Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

^JJ^o l(u wood cene Study Joint TV Show to Aid Grosses HOLLYWOOD: The Motion Picture Industry Council and executives of the American Broadcasting Company, headed by Leonard Goldenson, are discussing a joint cooperative venture for a television network program which would benefit the theatre box office while providing quality TV entertainment, it was announced last week. As a result of a wire from Mr. Goldenson confirming that such talks are under way, the MPIC president, Ronald Reagan, has appointed Jerry Wald, public relations committee chairman of the council, Steve Broidy and Lou Greenspan, executive secretary, to a committee to meet with representatives of the MPAA, the Association of Motion Picture Producers and studio publicity directors considering a six-point industry-boosting project. Conversations between MPIC and ABC executives have stressed that if the plan is worked out, it must offer equal benefits to theatres as well as to TV programming, and would be a joint enterprise. It is recalled that Mr. Goldenson three years ago advanced a plan to company executives through which a similar program, of benefit to theatres and the network, would be launched, but studio apathy caused it to founder. The new hope is that such a project may help it over now in view of the agitation for theatre-business boosting. Texas Exhibitors Hit Advertising Methods Sharp criticism of advertising methods used by major distributors was voiced by theatre operators of Abilene, Texas, in an open letter to industry leaders. The letter accused producers and distributors of not changing their advertising methods in 20 years, to the detriment of public interest in motion pictures, and to the profits of the theatre owners. “We firmly believe this condition has been brought about by producers and distributors, not deliberately, but through careless indifference to the pleas of men and women who actually sell the tickets to the public,” the letter said. Citing the development and influence of the sports section in newspapers, the Abilene theatre owners urged that money used for “fancy advertising brochures” be turned toward sponsoring daily movie sections in newspapers. The theatre men signing the letter offered to cooperate with major distributors in establishing an experimental sponsored movie section in the Abilene Reporter News, with whose editor the Abilene operators have discussed the matter. HOLLYWOOD BUREAU Production remained at an even keel last week, with five pictures starting and five winding up and leaving the total in work at 40. Three of the features started are being made on location. Bel-Air Productions (Aubrey Schenck and Howard W. Koch) began “Voodoo Island,” starring Boris Karloff and Beverly Tyler, in Hawaii with Reginald LeBorg directing for United Artists release. Columbia gave the go ahead signal to producer Hal E. Chester and director Jacques Tourneur in London to begin “The Bewitched,” starring Dana Andrews. MGM producer David Lewis and director Ronald Neame started “The Painted Veil” starring Eleanor Parker, Bill Travers and George Sanders in London. Beginning in Hollywood was Columbia’s “Zombies of Mora-Tau,” a Sam Katzman production starring Allison Hayes and Autumn Russell. Also started was 20th-Fox’s big one, “Oh, Men! Oh, Women!” produced and directed by Nunnally Johnson in CinemaScope and color, with Dan Dailey, Ginger Rogers, David Niven, Barbara Rush heading the cast. Six Films, Directors Set for SDG Awards HOLLYWOOD : The Screen Directors Guild nominations for directorial achievement awards for the period from July through September have gone to six films. These include Joshua Logan for “Bus Stop”; John Huston for “Moby Dick”;Robert Wise for “Somebody Up There Likes Me”; George Sidney for “The Eddy Duchin Story”; Walter Lang for “The King and I,” and King Vidor for “War and Peace.” James Cagney Plans To Direct Picture HOLLYWOOD: Paramount Pictures last week announced that James Cagney will debut as a director on “Short Cut to Hell,” the first assignment of this kind for the veteran actor. The film is based on a story by Graham Greene, with A. C. Lyles, recently assistant producer on “The Mountain,” penciled in as producer. Newcomer Robert Ivers has one of the top roles. Walt Disney Wins Award Of Producers Guild Walt Disney has been unanimously voted by the executive board of the Screen Producers Guild as the recipient of the THIS WEEK in PRODUCTION . . . Started — 5 Columbia — Zombies of Mora-Tau; The Bewitched. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer — The Painted Veil (CinemaScope). 20th Century-Fox — Oh, Men! Oh, Women! (CinemaScope; DeLuxe Color). United Artists — Voodoo Island (Bel-Air). . . . Completed — 5 Allied Artists — Jeannie (CinemaScope; Color). Columbia — The Man Who Turned to Stone. Independent — Crime Beneath the Sea (Nacirema Prods.). Paramount — Flamenca (VistaVision; Color). United Artists — Bail Out at 43,000 (Pine-Thomas). . . . Shooting — 35 Allied Artists — Gun for a Town (Jerold Zukor Prod.); Love in the Afternoon. Columbia — Garment Center; The Cunning end the Haunted; The Bridge on the River Kwai (HorizonAmerican); The Admirable Crichton (London Films); Fortune is a Woman (Launder-Gilliat Prod.); The Story of Esther Costello (Valiant Films); Interpol (Warwick Prods.); A Town on Trial (Marksman Films). Independent — Kill Me Tomorrow (Amalgamated Prod.); One Man's Secret (Amalgamated Prod.). Metro-Goldwwyn-Mayer — Designing Woman (CinemaScope; Color); Ten Thousand Bedrooms (CinemaScope; Color). Paramount — The Tin Star (VistaVision); The Joker Is Wild. Republic — Spoilers of the Forest (Naturama). RKO Radio — The Violators (Gallahad Prod.); Escapade in Japan (Color); The Girl Most Likely (Eastman Color); The Lady and the Prowler (Color). 20th Century-Fox — Man from Abilene (Brady-Glaser Prod.); Island in the Sun (Zanuck; CinemaScope; DeLuxe Color); Boy on a Dolphin (CinemaScope; Color); The Girl Can't Help It (CinemaScope; DeLuxe Color); The True Story of Jesse James (CinemaScope; DeLuxe Color); Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (CinemaScope; DeLuxe Color). United Artists — The Trial of Benjie Galt (Grand Prod.). Universal-International — Pay the Devil (CinemaScope); The Land Unknown (CinemaScope); Night Passage (Technirama). Warner Bros. — Lafayette Escadrille; Top Secret Affair; A Face in the Crowd (Newton Prods.); The Sleeping Prince (LOP Prods.). organization’s annual Milestone Award for historical contributions to the American motion picture, Samuel G. Engel, SPG president, has announced. Mr. Disney will be honored at the Screen Producers Guild Milestone Award banquet, set for the Beverly Hilton Hotel, February 3, 1957. Previous recipients were: Jesse L. Lasky, Louis B. Mayer, Darryl F. Zanuck and Cecil B. DeMille. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 3, 1956 33