Variety (March 1955)

IXTERXATIOVAL 'VARIITY'r LONDON OPPICI I *t Martin's Rises. Trafalgar kuirs $81,000,000 Gross for Brit. Cinemas In 3d Quarter; Net, Attendance Soar London, March 1. ♦ A substantial jump in the total number of paid admissions during the third quarter last year, with a corresponding rise in gross boxof- flee receipts, is reported in a new government survey, the results of which were published in the Board of Trade journal last Saturday <26). Attendance totaled 337,000.000 and takings soared to over $81,000,- 000. The attendance was 3.2% above the corresponding quarter of 1953 and was the highest recorded since the first quarter of 1952. Lost summer’s bad weather, note® the Board of Trade, thus had its com- pensations for the film industry, particularly when coupled with the full effect of the reduced admission tax. The net and the exhibitor's share of receipts were all higher than any previously recorded since the statistical survey began in 1950. The gross represented a rise of 5% over the corresponding quar- ) ter of 1953 and 5.4% ahead of the second quarter last year. The in- j crease was due largely to the high- er volume of admissions, but part- ly also to a few increases in scat prices in certain houses. Of the 5581,000,000 paid at the boxoffice. the admission tax sliced off 31.1%. compared with 34% be- fore the reduced rates. Net re- ceipts were better than $53,000,000, representing a rise of 9.5% over the previous quarter; payment for film hire rose 8.6%; and the ex- hibitors’ share amounted to over $35,000,00 or more than 10% ahead of the previous quarter. The survey, covering the period from June 27 to Sept. 25, embraced 4.513 picture theatres with a total capacity of 4.150,440. The detailed breakdown showed the smallest type theatre, hitherto showing the greatest proportional decline in at- tendance. increased their admit- tances by 11.1%. Variety Benefit For ‘Star’ London Preem London, March 1. Using all the technique of a big scale Hollywood premiere, the London bow of “A Star Is Born” at the Warner next Thursday (3> will be staged with full coverage by BBC-TV, radio and newsreels Only Scotland Yard has intervened to prevent a full-scale replica by prohibiting a proposed broadcast of arrival of celebrities. Preem is being staged by the Variety Club of Great Britain as benefit for the Actors* Orphanage. About 60 topflight British artists already have agreed to attend. They will be received by Sir Lau- rence Olivier. Arthur S. Abeles. Jr., WB chief topper in London, and James Carreras, Chief Barker of the local tent. Henry Caldwell, producer of the BBC-TV ‘‘Limelight’’ program, will attend with five of Britain’s most promising actresses. In addition, broadcast interviews with celebri- ties will be featured on BBC’s Light Program and a 15-minute feature of the preem. Eckstine Opens Return British Tour in April Glasgow, Feb. 22. Billy Eckstine is now pacted to top vaude at the Empire Theatre here April 25. He was a success on his bow at same vaudery last summer. He tees off at the De Montfort Hall, Leicester, Eng., and will open at Finsbury Park Empire, London, April 18. Following his Glasgow week, the singer is set to play vaude weeks at Newcastle, Liverpool, Birmingham, Coventry, Manchester, Bristol and Chiswick. Tour, negotiated by Fosters Agency, will take him right through until mid-June. New Irish Censor Unit, System of Rating Films Seen Threat to 2d-Runs Dublin, Feb. 22. With the Irish Dept, of Justice censorship through fiim censor Martin Brennan already one of the toughest in Europe, and drawing frequent squawks from distribu- tors and exhibitors here, a new blue pencil outfit has made its ap- pearance. Tl.e National Film In- stitute has introduced a rating sys- tem which it is broadsiding to hibs and others. Original project was based on the Legion of De- j cencv system but ratings so far is- sued provide only two catojrories ' —"Suitable for All Groups” and ‘'Suitable for Adults.” Official censorship provides only one rating. Distribs fear that new Film Institute ratings, while not backed by government, will all'ect , business in provincial centres. It •will not harm Dublin firstruns since lists will only be issued j monthly after the Institute review- j ers have seen the pictures here. Squawk coincides with issuance by the Justice Dept. Censor’s re-* 1 pprt for 1954 which.shows that he rejected 33 films and cut 211 others out of 1.525 submitted. Of the feature films submitted 320 were of U. S. origin and 137 Brit- ish. The Appeals Board passed (with cuts) six films which the cen- sor had nixed. Among the latest to be nfxed by Brennan is "Phfffl” (CoD. - Mex Film Gross Tops 1953 Mark Mexico City, Feb. 22. The eight-cent peso added up to the biggest total gross of all time for tiie 125 cinemas operating here last year. They took in 131,363,- 624 pesos at rates of one to the ceilinged admission price of four pesos. That boiled down to $i0,- 561,783, which was much below the $14,040,675 gross total for 1952. Nevertheless, the 1954 take was $600,000 more than that of 1953. Pesos must be cited along with dollars. The peso was devaluated lo eight cents last April from 11.6c that had obtained sipce 1948. The ceilinged admission prices began in December. 1952. Up to then, the top admission price was five pesos <58c). The ceiling was forced down to four pesos (46c). But in these eight-cent peso times, the ceiling is 32c. All in all, 1954 was a fairly good year for the cinema here, the city amusements supervision depart- ment stressed, because the overall percentage increase last year was 7% over the previous 12-month pe- riod. The department still stands pat against any upswing in «dmission prices. And,,many exhibitors con- tinue their fight of more than two years for at least restoration of (he rates that obtained up to 1952. Though admission then was 20%- 35% more than today. W. GERMANY SETS UP 2 NEW CENSOR BOARDS Wembley Stadium Boss Brit. Showman of Year London, March. 1. At its luncheon next Tuesday (8). the London Variety Club is to fete top show biz personalities. Sir Arthur Klvin. operator of the Wem- bly Stadium, has been named show- man of the year, while Jack Haw- kins is accoladed as the star of 1954. Diane Gilento gets the nod as the most promising actress of last year and Donald Sinden as the actor who made most progress. last year the London tent picked .lack Hylton as top show- man In 1952. the acting honor wont to Jean Carson who lias since achieved fame on Ed Sullivan’. least of Town'’ tv program in the U. S. Frankfurt. Feb. 22. The Bonn government has set up two new film censorship boards, probably because of the increased pressure put upon them via the inadequacy and often unfair judg- ments of the former Board. Ap- proval by the censorship board of a picture as valuable for the Ger- man public means the film is eligible for a 3% reduction of amusement tax in the nine Ger- man states. The press has been harsh in criticizing the former board for its seemingly erratic judgments, in rejecting “On the Waterfront” <Col) 4 which finally came through with an okay on second showing, and in turning down “Romeo and Juliet” (Rank). The board on the other hand gave th£ “valuable” tag to several re- cent German detective stories and light love yarns. Of the two new boards estab- lished at Bonn, the first is a 10- member permanent one of judges. The second is an appeal hoard. A jiilm which has been judged un- i worthy by the first group can re- apply and try for a change with the second board. Only complaint so far lodged against the two groups is that they are composed j of politicians and business men, rather than experts with motion I picture backgrounds. Pix Biz, Legiters Ask Tax Relief Of British Govt. London, Feb. 22. The show biz campaign for ad- mission tax relief moved a further stage forward w hen separate depu- tations from motion pictures and legit submitted their respective claims to the Treasury. The film industry is seeking a concession worth $17,000,000 a year while the legit theatre is urging total tax exemption at an annual cost of $7,000,000 a year. The film biz claim was put to Reginald Maudling, Economic Sec- retary to the Treasury, last Wed- nesday <16), by a deputation repre- sentative of the four trade associa- tions. Their claim is based on a document prepared by the exhibi- tors, which provides for 84% of the relief to be directed towards lower priced seats. The case for the legiters was argued yesterday (Mon.) before Henry Brooke. M.D.. financial secretary to the Treasury, hv a delegation representing both man- agement and unions. A memorandum submitted by that deputation showed that, of 45 j provincial and suburban theatres j \ for 1953, 29 operated at a loss and only 16 made a profit. Despite a gross of about $156,000 for the nine months’ London run of "The Manor of Northstead,” pro- ducer Peter Saunders wound up with a loss of around $3:000. He blamed this entirely on the inci- dence of admission tax. which col- lected $23,662 from his b.o. take With an initial investment of over $10,000, Saunders claimed he need- ed 60% capacity at every perform- ance to make the weekly operating nut of $3,300. In a public beef last week, the producer claimed that for him to have made a profit of $22,000 he w'ould have paid over $28,000 in ad- mission tax and then the Chancel- lor would have stepped in and taken $14,000 of his cut by way of income tax. He claims the theatrical industry has a genuine grievance in that it is taxed on losses as well as on profits. Arguing that admission levy on the live theatre is both illogical and unjust, the London manager points out that while it only yields $7,000,000 a year, it is causing the- latres all over the country to close down. And if they are all shut- tered, the Chancellor would get no tax anyway. The tax. Saunders recalls, was in- troduced as an emergency measure during World War I. “It has served its purpose and should be abolished at the next budget.” he asserts. Royal Command Film London, March 1. A new formula for picking the Royal Command film each year has been agreed within the indus- try and w'ill be put in to operation for this year’s gala in November. This is a sequel to the rumpus over last year’s selection of “Beau Brummell” (M-G> which was roundly panned and was generally regarded as an unsuitable subject for the occasion. The Cinematograph Trade Be- nevolent Fund, which coins about $80,000 from this annual event, has now set up a new' selection panel which will comprise the presidents of the four trade associations with an independent chairman. Latter post has been accepted by Lord Radcliffe, a wartime Director-Gen- eral of the Ministry of Information. The president and one member of the critics’ circle are also being in- vited to serve. Films Still Top B.O. Draw in Arg. Buenos Aires. Feb. 22. Residents of Buenos Aires spend around $100,000 daily on enter- tainment, and their favorite form of amusement is still the motion picture. This is revealed In 1954 statis- tics just released, showing that in the first 11 months of 1954 a total ot $35,000,000 was spent on enter- tainment comprising screen, legit, horseracing, soccer football and boxing. Attendance at film the- atres increased from 61.380,200 in 1953 to over 63.000,000 in 1954 while legit theatre attendance rose from 4.189,500 in 1953 to 4.700,000 last year. The figures on attendance at the racetracks are not revealed for 1954. possibly because there has been a slump since the government expropriated their operation from the Jockey Club. Attendance at football (soccer) matches was down from 2.196,300 in 1953 to under 2.100,000 last year. Televising of the matches may have something to do wi'h this drop although experts can’t believe that the 30.000 to 40.000 tv sets in use can account lor this difference. On the other hand, box- ing increased from 555.200 patrons in 1953 to 650.000 in 1954. Some idea of spending in eat- eries, niteries. etc., may be glean- ed from the fact that the Assn, of Hotels, Restaurant, Cafes & Con- I fcctioners has 1.100 associates in the various grades, representing a capital of around $100,000,000. Buenos Aires, Feb. 22. Outwardly undaunted by the manifest failure of their two en- tries at the Punta del Este Film Festival, Argentine film producers rushed out a batch of releases to three major showcases here last week, including “Mercade de Aba- sto” (AAA), a festival entry; Sono Film’s “The Corzican Brothers” and AAA’s “Pajaros de Cristal.” Since this time of yeas is a dull one be- cause of summer weather, their strategy apparently is to grab the cream of the neighborhood trade when vacationers return eager for screen entertainment in March. At Punta del Este, “Mercado de Abasto” and “Lo que le Paso a Reynoso” (Torres-Rios) aroused vo- cal audience reaction over such mediocre presentations in an in- ternational contest. Renewed effort is being made to get producers to confine their ef- forts to stories indigenous to the country, and to restrict the number of pix and make quality produc- tions. In 1954, local studios churned up 43 features and three co-produc- tions, compared to 39 in 1953. Twenty-seven of last - year’s crop are still awaiting release. However, would-be producers keep starting up, and even more productions loom for 1955. Much still hinges on finance, and since the Industrial Credit Bank nas restricted loans, many producers may not last long. Guaranteed Pic- tures is an exception. Dave Cabouli of this distributor-production combo has arranged to lease EFA studios’ buildings for three years for his own film company. He would make eight to 10 pix a year, mostly scripted by Abel Santa Cruz or I adapted from successful legit plays ! tried out by this prolific writer. The first is, “Mama’s Husbands,” with Spain’s Ana Mariscal teamed with Juan Carlos Thorry. Guaranteed* first pic with the Spanish screen- actress, “En Caine Viva” <In the j Flesh), is due for release shortly., Artistas Argentines Asociados had to abandon plans to make a j historical opus, “Camila O’Gor- man.” This w'as to be based on the romance of a heroine in Ar- gentine history -who eloped with a i priest in the 19th Century. The plan had to be shelved due to the I government's quarrel with the Ro- man Catholic church which made the priestly romance inopportune. ; In its place Luis Cesar Amadori is to mak' “Love Never Dies.” U.S. Permits Marines To Play in German Pic Frankfurt. Feb. 22. Because of a recent edict by Col. Myles Brewster of Wiesbaden, | Germany, forbidding GI’s under his command to appear in German films without specific approval of j the U. S. Government, the German firm of Maskott Films has obtained | the consent of the U. S. War De- ) partment lor a U. S. Marine unit to appear in the new film, “Befehl Zur Feindschafl” (Command to the Enemy). Pic is unusual in that it is a coproduction between Germany and Portugal, with the company of I obis-Poitugaise of Lisbon work- ing for tiic first time with Maskott Films in Munich. Picture will be l shot there. J. ARTHUR RANK BUYS NORTH IRISH CHAIN Belfast, Feb. 22. J. Arthur Rank Organization, . which already controls a c ircuit in the Irish Republic through Odeon j (Ireland) Ltd., has purchased 10 j cinemas controlled by Irish The- atres Ltd. in northern Ireland, f Purchase price was not revealed. Five are in Belfast and the others in country towns. The takeover also includes a Belfast neighbor- hood house under construction and another provincial house plan- ned for Larne. A new company, Odeon (North- ern Ireland) Ltd. has been formed I to operate the circuit with George 1 Lodge, managing director of the | Royal Cinema, Royal Hippodrome and Grand Opera House here, as prexy. London Legit Bits London. March 1. llarry Foster has agented a deal ! with F.mile Littler for George Formby to star in straight plav titled “Too Young To Marry.” Show tries out in the provinces next fall prior to the West End. Foster has also closed, deal with James P. Sherwood to star Jack llulbert and Cicely Courtneidge (Mrs. llulbert) in straight play by i Ulm scripter Bill Lipscomb, titled i “Wildest One's Dream.” Leftist Pik Groups Cry About Film Biz Crisis, Old Bromide for Paris Paris, Feb. 22. The Leftist film syndicate here, the Federation Du Spectacle, called a press conference this week to sound the old bromide about a film crisis gripping the Gallic in- dustry. This is the first raising of a threatening note in this area for some years now. The FDS placed the most emphasis on actual pro- duction figures, and recommended a series of reforms to alleviate present conditions. The main point was that only about 53 entirely French films were made this year as opposed to the needed 100. Of course, coproduc- tion accounted for the other pix. But some feel that this does not replace a solid-cored completely French film. The FDC proposed four points to help stabilize Gallic pic production. Setting up a special series of tax rebates applying to the com- plete process of film production, plus special dispensations for houses showing completely French I shows, was one proposal. The sec- ond called for modifying the Film Aid Law with greater help to pro- duction. (Leftists claim that ex- ploitation is getting too much of the nut.) Third point made was the com- plete overhauling of technical as- pects of the industry, with labs and studios getting a facelifting and modernization. Color widescreen and modern production equipment would be the main aspects of this program. Fourth point stressed was the elimination of any censorship except that imposed by the laws of society. It also was suggested that improvement in distribution and exportation of pix. with a call for reciprocity on the foreign mar- kets should be asked.