Variety (September 1954)

Wednesday* September 1, 1954 PICTURES Sales policy and merchandising plans for “White Christmas/' first VistaVision picture from Para- mount; Will be taken up at ft three- day meeting of top Par execs, be- ginning today (Wed.) at the Hotel Astor, N.Y^^In an unprecedented move by the company, two days will be given to discussipn of the one film. Third day of the confer- ence will be given to distribution of other product on the lineup. “Christmas" is being regarded by Pa? as the most important of the current year’s releases, and policy determined for its handling doubt- less will have a bearing on. sub- sequent pix lensed in the same widescreen process, While a blue- print of terms hasn’t been drawn! it’s regarded as a certainty that the physical setup of theatres will be a major consideration in Par’s licensing of exhibitor contracts. Par wants this first V’Vision entry, particularly, showcased in houses which have updated their projec- tion equipment and have installed the fullest-sized screens which auditoriums will accommodate. Annual Sales Drive Division managers, assistant di- vision chiefs and homeoffice brass will sit in at the sessions, with A. W. Schwalberg, distribution chief, to preside. Barney Balaban, Par president, will address one of the meetings. Others on the (Continued on page 27) Schenck, Balaban faking Active Roles in Move To Bring UA in MPAA Fold Nicholas M. Schenck, president of Loew’s, and Barney Balaban, president of Paramount, are taking an- active role in a move to bring United Artists into the Motion Picture • Assn, of America. UA is the only distributor outside the membership fold. T^e two execs and reps of other companies joined Arthur Krim, UA prez, and . Robert Benjamin, board chairman, in a meeting in Schenck’s N. Y. office last Thurs- day (26). Repping MPAA was Ralph Hetzel, exec v.p. No final decisions were made, but it was clear that UA is giving the mem- bership bid active consideration. In the event TJA agrees to the tieup, some special consideration would be required of the Produc- tion Code. UA still has in release “Moon Is Blue,” which was denied Code approval. Further, UA is unique in that it engages only in distribution and relies on indie filmmakers for its product supply, and some of these do not profess agreement with the Code. This, obviously, could place UA in a difficult position if MPAA membership is agreed on. MPAA companies are enjoined from dis- tributing any films which are nixed by the Code. Polaroid’s Sixmonth Biz Dropoff to $9,500,000 The risft and fall of third-dimen- sion has, caused a severe slide in profits of. Polaroid Carp., via its manufacture of 3,-D viewing glass- es. Outfit’s gross business for the first six months of 1954 slipped to $9,500,000, down from $13,700,000 in the first half of 1953. Net earnings fell to 54c per share in the first half of the current year, from $1.56 per share in the cor- responding period of last year. WB Buying Up Stock? Warner Bros, is preparing for a new buyup-of its common stock, according to Wall St. sources. It’s said that the film company will invite stockholders to tender their shares at either $20 or $21 per share. AH in line with the WB objective of shrinking its capitali- zation. The issue is now selling at around $16.50 on the N. Y. Stock Exchange. + f More Adult Stuff Minneapolis, Aug. 31. Spencer Lees, who was co- producer of the religious film, - “Day of Triumph,” is so en- amored of Hollywood that he’s selling his Cannon Falls, Minm, manufacturing plant, near here, He will quit making baby clothes to produce more pic- tures.' FRO (diarantee M Bats 1,000 The new concept in film selling —the exhibitor guarantee plan in- troduced by Filmakers Releasing Organization—is winning wide- spread support from theatremen. The first picture offered under the plan—“Private Hell 36”—has 1,000 theatres on the dotted line so far, according to Irving H. Levin, prexy of the indie distrib outfit. The picture, offered to exhibs prior to production on the basis of story and cast names, is going to exhibs at terms of from 25% to 40% plus a minimum guarantee. The maximum percentage, accord- ing to Levin, is from highly com- petitive areas. % The indie distrib firm, organized to distribute the films of Filmakers Productions, the Collier Young-Ida (Continued on page 29) ’Duel’ Reissue Heads For $2,500,000 U.S. Rentals; Strong Draw in Ozoners David O. Selznick’s rprssue of “Duel in the Sun,” originally out in 1947, on the basis of about 300 dates looks to hit close to $2,500,- 000 in domestic distribution rent- als. Unusual aspect of the rere- lease is the strong coin the pic is drawing in drive-ins. Point is made that only a few hundred ozoners were in operation seven years ago. In the interim virtually an entirely new market has been established via the growth of the outdoor houses, which now number close to 4,000. Film is being billed “firstrun for drive-ins” by many exhibitors. In the sales approach, the New England area was covered in satu- (Continued on page 87) HECHT HUDDLING WITH UA ON PRODUCT DISTRIB Harold Hecht, partner with Burt Lancaster in Hecht-Lancaster Pro- ductions, arrived in. N.Y. from the Coast yesterday (Tues.) for hud- dles at United Artists, distributor of H-L product, and to supervise the Gotham location shooting of “Marty,” picturization of a televi- sion play. Walter Seltzer, ad-pub director of the company, is accom- panying the producer. Following a stay of a couple of weeks, Hecht will head for Ken- tucky where H-L has “The Ken- tuckian” now shooting with Lan- caster directing and starring. 20th’s Six C’Scopes Hollywood, Aug. 31. For the first time in Hollywood history, six Cinemascope pictures are in Work at the same time on one lot, 20th-Fox. ^ These productions, with a com- bined budget of $21,000,000, in- clude “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “Desiree,” “Dad- dy Long Legs,” “The Racers,” “Untamed” and “Prince of Play- ers.” Groundwork Is beihg .laid by 20tMFox for another go at the use of widegauge film# ' \ *' , Company pioneered In .that field in the late ’20s via the Grandeur system and revived the idea just before the war. That equipment has now been dusted off by 20th engineers, who plan to make a se- ries of tests with it. If plans work out 20th may lens “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” Fulton Oursler’s story of the Bible, both on wide- gauge film and Cinemascope. The only other outfit currently working with Widegauge stock— 65m—is Todd-AO, which is lensing “Oklahoma.” Film is also being duplicated in C’Scope. Earl I, Sponable, 20th’s researehr topper, conceded last week in N. Y. that 20th was collecting facts pertinent to an improvement of its old widegauge system. He said the company was currently engaged in a “general investigation” of the possibilities of wide film and was seeking facts on what advances might be expected -in the color field, general production of raw stock in relation to the visibility of grain, etc, . Sponable said he was starting out with the Grandeur concept, “because we have that equipment,” (Continued on page 22) ftV/ft V AUer’s Promise Hollywood, Aug. 31. Herb Aller, a member of the AFL Films Council and business agent of Local 659 of the Cameramen’s union, said today (Tues.) that the Council had done no more than promise Tom O’Brien, British labor leader, that it would consider his request and accept his representations re the production of tv pix in Britain. “We took the matter under deepest consideration . and agreed to review* it in. the near future,” he stated. BidViaUGFE N.Y. Dailies Redfaced At ’Maharajah’ Hoax While ’Egyptian’ Is the Gainer A white turban, black goatee and an inscrutable facial expres- sion last week brought a not al- together shameful 1 blush to the faces of 20th-Fox pluggers and a lot of apparently welcome publicity to a gent called Albert Carlo, an artist. Carlo really cashed in twice. First, when he posed as the Maha- rajah of Barata at the N. Y. Roxy preem of 20th J s “The Egyptian,” and again when, unmasked by the N. Y. Times, he got additional at- tention from both the papers and tv, particularly the Dave Garro- way Show. Just who was responsible for (Continued on page 27) Trend towards coproduction abroad and the desire of German producers to seek new export mar- kets has cued establishment of United German Film Enterprises in N. Y. Munio Podhorzer, vet Ger- man film importer and distrib, heads* up the new outfit, which reps a number of top German produc- tion, distribution and export com- panies. This is the first such post- war move by the Germans. According to Podhorzer, UGFE is to become a link between the Ger- man and Austrian film industries and the U. S. market which, he said, “has yet to feel the impact of many Of Germany’s and Austria’s outstanding postwar productions.” Agency will be active both in the arranging of coproduction deals and the sale of German-language pix to tv. In addition it will act as a producers’ rep for German film- makers in making distribution ar- (Continued on page 80) National Boxoffice Survey Trade Slips Pre-Holiday; ‘Brides’ Again Takes 1st, ‘Obsession’ 2d, ‘Window’ 3d, ‘Cinerama’ 4th Pre-holiday week and the stanza before school resumes in some key cities ^ makes this a spotty one for most 'first-run theatres. However, the bigger pix are holding up re- markably well despite the handi- caps, including the fact that many of them are oh long eXtended- runs. New product is starting to show up in numerous key cities covered by Variety and the com- ing week will see fresh fare spotted in additional houses. “7 Brides For 7 Brothers” (M-G) is champ again, for second week, in a row. Playing in some 10 spots, it will show nearly $320,000 gross. “Magnificent O b s e s s i o n” (U), which was third a week ago, is moving lip to second place after being very high in ratings for nearly a month. “Rear Window” (Par), showing up in some seven keys currently, Is capturing third position, “Cin- erama” (Indie) again is taking fourth. “Waterfront” (Col), also comparatively new in actual num- ber of playdates, is finishing fifth, moving ahead of “Caine Mutiny,” also a Columbia release, which is dropping to seventh. “Broken Lance” (20th), fifth last session, is taking sixth spot. ’’Gone With Wind” (M-G) (re- issue) is landing eighth place while “Vanishing Prairie” (Disney) is finishing ninth. “King Richard and Crusaders” (WB) is landing in 10th slot. “Living It Up” (Par). for weeks high on list, is dipping to 11th, since having completed most of top first-run dates. “Susan Slept "Here” (RKO) rounds out Top 12 list. “Valley of Kings” (M-G), “About Mrs. Leslie” (Par) and “Duel in Jungle” (WB) are runner-up pix. “The Egyptian” (20th) is stand- out new entry, based on take open- ing round. It is giant in Balto where taking* top coin, smash in Frisco, terrific in N. Y. and great in Philly. “Dragnet” (WB) is soeko in Chi, solid in Detroit and smash irt N. Y. “Crossed Swords” (UA), also new, is very spotty this round. “Dawn at Socorro” (U) is rated good in Boston, big in N, Y. and nice in Philly. “Man With Million” (UA) shapes stout in Washington, good in Balto and nice in Cleveland. “Black Shield of Falworth” (U), fine in Chi, is big in Minneapolis where ace newcomer. “High and Mighty” (WB) looms great in Toronto. “Duel in Sun” (SRO) (reissue) is smash in K. C. “La Rohde” (Indie) is rated fancy in Balto. “Francis Joins Wacs” (U) is good in Seattle. “Apache’’ (UA), okay in L. A., shapes neat in Portland. “Ring of Fear” (WB), nice in Louisville, is fair in St. Louis. “Malta Story” (UA) is good in Boston. (Complete Boxo//ice Reports on Pages 8-9) • • .Brit-Made fir O’Brien Huddle ♦ By FRED HIFT With a series of misunderstand- ings now successfully cleared up, the AFL Hollywood Film Council, which speaks for the Coast labor unions and guilds, has agreed to call off its pressure campaign against the exodus of U. S. tv film production to Britain pending fur- ther talks. In reporting this in N. Y. last week (28), Tom O’Brien, British la- bor leader who is in this country with a mandate to speak for the four major British entertainment unions, said his mission had been a 100% success and that it had served to clear up a number of se- rious misconceptions on both sides. O’Brien, who leaves N. Y. by air tomorrow (Thurs.) for London, also said general agreement had bean reached on the creation of a small, permanent Anglo-American labor liaison committee which would meet alternately in N. Y. and Lon- don and which, he thought, would “constitute a responsible body to deal with problems on the labor side in both the U.S. and Britain.” Represented on that group would be O'Brien, as general secretary of (Continued on page 19) MPAA’s Formal Vote On Code Changes Slated; . No ’Wholesale’ Easing Board of directors of the Motion Picture Assn, of America will meet within the next month to formally vote on a set of changes in Holly- wood’s Production Code. The re- visions have been pending for some time. As previously revealed in Variety, the rewrite of the Code will mean lifting tabus on the screen depiction of miscegenation, smuggling and narcotics and likely (Continued on page 29) Trado Mark Registered FOUNDED BY SIME SILVERMAN Published Weekly by VARIETY, IN Harold Erichs, President 154 West 46th St. New York 36. N. JUdson 2-2700 Hollywood 21 6311 Yucca Street HO$ywood 9-1141 Washington 4 1292 National Press Building STerling 3-5445 Chicago II 612 No Michigan Avo. 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