Mexican Censorship Campaign Set; Inside Stuff ...vruetalo/Sarli-Bo... · "Glass Menagerie" has been...
1
24 INTERNATIONAL Pfimi&rY 'VARISTY'I' LONDON OFFICE 4* St. Jamti't Stmt, Piccadilly Mexican Censorship Campaign Set; Eight Pix Hit in Recent Months Mexico City, March 28. + Mexican censors have indicated that they are in earnest about cur- rent drive to clean up motion pic- tures. During last five months or eo, the Film Bureau has cracked dewn on about eight films because of immoral themes, juvenile de- linquency and distortion of his- toric fact. Drive on dubious pictures is principally aimed at foreign prod- uct, for only three national films have been frowned on by author- ities. • _ . Most outstanding case is that of "The Shadow of the Leader," con- troversial but well-made picture. It is a presentation of the greed and graft of political and military figures during revolution. While producers are still attempting to cut through bureaucratic bans, chances of general release of this one are rather slim. Another controversial Mexican film although reportedly financial- ly backed by a foreign outfit is "The Strong Arm," here again the picture languishing in the cans because the theme treats of epi- sodes centering around political to:sses. These little Caesars or dic- tators have been part of the Mexi- can scene, with one man ruling anything from a village to a.state with an iron hand, and his word the law. Another national picture "Los Jovenes" (The Young Ones)', pro- duced by Filmex, will not receive an exhibition permit until the ending is completely changed. Censorship gained teeth in Mex- ico immediately after the end of the third World Review of Film Festivals. Italy's "La Dolce Vita" and "Rocco and his Brothers," de- spite the fact that they had been shown complete at the fest, were denied general exhibition permits being tabbed "highly immoral." The most celebrated case was that of "Alamo," with John Wayne first denied permit to shoot the pic in Mexico, and then the sev- eral bids for exhibition permits denied. Jorge Ferretis of the Film Bureau turned- thumbs down on this one principally because pic- ture "falsified historical facts" and placed Mexico and its national heroes in a defamatory light. Scottish Police Kayo Yaude Plus Bingo Edinburgh, March 28. City police here are banning the playing of "housey-housey" during vaiide performances at the Palla- dium Theatre. The games started as a gimmick for Scots comedian Lex McLean. Audiences at each of the performances were given their "housey" cards free and took their chance of winning $8 prizes, with McLean emceeing the ses- sions. According to the police, since there was no skill involved, the game was classified as gambling. In June last year three judges in the Scottish Justiciary Appeal Court ruled that "housey-housey" sessions were legal providing the game was for some charity and "not for personal gain." The ruling enabled hundreds of small clubs to operate in the open for the first time. Peliculas Mex Takes Over Sao Paulo Chain Mexico City, March 28. Peliculas Mexicanas has revealed that It has expanded its Brazilian seven-theatre Rio de Janeiro cir- cuit through the acquisition of a 40-house circuit in Sao Paulo. Lat- ter deal, in association with Bra- zilian exhibitor Libio Brunni, rep- resents an outlay of $135,000. Pel- Mex paid $200,000 for the Rio thea- tres. Both circuits will exploit Mexi- can material exclusively. Current theatre build up is part of Pel-Mex policy to acquire houses in Latin America for more efficient exploi- tation of product. Distributor execs are confident that new Brazilian deal will offset in part the losses recently suffered in Cuba, Vene- zuela and other areas because of political or exchange difficulties. Flemish-French Continued from page 21 familiarized with the English lan- guage. The pantomime parts helped bridge the gap and the applause was uproarious. "Glass Menagerie" has been done so often here that it has become a sort of landmark. It belongs, of course, to Helen Hayes and her Amanda leaves little room for oth- ers. It became perhaps the most popular of the three offerings, Un- able to get seats, people sat on the floor of the aisles, acclaiming the perfect sense of timing of a great actress described to them as the first lady of the American stage but not well known to them other- wise. Reception was ecstatic. A Hit In Barcelona Barcelona, March 28. Helen Hayes and her fellow- artists arrived here from Madrid, 69 strong travelling in three Con- stellations with scenery and bag- gage. The booking had been eager- ly anticipated. Three perform- ances were given at the Calderon Theatre at $3 top, a large admis- sion price in Barcelona. The Amer- ican colony and English-speaking folk generally naturally had a better time than some of the Spaniards. It helped that natives knew Miss Hayes, Leif Erickson and June Havoc from films shown here and that at least one of three plays, "The Glass Menagerie" of Ten- nessee Williams Las been in reper- tory here in translation. "Skin of Our Teeth" was a hard one for many to comprehend. (It's hard for Americans to understand, too. Ed.). There was much palaver that if you knew a little English it did not necessarily mean you knew "American" idiom. But the visit was the undoubted le; it highlight of a comparatively dull legit season here in Barcelona. Mex Film Biz Financial Situation Seen on Mend With Production Aided Mexico City, March 28. The financial situation of the Mexican industry, still far from stable, may be on the mend before many weeks go by as the result of joint efforts of Film Bank, the Film Bureau, official distributor- ships and National Theatre Oper- ating Company efforts. Top brass of the film biz has joined forces in a major effort to resolve money and credit prob- lems and to give impetus to pro- duction. At this writing, seven pic- tures have received official okays and financing via Peliculas Mexi- canas and Peliculas Nacionales, with Film Bank set to release funds. Three pictures are being readied for the cameras and there is talk of overcoming the financial bugaboo soon. But producers, somewhat disor- iented by events of past weeks, have assumed a cautious stand- aside policy until they can have a clear indication of Film Bank and federal policy. Such top men as Gregorio Wallerstein, Ismael Rodriguez and Gonzalo Elvira are holding off major efforts and tak- ing time out to analyze the situa- tion. These men, and others, are also veering more and more to- ward private financing to assure a steady flow of national product. Consensus of producer opinion is that a shutdown of production effort, or a drastic curtailment, must be avoided at all costs. This is reaction to recent rumors that the Film Bank may be considering financing of only three pictures a month. A check with this institu- tion brought denial that any cut- back move was being contemplated even though the money situation, especially because of poor receipts by Peliculas Mexicanas from Latin American exploitation, is very tight at the moment. UA Mulls Prod. Of Film in Arg. Buenos Aires, March 28.. United Artists' Harold Hecht ar- rived here March 21 for prelim surveys and negotiations looking to the production of the 16th Century Cossack story, "Taras Bulba." Hecht said he favored Argentina as the probable locale of this Cos- sack story. Pic aH depended on if he could count on aid from the Argentine army and its supplying horses and riders. Hecht explained this is not to be a co-production although he is seeking studio facilities from an established company. He is to in- terview Atilio Mentasti of Argen- tina Sono Film shortly. The picture is budgeted at $5,000,000. It was generally felt that the Argentine army will will- ingly cooperate, partly because of pride in its horses; and also be- cause that number of dollars com- ing into the country would help the national economy. Tony Curtis is to be the picture's star. Pic would roll in September if arrangements can be made. Adults-Only Films On Sun. Rapped by Scots Lochgelly, Fife, March 28. Magistrates in this East Scot- land town have declared them- selves opposed to screening of adults-only films on Sundays. They will use this viewpoint when rec- ommending renewal of local cin- ema licenses. Sunday film shows were only recently introduced here. They are screened on alter- nate weeks by the town's two cin emas, and are proving popular with teenage customers. The fact that audiences are mainly youthful has brought com- plaints from the police, who say that when an X-certificate film is shown, the theatre managers have great difficulty in determining whether patrons have or have not reached the permissible age. Inside Stuff-International Glan-Carlo Menotti's plans for the 1961 Festival of Two Worlds la the mountain village of Spoleto, Italy, Include • return visit of a ballet company of Jerome Robbins, probably Including some new and reprised Items plus the "Autumn Leaves" variety catch-all. A new stage play by Edoaurdo de Filippo is skedded. Samuel Barber's "Vanessa," not heretofor a success with Europeans, will be mounted as one of two operas. Ivana Tosini has the lead role and Walter' Tornakovsky will conduct. No casting is completed yet for "Salome" which Thomas Schippers will conduct. Festival runs June 15-July 15. May Festival in Florence starts May 6th with a new production of Don Carlos," staged >by Zurich's Herbert Graf (now casting). A world premiere will be Mario Catselnuovo Tedesco's (Florentine making his home in Hollywood) "Merchant of Venice." Eliot Pizzetti's "Murder in the Cathedral" iWill be given in the Basilica of S. Croce, staged by Margherita Wallman. International flavor in the Italian city are prom- ised via Hinduehorus "Paranjoti," Beryozka all-girl USSR dance company, the London Festival Ballet the American Repertory Theatre and "West Side Story" as well as a German opera company which will present "Lohengrin" and "Arabella." Milan's La Scala opera in preparing Its last new productions for the season has "Parsifal" with an all-German cast. Benjamin Britten's (new for Italy) "Midsummer Nights Dream." Joan Sutherland will be heard in her standard Mad Lucy stunt and Karajan will conduct "Rosen- kavaller" with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. An exhumation after a century of "Ali Baba" by Cherubini is also in prospect. Piccola Scala will do the Bi»cht-Well opera "Rise and Fall of the City of Mahogonny." French Legit Season Loaded Continued from page II Scot Vet Yaude Comic Goes Straight at 67 Edinburgh, March 28. Dave Willis, 67-year-old Scot vaude comedian, is proving here it's never too late to go straight. He made his legit in "The Comic," new play by Maurice Fleming, in role of a vet Scot trouper chal- lenged by fresh youngsters. For Willis it was almost type- casting. After rising to heights in local vaude, and earning $1,800 weekly in high-class revues and resident vaude, he lost his lifesav- ings of $90,000 in a hotel operation, and has been using social assist- ance ever since. Comedian clicked in his new role, although the play itself was not so well received. His main fault was in improvising lines and failing to stick to the script. Play was staged at the Gateway Theatre, itself fac- ing a decline in fortunes and with its future uncertain. Sharp Cinema Biz Dip In German Ruhr Area Frankfurt, March 28. Germany's highly industrial area, the Ruhr coal and iron sec- tion, formerly ranked as the strongest cinema patronage area of this country, has been hit with a serious b.o. decline. Attendance in the majbr cities of the Ruhr has dwindled to only 49% of the rec- ord film business year of 1956, according to the Industry and Commerce Chamber of Dortmund. In 1960, it's figured that every inhabitant of th*; Ruhr cities bought 10 cinema cards, a dropoff of 18% from 1959. Metro's Hong Kong Confab Hong Kong, March 28. Metro International executives from N.Y., headed by Morton A. Spring, will be coming here in May for a meeting also to be at- tended by M-G reps from all parts of the Far East. Confab will be one of a series of separate meetings Metro intends holding in Buenos Aires and London for talks in con- necton with the worldwide release of "King of Kings." Although similar meetings were held two years ago to launch im- passe between Metro and exhibi- tors showing M-G product over terms. . seems an okay seasonal,filler. A re- prise of Claude Magn'ier's farce, "Oscar," is doing biz because of comic Louis De Funes* A restrict- ed run of "Irma La Douce" is also faring well. Frjedrich Durrenmatt's "The Marriage of Mr. Mississippi" managed to hold for a few months as did Georges Neveux's romantic tale of turn-of-the-century hotel thieves in London, "La Voleuse De Londres" (The Thief of London), with Marie Bell, Jules Roy's tale of a career soldier suddenly recog- nizing his guilt, "Le Fleuve Rouge" (Red River) got okay reviews but did not have it for a long run. Alexandre Rivemale's "Le Mobile" (The Rooky) looks to finish the season for okay results. Many Oldies Doing Biz Plenty of the oldies are still doing biz with Achard's "Patate" in its fifth year as ditto Eugene Ionesco's "The Bald Singer." Fran- coise Sagan's "Chateau En Suede" (Castle in Sweden) is still fine in its second year while "Gog and Magog," adapted by Gabriel Arout from the Ted Allen R. MacDougall Anglo play, is going strong in the second year. Last year's "De Doux Dingues" (Sweet Madcaps) of Marcel Andre; Roger Ferdinand's comedy "Les Croulants Se Porte Bien (Old Fogies Are Okay) and Paule De Beaumont's version of Arthur Watlcyn's British thriller, "Bon Weekend M. Bennet," are also good holdovers. Jean Anouilh's "Becket" is fin- ishing a strong second year as is Camelotti's much-revived comedy, "La Bonne Anna." Actress Edwige Feuillere proved a good seasonal draw with a trio repertory of Som- erset Maugham's "Constance," Jean Cocteau's "L'Aigle a Deux Tetes" (Two-Headed Eagle) and Corneille's "Rodugune." Two Brecht Hits The subsidized Theatre National Populalre had two hit Bertolt Brecht adaptions with "Arturo Ui" and "The Good Woman of Se- chouan." The Comedie - Francaise scored with Victor Hugo's "Ruy Bias," Anton Chekhov's "Uncle Vania" and the pompous but suc- cessful "Spanish Cardinal" of Henry De Montherlant. Theatre De France, headed by Jean-Louis Bar- rault, did -not do as well, having only mild success with Shake- speare's "Julius Caesar" and Andre Obey's "Rape of Lucrecia." Final Weeks Show Few Hits Main new entries in recent weeks are reprises of offshore and local classics or adaptations of foreign plays. Some of these oldie entries loom as successes. Biggest newcomer looks to be the Nicole and Jean Anouilh ver- sion of Shakespeare's "12th Night" at the Vieux Colombier playing as "La Nuit Des Rois" (The Night of Kings). Expert thesping, especially of Suzanne Fldn, and direction of Jean Le Paulhan, had this in for solid reviews and probable fine biz. 'Le Voyage' Only Fair Jean-Louis Barrault's "Le Voy- age" looks only a fair new entry at state subsidized Odeon-Theatre De France. The Comedie-Francaise got fine , reviews for its version of Anton Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya" as adapted by Elsa Troilet and staged by Jacques Mauclair. It shapes as another C-F hit. Paul Claudel's "L'Annonce Faite a Marie" also looks in for a run at Theatre De L'Oeuvre. B'cast Pirates MBBBB Continued from page 22 ^ „ ^ to park it in the Oresund, and the exuberance of y«uth. They recent- ly returned from an advertising study trip to the U. S. with es- timated $300,000 backing from a California group. Station will be called "Codan TV"—"Co" for commercial, "Dan" for Danish—and fitted with RCA equipment. Ship will be the 420-ton Nor- wegian Malangen, big enough to carry the 120 ft. antenna transmit- ting at 25 kilowatts. That's enough to cover Danish and Swedish coasts bordering the Oresund. Plans call for transmission of a filmed program four to six hours a day, against ^ n average two to three hours from the state operated tv. Ole Georg, 30, who got his com- mercial start with Mercur, broke his announcement on heels of ap- proval for the Danish Radio Coun- cil to spend over $5,000,000 for a new tv house, to be partly finished in three to four years. No sooner had Scandinavian newspapers published the Georg story, and compared it to 1959's abortive plan for an airborne tv station, than plans for another commercial tv station were an- nounced. Radio engineer Helge Lind said he could start another pirate sta- tion this summer with four to five hours transmission time. He claimed $700,000 in Danish back- ing. Sweden so far is the only coun- try to issue a decree banning ships with pirate senders aboard from anchoring in its ports. Negotiations will be taken up between Sweden, Denmark and Finland to extend the new Swedish regulation across Scandinavia, according to one Swedish paper. But one thing bugs Kotschaek. Bon Jour must be supplied with tape recordings from ashore and Radio Nord men are speculating that the next move from the Swedish government might be a law forbidding ships and planes to convey supplies,to pirate broad- casters. Gunnar Pedersen, head of Danish Post and Telegraph service, said a new tv transmitter put up in the sound to break the state monopoly could not avoid spoiling quality of pictures transmitted by Danish and Swedish stations to Zealand and south Sweden: Last word came from Denmark's advertising authority, Prof. Max Kjaer-Hansen. The Scandinavian Times, American-owned English- language weekly, said the profes- sor remarked that a commercial tv station "just wouldn't pay for itself in Denmark."
Transcript of Mexican Censorship Campaign Set; Inside Stuff ...vruetalo/Sarli-Bo... · "Glass Menagerie" has been...
24 INTERNATIONAL Pfimi&rY 'VARISTY'I' LONDON OFFICE 4* St. Jamti't Stmt, Piccadilly
Mexican Censorship Campaign Set; Eight Pix Hit in Recent Months
Mexico City, March 28. + Mexican censors have indicated
tha t they are in earnest about curren t drive to clean up motion pictures . During last five months or eo, the Film Bureau has cracked dewn on about eight films because of immoral themes, juvenile delinquency and distortion of historic fact.
Drive on dubious pictures is principally aimed at foreign product, for only three national films have been frowned on by authorities. • _ .
Most outstanding case is that of "The Shadow of the Leader," controversial but well-made picture. I t is a presentation of the greed and graft of political and military figures during revolution. While producers are still attempting to cut through bureaucratic bans, chances of general release of this one are ra ther slim.
Another controversial Mexican film although reportedly financially backed by a foreign outfit is "The Strong Arm," here again the picture languishing in the cans because the theme treats of episodes centering around political to:sses. These little Caesars or dictators have been part of the Mexican scene, with one man ruling anything from a village to a .s ta te with an iron hand, and his word the law.
Another national picture "Los Jovenes" (The Young Ones)', produced by Filmex, will not receive an exhibition permit until the ending is completely changed.
Censorship gained teeth in Mexico immediately after the end of the third World Review of Film Festivals. Italy's "La Dolce Vita" and "Rocco and his Brothers," despite the fact that they had been shown complete at the fest, were denied general exhibition permits being tabbed "highly immoral."
The most celebrated case was tha t of "Alamo," with John Wayne first denied permit to shoot the pic in Mexico, and then the several bids for exhibition permits denied. Jorge Ferretis of the Film Bureau turned- thumbs down on this one principally because pictu re "falsified historical facts" and placed Mexico and its national heroes in a defamatory light.
Scottish Police Kayo Yaude Plus Bingo
Edinburgh, March 28. City police here are banning the
playing of "housey-housey" during vaiide performances at the Palladium Theatre. The games started as a gimmick for Scots comedian Lex McLean. Audiences at each of the performances were given their "housey" cards free and took their chance of winning $8 prizes, with McLean emceeing the sessions.
According to the police, since there was no skill involved, the game was classified as gambling. In J u n e last year three judges in the Scottish Justiciary Appeal Court ruled that "housey-housey" sessions were legal providing the game was for some charity and "not for personal gain." The ruling enabled hundreds of small clubs to operate in the open for the first t ime.
Peliculas Mex Takes Over Sao Paulo Chain
Mexico City, March 28. Peliculas Mexicanas has revealed
that It has expanded its Brazilian seven-theatre Rio de Janeiro circuit through the acquisition of a 40-house circuit in Sao Paulo. Latter deal, in association with Brazilian exhibitor Libio Brunni, represents an outlay of $135,000. Pel-Mex paid $200,000 for the Rio theatres.
Both circuits will exploit Mexican material exclusively. Current theatre build up is part of Pel-Mex policy to acquire houses in Latin America for more efficient exploitation of product. Distributor execs are confident that new Brazilian deal will offset in part the losses recently suffered in Cuba, Venezuela and other areas because of political or exchange difficulties.
Flemish-French Continued from page 21
familiarized with the English language. The pantomime parts helped bridge the gap and the applause was uproarious.
"Glass Menagerie" has been done so often here that it has become a sort of landmark. It belongs, of course, to Helen Hayes and her Amanda leaves little room for others. It became perhaps the most popular of the three offerings, Unable to get seats, people sat on the floor of the aisles, acclaiming the perfect sense of timing of a great actress described to them as the first lady of the American stage but not well known to them otherwise. Reception was ecstatic.
A Hit In Barcelona Barcelona, March 28.
Helen Hayes and her fellow-art is ts arrived he re from Madrid, 69 strong travelling in three Constellations with scenery and baggage. The booking had been eagerly anticipated. Three performances were given at the Calderon Theatre at $3 top, a large admission price in Barcelona. The American colony and English-speaking folk generally naturally had a be t t e r t ime than some of the Spaniards.
It helped that natives knew Miss Hayes, Leif Erickson and June Havoc from films shown here and tha t at least one of three plays, "The Glass Menagerie" of Tennessee Williams Las been in repertory here in translation. "Skin of Our Teeth" was a hard one for many to comprehend. (It 's hard for Americans to understand, too. Ed.). There was much palaver that if you knew a little English it did not necessarily mean you knew "American" idiom.
But the visit was the undoubted le; it highlight of a comparatively dull legit season here in Barcelona.
Mex Film Biz Financial Situation Seen on Mend
With Production Aided Mexico City, March 28.
The financial situation of the Mexican industry, still far from stable, may be on the mend before many weeks go by as the result of joint efforts of Film Bank, the Film Bureau, official distributorships and National Theatre Operating Company efforts.
Top brass of the film biz has joined forces in a major effort to resolve money and credit problems and to give impetus to production. At this writing, seven pictures have received official okays and financing via Peliculas Mexicanas and Peliculas Nacionales, with Film Bank set to release funds. Three pictures are being readied for the cameras and there is talk of overcoming the financial bugaboo soon.
But producers, somewhat disoriented by events of past weeks, have assumed a cautious stand-aside policy until they can have a clear indication of Film Bank and federal policy. Such top men as Gregorio Wallerstein, Ismael Rodriguez and Gonzalo Elvira are holding off major efforts and taking time out to analyze the situation. These men, and others, are also veering more and more toward private financing to assure a steady flow of national product.
Consensus of producer opinion is that a shutdown of production effort, or a drastic curtailment, must be avoided at all costs. This is reaction to recent rumors that the Film Bank may be considering financing of only three pictures a month. A check with this institution brought denial that any cutback move was being contemplated even though the money situation, especially because of poor receipts by Peliculas Mexicanas from Latin American exploitation, is very tight at the moment.
UA Mulls Prod. Of Film in Arg.
Buenos Aires, March 28.. United Artists ' Harold Hecht ar
rived here March 21 for prelim surveys and negotiations looking to the production of the 16th Century Cossack story, "Taras Bulba." Hecht said he favored Argentina as the probable locale of this Cossack story. Pic aH depended on if he could count on aid from the Argentine army and its supplying horses and riders.
Hecht explained this is not to be a co-production although he is seeking studio facilities from an established company. He is to interview Atilio Mentasti of Argentina Sono Film shortly.
The picture is budgeted at $5,000,000. It was generally felt that the Argentine army will willingly cooperate, partly because of pride in its horses; and also because that number of dollars coming into the country would help the national economy.
Tony Curtis is to be the picture's star. Pic would roll in September if arrangements can be made.
Adults-Only Films On Sun. Rapped by Scots
Lochgelly, Fife, March 28. Magistrates in this East Scot
land town have declared themselves opposed to screening of adults-only films on Sundays. They will use this viewpoint when recommending renewal of local cinema licenses. Sunday film shows were only recently introduced here. They are screened on alternate weeks by the town's two cin emas, and are proving popular with teenage customers.
The fact that audiences are mainly youthful has brought complaints from the police, who say that when an X-certificate film is shown, the theatre managers have great difficulty in determining whether patrons have or have not reached the permissible age.
Inside Stuff-International Glan-Carlo Menotti 's plans for the 1961 Festival of Two Worlds l a
the mountain village of Spoleto, Italy, Include • re turn visit of a ballet company of Jerome Robbins, probably Including some new and reprised Items plus the "Autumn Leaves" variety catch-all. A new stage play by Edoaurdo de Filippo is skedded. Samuel Barber 's "Vanessa," not heretofor a success with Europeans, will be mounted as one of two operas. Ivana Tosini has the lead role and Walter' Tornakovsky will conduct. No casting is completed yet for "Salome" which Thomas Schippers will conduct. Festival runs June 15-July 15.
May Festival in Florence starts May 6th with a new production of Don Carlos," staged >by Zurich's Herbert Graf (now casting). A world
premiere will be Mario Catselnuovo Tedesco's (Florentine making his home in Hollywood) "Merchant of Venice." Eliot Pizzetti's "Murder in the Cathedral" iWill be given in the Basilica of S. Croce, staged by Margherita Wallman. International flavor in the Italian city are promised via Hinduehorus "Paranjoti ," Beryozka all-girl USSR dance company, the London Festival Ballet the American Repertory Theatre and "West Side Story" as well as a German opera company which will present "Lohengrin" and "Arabella."
Milan's La Scala opera in preparing Its last new productions for t he season has "Parsifal" with an all-German cast. Benjamin Britten's (new for Italy) "Midsummer Nights Dream." Joan Sutherland will be heard in her standard Mad Lucy stunt and Karajan will conduct "Rosen-kavaller" with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. An exhumation after a century of "Ali Baba" by Cherubini is also in prospect. Piccola Scala will do the Bi»cht-Well opera "Rise and Fall of the City of Mahogonny."
French Legit Season Loaded Continued from page II
Scot Vet Yaude Comic Goes Straight at 67
Edinburgh, March 28. Dave Willis, 67-year-old Scot
vaude comedian, is proving here it 's never too late to go straight. He made his legit in "The Comic," new play by Maurice Fleming, in role of a vet Scot trouper challenged by fresh youngsters.
For Willis it was almost typecasting. After rising to heights in local vaude, and earning $1,800 weekly in high-class revues and resident vaude, he lost his lifesav-ings of $90,000 in a hotel operation, and has been using social assistance ever since.
Comedian clicked in his new role, although the play itself was not so well received. His main fault was in improvising lines and failing to stick to the script. Play was staged at the Gateway Theatre, itself facing a decline in fortunes and with its future uncertain.
Sharp Cinema Biz Dip In German Ruhr Area
Frankfurt, March 28. Germany's highly industrial
area, the Ruhr coal and iron section, formerly ranked as the strongest cinema patronage area of this country, has been hit with a serious b.o. decline. Attendance in the majbr cities of the Ruhr has dwindled to only 49% of the record film business year of 1956, according to the Industry and Commerce Chamber of Dortmund.
In 1960, it 's figured that every inhabitant of th*; Ruhr cities bought 10 cinema cards, a dropoff of 18% from 1959.
Metro's Hong Kong Confab Hong Kong, March 28.
Metro International executives from N.Y., headed by Morton A. Spring, will be coming here in May for a meeting also to be attended by M-G reps from all parts of the Far East. Confab will be one of a series of separate meetings Metro intends holding in Buenos Aires and London for talks in con-necton with the worldwide release of "King of Kings."
Although similar meetings were held two years ago to launch impasse between Metro and exhibitors showing M-G product over terms. .
seems an okay seasonal,filler. A re prise of Claude Magn'ier's farce, "Oscar," is doing biz because of comic Louis De Funes* A restricted run of "Irma La Douce" is also faring well. Frjedrich Durrenmatt ' s "The Marriage of Mr. Mississippi" managed to hold for a few months as did Georges Neveux's romantic tale of turn-of-the-century hotel thieves in London, "La Voleuse De Londres" (The Thief of London), with Marie Bell, Jules Roy's tale of a career soldier suddenly recognizing his guilt, "Le Fleuve Rouge" (Red River) got okay reviews but did not have it for a long run. Alexandre Rivemale's "Le Mobile" (The Rooky) looks to finish the season for okay results.
Many Oldies Doing Biz Plenty of the oldies are still
doing biz with Achard's "Pa ta te" in its fifth year as ditto Eugene Ionesco's "The Bald Singer." Fran-coise Sagan's "Chateau En Suede" (Castle in Sweden) is still fine in its second year while "Gog and Magog," adapted by Gabriel Arout from the Ted Allen R. MacDougall Anglo play, is going strong in the second year.
Last year's "De Doux Dingues" (Sweet Madcaps) of Marcel Andre; Roger Ferdinand's comedy "Les Croulants Se Porte Bien (Old Fogies Are Okay) and Paule De Beaumont's version of Arthur Watlcyn's British thriller, "Bon Weekend M. Bennet," are also good holdovers.
Jean Anouilh's "Becket" is finishing a strong second year as is Camelotti 's much-revived comedy, "La Bonne Anna." Actress Edwige Feuillere proved a good seasonal draw with a trio repertory of Somerset Maugham's "Constance," Jean Cocteau's "L'Aigle a Deux Tetes" (Two-Headed Eagle) and Corneille's "Rodugune."
Two Brecht Hits The subsidized Theatre National
Populalre had two hit Bertolt Brecht adaptions with "Arturo Ui" and "The Good Woman of Se-chouan." The Comedie - Francaise scored with Victor Hugo's "Ruy Bias," Anton Chekhov's "Uncle Vania" and the pompous but successful "Spanish Cardinal" of Henry De Montherlant. Theatre De France, headed by Jean-Louis Bar-rault, did -not do as well, having only mild success with Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" and Andre Obey's "Rape of Lucrecia."
Final Weeks Show Few Hits Main new entries in recent
weeks are reprises of offshore and local classics or adaptations of foreign plays. Some of these oldie entries loom as successes.
Biggest newcomer looks to be the Nicole and Jean Anouilh version of Shakespeare's "12th Night" at the Vieux Colombier playing as "La Nuit Des Rois" (The Night of Kings). Expert thesping, especially of Suzanne Fldn, and direction of Jean Le Paulhan, had this in for solid reviews and probable fine biz.
'Le Voyage' Only Fair Jean-Louis Barrault 's "Le Voy
age" looks only a fair new entry at state subsidized Odeon-Theatre De France.
The Comedie-Francaise got fine , reviews for its version of Anton
Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya" as adapted by Elsa Troilet and staged by Jacques Mauclair. It shapes as another C-F hit. Paul Claudel 's "L'Annonce Faite a Marie" also looks in for a run at Theatre De L'Oeuvre.
B'cast Pirates MBBBB Continued from page 22 ^ „ ^
to park it in the Oresund, and the exuberance of y«uth. They recently re turned from an advertising study t r ip to the U. S. with estimated $300,000 backing from a California group.
Station will be called "Codan TV"—"Co" for commercial, "Dan" for Danish—and fitted with RCA equipment.
Ship will be the 420-ton Norwegian Malangen, big enough to carry the 120 ft. antenna transmitting at 25 kilowatts. That 's enough to cover Danish and Swedish coasts bordering the Oresund.
Plans call for transmission of a filmed program four to six hours a day, against ^ n average two to three hours from the state operated tv.
Ole Georg, 30, who got his commercial start with Mercur, broke his announcement on heels of ap proval for the Danish Radio Council to spend over $5,000,000 for a new tv house, to be partly finished in three to four years.
No sooner had Scandinavian newspapers published the Georg story, and compared it to 1959's abortive plan for an airborne tv station, than plans for another commercial tv station were announced.
Radio engineer Helge Lind said he could start another pirate station this summer with four to five hours transmission time. He claimed $700,000 in Danish backing.
Sweden so far is the only country to issue a decree banning ships with pirate senders aboard from anchoring in its ports. Negotiations will be taken up between Sweden, Denmark and Finland to extend the new Swedish regulation across Scandinavia, according to one Swedish paper.
But one thing bugs Kotschaek. Bon Jour must be supplied with tape recordings from ashore and Radio Nord men are speculating that the next move from the Swedish government might be a law forbidding ships and planes to convey supplies,to pirate broadcasters.
Gunnar Pedersen, head of Danish Post and Telegraph service, said a new tv t ransmit ter put up in the sound to break the state monopoly could not avoid spoiling quality of pictures transmitted by Danish and Swedish stations to Zealand and south Sweden:
Last word came from Denmark's advertising authority, Prof. Max Kjaer-Hansen. The Scandinavian Times, American-owned English-language weekly, said the professor remarked that a commercial tv station "just wouldn't pay for itself in Denmark."
