Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1959)

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iWednesday, October 14, 1959 Motion Picture Daily 3 SPG Seeking ( Continued from page 1 ) ■whereas the SPG is primarily a "management" association. I Members of the SPG feel, according to Blaustein, that all creative contributors to the films in question should participate in any profits. If the other guilds get participation 'rights, then the SPG is prepared to '(agitate for the same, he said. | Blaustein made it clear that his (organization is not seeking to become ja labor union but wants to have (strength as a bargaining agency to jprotect its rights. To do this the SPG 'will have to present the facts to a National Labor Relations Board. Blauj stein would not venture to predict any [possible outcome of such talks. Favors Residuals The producer said that he himself would like residuals in films he made as a staff producer at 20th CenturyFox in 1950 and after. Today he is an I independent, and as such will naturaljly be involved from the very beginjning in any talks regarding sales of (his own films to TV. Speaking of the status of the producer today in Hollywood, Blaustein said he has much greater authority now than in the past "when he earns it." He said there is only one kind of | producer who is "truly independent," i defining him as "the one who puts up j his own money." "The minute you share in the funds of others," he added, "you give away part of your autonomy. Even when the contract gives you 95 per cent control, you find the other five per cent can be a block in some ways." Cites Goldwyn, Disney, Wallis He then named Samuel Goldwyn, Walt Disney, and Hal Wallis as three of the very few who are "independent producers" in the real meaning of the term. Another goal of the SPG described by Blaustein is the development of a public relations program for the entire industry. "This is a terrible lack we suffer," he said, "especially | when compared with what has been ; done in such other industries as auto! mobiles, meat and sugar." He feels the SPG can make progress in this. As for "The Wreck of the Mary Deare," the producer said it is only the first of a projected program for M-G-M. He will next make "Lady L," starring Gina Lollobrigida and Tony Curtis, and follow that with "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" and "Spinster." Defends Title Questioned about the title and the possibility that it is "weak," he defended it on three major grounds. ! First, those concerned with the decision to use it, like it. Second, it tells a story of the picture without giving details and has a "good entertainment rhythm for the kind of audience that will react best to the story." Third, the story comes from • a book of the same title published in 45 countries and serialized in the Saturday Evening Post. M-G-M Nice Place to Work, Producer Blaustein Finds High praise was accorded M-G-M in an interview here by Julian Blaustein, who has just produced "The Wreck of the Mary Deare" at that studio and plans to make several other films there. M-G-M, he said, not only has the "finest physical plant in the industry" but gives the independent producer a "good deal" in all respects. "They have a great respect for the producer at M-G-M," he added, "and provide a pleasant atmosphere in which he can work." 'Pillow' Sets Records; Ahead of 'Imitation' "Pillow Talk" is rolling up record business for Universal in initial engagements in Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Buffalo and New York the company reported here yesterday. In some cases it is ahead of "Imitation of Life." In New York, "Pillow Talk" is heading for $50,000 in its first week at the RKO Palace, which will be an all-time high for a continuous run policy. At the new Murray Hill, where it is playing day-and-date, the film did $19,500 rated as tops. In Chicago at the United Artists Theatre the film set an all time U-I high with opening day business at $9,315. At the Hippodrome in Cleveland business through Monday night hit $20,735. The first three days at the Michigan in Detroit topped "Imitation" with $18,500, and in Buffalo "Pillow" did $14,500 in four days at the Lafayette. 'FBI Story' Grosses Surpassing 'Rio Bravo' Opening in 200 theatres over the past week-end, "The FBI Story" registered grosses well ahead of "Rio Bravo" and second-week holdovers have been assured in every situation, Warner Bros, said yesterday. A cross-section of week-end grosses for the film includes: Stanton Theatre, Philadelphia, three days, $17,459, with $25,000 week indicated; RKO Memorial, Boston, five days, $22,739, with $30,000 week anticipated; Allen, Cleveland, five days, $19,538, with $24,000 week in sight; Stanley, Pittsburgh, five days, $16,335, with $18,500 week expected; Stanley, Baltimore, three days, $12,031, with $17,000 week forecast; Strand, Hartford, three days, $5,806, with $10,000 week indicated; Paramount, Denver, four days, $15,889, with $23,500 expected. Skouras Memorial Set LOS ANGELES, Oct. 13. A memorial service marking the fifth annual anniversary of the death of Charles P. Skouras, National Theatres circuit executive, will be conducted Sunday at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral following liturgy at 11 A.M. New Newspaper Strike Is Feared in Detroit Special to THE DAILY DETROIT, Oct. 13. There is considerable uneasiness among theatre exhibitors concerning the newspaper situation. The last shut-down lasted but a few days when the NLRB obtained an injunction against the Mailers and Typographers unions which were quarreling as to jurisdiction. While the matter is now before it, it is feared when these procedures are exhausted and that the situation will flare up once again around December 1. With all three publishers bound by mutual agreement to close down if only one newspaper is involved, another bitter struggle may ensue at holiday time. Shopping Papers Started The Metropolitan Exhibitors of Detroit, the business-building group is prepared to swing into immediate action. One organization publishing local shopping papers, has started another in the downtown area, the "Metropolitan Detroit," aiming to switch over to news coverage immediately if the regular dailies are again halted. B.V. Slates Release of 27 Disney Short Subjects Twenty-seven Technicolor short subjects, plus one three-reel feature, all produced by Walt Disney, will be released by Buena Vista in the coming 12 months. This represents a boost of seven films over the same period last year. Some 13 one-reel cartoons, five tworeel shorts, nine three-reel subjects, and re-release of the three-reel "Legend of Sleepy Hollow," combining Disney and Bing Crosby, comprise the lineup. 'Career' Big in First Boston, New York Dates "Career has achieved top grosses in its first two engagement, Paramount reported yesterday. Opening Friday at the Saxon Theatre in Boston, it did a big $13,223 in the four days ending Monday. In New York at the State, it grossed $56,596 for the five days ended Monday. Set First Dates for 'Mouse That Roared' Columbia's "The Mouse That Roared" will open at Washington, D.C.'s MacArthur Theatre in Oct. 21, to be followed by a showing at New York's Guild Theatre, Oct. 26. The film, produced by Carl Foreman, will break in Chicago, Boston and other major cities this November and December. Perilla Assoc. Moves Bob Perilla Associates, publicity and public relations firm, has moved its offices to 729 Seventh Avenue here. PEOPLE Donald McMaster, chairman of the executive committee of Eastman Kodak Co., has received from the Photographic Society of America its highest honor, its Honorary Fellowship. □ Charles J. Hirsch, who since 1956 has been vice-president and director of research for Hazeltine Research Corp., Little Neck, N. Y., has joined Radio Corp. of America as administrative engineer on the staff of Dr. George H. Brown, vice-president in charge of engineering. □ Paul Marcelli, recently named operating head of the Leeds Drive-in Theatre, Leeds, N. Y., has leased the Vanderbilt Theatre, four-wall house in Greenville, N. Y., from Mrs. Harry Lamont. Both towns are in the Catskills. □ Arthur A. Porter, vice-president and media director of the J. Walter Thompson Co., has been named chairman of the advertising and publishing group of the United Hospital Fund's 80th annual appeal in Manhattan and the Bronx. The campaign goal is set at $3,000,000. SAG Regrets but Backs WGA Coast Walkout From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 13. Expressing some dismay over the strike of Writers Guild of America against 56 film producers here, but pledging support of the walkout, the Screen Actors Guild through its president, Curtis Kenyon, today dispatched to the WGA the following telegram: "The Board of Directors of Screen Actors Guild regrets the abrupt termination of negotiations, which appeared to be leading to a mutuallysatisfactory agreement between the writers guild of America and a group of independent motion picture producers, forcing your guild to take strike action. "The Screen Actors Guild board fully supports your strike to obtain a fair contract with these producers." NT&T Won't Produce, Back Cinemiracle Film From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 13. John B. Bcrtero, president of National Theatres and Television, Inc., today stated that while discussions have been had with persons interested in producing a picture in the Cinemiracle process, neither NT&T nor its subsidiary, NTA, proposes to produce or finance a production. This is a reaffirmation of the company's policy announced last spring.