Canadian Moving Picture Digest (July 7, 1956)

JAY L. SMITH EDITOR AND PUBLISHER VOL. 48, NO. 28 CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE FIRST WITH THE FILM NEWS IN CANADA Published by CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST COMPANY LIMITED RAY LEWIS FOUNDER 1915-1954 JULY 7, 1956 Premieres Strike Encouraging Note By JAY L. SMITH beam In this column last week, in discussing an invitation from Jerry Pickman, Paramount’s Director of Advertising, Publicity and Exploitation, to Jim Harrison of Odeon’s Regional Theatre Circuit, to attend a special screening in New York, I inadvertently (in plain language, “I goofed”) referred to the Paramount picture involved as “The Fighting Parson’. Correct title of the picture, of course, is “The Leather Saint”, the story of a ‘Fighting Parson’. The film, a current Paramount release, stars John Derek, Paul Douglas, Jody Lawrence and Cesar Romero. Produced by Norman Retchin, and directed by Alvin Ganzer, it is filmed in black-and-white VistaVision. I trust that makes up for my boner. George Seaton, recently re-elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, announced last week that the film company presidents will meet with Eric Johnson, MPAA president some time this summer, to further discuss industry sponsorship of the 1957 telecasting of the Academy Awards. I sincerely hope that the meeting is held, and that some way can be found of getting out of the contract the Academy has signed with the Oldsmobile Division of General Motors, so that the Industry can sponsor its own show. This is a move that I, in company with virtually every trade paper editor in the Industry, have always contended, is a “must”, if we, as an Industry, are to get the full value out of the Oscar Awards. Can you picture, for example, the automotive industry, allowing, again for example, a brewery to sponsor the telecasting of a Motor Show? (Continued on Page 4) Opening Guns Of Summer Boom Fired By Majors—No Blanks Toronto: An encouraging trend towards a general improvement in the box-office position throughout the U.S. and Canada, is seen in the almost simultaneous release by the major distributors of some of se marcreeommeraNs apemererrers U.A. WEEK BREAKS ALL CANADIAN FILM RECORDS Toronto: In last week’s issue of The Digest, we reported that U.A. Week in Canada broke all existing records in Canadian Film history, with 1675 feature playdates in 910 Canadian theatres. We are happy to report that these figures, given as an estimate, were in error, and that the actual final figures for U.A, Week in Canada, as reported to The Digest by Charles S. Chaplin, Canadian District Manager for U.A., hit the fantastic total of 1685 feature playdates in 921 theatres. Figures for the various branches were as follows: Toronto — 620 feature playdates in 260 theatres; Montreal 332 feature playdates in 187 theatres; Winnipeg—209 feature playdates in 174 theatres; Calgary—183 feature playdates in 119 theatres; Vancouver—206 feature playdates in 99 theatres; Saint John—135 feature playdates in 82 theatres. their biggest potential hits of the current year. Timed for top Holiday grosses in Canada and the U.S., such pictures as Warner Bros.’ “Moby Dick”, U.Al‘s . “trapeze” . and “Johnny Concho”, 20th CenturyFox’s “The King and I” Columbia’s “The Eddy Duchin Story”, Paramount’s “That Certain Feeling” and “Pardners’, are just a few of the big ones set into release at this time. In addition, Metro already has “Bhowani Junction” going the rounds to excellent business, and is readying “Somebody Up There Likes Me” and “High Society” for early release. Paramount’s “The Man Who Knew Too Much”, the Alfred Hitchcock thriller starring James Stewart and Doris Day, based on its early engagements, looks headed (See PREMIERES Page 5) Universal Hits Production Peak With 8 Features Rolling In July Toronto: With starting dates on six pictures having been approved by Edward Muhl, Universal-International vice-president in charge of production, U-I will have eight pictures before the cameras during July, it was reported this week by A. W. Perry, President of Empire Universal Films, Canadian distributors for U-I. Filming of these pictures spread more than half way around the world from Munich to Tokyo. First of the new starters is “The World and Little Willie,” Maureen O’Hara-John Forsythe-Tim Hovey Technicolor starrer to be produced by Howard Christie and directed by Jerry Hopper. Shooting on this has just started. July 9 will see three films hit the starting line. “Joe Butterfly,” Tech (See UNIVERSAL Page 5) Astral Acquires Selznick Group Toronto: Announcement was made jointly this week by I. H. “Izzy” Allen, President of Astral Films Ltd., and by the Selznick Organization in New York, of the selection of Astral Films as Canadian distributors of a group of Selznick re-releases, headed by the Ingrid Bergman starrer, “Intermezzo.” Also included in the group are such outstanding productions as “The Paradine Case,” starring Gregory Peck, Ann Todd, Alida Valli and Louis Jourdan; “Portrait of Jennie,” with Jennifer (See ASTRAL Page 4) RKO Signs For 12 Pictures To Be Filmed In New York New York: Daniel T. O’Shea, President of RKO Radio Pictures announced recently the signing of a contract with Galahad Productions, Inc., for the release of four pictures annually during the next three years. Galahad Productions is headed by Himan Brown, TV-radio producer and President of the recently-finished Production Center, Inc., fully-equipped modern motion picture sound stages in Manhattan, All of the pictures will be (See RKO Page 3) Odeon Managers Shift Toronto: A number of changes among Odeon managers has taken place within the past few weeks, according to Ted Forsyth, assistant general manager of the company. (See ODEON Page 3)