Variety (July 1953)

industry’s tightening t*. its* ' mil srst rings is being reflected in A y number of hassles and prolonged OZOIHTS bickering with, film labor; unions, _ . t as new contracts come up for ne^ Jake I gotiation. ■:v: KA „- : ■ Grtfwtaff rift in labor relations. •; ; Da lias. >{h ne M • ’ .v .. . , ■■’■.. At. ^ i . . A minct irttirdii’O .'hue hnmt cz 1 ;ib'orues nave iwuucu —* 7 - . . . . , •. oMi-ike threats, stemming from Jam • membership n J .e- v l. n terna- nise, of wage hikerequests. In tionai Drive-In Theatre ..Owners addition.' there was a wildcat walk- Assn., and to gather statistics.. ■ out- in the part of lab technicians.. In the letter charter membqr-: 01 There hasn’t been a single recent ship was r ofTered tp -each; ozoher. ■negotiationthat has had the sem- owner who w.U give the proceeds, hiiinee* of smooth' sailing: Hassles with the exception- pf .the .opera- n the east may, to some extent' tion expense, not to exceed 50', o indicate the tenor of the Coast of the gross, of a social midnight t' ks When the basic agreement show to be .held, at each. drive-in comes op- for renewal this fall. theatre on Ju y 3 Richard F. Walsh, prexy of^the Claude Ezell, head ot the-newly, International Alliance of Theatric to*gamzed group,^ expects through i,I sta*e Employees, has a stack the organization to develop an ex* of locatunion demands on his desk, tensive program in all areas of requesting thafthe parent union, drive in operation, construction, intervene-•■in the talks or grafit planning, management and cxploi- suike permission. Waiting word iation. but to do this requires a from Walsh on strike action are sizeable budget. the New York white collar and - . ■■ .Jtr ‘" • . backroom exchange employees, \| . *| 7 | ■> VI' fi,m editors ’ and Wo flat Versions Walsh had to step in to end ex- ■ tended negotiations between pro- . Af : 1 1 jeclionists and the N. Y. . chains.’ . ■ I If I VPAfip*, Ii Clf Even .when verbal agreement was ; yl V JL/vv|#v> Xlwll reached on a pact after nine months of talks, a bitter hassle • Ilir > || . Q broke out regarding the method of wlfh*( HjA|||%P|| f determining welfare fund benefits; If lilt HUlilfvII• (Continued.on page 10) ■■ ■' —h—t- Insistence by 20th-Fbx'that, with IV IT • fl I exception of “The Robe/’ it is not MlV I In IA VIC \AAlr making duplicate ’.‘standard” . ver- I IA U1IIUU5 JUvll sions of its .CinemaScope pix,. has the rest of the industry puzzled; and w • . 20 th’s foreign department worried. K nfAnt KIAtf Situation has less of a bearing IlGIlI CllICllI I ldll on the domestic market; where 20 th serves a. maximum 13,000 accounts A behind-the-scenes, but ,sub- and, in the case_of & good many slaniial, campaign is being formu- P 1 *’ gets about 90/(i of;it$ revehue iated by .film labor .uniohs for em- : 9 ^ of approximately . 4,000 houses, ployee pensions; Move is being _ Belief is that the rate oL spearheaded by the craft unions, Scope installations,^opsled by loi g but while collar outfits are also runs ; should be JO.^Q. ™ s» I id i y supporting the action; „^AbS Several: eastern craft U n.i oji s The ,-^nnrtfnt 'i an k™ first liave already ' appointed commit- tecs to draw up pension plans for ■ . : - ; ES; ali “; to. the filmerics. Ad- , whi , e P : , nle lhat the foreign V- lc ^ eI l . ls .^ e ear1 / toarket lags behind the - domestic ,^«!t«W,intltifier» release 'schedule by about six lsi°i i'ie 1 'n. re ? ar< 1 lv® operation and m 0 nths. the problem becomes more „„///// °i a pension system to pressing there and 20 tlt execs ad- ill-. t *h- t rnit they may be facing a product Alliance of Theat- s ^ or , a g e They are known to have ? mpl T eS P™*? discussed taking , on Italo and a d F. Ws sh has been approached Fl . ench ; but the availability of ■?L ?A , 0Cal u U 1 ?l 0nS ’ suggc3t ; good films from those countries is ng that IA launch the movement, ft m ited. Outside entries, such as wi ' perhaps an overall agreement (Continued on page 14) between the IA and the film com- . ■■ . ^ an ics regarding welfare or pen- ix*’• • . nr i» . p " sum funds; Directed Verdict rar I.!)i'.v’s^ r^nd^^ 2 °th-Fox—-maintain MajOK W Dallas Suit Moving cautiously, disUibs, arc jk mr . . n np n/v beginning to mutch shorts and fdX I ll02lir6S ollCS f &1VI newsreels Id their features in the | « <• j A /, v new 3-p and widescreen/media; I f Of 14Uil OD LCHS Reasoning is that, riot only is ihi. ; • •. necessary to delivTi* to the Oxhilis! . ; . : a complementary package; put alsi) | Suit charging breach; that the ne\v treatment: of the reel-! demanding $.140,720 w efs: will bring them va long-de- Superior Court by Par; served rental hike. . Companies'. fui;es Theat res Corp. ai have complained, long and bitterly ] mar Corp.* a subsidiary that exhibs are refusing to match & Marco, Inc. shorts and newsreel rentals to tlio ! 1’ 1 a in t.i fl charges tin rising cost oi production. / / { operating the Down! While various distfibs are enter- i nmunt •;r|U*iiti'Ov;. r- —— - , .. .. ... — ~t, .Establishnu'Mt pf an ekport as-. : ■ . tpm ■:n p 0n . [socialion by the Society of Inde- ar theatres Sues r&nl ; i>omi.-»t; ^tmi.m'Jf p, '»- ; ■ •. ' ' ' ;■'■■■; ! diiecrs was seen in ,N. Y. this week For 14A(i nn l.ftasfi Breach : a? .st rengUiening SIMPI^s com- rui... 1WU UU LCadC UI vain po(i(iv p ;. ly0s , lioiv vis a vis the Mo* . bos Angeles, June 30. I t.ion Pietuiv Assni. of America in • -I . . 4 ' ‘ ‘ V ' J» % . _ 1 . « O • V - - • .fc i v*uip.(fiuuMuiiH} VM, ."diiuHMi: permits for indies, should' reporb ' ' cdiv beiielit those produeers who aintifl charges tlud 1 art-mar,. ineiniiers of both.'SLMPl* and at mg the Downtown 1 ara- { mpaA either via HKO or United nt Theatre,, caused damages 1;Artisls> j[• .um.ipg else, It wilt wiine various aisirios are emer- j /.va 7< V • •, v ' i.ftrusi ; s. u tiouimg. else, ii win ing the. 3-1) shorts field, 20tli-EoxJ,aiiUm.n.ling to; $B5,000 to tin* him- j ^j V( , (Juno ... assurance of a ' fair has blueprinted .; a program of. ! ^ oust ' t ^ ri d is behind m its week y^ i )l . t , a ^ | n [irense alloeation, ll’a CinemaScope . subjects,, a iid , ,0, ,V a 1 s r an( | a . 1 s i ) - l l V --f l ), .bhf v ; ■ ■; . thinking/also Of turning Out a. se-.j called for by the lease. , i ; There has iieen Taiiiv'.clOse. eol- ries of feature, newsreels to ,be : ~ ; . r ' ~- i lMhoraiion h.dween S1MPP and lensed in the widescrecn PfocessV .. . Already, skedded are color Cin- I eniaScope shorts of the American \ AAU women’s swim jmeet in Flor- ida . and of the antiUal Calgajy . Stampede, cinnplcle :witii. Indian IJL. pageants and chuck wagon : races, | |] Reels, will be produced by Movie- tone’s. Edmund Reek.: Ear ly .Cin- .' - emaScope releases *ilso -may be ac- 1 conVpanied^^ by CihemaScope shots . ^ of the June Coimhatipp festivities in London, .’ Production plans for 3-D shorts . are geared to. the companies' own uncertainty about the futiire, with J, ‘ , shorts sales chiefs admitting they. , n l are going loo slow to keep in step with the market./' Uni versa!, for 1 a V instance, lias currenUy in release one 3-D reeler starring Nat (Kingf I" ( x >y C ole with Russ Morgan’s orch. ’ e [ . " Shooting is to start soon on the ‘• 11 (Continued on page 14) 1 , * , -a' . ‘ p V/i XU% j laboraiioh b(*l weep SIM PI* and ! MPA A' in t he negtiliation of .lor- , eign deal s, even I hough the Jwq groups, iiiive, on oecasioiv/ been, at : loggerheads over procedure SIMPP prexy Kllis G. Ariuill has charged that M PA A was proceed^ ing on its own \yIi bout .regard, fot iiidie interests. : SIMPP export/ group formation automatically gives. the new: dig; new stature, in eyes, .of 1 oreigci governments. It’s, generally . "ex? liected that SIMIM* will put In » much stronger. hid for its share of the foreign njarkel, and tjiat, it wiil be liiucli more Insistent on c.ontestiJig : MPA.A perniit ulloca- tions in territories where liie gov- ernment .decides tb cut . back oil .imports.;'';. ' *' *.' .* 'I'he SI M PI* hirelgn exec ny niaius to be named. Early this year, when, the export association (Continued on page M) . Production plans for 3-D shorts a ineriian fi 1 nf^xpliit v'to Cer- ave geared to Ihe cowpaiue?' »«>> manv are l0 g e maiiitained al Uie uncertainty about the future, with ' nl , (iV(a i f<)r lllP v eai with the hiarket.': XJtiiive-Vsiil, f<>t'; ptTolYon''^'l('VuT2 *of m^i K-a instance, lias currently in release ^ a confident i a session ordK f '‘ fi ^“dto!;’■wtoriiie aoitoe/fhe “revile (Continued on page 14) *:()), .al vyimn. Jonnsion h.vhvuu ; . • .. ". ; the general /economic situation. . " Existing U. S.-Gernian tilnv pad | . imposes no restrictions on Holly/ I Avl/AKU TA IllA wood imports, but a “gent Ionian's 1 H I] VUIIVCI V IU 1\IU agreement” accepted by both sidivs IflnPl liHlTW^V .' V sets, a ceiling of .150-200 pix an- HlUvI 11UI ffllj A - /I # ' p nually.Officially, film earnings are I Ifft. I AIV1 \ViOff blocked, but frozen marks ran lx* 1\ 1 P* J . vli vUlll Jllug converted' to dollars, by accept ing ■. |J0^| |j|0||((| Snag'.■'iW Brazilian remittances These ..terms; are far . more al- ; ;. , . , . sent Robert J. Corkery, exec as- tractrve than those granted to the "Imlcfiiuti* Norway film deal, Sistartt to Motion Picture Assn; of^ British industry, which is 1 allowed running . initially lor a 14 iuonlh America v.ii; Raipli Hctzcl, to Rio a-, maximum of 30 films visas an- period •■■start ing'^ July.. 1, lias/ been de Janeiro last week (27) in an n u a 11 y. Sir Henry L. I-Vencli. signed . in Oslo, Motioii Piclure effort to pry loose at least some,; British Film Producers Assn.’s di- Assii, of America p r e.x y E y 1 c of the coin, promised to the U- S; rectoi/general, who came over pri- Johnston cabled Irom Berlin Mon-, distribs. marily fbr meetings of the Inter- day (20): / > V Undey^ the original agreement, national Film' Producers Askh;. has Agreement, wiiicli raises basic the American companies were to been, having informal confabs on • film. rentals 10 r ” ,- from 'MY"n U) collect ih excess of $10,000,000, as the prospects of negotiating an im- 40 r ’i;-, and makes allowance for an Brazil paid off a part of its out- proved pact. annual . five specials oiv w'uc i. standing debts to U. S. exporters For Britain as. well as . Holly- higher terms can lie negotiated, as a result of the recent $300;- wood. Germany is one of Ltie most was worked out u\ the Norwegian 000,000 Import-Export Bank loan! lucrative overseas markets; end capit al by Paramount By yesterday (Tues ), the Brazil- BriLish producers with then* Mm- j W(diner and the Mi* A As. Gt’ifld It ians had paid off $12(). , o6o.060, but it ed domestic . market, . need / a ^Jol.nsom Deal a^C<*des to The-Non- the distribs hadn’t seen , a penny strong export, trade,, to keep out wegians demand 1 hat all- Amei.ican of the coin Theoretically and of the red. Present Ii mil at ion oh pix released in Sweden must also w e r e’ ; the Brazilian government imports to Germany means that b ( ..offered in Norway, Nt rrsi;rv(M, of the. coin, promised to the U- S'/ distribs. Under tile original agreement, the. American companies were to Collect ih excess of $10,000,000, as Brazil paid off a part of its out- standing debts to U. S. exporters as a result; of the recent; $300,- 000,000 Import-Export Bank loan! By yesterday (Tues.), the Brazil- ians had paid off $120,000,000, but . the distribs hadn’t seen a . penny ; of the coin./ Theoretically, and Agreement, wiiicli raises basic film, rentals UY't ,- from to 4()%, and makes allowance, for an annual 'five "specials” on which. wood; Germany is one of Hie niost lucrative overseas markets; and BidLish producers with their llm- ■ ited domestic market, need a ! KAYE AND KELLY IN Upyo <UII/1I/) DMJV A VC a directed verdict was ordered “Hi u nutlv IyLIhAIVL by Federal-Judge William A. At- \ Hollywood. June 30! we ." in favor « ,T h / a Jjf. K'llei-- . Mark Twain’S "Huckleberry Pf 136 ^ Inc., .of f Da!tos. and. m a W Finn,” .retitled "The Bovs from distributors; defendants in a $31p.-, is slatWI Tobton eSly OOO antitrust suit brpught by ^ R. 1 start at Metro with 1 Arthur Bushings oL the Ward Theatre, Freed producihg and Dannv Kaye Monahans. The request was made : ■■and OtoeTCelto in"tbD’S' - ^ following the close of a jury trial Filni was ijriainallV meant to The defense answered. Rushings f»« ;w.'yeSo' but m wK t d^ charges Uhat the defendants f had la.'ril; because the two stars were conspired to prevent him from nrver available at thj same time. :P‘«> ng first-run pix.by Rrosenting • VSC 1 Piliti Plfok Theatre had engaged in free, and ^ 1 llm Wins rirst open bidding on all releases with- SPG Cambus Contest interference. The plaintiff of- . u;, vfered no proof to substantiate his U f,f Charge, according to Judge Atwell, C■ ■'^°M t n^ rn California won rnalcini? the decision 1;.. " Producers Guild’s first maki ng tne necision. . : im„il film award with',"Let Me ■ . w./i a ,30-miriute documentary HAv Slimmer SkCu feung.wi.th the education of blind VU>J. OUIIIHICI OIUJU ... Guild prexy Carey Wil- Hollywood/June 30; / l lla jided out the award for the D, O; Selznick arrived over the 1 m v,v ln ma( ^ e by any U. S. col- weekend to be here for the sum-? : ?.“• . mer; working on reissues of his pix. ajvd thjfd;honorslwent/to -. :.He/Said-he,Lalso jA/ 0Ai ldJJ)ej^ ccppj bg^ i ’'^d Sceihg,” submitted by the j a legit version of "Gone With the tv ^ ’^Bnncsot 3 , and "treasure in ; Wind, ,? tagged "Scarlett O’Hara.” V ar bage. Gan,” produced by ! . He w r as undecided On whether he ’ ; i would resume production here. paying off its debt in chronological'j order,; there would have been film j Company money in the first two $60,000,000 payments. Corkery is j in Rid to establish why the Bank of Brazil reneged on the payoff.. Actuallv owing the distribs up to . Feb;.; 21, '53, is about $15,000,000. i but since the Brazilians’ debt is; larger than tlio loan, only part of j fliaf coin 7 cduId lie" expected. " - j / Bank of Brazil earlier bad officb ; ally confirmed that both the coin-1 panies’ regular, dollar tjuota and ; the so-called coverages up to Feb. j 21 would be remitted at the offi-; barely otic out of every two British • .■'indies' n leasing tiirough MPAA pix has a. cfiance of ix/ing screcneij | members the right to approve ex-? - .in Germany. >iibitioii cbnlracis. .: ] Inabiiitv on Ibe part of the J iy ; Mrt Hnol Ml* A A toguaranf.ee indie releases \cauying Ucdl . had. blocked earlier agreement. I a <D I k Meanwhile, it’s'reported the dis- 1K Urg.On R0D6., id rib's : ba ve straightened, out their, n ~ y n I own difi'erenees over whose i>ix Prp^ nn L SCODiB ShouId; be included' in Mie /favored . .rr v I Ypj in I t . on whirh- admi.ssions./xan .. London; June 30; . ; be fai.scd from 100 r G Jo... 150'*;.; Skouro.s was set V'^i5>piit<* cirose Wlien Metro agreed . with , J. Arthur Rank to throw in. "Gone with the. Wind” : . ) for the London, .pfiefLm: inccistVd also on inclusion of Ikouras Readying Deal With Rank Org. on ‘Robe’; •to'irlini* hart .nfll/'l- i ’ .. i iiwu.i -w'/ ... • .1 Ihai hoth the coin-' Sp.vcos- P. Skour.os vai '■’?*<>•■■"■Ij*.:.Dispute irose ;'Wlicn-, Mcfw,*gi lap finiiap* fmnla an! '’lose a deal with . J. Arlhui- Rank 1 ( 0 throw ih ‘-Stone.- wil Ii llic ; Wi ehWS«.V ; ^UP^to FChi Wa ’ v ,TuCs ’ ) ■ To ' r ''‘he Lqndoh ptt’-:: butv Insisted. ■aisB.'VqrrvIhi-Hiato'ii coverages^up to. heh. ! ; . cp t a t i;, rt A f "The Rube/ at !=:•? Qua Vadis.;" -.rCnn.ttQd;.. At tlic offi- t nw.nc.lnr <K/’ili:il’M .in ..(Iflfl- t. ' come out at that favorable rale; Times Film Gets U.S. Rights to Graetz Pix Scope production. Twentieth • tpjN jnrhCAMWCr CtllCT TA TV . per s.aid he was slaying in labridon , f |j|\ijUnnC<Li ijllir I l v I v Just iong. enough to.iron but-pibb-1 ' / . , ^ ;•. Ho) ly wood, June 30.. leiiis and wrap .up outstanding, de- . j <ona i ( j Reagan issued a warning tails ■ with manuiactuieis an ( 0 . the film industry that it is rnak- ;' Tib 1 ® 3 '1Fii.inJ 1 'Vest'erday’/fMon.ytoiii^ the : American .distribution, rights strat i on for the press'collared wide.'. 15 , ,ec „ n 1 hi.hW anil to all of tt.e past pix produced .by | ^^tipn to,, the p.^^^ /r^tlm^ure ..stodio^aud.; Paul GCaetz in Europe, according to Jean CoJdwurih, /Times Film prexy, who returned recently from abroad. ■■■■.'■]/ .." .• / ./... Goldwurm also optioned a num- ber of films how leasing and in- tends to return to Europe in the /late summer to view the finished !^^WtT^Trahgement^vJThC‘M T act2 ; i includes. "Devil in the Flesh” in both the . F ( rencli and American, i versions. ' i go into television. He recommcrid> . l ed a pai-lev of industry leaders to . Chi Trust Case in rall ; consider the* dangers of the situ/ Chicago. June 30.. I ation, / . . . • ; . ; ; . Melbro antitrust case,. wherein ■. "The people, running the picture ! the Rockne’ Theatre is seeking to biisiness/’ be said, "are being real ' extend zoning of its competition ', foolish in letting these, expqn- I for bidding purposes, has; been sot j enced ; movie, workers go. to TV, W^'heaTiTrg'h ®y=^i ; ^re^also^mak i ng=a/^ig=^bk^= { Judge John Barnes, Chi Federal take in ih * abandonment, of^the District Court, heard praliminary contract system. .That is what built | arguments a Week ago. ithe movie industr>.