The Exhibitor (1951)

12 EXHIBITOR Richard Walsh Feted By Industry Leaders THE TIP-OFF ON 8USINESS NEW YORK— At a testimonial din¬ ner last week, 70 leaders of the entertainment industry, guests of the general sales managers’ committee, paid tribute to Dick Walsh, international president, IATSE, for his labor leader¬ ship and for his untiring efforts on behalf of the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital. Robert O’Donnell, president, Will Rogers Memorial Hospital, Saranac Lake, N. Y., was toastmaster, and Abe Montague, chairman, general sales managers’ committee, and vice-presi¬ dent, Columbia, was in charge of arrangements. As a tribute to Walsh and in recog¬ nition of the 25 years of humanitarian work performed for the less fortunate members of the industry by the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital, a sum of $50,000 was donated to the insti¬ tution as New York's first portion of its share in the annual $1,000,000 drive. A telegram from Sam Switow, area chairman, Indianapolis territory, was read, in which exhibitors and distribu¬ tors of that area pledged $50,000 for for this year’s campaign. Tributes in the form of emphasizing Walsh's very deep feeling and under¬ standing of labor and management problems were uttered. A highlight was the talk delivered by Montague. THE SCORE BOARD (In this department will he found a rating of pictures screened hy Warners, MGM, Paramount, RKO, and 20th Century-Fox under the decree. Complete reviews appear in The Pink Section. — Ed.) PARAMOUNT “The Last Outpost’’ — Fair Civil War melodrama. MGM “The Great Caruso” — High rating. Edwards In Deal With Rank New York — Sol Edwards has acquired American release rights to 27 British films, and, in association with George Garfield, will handle releasing as the International Releasing Organization, acting for Inter¬ national Film Corporation, it was learned last week. The schedule, resulting from the ending of a J. Arthur Rank agreement with Pentagon, will be slanted toward both art house and general distribution, and other foreign product will also be released through the company. Slated for early release are: “My Heart Goes Crazy”, “Maniacs On Wheels”, “Massacre Hill”, “The Sin Of Esther Waters”, and “Hangman’s Holiday.” Giudice Says Tastes Improve New York — “The taste of the American movie public is improving, and unless the industry realizes this, it is doomed,” stated British producer Fillipo Del Giudice in an address at Columbia University last week. “Today people want to be convinced and persuaded as well as entertained,” Giudice said, “and this can be done by presenting reality and the classics.” (The Tip-Off on business is a record of how pictures are doing in their playdates in various parts of the country. The ratings given the pictures (see key) are a cross section of reports received from the field, and present an analysis of various types of runs. It does not necessarily follow that the rating given constitutes the business in each individual engagement, but an honest attempt is made to present a general average. By studying the ratings, which are changed if necessary in accordance with newer information, exhibi¬ tors will be able to determine how to guide themselves in their buying and booking. — Ed.) KEY TO "THE LITTLE MEN" RATINGS: (April 18, 1951) Swell, topnotch, record-breaking orl A ft A A close to it in all types of houses. |Hfl A A A A Just fair, nothing out of the oi dinary, returns about averagt Baa Good, although not breaking theljM 1 1 A 1 walls down, but solid returns. ft ft JL Disappointing, way below the[ij • average expected, decidedly off.HI L The Week's Newcomers MA AND PA KETTLE BACK ON THE FARM (81m.) (U-l) Baaa FATHER S LITTLE DIVIDEND (81m.) (MGM) baaa OPERATION DISASTER (100m.) (U-l) Baa 1 CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLE-|‘TJ • • • SALE (91m.) (20th-Fox) ■■ AAA PAYMENT ON DEMAND (90m.) (RKO) Baaa LUCKY NICK CAIN (87m.) (20th-Fox) 1AA QUEBEC (85m.) (Paramount) Baa ONLY THE VALIANT (105m.) (WB) Baa RATON PASS (84m.) (WB) Baa SOLDIERS THREE (90m.) (MGM) Baa RAWHIDE (86m.) (20th-Fox) Baa THE SWORD OF MONTE Baa CRISTO (80m.) (20th-Fox) ROYAL WEDDING (92m.) Baaa THE THING (86m.) Baaa (MGM) (RKO) THE GROOM WORE SPURS Baa Cnntlnuinn (81m.) (U-l) ■ • j THE LEMON DROP KID (91m.) Baaa Baa ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEETfT5 • • • THE INVISIBLE MAN (82m.) AL JENNINGS OF OKLAHOMA fT} 1 1 (Paramount) THE MAGNIFICENT YANKEE (88m.) (MGM) (79m.) (Columbia) ■9 AA THE MATING SEASON (101m.) Baaa m 1 1 BEDTIME FOR BONZO (83m.) (U-l) Baa (Paramount) THE REDHEAD AND THE BIRD OF PARADISE (100m.) (20th-Fox) Baa COWBOY (82m.) (Paramount) THE SECOND WOMAN (90m.) (UA) Baa BORN YESTERDAY (103m.) (Columbia) CRY DANGER (79m.) (RKO) Baaa Baa TRY AND CATCH ME (90m.) (UA) Baa FOURTEEN HOURS (92m.) (20th-Fox) Baa THREE GUYS NAMED MIKE (90m.) (MGM) Baa I D CLIMB THE HIGHEST • * MOUNTAIN (81m.) (20th-Fox)bA £ ■ UNDER THE GUN (83m.) (U-l) Baa INSIDE STRAIGHT (87m.) (MGM) Baa UP FRONT (90m.) (U-l) Baaa LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE (91m.) (WB) Baa VALENTINO (105m.) (Columbia) BAAA LULLABY OF BROADWAY (92n (WB) ‘Baaa YOU'RE IN THE NAVY NOW (93m.) (20th-Fox) Baa April 18, 1951