Variety (July 1954)

W«Jnwdgy, Mr 1,. 1954 Berlin, July 6.. But for the last-minute an- nouncement that separate prizes were to be awarded for features and feature-length documentaries, the Walt Disney contender, "The Living Desert,” would have walked away with the first prize at the Berlin Film Festival, which wound up here last Tuesday (3). ,,On the points system introduced for .the first time this year, it topped the entire list of entries, securing 3.94 marks out of a possible four. The points system was calcu- lated on the basis of four marks for “excellent,” three for "good,’ two for “medium” and one for “bad.” Bunnerup to the Disney entry was the Swedish docu- mentary, “The Great Adventure,” .with a rating of 3.8* Topping the poll in the feature-film class was the British-made “Hobson's Choice,” with 3.74 rating, followed by the Italian entry, .“Bread Lov’s and Phantasy” (3.71), and the French pic, “The Renegade" (3.64). None of the five Hollywood offerings, which included two C’Scopers—“Garden of Evil” and “Knights of Round Table” (M-G>— placed in the first 10. France collared three of the first 10 places, getting sixth, po- sition with “Julietta” and seventh with “Wild Fruit.” Italy also had three winners, including “Great Hope” (fifth) and “Neapolitan Carousel” (ninth). Two of -the other winning films came from Germany and one from Austria. “Hope” also got the nod for two more prizes, firstly as best repre- senting the ideals of world free- dom, and later as the choice of the International Catholic Film Bu- reau: Without any explanation, but at the request of the producer, the Japs withdrew “The Gate to Hell” as' a festival contender although it (Continued on page 63) DONLEVY’S TELEVISION SERIES FOR THEATRES Hollywood, July 6. Theatrical film version of Brian Donievy’s television series, titled “Dangerous Mission — London,” Will be packaged by William B. White, with Donlevy starring. Film will be made without a release. White expects to round up the rest of the cast to start shoot- ing Sept. 15 in Europe. V Toronto, July 6. . Ray Lewis, veteran publisher and editor of .the Canadian Moving. Picture Digest, film . tradepaper, died yesterday (Mori.). In private life Mrs. Joshua Smith, Miss Lewis had a back- ground in show biz before estab- lishing the Digest in 1915, A grad- uate of Harbord College, the Con- servatory of Music, Toronto, arid the School of Languages, London, she had been a Shakespearean ac- tress and lecturer In addition to editor and publisher. She also had career as a film im- porter and theatreowner, having brought foreign language films into Canada and owning several theatres in Toronto. She opened the Alli- ance Film Exchange in 1940 and was a partner affiliate of Famous Players Theatre Corp. and B & F Theatres Circuit. She was a mem- ber of the Women’s Music Club of Toronto, on the women’s commit- tee of the Toronto Symphony, on the board of trustees of the Canadian Motion Picture Pioneers benevolent fund, and on the board of directors of the Pioneers. HORACE HEIDT Currently On Tour Under Personal Management WALTER PLANT On Life Behind ‘Gents Marry Brunettes’ Set for Jane Russell Deal is about wrapped up for the picturization of Anita LooS’ “Gentlemen Marry Brunettes” in tieup involving United Artists, pro- ducer Robert Bassler, Jane Russell and others. Pic, slated to roll in September, will be lensed in Hol- lywood, London and Paris. Bassler will- be exec producer, Richard Sale will direct from Miss Loos’ script, Sale and Robert Waterfield will be associate pro- ducers and Miss Russell will star in the UA release^ Two other star- ring roles have yet to be cast. Miss Russell and Waterfield, her hus- band, are pards in Russfield Pro? ductions, which has a commitment to make six films for UA. New York. Editor, Variety: Our administrators, while pro- fessing to do all they can to make • New York a Mecca for visitors, do, ! however, all they are able to dis- ; courage people from visiting with ! us. Certainly a city sales tax does not encourage people to come to New York, while at home they pay no such impository tax. This gim- mick must inevitably react to the general detriment of all businesses. Why do people come to New York? To buy merchandise: This is a Mecca for shoppers: So we put a tax on our merchandise so- that people may buy cheaper at home. To see famous sports events: So we tax tickets and encourage them to stay in their own communities where they may ^ee the events on television, which television shows are often barred in New York City. To see shows in the cultural cen- ter of American show business: So instead of encouraging them to come here we tax them. To see the Giants, Yankees, Dodgers play: Here again we im- pose a tax to witness a sport you may see free on your television screen, instead of encouraging people -to come to New York to see three of the best advertising me- diums any city ever had. The amusement tax- applies to (Continued on page 53) By. HAL P. MILLS- (Former Variety correspondent at Shanghai; editor and, publisher of two Chinese daily newspapers, who recently paid a secret visit behind the Bamboo Curtain in Shanghai.) Just how I managed to pene- trate the Bamboo Curtain cannot be told at this time because it would endanger lives and liberty of certain anti-Reds who aided me. For six days and nights I roamed the city, observing conditions, con- versing with various persons. Then for five days arid nights I holed up in the home of a Chinese friend of pre-Pearl Harbor days, while the Red authorities conducted a frantic search for me and Red radios hourly predicted my early apprehension. After five days in hiding and much bickering, bargaining and conniving, I got out of Shanghai with four other foreigners on a junk, bound for Horigkong. Old Shanghai was once a Happy Hunting Ground for American mu- sicians and show people. Pay was good, living-conditions satisfactory and the life in general an easy one. Such once-famous nite spots as the Majestic Hotel ballroom, the plush Giro’s ballroom, the Lido, the ' (Continued on page 53) Fitr Eckstine, Glasgow, June 29, Scott Sanders, 64-year-pld. Eng- lish character comedian,.^who ., has been in vaude Since he was six years old, was hissed and Jeered by a teenage ' audience, impatient to see . the next act, Billy 'teckstine, at the Empire vaudery here. Per- former, doing an “Old Actor” im- personation, carried valiantly On, and finished his act. Final Indig- nity was when he had, as skedded, to introduce the U.S. singing star to the. bobbysoxers. Sanders was met by such cries as “Awa’ hame” and “Get off.” He was reduced to near-tears. Exhibi- tion, one of worst displays of bad manners by a Scot 'vaude^audience, was condemned toy crix, who showed sympathy towards the olSi- time act of Sanders, Paradox is that; Scott Sanders, though an English comedian in style, was actually born in Mary- hill* Glasgow. Hit of Granada To S 4 7/7 Subscription Order Form Enclosed find check for $ Please send VARIETY for y*“ f CPIean* Print Nium) Zone... . State Regular Subscription Rotes One Year—$10.00 Two Years—$18.00 Canada and Foreign—$1 Additional per Year P^K/Efr Inc. 154 West 4AHi Street New York 36. N. Y. Finnish Film Executive Denies Helsinki Is Doing Any Russ Pix Appeasement Berlin, July 6. Olavi Linnus, foreign sales man- ager of Oy. Suomen Filmiteollisus of Helsinki, is doing a bum at the report in Variety (June 16) of an interview with Irja Jensen, at which the thesp asserted that Fin- land is bending over backwards to avoid, a conflict with Russia. Lin- nus, in Berlin to represent his company at the film festival, categorically refutes many of the statement made by Miss Jensen. He challenges the statement that her first American picture will not be shown in Finland because of its anti-Russian political flavor. That, he avers, will be decided by the film censorship board in due course, but “it seems to me that the odds are that it will be shown.” Of the operation of the censor- ship board, Linnus declares that it doesn’t only consider the art merits of a picture, but also determines (Continued on page 56) 'PORGY AND BESS' FILM? Slay Be Shot .tyjiJUe Live Troupe ToursFprope Hpliywdod, July 6, Plans for filming^ George Gersh- win's “Porgy Arid Be$s” are Under discussion here by Ira Gershwin and Robert Breen, director and co- producer of the stage musical. Play opens here July 12 at the Philharmonic Auditorium on the last lap of its current transconti- nental tour. It would be filmed dur- ing 1 the show’s European tour, opening Sept. 26 in Venice. Granada, [Spain, July 6. About lQO.OOO tourists, foreign and Spanish, are thronging Gra- nada this fortnight for the Inter- national Festival of Music and Darice. Rooms are at a premium and every bed available in town and surrounding district has been let to visitors. Americans, Ger- mans, South American tourists rub shoulders with VIPs from Madrid, Lisbon, Paris and Rome. Local au- thorities are busy and happy; the Festival is bringing into the town the equivalent of about $500,000 a day. Festival has included concerts in the Royal Palace of Carlos V, the gardens of the Alhanibra, fan- tastically illuminated, and the Roy- al Chapel. Musical celebrities from all over the world concertiz- ing here include the Stuttgart Chamber Music ensemble with flautist Jean Pierre Rampal; the Loewnguth Quartet from Germany. The French Wind Quintet had an auto accident near Granada and their trumpet Gilbert Coursier was badly hurt; the Spanish Jose Mar- tinez substituted and their con- certs were not cancelled. The Span- ish Symphonic Orch, conducted by Atajulfo Argerita, played with guitarist Narciso Yepes and Pianist Wilhelm Kempff as soloists. Tony Rosado sang under the baton of Eduardo Toldfa. The Chamber Choir of Pamplona (15) was di- rected by Luis Morando. Greatest triumph, however, was Margot Fonteyn and dancers from the London Sadler’s Wells Co. Hit novelty was a new solo by Fon- teyn, “Entry of Madame Butter- fly,” with English ballerina in a Japanese kimono by Christian Dior. Crix didn’t like Cesar Frank’s “Variations,” choreographed by Frederick Ashton, costumes by Sophie Fedorovitch. Other dancers irom the Wells, like Michael Somes, Ariny Linden, Pauline Clay- den, April Olrich, Brian Shaw, Alexander Grant, Michael Boulton got their 6hare of the .applause and contributed to memorable evening*’. The Spanish Ballet of Pilar Lopez, with Roberto Xlmfnes and Manolo Vargas, gave two re- citals, „ Mexico City, July g. Tourist trade, particularly Amer- ican, although bejtqrtbkn had been ekpectEd.’dEVty <u sap . pointing the government and pri- vate interests which had counted upon the 8c "peso- to' bring visitors in by the carload. Despite some hefty price hikes, the cheaper-peso does allow dollared-visitors more for their coins: then tWe old beso. The sagging toituation 1 caused by hiked passenger rates’ by airlines may hurt top spots such as Acapul- co (may hit a new low for years) but a big hypo looms. Top Americans living and doing business in Mexico-and such U. S. organizations as the American So- ciety, the Ahierican 1 Chamber of Commerce and the Mexico'post of the American Legion have com- bined to invest $10,000 monthly to sell Mexico as the idtial’’hbliday land for Tankees. Fraine B. Rh 11 - berry, Ford general manager, and j. H. McIntyre, OM veepee in charge of sales, head this organiza- tion, first of its kind and initial time that American residents in Mexico have so acted to aid the Mexican economy. The plan has the nod of President Adolfo Ruiz Cortines; Angel Carbajo, secretary of the Interior, top government de- partment, and Gustavo Ortiz Her- nari; chief of the government’s Tourist Department. 1 They assured the Americans that- their program fits in perfectly with what the gov- ernment wants—big upswing in tourist trade. Rhuberry and McIntyre stressed that their business'depends upon Mexico’s prosperity and they are convinced that tohrism is a prime prop. for that; Airlines told the government that the, 30% fare hike allowed them on routes to Tiajuana and Acapulco, classified as tourist trails, have cut their biz 35%. Companies suggest restoration of the old tariffs. , »- ■' MARTIN-LEWIS SHINDIG FOR ATLANTIC CITY Paramount is set with plans to junket 100 press,, radio and tv reps to a two-day romp with Dean Mar- tin and Jerry Lewis in Atlantic City, tying, in the preem of the team’s new Par pic, “Living It Up,” and their eighth anniversary as a combo act. Participants will converge" on A. C. early on July 15 and with M & L will get the red carpet welcome treatment from local brass and the Chamber of Com- merce. Just to make their arrival official, M & L will meet the special junket train eight miles out of A. C. and come in with the re- porters, etc. This is to be followed by a motor- cade to the Trayniore Hotel for lunch, a fashion show, whatever last minute items are added to the agenda, dinner and then the trek via roller chairs to the Warner Theatre for the film’s unveiling. In addition to ceremonies outside the house, M & L will give a stage performance. Janet Leigh, starred with them in the pic, also will be on hand. Night will be capped with a pri- vate party at the 500 Club where M & L started their dueting. They’ll offer a preview of a new act they’ve whipped up. “Hang- over Breakfast” begins the second day, followed by some M & L hi jinks on the local golf links. Then home. ' - Martin and Lewis are being given a rare opportunity to engage (Continued on page 63) BEERY-DRESSLER TRADITION Brit. Co. To Make Color TV Tubes London, June 29. A British television company is to go into early production of colored tv tubes following the suc- cessful outcome of recent negotia- tions in America. Jules Thorn, chairman of Thorn BleCtrieal Industries, makers 6f the Ferguson tv receivers, returned last week from N. Y., having com- pleted a partnership deal with Sylvania Electrical Products. Try Dizzy Dean and British Her- jniorie Glngold. a?,a..Fibn Team 'Hollywood, July ,A new ; talent team for a series of films, on the.,style of ..thecal* lace. Beery-Marie .Dresslpr .come- dies has been put together by Billy Grady and he’s currently hunting suitable properties to round out the package. His stars are Dizzy Dean and Hermipne Gingold, Brit- ish musicomedy star who became a Broadway hit last season in Ai- manac/* Grady’s son, Billy Grady Jt’-» would produce the series. * ■