Variety (January 1958)

Wednesday, January 29. 1958 US&IET? PICTURES OTHER CRITICS TOUGH AS TIMES Critics Review the Book, Too DISTRIBS CHECK Wherever Yank Films Popular, SelznickV /A Farewell to Arms’ Plot Liberties M V (ITV IplAIQ Native Politics Devises Noose Get Plenty of Attention ■■■ ■ * II LI I Lilli u — ^ ^ « The extent to which the critics are influenced by and compare a film with the book on which it’s cased is emphasized again in the reviews of David ‘O. Selzriick’s "A Farewell to Arms.” Not a single review failed to compare the book with the picture, and mostly the comparisons were negative for the film. One reviewer, William Peper In the World-Telegram, turned the tables on the rest. He said Selznick had' been conscientious in creating the film, but added "Maybe It’s the Hemingway orig¬ inal that doesn’t soar anymore.” In the Times, Bosley Crowther started off by saying "There Is a noticeable difference between the structures * of ‘A Farewell to Arms’ as Ernest Hemingway wrote it and as David O* Selznick now presents it on the screen. And it is this major alteration that largely accounts ... for a sense of deficiency and inconsequence that emerges from the overlong film.” William K. Zinsser of the Herald Tribune, writing with redhot an¬ ger, said Hemingway’s story was lean and compassionate where the film was “flabby and maudlin.’’ Humanized Nazi In the upcoming "The Young Lions,” based on the Irwin Shaw novel, the character of " the Nazi— Splayed by Marlon’ Brando— has been “fiumarir ized,” It naturally changes the novel’s original character de¬ velopment. In a Coast Interview last Week, Shaw cracked: "I’ll have to see the movie to learn how my own story comes out.,K Some months back, author Ernest Hemingway disclaimed any resemblance between his “The Sun Also Rises” and the film version of the same titles Only 83 Writers Working Today In Hollywood Whenever the Industry has been in trouble, and the success or fail¬ ure of pictures have become cru . . , .... « , dal issues, film people have tended : — — ■•+ The "tax war” between local to give the critics 4he critical eye. RESPONSIBLE ATTITUDE governments and the American The process is now once again go aim industry is hot again all over ^r."‘BdS“yncSe?S?thl Tathte KeUer^aM^d °( Film* the world. From the Philippines New York Times. In Need Thereof down to Argentina, tax collectors What’s generally overlooked, The ChristorimrJ which cru Atch get their fingers on the however, is that, though Crowther sadea for “the emplownent of v™ American revenue and to find unquestionably is .the most influ S0^s0ff GovSL ^1hi<^^!sdunder wWch a levy entiai . among the metropolitan raent,labor, communications, etc., ca* be T e scribes, he’s often no toughCr on comments on the motion picture to some Instances, the U. S. films than several of his colleagues industry in the current tissue of firms have been able to battle the and, in many ways* is more con ^ News Notes "This is a most collectors to a draw. In others, slderate In his appraisals. fertile field fbr people with a the tax; threats, often involving This is established via a survey strong feeling of responsibility,” retroactive demands, still hang of reviews on ten major American states the organization which is over their heads, features released since early De headed by Father James Keller. In Spain, the situation has been cember. It shows that the Times The bulletin urges persons of somewhat eased by a new law is matched by the Post and, in high ideals to move into the crea passed by the Cortez in Decern* terms of severity, is actually out-* tive end of the business where they her, imposing a 15% tax on the done by the N. Y. Mirror for which, will find “unlimited opportunities New York share of the American Justin Gilbert reviews; Following to incorporate into .films the posi companies. This replaces a much is the breakdown, with the heading tive Values that they often complain higher combination «of taxes. "Good” taking in everything from' are missing.” Question still remains whether the Fair-to-Good up to. Excellent, and | — ^ — — — r — — levy is to be imposed on the net or “Disappointing” ranging from Poor the gross, with the Americans in¬ to Fair: IUammia DAH«Ali terpreting it as applying to the "Good Disappointing DcYlIllc JjPfPPf former, while the Spaniards insist Times 5 5 vaaaaay 5w on the latter. Tax in any case Tribune 6 4 e VV( would be retroactive to January, Post .5 5 UwAMjIflAkAA 1955. Prior to the current law, a Mirror 4 6 JjrdUfllSIlCS If IS corporate tax had been ira News 9 1 aaiv posed. Journal 7 3 « m « ■ In Italy, the government still is Tele .. 1. . . 8 2 111*1 I trvine to interoret the status of Wherever Yank Films Popular, Native Politics Devises Noose To Choke Off Take-Out Profit RESPONSIBLE ATTITUDE i.n Dune, writing witn reanot an Hollywood, Jan. 28, Post 5 it ik s? jss. r ••*** j film was “flabby and maudlin.’? employment at the major film stu News 9 In the Post, Archer Winsten not dips has skidded to an all-time low, ijelej. . 8 ed that Hemingway’s repetitions with only 83 scripters now working _ K 7 ’V onJthe orbited naae has “noetic <>( th. .i ha Considering tha Brandishes His Old Tomahawk Question still remains whether the levy is to. be imposed on the net or the gross, with the Americans in¬ terpreting it as applying to the former, while the Spaniards insist on the latter. Tax in any case would be retroactive to January, 1955. Prior to the current law, a 37% corporate tax had been im¬ posed. In Italy, the government still is trying to interpret the status of the operating American companies, as “permanent,” i.e., subject to local, taxes. Till now, the New ^ V1U Iuiuaua"n * "they are merelv something said Pct°her. Contract writers, pumher films of the year, the appraisal of Minneapolis, Jan. 28. local, taxes. Till now, the New ^ * ** ^ revieWerf might ju&W be Bennie Berger, who pepped out Ett** that Hemingway has fashioned an aUJim.e l0.w of;24’ . _ called a harsh dne, and the statis as North Central Allied president (Continued on page 64) ending that had no “endless senti . Decline m writer employment re tics back up those who have long under the throat that several of mentality” whereas the picture had fleets. brakes being. .put on. produc claimed that the scribes set un the largest dues paying members, t I m not. tlon at some lots, also the trend reasonably high standards for a disapproving his belligerence to KAIVA Uau|* I Mldf ; __ toward fewer but bigger pix. product that is designed for mass ward the film companies would ItdfU T dlK lFtlhl Busiest lots for the scripters are consumption. quit the organization, has bis fight ® Pi, P1*i 20th-Fox and Metro both of which This goes hand in hand with the ing trunks «>n again and is lashing n n 1 1 MArV rfllmlfQ haveW writere toiling in the fact that the quality of the New out at the distributors. \lllfo \Atflafl UiVl J IdUllVlO scripting mill. 20th figure reps a York reviews. with a few notable Until recently Berger has, dur Ullllo iJClIlCU slight Increase over last fall. One exceptions, Is dismally low and, in ing the past year, remained almost Ol!l| DUaaIL!na> thr£eiiLUt^nrTfcfnt^fol there— thisparticular respect.fails to do completely silent whfietheorgani A five-year-old antitrust suit Infill Krparmnff th 1 than Ias* year justice to the better things in mo zation, re-named Exhibitors Trade brought against RKO Pictures and DI VUUIUI^ Metro has 15 writers under pact tion pictures. Analysis beyond the Assn, by the “conservatives” who its subsidiaries by two Rego Park to lead far and away in this cate most superficial aspects of films ap took over its various offices, has L. I., theatre corporations was set-i... __ New York. gory, and right now two of those pears to be beyond the ken of most been largely inactive. tied and -discontinued Monday (27) Editor, variety: are on loanout, three between as reviewers. But now yesterday’s firebrand according to papers filed in N Y One: of the lads in the Jan. 15 signments. Next is Columbia, If complaints about the review's circuit owner has started again to Federal Court. Seven other majors Variety page-wunned a gloomy with 16 writers, up four, and five on the domestic film crop are loud, issue statements assailing the film and four circuits "originally named little dirge, to wit “Film Story Ed, of them under contract, an increase they’re matched by those of the companies because of what he con in the action which sought total Once Trade Hero, Faces Extinc of one. ' foreign film distributors whose ire aiders their, harmful sales policies damages off , $2 730 000 settled tlon.” There are eight writers at Para centred mostly on the Times, and attacking local bigwig, exhibi earlier, ’ * Come now sir. The slant on the mount, same as last fall, arid none It’s generally agreed that Crowther tors who Want to put this territory. Copark Theatres Ino onerafnr* imminent demise of the species is are under termpacts. There are Is paramount in that field, and the always an. Allied States’ strong 0f the Elmwood TheSre f rnm iOAR a bit premature not to mention also eight at Warner Bros, six less ^djes alternately sing his praises hold, in the Theatre* Owners of untn 1949 asked $1650 000 who» half-cocked and inadequately in than last: faff, and three of those and damn him to heU. America camp (see separate story Sosmose Realties ^ Inn ’ onpratnr Story Editors Still Breathing Rego Park Trust Suits Settled A five-year-old antitrust suit Editor, Variety: half-cocked and inadequately in than : formed. And further, the lad in are contraetees, two under the fall Conversations with the critics’ herewith). ’ from^ 1949 Ito^date wanted^Sl 080 dlcated in the body of his piece figure. critics establish two main points of Berger even has sent a letter 000 Their ^comolalrit ^wSd thJ that only Fox and Metro currently Universal, which had 20 writers !£mpl*£t: (J? Tf^eT d°?sni to Dept, of Justice (see sep mSbre ^ wdtb favoring larM^^ possess fully functioning story de working last October, but has since P£,a F-lm’ fe ^JPuldn V g0 a1^ out erate Variety story) charging to 3the detriment of* the^lalntifFs’ partments in New York. Let me w th| brakes on future product \n blastme lL This was brought up. Paramount Pictures with “illegal" house Am^^ ntbpr ^ hasten to add that Columbia Pic tion is down to tlJee screen ^ con^ection with Crowther s re action in connection with the un charHed tSt the dLfen^nf di^HhJ tures suffers a very active Eastern Serf on ^payroll todav S SLew °f Bod)°™ Tristesse .” (2) completed sale of its “Ten Com refused to Story Editor, namely me, on its Sd Art£V^W?^ad nS writes ; Tbf blasti?g ^emie^s maiidwerits’' : t°^ ^him for his Fergus the Elmwood payroll— and a full and splendid now has two out of their own livelihoods, by Falls, Minn., theatre, witn nrst run films staff to boot. fall srirvey>WRKO ^as was^d^o “ the film biz. ‘®ven though certain individu r3|ppad by attorney William With extraordinary sincerity, exist as a major studio De^luhav ^ ?pd reasi)nihS is tailor als apparently don’t want me to be and ^°fmo!e re7 Albert “ Tnhr)/ri'>i,> Tnhnctnn in* au T>irr\ :'/i: made-' for the argument — -more an exhibitor ‘leader’ anv more I’m P^rtedly won an undisclosed cash Co^umbia Sres ' p52i'h«?rr emotional than realistic-that the hook^ in this bus^^ settlement from RKO plus the Columbia Pictures ^ scribes are part arid parcel of the theatees, including threl S Mirine rIght to Play RKO-Loew’s “split” Sve?a^ar 1 ** We“ have some sort of 8poIls, 0*. r™ decided it-fttoe Product, Elmwood is said to M HARRY rnin^THN AC y Obligation to support it, even If again to fight for their lives, Sinas ®ne o£ onIy three New York indie. iliUllil UULUjlLm AJ they’re displeased with the prod much as others in the business houses getting such pix. II A ’G rflflDniMATAD Cosmopolitan Film Distributors c,°^Id he summed up here don’t think it's advisable to — U.A. yiUUKUlMIUK Inc. has boen authorized^ ^ to^ ^^ con TAl’C Alim PPnin itp Harrv Goldstein recently een ^uct t’O.slne.ss In New York, with It If it .s.hBd, just let it go at that. (In addition to being a theatre iUA S OWN SEPARATE narry CrOidstein, recenxiy gen capital stock? of 200 shares no oar °ne distributor last week, in all circuit owner Beraer alsn owns a w v 1,11 WI" niinilJ SutleSaninerNew^ ^Yo?k’s Tmfes vafue. Unger & Marten of N. Y. seriousness, suggested that, partic prosperous restaufant-night club, OZONERS* CONVENTION S HUV&K ^ ttmvmw n-Mbm. (Continued on page 21) (Continued on page f8, SlVeaf ^77;!’;” United Artists, becoming coordi ASsn which ha/ ^PnhnYHTntf fctaiyY-ca“-thel tj r* ^ n , J n , t Br°“n zs&A i93h3e I Horn N. Y. Critics Rated Releases ' | x Brandt chain as an usher in ia«. ^ first ozoner meet March 26-27 at He subsequently went up tlwlad ™ the Mark "Hopkins Hotel In San der, to assistant manager, to man ~ ^Francisco. The convention will be ager of the Central Theatre, man Following are the review ratings given to ten : American films by seven metropolitan N.Y. news held immediately after the mid Sogmose Realties Inc., operator from 1949 to date, wanted $1,080, TOA’S OWN SEPARATE capiiai siocic oi isuu snares, no par I YX1C ul3ltluULUi w.. m. an . circuit owner, Berger also owns a abait^a. _ _ _ _ value. Unger & Marten of N. Y. seriousness, suggested that, partic prosperous restaurant-night club, 07(1NFR^ mNYRNTTHM were fihng attorneys at Albany. 1 (Continued on page 21) 1 (Continued on page 18) uiiUiiLlW bUll f Jill 1 1V1! :r* ' -'W «« '«■ , j How N Y. Critics Rated Releases | iSSila*si | 1 first ozoner meet March 26-27 at i SltnJS,1? ^?°pkin3 H^el in..,San ^ . ^ .. ■ Francisco. The convention will be Following are the review ratings given to ten : American films by seven metropolitan N.Y. news held immediately after the mid HowN. Y Critics Rated Releases ager of the Globe, exec assistant papers. E stands for “Excellent”; G-E for “Good-to-Excellent’ to Hairy Brandt, head of the f for “Fair”; P-F for "Poor-to-Fair ” and P for “Poor.” chain, and then general manager. v . Shutter Capitol, Dallas “Peyton Place” (20th)... Dallas, Jan. 28. “Raintree County” (MG) . The Capitol Theatre has been “River Kwai”. (Col)..... shuttered here by Trans Texas “Enemy Below” (20th) . . . Theatre Circuit. The downtown “Paths of Glory” (UA). . . house was closed in the fall, re “Bonjour Tristesse” (Col) ... modeled as a Spanish language “Sad 'Sack” (Par);...... house and then reverted to its * original grind policy about & month TVild is Wind (Par) . . . . ago. ^ ‘TareweU to Anna” (20th) G for “Good”; F-G for “Fair-to-Go0d”; winter meeting of the exhib. org's board of directors arid executive . ... „„ committee. News Journal Telegram Decision to hold a Separate drivs F . E G G in -convention is based on the groVT -P GtE F F ing. importance of the outdoor -the* E E E E atres in recent years arid the G G-E G G * unique problems they face, partic* P-F G-E F-G E ularly in the area of children’s P F P , G-E Playgrounds arid food concessions. F G F 1 P TOA is getting off the drive-in E E E G-E meet slowly by dubbing it a “con P G-E G G-E ventionette,” with the hope that G G-E FHGr F-G ' (Continued on page 20) Times Trib Post : Mirror News: Journal Telegrj G F-G G F . E G G P P F P G-E F F E, . E E E E E F-G G-E F-G G G-E G G G G-E P P-F G-E F-G E P P P ■P-V F p i , G-E P F F F G •F P G-E G E E E E G-E F G •;E P G-E G ' G-E F P F G G-E FHGr F-G