Variety (December 1956)

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PICTtfRES Actors Must Protect Careers; Conditions in the'ljrisis-ridden A Italian industry are (forcing the top actors to set up production units ^of their own and to demand per- « centage deals from the producers, according to Gene Lerner, partner with Hank Kaufman in Italy’s only U.S. agenting setup. In N.Y. last week heading for the Coast, Lerner reported the Italian* industry crisis was as. deep as ever, with money tight, employ¬ ment low and producers wasting potential assets of the business. He said he couldn’t see any real change in the situation for the next two years. Lerner, whose outfit is the Wil¬ liam Morris Agency affiliate in Home, \said the top players were setting up their own units “for the simple reason that the stars have become more important in Italy than the producers. And it’s mostly the producers’ fault because they refuse to tailor their properties to the leading personalities.” Situation in Italy is such that “the door is wide open for the Americans to come in and pick up the pieces,” Lerner opined. He noted that such top names as are around — Anna Magnani, Sophia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida, etc.— 5 have been tied up by the U.S. in¬ terests. Local producers : can no longer afford them. He said stars and agents, like himself, were being forced into production. “We can’t help it,” he observed. “The local approach to filmmaking is all wrong. As a matter of fact, there ^re few Ital-~ ian producers to whom I’d entrust a top star at this stage of the game.” Lerner and Kaufman are branching out into Spain and Ger¬ many. They also rep U.S. players active in Europe. Demands for percentage deals on the part of players are “resented” by the producers, Lerner said, adding: “I can’t really see why. The producers don’t have money. Their pictures can’t cost more than $160,000 if they’re to recoup. Why punish the stars. It’s’their names that will make -a picture click. They have a right to participate.” Lerner said Italian production had “a wealth of possibilities” if they’re properly used and ex¬ ploited. He said the Italians were heartened by the success of the Dino de Lauren tiis “War and Peace” in the U.S. and that the capacity for making international pictures was definitely there. Going to the Goast with Lerrter is his client, Rossanno Brazzi. They’ll huddle with Universal on a new project. Negotiations also are going on re the possible Brazzi casting in the Rodgers & Hammer- stein “South Pacific” screen ver¬ sion Zolotow’s Twist on Dean: Criticism, Not Adulation; Calls Actor Repulsive The late James Dean has until now been much-discussed for his capacity to draw extravagant praise in death. A twist has now been provided by Maurice Zolo¬ tow’s syndicated column for Spa- dea. Detroit Free Press carried it under caption: “Are Dean Fans Buying Phony Idol?” *(8 cols) and the Omaha World-Herald (3 cols) captioned, “Late Actor Was Sadis¬ tic, Uncouth, Arrogant, Cruel and a Filthy Slob.” Akron Journal has been another to play the Zolotow Teverse-fietd big. Zolotow quotes intimates of the actor as saying he was “sully, surly, ill-tempered, brutal, without any elements of kindness, sensi¬ tivity, consideration for others or romantic passion. He was physi¬ cally dirty. He hated to bathe, have his hair cut, shave or put on clean clothes. He smelled so rankly that actresses working in close contact with him found it unbear¬ able.” Adds Zolotow, “He made life hell for any girl who gave him her affection,” .and quotes Elia Kazan as declaring Dean was “sick and unhealthy” in attitude. JAB AT HARRY COHN Removal of Sick Robert Aldrich Uncorks Acid Comment Hollywood, Dec. 4< Columbia took Robert Aldrich off “Garment Center” five days be¬ fore director was to . have com¬ pleted film and indie firm of As¬ sociates and Aldrich, to which di¬ rector is under contract and''Which had loaned him to Columbia, charged it was part of Harry Cohn’s, standard practice to “woo a creative man and having once won his services, then attempt -to em¬ barrass and humiliate him.” * Indie contended there was no cause or justification for action, said it wasn’t logical there could be a reason to remove a director after five months and within a week of windup. Aldrich’s directorial chore was taken over Friday by Vincent Sherman when Aldrich reported sick with 105 degree fever. Over weekend he sent studio notice he was ready, willing and able to re¬ port for work Monday. He did, but found Sherman there. Studio says it was under impres¬ sion Aldrich wouldn’t recover for a few days, since only five days were left to shoot, decided to let Sherman finish. O’Neil, Dozier, O’Shea In Florida Masterminding Session on RKO Future Three RKO topers head for Palm Beach today (Wed.) for an out-of¬ public-view meeting regarding pol¬ icy matters. Agenda for the ses¬ sion, which probably-will run sev¬ eral days, is being kept under wraps but expectedly will include plans for new productions and ways and means of getting them to market with new stress on effi¬ ciency in distribution. To sit in are Thomas F. O’Neil, chairman of the entire RKO Tele¬ radio setup; William Dozier, pro¬ duction v.p., and RKO president Daniel T. O’Shea. Regarding possible changes in the RKO operation, it’s reported that the company, in a streamlining move, has tentative plans to place all its domestic billings and collec¬ tions work in the hands of Na¬ tional Film Service, as has been done by Buena Vista. Also, it’s suggested in some trade quarters that RKO would like to effect economies in England to the extent that all its distribution throughout Britain would be taken over by British Lion. This is lack¬ ing in confirmation but is none¬ theless consistent with O’Neill- O’Shea thinking re the desire to cut down on overhead. It became definite this week that RKO Pathe, a sub-division of Tele¬ radio, will cease operation of its 106th Street studio in Manhattan and all production activities will be shifted to the Culver City lot. Jay Bonefield, who continues as head of the subsidiary and will remain in N.Y., said the move will mean no decrease in the number of shorts to be made in the future. rpmteff • CAN BE KNIGHTED Mickey Rooney Remove# Epaulets If Sword Should jFall •; Hollywood, Dec. 4. A star for 21 years, Mickey Rooney has agreed to waive Jus star billing in RKO’s°“The Bold and the Brave” in order to quali¬ fy for an Academy Award nomina¬ tion- for -Best Supporting Actor. It is’ the third time in as many years that a top-billed actor has stepped down in order to qualify for ail award, Jack Lemmon having copped the Oscar last year for “Mr. Roberts” after dropping his top- line status and Jan Sterling hav¬ ing been nominated the year be¬ fore for her performance ih-iiThe High and the Mighty.” Rooney ha's had star billing ever since “Ah WiWerness”"in-1935. In “Bold,” he shares the top-line with Wendell Corey. Rooney won a special Academy Award in 1939 for his perform¬ ances in “Boy’s Town” and the “Andy ^ardy” series. He was a nominee for Best Actor Award in 1943 for “The Human Comedy.” Only 24 Writers Now ‘Employes’ 0( Big Studios Hollywood, Dec. 4. With major film studios steadily paring their lists of contract writ¬ ers, there are only 24 writers hold¬ ing tennpacts at the majors to¬ day, probably a record low in the history of the industry. Studios, seeking to economize and cut their overheads, now sign writers chiefly on a ’ picture-by-picture b&sis. Of the 24 still under contract, 18 are on the payroll at Metro. In addition, there are two at Colum¬ bia; two at Universal; two at 20th- Fox. Four scripters are under non¬ exclusive pacts at Paramount. Altogether, there are 143 writers now working at the nine majors, it’s disclosed in a survey of the studios. Leading the parade are Metro, with 30; Universal, 29; 20th- Fox, 25, and. Columbia, 19. There are 17 writers at RKO, and eight at Paramount, although at the latter studio there are also three working for indie producer Hal Wallis, who releases through Par-j amount. Warner Bros. «fias seven* Allied Artists, six; Republic, two. Magnani, Booth, Presley, Martin & Lems Films On Hal Wallis Sked Hollywood, Dec. 4. Total of five big-budget pix have been slated by Hal Wallis for 1957, giving him his heaviest pro¬ duction schedule since he joined Paramount as an indie 10 years ago.- Lineup consists of “Fiiria,” to star Anna Magnani, “Hot Spell” (formerly “Next of Kiri”), starring Shirley Booth; “The Lonesome Cowboy,” Elvis Presley; an un¬ titled Martin & Lewis comedy and “The Last Train to Harper’s Junc¬ tion,” a .big outdoor actioner. ’* Wedhes&jjty 3; 1956 New York Sound Trdck “Nervous breakdown” report about Ernest Lehman was about as ex¬ aggerated as the w.k. Mark Twain crack. Scriptfer. is currently at Metro deciding whether to tackle- “Cat on a. Hot Tip Roof” scenario assign¬ ment in favor of something else. s * “The only "true thing about ‘Teahouse of the ’August Moon’ . . . is Marlon Brando . . . every inch an Okinawan,” William K. Zinsser, Her¬ ald-Tribune. “Mr. Brando looks synthetic”’ Bosley CPowther, Times. Sidney Harmon’s “Wild Party”’set for* art house showcasing , Kenneth MacKenna is in looking at the new plays . . . Mark Robson and F. Hugh Herbert to London at the weekend to complete “Little Hut” editing . . . Stanley Warner annual meeting set-for Jan. 10.. . . * AMPA will have its 40th Christmas party Dec.. 18 . . . British actor Jeremy Spenser (he’s in the “Sleeping Princess” film) was injured when his car overturned near Shropshire . . . Albert Lewin has “Living Idol” in the can for Metro . .. Otto Preminger starts rehearsals.this week for “Saint Joan” in London . . . Jim Scovotti, picture reviewer for the Na¬ tional Film Board, into the Army tomorrow (Thurs,). .....Gordon Sinclair reports in Toronto-Star-that a minor -employ ee-^ un¬ named) at Columbia Pictures sent inter-off ice.memos to the top brass, • all mentioning his great talents and promise and urging that he be pushed along. Since inter-office memos aren’t signed, says Sinclair, the character won five promotions and three raises before being caught. Judy Holliday made two pictures for Columbia this year (“Solid Gold Gold Cadillac” and “Full of Life”) to discharge her one-a-year commit¬ ment through to 1958. So now she can stay with the “Bells Ay e H in 8* ing” legiter all next year with no necessary time out for pix . . . Romanoff Caviar Co. is sponsoring showings of Embassy Films’ “Em¬ peror Nicholas II.” documentary newsreel account of the Imperial Romanoff family . . . William T. O’Connell was sworn in as a Municipal Judge by Mayor Wagner Friday (30). His actor brother, Arthur O’Con* veil, appears as a Municipal Court probation officer in RKO’s “The Violators.” ^ Humphrey Bogart’s throat illness means a continued delay of the start of “Good Shepherd” at Columbia. This' is one of four films Bogart is to do at Col . . . Allied Artists prez Steve Broidy gets a spot¬ light in Fortune mag as one of the “Business Men in the News.” Peg is AA’s profits and production rise. French producer Henri Berard has completed Europe’s firtt black- and-white Cinemascope film, “C’est Luis Qui Doit Mourir” (He Must Die). Based on the Kazantzaki book, pic was lensed on the island of Crete . . . David O. Selznick may not be able to shoot “A Farewell to Arms” in Italiy. Seems the Italo Government has objections . . . Rosanno Brazzi still dickering re the possibility of playing the lead part in “South Pacific” , . . German’s "The Last Bridge” finally heading for U.S. theatres via Peter Horner’s Union Films . * , Metro’s foreign dept’s Dave Blum in the hospital. Universal Pictures exec veepee Al'lJaflf was just telling a dais-mate “I never won a thing in my life” when Picture Pioneers dinner chair¬ man Sol A. Schwartz announced him winnah of the $4,700 Olds. Daff’s prime concern was “whaLto do with it; I’m leaving for the Coast right after this dinner.” p Possibly more technical advisors than on any other picture in history of Hollywood have turned up for Universal’s “The Man of a Thousand Faces,” biopicking the late Lon Chaney, All of them volunteers, too. Many of the crew members on picture worked with Chaney years ago in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and “Phantom of the Opera,” and according to director Joseph Pevney on the Coast all feel this gives them the right to make suggestions on how certain scenes should be handled. Peter Graves and Peggie Castle signed by Am-Par Pictures Corp. for roles in "The Beginning of the End,” initial pic of the newly formed producing company. Bert I. Gordon will produce and direct “End,” which he also screenplayed. Film before the cameras at Republic Studio on Coast. A. E. Siegel, formerly in the picture business, now heads Television Utilities Corp., Corona (L. I.) electronics outfit which sells broadcast¬ ing and industrial picture monitors to manufacturers. “The Devil’s General,” German film based on the play by Carl Zuck- . jpiayer, set to open at the World Theatre, N. Y., in late January . . . Republic prexy Herbert J. Yates balking at his own execs’ deal for Rep to take on the IFE Releasing Corp. product in the U. S. . . . F. L. Thomas, managing editor of The Cinema, British film trade mag, has resigned . . . George K. Arthur’s “Wee Geordie,” current at the Little Carnegie, N. Y., to be distributed nationally by Times Films . . . Wil¬ liam C. Gehring, 20th-Fox v.p., in Indianapolis to explain to local ex- hibs why the admissions-on-credit plan was called off , . . 20th reissuing the Selznick film, “The Third Man” -. .... Warner Bros, ad-pub topper Robert Taplinger returned from the Coast yesterday (TUes.). 20tNox 39-Weeks: $8,182,099 Net The pattern of upped grosses and declining profits was repeated last week when 20th-Fox disclosed a -$3,182,099 net—$1.20 per share —for the 39 weeks ended Sept. 29, 1956. Comparable period in 1955 produced a net of $4,446,851 or $1.68 per share. 20th board declared the regular 40c cash divvy on the common stock, payable Dec. 27, 1956, to stockholders of record Dec. 10. Earnings statement shows a sharp drop in film rentals which went to $77,719,336 for 1956' from $79,654,821 in the 39 weeks of 1955. It must be pinned mostly on the domestic market since for¬ eign rentals of 20th are equal to 1955 and for the 39 weeks ran to approximately $39,000,000. For a 47-week period they amounted to $47,000,000, maintaining a $1,000,- 000-a-week average. With operating income up, thanks in part to tv sales,"20th’s overall income was put at $87,157,- 860 against $86,832,411 la^t year. Amortization of film costs* jugs up to $50,262;293 from $47,557,040 arid film distribution and administra¬ tive expenses continued to rise, reaching $23^29,444 against $22,- 323,790 for the"39 weeks last year. Tax provisions for the period in ’56 amounted to $2,882,302 against $5 159,403 in 1955. 20th’s take for the remainder of the year should be .bolstered by the income from “Love Me Tender,” but no other big grossers are on the immediate horizon, short of “Anastasia” ,which won’t register ' appreciably on the 1956 books. N. Y. to L. A. Don Appell Patricia Barry Nate J. Blumberg Red Buttons A1 Daff Howard Dietz Roger Englander Betty Field Sandy Glass Herb Golden Peter Gray Alan Handley Irving P. Lazar Johnny Meyer Joseph H. Moskowitz Milton R. Rackmil v . Syd Rubin Dore Scharv Sophie Tucker Walter Winchell New York to Europe Joan Fontaine Hal Hackett Harold Hecht F. Hugh Herbert James Hill Edmund Hockridge James Mason Michael Rennie Sheldon Reynolds Mark Robson Jerome Whyte Europe to N, Y. Paulette Goddard Tom Honeymam Scott McKay Arnold Picker Sam Spiegel Margaret Webster Robert B. Weiss Gurney's 4th Literary Buy Indie producer Robert J. Gurney Jr. has acquired the film rights to “The Good Yeoman,” historical- novel by Jay Williams. This is the fourth literary prop¬ erty Gurney has purchased within the past few months as a backlog for his production company. His initial film, “Edge of Fury,” will be released shortly by United Artists. L. A. to N, Y. *Pier Angeli Samuel Z. Arkoff Irving Atkins Leon Blender Alan (Bud) Brandt) Marc Cavell Phil Cohan Laraine Day Leo Durocher Kirk Douglas Grade Fields Frank Freeman Jr. Samuel Goldwyn Jr. Beldon Katleman\___^ Gene Kelly ^ Norman Krasna * Piper Laurie Art Linkletter Jackie Loughery Kenneth MacKenna Paul Marsh Ernest H. Martin Stuart Millar James H. Nicholson Mary Pickford Irving Pincus James Poe Bu,ddy Rogers Barry Sullivan Robert S. Taplinger Hal B. Wallis