Variety (December 1956)

^Wednesday, December 5 f 19^ Formalize Than as M-G Studio Head; Yates Hurries Sale of Post-1 Name Exec Staff; Accent on ‘Unit’ Fix NOT GOING THRO Republic Pix; Thereby Thwarts Hollywood, Dec. 4. - Benjamin Thau, Metro v.p. and a top studio exec since 1932, today (Tues.) was formally appointed ad¬ ministrative head of the Culver City lot by Joseph R. Vogel, Loew’s-Metro president. Confirming Variety’s, exclusive of last week, which also revealed detays of Dore Schary’s bowout as production head, Vogel announced that working with Thau as an ex¬ ecutive staff will be E. J. Mannix, J, J. Cohn, producer Lawrence Weingarten, story editor Kenneth MacKenna, Saul Rittenberg and Marvin Sehenck. With the excep¬ tion of Rittenberg, an attorney who joined M-G within the pa^ year, all had served in a siml*ai capacity under the 'Schary regime. Vogel offered this aside re the new administrative bossw “Ben Thau is one of the best known ex¬ ecutives in the motion picture industry and perhaps one of the least known to the public. Quiet and unassuming, his name rarely appears in print." Many film vet¬ erans doubtless will readily agree that through the years Thau has never taken any spotlight although, in yelping to build the great deals in the present time, he’s had one of the top industry jobs on the Coast. After working as a booker ^or ''fhe . Keith and Orpheum vaude j companies, Thai} joined Loew’s | Theatres in 1927. It was his as¬ signment to package the talent for the Capitol Theatre, New York, and other big stageshow houses in the Loew’s chain. Five years later he was brought to the Coast by (Contjnued on page 86) Schary Eclipse Part of Change From Autocrats’ Bowout of Dore Schary from the kingpin production role at Metro serves toIdraw further attention to the fact that the final chapter is being written on the era of the film czar, \,His predecessor,' Louis B. Mayer, was the monarch of Cul¬ ver City, whereas certain “com¬ mittee” controls were, placed upon Schary. Yet, the latter was still the boss, indisputably the top man in all matters pertaining to pro¬ duction. The boxoffice fluctuations of M-G pictures were his respon¬ sibility. To that extent, Schary was the czar, as was Darryl F. Zanuck at 20th-Fox, Jack (with Harry) War¬ per at Warners, Harry Cohn at Columbia, etc. W^th M-G veering more and (Continued on page 7) ✓WRITERS' HARVEST Lazar Deals For Meyer Levin and Peter Viertel Works. Two properties, both agented by Irving P. Lazar, were acquired for the screen last week. One was Meyer Levin’s book, “Compulsion," which Darryl F. Zanuck bought in a pre-production deal involving a legit version to be followed by a picture. The other was “White Hunter, Black Heart," by Peter Viertel, on which the Hecht-Lancaster unit took a $5,000 option vs. a $30,000 purchase price. Zanuck paid $150,000 down against a top $300,000 for “Com¬ pulsion." In addition, Levin col¬ lects 10% of the gross of the legit show and 7V£% on the film net. “Compulsion” recounts the Loeb- Leopold story, treated on the screen once before by Alfred Hitchcock in Rope." “White Hunter" recounts the John Huston safari to Africa to do “The African Queen." Burt Lan¬ caster and Katharine Hepburn will star. Miss Hepburn coincidentally also starred in “African .Queen," Schary Rests First Dore Schary has plans only i for a vacation, now that his J bowout as production chief of Metro has been finalized. He \ disclosed in New York 'this i week he wants to relax for a few months, his schedule per¬ haps including a trip to Eu¬ rope. While beyond that there’s nothing specific, Schary stated he’s already received “a few interesting propositions" in production but declined to say from whom. But that he will return to film-making seems for sure, and not aligned with M-G. Schary made it clear he's not entering politics. There had been some industry con¬ jecture along these lines be¬ cause of his activity with the Democratic Party. Blueprinting M-G Future in Series Of Coast Meetings Metro’s course for the future is being blueprinted on the Coast this week at a series of meetings gavelled by president Joseph R, Vogel. Trio of homeoffice execs on Monday (3) were summoned west to participate in the conclaves. They are Howard Dietz, 'ad-pub v.p. and board member; Sidney Phillips, M-G liaison with the legit theatre, and Olin Clark, eastern story editor, Kenneth MacKenna, story head at the studio, had planned a N. Y. trip this week but the importance of the meetings necessitated a month’s postpone¬ ment. That there wUl be some per¬ sonnel pinkslippmg in the wake of Dore Schare’s bowout as produc¬ tion head has been strongly sug¬ gested but those involved have yet to be identified. A general trim¬ ming of expenses is regarded as mandatory, particularly in the light of stockholder dissatisfaction oVer overhead vis-a-vis income. Variety's story last Wednesday (28) on the termination of Schary’s services had the effect of forcing an official announcement to that effect the same day. Pressured in¬ to some kind of statement by other - papers, M-G issued a terse handout saying Schary no longer would be associated with the company fol¬ lowing his editing of “Designing Woman.” Schary, now in-N. Y. and returning to the Coast tomorrow (Thurs.), confirmed the disaffilia¬ tion a day later. MICHAEL RENNIE CO. SETS BALCHIN TALE Hollywood, Dec. 4. Latest to join the star-producer ranks is Michael Rennie, who is forming his own independent pro¬ duction firm which will teeoff when he completes his co-starring role in “Island in the Sun," Darryl F. Zan¬ uck production. Role winds an as¬ sociation of six years with 20th- Fox. Rennie has optioned Nigel Bal- chin’s “The Borgia Testament” as his initial indie production and also plans to film “The Life of Man- olette." Bullfighter bionic will first be done as a tv spectacular. Ann Blyth as La Morgan Ann Blyth grabbed title role in Warner Bros.’ “The Helen Morgan Story." Richard Whorf production rolls early next year under direction of Michael Curtiz. Motion Picture Assn, of America has called a halt on any further consideration of a. “credit" system for charging theatre admissions. With a survey of public reaction to the idea among people in Marion County, Ind. (which includes Indi¬ anapolis) on hand, MPAA prexy Eric Johnston called the results “disappointing" and noted that a “charge it" system didn’t offer a promise of upping attendance. Poll also clearly indicated that the public’s desire to attend the¬ atres more often—with or without a credit system—was low. Even as Johnston informed the board yesterday (Tues), theygeneral sales managers heard a( report from their sub-committee consist¬ ing of William C. C^iring 5 (20th- Fox), chairman; Charles M. Rea¬ gan (Loew’s) and Charles Feldman (Universal). , Immediately after that meet, Gehring left by air for Indianap¬ olis to inform the local exhibs, who had promised to cooperate on any plan, that the project was off. The MPAA survey was undertaken by A. J. Wood & Co. of Philadelphia, with MPAA financing. Had it turned out positive, Indianapolis would have been used as a “tes„t tube” for the system. 1,400 Queried Survey, covering 1,400 persons picked out of a cross-section of the Marion County adult popula¬ tion, broke into two parts. One covered reaction to a “charge it" plan involving issuance of a credit card good for all theatres, with a bill sent at the end of the month; the other revolved around a sys¬ tem under which patrons would purchase a movie “scrip book," en¬ abling them to buy $12.50 worth of tickets for $10. Neither plan roused much inter¬ est. Only 14% said they’d be inter¬ ested in the credit idea and 28% thought they might goJorJhe_scrip^ (C imtinue€h-oirpagi22) Possible Loss of His Control AM-Par Goes Ahead Hollywood, Dec. 4. , Am-Par Pictures Corp., the new production unit set up by American Broadcasting-Para¬ mount Theatres, ha,s launched its activities without waiting for an official okay , from the Dept, of Justice. Production began yesterday. (Mom) at Re¬ public Studios on “The Begin¬ ning of the End." “Beginning" is a science fic¬ tion yarn written by Bert I. Gordon, who will also produce and direct. Peggie Castle and Peter Graves topline. ‘Delighted’ Sums Up Reaction To Aliens’ U. S. SeU Foreign producers’ and indus¬ tries’ current determined action to establish themselves in the U.S. market is greeted cheerily by the Motion Picture Export Assn. Companies feel that the setting up of a French film office in N.Y., and the projected distribution ac¬ tivity on the part of J. Arthur Rank here accomplishes two purposes: (1.) They convey to foreign film interests a firsthand knowledge of the difficulties of the market. (2.) They provide the Association with a ready-made answer to the fre¬ quent charge that the U.S. market is closed to foreign films. —MPEA has always labored with (Continued on page 7) National Boxoffice Survey Biz Slumps Post-Holiday; ‘Giant* No. 1 for Fifth Week in Row, ‘Commandments’ 2d, ‘Wonders’ 3d J Post-holiday session is following “Seven Wonders of World" usual pattern this week, with even (Cinerama) is moving up to third the strongest fare on the skids, slot. J^Love Me Tender" (20th), Fact that Christmas shopping second last stanza, is dropping to ptorto/1 v.TM/M- f/v tVi a aorlxr 'TtionTro. fnnrtli “ Tilli a” (M!~G) is taking started prior to the early Thanks- fourth. “Julie’ giving this year is being increas- fifth money, ingly felt by exhibitors all over “Oklahoma" ingly felt by exhibitors all over “Oklahoma" (Magna) is winding the country. Many exhibs are just in sixth position. “Opposite marking time with whatever prod- Sex" (M-G) is taking seventh spot, uct they are now showing rather “Friendly Persuasion" (AA), long than open stronger or new fare high on list, is dipping to eighth -during the pre-Xmas lull. place, having finished many of its For the fifth consecutive stanza, bigger key engagements or is now “Giant" (WB) is finishing first by winding them up. a wide margin. Pic, which is now (20th) is landing almost exclusively holdover or ex- ninth spot while “Lust For Life” tended-run, will register about (M-G) is 10th. “Can’t Run Away $445,000 gross in the key Cities cov- From It" (Col) and “Secrets of ered by Variety, which is consid- Life" (BV) are the runner-up films. ered amazing for season of year. “Teahouse of August Moon" “Ten Commandments" (Par), (M-G) is socko opening week at currently playing in only nine keys N.Y. Music Hall accompanied by but doing great to terrific or ca- annual Xmas stageshow. It con- pacity biz, is capturing second tinues smash in second week in place. This C.B. DeMille opus, Chi. and L.A. Otherwise, there is which won’t be opening in any little new product around. key cities until “Death of Scoundrel" Christmas, is listed for first time shapes okay in Frisco and mildish this week since previously'only in in Baltimore and Denver. “War in a few key cities. and Peace" (Par), now in bigger MPAA President Eric Johnston h« written a revealing series of Notes On Visiting The Land of the Bolsheviks one of the editorial features In the upcoming ^ 51st Anniversary Number of ISfisilETY and Peace" (Par), now in bigger subsequent dates, shapes spotty this round. “Silent World? (Col), good in N.Y. and Philly, is okay in De¬ troit but modest in L.A. “Curucu” and “Mole People" (U) combo is rated so-so in Seattle. “Tea And Sympathy" (M-G) shapes sluggish in L.A. “La Strada" (T-L), okay in Frisco, looms big in N.Y. * “Fantasia" (BV) (reissue) is hot in Balto and Wash¬ ington. “Cinerama Holiday" (Cinerama) loojcs sock in Chi, sturdy in Wash¬ ington and fine in L.A. • “Attack” (UA) is robust in Chi. * “Sharkfighters" (UA), torrid in Chi, dsr dull in Portland but stout in Frisco. “Unguarded Moment" (U) looms fairish in Balto. (Complete Boxoffice Reports on Pages 8-9) ► Hollywood, Dec. 4. Republic may jump the gun on all other studios by selling, its post- 1948 pix backlog to television im¬ mediately without waiting for any agreement between the major film studios and talent guilds for a guild participation of coin derived from such sales, it’s reported here. Evrn while the Assn, of Motion Picture Producers and talent guilds met to seek a format for sale of. such pix, Rep prexy Herbert J. Yates was giving the greenlight to sale of Rep pix to video-features made after 1948. Such a sale would naturally boost Republic’s current year’s earnings considerably. Republic has out¬ standing 400,000 . shares of pre¬ ferred stock, calling for $1 annual dividend, plus $5,200,000 in 4% bonds requiring interest payments of $208,000. Company’s corporate bylaws require that if it skips pay¬ ing a dividend for three successive years stockholders may seat five on the board of directors. Such an eventuality is seen likely to oust Yates from control of Republic, in¬ asmuch as a number of minority stockholders have been attempting for several years to wrest control from him. ^A syndicate including Harry Pop- kin, Moe Ellis, Jack Dietz and a group of L. A. businessmen has been buying large amounts of Rep stock for the past two years, seek¬ ing to gain control of the company. Group a few months ago offered to buy Yates’ stock, but he rejected its bid. Some producers involved in the discussions with the guild ac¬ knowledged they Understand Yates is planning to dump the post 1948- pix orf tv, and admitted this may affect current confabs drastically, although just what happens if Yates jumps the gun with such a move isn't certain at this stage. Unless Films Stay ‘Exciting, New’ It’s TVsGame-Kazan With television today the “stand¬ ard brand," it’s today up to the motion picture to be the inno¬ vator and to produce the genuine novelty, producer - director Elia Kazan said in New -York last week. “Unless 1 the screen discusses ex¬ citing events and tackles new themes, the. film has lost its rea¬ son," Kazan, deeply embroiled in the “Baby Doll" controversy, de¬ clared. Pic has a Code' seal but has been condemned by the Catho¬ lic Legion of Decency. Kazan said he saw hope for the (Continued on page 27) „ WRITING'S GOTTA BE FIRST Republic Product in Production Doubted on That Basis Hollywood, Dec. 4. While Republic prexy Herbert J. Yates insists his studio is going into production next month, Re¬ public is the only film studio today without a single screenwriter on its payroll. As a matter of fact, no screenwriter has worked at the Valley lot since-last Sept. 8. ThiS^was learned despite the statement by Yates and another • last week by one of his aides that two screenwriters were working at 1 Rep. Any plans for production are always accompanied by screen¬ writers working on the contem¬ plated properties, and the fact Rep t hasn't had a writer since last Sep- ; tember indicates no production is ’ in sight. The 'only writers at the Valley lot are working on Rep’s tv series, “Frontier Doctor."