Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1957)

ANALYSIS DF THE PRODUCT COLUMBIA (Continued from Page 39) New York's garment district. Stars Lee J. Cobb, Gia Scala and Richard Boone. "The Young Don't Cry" topcasts teenage idol Sal Mineo in an action melodrama that figures to please his fans. An August release, it has strong support in James Whitmore, J. Carrol Naish. "Pickup Alley" has top name value in Vic tor Mature, Anita Ekberg, Trevor Howard. This August release, is a melodrama of international dope runners and their eventual capture. Shapes up as good for the exploitation market. Others for June: "Beyond Mombasa" (Cornel Wilde, Donna Reed), African adventure in Technicolor. "The Night The World Exploded" (Kathryn Grant, William Leslie) science fiction. "The Giant Claw" (Jeff Morrow, Mara Corday), horror fantasy. Scheduled for July release: "20 Million Miles to Earth" (William Hopper, Joan Taylor), science fiction. "The 27th Day" (Gene Barry, Valerie French), science fiction. For August: "No Time To Be Young" (Robert Vaughn, Kathy Nolan), teenage melodrama. "Town On Trial" (Barbara Bates, Charles Coburn, John Mills), British murder mystery. JVar ner Bras. Representing the quantitative low of the major companies, but bolstered by a pair of extremely premising Boxoffice Crowns, Warner Brothers' Spring-Summer slate carries only seven releases in the April-July period, although more may possibly be added. Topping this company's brief schedule is the much-publicized "The Prince and the Showgirl", the Marilyn Monroe-Laurence Olivier British-made romance, named as one of the B.O. Rulers. It is the only attraction in the program that is on the lighter side. Mere in the heavy tenor of the WB releases is the other Crown choice, "A Face in the Crowd", Elia Kazan's dramatic autopsy of the rise and fall of a top TV personality. Both "Prince" and "Crowd" are detailed in the King section — and both stand high in the select group. Highly exploitable (it has already encountered censorship difficulties) is May's "Untamed Youth". A somewhat higher-class promotion prospect is June's "The D.I.". The May entry, with the eye-festive Mamie Van Doren and Lori Nelson in the top roles, Jack Webb as "The £>./." is typical of the brand of wild youth films that have been racking up unusual returns. This one has some sensational art in the ads. that will be an important factor in selling this Aubrey Schenck production. "The D.I." (Marine term for drill instructor) bears the typical Jack Webb label of seeming authenticity. It shapes up as an automatic come-on to millions of ex-servicemen who'll love to see what the movies have done with one of the most heartily-hated characters in the service. Added interest will accrue from the recent headlines of the McKeown Marine Corps trial. Webb has the title role, with Monica Lewis co-starred. Rounding out the small but impressive program are these current releases: "ShootOut At Medicine Bend" (Randolph Scott, James Craig), western in which Scott and his men pose as Quakers to seek out wrongdoers, and "The Counterfeit Plan" (Zachary Scott, Peggie Castle), crime melodrama laid in England. Allied Art is is The production seeds planted by this fastexpanding company are beginning to bear appetizing fruit for theatremen. Following close on the heels of "Friendly Persuasion", which spring-boarded Allied Artists up among the top-ranking film-makers, two other important AA productions will brighten the Spring-Summer seasons: Billy Wilder's romantic comedy "Love In the Afternoon" and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", both acclaimed Crowning Achievements in this product prospectus. The former, in color, has a top triple-threat trio in Audrey Hepburn, Gary Cooper and Maurice Chevalier, performing at peak charm under the adroit hand of Wilder. "Hunchback of Notre Dame", a re-make of the famous Victor Hugo classic, is in CinemaScope and color and has an almost unbeatable team in Gina Lollabrigida and Anthony Quinn. Not content to rest on these enviable laurels, the AA policy-makers have sched uled a covey of varied money-makers to back up this top product. Three of these have been dubbed Exploitation Winners, and deservedly so. 3-Sheet on "Let's Be Happy" Delivers the Musical's Message Leading off is the May release "Let's Be Happy" (Tony Martin, Vera-Ellen), in Cin emaScope and color, which bids fair to fill the current cinemusical void handsomely. Also for May circulation is the Joel McCreaBarbara Hale western, "The Oklahoman", in CinemaScope and color. This has the benefit of a popular outdoor star in McCrea, plus an intriguing yarn. June will bring two splashy exploitables: "Calypso Joe" and "Hot-Rod Rumble". Capitalizing on the current teenage fads of calypso music nd hot-rod racing, this combo should find an eager market among the youngsters and the action fans. This is by no means all of the abundance of spring-summer product lined up by this burgeoning company. Already in release are two actionful, suspenseful Westerns, "Badge of Marshal Brennan" and "Dragoon Wells Massacre", the latter in CinemaScope and color with Brian Sullivan, Dennis O'Keefe and Katy Jurado. Also scheduled for release in May is "The Persuader" with James Craig, unusual story Page 42 Film BULLETIN May 13. 1957