Variety (September 1957)

PICTURES WB Sale of Pix to Brit TV Sees Other Studios in Watch-Wait Stance THEATRE BAR KAYORD, FRANK CLOSING HOUSE}| . St. Paul, Sept. 3, _ Circuit owner-Hollywood pro-| ducer W. R. Frank suffered defeat Wednesday, September 4, 1957 _ ‘Morningstar’ in the M . [EVERY GUEST A SHUTTERBUG] Sale of a block of Warner Bros. features to British commercial tv has focussed the attention of other companies on the tv market abroad. All say they’ve received bids from foreign tv interests ta make deals, but few have actually been consummated. One of the companies sitting on the fence is 20th-Fox, which has had several offers, particularly in Europe. Murray Silverstone, 20th International prexy who returned from Europe this week, took up the question during his huddles with 20th prexy Spyros P. Skouras in London. Since the tv market abroad is still largely underdeveloped, the companies are in a peculiar position. They have to decide whether the time is ripe to service abroad or to wait until the market has grown and revenues. are potentially bigger. At the same time, the sale of the WB pix brings up the question of who gets there first in a market that can be saturated a lot quicker than the U.S. Still another consideration are the exhibitors in Europe who, certainly in comparison with the U.S., are organized very tightly and in a position to strike back at companies that deal with the tv competition. Situation is a little different with Warner Bros. than with the other outfits since War-. ners originally sold the negative rights to its product. Others simply have leased: the rights. Of the miajors, actually only Republic has sald blocks of its films to overseas tv. Several indies have, of course, made deals. EE 3 for RKO === Continued from page 5 tentatively is set for next summer. First of RKO projects to be made by DeLaurentiis will be “Fortunella,” directed by Eduardo DeFilippo from a script by Federico Fellini, Ennio Flajano and Tullio, Pinelli. Cast is headed by Paul Dougias and Giulietta Masina, with a French thesper a possible third name. Pic starts Sept. 20 and RKO so far has set release for Italy only. Second item also stars Miss Masina, will be directed starting in December by Mario Monicelli, and also has RKO release for Italy. Third phase of the DeLaurentiisRKO pace would be a largescale “international” pic te be made by Fellini. Depending on _ script chosen and actor availability, it could either be a project called “Viaggio con Anita,” for which Gregory Peck or William Holden has been: sought to costar with Sophia ‘Tbren, or another Fellini idea, “Lei Libere Donne Di Magliano”, Pie _jyould roll in January. DeLaurentiis revealed that his “Sea Wall” (made for Columbia) will run 113 minutes in its. final form. It was directed: by Rene Clement. eee ee Hong Kong Seca, Continued from page 3¢ only 11—a scant 4°¢—carried the Production Code seal of approval. In most instances, importers make no effort to obtain the seal which | =—on much of their product—they know they couldn’t get anyway. Even the British films, however, which would qualify for a seal, don’t bother getting it. The J. Arthur Rank Organization never submits its imports. Last year, during the first six months of the ecensor’s. year, the }|. Germans got 66 seals, followed by the Chinese with 63, the Mexicans with 59, British with 27, Italians i7 and the French 13. Top 10 this year, after China, Britain, Mexico and Germany, are France with 21, Italy 12, Argentina 7, Russia 7, Greece 5 and Japan 4, No breakdown is available between features and shorts for the individual countries, but the vast majority of the imports listed from the big countries constitute features. Chinese films play off in Manhattan’s Chinatown, where three houses need enough product for two or three weekly changes, Main market for these pix is on the Coast. Stellings Taps Chairmen For TOA’s Florida Meet Ernest G. Stellings, president of ‘Theatre Owners of America, has selected representatives from all: sections of the-country to serve as 10th anni convention to be held at Miami Beach in November. Western member of the four-man convention committee will be Albert Forman, president of Oregon ‘Theatres Assn. Paul L. Krueger, prexy of Wehrenberg Theatres and v.p. of Missouri-Illinvis Theatres Assn., Will represent the Central states; Henry G. Plitt, president of Paramount Gulf Theatres, the south, and Philip F. Harling, “chair-: Business Administration committee and an exec of Fabian Theatres, the east. ame Continued from page 2 aaa European experience demand. First ds that in Europe, one gets intensive training in a few years and. much more experience than in the U. S. Secondly, the American public and managers are still impressed by the European background. Third is that in Europe, if one is out of work, he’s an artist, and treated with respect. Out of work in America, you’re a bum, he says. a panies in Germany and Austria, plus 10 more in Switzerland, and 30 companies in Italy, one has a tremendous chance to sing roles both in German and Italian. In -Ameriea, it’s the Met and N. Y. City Center plus opera companies running for six weeks in Chicago and San Francisco; Most of the companies want stars and a newcomer hasn’t a chance. “If you’re really enterprising in Europe, ‘you :can find plenty. of work,” he said’ “A good but un-| known singer can make at Ieast $250 a month here, which is plenty to live on, and. the experience is worth a fortune.” To make his living expenses, the enterprising Morris, -who just arrived in Europe this . January, started teaching. voice fo American and German students, mainly children of American military personnel stationed here. In addition, he’s booked for six. concerts this fall with local military clubs, paying from $25 to $40 each. And a tour with the State Department's America. House pays him $10 a concert in Germany. He picked up| another $400 as musical director for the Frankfurt Summer Theatre, underwritten by the U. S. y. ‘You need enough money when you come to Europe to. live nearly a year,” he stresses. “It takes that long tq get established. ‘The first jfour months you audition for agents alone, and you have to audi-|} tion a year in advance for the city operas.” "Alas Corp. Continued from pase 3 == buy 153,553 shares of common, and Odlum indicated it would exercise this right. Atlas showed 402,453 shares of Walt Disney Productions as of last June 30, which indicates it now hoics only 2,453 shares. The {402,453 shares had been estimated to be worth $8,857,032. Corporation, besides its remaining W. D, interests, now holds only 2,000 shares of Loew's Inc., 1,000 Paramount Pictures shares and ‘20, 000. shares of Technicolor Ine. Atlas is now planning to merge five major uranium companies to form a huge indie uranium mining company, This part. of. the com pany’s diversification plans appar-|; ently is a swing towards mining of uranium. The new company. in which Atlas has agreed to take steck would be known as the Hidden Splendor Mining Co. Part of the deal has Atlas agreeing to take stock inthe merged company at $7.50 per share, in ¢@xchange for some $6,000,000 of the $16,000,000 of the present Hidden Splendor notes which it now holds. co-chairman of the exhibitor org’s. man of TOA’s toll tv and Small |. U.S, Opera Singers |: . ners ‘and his son Alan Jr. drew the “Going Steady,” Sam Katzman pro With nearly 100 opera com-| ” Sophia Loren to star in new ver “Bridge to, the Sun,” ‘by Art Estrada and Steve ‘Schenck and. Howard Ww. Koch cast. ‘play by Harry Essex and Lesser ‘Proving Flight,” story. of British / purchased -by agent Milt Rosner license for the bar-restaurant that tis connected with his suburban ‘West Twins film theatre, _Disregarding his plea that he couldn’t afford to operate the showhouse minus the liquor revenues, the South St. Paul’ council approved the ‘license transfer to another ‘ocation fo be occupied by Frank’s West Twins, tenants. Frank himself previously had been the license holder, .operating the. bar-restaurant as well as the theatre until.he turned it over to the tenants who are now moving out because of a business. dispute with him, the building’s owner. ‘It’s anticipated that Frank will now close the theatre which has been operating in the red. Briefs From Lots Hollywood, Sept. 3. Alan Reed set for a featured role in “Marjorie Morningstar” at War male lead opposite Molly. Bee in duction at Columbia . . *Barricade,” an original by Art & Jo Napoleon will be the husband-wife team’s next indie under their Jana Productions banner , -Raymond Stross will make “A Qué@Stion of Adultery,” semination, in England in November asa co-production with CineWorld Productions .... Vance Skarstedt, film editor. for Albert C. Gannaway for the last six’months, upped to a producer post... Mae. Clark set by Universal for a role in “How Lonely the Night,” Richard Egan-Julie London-Arthur O’Connell starrer’... Metro. signed Mickey Shaughnessy for a leading role with Glenn Ford in “The Sheepman,” which will be Edmund Grainger’s first film for the Culver Jot. ., Myra Fahey drew a role in. “The. Light in the Forest” for Walt Disney. sion .of “Blood and Sand,” to be produced by Henry Ephron for .«.Paramount bought non-fiction book by Gwen Tereasaki ... Cor nel Wilde collabing with James. Edmiston on “How to: Make a Million” . “Hell Week,” original by Edward EL Seabrock and Homer McCoy, acquired for production by AB-PT Pictures for November starting date .. . Gannaway International will film: “Blueprint for Crime,” Masino . Gwen Verdon will costar with Tab Hunter in Warner Bros.’ “Damn Yankees” Aubrey Grian Keith to star in “Hell's Highway," first under pair’s new distrib pact with Warner Bros. . « s “One for the Dame,” unproduced Samuels, bought by Columbia . Pictures, whith signed duo to write screenplay. Efrem Zimbalist Jr. drew a role in “Hell’s Highway” which Aubréy Schenck will produce at Warners . AB-PT pictures bought “The Daring and the. Damned,” an original screenplay by Fred Freiberger Albert Zugsmith added. “The Unvanquished,” ” William Faulkner’s Civil War novel, to his Metro. sehedule. . Studio has .owned the property for almost 20 years... oulse Beavers. set: for a role in “The Goddess,” Paddy Chayefsky film at ‘Columbia . . Patricia Dona ahue signed for the femme lead in. “On the Make,” 48th in the Bowery Boys series at Allied Artists ... Arthur Loew Jr. will make “The commercial jet ‘aviation, in London under the banner of his Mediterranean Films ... Warners signed Miiko Taka, Japanese actress who made her film bow in “Sayonara,” to a term contract. Audrey Totter wil costar with John Agar in “Jet Alert”. for American-Infernational . Universal set Jack Mahoney for a Jeading role in “There’s A Time to Love,” now shooting in Germany. . Dan Duryea ‘signed to. star. in “The Big Drop” which has been who is packaging for indie produection . R: G. Springsteen will direct “Cole Younger’ Gunfighter” at Allied Artists .. . Gregory Peck acquired production by his Imdie. Melville Productions. Sy ‘Barlett will prox duce , . . Metra set John Sturges to direct “The Law and Jake Wade,” Robert Taylor starrer. in. his fight. to retain the. liquor. story of artificial in-| ‘sort in Wouk’s novel where Mar ‘ed in Wouk’s tome. Owner Joseph’ from orignal screenplay | sta#f entertainers. The p duced programs. | ‘has been Dave Bines, long associ ron Roman, who-led the orchestra : ‘the recent fade of the house’s vaude policy, is.the-man in front -of Séaroon’s outdoor bandshell, a. perfect cutdown replica of fhe one -composer. ‘including a comedy: bullfight -rou former colléagues. now serve bim se ” 4 Pork Chop Hill” for /as he sits with the Warner crew in Schroon Lake, N. ¥, ‘Sept. 3 More film will probably be ex ‘te Morningstar” than on any picture ever produced in Hollywood ‘or elsewhere. Lest this observation be misconstrued as a comment on the length of the picture or of the ability of Milton Sperling and Irv ing Rapper, producer and director should be pointed out that loca Herman Wouk noyel is being doné at Scaroon Manor, an Adirondacks ‘be an amateur camera. fiend. Each of the principals in the picture, including Natalie Wood, Gene Kelly, .Ed Wynn and George Tobias, all of whom are here. for three weeks of location filming, have spent as much or perhaps more time before the still and motion picture cameras of the paying guests than they have. in front of the cameras of ‘cinematographer Harry Stradling and the still men assigned to the unit. One guest, a two-week vacationer, is said to have recorded at least two feature pictures with his 8m Kedak. Players’ Extra Exposure The leading performers, as well as the supporting players, including Carolyn Jones, Marty Milner and Martin Balsam, have taken in stride the constant exposure te shutterbugs and have posed graciously for the guests. The presence of a crew of 100, appéars to have fascinated the vacationers who are abandoning their usual activities in action. For the most part, the guests have been cooperative during the rehearsal and attual shooting periods and little firm policing —a delicate situation—has been necessary. Producer Sperling plans to shoot one-third of the picture at Scaroon Manor, which is not: tinlike the re jorie Morningstar, played by portrayed by Kelly. As a matter of fact, the hotel is one. of the few. remaining resort. spots that pro in a manner Similar to that depict: Frieber clings to the policy of. presenting staff-produced shows-with reduction : and entertainment staff of 82 ‘produces its own musical shows with: original books and lyrics. ‘ Guest entertainers are brought in twice: a week to ajigment the home-pro Producer for the last 20 years ated with RKO Theatres. His. wife, Cookie, is the choreographer. My at the Palace on Broadway before. in the Hollywood Bowl. Alex Makofka is the veteran arranger and A Tennis Takes Back Seat singers and dancers have -been hired by Sperling and. director Rapper to appear. in musical -sequences of the flim. Although the music has been pre-recorded. in Hollywood, eight musicalsequences will be staged and filmed here, The rehearsals in particular, tine featuring | nm and a dance sequence with Miss Wood, brought out the guests in droves. They | abarfdoned the tennis courts, swimming area and other -recreational Jack Baker’s guiding of the Hollywood visitors. The arrival of the Hollywood contingent has alfered the lives. and routines of a number of Scaroon employees as swell: as resi-. dents of the local aréa. A medical student working his way through: school by waiting on tables has become Gene Kelly’s stand-in and his the dining room.-. Twa local girls have been selected to. stand in: for Natalie Wood and Carolyn Jones. ‘Children of a nearby summer camp posed for the shooting of ‘‘Marjor-| of the Warner Bros. production, it. tioh work for the filmization of the. area resort hotel ‘where each of |' the 1,000 or so guests appears. to| of the Hollywood unit, consisting |_ to observe a film production: unit Wood, meets ‘her Noel Airman, vides its guests with entertainment | number of Scaroon’s staff} ess, perhaps to study acting: will be ‘used in a sequence, In addition, residents of two neighboring towns have been tapped for extra work. The prodiction, . budgeted at $2,000,000, will move to New York City for several-days following the principals will haye appeared in scenes at Scaroon before: e troupe moves out, Claire Trevor and Everett Sloane were due in. WB is shuttling newsman from all over the country ‘to the resort during the shooting. All told;-some 80 scribes are expected te visit the location during the shooting sched e. , : ‘Saga of Spicker Continued from page 4 the Danish contortionist act, . the Colbergs. Sonja parted from this company in January, 1952; ‘Colberg was going to Copenhagen. and ‘she had to return to Berlin to obtain ‘a Danish visa. It was in March, 1952, that: she made Copenhagen, trained and hit the road again (with the Schweizer National Circus on an efght-month showing at the National: Scala in the Danish capital) until July, 1953, to America under contract ‘to George A. Hamid. U.S. and Canadian Dates | Sonja Spleker and Walter Colberg had a heavy schedule playing the eastern states and -Canada— theatres, club dates, fairs, local sportsmen exhibitions, etc. All dates had ta be eancelled in. time,that the second of the two bad zation, She was admitted to the General Hospital in ‘Reading, Pa., and, with her injuries diagnosed, two months later was taken in an ambulance to Will Rogers. | Ragers Hospital is “Your Hospital,” states its benefactors. Meaning it’s open to alt members of -show business. and their families without any charge at all. Shaw usiness owns it and supports if but it’s no secret that the moving spirit behind it is a Hmited group, mainly motion picture people such. as distributor Abe Montague. and: exhibitor.Robert J. O'Donnell. It’s a matter of continuing concern to them, as it is to Herman. Robbins, Si | Fabian, Sam Rosen, Gene Pickér, Ned Depinet, Max A. Cohen, William German (to drop a few. more picture ‘business names: at ‘random) antl the hoard of ‘the Motion Picture Assn. of America. . -AGYVA Steps Ii For Sonja, the way to Rogers was through the American Guild of Variety Artists, of which she had -becomé’ a member. AGVA. reps heard of her casé, made the necessary contacts with* the. institution that’s “owned and operated by and -” for members of the motion picture and amusement industry, for treatment and hospitalization.” In the interim, though, ‘other contacts were made. A physician ‘af the Reading hospital and theatre interests acquainted Rep. George . /M. Rhodes of Pennsy with tle in ternational fix Sonja was.in. Admitted to America on a ‘working Visa, she faced the ‘prospect. of being shipped back ta Gerniany to await ber turn on the immigration quota list. In 1956 Rep. Rhodes introduced the measure which: would lift the: barriers and on Aug. 6, 1957, sent this. telegram to Sonja:. . “Pleased to advise your bill passed by both House and Senate. Now . awaiting signature of ‘President Eisenhower which should be only a matter of a few days.‘ Sincerest congratulations that you can now become permanent resident of United States,” Awaiting her final papers, Sonja says the rigors of acro and ¢ontortionist work preclude this field ‘from her future. She adds; _“Every thing is. indefinite. I would like very much to go back fo. show husii don't. know if Pll bhé ahie to do i 19 August, 1954, for it was at. this three weeks here. However, all the . tour—five. months in Belgium— ~ ‘when she and Walter Colberg came’ television, at auto dealers and . spins caused her lengthy. hospitali-._ g é