Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

Mo ((ij wood 'cene U-l Plan Big Promotion on Coming Films HOLLYWOOD : Utilizing every promo tional facet designed to stimulate attendance, Universal-International’s “Written on the Wind,” scheduled for release early next year following a series of special pre-release Christmas engagements, will receive one of the most intensive campaigns in the history of the company, David A. Lipton, vice-president, told the company’s advertising, publicity and exploitation executives at a conference at the U-I studios. The same type of concentrated promotion is planned also for “Battle Hymn,” the CinemaScope and Technicolor film biography of Dean Hess, starring Rock Hudson, Martha Hyer and Dan Duryea; “The Great Man,” starring Jose Ferrer, Dean Jagger and Keenan Wynn; “Four Girls in Town,” Technicolor and CinemaScope, “Istanbul,” Technicolor, co-starring Errol Flynn and Cornell Borchers, and other releases scheduled for the early months of 1957. One of the highlights of the “Written on the Wind” promotion will be an extensive national television spot campaign, with more than 400 television spot announcements used in 35 markets starting the first week in November with a viewing range of over 16,000,000 television sets. A record national magazine and Sunday supplement ad campaign, three Technicolor teaser trailers and other promotional means will be extensively employed, it was said. HOLLYWOOD BUREAU Production continued steady through World Series week, with five new pictures starting and five others finishing. The week ended with 41 pictures shooting. Sal Mineo, a young man from TV who’s been doing well enough in Hollywood to be named among the Top Ten newcomers in QP’s Stars-of-Tomorrow poll of exhibitors, is the top name in “The Cunning and the Haunted,” for Columbia release, which started in Georgia with James Whitmore and E. G. Marshall also in the cast. Philip Waxman is the producer. Alfred Werker is directing. “The Bridge on the River Kwai” is a Horizon-American production for Columbia distribution, produced by Sam Spiegel and directed by David Lean. Jack Hawkins and Alec Guinness are in the film, which is being made in Ceylon. Jerold Zukor Productions, a new independent producing organization, began filming “Gun for a Town” for Allied Artists release. Dale Robertson, Brian Keith, Rossana Rory and Buddy Baer are among the principals. Frank Woods is the producer. Max Glandbard directs. Amalgamated Productions, Inc., shooting in London, started two pictures. Richard Gordon and Charles F. Vedder, Jr., are executive producers of both. “Kill Me Tomorrow,” which has Pat O’Brien, Lois Maxwell, George Coulouris and Freddie Mills as principals, is produced by Francis Searle and directed by Terence Fisher. “One Man’s Secret” has Zachary Scott and Faith Domergue. Alec C. Snowden is producer, Montgomery Tully is directing. THIS WEEK in PRODUCTION . . . Started — 5 Allied Artists — Gun for a Town (Jerold Zukor Prod.) Columbia — The Cunning and the Haunted; The Bridge on the River Kwai (Horizon-American). Independent — Kill Me Tomorrow (Amalgamated Prod.); One Man's Secret (Amalgamated Prod.) . . . Completed — 5 Columbia — Don't Knock the Rock. Independent — Man on a Motorcycle (Jana Film Enterprises); Shark Reef (James O. Bradford). Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer — The Wings of Eagles. 20th Century-Fox — Love Me Tender. . . . Shooting — 41 Allied Artists — Love in the Afternoon; Jeannie (CinemaScope; Color). Columbia — The Admirable Crichton (London Films); Fortune Is a Woman; The Story of Esther Costello (Valiant Films); Interpol (Warwick Prods.); A Town on Trial (Marksman Films). Independent — Pawnee (Gross-Krasne; Eastman color). Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer — Designing Woman (CinemaScope; Color); Harvest Thunder (CinemaScope; MetrcColor); Lizzie (Bryna Prod.); Ten Thousand Bedrooms (CinemaScope; Color); Something of Value; Raintree County (65mm; Color). Paramount — The Delicate Delinquent (VistaVision); Flamenca (VistaVision; Color). RKO Radio — The Girl Most Likely (Eastman color); The Lady and the Prowler (color). 20th Century-Fox — Boy on a Dolphin (CinemaScope; Color); The Girl Can't Help It (CinemaScope); Fury at Rock River (Regal Films; Regalscope); The True Story of Jesse James (CinemaScope; DeLuxe color); Three Brave Men (CinemaScope); The Restless Breed (National Pictures; Eastman color); Heaven Kn ws, Mr. Allison (CinemaScope; DeLuxe color). United Artists — Bail Out at 43 000 (Pine-Thomas); The Ride Back (Associates & Aldrich); Trooper Hook (Fielding Prod.); The Kraken (Levy-GardnerLeven); The Bia Caper (Pine-Thomas); Gambling Man (Bel-Air Prod.). Universal-International — The Land Unknown (CinemaScope); Night Passage (Technirama); Man Afraid (CinemaScope). Warner Brothers — Melville Goodwin, U.S.A.; A Face in the Crowd (Newton Prods.); The Sleeping Prince (LOP Prods.). To Honor Wyler at "Friendly" Opening HOLLYWOOD: Motion picture person alities who have won Academy Award recognition through their work in William Wyler productions will honor the producer-director October 30 at the Hollywood premiere of his Allied Artists film, “Friendly Persuasion,” which stars Gary Cooper, Dorothy McGuire, Marjorie Main and Anthony Perkins. Included are a cross-section of some of the outstanding talent in Hollywood. MORE NEW FACES ... 11 of the 13 Deb Stars of 1956 chosen by Hollywood Makeup Artists and Hair Stylists at the fourth annual Deb Star Ball. Front, Dani Crayne, Joanna Barnes, Stephanie Griffin, Venetia Stevenson, Anna Novarro, Carol Nugent; rear, Roxanne Arlen, Elaine Aiken, Nicola Michaels, Autumn Russell, Gloria McGhee. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, OCTOBER 13, 1956 23