The Independent Film Journal (1954)

Censorship . . . Wisconsin Milwaukee police have banned the films “Karamoja” and “Halfway to Hell,” after a screening permit had been granted by the Milwaukee Motion Picture Committee, it was announced by Irwin Joseph, president of Essanjay Films, Inc., distributors of the films. Joseph said this is the first such action in 2,000 dates, and that the ban will be contested in court. Pennsylvania Two bills have been introduced in the Pennsylvania State Legislature which would authorize the State Board of Censors to dis¬ approve any film which is obscene or incites to crimes of violence. Senate Bill 237 in¬ troduced by Sens. John II. Dent (D., West¬ moreland County) and Joseph M. Barr (D., Alleghany) was referred to the Senate Com¬ mittee on State Government, and House Bill 675 offered by Reps. Robert K. Hamilton, Beaver, and Julian Polaski, Erie, both Democrats, was referred to the House Judiciary Committee. Maryland A bill which would exempt newsreels from state censorship has been passed by the Sen¬ ate of the State of Maryland. The vote on the measure was unanimous and it now goes to the Governor for his signature. Action on the bill by the chief executive is expected shortly. The Senate’s action follows by about a month a similar approval by the House, which voted in favor of the measure by two votes. Virginia’s recent action in voluntarily dropping a similar requirement leaves Mary¬ land as the last state in the union clinging to such a law. Chief Judge Emory II. Niles, in Balti¬ more, in another reversal of the State film censor board, has ruled that the effect of the motion picture, “The Game of Love” is not “substantially to arouse sexual desires.” In upholding the appeal of Times Film Corp. of New York, Judge Niles declared that al¬ though it “may fairly be contended that the film is based upon a narrative of improper conduct, it does not in the opinion of the court constitute an indictment to such con¬ duct.” Vitality In Amusement Pages Urged By Ad The latest COMPO ad to appear in “Edi¬ tor and Publisher” asserts that newspapers should print more news to get people out of their homes. Referring to a retail drygoods merchant who said that a movie theatre near his store had been of enormous help to his business, the ad quotes him as saying that “newspapers should wake up to the position television has jout them in. For by keeping people at home, TV has greatly reduced the effectiveness of newspaper advertising. The living room is not the point of sale.” The ad concludes that “a brighter, more exciting entertainment page, giving more news about the movies and the attractions at the local theatres, will help to get people out of their homes better than anything else we know of.” THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— April 2, IS across fhe nation Ohio Rep. Andrew Putka, I)., Cuyhoga County, sponsor of a pro-censorship bill now before the Ohio Legislature, told an initial hearing that a censorship law would not be “so neces¬ sary or urgent if all film producers were members of the producers’ association.” The Ohio Democrat said that “fast-buck boys and some foreign film distributors” have become active since the cessation of censorship. He also claimed that the use of narcotics has increased in areas where “She Shoulda Said No” has been shown. Massachusetts In Boston, Times Film Corp. has asked the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts to rule that the Commissioner of Public Safety, Otis M. Whitney, exceeded constitu¬ tionality in banning Sunday showings of the French film “Games of Love.” The com¬ pany also complained of his censorship on the Swedish film, “One Summer of Happi¬ ness.” The film company has asked for a petition of certiorari to determine the valid¬ ity of V hitney’s actions and seeks to have him be prohibited from activity in the field of movie censorship. No damages were asked. Stranger Licensing Asked For Ozoners Boston. — Further regulation of the licens¬ ing of open-air theatres was aired at a hear¬ ing at the State House on Bill No. 2288, Mercantile Affairs, which states the Com¬ missioner of Public Safety may require changes in the structural condition of the open-airers if, in his opinion, public safety requires them. No changes shall be ordered in excess of the requirements of a new build¬ ing of like character, the bill said. At the hearing, Ray Feeley, executive sec¬ retary of Independent Exhibitors Inc. of New England, and Frank Lydon, who holds a similar position with Allied Theatres of New England, argued that the bill in its present form would allow the Commissioner to ask for structural changes which would cost the exhibitor almost as much as the original construction. They also declared that no evidence had been submitted to show there was any need for new safety regulations. Supervision is now under the local mu¬ nicipalities and should remain there, they said. Exhibs Vote To Snub Films Pittsburgh. — Following the announce¬ ment that Walt Disney’s film, “Davy Crock¬ ett,” adopted from ABC-TV’s Disneyland series, was being tailored for theatre exhibi¬ tion, the final session of Western Pennsyl¬ vania Allied MPTO convention has voted a resolution to avoid theatre screenings of films that have first been shown on TV. In addi¬ tion, delegates resolved to oppose the dis¬ crimination in the enabling act against state admission taxes and also passed another resolution to fight pay-TV. Brando, Miss Kelly, 'On The W aterfront’ Cop Academy Oscars I he Columbia release of Sam Spiegel’s HorizonAmerican Production, “On The Waterfront,” registered with a grand sweep at the 27th annual Academy of Motion Pic¬ ture Arts and Sciences ceremonies this week in Hollywood and New York. “Waterfront” won nine “Oscars,” including the best pic¬ ture award for 1954. Ceremonies, which were telecast and broadcast into the home by NBC from the An additional measure of Academy Awards television publicity was supplied immediately prior to the “Oscar” ceremo¬ nies program when Ralph Edwards’ “This Is Your Life” program surprised Walter Brennan, veteran actor attending the Pantages Theatre fete, with a half-hour version of his screen career. Brennan is the only actor to have won three “Oscars.” stages of the Pantages and Century Theatres, west and east coasts, respectively, saw Grace Kelly receiving the best actress “Oscar” for her role in Paramount’s “The Country Girl;” Marlon Brando, best actor award for “Waterfront,” and Elia Kazan for his megging of “Waterfront,” best director award. Edmond O’Brien won the best supporting actor statuette for his portrayal in the Joseph Mankiewicz-Unitcd Artists “The Barefoot Contessa” while Eva Marie Saint copped the corresponding actress award for her performance in “Waterfront,” Miss Saint’s first motion picture. Story and screen play award went to Budd Schulberg for “Waterfront.” George Seaton won the “Oscar” for best screen play with “Country Girl” and Philip Yordan received an “Oscar” for the best motion picture story in 20th-Fox’s “Broken Lance.” Best documentary feature “Oscar” went to “The Vanishing Prairie,” a Walt Disney Production released by Buena Vista Film Distribution Co. Emile Kuri, set director, received an award for his work on “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.” John Meehan, art director, also took an “Oscar” for his crea¬ tions for “Leagues.” Awarded “Oscars” for best song from a film were Jule Stync and Sammy Cahn for “Three Coins in the Fountain,” from the 20th-Fox picture of the same name. “The High and the Mighty,” Warner Bros., brought Dimitri Tiomkin an “Oscar” for best music score for a drama. “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” M-G-M, brought Saul Chaplin and Adolph Deutsch “Oscars” for best scoring of a musical film. Debuting First On Television A report on National Allied’s Emergency Defense Committee w’as presented by Allied general counsel Abram F. Myers, the ses¬ sion’s principal speaker, who also brought the theatre men up-to-date on the bill slated for Congress which was drafted at the Allied board meeting. Charles R. Blatt was re-elected president by the convention. Other officers re-elected included : Ray Woodward, vice-president, and Harry Hendel, secretary-treasurer. 9