Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1960)

Motion Picture Daily Friday, November 4, l!) West Africa Johnston Calls Upon Educators to Help ( Continued from page 1 ) million. There are only 240 theatres. The returns to U. S. distributors are less than $500,000. The proposed development company would be organized under the Webb-Pomerene Act and participated in by such MPEA companies as wish to join. The company would be separate from the MPEA, but Johnston would serve as its top executive. Its directors would be representatives of the New York offices of the participating companies, and its home office in New York City. The major functions of the company would be: 1. Sale and distribution of the films of the participating companies in the West African areas, to the extent that the participating companies agree upon. Also, the company would be empowered to develop a system of 16mm distribution. 2. A program of developing modern exhibition outlets with the aim to establish in the important centers of West Africa at least one new airconditioned theatre each. 3. The setting up of a general program of promotion and government relations in the main West African territories. 4. The development of production and co-production opportunities if the demand justifies production in this area. The committee was authorized to work out the details for the organization and financing of such a company. The committee might also make a detailed inspection trip to Africa. It will report back to the board with its findings and recommendations. Members of the committee will be announced shortly by Johnston. Creative Productions Formed in Hollywood From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 3 Helen Ainsworth, in association with Richard Morley and Don Boutyette, has formed Creative Productions International for the purpose of producing feature motion pictures, tv programs and commercial films. The company will also operate in the field of personal management and the development of new talent. Was Producer for Columbia Miss Ainsworth was for many years a prominent theatrical agent, and during 1956 produced four feature pictures for Columbia. Morley, former motion picture designer and pioneer television film producer, returned recently from Europe where for over 5 years he was engaged in producing feature films and television series in London, France and North Africa. Morley was one of the founders of the Alliance of TV Producers, Inc. Boutyette has been a motion picture publicist in Hollywood for 17 years and currently operates his own public relations office. Raise Standards^ Taste in Young JSJS f*" Special to THE DAILY MILWAUKEE, Nov. 3.— The modern mass media, constituting the most penetrating and far-reaching educator in American society, should be "very much the concern" of America's teachers, Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of Amer ica, will say here today. In an address to be delivered to the annual convention of the Wisconsin Education Association, Johnston will say that it was a proper responsibility of schools and teachers in elevating American culture to help students to distinguish and discriminate" among the best and the least in quality among newspapers magazines, radio, television and motion pictures. Hopes Teachers Will Act Johnston, stressing before the allteacher audience the urgent need for increased classroom facilities and improved teaching standards in America, will speak of the mass media as an "inescapable and omnipresent" educational force. He will call this the educational process that occurs outside the schoolroom" and urge teachers to recognize it and "act upon their awareness." He will say: "This educational force outside the school is sometimes strident and shoddy, sometimes noble and ennobling, but it is always present and inescapable. Some regard it with disdain-some with awe. But however they look upon it, there it is in massive form. Its message goes out and is received. Stresses Five Media "I am referring, of course, to die mass media— to newspapers and magazines, to radio and television, to the motion picture and to all the communicating arts developed by man. "It will help us not at all to turn our backs upon these media. Nor will it help or be truthful to say that all that travels by their means is necessarily good. "How are these messages received? "Let me give you an example from my own industry, the motion picture. We ship film to all parts of the world. Some years ago, it happened that two films went to Latin America at the same time. Lincoln— and Jesse James "One of these was the story of young Abe Lincoln . . . Lincoln before he came on the national scene and became our Civil War president. The other was about Jesse James and his wild west band of desperadoes. "It would be nice to tell you that Mr. Lincoln carried die day, that Latin Americans came out in multitudes to see our great North American in action. And it would be cheerful to tell you that Jesse James and his shoot-'em-up colleagues had to sneak in dirough back alley theatres in the seediest parts of town. "It would be pleasant to tell you this, but it wouldn't be true— because it didn't happen. What did happen was that Jesse James had to carry Abe Lincoln behind him on his horse, or Lincoln would hardly have been noticed on his cinematic journey to Latin America. "Now some may argue that this was somehow Hollywood's fault. But is that true? Let's face up to it. So long as the mass audience turns out to root for Jesse James over Abe Lincoln, then it will get Jesse James . . . and Jesse's brothers and his sons and his grandsons and his greatgrandsons. "I think this educational process outside the schoolroom is very much your concern. It will do little good to moan and wail about it. But it will do a great deal of good to do something about it. Wants Taste Developed "What needs to be done is to do more about improving the level of culture and taste in our society, to strengthen the values in which we most deeply believe. "And right here is the school's challenge and golden opportunity— to develop an appreciation of these diings in the mass media which are good and worthwhile." Appeals Court Reverses (Continued from page 1) to handle IPC's propaganda film, "The Salt of die Earth." The Appeals court remanded the case to the District court for further action. Originally filed several years ago, the case was dismissed last year by U. S. District Judge Sidney Sugarman on the basis of a show cause order to compel Harold Biberman, director of the film, to answer certain questions put to him by defense counsel. Biberman, who had been disclaimed by IPC as its representative, refused to answer. The lower court upheld a contention that the disclaimer constituted failure of the plaintiffs to appear through Biberman. Holds Compliance Existed In reversing and remanding the case, die Appeals Court said, "We are of the opinion that the plaintiff complied widi the prior order to appear, and hence the court below abused its discretion in dismissing the complaint with prejudice." The Appeals Court also found that defendants had full opportunity to question and prepare their defense, and added, "The court below should have dealt with the issues pertinent to compel answers instead of ignoring and summarily dismissing the complaint. Even though this precipitate action is sought to be justified as being within the court's inherent powers the lower court need, and should not have, resorted to the use of its inherent power." Twentieth Century-Fox will put least eight productions before cameras in Britain during 1961, cording to Robert Goldstein, exe>: tive in charge of production. They include "Cleopatra" (n. shooting), "Topaze," "A Matter Who," "The Visit," "The Innocent' "Watcher in the Shadows," "% Greatest Raid of All," and "The 3 spector." Recently completed by 20i! Fox in Britain were "The Quee Guards," "The Mark," and "The M lionairess." Fox Meets to Promote 'Star' for Christmas "Flaming Star" has been select' as 20th Century-Fox's Christmas 1 lease and has been rushed to N« York in rough-cut condition for a sp cial screening to be held today J home office executives. They inclu W. C. Michel, executive vice-pre< dent; Joseph Moskowitz, vice-pre dent and eastern studio represent tive; Charles Einfeld, vice-presider Murray Silverstone, 20th Internation president; Glenn Norris, general sail manager and others. Executive producer Robert Gol, stein rushed the rough print of tl Elvis Presley film east so that sal, and promotional plans could be fina ized for the holiday release. Follo\ ing the screening, a series of meetin; will be held with members of tl sales, advertising and publicity partments to formulate promotion. Participating in the discussions wi be representatives of Norris' new. formed sales cabinet, including assis ant general sales manager Marti Moskowitz, Clayton Pantages, Al Dickstein and Bob Conn. In additioi meetings will be held around tl: country within the ten days followin the special screening with the con pany's branch and regional adverts ing publicity managers to implemer the sales and promotional plans fo the film. Columbia Stockholders To Meet on Dec. 27 The board of directors of Columbi Pictures has set Tuesday, Dec. 27, a, the date for the meeting of the stock holders of the company in lieu of th annual meeting. The meeting will start at 10 A.M, at the company's home office here The record date for stockholders eligi ble to participate will be die close business on Nov. 29. /. W. Baringhaus Dies Joseph W. Baringhaus, 52, Warne Brothers branch manager in Detroit died of a heart attack there on Wed nesday. He had been with the com pany since 1929, and had served ii several executive positions in the Detroit office.