Small Wonder

After two lean years in a Hollywood jungle that has never been more perilous. Eagle Lion--the first addition to big-time U.S. film studios in 14 years--was at last making good. Under able President Arthur B. Krim, a 38-year-old lawyer who tackled his job with virtually no movie experience, E.L. has become a model of efficient, cost-cutting operation. It has kept down overhead by steering clear of long-term contracts with high-priced stars and directors. Periodically, it has shut down until it could prepare four to six films for almost simultaneous (and thus economical) shooting. On the average, it has managed to squeeze about three pictures (best example: the well-made quickie, T-Men) out of $1,000,000.

Heartened by its first profitable period in two years, E.L. last week ended its third shutdown by starting work on four films. The outlook was brightened by the box-office success of The Red Shoes, one of the films it has been distributing for

Britain's J. Arthur Rank, who suggested Eagle Lion's formation to U.S. Railroad-Juggler Robert R. Young. For British pictures the company has also developed an audience in 200 to 250 cities.

Eagle Lion's new vigor also springs from a deal with David O. Selznick to distribute nine of his "classics" (e.g., Rebecca and Intermezzo), three of his current films and possibly two new ones

(Portrait of Jennie and the British-made The Fallen Idol).

One E.L. handicap: it has had to get along without its own theaters, which older, richer studios have found to be a cushion against bad pictures and production losses. Now, with the Federal Government winning its campaign to force bigger companies to divorce production from theater ownership, E.L.'s experience in licking the handicap has a chance of turning into an advantage.

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