Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1960)

Wednesday, November 9, 1960 Motion Picture Daily egion Rates 'Crowning' REView: ieparate; 'Magdalena' C L The National Legion of Decency is placed "The Crowning Experirice," the Moral Rearmament film, in j "separate" classification and consmned the German film "Magdana" in ratings for the week ending ov. 10. At the same time the Legion placed l'niversal's "Spartacus" in Class A, j ection II (adults) and rated MGM's !Butterfield 8" and 20th-Fox's "Gode!ss of Love" in Class B (morally bjectionable for all.) The Legion gives a "separate" lassification to "certain films which, /hile not morally objectionable in 'tiemselves, require some analysis and 'xplanation as a protection to the uniformed against wrong interpretation nd false conclusions." Explaining its ating of "The Crowning Experience," he Legion said, "This message film, Vhich presents the program of Moral le-Armament, a quasi-religious movement, should be viewed by a Cathoic audience with certain reservations because the film relies too heavily lpon emotional argument and bemuse the religious expression which t gives to personal reform is theologically ambiguous." Highly Critical of 'Magdalena' In condemning "Magdalena," the Legion said, 'The low moral tone Which permeates the development of tfthe theme of this film is compounded jin treatment by a blatant violation of decency in costuming, dialogue and situations." On "Butterfield 8": "The boldly ( suggestive treatment of the subject matter of this film in costuming, dialogue and situations is offensive to traditional standards of morality and decency." On "Goddess of Love": "Suggestive costuming and situations." 'Facts' Benefit Set Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Vice President and Mrs. Richard Nixon, Senators Jacob K. Javits and Kenneth Keating, Governor and Mrs. Nelson Rockefeller and Mayor and Mrs. Robert Wagner have been named honorary sponsors for motion picture preview of "The Facts of Life" and supper dance to benefit the New York chapter of the World Adoption International Fund (WAIF) of the International Social Service. The special showing of the United Artists' release, will be held for WAIF members and their guests on Nov. 15 at the Astor Theatre prior to the supper dance at the Pierre Hotel. Ward Bond Services HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 8. Funeral services were held here yesterday morning for Ward Bond, noted character actor, in the Field Photo Home, Reseda, a rest home for Purple Heart veterans of World War II. He was 55 years old. Interment was private. Bond was well-known as one of ^ the players in the "stock company" of John Ford, having appeared in most of the westerns made by that director. The Plunderers August Prods. — Allied Artists Hollywood, Nov. 8 Prefaced with the remark that what took place nearly 100 years ago is something that could happen today, this film builds its intrigue on a disturbance created by four teenage saddle-tramps who ride into a small lonely town of the old post-war West. Their brazen antics, employed mainly to impress each other, coupled with displays of confusion and cowardice can be compared with generations of other teenage rat packs " juvenile delinquents, and young "angry" groups of today. Teenage favorites John Saxon, Dolores Hart and Ray Stricklyn, joined by two repressive newcomers, Dee Pollock and the Herculean Roger Torrey, lend strong box office assurance to Jeff Chandler, starring in his own independent production. Joseph Pevnev's direction achieves an atmosphere charged with suspense through a slow-paced buildup of character study and unpredictable action. His handling of scenes with violence, knife fights and gun action is commendable in that he attains dramatic effect without resorting to gory details. Pevnev, who also produced the film, is given a strong assist in delineating the interesting screenplay by Bob Barbash with a notably good musical score, composed and conducted by Leonard Rosenman to augment the mood and punctuate the action. Saxon is outstanding in his portrayal of the Mexican member of the hoodlum quartette. His Spanish accent and the personality he projects in his aim to seduce Miss Hart are highlights of the film. Others in effective roles are Jay C. Flippen, as an old sheriff who tries in vain to reason with the four as a cover up for his fear of having to use a gun; Marsha Hunt, widowed by the war, who finds Chandler difficult in responding to her former interest in him, as Miss Hart and Chandler find a common bond for each other; and James Westerheld, owner of the saloon, who takes a beating from the hoodlums when he tries to stand up for his rights. ,111. Chandler essaying the difficult role of an embittered soul who has lost the use of one arm in the war, becomes the focal interest as he is riled into action against the four hoodlums after they have killed the sheriff and pillaged the town of all its guns. Dee Pollock, youngest of the group walks out on his buddies after an argument with Stricklyn and is trapped by the townspeople when he refuses to use his gun on Chandler. Pollock's gun is then used by Miss Hart to dispose of Saxon as he tries to knife Chandler. Chandler then outwits Torrey m a knife duel and Stricklyn dies as he tries to shoot his way past Chandler, who clips' him with a bullet. Pollock, the surviving member of the group, is set free and the town prepares to return to normal living. Executive producer was Scott R. Dunlap, and associate producer, Jess Rand. Running time, 94 minutes. Release in November. & Samuel D. Berns Political Fund (Continued from page 1) for Kennedy and Johnson, and $2,852 to the National Citizens Committee for Nixon and Lodge. In accordance with a previous understanding with the studios, funds raised in California were returned to California, with $1,030 going to the California Citizens Committee for Kennedy and Johnson and $1,241 going to the California Citizens Committee for Nixon and Lodge. Eric Johnston, MPA president, who headed the industry's campaign to get out the vote and contribute to the "party of your choice," said that in general he was quite pleased with the results and remarked: "For an initial effort, I feel that personnel in the home offices of the major producers-distributors, the exchanges and the studios took an important step toward broadening the base of democracy in our country. Many thousands of film workers aie better citizens today for having made a personal contribution to the parry of their choice." Producers Backed on Valiant Names Three 'Anti-Payola' Law From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Nov. 8.-The National Association of Broadcasters, in a conference with Federal Communications Commission staff members, has generally supported the interpretation of the new anti-"payola" law advocated by film producers. There are, however, some additional points which the broadcasters desire to have clarified. They will outline these to FCC soon. The broadcasters agreed with the film producers that the new law should not apply to theatrical films. FCC is understood to be unconvinced of this, but it has not made up its mind. Also supported by both film producers and broadcasters is exclusion from the new rules of films ( and tapes) begun before Sept. 13. New Branch Managers Three branch managers have been appointed by Valiant Films Corp. for new offices in Cleveland, Atlanta and Charlotte, it was announced yesterday by Fred Schwartz, president, and Sig Shore, president of Vitalite Film Corp., which supplies the product released by the distributing company. Valiant now has 13 branches of its own and plans to open at least two more offices, according to Shore, who heads sales and presentation of the product. Jem Lipow has been named branch manager in Cleveland and will also handle sales in the Pittsburgh territory. Lipow was most recently with United Artists and previously with Paramount, both in Cleveland. Edwin H. Brauer, former Republic branch manager in Atlanta, has been MGM Promotions ( Continued from page 1 ) the newly created post of assistant branch manager in Charlotte. He has been a salesman, originally joining the company in 1949. Connie Carpou, a salesman in Oklahoma City, has been promoted to assistant branch manager in Dallas. He has been with M-G-M since 1936. Ervin Douglyn was promoted to acting branch manager in Seattle. Sam Davis, the Seattle branch manager, is recuperating from a heart attack. Douglyn, a ten-year M-G-M man, began his career with the company as a student salesman. William Egbert fills Carpou's position as salesman in Oklahoma City. He joined the company in 1941, and had been head booker. Marion Farley moves up to Egbert's former position. An 11 year man, he has been a booker in the Oklahoma City branch. Winters Joins M-G-M Dick Winters has joined the home office publicity and advertising department of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Prior to his new position, Winters was on the publicity staff at 20th CenturyFox where his assignments included national magazine contacts. Before daat, he was in the home office publicity department of RKO Pictures. Fuller for 'Marauders9 HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 8. Samuel Fuller has been signed to direct "The Marauders," epic-scale story of jungle warfare, which Milton Sperling will produce as a United States production for Warner Brothers. Producer Sperling and Fuller will leave late this month for the Far East to scout locations for the production. appointed Valiant manager there and will also cover the Jacksonville territory. Robert W. McClure, formerly with United Artists in Charlotte, heads Valiant's new Charlotte branch.