Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1960)

Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, July 26, 18 Einf eld to Brief ( Continued from page 1 ) pany's regional advertising-publicity managers from 12 branches representing the mid-West, South and Western parts of the country. Object of the briefing is to bring the field men up to date on the more than $40 million production schedule underway in many parts of the world. Between now and the end of the year, 20th-Fox will put a record number of top-budget films before the cameras in England, Greece, Italy, and France and will shoot key scenes for several productions in parts of Africa. Regional Heads to Attend The meeting will be attended by Manny Pearson of Cleveland, Tom McGuire, Detroit; J. E. Watson, Cincinnati and Indianapolis; Sal Gordon, Chicago; Louis Orlove, Milwaukee; Bob Favaro, Minneapolis, Des Moines and Omaha; Chick Evans, Kansas City; Jerry Berger, St. Louis; Frank Jenkins, Pete Bayes of Denver, Helen G. Yorke of Salt Lake City, and Warren Slee of Seattle and Portland. The program will include the complete launching plans for the company's fourth quarter releases. Returns on Monday Einfeld will remain in Chicago over the weekend, returning to New York next Monday. Jordan Resigns (Continued from page 1) manager of Universal International, now in Europe conducting a series of sales meetings. Jordan's resignation, prompted by his desire to return to the United States, where he will probably enter into a business of his own, has been accepted with regret, as his services with UI ever since he joined the company in 1951 have been of exemplary loyalty and most valuable, Aboaf said. Wometco Diversifies (Continued from page 1) of 44.5 per cent over the net of $200,643 for the similar period of 1959. The report to the stockholders issued this week by Mitchell Wolf son, president, announces further diversification in the amusement field. This month, the report said, Wometco will open "a unique type of inside funland park and snack bar. Located in the new Jefferson Superstore in Fort Lauderdale, the park will include a 30 horse merry-go-round, buggy rides, bowling games and rifle games. Wometco Enterprises will own a majority of the stock in the Jeff-Fun Corporation, operator of the amusement center, and the report says, "If the Jeff-Fun is as successful as we anticipate, the company expects to add other units as new Jefferson superstores are built." The report points out that Wometco's vending division is now the largest automatic vendor in Florida with FEATURE REVIEWS Cage of Evil UA-Zenith Hartford, July 25 Ron Foster, developing into quite an action-element starring principal (he may be remembered from the recent UA release, "The Music Box Kid"), top-lines this Robert E. Kent production, directed with swift, decisive strokes by Howard L. Cahn, working from an Orville H. Hampton screenplay. It is for the action theatres or for the companion half of a double-bill in any general outlet. Police detective Foster is assigned to track down Howard McLeod, believed to be involved in a huge jewel heist which has resulted in one death. Foster, getting acquainted with McLeod's girl friend, Pat Blair, finds romantic interest in the gangster's moll. And when Foster's passed over for promotion, he cold-bloodedly conspires with the coolly calculating Miss Blair to kill McLeod, take over the jewels and disappear. The decision spells his fatal downfall; an elaborate plan backfires when a plumber happens to recognize Foster, the latter is killed by border police, and Miss Blair, crestfallen, is taken into custody. Running time, 70 minutes. Release, July, 1960. -A.M.W. Mile. Bardot, but since he's a reserved and proud individual, and also has had an awkward limp since childhood, fears to reveal such sentiment. One gloomy day, he pronounces his feelings, but Mile. Bardot, already swooning over brother Cressoy's handsome countenance, rebuffs him. Cressoy plays into Nazi counter-espionage unwittingly by providing Mile. Bardot with an important message for the Rome underground. Two-faced Albertazi, it develops intriguingly, is an intelligence agent for the Nazis, but his dastardly action is circumvented by a fast-moving Cressoy, who escapes from entrapment and joins Mile. Bardot in free territory. Mario Bonnard's direction is at times heavy-handed. Debbi Colli was responsible for some fine photographic effects. Jules Doccar wrote the music. Running time, 93 minutes. Release, July, 1960. -A.M.W. Night of Love Howco International-Hakim (French-Italian, Dubbed in English) Hartford, July 25 This Gaston Hakim presentation of a Hollywood International Picture, released on the states-rights banner by Howco International, stars Brigitte Bardot, of the internationally-known alluring figure, in a melodrama of World War II. Dubbed into English, it can probably play any given number of conventional situations, over and above the art house circuit. The setting is German-occupied territory towards the end of World War II. Brothers George Albertazi and Pierre Cressoy are divided in their outward loyalties, Albertazi an avid follower of the Nazi line, Cressoy a fervent patriot and underground organizer. Because Cressoy is an excellent pianist, he is able to tour extensively, the while bringing much-needed esprit de corps to a lagging underground. Mile. Bardot is cast as the niece and pupil of the lieutenant of the Nazi forces, a frequent visitor to the Albertazi-Cressoy home. Albertazi has romantic intent for the acquisition in June of Walker Vending Service of Duval County, operators of in-plant food and beverage vending machines. In addition to its theatres Wometco also owns television and radio stations and a Seaquarium, in Miami. Name 6 International Variety Representatives Special to THE DAILY PHILADELPHIA, July 25. Appointment of six international representatives each of whom will serve as a link between Variety Clubs International and a group of tents in an assigned region, was announced today by chief barker Edward Emanuel. Morton Gerber of Washington, Joe Podoloff of Minneapolis, Robert Bostick of Memphis and Gene Murphy of Las Vegas were reappointed, and John J. Fitzgibbons, Jr. of Toronto and Harry Kodinsky, Pittsburgh, are replacing former international representatives William Koster who is now Variety's heart chairman, and Ralph Pries who is now international dough guy. Jack Fitzgibbons, chief Barker of the Toronto tent and general chairman of Variety's 1960 annual convention, will supervise Region One, embracing tents in Boston, Buffalo, New York, Albany and Toronto. Morton Gerber's Region Two will include Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami, Baltimore, Jacksonville and Washington. Kodinsky's territory will include Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Indiana and Dayton. Region Four headed by Podoloff consists of tents in Minneapolis, Des Moines, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Chicago, Milwaukee and Omaha. Robert Bostick will serve as laison over tents in Region Five, which includes Memphis, New Orleans, Dallas, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Houston and Mexico City. Tents in Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco and Las Vegas will be supervised by Gene Murphy. C. J. Latta, former chief barker of the London (England) tent, will continue as international European representative. America Corp. (Pathe Earnings Rise Sharply America Corp. (formerly Che! peake Industries) had sales of $]| 640,499 for the six months ended ]{] 30, 1960, compared with $13,742,:| for the first half of 1959, Gordon j Greenfield, president, reported yestj day. America Corp. is the parent Pathe Laboratories, Inc., which j cently announced a film product program in response to exhibitor cei plaints of a worsening prodj shortage. Net income for the period 1 ; $673,711 equal, after preferred di dends, to 16 cents a share on 3,11'. 229 outstanding common sha;, Since the company had a tax-loss (| ryforward of $2,000,000 in W there was no tax provision in j year's first half. This compared wih a loss of $3<l 843 in the first six months of 11 before a tax credit of $193,000 jj duced a net loss of $203,843. Pathecolor, Inc., an amateur c:t film processing company, lost $2i| 719 in the first half of 1959. Its asl were disposed of last August. America Corp. has extended s tenders to buy up to 10,000 share/if its $4 preferred stock and up to 5 j& shares of its $6 preferred stock il Aug. 15. The prices offered are I a share for the $4 preferred and 5 for the $6 preferred. The company :■ cently paid all arrearages on its cut* lative preferred stock. All-Day Activities Hei For 'Black' Tomorro An intensive schedule of prente activities will be activated all da$> morrow at the RKO Palace There here for Universale "Portrait .in Black." With the opening of the I office, the first 400 male patrons I receive copies of the Bantam patback edition of the novel from w'4 the film was adapted. The first W females will receive cameo neckks. Between lunch time and the tb evening hours, the Palace lobby ill be sketched in black-and-white la prominent artist. Patrons will reeve the sketches. A fashion show, in will models will pose in gowns and dries worn by Lana Turner in the picl e. will be held in the lobby. SeVal hundred autographed photograph ol John Saxon will be distributed frej teenagers. The film also opens toil row at the Trans-Lux 85th S 1 Theatre here. 20th-Fox Slates Seve For Release in Augu Twentieth Century-Fox will 1 lease seven major films during j* gust, the company disclosed yejt day. "Sons and Lovers" will .W its local premiere on Aug. 2, w will be followed by "The CapU Table," "One Foot in Hell," 1 the Love of Mike," "Jesse Jam "The 39 Steps and "The Idiot."