The Independent Film Journal (1954)

Dismiss Suit Ys. Ohio Censor Columbus, 0. — An injunction suit brought against the Ohio Censor Board by RKO Radio Pictures, the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio and exhibitors Martin Smith and Horace Adams has been dismissed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court by Judg'e Ralph Bartlett. While the plain¬ tiffs have not yet issued any statement on the decision, it is thought probable that they will appeal the lower court’s ruling. Judge Bartlett ruled that neither the law nor the collection of fees violates any pro¬ vision of the Federal or state constitutions. The judge declared that “there still remains a limited field in which decency and morals may be protected from an offending motion picture by prior restraint under proper criteria and standards.” The U.S. Supreme Court did not remove local censorship of films, Judge Bartlett de¬ clared, and he added that his court would not do so either. He stated that Ohio’s censorship code is “sufficiently clear, definite and com¬ prehensive to prevent showing of obscene films.” While granting that in some eases the fees charged for state censorship may be ex¬ cessive, Judge Bartlett ruled that they are not taxes and, therefore, do not violate any laws. Ohio charges $3 per 1,000 feet of film for censor viewing. Goldstein Unit Completes Two Films As Scheduled The Leonard Goldstein Productions Com¬ pany, though deeply shocked by the passing of its president one week ago, has, under the guidance of the two vice-presidents Robert Goldstein and Robert Jacks, com¬ pleted both of the pictures that were in productions. “Black Tuesday,” starring Edward G. Rob¬ inson, was brought in on schedule by director Hugo Fregonese as was the color picture “Stranger On Horseback,” starring Joel McCrea and directed by Jacques Tourneur. Both of these pictures are for United Artists release. With the completion of these two pic¬ tures, Robert Goldstein is in negotiations with United Artists executives as well as officials of other releasing companies, re¬ garding future pictures of the company. “White Feather,” the last of the Panoram¬ ic productions for 20th-Fox release, is cur¬ rently being produced by Robert Jacks in CinemaScope in Mexico. Goldstein died last week in Hollywood’s Cedars of Lebanon Hospital at the age of 51. His death followed a cerebral hemorrhage that occurred while he was in conference with Darryl F. Zanuck, studio head at 20th Century-Fox. He had been a producer at Universal and 20th -Fox, and it was through the latter company that he released his Pan¬ oramic Productions features. U.S.-West German Tax Washington. — President Eisenhower lust week sent to the Senate for approval a pro¬ posed double-taxation treaty with West Germany. The bill would free West German rentals of U.S. films from West German taxes and West German films on exhibition in the U.S. from U.S. taxes. M-G-M Studios Humming With 27 Set For Year ( Continued from page 10) Freed, screen play by Fred Finklehoffe; “Bhowani Junction,” produced by Berman from the best-seller by John Masters. “Green Mansions,” produced by Freed, directed by Vincente Minnelli, screen play by Alan Jay Lerner; “Robin Hood,” filmed for the first time as a musical, starring Jane Powell and Howrard Keel, produced by Cum¬ mings, screen play by Alec Coppell, music by Reginald De Koven. “Quentin Durward,” starring Robert Tay¬ lor, produced by Berman, screen play by Robert Ardrey, adapted from Sir Walter Scott’s classic novel; “The Female,” starring Ava Gardner, produced by Berman, from the current best-seller by Paul I. Wellman. “The Marauders,” produced by Loew, Jr., directed by Gerald Mayer from screen play by Jack Leonard, based on the novel by Alan Marcus; “Forbidden Planet,” produced by Nayfack, directed by Fred Wilcox, from screen play by Cyril Hume. Challenge USIA Figures Of Film Audience Overseas Washington. — The American film indus¬ try has provided the U.S. Information Agen¬ cy with access to a new overseas audience of 200,000,000 people weekly for specially selected motion pictures supporting U.S. foreign policy, according to USIA this week. During the past year 714 prints of five of the Agency’s new films, in a total of 40 languages, were distributed through the overseas exhibition channels of Warner Brothers, RKO, 20th-Century Fox and Paramount, according to the report. The statement has been challenged by Eu¬ gene W. Castle, former president of Castle Films. Castle claims that Andrew W. Smith, Jr., chief of the motion picture service of the USIA, “appropriates the entire wekly audience for Hollywood non-propaganda en¬ tertainment movies and he adds this vast audience to the “small and unreported” non¬ theatre audience that sees government films. Castle called it “common knowledge” that foreign exhibitors will not show7 U. S. propa¬ ganda films. Restrict FBI Film Use Washington. — The Senate Judiciary7 Com¬ mittee this week approved a bill to curb “commercial exploitation” of the Federal Bureau of Investigation — especially by pub¬ lications, films and broadcasts. The bill, in¬ troduced by Sen. Pat MeCarran (D., Nev.), would require permission to be obtained from the FBI director in order to use the Bureau’s name or initials. Similar legislation was reported last week by the House. Reiner Leaves Goldwyn Manny Reiner has resigned as foreign manager of Samuel Goldwyn Productions, according to James Mulvey, president. Rein¬ er had been with the company since Febru¬ ary, 1953. Before that he was associated wTith Paramount, M-G-M and Selznick Releasing Organization. Story And Color A ll-I m portant: Parsons HARRIET PARSONS Standardization of motion picture presenta¬ tions via any one process or aspect ratio size cannot be a cure-all for the industry, Harriet Parsons, producer for RKO Radio Pictures, told the trade press while in New York last week. She said that she could not envision standardization of the new systems because of the development of so many pro¬ jection lenses which show7 films in so many different ratios. Story and entertainment value rather were acclaimed by Miss Parsons as more definite j attractions which would bring people back to movie theatre. In town to help promote “Susan Slept Here,” which she produced for RKO Radio, the producer gave strong emphasis to an opinion that color tinting is of major im¬ portance to wide screen and anamorphic pic¬ ture making. One of Hollywood’s few distaff producers, she is contemplating a probable series of productions with Frank Tashlin, director of “Susan,” to begin sometime in the near future. Eyes are on “The Rainmaker,” forth¬ coming Broadway stage play starring Ger¬ aldine Paige. Miss Parsons also expressed a desire to produce “Size 12,” story background in Gotham’s garment center “jungle.” Property is owned by RKO Radio. Brando Lands “Guys” Lead Marlon Brando has been signed by Samuel Goldwyn to play the romantic gambler role of Sky Masterson in Goldwyn’s forthcom¬ ing musical, “Guys and Dolls,” according to the producer. The film will mark Brando’s first musical role. Joseph L. Mankiewicz will direct the feature. Russell In UA Musical “Gentlemen Marry Brunettes,” a multimillion-dollar musical comedy, will be Jane Russell’s first starring film for United Art¬ ists release, it was announced this week by Arthur B. Krim, president. The musical co-stars Jeanne Crain and will be produced in CinemaScope on location in London, Paris and Monte Carlo. 30 THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL — August 7, 1954