Variety (September 1953)

September SO^ 1953 nCTUIIES CHAMP BOUT BIG TO SPOTTY Argentine Plans International Fete; Yanks Ask: 'Can We Alford to Join?’ Artjpnlina is planning an inter-♦ n.iional film festival in Buenos' Aiio'i next year and wants the AnuTion film companies to par- tidoale. The U. S. companies’ posi- tion is that they can’t afford to enter unless some kind of assur- ances are forthcoming from the I’eron government that it intends to liberalize the issuance of exhibi- tion permits and to come across vMth some dollar remittances. Kntire Argentine situation is up for res iew now that Raul Apold, Minister of Information of the Presidency in Argentina and that country’s film chief, is in the U. S. at tin* invitation of the Motion Pic- ture Kxport Assn. Now on Coast, ht* returns to New York on Oct. 12 before going back home. While Apold’s visit is tagged • unofficial” and personal, both he and the dlstribs are aware that this gives them an opportunity to discuss their mutual problems in Argentina, where the companies have approximately 150,000.000 peMjs ($3,000.0001 tied up.^pold’s i.ftice has issued only 10 exhibition -visas ” to each of the U. S. distribs since last December. Tlie American position is that it is impossible to carry on much longer unless some kind of remit- tances are authorized by the Peron regime. It is estimated that, in print costs alone, the companies expended close to $1,500,000 since the original five-year “memoran- dum of agreement” was first drawn up back in 1950. Qualifying Clause That deal, worked but by MPE.\ prexy Eric John.ston, provided that the distribs would invest in Argen- tina monies frozen up to June of 1950. After that, 50 % of the U. S. earnings were to be remittable with a limit of 100,000,000 pesos ($j.550.000t set. The minimum was (Continued on page 25i POLLING OUT OF HOLLAND After prolonged negotiations, the American distribs are now ex- pected to notify the Dutch Bio- scoop Bond of their intention to quit the organization. Companies ha\e until today (Wed. > to make up their mind on the matter, but have already decided to make the move. Their Bond membership actuallv doesn’t expiw until Dec. 31. Hesignation, which Is tantamount to a withdrawal from the market, <()mes over percentage terms on C. S pix in Holland. The current Dutch limit is 32*i'’'r. The Amer- icans want 35''p on straight deals *nd a .sliding scale of 17*2^r to 40' ■ on percentage arrangements. Dutch have agreed to special terms on panoramic and 3-D pix. •Meanwhile, trouble is reported from .N’orway where the govern- ment now questions whether pix otlu'c Ilian 3-Ds are to be exempt , fiom the limit applying on : leni.iN for all U. S. imports ex- cept five “specials.” The Nor- wegians say they’d go along with , the \merican interpretation that j wiilr^creen films should go in the ^ ’ ''Pet i ii * category. However, they (omliiioM this on the inclusion of Me;:.o\ 'Quo Vadis” in the five •■Mr.is” M CI. after considerable init.ji hc-itanc.v. threw in “Gone Mil) the Wind” but is still balk- Ing over ‘Quo Vadis.” Norway but provided for the release there 'til ,\merican pix seen in ^•‘eJen. Faichney Quits Cut in film production with- in the Motion Picture Service of the United States Informa- tion Agency has caused James H. Faichney. production chief of the agency’s New York of- fice, to submit his resignation. Faichney, formerly veepet* of Soundmasters, Inc., and later head of his own cummer- rial film production firm, indi- cated he would return to pri- vate industry. ITALIANS ALTER ves ON U.S. RELEASE Backtracking from its oi iginal premise that Italian F'ilms F.xport should be the primary releasing organ for Italo pix in tjie Ih S.. the Italian industry not only is willing to let its best films go to Ameri- can indie distribs but is offering them .substantial financial assist- ance to boot. This was disclosed in N. Y. Mon- day (281 by Joseph Burslyn. for- eign film importer-distributor and head of the Independent Motion Picture Distributors of America which has been fighting IFF as a distribution org in this market contending it was pushing the in- dies out of the field by grabbing all Italo productions with b.o. po- tential. Burstyn. who returned to N. Y. from Europe last week (25'. indicated; 1. There Is considerable unhap:^ piness in Italy over IFF, with the industry there now willing to cut IFE adrift and make its future de- pendent on whether or not it can become self-sustaining. become self-sustaining. Org k subsidized out of frozen American earnings in Italy. 2. The Italians sound deter- mined not to sign a new’ film agreement with the Motion Picture Export As.sn. next year and are currently planning to use Ameri- can subsidy funds accruing under the present pact to start paying back their debts to the U. S. dis- tribs. 3. The industry in Rome would be willing to establish a pioducers representative in Rome to handle dealings with the indie distribs. Burstyn was told that the feeling now is that IFF should get only those pix that don’t fit into the release pattern of eitlier the major companies nr the indie operators, i.e. that IFFI sliould lie primarily concerned with handling dublied entries. In conference with Fitel Monaco, head of AN’IC.A. the Italian indus- try organization, and of IF'F. Bur- stjn said he was handed a set nf proposals outlining the possibili- ties of financial assistance to the indies here. Surprised At .Switch Burst.vn admitted to t)eing some- what surprised hv the .switch m the Italians’ altitude hut said it was his understanding ttiat IFF toppers in Roim*. including Dr. P.enato Clualino. IFF, managing di- rector and one ot its slaunclle^t supporters, had okavt’d tiu* pro- posals at a .session subseqiumt to liis discussions with Monaco. W TIIEI1TII[S Quality’ Pix on TV Via Goldwyn’s 13 Bflied As Tipolf on Further Deals As H’wood Adjusts to New Era The theatre* telecast of last Thur.sda.N’s i24i M,arclano-l.aStar/a heavyweight championship bout grossed an c'stimated $325,000. rep- resenting about 90'’'f» of tlie seat- ing capacity of the 44 tlieatres in 34 cities which carried tlie cNenl Figure is liased on reports from V’.xHiEiYS c’orrespondc'iits as well as a check with circuiLs and inde- pendent operators. Nate llalpein. bead of Tlieatre Network 'I'elc*- vision. distrilmtor of tlie bout, de- clined, as usual, to talk. While* more than half the liousc's carrying the event reported sell- outs and SHO, there were several weak sisters in the lineup. ’I’lie Stanley Warner house in Milwau- kee was about 500 seals sliurt of capacity and the indie-operated Riverside in the same city also fell several hundred seats lielovv a .sell-out. SW theatres in (’tiesler. Pa., which sold less than half its seats, File, Pa. and Cleveland also failed to register capacity. How- ever, company had sell-outs and several SRO’s in Pittshurgh, (’am- den, N. J ,’ Philadelphia, Washing- ton, Haltimurv and Huntington Park. Calif, The indie Harris Theatre in Pittsburgh also re- corded a sell-out. Loew's Stale in St. I.ouis did ca- pacity wliile the 2.980-seat Or- pheum in ,Omaha was about 500 short. United Paramount Houses generally did sell-out business al- (C’ontinucd on page 20) Early Lana Turner “.\dveiUurt's of .M.uco Polo.” wliicti Samu«*l Goldw.vn made in 1938 with (lar.v Cooper, Sigrid (lurie and Basil Rath- l»one in the leads, max he peddled to telev isuui. .\ TV exee was surprised to find, at the* bottom of the cast list, name* ot an actress pla>ing a maid in the film. Gal was Lana Turner, GOOD OUTLOOK REOPENS SOME HOUSES Pasternak's 5th to Come Hollywood. Sept. 29. M’tio added “Two Girls From F 't h jiix/’ co-starring Leslie Car- ’ and Pier Angeli. to Joe Paster- ' pr(*duction program, making '' a I of fivp. ‘^('lteI^ on his schedule are “The * Prmoe.’’ ‘’Hit the Deck.” . and “Love Me or Leave! i Roy Brewer's N.Y. Speech Hollxxxood. .S«*pt 29 Roy Brewer who c'xiled liis post as Hollywood reii/esenlative of the International Alliance of Theatri- cal Stage Fmployes on F'ridax leave.s today (Tues.t for husines- conference in Manhattan. His new business connection is expected to be with Allied Artists Due back in Hollywood on Oct. 10. Brewer Is scheduled for a speech in New York Oct 5 on ‘Communt-sm in Show Business.” Minneapolis, Sept. 29 Greater confidence In exhibi- tion's chances of living with TV and optimism over its future in consequence of the recent .succe.s- sion of record breaking grosses for a considerable number of pictures are being reflected in important tlieatre reopenings and deals here- abouts and throughout the terri- loiy currently. In downtown St. Paul two first- run theatre.s shuttered for the past two years, the 1.025-scat Tower nd 75.5-soat Strand are to.ssing their hats in the ring again, and will resume operations about Oct. 15 The Keefer Realty Co., the properties’ owner, will operate the houses itself and has engaged Minneapolis Theatre Associates buying combine, lieaded by Tom Burke, to do the buying and book- ing and James Fschelman. who has been managing the loop Gopher here, as manager. The Paramount circuit relin- quished the theatres last year I when Its leases expired, but they I had been dark for about 12 months I before that time and are now the i suliject of litigation. In compli- ! ance with the consent decree the [chain had .sold them to a St. Paul group which later .sued to have the deal rescinded and the $75,0()() paid on the Sl.'lO.OOO inirchase pri-e le- lurned, alh'ging misrepresentati(m The case now is on tlie fedeial court (aleridar ftn trial. ! The theatres’ policies again v. ill he firstrims. with the .St rami scaled at Rje top, the same a-. I’aia- mount's two and RKO’.s om* SI. 1 Paul downtown theatres, and the 'I'ovver somewhat lower. With then reopening there'll be si.x St. Paul loop first run houses, including the indetremh-nt World, and tlie com- • Coniinucd on page 23» IGNORING MPAA IN COMPO’S TAX PLAN Motion Picture As^n. of Anu’ii- ca again will lx* cm the "outside” as the organi/.c'd film industry presses a m*w eamiiaign for rc'lief from the 20'I Fc*deial admissions tax. (’ouneil of Motion Picture Or- ganizations’ lax (ommitlc*e sought little assistance trom Ml’AA In tin* lirevious lax tight Thus, virtually the same policy oirtalns for the future*. C'OMPO reasoning in that the tax battle sliould Ire conducted on the grass roots level, with «*xbibs in the field undertaking to line up the support of law-makers in their respective areas; enlisting the aid of MPAA would give the campaign a “Washington lobby” appearance which (.’OMPO reps want to avoid While this attitude has stirred no trade hassling, sotne film men, via sotio voce comriient. indicate unrest anent tire C'OMIH) theory. COMPO continues to have tfre backing of the entire trade but there are some indiviuals wtio be- lieve that, perhaps, MPAA presi- dent Fric A. Johnston and his I). C. staff have certain political savvy which Is being wasted It’s furtb(*r said (and this the observc*rs con- cede as beirtg Monday morning quarterbacking) that counsel by Johnston and bis associate's rnigtit have meant at h'ast some gains in the past campaign instead of no tax relief at all. Being question now, for exarnirh*. was the wisdom of asking uniform exemption fi’oiii the f«*deral h*vy. F'or while this would have l>crie- filtc'd tlie “lillle fellow" who needs llie money, it would Ire equally helpful to the Roxy which, cur rently, is gros^ing the tallest (oiri in the hislotx ot the business with “The Rob**” .M**anwhile, ('().M[*0 is n*»w gel- (('onfiiiu«*d on page 24) Unloading of a lineup of back minilrer .S.imuel Goldwxii films to tel**<'ast»*rs is shaping as .i k*‘y factor di'termimng, flnallx. p(»s.silile <’haiig»*s in tin* hands oil TV p«»l- iex of mai«ir stiiduis. Tin* Goldwyn mox e is ri*gard»*il as the mnst signith’ani sl«*p low at *1 TV s*i tar ln*eause *rf tin* qii.ilils <rf the prtrdneer's pi'odiiel oxt*r tin* xeais and tin* t*rp stais in\ol\<*d. Although exhitrs in sonn* *|U.'irl**rs how''Tt*d wln*n Mtrnogram, Itcpuhlie and olln*r film mak(*i> p(*diil(*d pix I*) 'I’V, lln*se wer»* settunlary t**a- lur»*s and lln*ir siniwing “ftri tree” aetii.'illy had little dise«*i iiihli* ef> teet irti (*xhibition While final d(*ei <ions hax** > el to Ire made. it‘ps oi lltrwaitl Prirdiie- Inriis iln*a«l«*d Irx (hrhiwxn’s wif«*, the f*rrm**r Frain’cs Htrw.ird', *rwn- (*r irf the (loldwxn prodinl, Itaxu Ireen sinnnling out l<‘l(*east(*rs im d«*al.s f(rr tin* TV right'.. OI in*!* watrks and irnli** statitrns eheck**d, (rnly CBS slnrw(*d (iisincliiialion to triiv. R(*p (rf lhal w*‘lr t<»l*l Vaiiii l Y lln*r**’s rnrw a p*rli*'\ <rf "shying away” fi*rm anci(*nl ft*alur**s, Alllnriigh tin* ll<rward (rntfll hasn’t set its sp**eilie ciruise. Itie f.'iel that a film packag** ali<*adv has be**n discussed with l»*l**casl- ers indieatr's an **.irly *l**.il Pix in the initial gnriip aie ilin*s(*! “Biilldirg Dnimnntnd” <1939), Bonald ('(riman and J<r.'iii Benin*ll; ’Ihrdsw.rrl h” (193«*, Walter Husl<tn, Riitli ('hatl(‘rt<tn. David Niv(*n. Mary Ast<rr and Paul Lukas, “('ynara" (1933), C’olmaii and Kay Frarn’is; “IJnInrIy Garden” (1931) ('oinian arni Fay Wrax; “They Shall Have Music ’ <1939). Jaseba lleifi*l/., Andr(*a L(‘eds and Fay Wray; ‘•|^llmy Days" (1931), Fddie Canterr and (’tiarlolle Green- wood; “Devil t«r Pay" (1930). t’*rl- nian and I,*rretla Y<rung, "Kid Mil- licrris" (1934', ('antor, Ann Sothern and Ftbel M(>rman; “Adventni’es of Marco Pol<r” <1938). Gary (’*rop<*r, .Sigrid (luiie and Basil Ratlibuin*; (('ontiiiu(*d (til page 2.5) WB Execs Huddling Top biasx of Warner Bros are currently huddling on the (’*r.i't. Joining prexy Harry .VI. War- ner,and production chief Jack L. Warner this xveek were homeof- fice toppers veepee and treasurer Major yVlbcrt Warner and veepee 4 Samuel Schneider. Krim, Youngstein West L'niled .Vrtists is on the pniwl for produ( tion-rjistril)ulion ti**iii»s jxxilti a n»*\x (top of indie film- : m.'ik**rs, in* luding sexei.il xxho fH'n'tofore had In-en ;* .so* i.itcd with inajcir studi***-. .Vrtliur B Krim. pi*-sjd< ri’ ;in*l Max F Voiing'.fein, x p h'»i!i xxill 1)** on tfie Coa-.t rn-sl wc»‘k aimini' to xxrap up at h-asl a (ouph* f)t [)rf*pos*'(l leh’.'ising ]*;**(•.. in tht* flis* us ion stag** an* *l<'.il’' will) William G*i*'l/. foiiiici pio- diif tion < lii*-l at rnj\ei -.al. .I*»hri W ax lie. x\hf» *• link xxilh Hoheil F*‘llo'.', ^ in tlu* Waj, tie F fllf)ws iri- dic* uriil is to terminate short lx; and (Ie*ng<* Steven*, arui William Wyler. «*ach of xxliom has i>*‘eti with I’atammint in r♦•f**nt \**nr- I Krim wing* out !*► the (**. 1^1 I Irorii N. Y. Fnd.ix '*2' and afi**r a Slav (»l a xxeek to 1() da^^ h*•a(i^ hack to Gotham and then to Fu- r*)pe Y*nmg'teiri and Leon Roth go xxc'l Mftndax a , Roti*. f merlx I \’s a* is(ant p ihli i*\ head xxill si,*', in IF',*;, w ood per- maruTilly as n**w-.ippoi: ’e.i i 1 .- pon wi'h i;.tf indiC p. .'-1 jvx'I•>. 50% RENTALS WORSE N TV Mirmea{iolis, .S»*pt 29. A w*»i .,i* ‘ iii**na*'e’ Itian t<*levision is what (‘xhibilors attending last w«*ek's Alli***l meeting called tim lr**n*l of j»i ii*lue«*i s to p«*g lh«*ir r **- leases for .30” rentals. .SignirKanf• lx the **,\hil)it*)i gripi's were h**ai<I in Duluth, a e>mjmunitx in xxhicli ttiat spr<*.i*ling medium. \i*l«*o. just got und**r xxax. Flat r**r)t.*K. xxilh occasional large profits on Mc-c-pei s," hax«* he**n til** small cxhihitoislafl of lif** Iho **f*»f*»t *• hot noxv the* film compame'- art* dc'mamhng sli/T p*o- e**rjlage f**ims l*ji piac ticallx exciv w *»rf liw hile ho.xofh*c pi* fun* amt. with olh(*r »*peiafing eo Is high*‘i, lh*'i<*'s ri*»l cTioiigli if thing. I**|l after p.ixirig Hie l••nf.■|ls. th*' t li*-at r**o'.‘. iK'i . *!*•* floniig I lie ell *11 ion. al o an film I .'* I (• t .John ln*lanrl, Joaniu* Dm Sue Producer Jack [{rodcr I lolly.’, Of(fl Se|)l 'J9 .John Ira’lari'l .an*) .lf*aiim* I no lilc-fi suit in Su|»<‘ii*)r Coiirl Mon- el.iv '2*5' ag.'iin t pi*/*liif ' r Jk k Bi***lei, ec’kmappf)iril M * fit *»| ic- ceixer A**olir,)ing *d ie*<*ip'i and profit or* iM) film 'lliiirii L<’e ' III xxfiK ti 111**;.' laiiefi 'J h*- p claim t)i'*x t’.I ru'd *'I' iin right.- It) iitle .ong >* I<**'n[»l,iy oxei to Ht'ci'O along x’itf* i-rvpo^ Ire.anil rliu- 'fd and t |tr<'d Claim Irc'land ha go’'**ri f>n'\ $3 77' cM S'JT.gT.V pr.oni'el ar.d Mi** Dm or'.;, ST Vo*) of S-'* ■>*)') pro::; .-*1 ll i* .alleged Br d.-r h,. d -.’nhu’- ;rg pi' hlO'■>>*.{ C: •' **d ()0') less ,n if '":t •: ■ al d.'’.r'bii*ed.