Variety (September 1953)

ncrmEs jO 3D’S NEW WAIT-AND-SEE STANCE Inside Stuff-Pictures R»)bt‘r1 Chance," RKO entry’ in Technicolor cosiarnnfi Mitiluim and Linda Darnell, serves to spotlight the high cost of 3-D ' 1 »r distribution is concerned. While the dimensional pic In dates far has proved one of the bigge.st money makers on the RKO line- I't) nirretitly. “Chance" is being playe'^ ait-e of the tricky 3-D economies. HKO has limited the number of it.s prints to 200. Each 3-D. or dual, m ini in Techni amounts to $1,000. There's an additional $500 per print nr tlie >.leieuphonic sound. That totals $1,500 for an item which, tor a I (invention black-and-whiter. vvould cost around $250. RKO figures on playing “Chance" in about 2.200 theatres equipped for 3-D belore irlea-ing the film in a 2-D version. Single-strip 3-D, which obviously would cut considerably on distri- lniiitiii costs, is now being demonstrated by All Dimension. Inc., new ..iiifif lonned by Boris Morro.s and Matty Ko.\. WEIGH FATE OF Betweeu little Fellow' aud Bigtiuiers flrowing tension between Ameriean produeers and British censors inihi Jtc'- a need for a Joint Production Code that w'ould apply to films niade in both countries. While England has its own Production Code 1(11 F.iiglisii picture.s. Its censors are paiUcularly severe on Hollywood prodiiih Latest instance of censorship is the crack-down on the song, ••\n\"iie Here for Love." rendered by Jane Russell in 20th-Fox’8 ‘Centicmen Prefer Blondes." Mi.ss Ru.s.sell's bumps and grinds in the same piclure were characterized as "a crude and lascivious dance." In a ldiiion. several scenes in 2()th-Fox’s "On tlie Riviera" were censored out lor release in Britain. Unlt^s.s Hollywood complies with British cen- h(ii>hip ihcy are relegated to “limited bookings." thereby reducing their dull*' hiivientia Beria, the former No. 2 Cornmuni.st. may be all waslied Chance" is being played off at a pace slower than usual Hollywood. Sept, 21^. Hollywood, accustomed to cyc1«*s’. is now ciitering its third .'ind tell- tale phase of 3-D production. The early enthusia.sin was followed by a downbeat attitude brought about by reports of luslomer resistance. Tills Is now slowly turning to a middle-ground view. Tbere’.s con- viction among several major stu- dios and sagacious indies that 3-D can become a permanent fixture on a limited basis. Attitude Is that specially-selected yarns. filmed with technical knowhow, and viewed thiough the proper Pola- roid glasses can succeed at the pay window. Showmen now admit that the decline ot stereopix in due in part to teclinically-iaully. (juirkly-made *‘H’’ pix rushed on the market to mike a “quick buck." Other con- tributing tai’tors, harmful to tlu* acceptance of 3-D as a pcrinaiuuit product, were faulU' projection. ti|) behind tlie Iron Curtain but he i.s still good for publicity in Holly- [ viewers that wouldift stay on or wood. Hrj an Foy grabbed a hunk of new.spapcr space by sending a ' wouldn’t give a true tri-dlmension wire to Sen. Joe McCarthy, offering to produce a biopic of Beria. pos- i picture, added print cost for 3-1). sihiv in 3-D Wire said In part; 1 cost to tlie theatre of Installing Repeal Village Tax (ireenfieUl. O. Sept 2D, In re>ponM* to continued pltMding.s iHuii the town's two film tlicalie owners, tlie coun- cil here last wei'k repealed its 'A'u amusement tax elfective Ott. 1 T.»\ was levieit m 1D4R and in that tune lias gar- nered $10704 ill revenue, most of it from the two the- atres K R. Koherls. manager ot the Rand. toUt Courn il. “That tax ni.iy he a small sum to the village hut it Is a hig item to the movie opera- tors.” Schary-Schenck Huddles in N.Y, the showing of • I’pon contact Beria, w'ould appreciate your interesting him in the ; equipment, and need for an extra iiiakiiig of 'Life and Terror Behind the Iron Curtain.’ Think I could ' > ’ * - make a picture the democratic countries should see. I produced the picture. ‘I Was a Communist for the F. B. I.’ It is possible that Beria will n**t d capitalistic money when he arrives here and thi.x would be a good w ay for him to get it," The .Xlbany Times-Union has editorialized that the recent award to (; David Sciiine by the American Jewish Iniagiie Against Communism was “well deserved." The 2.5-year-oId son of J. Meyer ‘Schlne, presi- dent ot Schine Theatres, is serving without salary as chief consultant to Die McCarthy Senate Investigations committee, A graduate of Har- v.ird. he is president of Schine Hotels and e.xccutive vice-president of t Scliine Knterprises. ' project ion i.st lor the stereopix. (Kxiiibitors, from their own point of view liave seen a negative in sales terms. “(Jreedy" jiollcy of distributors in asking “exorlutaiit'' terms for poor pix all helped “kill'' 3-D,i Altiiougli tlie future of 3-13 ap- pears dark, there’s a hard core ol i industry it c> wliu have faith and confidence in 3-D. Wliile no longer ruid Foundation’s TV Workshop contacted 20ili-Fox to buy some sliuits lor it.< “Omnibus" and “Excursion” skmvs. Tentatively di.scussed was Robert Benchley’s monolog, “The Sex Life of a Polyp.” Even- tually. 2i)lh nixed the bid for the 1928 Bcnchley classic. The reason: It (ouldn i dig up the original contract. Quickie investigation estal>- li'hed tliat Bcnchley rarely bothered with such technicalities, and without a contract 20tli couldn't even consider making a deal. pitching an all 3-1) policy for War- < Continued on page 2.>' Cinerama, it appeared, passed tlie cigars to CinemaScope last week. I.vnn Karnol, public relations counsel for Cinerama <John Joseph is publicity chief>, sent a box of stogies to (Miarles Einfeld. 20th-Fox ad- pub chief, with a note of congratulations re “The Robe" campaign. Fairiol, though, .said the cigai's were from the Cigar Institute of Americ.^, vvhicli Is another of his accounts. Check Chinese Brain Wash Hollywood. Sept. 29. Dell (I has ill prospect a .story i>.i'eil till tile modern Chinese tor- ture. i)i .Tin washing." Tliis is tlie U'C lit reflex conditioning and ulier ps.vi liological techniques for i ''u'liiiig out one .set of moral idea.*? I ?uil 'iibsi itutlng another. Until now Die general public has had but 3 liii/\ i)(»ii(in of tlie refined horror I't D'.i«( ireatnient. Cliinese Reds I u e jiei fected it. ?'ireeiiu pjtpp Allen Rivkln is ''oikiiig on tlie research pliasc. II(> i curi enily in W'ashington get- liiig tb" Pentagon .slant. Proposed P'cDiie, tentatively titled “Tlie *’D W Siot y’' is not yet officially iiu Dell .1 scliedule. Secures 7^% Refund Of Advertising Expended For Tin Down Girls’ Columbus. Sept. 29. Allorney for the Independent Tlicat'e Owners of Oliio was sue- Arbitration Up Anew As Allied Invades Boston By IIY IIOI.MXGKR In advance ol the Boston vention of ibe .Allied States next Monday '.5' its Hoard of Di- rectors will meet this Friday '2) to drscuss the tlicme of arbitration. Tliis will not necessarily involve approval or disapproval of tlie ‘ propo.seil (h .jtf on ui bitration vot'd down last .vear. Allied's arbitration comniittcc. coiisi.sting ol board diairnian and , .general loun.scl Abr.oii F. Mvers. in eammg a sHtUwnt Metro, pursuing the jury is-slill- ouf tlieory, .still intends to lens its new pianluct in a variety of proc- es.ses, states pro<iuctioii cliief Dore Scliary. He airived In N. Y. Mon- day *28' tor policy powwows wilh I.oew’.s presiclnit Nicliolas M. Sclienck. Company lias one pic fini.slied in ('inemaScope <"KniKlits df the Hound Tabh*"i. Iiis aiiotiier near- ing completion <”Rose Marie”» and next moiitii starts rolling a tliird ' "BrigadfMiii’*', comments Scharv. “And we liave oilier prop- erties being considered tor more C’Seope," lie adds. As for 31). Scliar> made it clear that much depends on tlie outcome of the “Kiss .Me. Kate” tests next montli. wiien a 2-1) version plays three tlieatrcs and it runs in 3-1) in three otliers. Tliis exi»erlment will be watched closely i)> all of Hollywooii and doubtless will in- fluence all neW produition .sked- I ding. I M (; lias a slate of lUto-20 new^ pix to be niavle in Culver City dur- ling the year beginning .Sept. 1. Two otliers will lie la.ide aliroad. said .Schary. Tliis compares wiili a . .. production lineup of 34 last vear. cently from a promoter wlio booked a combination exliibition and film in six cities and then can- celled the engagements leaving ex- Iiibitors stuck for tlie advertising bill. E. T.. .lovan. of tlie Globe Film Co. of Chicago, booked “Pin Down Girls." a film together with a live exliibition ol girl wre.stlers and a wrestling bear into tlicatrcs in Marion. Painesville, I.ancaster, Cambridge. Newark and Dover, f 'ly the ' arliilral ion Wilhur Siiapcr ha.s been foi’iiicriv discliargcd and therefore lias no Interest in the present arliitr.ilion plan. .■\llie(l\ I'Mson for turning thuml).s down on the plan last year was based mainly on tlie fact that tlie dial! (lid not provide lor the arliitraiion of film rentals. Schary continued on to Golliam from a swing ol various 'I exas cities wliere lie participated in openings of lii.s luwvirst production, “Take tlie High Ground." Altiiougli the traveling sked was tough, lie said lie liked it fine, parlieularly hec.ause ot tlie intimate knowledge of tln*atres and tlie pulilic it af- ford(*d. "AH producers should go out more." the iirodudion topper r**niarked. He jidurns to tfie ( oa t in 10 days. MARKET UP ON HSCAL FAaS OF UNIVERSAL Net earnings of $2.301.fK)7 after taxes for the 39 week period ended Sna,.,-,- to a. knm,I,■ - ' ’ ” 'in! "T "D<lav (Tlfs.i l,y l .H>.-,'sal Sh«»ln, Allll-<l, IlM-alif 0«ncrs of A'''"'-. j, ' ,o ol ica and other exiiih orgs liad he^n : 'loc out WASH. VARIEH CLUB WINS NICHOLS AWARD After engagement.s were set and ! advertised. promoter ran up i against provisions of tlie state law concerning exhibitions wliicli would liave made his ventuie un- jirofitalile, so he scratclied tin* IxMiking.'i. ITO attorney recouped | 7.')'< ot tlie ad' expenses liom .lovan. I Washington. Sept. 29. 'el' Club of Washington has " if!o<eii by the Medical So- I ’ ol the District of Columbia '■J l(•(•.•i^o ilu* \ L. John Benjamin' PAR PRODUCING 7 PIX BALANCE OF ’53 Hollywood. Sept. 29. T’aramounl's production program ('liet il l I j lor the remainder of 19.53 consi.sts ’""biiinm to the beUerment ot question, “J (loii’l tliliik it’s perti- nent.’’ in* said. Asked for lii.s per- sonal views on Die value of an arbitration svsiem, lie declai cd: “Mv pci'final vicv'.s aren't impor- tant " 'I'tM bnical Changes Meaiuvliile. Allied continued ;ts drimibeating lor its annual coni ih ’.vlK.Tc the stress will be on new techiin al developinent and the co-i and availalnliiy of widescreen ind stereophonic sound. It's aiitiej- pated that a blast will be levelled at the mdu-liy lor the lack ot stand.ndi/.dion. ALsO set for .’iii- fi; , H i- 1 .. lU ■’ financed the construction ' 1 ' V wing at the Children's iij',,1 here. ■■ 'n'.'ftion of the award will !'• ()(t. .5 at the St.ftler ^ t »•|'|•nlony'will be in con- ■ 'ith the opening ceie- ' ! the 24th annual Scicn- '•i; JjJy }l, l e. ! ing are sm h trade practn e (^ue^- ""Will lo me Deilermenl ot i seven pictures, including “White ■ tioiis a.-* fimi rentals, cleaiaiicrs and j .1’'U’hristma.s" and’ “Sabrina Fair." : ot producl. ; which recently went before the The Altec C orp., enuipment cameras. * manufacinrei s. w ill (ondu< t an October schedule fonsi>t.s of' oixm lorum on, the t*‘clinical as- “Al>out Mrs. Lc.slie." Oct, 5; “l.cg-! peels as well as the cost factors -n : end of the Inca." Oct. 12; and “J.iv- j relation to 2uth-Kox’.s Cinema. ' ing It Cp." Oct. 19. Three Novetn- .Scope This session Is scheduled lK*r starters will be “Conquest ol for Tuesday DD. Am additiori.d Space.’ “P,ear Window" and The Staflcr on the convention progiam I Bridges at Toko-Ri." | tConliniicd on page ig; Show ing on the 999,3(18 shares ol common out- standing as ol Aug. I, Rising n«*f is alicad iiy $548..534 over the corresponding 39-wi*ek period last year. Stoekmaiket re- acted in advance with C stock elox- ing at 17 .Mond.iv night, a gain ot t 'k points. U sh.ii’c-f vveie aiiioiig the most active on Die niinket 'I’liref'-quai ter year net ol $2,- 301,()<l7 (Mine af»cr provisions ot i $3 300.()0(J in Federal im ome and excc'».s profits taxes. The cone- -.ponding $1.752 473 net last year w.is fignicd after a tax provision ol S2 ().5().h(ih and e(nialled $I 83 per sliare on the 981.89H >hares of com- rnon llnm outstanding Montague, Lazarus to L.A. ,>\he Mont igiie, Columhia’s do- nicstie dislnhutloii v p., and I‘aul N La/arU". honieoflice exec. ( oasti'd ov('r the .past weekend for a stay ol a week to 10 (lays at the .-.tudio. They'll onceover tin* newly-com- pleted prodiu t as a preliminary to iiiappirig tales and ad-pub policy. | (-oild Hard xtnuk by a variety of de- volopnicnts over which he has little or no (ontrol. tiu* little fellow" In .Ameiic.’iii exhibition is singing like economic bines and facing the fu- ture with more tli.in accustomed uncertainty. Indie operators, alreadv bit by tlie postwar dechiie in attendance and i hafing niid«‘r tin* 20'; Federal admissions t.ix vvliicli is blamed for the closing «d 3.000 or more* liou.ses, iiiiist inivv leconvile themselves to Die uiiiileasaiit fact that, without lifting a linger, they have been pushed further on to the frlngi* in the liidiistrv s new pattern of op- ei .ttioii. Twin f.ii'lors affecting their fu- tun* are recent te( hiiological strules, with which they will have a tough time keeping in .step, and the distribs' resultant and inucli clianged out look on life, with Ilia aeeeni on iewer pix and lunger runs. 'riiere are a good many rxbibs who read into the studios' sharp produi'Don cuthaeks a re.iliz.ntion on the part of the disti'ih.s that, with the advent of the panoramic screen, the time has come to con- cent rate on Die first runs and im- portant Huhsecpieiit runs from wliich they get most of their reve- mie. Indies don’t care niueh for Diis line of Hollywood reasoning, but sense that Diev aie powerle.ss to do tnneli about it. Distiib execs, while unwilling to be pinned down on this .subject, aie not beyond admitting that there are a good many marginal situations where they claim it costs more to service the house than the rentals warr.iiit. Min h depends, of course, on the company concerned and the extent to which it l.s fixed on tlie grass-roots areas. Capital Expenditure I’rohleiii of the indie exhibitor is also an economic one. It the industry swings lo widescreen, as indications are It will, he Is not only f.ned with the possibility that what looks imposing at the Roxy in N, Y may !»* I«*s,s nverwhelnimg in Ins small lions**, hut also wiDi Die liai'sh rn‘cessity of a conslder- alih* casli outlay. Having found themselves in a i iTtieal position for Some years, many theatres aren't picpared to t.ike on the addilioual load. .\p;ii t fioin redin ing Die riumher «»f pix on tlieij .sk**ds, some di.'itrihf h.ive gone e\en further ill .stress- ing theii new r(‘liaiiee on the big time. None of the ('inema.Seo|>H pix turned (.nt by 2(nh Fox, for In- .sfance, aie being released in .stand- ard. so that exhihs who won’t or (lint play h.ill wDl he left out. Iti the cold Attitude of 2Uth, wJiich, of coiirs**, i, anxious lo sell its (’in- ema.Seope e((uipiMeiit. fs that It’ll be happy to serve any customer wJio ha.s the ne( (•s^;u V lacililies. 5 'ef another IimI fni the indies is Dm* upcoming flood of “specials’' for which di'.tiih. will fry to up rent.D terms. 'I o what extent •(fM.)lllow 11 audn•nce^ will Ih- willing to go for r.iised admi ,h prices re- mains to he seen KiiIim? ](iclme remain^ som<*what ohsenre as Dm* distrih'-; t Im*ihsc| ves jockey for j<o- silion in Dm* wodescreen i.kc. Ititt indie evlnhs aie l^-.ofnl ol (lilllcii.'f days alo-ad ANTHONY KELLY DIES ON AFRICAN LOCATION Anthony K' lly, Rriii'h, drowned Sept. 25 in the /.nnh'-si River, Li\ ingiioiM- .Soilhern Rhodesia, while on lo*ation with tin* film, ‘ Duel in the .Jimyle” AnlhoiiV, who was a -istant direeior of Ui« pic. had gone f»ut in a small boat, e(piit>I)ed witfi an onthoard rn(»t(ir to te.t some rapids m tin* river about eight mil«,-* fiom I.ivlng- sDme. The lH»at foundered and Kelly was swept away. An Alrifan native and two gmdes ,who had af.comparii* d him managed to swim to shoi,e K«-lly, a native of Ireland lived in I.oiKhmwlnie Ins yviie and bUi V r. e.