Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1954)

■4 The Censorship Story Movie censorship, both within and outside the industry hogged the headlines over the past fortnight. Sam Goldwyn had a hassle with "the MPAA over changes in the Production Code; the U. S. Supreme Court looked at two pictures to determine whether they should be outlawed and whether freedom of the movies it as jutifiable as freedom of the press under the First Amendment; various individual pictures were banned by local authorities, and one picture broke all boxoffice records when it played without a Code seal. The Goldw>'n fracas started with a letter to MPAA president Eric Johnston that "the time has come" to bring the Code "up to date". Goldwyn, one of the initiators of the Code, maintained the need for self-regulation, but pointed out that "the world has moved on" since the Code's inception 25 years ago and il at "to portray life honestly on the screen requires a greater degree of latitude, within the bounds of decency, than exists" undrr the Code." He asked that a meeting of all producer signatories be called to discuss the matter. Johnston's reply was a model of diplomacy. He promised careful attention to the suggestion from a moviemaker "so experi enced and eminent as yourself", praised Goldwyn's "reaffirmation" of the Code's principles, reminded him of the MPAA board's support of the Code, and asked for Ciold\v\n's "specific and detailed recommendations to bring the Code up to date." Goldv.yn thereupon said he would present the "specific and detailed recommendations" at a meeting of the producers. Johnston insisted that only the board could act on Codi; changes, again invited Goldwyn to put his ■uggestions before the MP.\A. I,ast Wed nesday, Johnston told newsmen that seven of the companies had reaffirmed their faith in the Code. Notable exception was RKO, who>e "French Line" is plaving with )ut a seal. Meanwhile, in Washington, the Supreme ( ourt went to the mo\ics to determine \vhctlKr the I'rench "La Ronde" was rightfully banned by New York censors and "M" by Ohio blue-i^encillers. Oral argument was due to follow. The MPAA ITO of Ohio entered a joint brief on behalf of "M" asking the Court to rule slate censorship of movies unconstitutional. "Motion pictures," they averred, "as part of the press, cannot remain liali slave and half free." i?esides, the brief said, ccn>^orship iTni)oses an inordinate economic burden ui)on the "usual and custf):nary pursuits" of theatrcmcu's business. Television in Ohio, on the other hand, 1 ad tnore than hall of its films either nexer suhinittid to censors or, it cut for theatres, •~hown unexpurgated on '\'\\ .iccording to the I rief. .\ lersL'y Cit\ manager dared a count\ ban on " I'he Moon Is I'.liu" and f)pcne(l the film last week. In an earlier defi, he had been ordered arrested but was freed when a Hud son County grand jury found no cause for Pjqp 13 FILM BULLETIN Jinuary II, l?54 Mil MHWgg action. Police again raided the theatre Wednesday to halt the film and arrested inanager .Arthur Manfredonia. P>ut they sat through the entire picture before taking action. In Elizabeth, N. J., police halted the showing of "Moon'' a few moments after it had opened at the Ritz Theatre, and the manager. Cleinent P. Murphy, was arraigned. In St. Louis, RKO's 3D "French Line", denied the Code Seal because of Jane Russell's costume and dance, nevertheless played the Fox Theatre and racked up a house record gross ($57,000) in its first six days. RKO, as a member of the MPAA, is liable to suspension from the organization, as well as an automatic $25,000 find for permittin\r an un-Sealed film to be played. In Canada, a theological controversy was precipitated with the banning of "Martin Luther'' by the (Juebec censorship board on the grounds that it would antagonize Montreal's predominantly Roman Catholic populace. Protest was filed by the Canadian Church Press Arsociation, a Protestant editors' group headquartering in Toronto, claiming "grave injustice" to those of the Protestant faith, as well as non-Protestants who wished to see it. Memos REMINISCENT OF the French quota on .American films, the Italian film industry went to bat for legislation requiring Italian movie theatres to increase the minimum playing time allocated to local product SOVr , from the present 80 days to 120 days annually. Move was made to allow playoff of greatly increased number of Italian films (1953 production investment $50,000,000). "JULIUS CAESAR" (M(;M) nosed out N. V. Film Critics winner "From Here to Eternity" (Columbia) and "The Robe" f20th-Fox) in the General Federation of Women's Clubs 1953 10-bcst selections. Best actor was Jaincs Mason for "Caesar"; actress Leslie Caron for "Lili" and director Fred Zinnemann for "Eternity". RKO'S JIMMY GRAINGER has finally crystallized the company's releasing schedule at least for the fore part of 1954. He named 11 new pictures, nine of them in Technicolor and three in 3D, and nine reissues that stretches into July. METRO BEGAN celebrating its 30th Anniversary Jubilee with launching of its first CincmaScope production, "Knights of the Round Table". Some interesting figures: Leo has graced screens with some 1600 feature pictures; has expanded from 40 acres, 26 buildings and si.x glass stages to 187 acres, 195 buildings and 30 soundproof stages. Studio chief Dore Schary, announcing a "minimum of 18-20 big-scale films" for '54, notes that "while the trend is to fewer pictures, MGM's schedule will be kept elastic to meet any production situation or exhibitor de-iian 1 that should arise". GROSSERS: UA's "The Conquest of Everest" topped the New York Fine .Arts house record by 20 jier cent in its third week and the fourth looks like it will better the preceding stanza . . . RKO's "The French Line" did a fantastic $57,000 in the first six days at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, biggest sixday gross in the house's history. It had to be moved over to the Missouri Theatre because of a previous stage booking at the Fox REPUBLIC SALES chief C. Bruce Newbery was plenty busy in a hectic nationwide jaunt and will continue to be in regional meetings with division and branch managers on plans for the beginning of the company's Jubilee Year. Biggies discussed were "Jubilee Trail", "Hell's Half Acre" and "Johnny Guitar". STANLEY-WARNER Philly zone manager Ted Schlanger outlined a three-point plan to his managers to curb teenage vandalism: (1) Eviction and refusal of admission to ringleaders, unless accompanied by parents. (2) Managers to work closely with neighborhood organizations, particularly PTA and social service groups, concerned with teenage problems. (3) Proper distribution of the service staff for adequate coverage to watch potential sources of trouble. A HALF YEAR aggregate of $434,910 was paid to Warner directors and the three top ofiicers, the WB proxy statement reveals. Men paid were Harry M. Warner, Jack L. \\ arner, Samuel Schneider, Benjamin Kalmenson, Albert Warner, Robert W. Perkins, Stanleigh P. Friedman and Samuel Carlisle, in order of amounts ranging from $52,000 to $25,000. Stock (common) holdings showed 509,974 shares among the Warner brothers plus 40,750 held in a trust. SPYROS SKOURAS, Max Youngstein and Si Fabian will be the big draws at the 20tli anniversary dinner of Variety Tent 13 in Philadelphia tonight (11) at the BellevueStratford Hotel . . . Affair will honor Ralph Preis, retiring Chief I'arker and induct incoming Chief Norman Silverman. People Joseph Bernhard, veteran exhibition and distribution executive, has been named consultant on management relations for the Stanley Warner chain. He was formerly with Warners, both theatres and film company, president of Film Classics and Cinecolor, and most recently, in independent production . . . Sidney Franklin, Jr., former M-Ci-M producer, has been engaged by .Allied Artists as story editor . . . Perry Lieber became a grandfather when son Charles sired a son Ronald Charles at the Good Samaritan in Hollywood . . . Republic's "Man of the Month" for November was New Orleans branch manager Leo V. Seicshnaydre . . . Treasury department citations went to Fox West Coast's Charles Skourss and United Artists Theatres Fred Stein for "outstanding service to the Government in presenting the case of United States Defense Iionds'' . . . Theatrical producer Arthur Klein joins Spyros Skouras and Charles Boasberg as co-chairman of the Amusements Division for the Greater New York Councils' I>oy Scouts fund raising campaign . . . Buyer-Booker chief Ray Smith was named a \'ice i)residcnt of Jamestown .Amusement Co., and assistant to president Gerald Shea. i