit” of any new deal, and call off IFE distribution financing, even with the “old” money. Both indies and major company execs stress that the IFE distribu- tion setup was not envisioned when the original agreement was signed in 1951, even though its lan- guage was quite broad. Foreign pix distribs have complained that IFE is pushing them out of the market, and that they can’t com pete with it. FOX, DETROIT, GOES 3-D 3 DIFFERENT WAYS Detroit, April 14. • The 5,000-seat Fox Theatre is in the process of being converted to Cinemascope, 3-D and Cinerama, at a cost of about $75,000, accord- ing to managing director David M Idzal. Conversion is expected to be completed in July. By August or September, Idza expects to show “The Robe” (20th) as his first Cinemascope presents tion. Fagin Slaps 65G Suit For Not Happening Here Los Angeles, April 14. Cinema Educational Guild, bead- ed by Myron C. Fagin, filed suit for $65,000 against Astor Pictures Corp,, charging breach of contract. Case involves* distribution of Fagin’s documentary short subject, ‘It Can Happen Here,” showing how the Communists took over Bulgaria. Cinema declares Astor brcike the contract by failing to do a proper distribution job, and also neglect- ed to return the film. Astor says the - Veterans * of Foreign Wars nixed the picture and claims there was no market for it at that time. Int’I Drive-In Theatre’s Survey Reveals Tinted Windshields Cut Vision Dallas, April 14. A survey by Paul .Short, Na- tional Screen Service executive, for Claude Efcell, founder of the new International Drive-In Theatre Owners Assn., reveals that tinted auto windshields reduce vision 34% and are a* detriment to ozoner patrons viewing films. Short plans to present the survey to the autp- ! as a foreign rep and ex-festwinner; ’ screenwriter Charles Spaak; film music composer George Van Parys, and government info officials Phi- lippe Erlanger and Georges Ra- quis. Short pix jury consists of Roger Leenhardt, Rene Lucot, Jean Queval, Jacques Schultz, Jean Vi- vier and Bert Haanstra. All are either filmmakers or writers. - Juries started viewing pix April 5, and saw all before the beginning of the fest. This was done to have the jury set showings of the best pix for night runs: This eliminates previous fest difficulties of early pix fading in jury memories, or the impossibility of reseeing $ix near the end of the fest. Night showings will give a hint of the favored pix by their projection status There will be two projections per day, and the usual press con- ferences by visiting film* people. Colorful stands rep each nation where documentation and photos of pix are given to the visiting scribes who this year, for the first time, get both room and board paid during their sojourn here. Also meeting here will be the International Producers’ Associa- tion to discuss a possible European cinema pool; the FRIPRESI, an In- ternational pic crix org, to award a prize for the best film this year, and the International Author’s Assn., to discuss protection of au- thors* rights. France had only two pix entered, with the official selection commit- tee giving the nod to “Le Salaire De La Peur” and Jacques Tati’s new comedy, “Les Vacances De mobile, steel, tire and petroleum^ Monsieur Hulot,” now a hit here industries. in its firstrun. However, Ministry In Short’s opinion these Indus- of Foreign Affairs overruled this tries are compatible with the film decision, and two more pix depict- biz since the public wears out a ing lives of national heroes are on large number of cars to use the the Gallic list. ~ • 3-D, Widescreen, Tele On CMPTE Confab Agenda; Wolfson Kicks Off Meet Current industry preoccupation with 3-D and widescreen innova- tions is reflected in the program mapped out for the 73d semi-an- nual convention of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers at the Statler Hotel, Los Angeles, April 27-May 1. Among the 61 papers to be read at the five-day meet are a good many relating to television de- velopments. This was done to ac- commodate TV engineers who meet the same week at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles with the Na- tional Assn, of Radio & Television Broadcasters. The SMPTE convention kicks off with an address by Mitchell Wolf- son, Miami exhib and prominent member of Theatre Owners of America, who’ll put across the ex- hib viewpoint of stereoscopic and widescreen pix, theatre TV and drive-ins. Technical session schedule in- cludes a talk by Dr. Harvey Fletchey, authority on sound and hearing; a discussion of Stereo Vision by R. A. Sherman of Bausch & Lomb, and a symposium on stereo pix involving J. A. Norling, R. J. Spottiswoode and A. J. Hill, all pioneers in 3-D lensing. Among the non-3-D topics is a discussion of the Telemeter sub- cription TV system by Louis N. Ridenour and George W, Brown. Color pix and drive-ins also are to be covered. R & H Take Over facilities of the ozoners. He hopes the auto industry will he coopera- tive in the program being devised by the International Drive-In The- atre Owners Assn. The possibility of the tinted windshield eliminating drive-in theatres would mean a loss of $234,- 000,000 to the film industry since ozoners are reputedly responsible for 20% of the industry’s total “Horizons Sans Fin” (Endless Horizons”) is Jean Dreville’s evo- cation of the life of one of France’s greatest airwomen, Helene Bou- cher, played by Giselle Pascal. Other pic is a full-length docu- mentary on the life of Georges Clemenceau, culled from old news- reel footage and photos by Gilbert Prouteau and Jean Le Bailly. Pic, La Vie de Georges Clemenceau,” yearly gross of $1,170,000,000. traces the life of the fiery diplo Short’s entire survey and recom- ' mendations have been turned over to the association’s executive plan- ning committee for further action. Grovas Elected Barker 13 Coast Industryites Called as L. A. Hearing Ends Los Angeles, April 14. House Un-American Activities Committee wound up its two-day investigation here after questioning 46 witnesses, 13 of whom were con- nected directly or indirectly with the motion picture industry. Only one of the 13 cooperated with the committee. Gertrude Pur- cell, writer, admitted she was a member of the Communist Party in 1939 but later decided she had had her fill of “thought control and loss of individual initiative.” The others took advantage of the Fifth Amendment and refused to answer the $64 question. They were: Albert Page, former writer; William E. Oliver, film critic for the L. A. Herald-Express; Sam Al- bert, musician; John Looschen, stu- dio carpenter foreman; Ned Young, actor-writer; Sol Kaplan, composer;- Murray Wagner, radio announcer; Bernard, Skadron, accountant; Vir- ginia Mullen, actress; Robert Wachsman, press-agent. Clement Wilenchick, actor; Frank Tarloff, writer, and Shimen Ruskin, actor. mat as well as a looksee at the times. U.S.* Tight Lineup U.S. has a tight lineup in “Call Me Madam” (20th-Fox), Walt Dis- ney’s “Peter Pan” (RKO), “Come Back Little Sheba” (Par), “Lili” Af II • /v. *1* m . (M-G), and “I Confess” (W-B). This Ul Mexico tit? lent puts Montgomery Clift in two pix, J . the Italo “Stazione” and “Confess.” Mexico City. There is a good chance for thesp Jesus Grovas, Mexican producer, honors, with Shirley Booth and elected Chief Barker of Variety Jennifer Jones repped. “Julius Club Tent 29 here. Benjamin J. Caeser” was to he the Metro en- Nevulis, local manager of Eastman try but delay in subtitling scratch- Kodak, is the new first assistant e a it. Favre Le Bret, fest prexy, barker and circuit operator Luis wan ted “The Bad and Beautiful,” R. Montes is general chairman of hut this was out of the running, the international convention set to (hie to previous openings on the be held here May 18-21. continent which kept it out of com- In charge of arrangements for petition, the Humanitarian Award dinner, Among shorts entered are Walt which will he on the convention’s Disney’s “Water Birds,” 20th-Fox's program, is Dick Dickson, National “The Glory of Renoir,” Burma with Theatres exec, now headquartering “Our Burma” made by Jules Bu- Nine Lawyers Scramble For Nasser .’Both’ Payoff Hollywood, April- 14. Three more lawyers., were re- alned by George ahd James Nas- ser, owners of General Service studio, to reduce the claims of six other attorneys for legal fees rang- ing from $15,000 to $223,000. Mix- up is an aftermath of the Nassers' recent bankruptcy case before Benno M. Brink, U. S. referee. Highest fee, $223,000, ‘was claimed by George T. Goggin,- last of the lawyers to represent the brothers in the bankruptcy pro- ceedings. Brink tentatively award- ed him $150,000, -but the Nassers objected. All the. claims will be reviewed by Brink, starting April 16. Dudley Widescreen Hollywood, April 14. Perfection of a new widescreen process, Vistarama, was announced here by Carl Dudley, prexy of the recently organized Vistarama Corp., as well as head of Dudley Pictures Corp. and Dudley Television Corp. Process, he said, requires no glasses and is adaptable to both the 35m and 16m systems. at the N.Y.. Roxy Theatre. T. L. Johnston to Head Canada Pix Board in U.S. Ottawa, April -14. Tom L. Johnston, director of publicity for the Ontario govern- ment travel and publicity depart- ment, has s been appointed senior representative of the National Film Board in the United States, with headquarters in New York. His of- fice will distribute 35m NFB films to U. S. theatres and 16m produc- tions to U. S. non-theatrical and television users. One of Johnston's heaviest jobs will be distribution of more thanl Mieuei.” a n AAA «. i A /I .• t . O'* ‘ 2,000 prints of Canadian travel films through 70 state and munici- pal libraries. cher under Louis De Rochemont seal, “The Whale” and “Momoy- ama Art” from Japan, “Mural Art” from Mexico,. “Figurehead,” “Royal Heritage” and “The Stranger Left No Card” from Great Britain, “Spring From Sweden,” “Vincent Van Gogh” from Holland, and “Crin Blanc” by Albert Lamorisse, “Statues Also Die,” “Breughels” and “Notre Dames De Chartres” from France. American delegation will be com- posed of R. Kissack of the Film Section, U.S, Army; : Stephen Campbell of the Film Section, U.S Embassy, and Mr. and Mrs. Joe Ravotto of the MSA Film Section Joseph Krumbold’s “And Now government documen- Hope as Casanova Hollywood, April 14. Bob Hope will go wolfish in "his first 1953 starrer at Paramount, “Mr. Casanova,” in which he will portray an 18th-Century Italian playboy, ^ Picture, a Technicolor produc- tion, starts in July, with Paul Jones producing and Norman McLeod di- recting from a script by Edmund Hartman and Hal Kanter. tary, has Been entered in the fest by USIS. MPAA will be in charge of docu- mentation and info of American pix, plux welcoming visiting U.S celebs. U. S. Govt. Delegation Washington, April. 14. A four-man Government delega- tion, under leadership of Robert A. Kissack, Jr., visual aids expert for the Army, will represent offi- cial U. S. at the 6th annual Film Festival which opens tomorrow (15) at Cannes. , Festival will continue until April 29. a Lippert’s 3-D Drive-In Hollywood, April 14. Robert L. Lippert is constructing new drive-in theatre,. the Star- light, with a 3-D screen. If the experiment is a success, he will Install the system in 23 more ozoners. Meanwhile he plans the installs tion of 3-D and Cinemascope in the rest of his theatre chain. He is currently discussing the wide- screen situation with 20th-Fox. Continued from page 1 there starting May 5, following its initial two-week opener in Cleve- land. “Me and Juliet” is due May 28 at the Majestic, N. Y. “South Pacific,” which tried out at the Shubert, Boston, almost ex- actly four years ago, goes back there May 25, immediately follow- ing the “Me and Juliet” run. It closes May 23 at the Majestic, N. Y., to niake way for the new entry, but after a four-week Boston stand will return to New York, to the Broadway Theatre, probably at reduced scale. Meanwhile, the second company of “South Pacific” continues its tour. For the four-day span May 23- 28, there will be only a single Rodgers-Hammerstein show on Broadway. That will be'“King and I,” now in its third year at the St. James. However, with the opening of “Me and Juliet” there will be two R & H entries again immediately across 44th Street, and when “S. P.” returns June 22 there will be three R & H collab- orations on Broadway. Fact that in the meantime “Pal Joey” will have closed at the Broadhurst to go on tour will prevent Rodgers, who co-authored the musical with the late Lorenz Hart and novelist John O’Hara, from having four shows in town simultaneously. An enterprising management in- terested in setting further records might produce revivals of “Carou- sel” and ’‘Allegro,’* the other two R & H collaborations. Conti Kirsch Wants Continued from page 5 * tained. However,, that is not true of the rest of the city’s theatres, with more than 70 locations having been equipped for 3-D. Exhib Demand Continued from page 7 tially serve the same purpose, the argument runs. Any of these screens can be masked off tp show films the reg- ular way or to project 3-D. All that is nfeeded to. magnify the standard print are a new lens and aperture plate. While it’s admit- ted that this arrangement may not duplicate the results achieved by a Cinerama or Cinemascope, it’s felt nevertheless,’ that. the impact * Is sufficient to balance economic con- siderations - particularly when it comes to the mass of smaller houses. The latter can install stereophonic sound If and when they please. Sharp disagreement among the studios on which course to follow, and their failure to fall in line with 20th-Fox and CinemaScope, is causing concern -among exhihs. They are hesitant to convert to CinemaScope at considerable cost, only to find themselves confined to 20th product and in competition with a multitude of smaller situa- tions with simpler, but neverthe- less large-screen, installations. Many large houses, like the Mu- sic Hall, are ordering Cinema- Scope units. They can afford to experiment regardless of cost..It’s conceded, too, that CinemaScope wide angle lensing'expands screen vistas way beyond the ratio to which a conventional pic can be magnified. MW Exhibs Hold Off Minneapolis, April 14. CinemaScope is winning some converts in this territory, but the general tendency among theatre- owners, as far as 2-D widescreen systems are concerned, is to await standardization, According to a sur- vey. While many have readied their theatres for 3-D, the vast majority still are holding off on orders for the other new systems, it's revealed. Home Theatre Circuit lost no time in making application to 20th- Fox from its headquarters here for Installations of the CinemaScope system in its 15 Minnesota, North and South Dakota and western Wisconsin theatres, all located out- side of the Twin Cities. Applica- tions also have gone forward to Fox from the Minneapolis and St. Paul downtown World Theatres. Frank Mantzke, Home circuit head, and Ted Mann, operator of the two World theatres, both at- tended the CinemaScope preview in Hollywood and were immediate- ly won over. Minnesota Amusement Co. (Paramount circuit) has not made any commitments yet regarding new 2-D widescreen, according to its president, Harry B. French. Many of the* chain’s houses and numerous independent theatres in the territory, however, are already equipped to show 3-D pictures re- quiring Polaroid glasses. So are the three RKO Theatres* Twin Cities houses. Md. Board to Press For Censor Statute Reuse . * Baltimore, April .14, The Maryland State Board of Motion Picture Censors, despite adjournment of the Legislature, has every intention of pressing for the revision of the state's 37-year film censorship statute, according to Sydney R. Traub, chairman 6fi the board. Bill, being fought by the Baltimore Sun as well as other groups in the state, is seen stiffen- ing the censorship activities of the board. Provision, calling for the issuance of permits for the show- ing of films at schools, churches, libraries, etc., has been the main target of the opposition attack. According to Traub, the State Senate committee considering the bill has referred it to the legisla- tive council. Latter comprises both members of the General Assembly and functions only between the yeariy sessions.