Variety (February 1959)

12 ' IOTEBNATIONAL 'VARIETY'S' LONDON OFFICE • St. Martin'* PUcy, Trafalgar Square isfiRi&Fi WBMuDs Aussie Deal With Major Indies for Top Fix; Pass Up Hoyts? Sydney, Feb. 3. * Warners, contract-stymied by the Hoyts’ cinema loop for a long time, may make a deal with major independent exhibitors operating in near-city zones to splash re¬ lease product as opposition to both Hoyts and Greater Union Thea¬ tres. WB has watched from the sidelines* the plush, trade obtained by the key distributors via the splash release policy over the Hoyts and .Greater Union circuits and now has set a blueprint to re¬ lease product add join the other 'class “passengers” on the gravy train. For many weeks now the inde¬ pendents have been irked with the major distributors’ policy of giv¬ ing splash (blanket) release pref¬ erence to either Hoyts or GUT, and then offering the independents playdates after the “guts” f had been played out of a pic. Case in point, according to an indepen¬ dents’ spokesman, was the su¬ burban release on a hard-ticket policy of Paramount's “10 Com¬ mandments.” Independents, ac¬ cording to spokesman, although longtime patrons of Paramount, were not even given an opportu¬ nity to bid for the pic because of a deal signatured between Par and Greater Union. Understood that . the mooted deal between Warners and the in¬ dependents will give the latter an opportunity of playing first-re¬ lease product for the first time in years. The independents aver the new hookup will provide a power¬ ful weapon to combat the inroads made into their trade by the big loops via the “blanket” release route. Many years ago WB, following a fallout with Hoyts; took over an independent house in Sydney, switching later to the suburbs, with “Yankee Doodle Dandy" as the initial bidder. Later a new deal was signatured with Hoyts, and this solo* bid exited. Warners also bought a key Sydney cinema site, but was prevented from erect¬ ing its own showcase because of post-war building, restrictions and pressure by the major pic loops. Pix ready to-hit the splash-re- lease target on a hookup between Warners and the independents In¬ clude “The Nun’s Story,” “Marjor¬ ie Momingstar,” “Old Man and the Sea,” “Indiscreet,”, and “No Time for Sergeants.” Canadian Documentary . On Austrian Camp For India Scouts Europe New Delhi, Feb. 3. Horn! Wadia, prominent dis¬ tributor of films here, is en- route to France, Italy and West Germany. His quest is for feature films suitable for ex¬ hibition in India. A second purpose: to in¬ vestigate chances of placing some of India’s films in those lands. Villa Olmo, Cuevas Ballet, Chi Opera, Greece in Bids For De Banfield Works Florence, Feb. 10. Rafaello de Banfield, Italian composer, whose opera “Lord By¬ ron’s Love Letter” had its world premiere in New Orleans and whose ballet “The Duel” has seen over 1,000 performances by ma¬ jor companies is currently one of the most commissioned composers in Italy. The annual Villa Olmo Festival in Como will get a one-act opera for July. Marquis de Cuevas has com¬ missioned a “grand spectacle” bal¬ let to inaugurate his Paris season next fall. It will be choreo¬ graphed by Janine Charrat on the “Tristan and Iseult” legend. De Banfield has withheld the final de¬ cision on this commission being engrossed in writing a three-act opera “Orpheus Descending”—li¬ bretto. by Tennessee Williams (now before the cameras in Hol¬ lywood with Magnani and Brando in the leading roles) for which Chicago covets the world premiere for 196Q-61. In wake of recently published RCA-Victor record of “Lord By¬ ron,” the “Lyric Scene” of Athens, Greece would like to, open its sea¬ son next fall with this opera, if Banfield himself is free to stage it there. Vienna, Feb. 3. Canadian tv producer, Ross Mc¬ Lean, has commissioned a film on the refugee camp at Kapfenberg, Austria. Most of the people there are former. Sudeten Germans and . persons who lived in provinces an¬ nexed by Yugoslavia after the war. Camp population runs to about 2,000, mostly older people with lit¬ tle chance for immigration. Team making the picture, which is to be shown on McLean’s “Close- up” program in Canada, consisted of Allen King, director; George Robertson, writer, and R. Blak- stad, camera. It was King, until recent y under contract with the Canadian Broadcasting Co. in Van¬ couver, who sold McLean on the film. Documentary isn’t aimed at propaganda, but purports simply to tell about life in a camp, where in¬ mates never give up hope to be¬ come nationalized citizens of one country or the other. Though at Kapfenberg. most people are too old or too ill to leave,.the real tragedy are the children who grow up without a country and without a future. Off 15% From 1957 Qtr. London, Feb. 3. Yet another drop in paid admis¬ sions. That’s the main thing which emerges from the latest Board of Trade analysis covering the third quarter of 1953. However, there’s some encouragement to be ob¬ tained from the fact that attend¬ ance was some 8,000,000 up from the previous quarter. In the three months from June i 29 until last Sept. 27, paid admis- | sions totaled 199,508,000, about I 15% or 36,000,000 below the same • period in the previous year. The j seasonal increase over the pre- ’ vlous quarter equalled about 4%; Gross b.o. receipts were above $58,000,000, but.about 8% down from the third quarter of 1957. Arg. Exhibs AnnpyedBy New Tqngh Policy Of Gevt Group on Dates Buenos Aires, Feb. 3. Exhibitors are annoyed by a re¬ versal on the part of the National Screen Institute to its old bureau¬ cratic tricks since Narciso Maehi- nandiarena resigned as its prexy. A protest has been published by Antonio Fernandez Boan, of the Continental cinema, and secretary of the Independent Exhibitors Assn. Under fhe Protection Law the Continental Theatre drew “El Secu- estrador” (Argentina. Sono Film) for release under this; protection statute. Apart from being classified as forbidden for those under 18 (always a death knell at the box- office here), the picture fared so badly that -by arrangement with Sono, “La Hermosa Mentira” was substituted; hence, there was no violation of the Protection Law. Nevertheless, the Institute has drawn up an indictment and wants to fine the exhibitor. As a result, exhibs can only conclude that all the Institute can think of is carry¬ ing out the letter and not the spirit of the Protection law, and thereby reawakening-all the eld exhibitor- producer hostility. It is considered hardly the ex¬ hibs’ fault if producers choose over- macabre backgrounds for their pro¬ ductions, thereby frightening audi¬ ences away. Hex Film Prod. Starts to Perk Mexico City, Feb. 3. The doldrums which have af¬ fected Mexican production in re¬ cent weeks are ending. The official Film Bank lias finally ponied up with five million pesos ($400^000) as advance money, with this spread out for seven films authorized for January. Credits were okayed by bank president Federico Heuer on recommendation of the Advance Payments Commission, Th’s is made up of the heads of the official Mexican distributors^ s: Peliculas Mexicanas, Peliculas Nacionales and Cimex. Approved films include standard program fare such as “School for Models,” featuring comic Tin Tan, produced by Zacaria Producciones and “Treasure of Chucho el Roto” starring ex-Miss Mexico Ana Berta Lepe and Joaquin Cordero. Only major film on Pst is “Sonatas” which will star Maria Felix and Francisco Rabal. j “The Empty Star,” with Maria ‘ Felix, “Baru, Jungle Man,” with Wilson Viana in a, Mexican version of a Tarzan-l : ke character; and “A Handful of Queens” recently fin¬ ished shooting. Hollywood’s “The Unforgiven” is on location in Durango, with the the only American films definitely before the cameras so far this month. Eric A. Johnston will be the speaker for the May 13 luncheon at. the Dallas Chapter of the Wom¬ en of the Motion Picture Industry. Verlin Osborne, WOMPI prez. points out that there are 18 branch and district motion picture dis¬ tributing offices here plus offices of related firms. Plan Theatre ih Cologne Cologne, Feb, 3. A $1,250,000 new municipal play¬ house is to be constructed here. No completion date is set. The 900-seater will be designed by Wilhelm Riphahn, the architect responsible for the local opera house, built two seasons ago. Hollywood, Feb. 10. “Cairo Station” (Bab-el-Hadid), Egyptian feature entered in the Berlin Film Festival, has been submitted for nomination in the best foreign language picture in the upcoming Academy sweep- stakes. Pic marks -the first Egyptian entry In an Oscar derby. ‘Competitions’ Forced on Talent Dutch Winner of Mexican , Cello Fest Also Deplores Humidity—-Mexicans Say Its Unusual’ , Jalapa, Veracruz, Feb. 3. Three top prizes in the Second International Violoncello Compe¬ tition went to Europeans: Anner Bjilsma of Holland, 24; Josef Chucro of Czechosolvakia, 27, and Rama Jucker of Switzerland, 23. Second place positions went to Mexico’s Luis Garcia, Frenchwom¬ an x Aleth Lamasse and Czech Al¬ exander Vectomov. Arthur N. Howard of the U.S. was in third spot with France’s Gilbert Zanlonghi. Awards jury also gave honorable mentions to Germany’s Georg Donderer and U.g. cellist Bonnie J. Hampton. Top winner Bjilsma was com¬ peting In an international event for the first time. Her private opinion is that music is made to be enjoyed and not for prestige competitions, which she hates. En¬ tered this one at the insistence of various Holland music organiza¬ tions. Unfortunately, she said, young musicians are literally forced to enter competitions to be recognized as “artists.” Miss Bjils¬ ma also complained about the hu¬ midity in this coastal state Which affected instruments. This general criticism of the wet-] spell—unusual, as they also say here— was widespread. This is not the: rainy , season but the. elements decided : to ignore the ; calendar. French Studio Workers See Fdm Aid Com Needed For Production Survival Battle of the Sexes [SWISS CHAPTER] Geneva, Feb. 10. Swiss males vote not to give the vote to Swiss females. 1 Meantime there is a sensa¬ tional book, “Frauen In Lauf- gitter” on the stands here writ- • ten by a lady lawyer. Iris Von Roteri. She argues very amus¬ ingly that the independent, modern woman is *~a ’myth. However, this is not a subject Swiss men care to encourage’ even when the approach is ironic and favors the men. There is a possibility the book Will be quietly suppressed. 15 to a Tent’Wins As ’Best-National-Ideal’ Film Hade in Spain Madrid, Feb. 3. Agustin Navarro’s first film as director, “Fifteen to a Tent,” a | glorification in color of Spain’s uni¬ versity militia, won the major San Juan Bosco award of- 325,000 pesetas ($65,000) offered annu¬ ally by the Sindicato Nacional del Espectaculo for. the film of the year that best reflects this coun¬ try’s reigning political and spiritual precepts. Sharing top honors and an equal peseta lump sum for artistic-com¬ mercial eminence was “Where to, Alfonso XH,” a 19th century royal romance starring Paquita Rico and Vincente Parra. Awards were distributed at a gala dinner presided by Sanchez ArjOna, Secretary General of Spanish sindicatos;'Undersecretary for Information, Villar Palasi; Di¬ rector General for Cinema, Munoz Fontan and Sindicato del Espec- taculo chief, Gomez Ballesteros. Italian screen star Gina Lollo- brigida and producer Milko Skofic were among the foreign guests at¬ tending. ■ Individual San Juan Bosco prizes were awarded to Sarita Montiel for her winning role in “La Vio- letera,” to vet comic Manolo Moran (“Live the Impossible”) and to Juan Antonio Bardem as director of “La Venganza” (The Reapers). Youthful Conchita Vel¬ asquez and vet character star Jesus Toresillas were named as best support performers of the year. Findings of the Sindicato jury were at variance with* selection made public by the Film Writers’ Assn, one week earlier. Scribes named “Vida por delante” (Life Up Front), written, directed and performed by Fernando Fernan- Gomez as the best of ’58. New Italo. Censorship Rome, Feb. 3. Current censorship regulations applying in this country have been extended past the Dec. 31, 1958 expiration date. This important legislation has been extended sev¬ eral times previously. New expira¬ tion date is next June 30. Meanwhile, the new censorship law is' moving slowly through gov¬ ernment Channels. Principal objec¬ tions and-holdups have been re¬ garding the constitutionality of several main clauses. Censorship question has also been raised recently by various observers in this country, many feeling that past few months have seen a notable relaxation ofi pre¬ viously . strict moral code in pix released here. British Town Votes For Sun. Film Shows London, Feb. 10. With a local poll at Penzance voting in favor of Sunday films, every theatre controlled by Asso¬ ciated British Cinemas is now ! eligible for seven-day operation. Under the Sunday Opening Act of 1932,.local authorities can with¬ hold permission for picture thea¬ tres to open: on Sunday, unless the ratepayers demand a poll and. vote [in support.^ ■ f Paris,, Feb. 10. A recent meeting of French film technicians and authors' made it dear that all industry people ap¬ parently are actively concerned with the need to get at least a two- year extension of the Film Aid Law which runs out late 'this year. Some spokesmen claim' that the French film, not being able - to amortize itself at home, and with” foreign income a long drawn-out affair, would not last long sans Film Aid. It is maintained that 24% of the financing of each pic came from Aid as well as 28% of the actual take of a film. Even with Aid, many .French films and coproductions always show a global deficit* Burgeon¬ ing production costs -somehow al¬ most balance things as previously- made pix could finally amortize themselves in later years while the newer and higher-priced film have trouble. Thus, film reps reit¬ erated that without further Aid after 1959 French production could be hard hit. Little is. said about how pix production got by before there was Film Aid and when pre¬ war films, scored. The small-scale budgeters cash in on Aid handouts and are not im¬ portant for French foreign or local prestige and needed biz. Though Finance Minister Antoine Pinay has technically extended Film Aid to June next year-if the industry and Centre-Du Cinema can come . up with a Working replacement of Aid, it is felt this is at best a stopgap measure. Film Aid coin is collected by a special tax on admission tickets and is deemed hot exactly a direct sub¬ sidy. But'sans the needed new working self-aid policies, demanded . by Pinay, this money would be used only for such orgs as Uni- franee Film and the French Film Office in N.Y., but not for Aid. Film people - queried said the problems facing French films were the failing off of world interest and also the range of the French - lingo. There also was rugged coin- * petition of foreign pix. .Here! again, the big successful producer ‘ queries how Was the French pic formerly able to make its way in the world market sans: a govern- • ment subsidy. These film men hint strongly that the urge to make : the grade in foreign lands former-. ly made for stronger French pro¬ ductions. Tom Sdiennan’s Li’l Orcb To Orient Under Special Protocol; State’s Biggest Thomas Scherman and his 45- man Little Orchestra from Man-' hattan will hit eight Far Eastern • lands, play 36 concerts in 20 cities, notably Tokyo, Taiwan, .Hong Kong, Colombo, Saigon, -Bombay and Madras. Tour is made possible by State Dept, picking up the transportation tab. Party goes by chartered BO AC plane. Although full-size symphonies have been subsidized in tours of Europe and South - America, the Scherman group, is largest com¬ plement to hit Orient under the State International Cultural Ex¬ change administered by ANTA. Orchestra goes out Feb, 25 after months of b eing inoculated arid readied by its own salaried Staff doctor who goes along. ■ Protocol has included advance, rehearsals in Japanese bedrolls, Chinese chopsticks and all the national anthems, natch. Tour will Span March and April. '. Tebaldi: Cuba & Beyond: Met diva Renata Tebaldi after a week in Havana will lulfill two cancelled concerts, Huntrr College and the Brooklyn Academy of Mu¬ sic, March 24 and 26, before re¬ turning to Europe. She has dates r set in Spain, Italy and with the Paris Opera and will also be at La Scala in Milano for the first time in two years. Tebaldi, handled by Andre. Mer- tens ; of Columbia, is already sched¬ uled for 17 operas at the Met dur¬ ing 1959-’60.