Variety (March 1955)

Wednesday, March SO, 1955 PICTURES 5 <£> I Mar ANTA Album on Closed-Circuit % i ■ a. By hy Bollinger If legit shows are to be pre- sented to film theatre audiences via closed-circuit television, they’ll have- to be turned over to the pro- fessionals, with the established closed-circuit producers and/or theatremen handling the promo- tion, the sale of tickets, and the arrangements for the technical aspects.. The ANTA Album tele- cast Monday (20) night to theatres in 31 cities, jointly sponsored by the American, National Theatre and Academy and the Cooperative for American Remittances to Every- where (CARE) was much less than a success. Not all the returns are in-yet, but on the basis of early reports, it appears .that the boxoffice take will fall far below the expected $400,000. Judging from attendance figures from different sections of the country, the return will be less than half of. the anticipated goal. The show, as seen over closed- circuit, did not lack entertainment values. In fact, a good deal of it was excellent. Properly promoted and sold, it might have been a b.o. click. Mitigating against the attrac- tion’s success 1 were a number of factors—the high tariff, the low key selling job by CARE commit- tees, and the late (10:30 p.m.) starting time in the eastern zone— and on a Monday night, at that. Technically, it lacked a great deal. The pickup, as seen at the RKO Fordham in the Bronx, was (Continued on page 15) Lichtman to Face Minneapolis, March 29. A1 Lichtman, 20th-Fox general sales manager, has . consented to put himself, on the spot as a target for hot /shots from officers and members of North Central Allied at its annual -convention here May 2-3. After he delivers his talk he’ll attempt to answer questions to, be fired at him by NCA officers and. members, including president Ben- nie Berger, who is always on the war path, against film companies. Berger says Lichtman will be asked Why ' his promised round- table conference designed to bring film rental relief to small exhibi- tors. hasn't materialized yet. The plan called for participation by dis- tributor heads and exhibitor lead- ers: Also, Berger says, Lichtman will be pressed to put himself on record regarding the Berger’s insistence that film rentals be based on indi- vidual exhibitors' “ability to pay,” toll-tv and arbitration that includes film rentals. The convention will be attended by Abram F, Myers and Rube. Shore, national Allied States gen- eral counsel and president, respec- tively. It’ll be followed by Metro’s ticket-selling workshop May 4. — ‘ . . • 20TH SETTLES J. J.’S $3,000,000 A-T SUIT Long-pending $3,000,000 anti- trust suit filed against 20th-Fox and Skouras Theatres by J. J. Thea- tres, N, Y., has been settled out of court., Basis of the accord was a cash payment by 20th of an un- disclosed amount to J. J. plus earlier availability of its prodfict to J. J.’s Luxor Theatre in the Bronx. Case first went to trial in Feb- ruary, 1953, with J. J. claiming that 20th gave Skouras’ Plaza Theatre an unfair product advan- tage over the Luxor, N. Y. Federal Court dismissed the suit but the U. S. Circuit Court, hearing J. J.’s appeal, reversed the dismissal and remanded the case, back to the Fed tribunal. Under the settle- ment, .the Luxor will be given 20th pix day and date with the Plaza and RKO houses in the area. * * i MGM Nixes BBC London, March 29. Tonight’s (Tues.) BRC-TV production of “The Unguarded Hour” has been withdrawn because Metro, which holds the rights, refused to give per- mission for the presentation. The players were advised of the decision after they had been rehearsing for a fort- night. The gap in the BBC pro- gram will be filled tonight with a kinescope of the. recent production “For Dear Life.” Rank s Canadian Sideline: Screen Advertising Co. J. Arthur Rank org is aiming to expand the advertising film field in Canadian theatres via the estab- lishment of J. Arthur Rank Screen Advertising Services of Canada Ltd. Leonard W. Brockirtgton, head of the JARO interests in Canada, heads up the new outfit. John D. Ralph is coming from London to take over as v.p. and Robert Wallace and Neil Sneyd have been named joint general managers. They formerly operated Publicity Film Distributors Ltd., on Toronto. Company has . been ab- sorbed into the new Rank Unit. According to* Brockington, all of the sponsored films will be shot in 35m color and color. He added that production facilities of the Rank org in the UK and elsewhere would be at the disposal of the new com- pany. Ralph said that the first project would be called “Tips,” a maga- zine-type of film series,' Three ad- vertisers'Will be featured in each edition. “Tips” cast will be headed by a well-known film personality, supported by Canadian actors. In the U. S., ad films play about 14,000 houses. That branch of the film biz has been hurt by television, which has snapped up sponsor coin. Theatres are paid for running the ad trailers. Top Pentagon Figures Give Ear to Complaint Post Theatres Are Unfair Washington, March 29. Top Pentagon brass sat in for the first time last Thursday as film industry reps explained why they are seeking to eliminate the pre-re- lease status of, low tab theatres on military posts in areas where nearby smalltown theatres are hurt as a result. The industry has been seeking to eliminate this preference for mili- tary theatres since last fall and indications are that the drive may be successful by the end of next month. Among those present for the first time at the Pentagon session were Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson, Assistant Secretary of De- fense Robert B. Anderson, Secre- tary^ of the Air Force Harold E. Talbott, and Thomas Gates, Under (Continued on page 22) Loew’s 2d Ozoner Loew’s Theatres, which recently acquired the Twin Drive-In in Oak Park, 111., is dickering for another ozoner in Jacksonville, Fla. Circuit topper Joseph R. Vogel is cur- rently in Jacksonville to handle the deal. The name of the out- door theatre Loew’s is eyeing is being kept under wraps. ^ The theatre chain apparently has received Dept, of Justice permis- sion to make the purchase as was required in the acquisition of the Illinois property. Japan (or Personals, Protect By ROBERT A, McSTAY i . Toronto, March 29. Confirming recent grapevine re- ports, David Coplan, managaing director .of Canadian. Film Indus- tries Ltd., today (Tues.)/. said that his company plans the im- mediate production of made-in- Canada. feature .films, with con- struction of a new sound stage to get underway in 60 days. His partner is Arthur Gottlieb, president of Canadian Film In- dustries and Audio Pictures Ltd:, companies which have previously been turning out sponsored shorts and television commercials, (Gott- lieb is husband of Gladys Glad who reputedly owns the property rights to some 4,000 short stories written by her late- first husband, Mark Hellinger, when he was a Broadway columnist). Coplan has just returned to Toronto - from consultations, in New York on distribution facilities and in Hollywood where he has been lining up picture stars and principals, whose identities he is unable to immediately divulge be- cause of pending negotiations. Company has a present $2,000,- 000 plant here and plans an im- mediate $750,000 expansion to in- clude a sound stage 100 by 150 feet and 32 feet high, with RCA equip- ment to match international sound requirements. Said Coplan: “Our pictures will be made in color and Cinemascope, with big budgets.” Coplan was previously general manager in Canada for Columbia Pictures until he left a decade ago for Britain where he established .International Film Distributors r Corp. Long a believer in possible Canadian film production, Coplan returned to Toronto a few months ago on invitation of Gottlieb. Copiah’s* determination, of course, is to compete in world markets, he having made a study of these during his recent 10 years in Britain. He pays tribute to the calibre of Canadian acting groups, plus the talent developed by’ the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. and intends to use these in secondary roles, but importing Hollywood and British names. FIRST CINEMASCOPER IN BLACK-AND-WHITE Hollywood, March 29. First Cinemascope production ever filmed in black-and-white is “Rebel Without a .Cause,” James Dean starrer, currently in work at Warners. Metro will follow with another untinted C'Scoper on April 1 when “Trial” gets the gun with Glenn Ford, John Hodiak and Arthur Kennedy on top roles. Segregated ‘Carmen’ San Antonio, March 29. “Carmen Jones” the 20th Century-Fox musical with dn all-Negro cast has been booked for a week’s run here at the Texas Theatre opening on Thursday (31). Throughout the week, the mezzanine and balcony will be reserved for. Negro patrons. To Unloose n $ t For U.S. Films By EDYTHE ZIFFREN Santiago, March 29. Prolonged negotiations by Amer- ican film distributing companies forming the local Film Board reached successful conclusion last week when agreement was reached for remittance of $500,000 to New York headquarters of Colombia, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Paramount. Republic, RKO, 20th Century-Fox, United Artists, Universal and War- ner Bros. Film Board’s negotiations were aided directly by Robert Corkery, vice-president, Motion Picture Ex- porters Association, who visited Chile twice to back up distribs’ efforts. Remittance represents royalties that accrued since 1952, with a (Continued on page 62) 'Itch* Still on Boards, So 20th Withdraws July j Release of Film Version Film version ^ of “The Seven Year Itch,” starring Marilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell, has been yanked from the July release sked of 20th-Fox to conform with con- tractual obligations with the pro- ducers of the play. Latter is now in its 124th week on Broadway. Film was skedded for July preeming under the apparent im- pression that the legit hit would quit the N. . Y. boards by that time. Under, the original deal, the film couldn't, be released until Jan., 1956. Understanding was that it could open in N. Y. once the legit version had faded. Says George Weltner of Paramount: in By WHITNEY WILLIAMS Hollywood, March 29. The easiest way for the Ameri- can film industry to maintain its export leadership in Japan is to encourage top Hollywood names to make periodic personal appear- ances *in that country, according to Robert Ryan, just returned from several weeks. of locations there for 20th-Fdx’ “House of Bamboo.” Actor pointed out. that in vari- ous talks with both Japanese ex- hibitors and distributors, who ac- corded the troupe a warm wel- come wherever it trekked in the Island empire, he Was continually being asked; “When will Hollywood begin sponsoring Japanese personal ap- pearance tours for its. stars, just as it does to aid the different an- nual European film festivals and Britain’s Command. Perform- ances?” “Probably the most important factor in the growth of Far East- ern business for American-made films has been the increasing number of high quality Hollywood productions that are being import- ed into Japan,” Ryan reported, “Grabbing off the lion’s share of this business, however, is no long- er a.pushover. “For one thing, originally aided by American know-how directly after the war, Japanese-made films have almost trebled iii k the past two years. This product now claims about 40% of all available exhibition time in that country. “American films come next, using up 30% of Japan's available screen time, while British films pick up about 15% of the play- dates. The balance is divided among pictures emanating in In- dia, France, Italy and the Soviet Union.” Ryan stressed that political drumbeating in behalf of a re- sumption of trade with Red China and the constant wooing by # Rus- sian agents could very easily switch the balance of power in (Continued on page 59) Eastman Kodak’s / y 4 c Cut Foreseen While there hasn't been any offi- cial announcement, labs in. N. Y. expect Eastman Kodak to come through with another price reduc- tion of one-quarter of a cent per foot on its color positive this summer. Cut would bring the cost of the tint print stock to 3,65c per foot compared to,the Current 3.9c. East- man dropped its price 0.25c per foot last December from the for- mer 4.15c. By ABEL GREEN “M^ybe more people in the pic- ture business should be traveling overseas,” is the laconic observa- tion of George Weltner, recently appointed worldwide sales veepee . chief of Paramount. Heretofore he was ditto of the foreign distri- bution arm. Weltner’s elevation to the top sales berth, of course, follows the growing awareness among the ma- jors of the important foreign mar- ket which has gone from 25% to 40%, and in some instances as much as 50% in sales returns for certain pictures. It’s no trade se- cret that virtually every picture de- pends on the foreign revenue for the gravy profit. Weltner, now on the Coast, is positive of one thing: that show- manship on the exhibition level is more socko overseas than domes- tically. Some of his observations, when detailed to prexy Barney Balaban and the other Par eche- lon, determined sending pub-ad veepee Jerry Pickman on a for? eign o.d. as soon as. it’s feasible. Weltner cites, for example, a stunt in a Sydney theatre when “White Christmas” was playing. For one thing, snow is just un- known in Australia, so when the local exhib churned up a prop “snowstorm” inside the lobby of his theatre, that was almost as big an attraction as the film. The Down Under public had never seen a snowfall. In Bombay, India, as another ex- ample, when the local theatre showed “Rope of Sand,” which has to do with diamond mining, the exhibitor Whipped up a stunt, with cooperation of a local jeweler, whereby diamond chips—actually of small intrinsic values—were scattered in a diamond “mine” (full of sand, of course, to tie in with the picture) situated right in the lobby. The scavenger hunt made for P. 1 news all over again. But apart from this brand of (Continued on page 62) Even as Kodak, responding to the volume increase of color foot- age sold, is reducing its price, the labs still must add a minimum of 2c per foot for processing, etc., and more than that when it comes to printing with magnetic stereo- phonic sound, it’s said. Thus the minimum price per foot for East- man color isn’t likely to drop much below the 6c a foot level. :r PANAMINT (NEW) SETS ‘BENGAZI’ WITH RKO Panamint Pictures, new indie company formed by’Sam Weisen- thal and Gene Tevlin, is set with its first film plus a tieup with RKO. Unit will make “Flight from Bengazi,” a World War II story, for RKO release. In the cast so far are Richard Conte and Victor McLaglen, It’s to roll April 15. with John Brahm directing.