Variety (September 1953)

WiHiof^ay* SepfAer SO, 1953 ncTvmm» FAST ANGIO-YANK ACCORD Child Star Dodge Goes On Rackets and chisels exploiting the “vanity” of fond parents are almost as old as the motion picture industry. They would luve flourished no doubt even had there never been a Shirley Temple or a Madge Evans or a Margaret O’Brien. Papa and mama, and maybe especially mama, are fools for believing they iuve liroduced the greatest talent of the age and find it simple ! t j credit that stardom will follow the $3& picture in the unseen oifM'i directory. In recent years chisel boys liave exploited the “cliild model” VtH'.iun of the come-on. Parents naturally don’t know that only a handful of kids are used for all advertising copy in any veaV. Equally true is the fact that child models have the shorte.st • career ” in advertising since the quality of face and personality v^hich is photogenic in the spring may have nothing for the lens the tollowing winter when baby fat or other physical changes ! develop. j But over theiyears the lure of Hollywood fame has always been the big bait. Better Busine.ss Bureaus have been kept hop- ping keeping up with the hardy, and highly profitable, dodges. The flies of Variety are replete with examples of racketeers under fire or on the lam. Toe story from Detroit in last week’s pai>er. and again tliis week, detailing the squirmings of one John L. Taylor to e.scape the Federal Court thete should be noted. For once the law is able to reach a promoter. This is the man who had the ef- ftoulery to charge that the Detroit Better Business Bureau em- ployed ‘ thugs” of whom he walked in terror. In his efforti tn elude service the promoter went on a wedding “anniversary ” trip to Mexico but forgot to take along his wife. Without pointing the finger on some other enterprisers who are still pushing the same dodge, and no further aw'ay than Manhattan, the reputable motion picture industry cannot but b-* pleased to learn that, for once, one of these exploiters of iguoraut, poor and unbright folk has been brought to book It took nearly 5,000 complaints to the Detroit Belter Busine^.s Bureau to build up the necessary pressure. Criminal Contempt Hits John!. Taylor, Head of 'Gudd’ for Screen-Dazzled Kids Detroit, Sept. 29. ♦ —— F.iiluit* to produce the books ww j ^ i and leords of the Professional HarCI-lO-OCript HOjl'art Scre n Cuild. Inc., resulted in the' | ikpratpH hv Warnpr coruidinri of Guild President, I lilDCrdiea D\ » dmiF .lohu l.lovd Taylor, of Montebello, I Hollywood. Sept. 29. (’j|. on a charge of criminul con- Uumphrey Bogart’s 1.5-\ear con- tenipf. tract with Jack I.. Warner was dis- Tl\i> “(Juild” has been under solved by mutual consent, with no invoii.^ation here by a Federal Involved. Pact, signed in Ki int jurv and postal authorities' ^94G. called for one picture a year tor vvcial months. Federal Judge made Tlioin i> I’.'t Tlmrnton continued since that time 'I’hey were “(’hain Tc\loi\ Sio.ouo bond and sent him Eiubtning ” in 19.')() and “The F.n- fo the probation department prior! iurcer in 19.>1. to senietuing. The penalty is at Since then Bogaif. who had the the liisdetion of the Judge, who righ» of script a|)|)ro\al. turned ji t-* ( 1 ,‘x I Taylor’.s actions as down one Warner .>tory alter ‘vMlIiiiI and deliberate contempt another. in-.iiliiri^ t|jt‘ intelligence of this com' " But Wife At Home 3h* (onlempt charge grew' out of s ignoring of a subpoena served on liim in California calling lor him |r) appear here with Guild 1 enuds on .\ug. 18. Instead, he I'etd to Mexico. Questioning Deal is set for purriiasp of niougot out that the trip to Mcx- Charles Chaplin’s studio in Holl.v- n,’* Knapp. .\. V. ^i .r V'l' Taylor’s w’ife tealty outfit, at a price of "apiirox- home while he was accom- imalelv $700.000." William Zeck- j t,\ t|,,.j,(. f,Jibing cronies. ' endorf. head of W&K revealed in Ih' DiUroit manager of the Gotham over the weekend. He said 'tuld. Howard Roberts, was sen- i he understood that Chatilin. who I Tuv i |,, c;,, Detroit is in Switzerland, already has Hi>.* t)i Correction last June by signed the papers completing the ABOUT IE SAME Foreign Fix Hope For More U.S. Dates With Curtailment of Productions Zeckendorf Purchases Chaplin’s Studio For $700,000 All in Cash '( otiilimed on page 8 ) No Evidence ’That Fdm Practices Will Draw Federal Trade Commish In liKtrv attorneys were wonder- N < t week about the meaning tag. He’s eased off on the pi ice Hi- fihn hiz of a speech bv i (Continued on page 25' th- ^ Howrey. cliairman of witi, if'i^ Commission, in i , 0 * c? 4 L' luih h- disclosed appointment of BlbllCal Story Set F OF 1st Italian C inemaScope First Italian CineinaScope film will be another Biblical spectacle, and will he produced b.s I.ox Filins sale. The Chaplin lot. long a Holly- wood landmark, will he converted to a non-picture enterprise. Zei k- endorf declined to specificallv identify the type of busine.ss in- tended for the property. Chaplin put up the two-siage studio for sale some months ago. originally with a $1.500.000 price ('mmiittcp recommend im ^'"npliance procedures. -;;;;;M o. her things, the survey f)l, -I.!. .' anti-monop si i I t u l-rs to ascertain they are >11 I r <_./4 a&v ‘quale in scope and form. YTC's New v "eek wouldn’t say V. ml' **' Howrey's remarks I 'll. 1 m --- with .lean .N’egulesco directing. j ^ _ . ._ Title of the picture is “.luditli and v ^ wouldn’t say , Holophernes. ” or not Howrey's remarks I Film, skedded fur Technicolor. U ft. ^'^•'' the motion , "*11 star Silvana .Mangano in the f,,." I'‘'^'Panies. He did confirm, ! role of the Jewish heroine who the FTC’s investiga- saves her people from de>truction ^ of the Motion Picture Export by killing an invading general. It's ’ * fonttnuing. It was a slow • hoped to get an American actor to 't-oniinued on page 8) 1 co-star with Miss Mangano. .\ new .\ngh>-Americ;in film agreement got the nod thiN week t rom all p.n lies concerned ()ne. year lie.il, whii'h is essentiallv an extension o| the old pact that I'.x- |)ires lodav i.'tU'. is nuilually satis- factory 111 that tlu“ U. S companies sncce>',fnll.v resisted British de- mands tor a teduction in dollar remill.ances. and Britain held the tine o| last ye.ar’s status quo de- spite its growing dollar ia*seives. The agreement involves an im- portant British concession, n.ame- Iv. the British government agrees to consider ways and me.ans of making available to the U. S, dis- trihs a sutlicient amount of pounds to cover the lull dollar alloc.dion under the pact. 'I'he .XmeiUMiis ill I9.i3 translerred from l.oiidon an estimated $4. t)()0, ()()() less Ih.iii what was aclii dly coming to them. Otherwise, there are no ch.iiiges in the arrangements, nor is there a modification of last ye.ir's .Ameri- can waiver of reiniltance rights on $5,900,000 accruing the I .S. (oiii- panies under the subsidy pl.m • Conliiiued on page 2.5> OPTIMISTIC HERB YATES DOUBLING REP’S SKED Hollywood, Sept. 29. Herbert .1. Yales, president of Republic I’ictures, here to open his eompan.v's regional sales rallv to day ''I'nesd.iv », sounded an opii mistic note. In 19.');i the film indus- try passed its crisis. Grossi*s are now strong. New influences hive given the picture indu.dr.v a re.d lift. The television menace no longiT seems so frightening. The- atre c losings aie at least temporal- il.v hailed. further still; “Then* more jiictures doing business rigid now period of exhibition history.” The lioom in drive-ins. of which there are now thousands, is distinc'tly a favorable omen. ‘ Bc'cairse optimism is justified. Rc*puhlic will (ionhle its production investiimnt on the u|)comiiig 19."»:{- 54 schedule.” Yates goes ate perhaps more smash than at anv ONE MAN, 16 FILMS Sam Kat/m.iirs I''.'ll .Siliediilr liicliiiirs to ill C'dor llollvwood S»*|»l 29. Nc'xt ve.ir will he a liiisv one lor S.im K.d'inan ('ulumhia prodii- 1 »*r. with a tot d of 1<» pietiirc's on his schedule Df these. III will he* ill 'r«‘ehiiieolor and the i es( in black and while. Sc*v en films aln*adv in prepara- fioii for 19.54 an* The l.avv \'ersus I'.illv flu* Kid ” “iqralc's of Trifioli.” “Bat Mast«*rson, B.id- m.iii,” “William Hu* CoiHiiu'ior ” “I.i*gions ot llaiiiiihal” ‘ l.osi Cilv ol Hu* A/tc‘es" and ‘ liidiaii .Seoul." Bemaindi*r td K.d/m.iii's 1955 program iiicliules “Tin* Saia- (eii Blade I'he Miami Stoiv" and “.lunglt* Man F-.deis." Seek Mass Audience For ’Cruel Sea’; Chi Reverses Art Theatre Handling Chic.igo .S;*|l< 29. riiiver'..il will tiy to Ion* mass aiulieiic**s hen* tor Hu* Bnlish- madc* “(’niel Se;i." iiist<‘;id «d' show(•.'isiiig it at ait Hu*atn*s. as has fieeii done with success c*ls**- wlu*rc* ill the (ctiintrv Film is slatc*d for an Oi l 14 opc'iiing at Hu* I'liiled .Artists Theatre a B&K de- liixer which normallv shows double* leaturc*s. Ow ing to a rt*st riet ictii against Hu* BXrK C’haiii unctc>r Hu* .laeksoii Park dc*erc*e. “(’ruel Sc*a'’ will fu* liiiiilt*d to a Iwovvee-k first run in the I.oop Howc‘vc*r. it’s c*xpected to gro>s as lu*avilv in Hiat period as it might in a long art house niii. .Aside from this considc'ration. tiu* picture* will have* a heHc*r chance* ten wide and “B" run The hooking swdtdh- from Hu* he*rc*. wherc'iii art distrihul ion at Imuse.s rt*pre*seiils a Usual practice* Hies*4-ies are pic'king Ilf) c i»miiu‘rc'ial prodnet tor exhihitioii wlu‘iu*ve*r I.oop outh'Is arc* j.unmed with holdove*i s and cintrihs have a he.iv v hic king. National Boxofficc Survey Trade Still High Despite Heat; ‘Robe* Cops First, ‘Eternity* 2d, ‘Roman* 3d, ‘Cinerama* 4th .\ddii ional s(*c k iirodiic ihs over- coming a rc'turii of hot wealluT in iiuiiie*! oils keys this session. Ln- s* asonahl.v higli tempc*r.durc*s lid many .sc*elioiiN of the middle* west, causing iuiiiu*n>us theatres to turn on their air-conditioning units again. “Tiu* Rohc‘“ is Hu* iu*vv hoxoHice champ although c-urrenlly plaving in only tour key cities covc*re‘ci fiy V'vRiKiv 'I'he first Cinema.Scope pic‘ swc'pl away records in all Icuir .spots, L. A . IMiilly. ('hic ago and .\. \. .Ama/ingly. "The Bobc*" is heading for .$225,000 in initial hold- over round at the N. Y. Roxv, bigger than any film has done opening week anywhere. 'I'lie lour plavdales will come nc*ar tiie tialf- iiiillion mark or $490,000. .Xclditionil openings are giving “Here To F.tei iiitv ■’ ((’oh nicelitt and provide it wiHi a stranglehold on second position with $440,000. [Third monev is going to “Roman Holida.v ’ 'Par', same as a w(*ek ago. ‘■('inerania" (Indie » continues in fourlti position as last we»*k. “( ad- dv” (Part, which was .second last round, is linishing fifth. ’.Moon Is Bine” (l.A'. near the to() in listings for many wec*ks. is dropfung hack to sixth, largely be- cause on holdover or extended run this stanza. “Martin l.uther" ' In- die t is taking seventh money by dint of extra big showings in .some fre.sh preem weeks, “.Stalag 17” (Pan. long high in national ratings, will V 4 'ind up i eighth. “1, the Jury” (UAt and s'ou in i. IS Biicking a short.ige of Hie.ilres .uid lop .iH 1 .u'lIons, and h.ird hit like evervoiu* else h\ l'\ c oiiuu*- titioii Hu* torei 'M film In/ in Hu* I .S 1 . hoping lor a l)oo>t vii llid- h wood's siutdc'M and prononneed .iveision to “B ' pi\ I'heie Is a feeling .ummg Hu* film importers Hi.d, with .i geiier cl product sluirlage in Hu* olting. im- |)orls trom abroad in both sub- Idled and duhhed vinsioii are lu'iidiiig into a somewhat Itrighter future aftei a vi'ar which, hv all standards, has lieeii n hlc*.ik one. But c'vc'ii though Hu*v Ihiok the* trend is devc'loping iii their livor. Hu* Indies arc* still exiremelv e.iu- tmns III Hu'ir optimism Their lui.siiu'^s h.ts nc*ver lieeii a vfiv he; om*. even thou'h, light after Hu* w.ir, it lookc*d .is it Hu* l•■re|u h and Itali.aiis would esl.ih- lish a firm fooHudd in Hu* ,Amc‘ri- can markc't Siiut* Hien, Hu* field has i'onlimi(‘d tc* shrink ami in ad- dilimi Hu* importers have* had ici f.iec* sev 1 * 1.11 severe* hamlii .ips (>iu* of Hu*m is Hu* disioveiv l>V Hu* m.ijoi distrihs that Us wise to (('ontimic*d cm p.igi* Ki Columbia Rentals Hit High Pace of 33 Years, And ‘Eternity’ Coming Up Coliimhia piled up $2.ti(M).()()() over the past two weeks in do- iiu*stic ri*ntal.s, ic*presc*riting a new high in company’s 35-.vc*.ar hisloiv. Wi*c*k ended Si'iit 19 tii ought $1.- 2.5U,j)00 in I'niled Slatc-s moiu'y. w hich was a rec cird 'I’lu* immedi- ately following frame hidiighl $1,- 550.(11)1) ill smash hack-lo liac k i e- cei|)l s. Col i*xecs strc*ss that a vaii»*ly of |)ix figuied in the hig totals, and not alone its outstanding click, “From Hi*rc* to Kt.eriiitv " I.altcT, while smash, is playing too few' date's to have any grc*al impact cm Col’s i)vc*rall economics as vc*t Other films on the clirrc‘ril line- '(’ontinued on page 8i ‘ .\rrow lu*a(i.’' am»lh(*r trom P.ira- mmint. rmiml out the Big H) list. 'Wings ot Hawk 'C' ' Mounligld- i*i" iWB'. ■ ijlancl iii .Skv” 'Wlti .iticJ “Refill n 'Id Paradise*" *1 .A' aie runric*r-u[) pix in that orct«>i. Bc'sicles Hu* hftxotricc* landslide* being sfailc'd h> ‘Boh**" Hu*ie arc* oHu*r hriglit newcomers Hiis sc*s- siuii. ‘l.iHle Boy l.o.sl" 'Pan shape’s as c»tu* of Hu* most promis- ing. t)c*ing gn*at in N Y* and I' lisco, lu’tl.v in Balt III,OM* and good m l...\ “I.ion in .Slieels" 'WB'. t.iir in N 5’ , shajies good in I)<*riv»*r “.All Anu'i iean ■ *1' npened nicely in I)c*fidif, ‘ Redlu*ads I'Mim .Sealtle“ *1 Patalso lU'W, is rated fine III Sealllc*. ‘ .Mcigaintiu ' M-G‘. wtiic’h opc'iis at Itie .\ Music Hall lomori'tw '’rimi s i i-. so* ko in Friscd. ‘Vukr '2()Hi* dull m Frisco, looks mild in U.iKo ' B«'au- ty and Outlaw’’ 'M-C*. anottier m*w eritiv. is i;d**d gmid m Chi. “Sword and Bo-.e’ 'RKO', strong in Wastiifigion and Phillv, is dis- aiipoiiifing in Detioil. “War Paint” IL A 1 looms light m l)c*trod and I. A ■ (’ruel Sea” C and /roionlo. looks and Pitt “Malt a Trafi# Mark H» ftlslci i-il Idl’MIKII IIV SIMI. Sll VKKVIVN RublUhrd W^tkly by VARIETY, INC 11.41'>1(1 riiuhs. 1*1 l•sllll■nt i'll VV 1*111 4'>lh SI \rw V (II k .Vi. N V Hollywood )• Ci'il 1 ViK < a siic(«i Waihin^ton 4 I'i'f'i Natidii.il I’lpss itiiil,liii| Chicago 11 fjl2 ,N(i viiiliii;.tn A^o London WC} 8 SI Mailiii's 1*1, Ti al.ilk!.il S'| .sense MirrioN Annual SIO loiPiicn 811 Siiu;lp C’(i|>iPs 2’> < pul» AIIKI, C.IIKKN Kdilor Vol 192 INDEX Bills (halier Film RevifUs Hou' »• Rev u*\(. s Inside l.(•;;ll Inside Mnsie Inside I'll 1 1 ll e Inside Ha'lio-’l \(. I ♦i:f 70 h I* (.t Intel n it ion;d I.egUimale I.ilerali Miisii- .N’<*.v AOs .N’lgtd Clidi Oliituaries Pic( urc*s Rev i'*W s gieal in N'.. Y good in K. C. Hero” 'M-G'. not so hig in .Minneapolis. ’Band Wagon” 'M-(;' shapes tirisk in Clii. “'rhiinder Bay” (U), big in Prcividencf, is goeed in Cinev. “City of Bad .Men” (’iOth' ix fine in Indianapolis. 'CoTMplefi* H't.iOf I Pny**x 1()11.) i'.L . 9 4 t M (►5 , . (if) 45 . . 55 . . »i') 71 . . 5 Kadio-'r**levisif»n 27 Radio Reviews 50 Recoid Reviews 4() Frank Seiillv ti9 Television Itevie'Ws 54 'I'V-Kilns 2t» Vaud«*v ille .... 57 DAILY VARIiTY (PubItshPd In ■Hollvw(»(»(l bf U*Ov VartPlv, I.ld » 815 8 Year. 820 Fcrielgn