Variety (March 1956)

PICTURES PfaRIETY Wednesday, March 21, 1956 Germany’s'Film Markets Expand Only If Government Opens Up With Fiscal Aid—Schwerin Unless the Government comes 4- across with some aid coin, the Ger¬ man industry’s struggle for an ade¬ quate foreign market will remain hopeless, according to Hermann Schwerin, head of Berlin’s Fono Film. Schwerin said in N. Y. last faeek that the local industry didn’t have the necessary funds to do a proper job of selling the German picture abroad. At the same time he opined that only the typically Ger¬ man product, concerned with cur- .. rent problems, had a real chance In the international film sweep¬ stakes. He said he was in the U. S. to “smell” the country and to get a real feeling for the tastes of the American audience. “I want to find out what-we really can do to make our films interesting here, he commented. He added that he wasn’t averse to coproduction deals if they seemed attractive to him. As a result of the dropping of German Government subsidies for films, Schwerin reported that Ger¬ man production this year should go down to 80 or 90 as compared with a prior 120, and he didn’t think that this was necessarily a bad development. Bank financing in Germany was difficult to obtain and rates are high, Schwerin said. He added that the bank had been burned on film projects in the past. “Our banks may give us the first 50% ©f a film’s budget, and that only against a distributor’s guarantee,” he noted. Consequently, and more than ever now, the German pro¬ ducers are fully dependent on the distributors. Latter necessarily are more interested in the proven boxoffice formula than in any kind of experimentation. They are also more interested in domestic rather than foreign returns. The Germans at one. time got as much as 30% of their revenue from abroad. Today, it’s barely 10%. Schwerin, whose latest—“Devil in Silk,” starring Lili Palmer and Curd Juergens—is doing good busi¬ ness in Germany, said very few West German productions afe find¬ ing their way into the Eastern zone, partly because of the worthlessness of the East German mark and part¬ ly because the comrades in the East zone are sensitive to the fa¬ vorable portrayal of “capitalists” in the Western product. One of Schwerin’s pix—“My Children and I”—was nixed by the East sector for that reason. Quite apart from the fact that there can be no more stringent quota in Germany right now', Schwerin felt that, even if there were, it wouldn’t serve any prac¬ tical function since the German product gets some 55% of the local screentime right now. Curtailed flow of imports also would cause unemployment at the dubbing stu¬ dios. Davis Cabled Outcry On U. S. Films in Video Contrasts With His Deals London, March 20. John Davis, who last month signed a cable to Eric Johnston w'ith other British industry top¬ pers, appealing to him to stop the sale of American feature films for British commercial television, now admits that he is negotiating a further deal for the sale of his product to American networks. The disclosure is made in a byline piece by the Rank aide in the Financial Times, the British equiv¬ alent of the Wall Street Journal. Headed “British Film Exports,” article reveals a further block of British product for American tv may guarantee $3,000,000. That would be in addition to the two deals closed last year. Davis implies that he is using the tv medium as a means of cre¬ ating a demand for British prod¬ uct. “The programs,” he observes, “are sponsored by advertisers. It is reasonable, therefore, to assume that they v'ould only handle pro¬ grams if they ar& satisfied they are a draw w'hich will assist the sale of their goods. The American public and advertisers are, there¬ fore, interested in British films. I am still hopeful that the Ameri¬ can public will, before long, see them on the cinema screens in quantity.” Underlining the need for export markets for British features, Davis makes a comparison w'ith the for¬ eign earnings of Hollyv'ood prod¬ uct. From the free world markets, he notes, the American producer secures 60% from the domestic market and a further 15% from Great Britain. The revenue equiv¬ alent to this 15% constitutes the return that a British producer ob¬ tains from his much smaller do¬ mestic market. A BULLFIGHT NOT ON TIME Barnaby Conrad Novel Again Looks Off—Huston Too Busy The on-again off-again filming of Barnaby Conrad’s “Matador” looks off again, despite the fact that a new deal for the proposed picture was announced only last week. It was stated that United Artists was joining Allied Artists in sponsor¬ ing of the film, which was to be produced by John Huston. However, “Matador” was to be done against the round of fiestas which take place in Seville in April. And there’s not enough time on the calendar to have the prop¬ erty ready. Rights to the Conrad book are held by Huston and Jose Ferrer. About a year ago Columbia was to foster its production, according to announced plans, but bowed out. Predictions^ Oscar Chokes BEST PICTURE .“Marty” BEST DIRECTOR .Delbert Mann (“Marty”) BEST ACTRESS.Anna Magnani (“The Rose Tattoo”) BEST ACTOR .... Ernest Borgnine (“Marty”) SUPPPORTING ACTRESS.Jo Van Fleet (“East of Eden”) SUPPORTING ACTOR.Jack Lemmon (“Mister Roberts”) BEST SCREENPLAY .Paddy Chavefsky (“Marty”) BEST ORIGINAL..D. Fuchs-I. Lennart (“Love Me or Leave Me”) BEST SONG ....... .“Love Is;a Many Splendored Thing” _______4- Powell Lessens, Delays Chores for 20th-Fox; ’Naked Amazon’ Banning Brings Challenge Afresh Of Maryland’s Censorship Constitutionality of Maryland’s censorship law is being challenged again today (Wed.) before a Balti¬ more City Court Judge in connec¬ tion with the banning of the Times Film release, “Naked Amazon.” Brief attacking the statute is be- Wants European Restj Felix Bilgrey. Maryland is the only state which baTred “Amazon,” even though it carries a Code seal and rated a B” tag from the Legion of De¬ cency. Censor objected to nudity in shots showing Brazil natives and asked for deletions, which Times refused to make. There was a hearing on the mat¬ ter before Judge Byrnes last week, at which time both sides agreed to submit briefs. Bilgrey has fought censorship cases for Times in vari¬ ous other states, notably in Massa¬ chusetts and Illinois. Hollywood, March 20. Dick Powell, under contract as producer-director at 20th-Fox, is discussing a rearrangement of his 10-picture 10-year deal with Spyros Skouras whereby, he would make seven instead of 10 films, also would postpone start of deal to Sept. 1, instead of March, as was planned. Powell, also producer-owner-star of Four Star Productions, wants vacation and plans to leave for Eu¬ rope in May with wife, June Ally- son, and their children. She stars in Universal’s “Interlude” while abroad. Powell will, not direct “Can Can” for 20th, as was set. LOEW BOARD HUDDLES AT STUDIO APRIL 12 In an unusual departure* from customary practice, the board of directors of Loew’s Inc. will visit the Metro studio in mid-April and hold its regular meeting there. The plan calls for the members of the board to spend April 12-13 at the Coast studio. According to prexy Arthur M. Loew, the Coast meeting was decided upon in order that all members of the board could become familiar at first hand with the operations of the studio and have an opportunity to see some of* the productions being readied for summer, and fall release. CURT NIX OF CLAIM; HAYWORTH TO WORK? Hollywood, March 20. Negotiations for Rita Hayworth’s return to Columbia, possibly for “Joseph and His Brethren” ‘were expected to be proposed within the next few days as a result of Federal Court dismissal of her suit for $150,000 against Columbia. Actress had contended the studio had delayed the start of the film beyond the agreed-upon date. In one of the shortest opinions ever filed in Federal Court here, Judge Ben Harrison declared that Miss Hayvrorth “repudiated the contract with the defendant with¬ out justification. Any rights she.; may have had, if any, prior to her repudiation, were waived by her subsequent conduct to such claimed breech and as a result she is entitled to nothing.” According to Times Film execs, the adventure tinter has had over 1,000 U: S. dates without running into any objections. In Toronto, Canada, it recently set house rec¬ ords in a five theatre day-and-date un. QUEBEC’S OWN SLANT: HITS‘ARM’GAMBLING Otto Prejninger’s production of “Man With the Golden Arm,” which was turned down for Pro¬ duction Code approval because of its drug-addiction theme, is run¬ ning into censorship troubles for another reason. Film has been re¬ jected by the Province of Quebec, not because of the drug angles; but because of its spotlight on gam¬ bling. The Canadian blue-pencilers want deleted all footage focusing on the marathon poker game in “Arm.” Scenes of this, in which Frank Sinatra is the dealer caught Huston to London John Huston leaves New York for London this w'eek to^work on final color corrections on the prints of “Moby Dick,” w'hich he lensed abroad for Warner distribution. Release is set for the ,end of June. Marilyn Monroe Steams Things Up in Phoenix Phoenix, March 20. Marilyn Monroe heads an e tourage of more than 70 persons here for a 10-day shooting schedule of '“Bus Stop” for Fox. Most of the scenes are crowd shots and sequences involving the annual Jaycee Rodeo and Parade, which Miss Monroe attended last week Joshua Logan is directing ir Cinemascope with a cast that in¬ cludes Arthur O’Connell,, Eileen Heckhardt and Don Murray, latter of Broadway and new to films. Easily Arizona’s No. 1 personal¬ ity and attraction at this time, Miss Monroe is the first occupant of the celebrity suite at George Gobel’s new Sahara motel. It’s 78 here but now hotter with Miss Monroe on the scene. Jap 'Samurai’ Wins Special Oscar; No Thalberg Award For 2d Year Hollywood, March 20. ___ , Academy will present no Irving cheaiing‘“are“ an “integral‘ part* of i G - Thalberg Memorial Award this the picture, in the producer’s opin- >’ ear ’ at 28th annual Oscar derby ion, and he’s refusing to cut. A tomorrow (Wed.), making second court fight is considered likely un-' successive year that coveted honor less Quebec censors withdraw bas been bypassed by Board of their objections. ; Governors. No honorary awards- So far as the film’s release in'the >' m be presented, either, according United States is concerned, only j to Academy prexy George Seaton. Maryland is troublesome to Pre-'other than an Honorary Foreign minger. He and the censors of this ! Language Film Award and nine state are at odds on the pic’s con-! special awards in the Scientific or tent and he’s already threatened Technical bracket, legalistic action. Milwaukee and | This marks the first time such Atlanta wanted to do a scissor job ' an announcement has been made ©n “Ar.m” .earlier but since have jin advance.. Previously, the Gov- okayed the film in,, its entirety. iernors have always met in secret session on eve of the Oscar presen¬ tations, when they voted on rec¬ ommendations by foreign film com¬ mittee and Scientific-Technical com¬ mittee, as. well as considering the Thalberg Award. Heretofore, too, no one apart from Governors knew whether the Thalberg kudos would be bestowed until the actual pre¬ sentations ceremony. Early listing by the Governors of best foreign film and S-T awards was made, according to an Acad¬ emy spokesman, to permit suffi¬ cient recognition for these types of awards. In the past, he said, they were .lost in the hubbub .of: the (Continued on page 16) *•, . L. A. to N. Y. Ernie Anderson Carleton Carpenter Jeff Chandler Wolfe Cohen Alex Cooperman Wendell -Corey Broderick Crawford Mary Ford L. Wolfe Gilbert Cary Grant Sterling Hayden Myer Hutner Fred Kohlmar Hedy Lamarr Art Linkletter Anita Loos Jeanette MacDonald Lauritz Melchior David Merrick Daniel T. O’Shea Les Paul Richard Quine Martin Rackin Norman Selton Charles E. Skinner Joan Tyler Patrice Wymore N. Y. to l. A, Pier Angeli Polly Bergen Sammy Cahn Tony Charmoli Anatole Chujoy Fred Coe Wally Cox Vic Damone Norman Felton ’ Mark Goodson Robin Levinson Bill Nichols Manny Reiner Debbie Reynolds Will Sanders Herman Shumlin Bill Todman Bill Treadwell Europe to N. Y. Lucia Bose Ania Dorfman Alfred Drake Jacques Enoch Walter Gieseking Dean Jagger Aaron Katz Reub Kaufman Gene Krupa Nicholas Joy Alicia Markova Herbert Wilcox Cornel Wilde Robert S. Wolff N. Y. to Europe Ernie Anderson Morton Gottlieb Jack Hawkins John Huston Arthur L. Mayer .Jerome Robbins • George J. Stoetzel’ Oscar-Guessing ——; Continued from pajje 3 = _ 7 poll, amounted to 1,327 Hollywood- ites and 182 theatre operators. That’s 60-70%,'respectively, of the two samples. In the accompanying box will be found the picks, which predictions will be confirmed or otherwise Wednesday when the sealed en¬ velopes screened via Price, Water- house are Tipped open. “Marty,” the $343,000 film adaptation of a television drama, has been selected as the Best Pic¬ ture of the Year. This release shows as also copping three other awards—Best Actor (Ernest Borg¬ nine), best screenplay (Paddy Chayefsky) and best director (Del¬ bert Mann)—and is only picture to win in more than one of the nine categories used-by Daily Variety. ' Other winners are: Best Actress, Anna Magnani (“The Rose Tat¬ too”); Best Supporting actress, Jo Van Fleet (“East of Eden”); Best Supporting Actor, Jack Lemmon (“Mister Roberts”); Best Original Story, “Love Me or Leave Me” (by Daniel Fuchs and Isobel Lennart); Best Song, “Love Is a Many Splen¬ dored Thing” (by Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster). Under the broadened polling Daily Variety selected (1) the five Academy Award nominees in each of the nine categories and, in each case, except for Best Support¬ ing Actress and Best Original Screen story, added (2) five other possible candidate^ for honors on the basis of opinions from this paper’s motion picture staff. In the Supporting Actress and Origi¬ nal Screenplay classifications, only four other candidates were con¬ sidered worthy of being added. The results emphasized the accuracy of the Academy Award’s own choices, for in most cases all Oscar nominees led their fields. Without exception, to honors in the Daily Variety poll went to can¬ didates named for Academy Award contention. However, some of the added starters racked up more votes than some of the Academy nominees in certain classifications. For example, in the Best Origi¬ nal Screenplay category, Daily Variety’s four, added starters (“Genevieve,” “Wages of Fear,” ‘Mr. Hulot’s Holiday” and “The Phenix City Story’) all received more votes than one of the five Academy nominees and two of the four even surpassed a second Academy nominee in that group. Similarly, Charlotte Greenwood (“Oklahoma!”) and Susan Strasberg (“Picnic”) received more votes for Best Supporting Actress than two of the Academy nominees and Daniel Mann (“I’ll Cry Tomorrow”) added entry in the field of direc¬ tors, nosed out one of the Academy nominees-for Best Director Award. Voters, incidentally, were also asked to nominate a candidate for the Irving Thalberg Award. How¬ ever, there were so few votes — and those so widely’varied — in this category that it was impossible to arrive at a popular choice for the award. Straw poll results, in addition to emphasizing the general accura¬ cy of the Academy nominations, underlined the fact that talent is universally recognizable in the film industry. Except in the case of Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress, the exhibitor choices matched those of members of the production end of the industry and in the same percentage • ratio of preference. Exhibitors liked “Mis¬ ter Roberts” rather than “Marty as the best film and kudosed Betsy Blair for her performance in “Marty” over the work of Miss Fleet iff “East of Eden.” In the latter category, the overall total of ballots left only about a one per¬ cent margin between tlje two con- Ballots were mailed, without fanfare, early this month. Entries were required to he returned by •midnight‘March 13 to allow’suf¬ ficient' time ft>r ‘cdreful ’tabulation.