Variety (November 1954)

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'VARIETY'S' LONDON OFFICI I (t. Martin 4 * Plica, Trafalgar Souifl INTERNATIONAL 17 By HAROLD MYERS London, Nov; 16. Hannen Swaffer,; dean of Brit- ish columnists and affectionately known as the Pope of Fleet St., celebrated his 75th birthday Nov, 1 and. eight days later was feted, at a luncheon tossed by The People, one of the two Odhams national publications to which he contrib- utes regularly. The companion sheet is the Daily Herald; The luncheon, , attended by jour- nalistic celebs, Politicians, mem- bers of both Houses of Parliament and by Swaffer’s own intimate friends, was the most impressive of a series of functions that have been taking place over the past five years since he attained his. Bibli- cal span of threescore years and 10. Two years ago, the London tent of the Variety Club honored Swaf- fer on the occasion of his 50th an- niversary in Fleet Street (London’s newspaper rod'), and, on that 0<y. casion, a. distinguished show biz audience feted a friend who has be- come a legend in his own lifetime. At the time of his 70th birthday, Swaffer made his debut on televi- sion and he was again featured by the BBC-TV.in their peak Saturday night program, “Limelight,” to mark the attainment of his three- quarters of a century. One of Swaffer’s proudest boasts is that he can and has been cari- catured by a cartoonist with a drawing showing only his hat and 1 stock and It is true to say that for half a century he has beCn the best known and most hated columnist in London’s Fleet Row. If published as a collected work, the Fleet St. stories about its own “pope” would undoubtedly make a bestseller. They serve to illustrate. the ego which pushed. Swaffer to the tpp of his profession and indi- cate how, in the course of half a century in the Fleet St. jungle, he has beoome a confidant of prime? ministers, politicians and celebs ih all walks of life. 1 Tenure in Politics For more than 20 years, SwafF has played an active journalistic role in the political field, but on both sides of the Atlantic he is known and respected for the virili- ty of his dramatic criticisms in the Daily and Sunday Express. To il- lustrate what he himself caHs his 52 years of frustration in Fleet (Continued On page 20) British Filins Lose Out In Quota Default Suit Kilmarnock, Scot., Nov. 9. British films were dealt another blow in this busy industrial town when a court case was dropped against Alexander Maitles, a local exhib. Charged .with failing to exhibit the prescribed quota Of 15% British films during the year, he told the judge that to have ac- cepted his full British quota would have meant “financial suicide.” He said he had shown six British pro- ductions, and one of them cost him $75 on a twoaday showing. Maitles said that most of the cheaper seats in his Savoy Cinema were filled by youngsters who compelled the management to show “nothing . highbrow”—only “slapstick and" westerns.” At the trial reps of British film compa- nies said that Maitles had rejected almost every film they had offered him. .‘Phe exhib argued that the pix he had been asked to accept all had been nixed by the larger circuit. 20th-Fox Takeover Of Brit. Theatres Rapped London, Nov. 9. Forthright criticism of the 20th- Fox policy in acquiring its own theatres in opposition to estab- lished exhibs was made by Harry P. E. Meats, a former prez of the Cinematograph Exhibitors Assn., when presiding at a meeting of the Hants and Dorset branch of the CEA. The eXrprexy said it was a Seri- ous siate of affairs when such a company could take over buildings like music halls ahd roadshow their films against an exhib merely be- cause they would not pay 20th-Fox terms or install its equipment. He regarded this as a strong point in favor of consider a tidn; of divorce- ment, and feared-that the situation I. might, extend to oihei companies,. W. MacQueeii-Pope (oftho Drury Lane, London) raprltet the traditional whyfores of National Celebrations in the British Theatre an. intertitlng by lint piece in the 49th Anniversary Number of U. S. Fix Again Pace B.O. In Aussie; ‘O’Keefe,’ ‘Moon’ Berli Nov. 16. First half of November sees a majority of local preem houses showing Hollywood pix. Six of the 11 principal cinemas playing, tl. S. films, three have local pix while one is. showing a French pic and another has an Italian film* Three of the six U. S. pictures currently playing at local preem houses are C’Scopers, namely “Three Coins in. Fountain” (20th) at Filmbuehne Wien, “River of No Return” (20th) at Capitol and ‘.‘High and Mighty” (WB) at Film- theatre Berlin. Crix particularly praised the high technical standard of these pix. Walt Disney’s “Living Desert” is in its ninth week at the Cinema Paris while “Gone With Wind” (M-G) is due shortly to complete a full year’s run at the Kurbel. The German version of RKO’s “Carni- val Story” (Rummeiplatz der Liebe) is in. its 11th week, at the Tauentzien -Palast. Astor preemed the Gallic film, “Le Defroque” (Union), while Kiki currently is showing the Italian, film “Unfaith- fulness.” Biggest moneymaker in October in West Germany’s most important key cities was “Sauerbruch,”*- a domestic production. Second best grosser last month was also a Ger- man film, “Bildnis einer Unbe- kannten.” Austria’s “Kaisermanoe- ver” held third spot. Sees 200 Widescreen Mex Cinemas in 1955 Mexico City, Nov, 9. First. 1955 predictions for the Mexican pic trade were made by Oscar Brooks of Mier Sc Brooks, a top producing-distribution com- pany, as. he planed for the U. S. Brooks, ex-20th-FoX assistant here, forecast at least 200 cinemas throughout Mexico would be wide- screen next year and that next year would see the start of wide- screen pic/production down here, There are now 80 cinemas in Mexi- co that are widescreen, he said. Brooks revealed that he will do most of his dickering with 20th- Fox in Hollywood while in Ameri- ca, His shopping will be for wide- screen exhibition and production apparatus and equipment. Williamson Sets Italo Opera for Aussie Tour J. Sydney, Nov. 9. C. Williamson Theatres Ltd. will take on ah opera venture next year, importing the bulk of a com- pany to tour Australia and New Zealand. Firm has lined up an Italian company but the. group also will include some leading Australian singers. The chorus will be engaged here. .Williamson last undertook an opera tour in 1948-49. The ven- ture was profitable, and the com- pany toured Australia and New Zealand 15 months, claimed to be a world record operatically. Mean- while the. National Opera Co., which exists in Sydney as a non- profit venture, is far in the red. Its deficit is reported as $84,534 or more. . Italo Widescreen Newsreel Rome, Nov. 9. First Italian widescreen news- reel was demonstrated at the Capi- tol here last week, with Italian in- dustry toppers present, Labeled InconiScope and produced by the INCOM newsreel group, reel was shot in Ferraniacolor, Using the Cinepanoramic widescreen system with ratio the same as Cinema- Scope, Press reaction was favorable, al- though use probably will remain limited to special events and semi- | documentary use. y t Sydhey, Nov. 9, Exhibs are again starting to pull their belts a notch, figuring it will be the old story from here until Xihas. This seems to be espe- cially True this year since pix biz is quiet with only a few standouts. “River of No Return” (20th) sur- prised at the. Melbourne Regent by starting to even better figures than the boff “Coins in Fountain^ (20th) at the same house. But “Coins”, kept on for 12 weeks, for this big 3,250-seater’s'longest rims, “River” is not expected to show this stamina. “Miami. Story” (Col) was a happy one on its Sydney Capitol debut. “Broken Lance” (20th) at the Regent is past its seventh week. “Gone With Wind” (M-G) at Lib- erty and Metro King’s Cross, is into third rounds. “Seven Brides” (M-G), is holding past a fifth week at St. James, “His Majesty O’Keefe” (WB) at Mayfair went for four ses* si ons. In Melbourne, UA’s “Mobn Is Blue” is still running after 10. weeks at the Plaza, “Magnificent Obsession” (U) bows out after four frames at the 3,371-seat State. “Garden Qf Evil” (20th) is tops at. Brisbane Regent on. initial round. It also is bright in second week at Sydney Plaza. “Knock On Wood” (Par) at the Majestic in Adelaide continues into 6 th round, “Million Pound Note” (British) was a bright starter. TV INROADS WORRY NORTH ITALY EXHIBS Rome, Nov. 9. Reports that tele is beginning to make inroads into northern Italian boxoffice is worrying Italian ex- hibitors, who have been pressing for the further enforcement of the radio-tv exhib agreement. This among other things calls for disci- pline in the use of television in public places. This pact recently was denounced by locai exhibs, who claimed that bars and restau- rants were adding to tabs during teleshowings and that such un- taxed use of the medium was un- fair competition to the heavily taxed cinemas- Number of Italian telesets is now well past the 50,000 mark, and prices are showing a slight drop. Col Plans to Increase in Frankfurt, Nov. 9. Columbia Pictures,! which has out-distanced nearly all the. other major U. S. companies in film pro- duction in Germany, has plans for even greater German production in the future. Nick P, Pery, Conti- nental manager of the company, gave out new plans for the produc- ing setup here this week. With the increased pix-niaking, Dr. Oskar Kalbus, German general director, will be in charge of- pro- duction exclusively, Eric Mueller, former general sales manager, will handle all administration .and dis- tribution in Germany., Col has completed five productions for November and December release here. They are “Love Swindler,” “Girl From Paris,” “Double Des- tiny,” “Encounter in Rome” and “New Ways to Youth and Beauty.” The three still in. work are “Last Act,” “Phantom, of Great Circus” and “Heide & Peter.” Other Foreign News on Page 20 9 ft 9 l > Olff i fan oaa n 1 iri .• » ra/i i . i Conan Doyle Heirs Sue Berlin, Nov. 9. Heirs of ; the late English author Conan Doyle, headed by latter’s oldest son, Adrian M. Conan,Doyle, have reopened suit against the UFA which Weis interrupted be- cause of the outbreak of the last world war. Action is over the Ger- man film, “Der Mann der Sherlock Holmes War” (The Man Who Was Sherlock Holmes) whch • was pro- duced by. the UFA in the '30’s. Plaintiffs are charging that UFA misused the Sherlock Holmes name in the film title, utilized Doyle’s characters Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watsbn (which they claim as the author’s “absolute own prop- erty”) and also claim" that the .film, a comedy, ridiculed Doyle. It is likely the, Doyle heirs might have forgotten about the. suit which was first filed in 1937, had it not been reissued after the end of the w , Parii, Nov. 9. The Syndicat Des Producteurs, a committee representing French producers, decided this week that the best way to combat growing pre-production censorship in gov- ernment circles was to start a self- censorship organization like the U. S. production code administra- tion. Chairman Henri Fresnay outlined the committee views in an opeh letter on the subject. He stated that public pressure groups and the governmental Com- mission De Cphtrole were dis- turbed by the surplus of violent gangster films as well, as pix on prostitution which havp been ap- pearing in great quantities on. the production agenda lately. He opined that this might lead to a na- tional pre-censorship bureau which would not be desirable to the free- dom of the film here. Fresnay maintained that the Syn- dicat Was categorically against any pre-censorship and fervently hoped, that the government would 'refrain from any measure like this so opposed to the principles of French freedom of expression. It wa's made clear that the industry, as a whole, would object to any official move of this . kind. As an alternative he offered the fact that the industry could not remain aloof from this problem, and that the following measure had been taken. A new body, the Com- mission De Lectures (The Reading Committee) has been created. It. behooves all producers to send scripts to this outfit before sending it to the Centre Du Cinemai it was stated. . The Lecturfe Commit- tee would give its opinions on the script and suggest any needed changes. Committee would give, advice and discourage any outright lewd projects, but would protect all works deemed produceable. May Force U.S. to Show Pix Before Jap Board Tokyo, Nov. 9. A move is underway to force U.S. major filhi companies in Japan to submit their films for screen- ing by the Motion. Picture Code of < Ethics Board before exhibition here. Presently, U.S. majors are exempt from this pre-screening. Japanese, and films from other foreign Countries must have the. Board’s stamp before they are re- leased. Majors contend their product is passed by pre-production censor- ship in U.S., and therefore should not be subject .to double censor- ship. The Motion Picture Promo- tional Council has asked the gov- ernment to force the U.S, com- panies to submit their pix. The Educational Ministry wbUld .be the one to pass on the matter. London, Nov. 9, First-run cinema biz is booming in. the. West End; .Standout cur- rently is the Plaza's “White Christ- mas” which is terrific $16,500 for this fairly small house, It may liit a record.; “Barefoot Contessa” .at Odeon, Leicester Square, is great $15,000. British-made “Mad About Men” looks nice $7,300 in second frame at Leicester Square yheatre. Among the holdovers, “Modern Times” still leads with an out- standing $8,400 for its fourth round at the London Pavilion while “The Egyptian,” day-dating at the Odeon, Marble Arch, and the Carlton, looks good $13,000 ‘ fourth weeks, “Cinerama” fails to. come lip to expectation, its fifth Casino week just topping $12,000. Estimates for Last Week Carlton (20th) (1,128; 55-$i.70h— “The Egyptian” (20th) (4th wk). Okay $5,590. Last week, $6,000 “Broken Lance” (20th) preei Nov. 11. Casino (Indie). (1,337; 70-$2.15)— “Cinerama” (Robin) (5th wk). Good $12,200 but below hopes. Holds. Empire (M-G) (3,099; 55-$1.70)— “Rogue Cop” (M-G) and “Ten- hessee Champ” (M-G). Average $12,000. “Beau BrummeU” (M-G) follows as command performance pic Nov. 15. ' . •Gaumont (CMA) (1,500; 50-$1.70) ■r-“Down 3 Dark Streets”. (UA) and “Yellow Tomahawk” (UA) (2d wk). Fair $7,000. or near. Previous week, $7,600. Leicester Square (CMA) (1,753; 5b-$1.70) ■—“Mad About Men” (GFD) (2d Wk). Steady $7,300. Last week, $8,400. Holds a third, London Pavilion (UA) (1.217; 50- $l,70)--“Modern Times” (UA) 'alii wk). Good $7,800. Fourth week, $8,400. Continues. Odeon, Leicester Square (CMA) (2,200; 50-$1.70)—“Barefoot Con- tessa” (UA). Smash $15,000. Holds. Odeon, Marble Arch (20th) (2,- 200 ; 5O-$1.70)—“Egyptian” (20th) (4th wk). Good $7,500 after $8,400 previous frame. “Garden of Evil” (20th) ; opens Nov. 18. Plaza (Par) (1,092; 70-$1.70)— ‘‘White Christmas” (Par)., Terrific $16,500 and may hit record. Stays, natch! Rialto (LFP) (592; . 50-$ 1.30)— “Coins in the Fountain” (20th) (4th wk). Pleasing $3,600 following $4,- 400 third round. Ritz (M-G) (432; 50-$1.70)— “On Waterfront” (Col) (5th wk). Steady $3,000 or close. Stays on. Studio 1 (APT) (600; 30-$1.20) —"Living Desert” (Disney) (25th wk). Big $3,000 or over. Stays un- til Nov. 24 before going on gen- eral release. Warner (WB) (1,735; 50-$1.70)— “King. Richard Crusaders” (WB) (3d. wk). Fair $6,200 after $7,000 in second week. “Crowded Day” .(Adelphi) altd “Happiness Three Wonlen” (Adelphi) opens Nov. 11. Exiled Actors Allowed To Resume Work in Arg. Montevideo, Nov. 9. Arrival in Buenos Aires recently of Tilda Thamar, Argentine cine- mactress, who has been resident i France for the last six years, means that most entertainment folk, who had to go into exile through having earned the enmity, of the dale Eva Peron, are now able to resume their careers; Ninf Marshall, Delia Garces, Amanda Ledesma, Tilda Thamar and even t,ango warbler Libertad Lamarque are restored to grace (provided they never make any public reference to the reasons for their exile). Miss Marshall has made a big comeback in radio and has th top rating fOr mbst popular air come- dienne. Delia Garces starts work in “Andrea” for Argentina Sono Film this mOnth and also has legit commitments. Amanda Ledesma has been warbling tangos on Radio Splendid and in a lhusica.l revue all winter. Now Tilda Thamar is to work under Ralph Pappier’s direc- tion in “Miercoles Santo” (Holy Wednesday), with Portuguese ac- tor. Antonio Vilar. On arrival, Miss Thamar claimed that during lier .six years’ absence she had been working in 18 pic- tures: