Variety (December 1954)

'VARIITY'S' LONDON OPFICI • St. Martin's Placr, Trafalgar Square l\TKH\ATIOXAI. 13 No Bids on Bankrupt Studio Tips Serious State of Arg. Fix Finance Buenos Aires, Nov. 30. Highly symtomatic of the pre- carious state of film production finances in Argentina was the lack of a solitary bid when the main properties of the bankrupt Emelco studios were put up at public auc tion. Base price was roughly $50,- 000. Generous terms of payment included only 30% cash, the bal- ance payable on mortgage over five years. The Industrial Credit (State) Bank, as Emelco’s main creditor, was left holding the bag although a large crowd was at- tended the auction. A condition of the sale which may have stymied matters for pro- ducers was that no one already owing the bank coin could benefit by the credit terms. As all local producers are heavily in debt to it. this was a stumbling block. Emelco was driven into bank- ruptcy in 1952. American industrial- ists have shown occasional interest in the property for use as factory buildings, but the price stymied any deal. Another idea mulled over was conversion of Emelco into tele studios but the location is somewhat inaccessible. Now that public auction has failed, some enterprising group may step in to secure a bargain. A factor which may have further impeded any bids from the local film industry was that the Credit Bank has suddenly cut all loans to producers, and it’s reported there will be a revision of the State’s policy of all-out aide to the pix biz. This stems from discussion of a notorious racket developed from this generosity. Simce 1952, the bank has loaned producers 70% of their production budgets, at two- year payment terms at the low (for these times) interest of 5% per year. Certain types of pro- ducers or pseudo-producers would then inflate their budgets way above normal, and having obtained the coin from the bank, re-loaned it at a much higher interest. In- flated budgets in some cases went 100% above the value of the film made. In other cases only a feint was made at actual production, and after preliminary stages the pic- ture was abandoned. At a recent Motion Picture Council Meeting, the Bank nixed ?3 out of 24 credit applications. The only grant went to Enrique Faustin, who is to produce “El Ul- timo Perro” (The Last Hound), from Guillermo House’s best-sell- ing novel. The film industry is reputed to owe the bank around $5,000,000. Probably in future producers will have to rely for finance on funds accruing from the 20 centavo tax recently assigned to them on every film theatre stub sold. Hire Foreign Directors If (he lack of bids for the Emelco property was symptomatic of bank- rupt finances, continuous an- nouncements of hiring foreign di- rectors and stars seem indicative of failure by native talent to gain an international market. There is continuous talk of co-production deals, but right now it’s difficult to see how these will prove the local industry is making good. Hugo del Carril is postponing work on “Pancho Ramirez’’ until next March. By then he will know how his “La Quintrala," which preemed last week, does at the boxotfice. The Mentasti Bros, of Argentina Sono Film has dis- carded all idea of making “Car- navalito” with French femme Vivi- anne Romance, teamed with Portu- guese actor Antonio Vilar. The combined salary demands of the European put a halt to plans. Mexican director Emilio Fer- nandez is due this week to direct “La Tierra del Fuego se Apaga” (Land of Fire Burns Out) in which Ana Maria Lynch (Mrs. del Carril) and Raf Vallone are to co-star. German City's Film Biz Up Frankfurt, Nov. 30. Business in the Frankfurt film houses for the first six months of shows a definite increase over the same period in 1953 by about 212,000 more people. City’s 64 the- atres, with 31,371-seat capacity, played to 6,435,000 people the first six months. Biggest month in the first half ot the year was March, which hit Post-war high. Increased box- ‘ lte ,s . ' n line with the country's recovering economy. Wilcox Goes Back To Brit. Lion for Distrib London, Nov. 30. Herbert Wilcox has terminated his contract with Republic Pictures and reverts to independent pro- duction, with distribution through British Lion. Last picture under the deal was “Lilacs in the Spring” starring Anna Neagle, Errol Flynn and David Farrar which preems Christmas Eve at the London Pa- vilion. It opens simultaneously in Australia, South Africa and Can- ada. By returning to the British Lion banner, Wilcox resumes a long association with that company. "Lilacs,” which gets British re- lease through Republic, is being distributed in the Western Hemis- phere by United Artists. It is a film- ization of “The Glorious Days,” a musical cavalcade, covering three centuries in which Anna Neagle starred on the West End stage last year. It also marks Flynn’s debut in a song and dance role. 20th-Fox, Hoyts, GUT Into Tele Sydney, Nov. 30. 20th-Fox and rival pix theatre loops, Hoyts and Greater Union (via a major JARO interest) are represented in a company to be formed in Melbourne (with a capi- tal of $2,250,000) and to seek a commercial tv license. 20th has a controlling interest in Hoyts, which in turn has a stake in Mel- bourne broadcasting station 3XY. Other participants are the legit firm, J. C. Williamson Ltd.; twa Melbourne newspapers; two more broadcasting stations and an elec- trical manufacturer; and Cinesound Productions, a GU subsid. Hoyts chief, Ernest Turnbull, states that facilities of Fox Movie- tone News and Commonwealth Filmcraft Laboratories will be made available to the group. The Aussie broadcasting control board early next year will hold public hearings on applications for two commercial tv licenses each in Sydney and Melbourne. A Sydney group recently announced its in- tention to apply for a license. The government’s plan for be- ginning tv is to have a national (state-owned station in Sydney, and one in Melbourne. The Aus- tralian Broadcasting Commission, which provides a national radio service, has invited a Canadian tv expert to Australia. He is Al- phonse Ouimet, general manager of CBC, who is due here next month. 750,000 YANKS MAKE MEX TREKS THIS YEAR Mexico City, Dec. 7. Yankee tourist trade will set a new high of around 750.000 visi- tors by the end of this year, which will help Mexico greatly with ur- gently needed dollars. That’s the forecast of Congressman Carlos Diaz Pumarino, chairman of the ■ congressional tourist committee. More Americans than ever are coming down here, he said, be- cause of general improvements in accommodations, travel and serv- ices, plus intensive publicity and the 8c peso. Cheaper peso makes “doing” Mexico somewhat less ex- pensive than seeing America. Bumper figure is predicated on the fact that some 600,000 Ameri- cans visited from January to Oc- tober. Scot Fest’s Russ Bid Edinburgh, Nov. 30. Officials of the International Fes- tival here have sent an invitation to the U. of Moscow asking them to be officially represented at the 1955 arts junket. Aim is to stimu- late international interest and friendship. More than 60 world universities are being invited to send delegates. The Edinburgh Festival is sked- ded for August, 1955. * ‘ BBC-TV Expands Into Northeast Scotland London, Dec. 7. An expansion of the BBC-TV net- work, which will bring television to Northeast Scotland for the first time, is to be inaugurated next week. A new transmitter near Aberdeen swings into activity on Tuesday (14), and to mark the occasion two programs are to be beamed from the city. The programs, which will go out over the entire BBC web, will in- clude a play and children's feature. Gordine Asks Damages of French Govt. Agency; Blames It for Losses Predict Italian Film Law Will Be Extended, Likely for Full Year Rome, Nov. 30. It now appears highly probable that the protective Italian Film Law, scheduled to expire Dec. 31, will be extended, probably for a full year, thus insuring continua- tion of production plans and a whole interknit tax rebate system which characterized the Italo film legislation. The official extension proposal has been submitted to the ministries concerned by Presiden- tial Undersecretary Scalfaro. If approved, the extension Would be valid until such a time as the long-preparing new film law could be submitted and passed. Anxiety had recently been voiced by many local industry people, indicating ANICA boss Eitel Monaco, over failure on the part of the govern- mental bodies concerned to take up the film law question. If the law is not extended, or a new one passed by Dec. 31, the intricate protective system would be pai- alyzed, with serious effects on local production. In addition, several international agreements which de- pend on the stability of the pro- tective legislation would automati- cally become invalid. The current move has somewhat calmed indus- try nerves, and Monaco is now confident that an extension will be granted in time. One of the international agree- ments directly affected by the Italian Film Law is the Franco- Italian co-production and film exchange deal.- This was extended last week in Paris by a joint indus- try committee, pending approval and extension of the present Italian protective clauses. If and when this extension is granted, or the new law passed, France and Italy would immediately meet to revise their current temporary extension agree- ment into a permanent one. Crosby’s Life in Films On BBC’s Tele, Dec. 18 London, Dec. 7. An hour-long compilation film featuring Bing Crosby, including excerpts from many of his musi- cals from “The Big Broadcast of 1932” to “White Christmas,” is to be screened by BBC-TV on Satur- day (18). Tms will be the third in the BBC series on Hollywood personalities, the others having spotlighted Rita Hayworth and Doris Day. The film, which is designed to tell Crosby’s screen story, will fea- ture many top personalities who have partnered him through the years, including Bob Hope. Doro- thy Lamour, Fred Astaire, Andrews Sisters, Jane Wyman and Jack Tea- garden. 3 Networks in STURGES HELPING ON FRENCH PIC FOR U.S. Paris, Nov. 30. Thomas Brandon, of Brandon Films, wound negotiations with Marcel Pagnol for the U. S. rights to his lastest three-hour film, “Lettres De Mon Moulin” (Letters From My Mill). As a first, the pic will be re-edited and subtitled here for the U. S. Preston Sturges, an old friend of Pagnol, is doing the supervision and the titles. Brandon believes that the art films and arty theatres are on the wane in the U. S. both because of the way films are handled and be- cause of the increasing European tendency to make “scrubbed films” —that is pix either dubbed or so imitative of U. S. product as to be robbed of their inherent national characteristics. He feels that the taste and desire for seeing art pix has to be rebuilt. Arg. Realigned Buenos Aires, Nov 30. The last weeks have seen an acute state of agitation in local ra- dio circles as a result of a reorgani- zation stemming from reallocation of concessions to operate the three major networks. Officially, reor- ganization means that network ap- eration returns to private commer- cial interests. But in actual fact, the State control continues as close as ever since new holders of the concessions are closely linked to the party in power, both financially and politically. Two of the networks were trans- ferred to new financial groups. These were Radio Belgrano (includ- ing the one tele transmitter) and Radio Splendid. Belgrano was originally founded and operated as a one-man Empire by the late Jaime Yankelevich. After the death three years ago, ostensibly the web was operated by Pedro Gallardo, an official of the Tele- communications Ministry, who has now returned to that office. The Belgrano empire has been awarded to the APT (Asociacion Promotora de Teleradiodifusion) for $0,000,- 000. Capital of the APT is said to have been put up by automobile tycoon Jorge Antoni. The govern- ing board of this new concern in- cludes no names hitherto known in radio. The new board axed some 176 at Belgrano. Some 30 staff members were also fired on the Splendid web, v*hich is now to be run. by a group which operates the evening news- paper, La Razon. There were also staff dismissals on Radios Mitre, Rivadavia, Excelsior, Argentina, Portena and Antartida, which will be absorbed by the major webs. The only web on which there were no changes was the Mundo, which already had a definite operating concession, but gained Radios Mitre and Antartida from the real- location. Belgrano got Pueblo, Rivadavia and Argentina while Splendid will have Portena and Excelsior. CHURCH RAPS MINISTER Scot Clergyman Criticized For Praising ‘Martin Luther’ Edinburgh, Nov. 30. A church minister has been criticized here for recommending the film, “Martin Luther." Rev. Professor Roderick Finlay- son, editor of the Free Church of Scotland's Monthly Record, praised the pic in his editorial columns and urged “young and old to see it." It was the first time he had anything good to say of a commer- cial picture. Members of his church hit back at the professor for lauding the pic. “Religious plays and films have been the ruin of many who might have been saved," said one. Another alleged that, in the past, ministers received gifts to recom- mend religious films. * Toscanini Set For Little Scala Opening Milan, Nov. 30. In announcing its winter season schedule, the Scala Theatre today confirmed recent reports that Ar- turo Toscanini would take up the baton once more to direct the open- ing program at the Little Scala, recently completed annex to the operatic showcase. Date was un- specified but will probably be next spring. Toscanini will direct “Falstaff.” Also booked for the season, and for the first time at the Scala, is George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess" which recently had its suc- cessful Italian preem at Venice’s Fall Musical Festival. The Every- man Co. is staging. Leonard Bern- stein has been signed by the Scala to conduct a series of concerts. The program also features a Euro- pean preem of Gian Carlo Menotti’s “The Saint of Bleecker Street” and a world preview of Darius Mil- haud’s “David." " Paris, Dec. 7. Sacha Gordine. who was one of the top film producers here before going bankrupt three years ago. if suing the governmental Centre Na- tional Du Cinema for actions against him. He charges that these moves jeopardized his filmmaking, creating heavy losses and prevent- ing him from reentering production because of arbitrary measures by the CNC. Gordine is asking $1,140,000 damages. Gordine, who was responsible for some of the big Gallic pres- tige pix since the war, including “La Ronde,” “L’ldiot," “La Maria Du Port” and Juliette." makes three points in his suit. He claims that a film project, “Six Crimes Sans Assassins,” with financing al- ready set. was nixed for a produc- tion seal by the CNC, and that he suffered a loss in reimbursing his investors. Gordine also charges that the CNC illegally prevented him from making two versions of the film. “Les Miracles N’Che Lieu Qu’Une Fois” (Miracles Only Hap- pen Once), a Franco-It»lo produc- tion. which normally allows, under the law, two complete versions. Gordine says the CNC only sanc- tioned one. plus a dubbed version, and he lost the benefits of a native version. He claims that the CNC nixed his coproduction affiliation with an Italian company on the film version of Pirandello’s “Vetir Ceux Qui Sont Nue” (Dress Those Who Are Naked) and gave the right to another producer. Although Gordine admits he had financial troubles he feels that other producers, also with financial difficulties, have obtained CNC help and guidance. Certain pro- gressive cinema elements here, notably directors who have had trouble with the CNC, are reported behind Gordine in this affair. On its side the CNC says that, although Gordine showed talent and originality in his production work, the leaving of too many un- paid bills, with resulting com- plaints, behooved them to make the decision to refuse his produc- tion license. CNC adds that part of their new Film Aid Law ruling stipulates that the producer must he able to show complete fluidity in his affairs and be responsible for 20% of the funds of any of his pix. CEA Prexy, Fined As Quota Violator; Claim Some Brit. Pix ’Rubbish’ Leeds, Eng., Nov. 30. Certain British films were de- scribed by an agent as “mere rub- bish” when C. H. Whincup, prexy Cinematograph Ex- was fined $15 and $30 cost for failing required quota of British pix. Instead 30% and 25%. it was alleged of the British hibitors Assn., ordered to pay to exhibit his first-featured of 30% and 25%, that the percentages of English films shown were respectively 17.6 and 18.1. Whincup claimed that to fulfill the quota was a commercial im- practicability. He was under re- striction regarding General Film Distributors’ product and was un- able to get pix except under cer- tain conditions consisting of the booking films even before they were tradeshown. The same thing, he said, applied to Associated British-Rathe prod- uct, except that it was not limited to British films and he had to take American films. Referring to a list of English pix available to Whincup, his agent said: “Some were three years old. If he had shown this rubbish, he might have complied with the quota but he might also have shown a financial loss.” 'Spirit' Solid in Scotland Glasgow, Nov. 30. Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit” is doing solid biz/at King’s Theatre here. Comedy had record run of 1997 performances on its original production in London and became the marathon “Chu Chin Chow” of the last world w'ar. In the latest production Kay Kendall, English film actress, who starred in “Genevieve,” plays the ghost wife Elvira.