Variety (March 1959)

Wednesday, March 4, 1959 PICTURES ASK KEFAUVER PROBE DISTRIBS Old Med’Acting Style “It seems to us that many of the older generation who find films vulgar and shallow simply miss what is there. If we look at movies even 10 years old, we see how quickly nuances of expression and phrasing replace the (as it now seems) strident and stilted acting of the earlier sound films. “Thus the ‘good-bad girl’ heroine ... is a tissue of ambiguities compared with the clear outline of vamp or good girl in less so¬ phisticated films of the 20s or 30s!. While the young people are often unable to appreciate these ambiguities—and certainly to verbalize them—they can take such movies in their stride without any feeling of alienation from contemporary usage and convention.’ —From David Riesman’s book, Individualism Reconsidered .” Who-Got-What Wages at Universal Rackmil Tops, $125,000—Daff, Muhl 2-3 for Fiscal 1958—Blumberg; $78,000 OULD BE NON ‘Mame’ Holds Feb. Lead; ‘Ranning’ THEATRE TACTIC ^ a ^ es an( l ‘Furlough’ Rate 2-H he Kefauver antitrust subcom- Thank Messrs. Washington, Lincoln ...HI Via. orlra/4 fa laalr intn Directors and officers of Uni¬ versal received total remuneration of $767,535 during the fiscal year ended Nov. 1, 1958, according to the proxy statement summoning shareholders to the annual meet¬ ing in New York March 11. Salaries of top-ranking officials were as follows: Milton R. Rackmil, president, $125,000; N. J. Blum¬ berg, chairman of the board, $78,- 000; Alfred E. Daff, former execu¬ tive vice president, $105,000; John J. O’Connor, vice president, $57,- 200; Edward J. Muhl, vice presi¬ dent and studio chief, $104,000. Employment agreements of Blumberg, amended May 14, 1955, and Rackmil, dated May 1, 1956, each provide that in the case of incapacitating illnes of six consecu¬ tive months, the company may ter¬ minate the employment, in which case Blumberg will continue to re¬ ceive two-thirds of his salary and Rackmil may elect to serve in an advisory capacity to one-half of his salary, in each case to the end of the terms of the contracts, Dec. 31,. 1960 and April 29, 1963, respec- . tively. The proxy statement also dis¬ closes that as of Jan. 15, 1959, Decca Records was the owner of record and beneficially of 771,985 shares of Universal stock, consti¬ tuting 79.6% of the outstanding voting stock. On the same date, the company had outstanding 42,- 590 shares of 4*4% cumulative pre¬ ferred stock and 927,254 shares of common stock, all having voting rights. Business before the March 11 meeting will include the election of nine directors and ratification of the management’s selection of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. as its auditors. Nominated for board posts w r ere Rackmil, Blumberg, Preston Davie, Albert A. Garthwaite, O’Connor, Budd Rogers, Daniel M. Sheaffer, Harold I. Thorp and Samuel H. Vallance. Rackmil, also president of Decca, Garthwaite, Thorp and Vallance also serve on the Decca board. Persisting Piracy Of Chaplin Oldies There appears to be no end at attempts to bootleg prints of old Charlie Chaplin films. The prac¬ tice has been going on for years and. there have been recent re¬ ports of unauthorized individuals trying to peddle prints in various cities. United Artists, - although it no longer has any connection with Chaplin except for the distribu¬ tion of some of his films abroad, is serving as a‘ sort of unofficial watchdog for the comedian. When¬ ever UA learns of a bootlegging effort in any part of the country, it notifies Chaplin’s office in Paris as a courtesy, in light of Chaplin’s long former' association with the distributing company. Chaplin, who now lives In Switzerland, is aware of the boot¬ legging and is making arrange¬ ments for legal representation in various cities so that the under- 1 the-table deals can be stopped. Ben Thau’s Tenure A new long-term contract for Metro studio administrative head Benjamin H. Thau was approved last week by the newly-elected board of directors of Loew’s Inc. Thau, a top M-G executive since 1932, will continue in his present post, working in close association with production v.p. Sol C. Siegel. Doll to Levine; Goldwyn Needs Torgy Envoy Rill Doll has exited as eastern exploitation director of Samuel Goldwyn’s “Porgy and Bess,’’ a job which paid him $1,000 a week. He’s taking over the publicity assign¬ ment on Joseph Levine’s (Embassy Pictures) “Hercules.” The Goldwyn post, now vacant, appears some¬ thing akin to a game of musical chairs. Washington, March 3. The Kefauver antitrust subcom¬ mittee will be asked to look into complaints by small exhibitors against practices of film distribu¬ tors, particularly as they might in¬ volve the consent decrees. The Senate group, whose recent probes have been the scourge of the auto and steel industries, will be contacted by Sens. Jennings Randolph and Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia for a staff study of gripes by smaller houses. Randolph told Variety that he will also work with the Senate Small Business Committee tof which he is a member) and the Justice Dept. House members of the west vs. delegation will launch moves to get action on that side of Capitol Hill, he said. Action followed a confab among Randolph, Byrd, a top rep of Allied States Assn., an irked West Vir¬ ginia exhibitor and Congress’ sole' theatre owner, Rep. Joseph W. Barr, (D-Ind.), among others. Staff of Senate Small Business Committee was given a run-down of charges against major film dis¬ tributors by a number of exhibitors mostly subsequent-run houses. The Small Business group has done con¬ siderable work in the field in re- February’s Faves 1. “Auntie Marne” (WB). 2. “Came Running” (M-G). 3. “Separate Tablfes” (UA). 4. “Perfect Furlough” (U). 5. “6th Happiness” (20th). 6. “South Seas” (C’rama). 7. “South Pacific” (Magna). 8. “Gigi” (M-G). 9. “Rally Round Flag” (20th). 10. “Bell, Book” (Col). 11. “Windjammer” (NT). 12. “Horse’s Mouth” (UA). Post-’48 Payoffs Tollvision Loom As Writer Goals Hollywood, March 3. Screenwriters seeking a hike in minimums, have devised a new for- . By MIKE WEAR Variety’s regular weekly boxoffice reports are summar¬ ized each month, retrospec¬ tively. Based on an average of 24 key situations, the Source data constitute an adequate sampling of current releases but are not, of course, fully “definitive.” An index of rela¬ tive grossing strength in the U. & - Canada market , the monthly report does not pre¬ tend to express total rentals. With two holidays* in the month and Washington’s Birthday tradi¬ tionally one of the few cream holi¬ days, February this year followed convention by recording soaring business. There was even amaze¬ ment for how much money was racked up by lesser film entrants. • February saw releases launched l late in December still playing in ; the bigger key cities covered Dy ‘ Variety via its weekly issue esti¬ mates. These were respectively i “Auntie Mame” (WB), “Separate Tables” (UA> and “Inn of Sixth ‘ Happiness” (20tli). “Auntie Mame” continued in No. siderabie work in tne new in re- uuiim,u u . 8 ,iw*cucyi 9 eu «uc« x t b - b chamDinn fnr t L * cent years, but has laid no plans mat.for a cut of post-1948 pix sold j j* * t ° ' t , P sustained fnr hPflrinf?"! this vear nn nrnh- to television, and seek a Sizable y ! U ., * ousiai “ea for hearings this year on the prob foot _ in _ the _ door if and when toll _. strength bore out the forecast that lem. looL-m-ine-uoor II ana wnen um- • it might become, comparatively "as The Senate Antitrust Subcommit- vision comes. Demands are part big t lb boxoffice as a film as tee. heeded Sen. Estes Kefauver of new contract negotiations to be- w ® ease “ legtt “Some Caml (D-Tenn.), has not delved into S in lat . e thls month with major mo-. R unn i ng >* .which was third •Justice Dept, enforcement of the tlQ n picture and indie producers, j in j ailuary> was a close secon£ j_ - Paramount consent* decrees to any New proposals were approved at; p i ace w : nn er. i extent a membership meeting of the; „ ., „ ‘_ screen branch of the guild last: a ad< 5 lf J2 H VI it ir week. May 15 is the expiration date . f n ^ tc 1 of ^ d - tl0 " a ^Pl a ydates late Byroe, Klune Now Veeps pact .{£«“g** New proposals were approved at; D i ace . v - nn ' a membership meeting of the; screen branch of the guild last! oepacaie Separate Tables” (UA), adding week. May 15 is the expiration datef n batch of additional playdates late for the present pact. “ “ ,e ” omh ' P u5l ! e , rt u to lhl J d P«*- t> r , Present guild weekly minimum «t« for theatrical film scripting is ■ a " d „„,. R i ?K d $350. and guild seeks a new mini- Lynn Farnol has been on and off the job twice and Maurice Bergman sat in briefly just prior to Doll. Position is that of heading a special exploitation unit work¬ ing in association with Columbia, which is to release the Goldwyn production. Doll’s new link with Embassy is consistent with the reputation which Levine of Boston appears building. He’s pulling elaborate exploitation stunts, such as the up¬ coming luncheon* for 1.000 trad- sters to % focus attention on “Her¬ cules,” in a manner similar to the way the late Mike Todd did things. Doll was Todd’s longtime ad-pub specialist. Mike de Lisio on ‘Porgy* Mike de Lisio, former Metro magazine contact, has been re¬ tained by Columbia for the special publicity unit organized for Sam¬ uel Goldwyn’s “Porgy and Bess.” De Lisio will handle the magazine publicity on the picture. ' Joe Hyams, who recently re¬ signed as Coast publicity head for Hecht-Hill-Lancaster, may also join the “Porgy and Bess” unit, head¬ quartering in New York. TOA’S KERASOTES IN | Klune, general manager of the Coast studio, have been elected vice presidents of Loew’s Inc. Ac- | tion was taken by the board of di¬ rectors at last week’s meeting. | Byrne became general sales mum which “more nearly reflects the contribution of the writer,” as one insider close to the situation put it. As to the post-1948 pix, situation, the current contract sim- i tion. It was eighth in January (Continued cn page 16) Indie Urges Pix Trafe With China he had been assistant saies maT- ™ 11 ” IUI UlM# ager and prior to that was in ,? 8 .?. t0 £ .' vl l5° ut J in ., the | charge of the eastern sales divi- ! Hollywood. March 3. Sion He joined Metro in 1925 as R | t P h u ““ d ^ t '4 fo^The writers but ; There's a market in this country salesman m the Denver branch. V' „mid nmv has devised f for-' for f,!n,s fiom China, the Com. Klune came, to the Metro studio a :°5 e . munists there a~e anx iou.<? to soli Hollywood, March 3. There's a market in this country I int Aueust 1 * *1958 ^Before "ioinine aimed at protecting writers of; a ”f anx ious to sell |M-G, he had served as production pix ' 1° 1'; propagandise in°nlture. most of As for pay tv, guild has for some : * (Continued on page 16 > ; maker M-G, he had served as production - ld b “ ^ propagandist* in nature, most of manager, for 20th-rox, David O. As for P a J tv » S uild has for some • them a-en't. So sa^s tvro film- Selznick and RKO. (Continued on page 16) . maker P-be -t Cohen, who spent ! i ome months in China last year, and National Boxoffice Survey ! J . nese? i O:i<* ansv'?r — US. does not Post-Holiday Trend Hits Biz; ‘Tables’ New Champ, *r?cognifo Red china—Ed.) ‘Beauty’ 2d, ‘Journey’ 3d, ‘Tree’ 4th gr ^tf'SUr,- Post-holiday dip is being felt all slot. “South Pacific” (Magna) also ™: nt because he went to China de- over the country this session, is edging up to 10th position. P , ban on travel there. He Dowmbeat is being accentuated by “Anna Lucasta” (UA) has come up ‘ crin ,!i n h^»o hlS the number of holdovers, many of from far back in the pack to take w r- °i! hlS d tf fi3 u c fj wdiieh have not held up too well. 11th place while “Bell, Book, Can- hrfi^flr h ° ldS Milder weather is regarded by ex- die” (Col) rounds out the Top 12 ”° J? : 'lptdSc e E' 1 " ! hibitors in some key cities covered list. j , r; s pJSSSSSf j by Variety as being a favorable “Horse’s Mouth” (Lopertb; * n * th * d , at V p r v Tittle factor, though certainly not help- “House on Haunted Hill” (AA) and i ^ fif 3 National Boxoffice Survey ‘Beauty’ 2d, ‘Journey’ 3d, ‘Tree’ 4th by Variety as being a favorable factor, though certainly not help¬ ful in N. Y. “Never Steal Anything Small” (U) Bally over being nominated for ar f T runner-up puc. seven Academy awards is giving - 1 Mobster (20tn), one of “Separate Tables” (UA) a real . om ^ T »^ n , T T | boost, which is elevating it into Stranger m My Arms (U), ; ar0 und $3,C00. first place by a wide margin. Play- a fresh entrant, is neat m Boston ; Cohen, who is currently showing ing in some 19 keys, it is cashing fT nn on ^ 11 fa .J n , s 9 i J l l n ) F 5f°°* a ' three short subjects from China on in with biz which in many spots is f* 00 ® Hills .^Oth , also a newie, . t ij e i ec t ure circuit, went to Peking close to what was done during . I s slow m Pitt | on his own, w-hile studying et the Washington’s Birthday holiday. . Black Orchid (Par) . ar \ oth l r ‘ Sorbonne in Paris. He says he wis week. . ar ™ n d. Io “ ks „„ d „ a "^': flowed to photograph anything Second place is going to “Sleep- p hi m.‘’ “The T?ap“' (Pari S °haoLs ev = r >’ th jS *>.= wanted, with ing Beauty” (BV). which has held D e ?rol. “Night To Re-; ^ fndfounT cTinese officMs* up in remarkable style after tak- * ember .. , Rank) is big in C hi and "g er an-mus to dTsolav^the r ing No. 1 spot last week. “Journey” in wachin^nn ; eager ana anxious lo aispiay tfteir (M-G) again is winding up in third “Doctor’s Dilemma” (M-G) good ■■ ^ q SiHS e, i t nla^e same as a week aeo “Hang- . ^ 0 ct° r s Dilemma im G), gooa r Filming facilities are good, he tag Tree™ (WB)Ttatok fourth Unde^'(Co°n u'hotsy in i ?„ aid ' instudi ° s ? s ? w ' ln t Pek ’ sDot. just as it finished last session, nx;' _at v : m S j and Shonghai. Equipment was cash outlay to the Chinese. Rates for a color feature, he says, are around $9,000 outright for five-verr r'ghts. Cost of a black- ving “! Mobster” (20th), one of new- for five-^e-^ r'ghts Cost of a blaek S Sut r onV?aWsh in Frfse™ “ 1 TAUT AU unv P AE C in with biz which in many spots is | "“ 1! * lUUl Uf WtW L Ur rL Close to what was done during [ I s Washington, March, 3,* The emergence of the American Congress of exhibitors has been the greatest development for exhi¬ bition, George G. Kerasotes, pres¬ ident of Theatre Owners of Amer¬ ica, told the board of directors and executive committee at the open¬ ing session here Sunday (1) of the exhibitor organization’s mid-winter meeting. Kerasotes devoted his time to a report of TOA’s activities during the four months he has held the top executive post. He covered TOA’s work in seeking to ban toll- tv, its efforts to get military posts to play pictures after local com¬ mercial houses,, its purchase of stock in.. all the film companies, (Continued on page 16) • s | °n his own, w-hile studying at the Black Orchid (Par) another ; Sorbonne in Paris. He says he wis just getting around, looks dandy : allowed to photograph anything 'W,.*?- e « r >’ th ?S h .= wanted, with ing No. 1 spot last-week. “Journey" waTlneton I f g . r , an ^°. us “?P la V (M-G) again Is winding up in third •■Doctor's Dilemma" (M-G) good : an ^ * I ? stallatlons . nla^e same as a week aeo “Hang- . ° r s Dilemma im G), gooa r Filming facilities are good, he tag Tree™ (WB)Ttatok fourth Unde'^'(Co°n u'hotsy in i ? aid ' instudios * s . aw ' snot iust as it finished last session My ... 'Gonu, noisy m mg an( j Shanghai. Equipment was spot just as it hnishea last session. Minneapo i 1Si 1S grea t m N. Y. and modern, with Mitchell cameras and- - Auntie Mame (WB) continues: l.A. • lAmpex sound recording units, to amaze by holding steady m fifth ] “Up Periscope” (WB), due today ; China does its own color process position, same as a week ago “Ral-, at N. Y. Roxy, is strong in Toronto work he saySf with a processing ly Round Flag, Boys” (20th) is but only fair in Louisville and f plant in Shanghai. Results are ex¬ pushing up to sixth spot. “South Cincy. “Restless Years” (U) is j cellent, he reports. Seas Adventure” (Cinerama) Is rated good in Providence. Cohen, now back at UCLA capturing seventh money. “Windjammer” (NT), great in ! where he originally studied, to take “Gigi’ (M-G), long high on the \ Boston, -is sturdy in Minneapolis; his doctorate in motion picture list, is moving up to eighth place, j and LA. j work, says most of the Chinese- “Some Came Running,” another , (Complete Boxoffice Reports on\ produced films he saw were not from Metro, is landing in ninth Pages 8-9-10). I concerned with propaganda.