Canadian Film Weekly (Nov 1, 1961)

Page 8 Short Throws (Continued from Page 1) ———' With You. Allen W. Clowes, .Avondale president, announced that an annual Avondale—Stratford Festival Theatre Study Grant had been established in Coburn’s memory. For ‘each year of at least five Avondale’s two foremost apprentices, chosen from among those who are attending anIndiana college, will be sent to Stratford “to study and observe plays in all their many and varied phases of production.” In addition two seats in the Stratford theatre will be given in memory of Mr. Coburn and they will, like 111 others, be identified through a brass plaque on them. INA BALIN, one of the stars of The Young Doctors, UA feature, ‘met the press in Toronto, was in‘terviewed on radio and TV, and appeared on stage at the premiere of the film, held at the Odeon Carlton in aid of the Northwestern Hospital. Miss Balin, under contract to 20th Century-Fox, appeared in The Young Doctors on a loanout. Her critical remarks about the handling of their contract players by some studios brought resentment in some trade quarters. EFFECTIVE Nov. 1 20th Century-Fox will rejoin the Motion Picture Association of America, it was jointly announced by Spyros P. Skouras and Eric Johnston, respectively their presidents. ‘It is always our desire to do everything we can to make this a better industry for everybody,” Skouras stated. ‘‘We feel this can best be done when we all ‘work together.’”’ In welcoming 20th-Fox’ return Johnston said: “There is no limit to the future that this industry can make for itself through unified efforts.” HURD HATFIELD, who portrays Pontius Pilate in MGM’s ‘King of Kings, was in Toronto ‘for promotional activities during the days on which the two premieres which preceded the formal opening at the University Theatre were held. He was interviewed on all media through arrangements made by Hilda Cunningham, MGM’s ad-pub director for Canada. Adela Rogers St. Johns, wri ter of the King of Kings seriali-. zation, was also in Toronto recently and addressed women’s groups. Hatfield went on to Mon-treal for similar rounds after “the Toronto visit. Jerry Wald's ‘Celebration’ Joanne Woodward and Richard Beymer will star in Jerry Wald’s 20th-Fox film, Celebration. MGM's ‘Masculine Principle’ MGM _O’Brien’s ciple. Liam Prin acquired Masculine has The _ spectacle at Famous Players’ Eg CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY KING OF KINGS with Jeffrey Hunter, Siobhan McKenna, Robert Ryan, Hurd Hatfield, Viveca Lindfors. MGM (Technicolor) 168 Mins. TOWERING TALE PRODUCED WITH POWER AND SWEEP. OUTSTANDING CAST. STUNNING SETS. A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE EVENT. Using the vast scope of the motion picture screen, producer Samuel Bronston has brought forth with King of Kings a magnificent and profoundly moving spectacle. This film of Jesus Christ, depicting his birth, life, and death, has been ambitiously conceived and stunningly executed. The sets, framed in 70 mm. super-Technirama and Technicolor, fill the screen with pageantry and power. It is a work of monumental’ planning. A tremendous cast has been assembled to act out the drama. The greatest acting responsibility, of course, is Jeffrey Hunter’s in the characterization of Jesus. He handles the role with skill and conviction. Sturdy acting support comes from the fine cast. Seasoned actor Robert Ryan plays the thundering prophet of the wilderness, John the Baptist, whose severed head is brought on a platter to gratify the sadistic whim of Salome. As Mary, Mother of Jesus, Siobhan McKenna infuses a spiritual glow into her portrayal. Hurd Hatfield conveys icy determination as the tyrannical Roman ruler of Judea, Pontius Pilate. Ron Randell plays Lucius, the Roman captain, who finds faith through persecution. As the wife of Pilate, Viveca Lindfors reflects a serene beauty as one who subsequently turns to the teachings of Christ. Rita Gam portrays the wife of Herod Antipas and mother of the wicked child, Salome, enacted by Brigid Bazlen. Both effectively convey the blasphemy and bacchanalianism of Roman paganism. The wild and vital characterization of Barabbas, the Judean firebrand who spearheads the revolt that precedes the crucifixion of Christ, falls to Harry Guardino. Herod, the puppet ruler, is played by Frank Thring; Judas, the betrayer, ‘is acted by Rip Torn; Caiphas, the High Priest of the Temple, is portrayed by Guy Rolfe; Carmen Sevilla plays Mary Magdalene. The direction was obviously an enormous task. Nicholas Ray came through remarkably. He has caught the solemnity and he has captured the action stimulatingly. The great responsibility of providing the screenplay rested with Philip Yordan. His contribution is excellent. In the music department Miklos Rozsa did outstanding work. Franz F. Planer, Milton Krasner and Manuel Berenguer, the directors of photography, made contributions on a high technical level. There are scenes that will linger long in the memory. The birth, baptism and ordeal of Christ in the wilderness are shown and, later, the naming of his apostles. The film goes on to show His teaching to His disciples in the desert, His conflict with Pagan Rome, the Last Supper, the trial, Crucifixion and Resurrection. Scenes of action fill the screen. There is the storming of. the fortress in which the well-trained Roman legionnaires crush the Judean uprising led by Barabbas; the preaching of the sermon on the mount; the lavishness of courts feasts and many others. King of Kings is a picture that will long endure. CAST: Jeffrey Hunter, Robert Ryan, Siobhan McKenna, Hurd Hatfield, Ron Randell, Viveca Lindfors, Rita Gam, Carmen Sevilla, Brigid Bazlen, Harry Guardino, Rip Torn, Frank Thring, Guy Rolfe, Maurice Marsac. CREDITS: Produced by Samuel Bronston; Directed by Nicholas Ray; Screenplay by Philip Yordan; Music by Miklos Rozsa; Associate producers, Alan Brown and Jaime Prades; Directors of photography, Franz F. Planer, Milton Krasner and Manuel Berenguer; Sets and costumes designed by Georges Wakhevitch; DIRECTION: Excellent. PHOTOGRAPHY: Excellent. (From The Film Daily, NY) American Film Festival Set For April 25-28 Fourth Annual American Film Festival has been scheduled for "Windjammer' Long Run NA Record In Toronto Windjammer, the Cinemiracle linton, Toronto, hung up the North American long-run record on Oct. 20 with 44 weeks and is still running. The world’s record run is in Stockholm, where it has played 93 weeks — but the film is about a crew of Swedish youths sailing around the world. Although almost 300,000 admissions have been registered in the 44 weeks at the 900-seat house, it should be noted that the film is enjoying a long run in a Detroit theatre with three times the capacity of the Toronto one. Longest run of Oklahoma outside of NY was at the Tivoli, Toronto — 67 weeks. April 25-28, 1962. in the Biltmore Hotel, New York. Again there will be 34 competitive categories for 16 mm. films and 35 mm. filmstrips released in the USA in 1961 and Festival Blue Ribbon Awards will be presented to the winner in each class at a gala banquet on Friday, April 27. Entries must be filed by midnight on Jan. 20, 1962. The festival is sponsored by the Educational Film Library Association and entry forms, applications for jury assignments and other information may be obtained from that organization at 250 W. 57th St., NYC 19. November 1, 1961 VALUE LINE (Continued from Page 1) 20th Century-Fox has plenty of cash despite the fact that ‘‘its film-making activities have been rolling up alarming losses for several years,” the foreword says: “Since competitors MGM, Warner Bros. and Universal have been generating profits in their production activities, the cause of Fox’. poor showing must be ascribed to management policies, not to industry conditions. A determined effort is now being made by the Fox board to reorganize production activities and _ rejuvenate earning power. Success seems probable in time. “With its strong asset position, Fox is an interesting speculation for threeto five-year Appreciation Potentiality. So is Paramount. But neither issue is expected to perform as well as the general market in the coming year. Of all the motion picture stocks reviewed, only Walt Disney Productions is ranked in Group 1 (Highest) for Probable Market Performance in the Next 12 Months.” Columbia: Guns of Navarone grosses will likely help operating earnings show a marked recovery and a deceleration of its TV subsidiary, Screen Gems, is in prospect because of increased competition. Universal: With Come September a hit and ‘many promising pictures’”’ ahead a sharp recovery in profits is clearly in prospect. Disney: This company’s fortunes are experiencing a sharp upturn because of the grosses of The Absent-Minded Professor and The Parent Trap and its prospects for the new fiscal year are also bright — although, because it is among ‘“‘the most volatile stocks,’’ the issue is suitable for inclusion in “risk accounts’’ only. MGM: The year ended was the best in the company’s history and would have been even better if it hadn’t written down the costs of a few unsuccessful films. If Mutiny On the Bounty grosses half as much as Ben-Hur ‘“‘the original cost will be more than recouped.”’ Paramount: The stock possesses superior threeto five-year appreciation potentiality. Although Telemeter isn’t expected to become an “important earnings contributor” soon the company does have “many other hidden assets that could be developed into additional earning power.” Twentieth Century-Fox: Though losses in its production-distribution activities brought about a 67c a share net operating deficit the company ‘‘is classified among the top 20 per cent of all stocks for threeto five-year Appreciation Potentiality.” MGM's ‘Rififi In Tokyo’ Karl Boehm will star in MGM’s Rififi in Tokyo.