Variety (November 1955)

w^„l.icBilav. November 9, 1955 t^ARIETY PICTURES ALL-SVENSK A CE NSOR BINGE EXPECT BIG IIP Willie Bioffs Last Shakedown; Hoodlums Boobytrapped Demise Recalls Blackmail of Studios French Highbrow Praises U.S. Films, Chides Fellow Critics Ignorance Paris, Nov, 8. + Writing in the highbrow weekly, Les Arts, French film tritic Jac¬ ques Rivette declares American films are enjoying a sparkling Renaissance. He sees a type . of cinema a vivacious, generous, which he credits to “independent” production in Hollywood, plus new names. Lucid and sincere qualities, not only weaken American stereo¬ types and expose the laborious monotony of other national film product. Rivette adds that the French film critics of today do not under¬ stand the present U.S. film. He argues that recent essays on the cinema by French critics exposes them as completely ignorant of new young names and “still in the Fritz Lang, Howard Hawkes, Elia Kazan, Edward Dymytryk, Fred Zinneman syndrome. He complains of backwardness a sluffing off of such important newcomers as Richard Aldrich, Anthony Mann, Richard Quine, Edgar Ulmer, Rich¬ ard Brooks and Nicholas Ray. Another misconception among French critics, says Rivette, is their belief that U.S. films are not works of individual artists % and authors but of cycles and cate¬ gories. Thus they lump all come¬ dies. westerns, police and gangster films together without picking the unusual o nes from the pr dinary. TRICKY ROYALTY SPLIT ON ‘L’ALQUETTE’ FILM The Jean Anouilh play, “L’Alou- etle,” lo which Allied Artists ac¬ quired the film rights, will prob¬ ably be assigned to John Huston under his partnership arrangement with the film country. Huston had seen th,e original French version of the play and expressed inter¬ est in converting it to the screen. An adaptation by Lillian Hell- man of “L’Alouette” will be pre¬ sented on Broadway Nov. 1.7 by Kermit Bloomgarden, with Julie Harris in the starring role,.. Al¬ though the AA deal does not in¬ volve Miss Heilman’s adaptation, ' Broadway production will share in ' the film sale. The arrangement, considered unique, provides 60% for Anouilh (with Miss Heilman getting an undisclosed share of the percentage), 30% for the Broad¬ way production, and 10% for a pre¬ vious London production adapted by Christopher Fry. It’s stressed that should AA decide to employ either Miss Heilman’s or Fry’s adaptation, a new agreement will have to be made with the parties concerned. Sweeter V Sweeter Hollywood, Nov. 8. An American Film Festival in I oscow next year was pro¬ posed by one of the Russian editors currently touring the United States during a visit to the film studios here. Visitors’ open admiration for U.S. prod¬ uct was underlined in the com¬ plaint that Russia has had no Hollywood films since the be¬ ginning of World War II. Film festival proposal, one of the visitors said, will be broached officially in Moscow when the party returns from the present junket. Touring scribes agreed that Russian people miss American films and are anxious to get new product. _ Sturges-Gaumont Film’s U. S. Release Must Await 20th Priority on Carol Paris, Nov. 8. Preston Sturges’ recently fin¬ ished French-English version film “Les Carnets Du Major Thompson” (The Notebooks of Major Thomp¬ son), based on the book of Pierre Daninos, will probably have its An¬ glo-American distribution held up until star Martine Carol finishes her first film for 20th-Fox, which she begins in January ’56. Miss Carol is exclusively signed for Eng¬ lish-speaking roles by 20th, and was allowed to do the Sturges fea¬ ture only when the French govern¬ ment requested her presence in this film which is a comic explora¬ tion of English and French charac¬ teristics via the response of a staid Englishman who marries a desir¬ able, vivacious French woman. French version could be dis¬ tributed in the U. S., but that might hurt the chances of the Anglo print so it will probably be held up until 20th gives the go-ahead sign. “Carnets” is a French film pro¬ duced and distributed by Gaumont, and written by Sturges with Jack Buchanan and Noel Noel also starred. It’s Sturges’ first French film and details how the major finally divorces his horsefaced, horsewoman wife and meets a lus¬ cious French woman whom he mar¬ ries, parts from and reconciles with. By VICTOR SKAARUP Copenhagen, Nov. 8. Official censors of Denmark, Sweden and Norway have just met in Oslo and jointly resolved upon a new .“get tough” policy toward tough films. In this they follow a lead already taken by Finland, the fourth Scandinavian country. As an earnest of the seriousness of the resolve, Denmark’s censor, actbr Arne Ole David, forthwith banned Warners “New York Confidential” in toto. The plea of WB’s local exchange manager, Aaga W. Peter¬ sen, was rejected by the Ministry of Justice which declined to coun¬ termand the censor’s decision. It is being stated here that American film producers may an¬ ticipate two to three times as many bannings of pictures as here¬ tofore the average. Sadistic and brutal gangster-type action will es¬ pecially be vulnerable but Euro¬ pean producers, especially those of Italy, France and Sweden, with sexsational angles in their art films will also feel the conservative swing. Denmark itself is somewhat di¬ vided in viewpoint. Although tra¬ ditionally liberal and easy-going this tiny kingdom has the highest per capita suicide and homicide rate in the world as quoted in “The Sane Society” by Eric Fromm and that gives the authorities a (Continued on page 18) Hubley of Storyboard Inc. Gets $22,500 Settlement On Unfinished Tinian’s’ Out of court settlement for $22.- 500 has ended the hassle between John Hubley, prexy of Storyboard Inc., and red Schwartz’ Distribu¬ tors Corporation of America, which produced the uncompleted “Fin- ian’s Rainbow” feature. Hubley directed the animated film. Settlement was arranged by Hubley’s attorney Max Toberoif and it relieves him of all further responsibility to DCA and “Fin- MEET MISS TOMKINSON She’s the Unrevealed Author of ‘Les Girls’ Metro isn’t saying so but the author of “Les Girls,” which Sol Siegel is to picturize for studio, is Constance Tompkinson. It’s a •factual yarn concerning four show- " givls in Paris and appeared re¬ cently in the Atlantic Monthly. Although Miss Tomkinson’s story thus appeared in public print, the M-g legal department, with characteristic caution, didn’t want her name used in any announce¬ ments about the pic project. Corn- Pony has still to obtain a couple of clearances before the film can roll. Casting ‘Band of Angels' Hollywood, Nov. 8. under consideration for leads in hlimzation of “Band of Angels,” novel of Robert Penn Warren ac¬ quired by Warner Bros., are Grace ^elly and Marlon Brando. * l ’®Rosenberg . will produce m Earners, with Ivan Goff and en Roberts set by agent Irving c-azar to screenplay the pre-Civil drama. EDUCATION OF A FILM REP0RTER-AT TIMES Howard Thompson, of the N. Y. Times film department, is shifting to cityside for several months to round out his general newspaper experience. Film editor A. H. Weiler states that Thompson will return to the film department later. During Thompson’s absence, Mil- ton Esterovv, from the local re- portorial staff, will handle Thomp¬ son’s film department duties. An¬ other new member of the film staff is Dick Nason, also from cityside. Nason succeeds Oscar Godbout who was shifted by the Times to the Coast to assist Thomas M. Pryor in the expanded coverage of Hollywood film-tv activities. Film critic Bosley Crowther heads the four-man N. Y. staff. C'SCOPE LENS AT $240 Bausch & Lomb Produces Lowest Price To Date New $240 CinemaScope projec¬ tion lens is being brought out by Bausch & Lomb, making it the low¬ est-priced C’Scope lens on the market. Pair will sell for $480. Lens is designed for small neighborhood theatres and the drive-ins. It’s marketed via the regular theatre supply outlets. Sev¬ eral low-price anamorphic camera and projection lenses have recent¬ ly been put on the market. Which Paper D Ya Read Two of the top N.Y. critics last week took distinctly dif¬ ferent views of new 20th-Fox star Dana Wyntei v in “View from Pompey’s Head.” Said Bosley Crowther of the Tijnes: “Miss Wynter, who is pretty but that’s all, carries her troubles as though they were in a basket on her head.” Said William K. Zinsser in the Tribune: “Miss Wynter . . . is the epitome of the Southern belle. She may be England’s best gift to .the American screen since Vivien Leigh.” Gauvreau, Lester Cohen Seek to Enjoin Warner Biog of Gen. Mitchell Suit was filed in N. Y. Federal Court this week seeking to enjoin Warners from releasing its upcom¬ ing “Court Martial of Billy Mitch¬ ell,” Gary Cooper starrer. Also sought is an impounding of all prints of tbe film during pendency of the court action. Plaintiffs are Emile II. Gauvreau and Lester Cohen, who allege the WB pic is bftsed largely on their uncopyrighted story, “Billy Mitch¬ ell U.S.A.,” and their copyrighted book, “Billy Mitchell, Founder of Our Air Force and Prophet With¬ out Honor,” published by E. P. Dutton & Co. in 1942. Also a de¬ fendant is Milton Sperling; pro¬ ducer of the film. Gauvreau and Cohen charge they submitted their story to WB and the latter entered negotiations for the rights but a deal couldn’t go through because the U. S. War De¬ partment withheld its approval. Now, states the complaint, “defen¬ dants have copied substantial por¬ tions of the plaintiffs’ copyrighted and uncopyrighted material” in their pic production. National Boxoffice Survey Trade Starts to Perk; ‘Holiday’ New Champ, ‘Trial’ 2d, ‘Brunettes’ 3d, ‘Rebel’ 4th, ‘Hours’ 5th Many firstrun theatres are get¬ ting something of-a lift this week from some added trade coming in on Election Day, and in certain in¬ stances from additional revenue from Armistice Day at tag end of week. Cooler weather was rated a favorable factor in most keys covered by Yaruty. New champion this session is “Cinerama Holiday” (Indie), which is benefitting from upbeats in sev¬ eral keys, and the fact that it is holding so well in some 12 spots. With second biggest % money and uniformly excellent showings, “Trial” (M-G) is taking second place. It was first last week. “Gentlemen Marry Brunettes” (UA) is winding up third, a big step up from last round. “Rebel Without Cause” (WB) is a close fourth. “Desperate Hours” (Par) is capturing fifth position. “Sincerely Yours” (WB) while a bit uneven, is doing well enough to take sixth spot. “Lady Godiva” (U>, disappointing in a number of locations, is grabbing considerable coin and finishing seventh. “Girl in Swing” (20th), fourth GOLDEN JUBILEE YEAR PAriety 1905-1955 a week ago, Is slipping to eighth. “Big Knife” (UA), comparatively new, is landing in ninth slot. “Sis¬ ter Eileen” (Col) is slipping to 10th. “Tall Men” (20th), fifth last session, is 11th while “Phcnix City Story” (AA) is placing 12th. “Ulysses” (Par), “I Am Camera” (DCA) and “Sheep Has 5 Legs’ (Indie) are runner-up films. “Guys and Dolls” (M-G); .latest Goldwyn opus, shapes as a wow newcomer, based on its showing opening week at the N.Y. Capitol where doing biz close to “Here to Eternity” (Col) at that house. “Queen Bee” (Col) is largely dis¬ appointing this stanza playing in five key cities, being especially poor in Philly. “Tender Trap” (M-G.i, which , opens at N.Y. Music Hall this week, i is rated great in Detroit. “Man I With Gun” (UA), also new, is pac- • ing both Buffalo and Indianapolis, and is lofty in Minneapolis. “View From Pompey’s Head” (20th) is spotty, being boff in Washington, fair in N.Y., smash in Denver, mod¬ est in L.A. and socko in Philly. ‘•To Hell and Back” (U> still is big in Minneapolis and Chi. "Lucy Gallant” (.Par) is fair in Balto. “Marly” (UA) looms brisk in Bos¬ ton and big in N.Y. “African Lion” (BV) shapes stout in Balto, socko in Washington, good in L.A. and solid in N.Y. “Night of Hunter” (UA), okay in Toronto, is rated weak in Detroit and Boston. “Man Alone” (Rep) looks okay in Louisville and good in L.A. “Kiss of Fire” (U) is torrid in To¬ ronto. (Complete Bo.ro/rice Reports on Pages 10-11) Willie Bioff didn’t know the car was loaded. He stepped on the starter of his pickup truck in Phoenix, Arizona, last Friday (4) and was blown to death. Thus ended the career of a Chicago' racketeer who, with George Browne, extorted over $1,000',- 000 in shakedown money from the Hollywood film studios. Somebody’s this - will - slay - you practical joke recalled for many a producer and homeoffice execu¬ tive an ugly chapter of real-live gangsterism that plagued the in- It Cost Us a Lot Long before he was finally brought to justice, Willie Bioff knew the open,'blunt and persistent criticism of Variety, and was frankly puzzled that he could not buy or bully a more favorable attitude. But Bioff was powerful enough to enforce a boycott of Holly¬ wood advertisers which cost. Variety tens of thousands of dollars. Variety got lots of en¬ couragement at the time in the form of warm congratulations by telephone, but levy would buck Bioff’s word and support the paper with paid space. dustry 15 to 20 years ago. Browne was president of the International Alliance of Theatrical & Stage Employees and Bioff was his rep¬ resentative. Their plot: The stu¬ dios would pay them $2,000,000 or labor strikes would halt all pro¬ duction. The studios decided it was cheaper and proceeded to do so in installments. Browne and Bioff collected for nearly five years until they wera nabbed on the extortion rap and, in the fall of 1941, were tried in (Continued on page 18) T^rJety Trade Mark Rc.aisl.ored FOUNDED BY SIME SILVERMAN Published Weekly by VARIETY. 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