Variety (February 1955)

2 MISCEIXWY t'S'RIETY Wednewlay, February 2, 19,>,> Arthur Lubin’s Credo on Directing Megger, Like Actor, Must Fight ‘Typing’—Calls British Studio Wages So Low It’s ‘Shocking’ By GEORGE GILBERT Fear of being typed poses as much a problem for a director as it does an actor according to vet- eran megger Arthur Lubin. Prior to leaving for the Coast over the weekend to start his sixth “Fran- cis” picture for Universal, he em- phasized that many directors are turning independent to preserve their artistic freedom. While admitting that he himself had been enmeshed in several “series” films, Lubin declared that his basic film-making policy was “to make pictures that I like to make.” In line with that con- cept he acquired screen rights to “The Interruption,” a novel by W. W. Jacobs, from the author’s es- tate some four years ago. Mike Frankovich’s Film Loca- tions Ltd. became interested in the property 18 months ago with the result that under its aegis and Lubin’s direction “Interruption” was lensed as a Jean Simmons- Stewart Granger starrer for Co- lumbia release. A period meller (Continued on page 22) Sex Transit Gloria Hollywood, Feb. 1. Voluptua—or Gloria Pall— who touched up old films with live sex-tease over KABC-TVi has been dropped by the sta- tion after seven weeks, due to pressure groups. Films’ sponsor got plate- shy, so, the whole thing was- called off by Hunt Stromberg Jr., who reported as many re- quests for pinups as criti- cisms. Harry Sosnik’s Own Music Publishing Firm Set Up Harry Sosnik has followed a pat- tern now commonplace for crea- tors and interpreters of music and has established his own publish- ing house. Harbet Music Publish- ing Co. derives its name from the first syllables of the orchestra lead- er’s and his wife’s (Betty) names. While Sosnik expects to have some of his works, as heretofore, published by other houses, Harbet will enable him to control and ex- ploit copyrights of the considerable amount of music he regularly com- poses for radio and television pro- grams. On the basis of his long standing as a member of ASCAP, the Harbet company has been | granted ASCAP participation. Meanwhile Sosnik and librettist Rejection of the French picture Charles Tobias have teamed to pro- “Game of Love” by the Maryland duce “My Brother’s Keeper.” This and Pennsylvania censors stands is the same title as the bestselling to bring court tests in both of novel by Marcia Davenport, these states, according to William (At the present time there is no Shelton, v.p. of Times Film Corp., i known Hollywood interest in mak- which distributes the import. ing a film of the book, despite its Shelton said the Maryland ruling success, because . of the subject- W'culd definitely be appealed in the matter, based on the Collyer Broth- courts. In Pennsylvania Times ers, being considered shy on sex- Film is waiting for a censor board appeal for the screen. Ed.) decision on its appeal for reversal of the board's “rejection in its en- tirety” edict. If it isn’t forthcom- ing. Shelton said, “we will imme- diately institute a suit in the Court of Common Pleas challenging the decision.” Accoladed in France, Called Dirty Here; Ban ‘Game cf Love’ HORACE HEIDT For Swift A Co. Offices—J. Walter Thompson, Chicago Mary Hunter Marrying MUSEUM OF IMMIGRANTS Mary Hunter, Broadway stage di- rector, currently executive of the Theatre Guild, is marrying Feb. 18 Based on the Colette novel, and and will reside in Hartford, Conn, directed by Claude Autant-Lara, i Her bridegroom is Herman Wolf. “Game of Love” is the winner of PR operator and executive aide to the 1954 Grand Prix du Cinema .Connecticut’s first Democratic gov- Francais, the French equivalent of ernor in years, Abe Ribicoff. the Academy Awards. Miss Hunter was until recently ! executive director of the now- building American Shakespeare Festival & Academy at Stratford, 1 Conn. (Runner-up to Stratford, Skouras, Dowling Among Those England, and Stratford, Ont.) In Securing N.Y. Charter the old radio days she played ^ Marge on “Easy Aces.” Cnom . .j clr Albany ’ F< \ b }• , Widower Wolf has three chil- Spyros P. Skouras, president of H 20th Century-Fox, and Robert W. Dowling, of City Investing Co. (le- git), are among the 17 trustees of the nonprofit corporation, the American Museum of Immigration, which received Friday (28) the grant of an absolute charter by the Board of Regents. Proposed as “a national monu- ment to the many different peo- ples, immigrants all, who realized their dream of unity and freedom in this country, the Museum will Madras, India, Jan. 18. be located on Bedloe’s Island in Though the year did not start New York harbor, at the foot of with good augury, 1954 ended on the Statue of Liberty. a note of cheerful anticipation. The new national shrine will be Despite financial depression and built through the donations of citi- the continued failure of one pic- tens throughout the United States; turq after another to stand up, the will eventually be administered by industry managed to march on. the National Park Service. Despite much surface activity, ac- ‘Billions & Blunders’ Book Comes In on Buildup Wave; Raps Propaganda Tyros By ROBERT J. LANDRY Booksellers around the country broke deadline on the new book, “Billions, Blunders and Baloney,” and have window-displayed and sold the volume for about 10 days although the official publication date was only last Monday (31). Present omens suggest that the initial run of 15,000 will be ex- hausted pronto. Bookseller reaction was in an- ticipation of Devin-Adair’s special exploitation campaign. This in- cluded a $5,500 fullpage in the N.Y. Times, eye-popping for a political-angle volume, and a 1,000- liner in the N.Y. Herald Tribune book section. In addition, reprints are set with Coronet, American Mercury and pending with Read- er’s Digest An examination of the text makes clear why the book was flagged in advance as hot. It is a head-on attack on America’s whole global propaganda as embodied in “a cumbersome bureaucratic ma- chine with thousands of employes constantly seeking to justify their existence with blown-up radio pro- jects, propaganda-slanted motion pictures, ineffective and totally un- needed cabled news reports, elab- orate libraries often far removed from the native population cen- tres, subsidized new-spapers, maga- zines and anti-Communist slick books and pamphlets.” What makes this book unique is that its author, Eugene W. Castle, an investment banker, has devoted 18 months of his own time and I! Current Tax Rules On Dependents l By ERNEST D. LOEWENWARTER, C. P. A. ♦ I EVERY TAXPAYER should find new and valuable tax savings on. portunitieS in the new income tax law. The changes affect salary and wrfge earners, investors and individuals In business and in the professions, partnerships, and corporations, as well as estates and trusts. There is no change In Individual tax rates, but this year you win find many other forms of real tax saving through increased personal and family credits and deductions. One of the most important of these changes concerns dependents. A dependent, generally speaking Is a relative, who earns less than $600 a year, and to whose support you contribute more than half and who does not file a joint return with a spouse. The new law allows you a $600 dependency exemption for any person even though not related, if he meets those conditions and uses your household as his principal place of abode. A dependent includes an unadopted foster child and also a cousin in an institution because of mental or physical illness, if formerly a member of your household. A child under 19 years of age on December- 31st is now termed a dependent even if he earns more than $600 a year, provided you con- tribute more than 50% to his support. If he is over 19, arid earns more than $600 the child still is a dependent provided he is a full-time school or college student, or is enrolled in an institutional farm pro- gram for at least five months of the year. But again, you must con. tribute more than 50% of his support. If the child has a scholarship grant, that is not included as part of his income. But payments to him under the G.I. Bill do count as part of his income. They are not scholarship payments. If more than one person contributes fo the support of a dependent and no one contributes mofe than half, anyone of the supporters can claim a $600 exemption, provided he contributes at least 10% to that (Continued on page 20) Squelch Via Buildup Ottawa. Feb. 1. Ottawa Citizen, which re- cently added Ed Sullivan's syndicated column, sent three men to N. Y. to cover his “Toast” telecast featuring Ca- nadian sled dogs. Making it up were Joe Finn, reporter; Bob Blackburn, tv columnist, and Bill Newton, photog. Coverage took up so much space Citizen had to leave out Sullivan’s column. DISCRIMINATION? Par, NBC Splitting Tab on McGraw P.A.’s In Unique 2-Way Bally In a sharp departure from the era of the “electronic curtain” be- tween the motion picture compa- nies and the television industry. Paramount Pictures and NBC are cooperating in a promotional “first.” Paramount and the NBC Film- Division are splitting the costs of a 13-city balyhoo tour by actor Charles McGraw, who’ll plug both Par’s “Bridges at Toko-Ri." in . _ ... „ _ . V1 . A | which he’s featured, and “Adven- Oli.o I.er;slalor Exempts \ideo tures of the Falcon," his own tc;c- From His Censorship Drive pjxer which NBC Film Divislon I . . , distributes. Cleveland, Feb. 1. Under the cooperative arrange- City council resolution asking men t paramount will pay all trans- fer state passage of a new motion p 0r t a tj on while the Film Division picture censorship law is no covers hotel bills and food for the meant to include tv film on local 1 3-oity cross-plugging tour, which outlets according to Councilman kicked 0 ff j n n cw York last week. Kernut Neely, one of the sponsors , McGraw made the television and 01 * I 1 e ' * e 8 lsla U°n. I press interview rounds in Gotham At the same time, other council- untd Monday (31), then shoved off men, backing the move, said that for Pnstnn anH ’ tho romainint , their action has been backed by c m es strong “pressure groups” who want the law clearly defined as to what constitutes “obscene and im- moral” films. Councilman Neely said he has watched tv films and “with but one late movie all have been in good taste with tv stations apparently for Boston and the remaining Field exploitation men from Paramount, along with NBC homeoffice publicists and field salesmen, are setting up schedules for McGraw in each city he hits. DIPLOMATIC RECOGNITION ethics and operations, something made two extended trips to Europe 1 the Hollywood studios have not (Continued on page 77) I done.” living up to their own code of Associated Press Instructs Its Staffers on Television News India: No Language Unity Plus Poverty Soundtracks in Tamil, Teluga, Hindi, Bengali—Also I)u!> Into Sinhalese lo Create Ex- port Market in Ceylon—Bad Feeling Ends India and Pakistan Film Exchange—Hindoo Morality Makes Censorship of American Pictures Drastic, and Getting Worse Subscription Order Form Enclosed find check for $ Please send VARIETY for y*". 2/2 To (Please Print Name) Street City Zone. .. . State, Regular Subscription Rates One Year—$10.00 Two Years—$18.00 Canada and Foreign—$1 Additional per Year V&fZlETY Inc. 154 West 44th Street New York 34. N. V. - By N. S. ESWAR- tual production slowed down con- siderably. Statistically, the drop in South was only a little over pictures produced has been de- creasing year by year. There was a time when it was hoped that with the integration of India as one political unity provin- cial languages would gradually dis- appear. Last year proved to be the deathknell for such a theory. For, in South India, production in regional languages showed a note- worthy jump, especially in the Canarese language. The demand for Canarese pictures became so great that even Tamil pictures were dubbed in that language. Pro- duction of Malayalam pictures also showed increase over 1953. This increased number of pictures in Short Career Miami, Feb. 1. Comedy twosome of Henny Youngman and Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom lasted two weeks. Says Youngman: “We got of- fers—each separately.” Youngman stepped in at Copa City when Mae West took ill and will stay into run of Sammy Davis Jr. until Jimmy Durante shows up. regional languages has created a dent in the market for Tamil, Telugu and Hindi pictures on West Coast of India and in Mysore State. Incidentally, it was a regional lan- guage picture in Mahratti that won the President’s Award for the best picture. Invidious Cost Contrast J The following appeared in a box in the Associated Press’ Log for Jan. 13-19: “The time has come to be as realistic in writing about television as any other subject in the news. Tv is here to stay, like movies, air- planes and wire trouble. It pro- duces news, but let’s take it in stride and not be awed. “For example: Avoid loose ref- erence to the number of persons estimated to be watching a tv show or special event. This applies to all such estimates, whether attrib- uted or not, since they can only represent sampling guesses, at best, and in any event do not constitute news. It is sufficient to say. if pertinent to the story, that such- and-such an event or show will be or was televised, nationally or otherwise. “Also to be avoided are such terms as ‘the magic of television.’ | 'expensive tv equipment,’ etc. Ev- erybody knows it is magic and ex- pensive. So are newspaper presses and cameras/’ Unfortunately, 1954 has been re- markable for an unbroken succes- sion of mediocre production. Bengal has led the country by placing accent on economic real- ism. Bengal producers showed Madras and Bombay that pictures Can be produced much cheaper. Madras * is supposed to be the cheapest place under the Indian sun. It is therefore hardly credible that a production ia Madras equals costs of Bombay. While produc- tion costs on an average picture in Madras and Bombay are $100,- 000, Bengal spends only $75,000 at most. Having been left with a narrowing market, Bengal is mow launching on co-produetion deals with Bombay Studios so that Ben- gal films will have an all-India market. Most of the leading ar- n0W WOrk -! Mrs Ejeanor R-evrU has an- DurinK 1954 Madras a.so turned ^as^eT.lenis Edto »d Steve Price Turns Lecturer Stephen Price, radio-tv director and vocal coach whose piece. “Put Your Best Voice Forward.” ap* peared in the January American Magazine, has been signed by Co- lumbia Lecture Bureau as a result- His theme: “New Adventures in Personality Development.” He'll break in his new “act ’ on the lecture platform this spun?* Itinerary is now being laid out. (Continued on page 22) tv.