Boxoffice-11.11.1950

I
'!
AFM Places Monogram
On Union 'Unfair' List
HOLLYWOOD—Already far from harmonious,
the relationship between motion pictures
and television was marred by another
sour note when the name of Monogram Pictures
was placed on the "unfair" list of the
American Federation of Musicians.
The action, stemming from James C. Petrillo
in the AFM's New York headquarters,
was taken because of the showing on video
circuits of a number of Monogram features
filmed since 1946. Some time ago Monogram
disposed of nearly 150 pictures to
Telinvest. a New York firm, which has been
booking them on TV stations.
It is the AFM's contention that video
screenings of pictures produced after 1946
are a violation of its contract with the Independent
Motion Picture Producers Ass'n,
of which Monogram is a member. Acting
under Petrillo's orders. J. W. Gillette. AFM
studio representative, accordingly notified
Monogram that no AFM member will be
permitted to work at the studio.
At midweek, efforts were being made by
Monogram and IMPPA representatives to
negotiate the difficulty with Petrillo's group.
William Stephens Television Productions
has been organized by Stephens, veteran film
producer, and Joseph Justman, picture financier
and head of the Motion Picture Center
studios. The new firm plans a series of TV
films based on the "Florian Slappey" stories
by Octavus Roy Cohen.
his regular salary in the event the script
was not used.
The action alleges that although Small
duly notified Gibney that his screenplay was
not used, the scenarist has not been paid the
$5,000 assertedly owed him.
The war in Korea had its reverberations in
federal district court here when the Unasia
Trading Corp. filed an action against Monogram
seeking dissolution of a contract under
which it was to have distributed Monogram
films in that wartorn country. The pact
had been entered into some months prior to
the beginning of hostihties there.
Unasia claims it is now unable to distribute
pictures in Korea and seeks the return
of $8,000 which it allegedly advanced to
Monogram in partial payment on the releasing
commitment.
Brackett Joins 20th-Fox
HOLLYWOOD—Joining 20th Century-Fox
as a writer-producer early next month will
be Charles Brackett, who recently secured
a release from the balance of his contract
at Paramount. His first assignment will be
set soon after he reports to the Westwood
studio. The commitment is for a straight
seven years.
THERE
was a time, when Hollywood was
living in a more rarified—and financially
more salubrious—atmosphere, when the
self-elected elite of the filmmaking fraternity
were prone to look down their noses at the
production executive who wielded a sharp
pencil over a budget. Tho.se were the days
when the fabricators of animated celluloid
assumed a hang-the-expenses, we-must-belavish
attitude toward their chores, when
producers and directors were inclined to feel
that they could not be recognized as top
craftsmen unless they spent stratospheric
sums on virtually everything that went into
the filming of a feature and regardless of
what, if anything, such expenditures added
to the offering's entertainment worth.
But those days are gone—probably forever
—and undoubtedly to the long-pull benefit of
every branch of the motion picture industry.
Today, and at long last, coming into his own
is the man who was trained in the heretofore
comparatively limited school where every
budgetary buck had to count — sometimes
count as much in the generation of screen
entertainment as many dollars lavished by
the more lush spenders.
One such, and a shining example, is Lewis
J. Rachmil, now a full-fledged producer at
Howard Hughes' RKO Radio studio. Rachmil
Scenarist Sues Producer
received his early training as production assistant
and budget watchdog for veteran
For Breach of Contract
Harry
HOLLYWOOD—Charging Sherman when the latter
breach
was
of contract,
scenarist Sheridan Gibney named
producing
the Hopalong Cassidy
Producer
Edward Small
programmers in
vast quantities, and
the defendant
an occasional more expensive
in a superior
court
morsel of
action
sagebrush
involving
screen fare.
Small's recently
completed "Valentino as I Knew
When Sherman gave
Him,"
up the "Hoppy" pictures,
Rachmil,
slated for Columbia
along with star Bill
release. Gibney contends
he was
Boyd and distribution
executive
hired
Carl
to work on
Leserman,
the
organized
screenplay
of that opus and was
Hopalong Cassidy
promised
Productions and
$5,000 plus
made a
series of the gallopers for United Artists distribution.
In both situations, Rachmil built himself a
reputation as a canny hombre with a production
shekel, a reputation which subsequently
won him plenty of free-lance assignments
from independent producers who hired
him to go over their budgets and show them
where money could be saved without sacrifice
of entertainment values. On several occasions
—and this is a little-known fact—he was
commissioned by local bankers to analyze
scripts and render an opinion as to whether
or not the budget was "loaded" and to voice
his views regarding the safety of a loan for
the making of the picture. In short, Rachmil
became known as a script and budget doctor,
and in such specialty he salvaged many a
picture from being over-financed.
Since he joined RKO Radio Rachmil has
produced four pictures, "Bunco Squad," "7
Witnesses," "Crackdown" and "Roadblock,"
all made on expectedly modest budgets. Only
one of the quartet has been released— "Bunco
Squad" — which was well treated by the
tradepress film appraisers and which is doing
yeoman service as a supporting piece on dual
programs. In the review digest which is a
widely read weekly feature of this publication,
"Bunco Squad" is credited with six pluses
and three minuses in the composite rating—
and that's several cuts above many a feature
which cost much more to make.
Rachmil's current and future assignments
include "Blackbeard the Pirate," "Secrets of
the French Police" and "Cat and Mouse."
There is a crying need in Cinemania for
more men of Rachmil's background and experience,
but unfortunately, and as chronicled
above, the school in which he was trained always
has been limited in enrollment.
But the student body is growing—it must,
if Hollywood is to survive.
It wouldn't do, of course—most especially in
the motion picture trade — but the new,
ambitious and widely touted production outfit
recently organized by Stanley Kramer
and Sara Katz would be a natural under the
handle of K. K. K. Productions. The third
"K" is for kibitzer, none other than Garrulous
George Glass, vice-president in charge of
publicity and sundry other activities.
A-GUY-CAN-DREAM-CAN'T-HE?
DEPARTMENT
(Marty Weiser Division)
From Lippert Productions, word that " "The
Steel Helmet' will have its world premiere in
Seoul during Christmas week and will also
be premiered about the same time in Berlin,
through arrangements just completed . . ,
with military authorities and Syngman Rhee,
President of Korea."
If Headman Lippert attends the Korean
premiere—if any—President Rhee is a cinch
to wind up as a stockholder in Lippert Productions.
Understandable it would be if Hollywood's
tradespress film appraisers adopted "Ol* Man
River" as their theme song. In one and the
same week they looked at Republic's "Rio
Grande" and RKO Radio's "Rio Grande Patrol."
The Ettinger Co.. formerly Margaret
Ettinger & Co.. but still spearheaded by genial
and effective "Maggie." can take a bow over
being selected—with remuneration, presumably—to
handle the publicity and public relations
for the U.S. saving bond division of the
Treasury department, including promotion
for the division's weekly radio "Guest-Star"
transcription series.
Not only is the assignment a proud one
for "Maggie" and her gang but it augurs well
for the recently formed association through
which Les Kaufman, veteran theatre and
studio publicist, joined the organization to
be in charge of its Hollywood office.
From Anxious Alex Evelove comes information
that Warners' weekly news and feature
bulletins sent to the press "will henceforth
be translated into French and German
for servicing newspapers and magazines in
the European area."
Evelove's staff of Burbankian blurbers
might try translating their trivia into English,
too.
BOXOFTICE November 11, 1950
53