The Film Daily (1948)

m:c 3^ fifu DAILY Monday, Sepfember 20, 19^ OIlJi 600 Applaud Variety Award to Marslull (Continued from Page 1) State George C. Marshall. The dinner climaxed the three-day ' told? year meet of the Variety Clubs. Presentation was by International Chief Barker Robert J. O'Donnell, of Dallas, with Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson, Albert Kennedy Rowswell, Chairman of Variety's Humanitarian Award Committee, and Benjamin McKelway, editor of the Washington Star, featured speakers. Invocation was by Rabbi Norman Gerstenfeld of Washington. Red Skelton, M-G-M star, served as master of ceremonies for a brief program of entertainment, with the Marine Corps Orchestra providing music. On the dais, with top names from the Supreme Court, were the following industry figures: Carter Barron, ^ill McCraw, Tom Connors, S.^ H. ,Tabian, Spyros Skouras, George iJchaefer, Abe Montague, Nathan; D. jGolden, Bill Helneman, Dave j^alffreyman, Arthur Mayer, Lloyd No.Ban, Robert J. Mochrie, Jay Emanuel, aand George Dembow. ; . Text on the award to Marsfell lifiad as follows: } "This Award of 1947 presented to the Honorable George Catlett Marshall with deep appreciation of Jiis measureless ,. service rendered in behalf • tif worldrwide peace. 'Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of Godt" Truman Regrets Ab&etice fmm Huniahitarian Awar A Dinner H'aJhington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — ^^Toastmaster Robert J. O'Donnell read at Variety's Htt?, manitarian Award Dinner Saturday night regrets from President Ti?uman that he would not attend. The President wrote also: "It ife a personal satisfaction to me t^at the Honorable George C. Marsh^, Secretary of State, will receive 'om this happy occasion the tribute of your Annual Award. I can think of no one more richly deserving of this re^c^g^tion. y'With all of you I jmnih warm congratulations to Gener'al Marshall. To Variety I extend' hearty greetings. I know that it will never weary of the well-doing that has earhed it such an abundance of gratitude and good wishes." CcfMeri Rdfes to Rise ^l^'c^^o — Because trucking costs continue to advance, another Increase in film delivery rates, will be sought soon, a leading film carrier executive predipt.ec^ C-0?ts, he claims, have advanced .-faster itban rate increases. D.**^ ' i DAVE PALFREYMAN, MPAA exec, is recovering from an attack of bursitis. REVIEWS Of nEui nims "Louisiana Story" Lopert (Documentary) 77 Mins. FOR SPECIAL AUDIENCES THIS NEW vjfvlAHERTY PRODUCTION SHOULD GET IMPETUS FROM RECENT RE-RELEASE OF "NANOOK." Coming closely on the re-release of "Nai^'neok of the North," Robert Flaherty's obser*vation on life and industry in the bayou country of Louisiana should derive a certain impetus. A straight, feature length documentary, the film is highly artistic and imaginative, purveying reality with parallels between basic animal survival and the pursuit of natural riches buried far beneath the muck, mire and dangerous waters of the locale. Flaherty contrasts the simple life of Cajuns, descendants of the ousted Acadians of "Evangeline" fame, with the exploratory engineering of an oil company moving giant equipment into quiet waters hitherto disturbed only by the lashings of alligators on the amphibious prowl for unwary animals, bird life. Too, it is also the story of a boy SJid his wonderment at the intrusion of drillii^ equipment and other paraphernalia that sets up deafening clamor and eventually taps hidden terror before oil is reached. The camera eye, guided by Flaherty, inspiects the vegetable, animal life, the home of, the Cajuns who sign over permission, for a certain remuneration, to the oil people ■to prospect Bayou Petit Anse, and their eventual reward with pots, pans, dresses, a new rifle for the boy who is made much happier when his pet raccoon shows up after thought lost in the maw of a 'gator. "Louisiana Story" is well told by a man who is master of the medium. The production was financed by an oil company which t:6<)uested annonymity and got it. .^CREDITS: Produced, directed by Robert Flaherty; Written by Robert and Frances Flaherty; Music, Virgil Thomson; Photography, Richard Leacock; Editor, Helen Von Dongen; Sound, ^Benjamin Doniger, Leonard Stark, Bob Fine, Dick Vorisek. : DIRECTION: Masterful. PHOTOGRAPHY: Excellent. Divisional Branch Meets End 20th-Fox Convention .West Coast Burean of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Divisional and branch meetings Friday and Saturday conducted by Andy W. Smith, Jr., general sales manager; William C. Gehi;ing, assistant general sales manager, and Martin Moskowitz, executive assistant to Smith, wound up the 20th-Fox national sales conference. Charles Schlaifer, advertisingpublicity manager, held meetings -with his home office staff and field force on specific promotion plans for features to be released at the end of the year. Smith on Friday night hosted delegates at a special dinner at the Ambassador Hotel. SMPE Section Sets Meeting Atlantic Coast section of SMPE jv^ill open its Fall-Winter season with a meeting Wednesday in Studio 3A, NBC. Papers on "Recording of Television Programs on Motion Pic'ture Films," by Robert M. Frazer of NBC, and "Flicker in Motion Pictures," by Lorin D. Grignon of the 20th-Fox studio, will be presented. "The Merry Chase" with Rossano Brazzi, Clara Calamai, Nino Besotti. Superfilm 75 Mins. FAIR OFFERING FOR ITALIAN-SPEAKING AUDIENCES. AIMS AT BEING COMIC. BRAZZI NAME MIGHT PULL IN TRADE. With little subtlety, the Italians have belabored the theme of this would-be comedy to such an extent that it resuitantly emerges in pretty bad taste. Its humor is rather basic and more inclined to deal with physical aspects of love rather than evolve a frothy skit which no doubt was the original intent. For story purposes the production deals with an attempted seduction and makes light of the maneuverings of a handsome young embassy attache to lure a married woman into adultery. This happens right under the nose of the woman's husband who is too preoccupied with gardening and collecting butterflies at first and then with mating his wife's Pekinese bitch with the attache's male. Slapping its innuendos roundly, the yarn will probably appeal to an Italian-speaking audience. Film's other asset is Rossano Brazzi, seen previously as the lusty lover of "Furia," now under contract to DOS. Brazzi pursues Signorina Calamai right into her home and when questioned by Besotti, her husband, he makes up a tale wherein his Pekinese is lonely for female companionship. It is suggested he bring his nonexistent dog and mate him with La Calamai's. This he manages. What follows is pretty rough stuff which finally reaches a stage wherein Brazzi is promoted to a post in Montevideo and the woman, virtue intact, is back with her husband who remained quite unaware of what was going on in front of him and behind his back. English titles. CAST: Clara Calamai, Nino Besotti, Rossano Brazzi, Paola Borboni, Lauro Gozzolo. CREDITS: A Minerva Production; Production director, Ulderico Persca; Photography, Massimo Terzano; Sound, Eraldo Giordani; Editor, Mario Benotti; Music, Alessandro Cicognini; Director, Giorgio Bianchi. DIRECTION: Fair. PHOTOGRAPHY: Fair. SMPE Sets Washington Convention for Oct. 25 (Continued from Page 1) will be the semi-annual banquet in the Presidential Ballroom, Oct. 27. Scheduling of simultaneous sessions has been avoided in a tentative program for the meeting, William C. Kunzmann, convention vice-president, pointed out, and one period daily has been left open for committee meetings and social activities. Committee chairmen include: Nathan D. Golden, local arrangements; Kunzmann, registration; G. A. Chambers, papers; J. G. Bradley, luncheon and banquet; J. C. Greenfield, hotel and information; Harold Desfor, publicity; Mrs. Nathan D. Golden, ladies' reception; Lee Jones, membership and subscription; W. P. Dutton, p. a. equipment; R. B. Dame, 16 mm. projection, and H. F. Heidegger, 35 mm. projection. Stem Becomes Literary Agent West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Harry Stern, former distribution executive, has gone into the literary agency business. Republic Schedule Set for Six Months li a? lit s» )?< lid 1 (Continued from Page 1) marks the first time Republic h been able to furnish releases so f in advance. Starting in Novembe company will release one de luj production each month, ip ^ditic to three specials, two of ', ^yn ai scheduled for October and one f December release. "Moonrise," Charles K. Feldma production, and Orson Welles' "Ma' beth" are the October specials, whi "The Red Pony," a Lewis Milestor production, will be released in Di cember. "Drums Along the Amazon" wi be released in November, with "Th Plunderers" to be the December a traction. "Wake of the Red Witch is scheduled for January; "The Mi; sourians," Trucolor, in Februar; and the March de luxe release wi' be "Montana Belle." Two Roy Rogers Trucolor filmifc* "Grand Canyon Trail," to be rt i leased in November, and "The Fa Frontier," in December, are listecjir Republic also will re-release fou Rogers films, "Shine on Harve.s|ral Moon," October; "In Old Caliente December; "Frontier Pony Express, January, and "Saga of Death Val ley," February. Others scheduled include "Cod of Scotland Yard," October; "Homi cide for Three," December; "Rose c^ the Yukon," January; "Daughter 0|j the Jungle," February; "Duke Chicago," "Hideout," and "Streetfn of San Francisco," in March. An other November offering is a re, release of "Scatterbrain." Famous Western series release include "Denver Kid," October "Sundown in Santa Fe" and "Rene gades of Sonora," November; "Shei ilf of Wichita," January, and "Deat Valley Gunfighter," March. Next Republic serial scheduled i "Federal Agents vs. The Underworld Inc.", in 12 episodes, to be followe by a 15-chapter revision of "Darkes Africa" titled "King of the Junglejxi land." Company's September releases ar "Angel in Exile," "Nighttime in Nei vada," "Sons of Adventure," "Out o the Storm," "Desperadoes of Dodg City" and "Son of God's Country. M Ojrii: Vaucieville Resuming in Five Walter Reade Houses Walter Reade Theaters on Oct. ; will resume vaudeville presentation on a circuit-wide basis, Reade an nounced at the week-end. Five acti will be presented each week, witl A. B. Dow Agency again acting a booker. Shows will open at the Paramount ^ Long Branch, on Tuesdays, playing* the Majestic, Perth Amboy, Wed nesday; Oxford, Plainfield, Thurs day; Broadway, Kingston, Fridajf and Saturdays, and the Congress i' Saratoga Springs, on Sundays. Lonj ft Branch this year takes the place o; Asbury Park. aiQ