Variety (April 1953)

tVARIKTY'S' LONDON OFftCI g. ft. Mtrfln'ft. Flact, Trafalgar Square London, April 21. Although it was reported several m „„th S ago that an agreement had r” reJched between American , , ' distrlbs and the Beaverbrook and that the advertising hoy- p « at an end, the' return f ott Vnndon last week of Lord 1° ovhrook has sparked a new campaign in defense of their film Cr in C the Sunday Express, a lead- , J article referred to the boycott when criticizing another Sunday newspaper which had accused the Beaverbrook sheet pfsuppression. The Express charged that the other bmrnal remained silent when American film companies sought to influence the editorial columns it British newspapers. The ob- ?! of the virtual advertising boy- said the article, was- “to muz- z?!* Logan Gourlay in this news- caper and obtain the dismissal of Milton Shulman from the Evening Standard. The comments of these two critics were too realistic for the film companies to uccept. The Express group paid no attention to the boycott; the critics continued to write with the fullest freedom, and the position remains virtually unchanged today.” In the companion Beaverbrook. lournal, the Evening Standard, the comment is hinged to a reference to J. J. Shubert, who is reported battling with all the Chicago drama critics. This led the Stand- ard diarist to note that “touchy American show magnates were in conflict with critics on both sides of the. Atlantic. Here* it is re- ported, the target of their wrath is filmwriter Shulman. “Some American film bosses,” It stated, '•objected to Shulman’s notices and asked for his dismissal. The Evening Standard refused. -The London Americans retaliated by withdrawing their advertising. The clash has caused lively interest. Various accounts, have been given in the newspapers. And Shulman’s notices continue as before, help- ful rather than harmful to the in- dustry.” Panned by Aussie Crix, ‘Devil’ Still Sock With Patrons;‘Wax’in Next • Sydney, April 21. Artistically 3-1), via “Bwana Devil’’ (U-A) is rated a flopperoo from the crix viewpoint. But from a boxoffice viewpoint “Devil” has had the patrons lined up- on a five- session daily span at Hoyts' Plaza here for opening week. How long the pic can maintain this biz pace after savage attack by the key reviewers remains to be seen. (Pic was panned in the U. S„ but did smash biz almost everywhere.) General industry reaction to 3-D here is that it would have been better to have delayed the debut Until a stronger film than “Devil” , was available. Belief, is held that third-dimensional product will not hit favor Down Under via the cur- rent setup. “House of Wax” (WB) follows “Devil.” Understood that Greater Union Theatres,, opposition to Hoyts, will enter the 3-D field here soon with “Man-in the Dark” (Col). Polaroid’s Aussie setup is supply- ing viewers for Natural Vision. The Aussie Department of Public Health has decreed that the view- ers must be sterilized after each snow. For the “Devil” run, Hoyts’ greasedadmissions to take in me added cost to it for viewers plus sterilization cost. Currently there is a shortage of viewers for Natural vision, but Polaroid executives say mat within five or six weeks* ample supplies will be available. 10 Prods, on Mex 3-D Sked; See Col as Distrib Mexico City, April 21. First Mexican production of 3-D films are being readied here on a big scale, with 10 productions planned by Santiago <and Manuel Reachi and Jacques Gelman, San- tiago and Gelman head Posa Films, producer of films by Can- tinflas (Mario Moreno). The Rea- chis and Gelman have inked with Columbia for use of their system, Manuel is to make three of the pix on his own. Cantinfias is to star in at least one of the 3-D films Gelman and Santiago will make. Start of these pix is expected before mid- summer. To ‘April, 2 Col’s ‘Man in Dark* Does Capacity in N. Zealand * Auckland, April 21. t e 5- oy Bl ’auer, Columbia’s Aus- riL top ? er ‘ and Mike Moodabe, ,°f the big Moodabe Amal- th?? , pic lo °P’ Pacted a deal for ih f£ ar £ release of Col’s 3-JD “Man hpat' P arlc ” in four keys here to eat in "Bwana Devil” (UAL. Vienna, April 28. The Austrian “Oscar,” the Graf Sascha Kolowrat Cup (named for a local film pioneer), to the sur- prise of nobody, went to the gov- ernment-produced “April, 2000” as being the best locally-produced film of 1952. Pic was made by Wien Film on the Austrian Repub- lic’s orders with a budget of some 14,000,000 schillings ($700,000) or about four to five times more than the customary “A” film costs here. Writer and producer was Dr. Ernst Marboe, a distant relative of the then Chancellor Figl. Pic was di- rected by Wolfgang Liebenenner; German megger who was formerly a top Nazi director. It starred his wife, Hilde Krahl. During the award ceremonies, Education Minister Kolb revealed- that the film has played to only 1>00,000 schillings ($30,000) in Aus- tria, but “hoped its cost would be covered in tw.o or three years.” “April” had only lukewarm critical reception here and has played to very mild returns elsewhere. Despite simultaneous prepara- tion of an “English version,” in which the German-speaking cast mouthed an English dialogue script for later dubbing, U. S. and Eng- lish distributors have evinced no interest in the pic. Minister Kolb said the government plans no fur- ther film production projects, at present. He revealed that his min- istry would offer some prizes for screenplays t6 be’used In eventual private production in hopes of ‘raising the quality of Austrian films.” . . The Education Ministry simul-: taneously awarded a 10,000 schill- ing prize to Dr. Albert Quendler for his short documentary on Vien- na attractions, called “Vienna Sym- phony” and one of 3,000 schillings to T.heo Hormann of Innsbruck for his travel short, “Happy End on the Lake.” MENOm’S ‘AMAHL’ SET FOR FLORENCE FETE Rome, April ,21. Luigi Cherubini's “Medea” has been selected- to open this year's 26th Florence Music Festival. Fete runs from May 5 to June' 29, and will also feature Gian-Garlo. Menotti’s “Amahl,” Giuseppe Ver- di’s <*Aroldo,” Sergei Prokofleff’s “War and Peace,” Jean Philipe Rameau’s “Les lodes Galantes.” Prokofief f opera will have its west- ern world premiere in Florence, Among other festival features Will be appearances and concerts by Victoria DeLos Angeles, pianist Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, chamber music groups, and ballets staged by Marcel Marceau’s mime group. LocarnoTilm Fete in July Zurich, April 21. .The seventh annual Locarno Film Festival will be held this year July 2-12. Showings will be held as usual in an open-air thea- tre and, for matinees or in case of bad weather in the newly-built Kasino-Kursaal cinema. The Lo- carno Festival has been officially recognized by the International Assn, of Film Producers. For the first time, the festival will include ail international exhib of films for tourism. INTERNATIONAL London, April 21. In an attempt to clarify the con- fusion that has developed in Anglo- American production circles fol- lowing a recent high court decision that “Monsoon” was not eligible for a quota ticket, the Board of Trade has issued a prepared statement which indicates there will be a tightening of regulations plus the introduction of changes in the reg- istration procedure' shortly. The court verdict in the “Mon- soon” case upheld the BOT’s as- sertion that a company formed in London by Forrest Judd with only a nominal capital and not employ- ing any staff, could hot be regard- ed as the maker of the film within the meaning of the law. Since the Films Act demands that a quota film must have been made by $ British company, the result led to uncertainty among the British sub- sidiary companies of Hollywood majors. In its explanatory. statement, the BOX points out that the claim of a British company to be the maker of a particular film, would not be defeated by the fact that the finance, or a substantial part of it, was provided by foreign interests; that the company was wholly or partly controlled by a foreign out- fit;. or that it had conceded fight in the ownership of the film to foreign interests in return for finance or services. The qualify- ing clause in this interpretation is that the British company must be able to furnish proof that it undertook the arrangements for production. Brit. Fib) Industry Still Fighting For Mex Producers Squawk Mexico City, April 21, Cut of 20%-35% in cinema ad- mission prices put into effect here last December has hit Mexican producers so hard that an emer- gency meeting of their Associa- tion unanimously voted to urge Mayor Ernesto p. Uruchurtu to re- peal the cut price decree. The city amusements supervision de- partment Issued the decree, and it will be asked to restore the 57c top for front line first-runs. Pres- ent maximum for these houses is 46c, > The producers here claim that with present scales so low it is impossible for any pic, native or imported, to become a boxoffice champ here. "Man” show is currently nlnvlnt? six Col's Aussie Chief in N.Y. Colin Jones, Columbia’s general sales manager for Australia and New Zealand, arrived in New York last week for a several weeks stay. Jones’ trip, his first to the U. S., Was awarded him by the company Las a prize in its re<^qt *wbrld” sales drive. . 1 SEE BALLET IN PARIS SHAPING BIG THIS YR. Paris, April 21. Ballet will make up an impor- tant part of the show biz scene here this spring and summer. Re-' cent successes of ballet troupes and the international appeal of the dance should make these dance specs important tourist draws. Cul- tural Bureau here has made offi- cial the fact that the Moscow Opera Ballet will play here in June and July at the Opera. The Roland Petit Ballet De Paris gets an ex- tended-run at the Empire Theatre. It will be replaced by the return of the Marquis De Cuevas .Ballet. Opera Ballet is having good houses with its two new ballets executed by Serge Lifar, “Cinema” and “Etudes.” Ballet Theatre, from the U.S.,- will play the Palais De ChaillotMay 12-31. Agnes de Mllle will be part of the Lucia Chase group. This ballet scored a big in- itial success on its last trip here two years ago. The Theatre Des Champs-Elysees will house the Jfeannine Charrat Ballet, with Jean Babilee. Prod, at Capacity Berlin, April 21. After some rather quiet winter months, local film production now has started on a brisk upbeat. Stu- dios currently are running at full capacity, forcing a couple of pro- ducers to hold back their projects for several months. So H. D. Film, for example, will probably use Mu- nich studios for its forthcoming film about Linke, Berlin’s most popular composer before World War I. Same applies to Magna Film and its latest production. At the Tempelhof studios, Capi- tol, new film producing outfit, teed off with “The Stronger One” while Ito began shooting “Such a Non- sense.” Berolina intends to pro- duce at least five pix this year, pos- sibly one in 3-D. At Spandau’s CCC studios, Algefa completed “The Innocent Joseph” while Arena-Mundus started with “Kriall and Fall as Detectives.” Knall & Fall is Germany’s latest comedy team, Rudolf Carl & Hans Richter. Local exhibs still are not much worried about forthcoming 3-D films. Last week, Metro distributed “Plastic Parade,” a 21-minute short subject, to 50 West German cinemas along with the regular fea- ture. Metro distributed U. S. im- ported Polaroid glasses which aje sold to customers. Originally it was intended to lend out these glasses to patrons, but the Health Depart- ment of the Federal Government prohibited it. West German Polar- oid companies are working at full speed. The Gloria Ralast andMar- morhaus, both located on Kurfuer- stendamm, have . been chosen as cinemas for. the forthcoming In- ternational Berlin Film Festival in June, Each film is shown once at Gloria and twice at Marmorhaus daily. In addition, two or three other cinemas, located in other dis- tricts of West Berlin, will show festival pix at special perform- ances. The German Traffic Office in Frankfurt and Trade Unions will arrange inexpensive trips to West Berlin for visiters to attend the festival. ‘Devil’Set for Denmark Copenhagen, April 21. Two biggest independent film distributors here, Henning Kar- mark and Preben, Philipsen, bought the Danish rights for “Bwana Devil” from United Art ists, Copenhagen has seen 3-D shorts from Metro and Sol Lesser, but "Devil” will be the first fea ture pic shown in Denmark. Tha JKino-Palaet and-Rialto will be used to preem the film late In May. e Other Foreign News London, April 15 21. The refusal of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to give any relief to the film industry by way of the admission tax is not to go unchal- lenged. A new trade offensive is being launched with the object of securing an amendment to the Fi- nance Bill, the measure under which budget proposals are leg- islatively implemented, during committee hearings in the House of Commons, Since the Chancellor of the Ex- chequer snubbed the industry by . making no reference to the trade representations for tax relief, there has been an all party reaction in favor of some concession to pic- ture theatres. The trade had asked for a tax cut of some $10,500,000. Although the economic state of the nation made that a forlorn hope, there was a confident feeling that the Chancellor would meet the de- , mand at least half way. ‘ That the Chancellor recognizes that he has tried to extract too much from the industry is indi- cated. by the financial statement which accompanied the budget. In the 1952-53 tax year he reckoned on an admission tax yield of $131,- 600,000, but this fell short by $7,952,000. For the current year (1953-54) the estimated admission tax revenue has been sliced to $121,624,000. In other wordsv the Chancellor has budgeted fqr a continued fall in theatre receipts. With the prospect of having to continue paying the Eady levy for three more years after the cur- rent agreement expires next year, and with the likelihood of expen- sive conversions to meet the ad- vent of 3-D, there is genuine con- cern among ; smaller exhibitors. They had hoped the Chancellor would have widened the margin between revenue and overheads, thus relieving them of continued financial anxiety. In the recent weeks, exhibs have agreed to a new wages pact and this will add sev- eral million dollars a year to,an- nual payrolls. They had Doped that some of that money would have come from a reduction in taxation. All they have to look forward to now is the remote possibility that the slight saving on income tax and the compensations on sales tax will leave a little extra to be spent at the boxoffice. The industry, meantime, has found a new ally in its tax cam- paign in Lord Beaverbrook’s Daily Express. “The people are getting so tited of paying the tax,” says a recent Express story, “that they are stay- ing away from the cinema, with the result that the British film in- dustry is in difficulties.” TOUR OF SOUTH AMERICA Hollywood, April 28, Jean Pierre Aumont has com- pleted arrangements for .the French government to finance a second overseas legit trek, this time to South America. Two years ago, France bankrolled Ian Aumont troupe which toured the Near East. Aumont will direct, and star in five of the seven plays which his repertory company of 15 thesps will present in principal South Ameri- can cities nfext autumn. Two of the seven will be his own plays, “Em- peror of China,” which was done on Broadway, and “Sundayds Beau- tiful,” whitfh has -been running in Pails for eight months. Others will be Moliere’s “Le Mi- santhrope,” Sascha Guitry’s “Night Watchman,” Cocteau’s “Infernal Machine,” Anouilh's “Traveler Without' Luggage” *nd_ “AmBbHt- rion 38.” Danish Product Grabs Bigger Share of Dates At Home; U.S. Holds Own Copenhagen, April 21. The last three months have seen more preems of local pix than at any time before. Seven Danish films have dominated the cinemas here and in the provinces. The folk comedies like “Det Store;” “The Big Race” (Asa) and “The Old Mill” (Saga) have drawn the big crowds. Despite this heavy local competi- tion, U. S< product has fared well. With less competition than usual from British and European pix. Among the biggest hits are “Ivan- hoe” (M-G) at World Cinema, “Sudden Fear” (RKO) at Palads, Which followed 1 the winter’s long run of “Ttye Quiet Man” (Rep) and “Kilimanjaro” (20th) at Palladium. Dagmar Bio, which had a record run for the European film, “Don Camillo’s Small World” (FCP), closed its film season after Easter. As usual, this deluxe will have a summer revue, this year com- memorating Danish comic Osvald Helmuth’s 25 years in show biz. Dubens Into London TV London, April 21. Latest to join the band of TV film producers is A. A, Dubens. Dubens was responsible during the last war for the biggest revue hits here. He started at the Ambassa- dors’ jvith “Sweet and Low,” star- ring Hermione Gingold. votpuhen will be. associated! Mitll Stephen Fry and Mildred Helms.