Variety (October 1958)

10 mmwAnom USktEFl 'VAWITY'S' LONDON 0FF1CI • St. Martin's Place, Trafalgar Nwi* Manhattan Importers Adopt Uncordial Berlin’s Cultural Fest Lags Attitude Toward Frisco Festival 9 - - --- - - :-—--- Distributors of foreign films in Manhattan are taking a distinctly negative attitude towards the up¬ coming San Francisco international ■film festival. They’re resisting the idea of allowing iheir releases to be shown at the fest. Since some of the best foreign pictures already are committed to distributors, this robs Frisco of a wide potential of product. It ap¬ pears also to have affected the en¬ thusiasm of some of the foreign industries re participation in the Frisco event and automatically sets up roadblocks, for other cities that may wish to stage festivals along the Frisco lines. Under the rules prevailing for the Golden Gate competition, no film that has already been shown in the States is eligible. This rules out quite a few top releases. The indies argue that (1.) San Francisco doesn't have - stature in the sense that pub¬ licity from it is not nation¬ wide. (2.) It's in effect a pri¬ vate "promotion/* _ headed by Irving (Bud) Levin , who has been working very hard to get the fest recognized. (3.) A picture can be “destroyed” by the local Frisco critics . "I may give Levin a film, and it gets panned. Then what do I do?” asked one of the indies last week. “When I come to Herb Rosener, or one of the other art house operators in San Francisco, he may not want to book the pic¬ ture. Also, he may tell me that he had a different notion of how to handle it It just isn’t worth taking the risk.” In contrast to Frisco, the Euro¬ pean fests like Cannes and Venice benefit from the presence of some 600 international scribes. A picture rapped at these fests may get hurt in Europe, but the shock waves rarely reach the American public. If a film is a success, however, it stands a lot to gain. This, argue the indies, can’t be said of Frisco except in a strictly local sense. There’s some resentment, too, that the Frisco showings take in a large group that pays for its admissions while the distributor is expected to simply contribute his film. What could build up the Golden Gate fest is enthusiastic participation from the major Amer¬ ican companies. Latter haven’t come through, though one—20th- Fox—probably will enter one of its new films. It’s the smaller countries, like India and Japan, which go jnto Frisco with enthusiasm since the fest serves as an ideal showcase for their little-recognized product. The bigger countries, like France for instance, are still undecided as to the extent of their participation. Size of the French delegation, if one comes, is still in doubt Idle Gossip*—Levin San Francisco, Oct 7. Irving M. Levin, director of the Frisco Film Festival, says rumors that the French, Italians and Ger- tnans are sidestepping his Oct. 29- No v. 11 fete in favor of Mexico City are "just idle tearoom gossip." Levin was apprised of these ru¬ mors from two New York sources last weekend and said: “I checked with the Italians and they told me they’d put in films before Frisco was recognized, so they certainly aren’t going to pull out now. “I checked with the French, who had previously offered us two films and their reply was to offer a third film, if we wish it. “I checked with the Germans, who said they are now deciding which two of three films to offer our festival.” Source of rumors may have lain in the fact that Sweden’s "Wild Strawberries” is going to the mid- October Mexico City fete. Levin said "Wild Strawberries” was the only Swedish film offered and that he couldn’t take it if it played Mexico City first because the rules under which Frisco fete was sanctioned provide an entry may play nowhere in the Western Hemisphere outside the entry’s country of origin before being shown at Frisco. Under this rule. Levin states he’s already been forced to nix possible entry of two U. S. pictures, “Old Man and the Sea,” which played Stratford in Canada,last summer, and “The Defiant Ones,” which is going to Mexico City. Levin added that the French have told him they’ll send a dele¬ gation to Frisco—"I've already re¬ served 10 rooms for them at the hotel”—and the Italians are plan¬ ning to send a delegation. He said the Germans were trying to send a director, too. Japan Producers Group Opposes Ministry Plan To Boost Pix Exports Tokyo, Sept. 30. The Motion Picture Producers Assn, of Japan (Eiren) decided to oppose plans by the Ministry, of In¬ ternational Trade and Industry (MITI) to promote the showing of Japanese films abroad in order to increase picture exports. The ministry will raise its subsidy from $41,666 to $124,999. Mm is also making plans to increase the dollar allocation for importing raw films in proportion to the dollars earned by film exports. Steps were taken as direct result of impetus from the winning of Golden Lion at Venice film fest by Toho’s "Muhomatsu no Issho” (The Rickshaw Man). Bill drafted by the House Com¬ merce and Industry Committee calls for establishment of a corpo¬ ration with government and'indus¬ try funds to select product for ex¬ port and mediate their marketing. Proposed corporation would cover selection of films to be exported with care not to misrepresent Ja¬ pan and establishment of a review¬ ing board. Product under this heading would include, features, shorts, documentaries, information films and newsreels. Industry would bear the greater part of the capital of this corporation with the government making up the differ¬ ence. Business shall also include purchase and export of Japanese films, dubbing and subtitling, script translations, public relations, etc. «. Eiren opposes the bill because it does not feel such a government- industry organization offers much of a solution and because exports are increasing without this added expense. In 1947, exports of Japanese fiTm« amounted to only $30,000. This fig¬ ure jumped to $500,000 in 1951 when Daiei’s “Rashomon” won the Grand Prix, at Venice. Riding on the crest of a series of other mon-. ster pictures, Japanese filmy earned $1,400,00 overseas last year from exports to some 30 countries in¬ cluding the U.S., Russia, Red China and Taiwan. Export goal this year is $2,300,- 000, with $1,057,000 realized dur¬ ing the first seven months of 1956. India to Import More Raw Stock as Foreign Biz Rises Madras, Sept 30. . India government has finally de¬ cided to allow importation of ad¬ ditional footage of raw stock to meet increasing demand of prints for overseas distribution of Indian films. The additional footage for import would be based on the to¬ tal length of films that would be exported to foreign countries. In recent months, there has been a growing demand for Indian films from the Far East, Middle East and even Rumania, Germany and Czechoslovakia. The regulars who have been buy¬ ing Indian films in good quantity are Ceylon, Singapore and the Fiji Islands among others. Ceylon is the principal buyer accounting for an annual revenue of over $200,- 000, with Singapore second at $130,- 000 . Decision of the government was disclosed by K. B. Lall, Director General of Foreign Trade. The government has been influenced both by pressure from film export¬ ers in Bombay and Madras and also by reports that Indian films are received favorably. Hence, something should be done to step up their exports to earn a greater amount of foreign exchange. Arg. Film Producing Biz ~ Revived by Some Loans From Screen Institute Buenos Aires, Oct. 7, Argentina’s dormant film indus¬ try is slightly revived by an in¬ jection . of Screen Institute loan- financing. About six productions are rolling or prepping to shoot. At least half of these are in dimen¬ sional systems. A recent crop of releases, due to novice directors, have culled some critical praise and encouraging boxoffice results, particularly Agentina Sono Film’s “Procesado 1040” (Prisoner 1040) which is Ruben Cavalotti’s second directorial job. “Isla Brava”, di¬ rected by Mario Soffici, and re-' leased at the (Loew) Metro with the Critics’ Asso. sponsorship, was released the same night. Both pic¬ tures were sold out and attendance justified a second week holdover. . After much wrangling'trying to reconcile the ideas of all interested parties. Screen Institute president Narciso Machinandiarena submit¬ ted yet another draft film law to leave no single aspect of screen matters jmregimented, with a view to overcoming the national screen crisis. Provincial Goverhors^ in Santiago del Estero, Tucuman and Salta are trying to emulate Peron, and muscle in on screen produc¬ tion. Tucuman’s Celestino Gelsi has charged Angel Acciaresi with producing a documentary pn Tueu- man cane cropping, camera work to be done by Americo. Hoss, with Peron’s old friend, actress Malisa Zini playing a prominent role. Much Current Production Current production activities in¬ clude “Salitre” (Saltpetre) which Carlos Rinaldie is rolling on loca¬ tion; "La Caida” (The Fall) which Leo Torre Nilsson has been shoot¬ ing on central city streets; Richard von Schenk is working on “Rebelli¬ ous River” (Cevi), with a mixed German-Argentine cast; Ariel Cor- tazzo is adapting “El Asalto” (The Attack), a whodunit adapted from Enrique Silberstein’s novel, to be rolled in Guaranteed studios. Hugo del Carril has been searching for a boy and girl under 10 for “Las Tierras Blancas” (The White Lands), which Eduardo Borras. has adapted from a Jose Manauta novel. Cinematografia Independen¬ ce is catching on to the topical petroleum problem, by asking a screen version of "Esta Sangre es Nuestra” (17113 Our Hood), adapted from Carlos Alberto Orlando’s novel on Patagonia. A nasty accident occurred to an Argentina Sono Film camera crew working on the Sono Film-Quilicci coproduction, “From the Appe- nines to the Andes.” Of the sev¬ eral injured, camerman Julio Das- so died in hospital. Orbe distributors plan going in¬ to production with Robert Siod- mak while Sono Film is mulling a similar deal with Anthony Quinn. Kurt Land is about ready to start shooting “Evangelina” for a new producton unit dubbed Albor, with the Bariloche lake district as background. That section of the industry which always hopes that interna¬ tional bigwigs will turn their at¬ tention to production pictures on Argentine soil is heartened hy re¬ ports that Charles Chaplin has purchased real estate and means to settle In Argentina, while Brig¬ itte Bardot is expected here for tele work. BFPA Chief Tabs last 12 Months Worst Yet London, Oct 7. The British film industry has gone through the worst 12 months in its history, according to Arthur Watkins, president of the British Film Producers Assn. He said that a great deal of the vacant floor space at British studios, caused by the lack of future film production, had to a large extent been filled byvidpix. ' Watkins said the uncertainty which prevailed at the present -time in the industry made it almost impossible to forecast the number of productions likely during the forthcoming year. Berlin, Oct 1. Coming at the tag-end of Europe’s festival-loaded summer Ber¬ lin’s eighth annual event had a lacklustre first week though the Canadian pianist Glenn Gould was standout. In the first seven ■ days five operas from regular repertory, 17. stage plays, of which four were premieres, a Japanese chamber music concert, an eve¬ ning of ballet and an appearance of Antonio’s Spanish Dancers plus the perhaps-inevitable “Die Fledermaus” did not v add up to anything memorable. Festival was disappointed^ by-the cancellation of the Hamburg Deutsches Schausppielhaus which was to have offered "Faust.” Illness in cast forced this. Theatre goers awaited hopefully the premiere of "Kuerassier Sebastian und sein Sohn” by Theodor Schuebel, young (32) Ger¬ man author. This nation badly needs a new playwright, that with Schuebel a new talent would emerge. But his play was not a hit, though not a flop either. Dialog reveals ability, but, in all, play is nothing much. First festival week brought also the preems of Shakespeare’s "Storm,” Schiller’s “Fiesco” plus two one-act plays by Giraudoux, "Impromptu” and "Apollo of Bellac.” Both "Storm” and "Fiesco” emerged as rather lukewarm presentations, mostly resulting from so-so direction, partly inadequate acting, but the Giraudoux pieces rated as definite successes. Willi Schmidt did an excellent stag¬ ing job, same honor is due to the ensemble headed by Johanna von Koczian and Erich Schellow. * Hans. B way Legit Busting Out AO Over W. Germany; ManylLS. Translations misquoted’: Geo. Devine London. I Editor , Variety: In your issue of Sept. 10 your London correspondent reported the comments supposed to have been made by Neville Blond, chair¬ man of the English Stage Co., and myself on the subject of John Osborne’s new musical play. Both these comments, as -.published in the London Daily Herald, are en¬ tirely misreported. I have attempt¬ ed to get this put right here in London, to no avail. I would ask you, 'as a favor, to publish this letter so that the American public can know that neither Mr. Blond nor I said what is attributed to us. The problem of Mr. Osborne’s musical play in a small theatre like the Royal Court, with a very small orchestra pit, is insurmount¬ able. George Devine * (Artistic director. Royal Court Theatre) Metro’s Sales Manager Censor Cuts, Rejections Cork, Sept. 30. Douglas King, Metro’s general sales manager -In London, here to -talk to Cork Film Fest patrons on "Sale and Distribution of Films,” had sharp words to offer Irish censor on scissoring and rejecting. It hurts the public by depriving them of entertainment, the exhibi¬ tor by restricting the number of pictures available and the distrib¬ utor and producer. Another criti¬ cism for Ireland was that it has the highest rate of tax on cinema-going in the world. Fest, which had only one Amer¬ ican feature pic "Old Man and the Sea,” exhibited, had a heavy diet of earnest documentaries in com¬ petitive classes- Only star of mag¬ nitude to attend was Vittorio de Sica for the screening of the Ger- man-Italian co-production, "Can- nonen Serenade” (Cannon Sere¬ nade), one of only three comedies for the week. Others were Darry Cowl’s slapstick' opus, "Le Tripor- teur” (The Screwball), and Padri e FIgli” (Fathers and Sons). Ger¬ many entered "Traumstrasse der Welt” (Dreamroad of the World), Hans Domnick’s 90-minute travel¬ ogue on the Alaska-Mexico High¬ way and in the documentary classi¬ fication. ' British had no entries and no delegation, but Germany, France and Italy put on the pressure with special groups. / George Pattilla, manager of In¬ terstate’s Majestic Theatre, has re¬ signed and is quitting Houston for Lake Tahoe to go into biz for him¬ self. Ross Vallone, manager of the Tower Theatre, is being transferred | to -Majestic as successor. He will 1 be replaced in turn at the Tower by John Ellis, now manager of the Santa Rosa. Frankfurt. Oct. 1. Broadway’s busting out all over West Germany. And the main thea¬ tre streets of the leading cities might well be named after the New York theatre section because the plays that light up most of the houses for the fall season are Ger¬ man translations of American hits. Here are some of those opening for the first time in West Germany. "Tea and Sympathy” starts Oct 7 at the Renaissance Theater in Ber¬ lin with Heidemarie Hatheyer in the lead. William Inge’s "Dark at Top of the Stairs” is the Christmas production at the Duesseldorf City Theatre, with* Miss Hatheyer again in the lead. Samuel Taylor’s "Happy Times” opens at the Josef- stadt Theatre in Vienna in Novem¬ ber. "A Palm Tree In a Rose Gar¬ den” starts out at the Thalia Thea¬ tre in Hamburg next month. It stars Inge MeisL All of these plays are MCA products, represented in Germany by Liesel Frank Mittler, who ex¬ plains the success of American, plays in this manner: “Since over half of West Germany's theatres are subsidized by the city or tne state government, the accent Is on ‘culture’ instead of on ‘entertain¬ ment.’ And if a play has been a hit in America, the officials are likely to favor it for here. "Amusing plays that were per¬ formed in America are . unlikely to be performed here because the plays must be considered impor¬ tant or to carry a message.” Lack of new plays by German authors she explains logically. "Wheh a theatre is subsidized, it is unlikely to try the work of an un¬ known young local author. And the German writers today are somehow obscure. They don’t be¬ lieve in taking the time to learn the craftsmanship of playing, and don’t take the effort to write and re-write and re-write until a drama is perfect. It’s too long a road for them. "There’s just a little start now, With a couple of new German dramatists beginning to gain fame. And the success of. the play, The Visit of the Old Lady* by Swiss author Friederich Duerrenmatt, which is now running in N. Y., has tremendously encouraged the local playwrights.” Indiscreet’ Given ‘0’ Tag Dublin, Sept: 30. "Indiscreet” (WB), doing ca¬ pacity biz at Adelphi here in its second week, has drawn an "O” (Objectionable) rating from Na¬ tional Film Institute’s reviewing panel. Lengthy comment in the institute’s review defends the de¬ cision, nod viewed as unanimous. One institute council member com¬ mented: "An ‘Adult’ rating would be okay for the picture, but to disregard the farcical element to such an extent as to give it an *0* rating win not enhance the insti¬ tute’s ratings with the public.” Of 29 films rated in current re¬ viewing list only “Indiscreet” is rated "objectionable.” “Maracaibo” (Par) gets on “objectionable-in¬ part” tag, 15- others are okayed for adults but only 12 for general audiences.