Variety (December 1953)

n ^inftedav, PecemW 23, 1953 French Deal Slow in Jelling But Apparently Making Definite Progress -• - ' " /■+■ • ' > — • . Despite some unexplained delays in eotUng implementation of a new in getting Fxnort Assn, execs are confident an agreement will go into effect ’ 3 n 3ft J •, _ ^ it. A IfAO K Do/lt Motion Pictutc (jeforf the end'of the year Pact be retroactive to June 30, S,e (bite when the; last French deal .expired.' . Ted Smith, the MPEA .rep^ in Paris, and Jacques Flaud, the chief French negotiator, ^now have '"'reached the point where .several ■provisional/ drafts of; an agreement have been drawn up, embodying details of a basic pact signed by [Vf P ^ v p rexy—Eric—Johnston—wbeii- lie was in France. Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers wasn't a party to the negotiations, and isn t likely to participate in any agreement involving a subsidy, of any kind. Indies have on several occasions made it clear: that they wouldn't stand for it. New French deal is understood J, to involve a. remittance of $3,200,- ooo for the year. ended June 30, 1954, Taking into account that, un* der the provisional arrangements existing since. last June, the com- panies have received their regular $ 120,000 monthly remittance quota, this leaves $2,480,000 to be trans- ferred officially even though the final' take may' be higher. ~ Total bfeaksifowi\ : inio $48U.UU0 in retroactive remittances to last June since' the monthly transfer under the new agreement is upped t6 $200',000. Assuming there is a final deal at the end of this month, remittances for the remaining six months would total $1,200,000; Additionally, the U. S. distribs would remit $400,000, constituting 50',c of a 300,000,000-franc fund created by the companies under the last pact to acquire French put and co-produce. The remaining 50?£ also eventually will be trans- ferable. Coin may be used to cover, the agreed payment to the French. Promotion in U. S. While the French will receive a $260,000 subsidy'annually for two years to finance promotion of their films in the U. S.V, there is cob 1 * fusion at the moment; exactly where this money will: come from and what steps, if any, will be taken to avoid the “subsidy" label Which Johnston doesn't caVe for, either. Partly he is influenced by the fact that it sets a poor prece- dent for other countries, and partly he is aware that Washington frowns on such arrangements, par- ticularly if the indies should put tip a beef. In return for American finan- cial concessions, the French will, keep the number of permits for the year at the former 110 level, which is a concession on their part since Flaud. claimed the MPEA companies are entitled to ohly 90 permits a year. Figure of 110 was reached last year by “borrowing” against this year’s allocation. Un- der the new deal the French also would-hand out special permits to American distribs that take on l iench pix for U. S. handling and do won with them. Extent to which these permits would be covered by dollar exchange hasn't been forked out as yet. Z'&rie'ty Hall Bartlett’s /Vacation’ Kansas City, Pec. 22. Indie producer Hall Bartlett made a two-for-one" deal out of his visit for the holidays with his folks here. He combined the visit with an exploitation campaign for. his/ picture, “Crazylegs,” playing the Fox Midwest first run houses, Tower, Uptown, Fairway, Granada. Bartlett conducted press, radio and television interviews, huddled with Robert Withers, head , of Re: J. Arthur Rank's "Hamlet" is j ‘ ,ub !J c , M ‘ < >west .exchange and being re-released by Unlvdrsarf starting Jan. IS; This is the third, c °J tactln S Wisconsin, Michigan and time ’round for the Sir Laurence: i 5 r ?V ps , Olivier, film which so far has I» •artlett and his wife, Lois But- ler, otherwise are spending the PICTURES 13 1ST REISSUE IN 7 YRS. Olivier’s 'Hamlet' Has 13,000,000 Take To Date grossed approximately $3,000,000. . Film has been tested on the Coast and found suitable for wide- screening in ratios up to 1.85 to 1. It’s the first reissue of a Rank at- traction by U and the first U re- Hamlet” first played on a two- a-day reserved seat basis and went into national release in Nov. ’49. Charles Feldman, U general sales manager, points out the playdates didn’t reach all the way down the line. It’s now felt that the time is propitious to give the film an- other go. The first time out, “Ham- let” grossed $2,500,000 On its second release, it took in $500,000. Re-release of another Olivier in- terpretation of the Bard, his ‘’Henry V,” isu being mulled by United Artists which has also found the film suitable for. widescreen- ing. Currently making the rounds to hefty b.o. is Metro’s “Julius Caesar.” holidays with, his parents. 1’ B&K Equipping 14 At Cost of Chicago, Dec. 22. Balaban & Katz circuit is plunk- ing down nearly $500,000 to com- pletely equip 14 major houses for Cinemascope in strategic areas of the city to catch “Robe” on its. first outlying rebound from the* Loop. Pic quits State-Lake Theatre on Jan. 14 after a lucrative 16:week tenure/ Plans are to furnish a sec- A femme lawyer last, week grabbed the spotlight away from the Motion Picture Assn, of Amer- ica in matters pertaining to film censorship and the U. S. Supreme Court. Florence Perlow Shientag, attorney for the French-made pic, “La Ronde,” called a; press con- ference to assure that everyone was apprised of her high court ap- peal taken frpm N/ Y. censors’ nix: of the film. As a result, Mrs. Shientag’s argu- ment against censorship — she called it a. form of thought con- trol—w r as carried by the wire serv*. . V* 1954 North CeittraJ ARietf. Almvat ‘Must’ ^^vprtcentare BqoklnfS Minneapolis, Dec. 22. J One of North Central AUied’S main tasks in 1954 will be to try to convince distributors that the industry can be restored to sound- ness . and good health ; if they’ll eliminate “must” percentage and president . Bennie. Berger. Berger says he and his organ- ization's directors are convinced that “the attempt to get the same percentage terms from, suburban situations and small grossing the- atres as from, large grossing houses is not only asinine, but also der j structive.” The NCA president says he’ll Chicago, Dec. 22. Downtown competition, court-; shackled in Chicago for some seven years, will be freed from Jackson Park Decree restrictions for the next six. months at least. Surprise development -resulted? from-- a- bombshell motion for temporary suspension of the JP decree by its initiator, attorney Thomas Mc- Connell,. whose move abbreviated /last week’s hearin g of the RKQ. motion pictures,’ according to from the wrU . Twd week tions on first run pictures at both the Grand, and the B&K deluxers has been lifted and the clearance handcuff unlatched/ Judge Michael Igoe entered an order on Monday (21i placing the decree in cold storage until June 24, 1954. McConneii, who voluntarily yield- ed relief to the defendants, did so newspapers across the country. On the same day, Thursday < 17), the MPAA had filed its appeal in the “M” case. The industry organ- isation has been fighting, at sub- stantial costs, the rejection of this with ' because he needed time to answer 1 both the Grand’s petition and ! try to arrange conferences the various companies’ sales' heads | ^ P eu \ 10n ana in the effort to get them to alter; J™ . s * " hich had been slated for their present "unwise, unfair sales ,■hearing on. Jan..25. He had asked policies” and to give the smaller i *. or a three month, layoff of the exhibitors an incentive for sbowv j O? tTe f-but Ed Raftery and George. manship. Judge L0.s Suit Against Warners Siegel, counsels for the Grand, boosted it to six months. McConnell would not consent to eliminating i one-week limitations on ! outlying -j-houses- butr-at-Judge Igoe ’-s sugges- tion. B&K and RKO. Theatres may , petition for that also. The Jackson Park attorney told j Variety after the .hearing that his Los Angeles,/ Dec. 22. [ motion: for suspension was ‘’a pre* u.v , i Stockholder suit against Milton lude to a nevv antitrtfst suit,” n!Sn7 ilf* oh^ininir^a P <?i e hrm.i ' Sperling. United States Pictures ; preumably now in preparation. He a ,.^, upren ? and Warner Bros, was dismissed by , y.'Ud his strategy was to let the Seariv P do aw^,^W ?h ‘Jlf’‘nSir ^erai Judge WiHlam a Mathes; ! U.eatres trap themselves info re- : Who ruled that the court had no, v.eaiing a cohspiracv and indicated. W,. P .^ t'“ n 5 jurisdiction in the case: Action had that the best wav to demonstrate was_doue qrnetly. was unnoticed ;^ iMst 3 tute a the estate oi the welfare .valui of the original So ^*^27* WSS i ES*ard S. Birn, owner of 400 Jackson Park decree was to fef/he f ^ , ishares of stock, demanding an. ac : public see how the “theatre con- ij. : ts ’ Jac J ‘Jlf 1 . • counting on all losses incurred by spirators'* operate without it u h ! the contract betweeb the two com-' M brief for the MPAA. also had.. p an j es it also asked damages and Sees. 'Weak Hand’ ond group of theatres with the (hew [ done some work on Mrs. Shientag’s canceeilation of the pact. m m m a & .a Mm 1 m A. *1 _ ^ 1. A .t A. ' O Ok 1 ' A ’ medium at a slightly later date With some 75 other, theatres in the area./likewise equipping, “Robe” may have a record break- ing “A” run booking, although appeal papers. Alfred Teton',. a B&K /atto.rnev, 1 * . * v m Mi • “ TtPpage 'decision J»d« & -- -- tion betrayal of a weak hand.” i In a j Mathes ruled: That the Warners’ tj 0 ^ v 7 ”-, j 11-man board of directors figured j,.w ^ counsel probably ! the pact with United. States Pic- W b ? P / S , ; lures was sound; that the board tpriAra . -. "f 'Tu ^ a Soneral de- ■ /acted in good faith arid that the IT C ® rnpe w t i v £- mar ” . t three Warner brothers oumed less n1 - a _ v d . 1 J' , ^R erste “'‘ v.p.^ j Dr. Roy A; Clapp, who was in ; than 20 ^ of the shares and were . ^ sudd fP turn oi N.Y. on a quickie visit from his i not shown to control or dominate ! expressed confidence that j the absence of the decree will in no way harm anyone here and is ing, who is Albert W arner s son- ; n .^ sfiar 5 . fo i r the freedom that Were located in every inipor-’ Council is a “virtual duplicate” of in-law> had conspired with the ! ,lex «nnjy of the. industrj- in tant neighborhood in Chi, Houses i the Nord system which he invent-, other, defendants “to waste and | t-nicago - He said Chi theatres chosen for the n6w installation are | ed. ! disappropriate the assets of^^ War- i not °Perate effectively under A run booking, a„ hough R0Y CLAPP FLAHERED “How to Marry »a Millionaire” should become available to subur- ban houses at just about the same time. B&K took especial care to equip [ Minneapolis home, states that the. • the board qf directors, theatres that were largo enough to ; system of singlestrip 3-D develop^ | Plaintiff has charged that Sperl- J n ° 1 f. a showcase Cinemascope best and j ed by the Motion Picture Research ing, who is Albert Warner's son- ; w MPRC worked independently of i ner Brothers to enrich United fr 1 ", in view of how time* had changed since the original liti- gation in 1947, It's expected that B&K will b* on guard against taking com pet i- Marbro, Uptown, Varsity. Tivoli, Southtown, Harding, Granada, • Clapp and did not have access to States Pictures,” of which Sperling Gateway, Regal, Belpark, State, j the details of the Nord singlerpro- 1 is head. Berwyn .and La Grange. Most of | jeetor dimensional process. Clapp [ ——^ -- the theatres have stage openings ' demonstrated the Nord system last [ Brisson, Gershe in N. Y. measuring to 70 feet, comparable j summer but gave no details on the ; to the largest installations in the , intricacies of the operation, country, CHARLES SCHWARTZ’S IN CHI, $1,000,000 Chicago, Dec. 22. Hi n- 1 ' 0 !,' 11 , 11 - 1, * n first 20 weeks t ie I iilneo Theatre here, already I’iiiked up a $1,000,000 gross, , ( . ' n ^ to Chicago managing di- timv!n )oug Helgcson. ^ Addi- uo iaiiV" concessions at the Palace a e au-raqing $5,500 weekly, which ( ‘‘ i s arpimd. $110,000 for the run 01 'be pic date. tub-a-daycr,’ with added /‘' special parties, expects tor the Christmas Week The slio\v> a seljont Muis V,./ ll|,|H ' d admissions, for New J. e,u s c\-(> N. Y. Stock Exchange records this week showed that Charles Schwartz (& Frohlicli>~ ; has pur- chased 10,000 shares of Columbia's common stock issue. He had not held any shares recently. Schwartz is Col’s corporate secretary. Other stock transactions involved Jack Warner, v.p. of Warners, and Elmer Rhoden, V.p. of National Theatres. Warner gifted 3,700 WB common shares, reaucingliis direct- ownership to 228,999 shares. He j also has 12,750 shares in trust. I Rhoden bought an additional 2.500 shares of N-T’s Common issue. He , now has 19.800 in direct owner- ship and 9;225 shares via invest- ment companies. Frederick Brisson, indie pro- [ advantages that might help ducer whose next will be “The .-"vvonnells argument next June. Prior to heading back to Minne-i Girl Rush.” and writer Leonard! Ramifications of Uie lifted ban apolis, the inventor said lie was Gershe are in N.Y./.from Holly- j are several. Should B&K elect, it “happy” to learn that MPRC engi- wood this week for preliminaries could fill up its four Lopp house* neers worked out a system that , on the film. with the choicest product for in- carboncopies his. “This is flatter-; They’ll be huddling with Rosa- [ definite runs. Previously all can- ing arid a confirmation of my; lind Russell. B.risson's wife, who is didates for. extended runs at tiios* work." he declared. i to have the starring role. I theatres had to receive special ■■ 7r " : * ^7 : ; court permission, and . generally Judge Ingoe would not permit two extended runs concurrently at B&K houses. What’s more, with clearance- restrictions abandoned, the large Windj r City chain con- ceivably could Control the subse- quent run of certain pix, as it once did. Can Buy in Their Theatres at Original Cost, Referee Rules in Dubinskys’ Hassle Kansas City, Dec. 22. I at cost, total rentals of $384,000 Decision by a court-appointed • ' w’ould accrue to him. Referee also A S u’ U 2 1, | er ff 1 Extends Stay ihstrihni.^‘ri^albcrg, Paramount’s l'i' cun , T A opper ’ wi ^ 1 continue trim*.next’mpnth . 1 St ^ UttU1 SPme ' rl! X on,,- ( 7 : a slipped- ar hlcc in J° n ^ nd . rias had medico n ine i (1 . , lcni 1 a . 1 ( n ln a warmer cli- . L lt " a-while.. Gangster Tandem Dates Based on the successful the reissue combo sar”. and "Public Enemy, thrillers, at the Holiday Theatre. N.Y., Warner Bros, has lined tip additional engagements in key cities for lop playing tiinc during J ; anuary and early February. Tandem broke the house record at the Broadway house during its , 4-. , tv i awarded Drinvood $121,000 as darn- referee sided with Edward D. ' j ages resulting from employment wood i nee Dubinskyi in a long-; eqntracts^^ by his brothers, drawn out legal bout with his, , On« another count, the referee brothers over ownership of, thoa- decided that Durwood must pay tro properties valued at close to ! his brothers'^ $52,000 as salary un- $2,000,000. Referee Paul Barnett , der an bid'contract which had been ruied that Durwood, head of Dur-, in dispute. . unOfl Theatres, Itic.. is entitled to 1 Bamett ! declared the brothers Actually the B&K . attorneys had asked for “booking time" in* stead of clearance, as such. Bui insofar aa booking time is de- scribed as “that period necessary for effective purchasing and pro- gramming of pix." it s taken to be merely a cuphenusm for or- dinal y clearance. Jackson Park Decree Prior to the Jackson Park De- cree pix that had played B&K will/ flu . iti sky at' a.Time when they were in , were empioyea ana conspiring ■ju WVMU viu uu-uk uh- m-vi-iii!-' Durwood’s employ . ! with Maurice Schweitzer and M .n-^■.'V-eeks.-• The circ uit could then DurwOod now may purchase the ! nie Schermer in a fraudulent' { ),a( ' c l,1 e pie at its qwn.. neighbor-.. 'Star View Theatre, Lincoln, Neb-; j scheme to secretly breach the cm-i J 10()d bouses'in any way it c.Iiom*-. ^ * - _ . .. . . This sometimes held hack product from the indies for- as long as six months. ..Under the decree, .how- ever,-distribs wore .'forced to avail product for “A" runs for. high- bidding. theatres almost immedi- a.«> they quit the'Loop. River Lane Theatre. Rockford, 111,,: ploymertt pact. Schweitzer is a and. the Altwood Theatre. Wood- brother-in-law of the Dubinskys river. Ill , from his brothers. and Schermer is a retired business Barnett estimated that the thea- man, Both are of St; Louis. first week's run and rriaintained a i r( k S 'increased in value by $500,000 : Durwood, who is 69, was : famed hefty pace during ,ts n £®^ since they were constructed. Should/ as a stock company, leading man. i third weeks of what now app n • T >lir . vooc i , c jcct to take the theatres , in the midwest about 40 years ago; j.ately ian extended run. 1 -