Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1948)

6 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, July 6, 1948 Japs Get US Films AtRateof7-a-Month Washington, July 5. — U. S. films are now arriving in Japan at the rate of about seven a month, and prints are being made for distribution to some 529 theatres, according to Japanese trade reports received in the U. S. Department here. The reports state that receipts are divided on a 50-50 basis between exhibitors and the U. S. industry's Motion Picture Export Association, with the MPEA's share accumulating in a yen fund. U. S. films account for the buljc of imports, with a few coming from Britain, France and Russia. UnitetS's DC-6 Mainliner 300 onestop flight Leave New York 12:15 pm, arrive Los Angeles (Lockheed Air Terminal) at 8:25 pm. Fares are surprisingly low. Flights operate on Standard Time. UNITED AIR LINES NEW YORK & BROOKLYN: Call Murray Hill 2-7300. NEWARK: Call Market 2-1122 or an authorized travel agent. MITCHELL MAY, Jr. CO., INC. INSURANCE Specializing in requirements of the Motion Picture Industry 75 Maiden Lane, New York 510 W. 6th St., Los Angeles JOE LOUIS in THE FIGHT NEVER ENDS Now available for booking ALEXANDER RELEASING CORP. 306 Lenox Ave., New York City Reviews "Partners of the Sunset" (Monogram) SEVERAL entertaining Western tunes are sung by Jimmy Wakely, accompanied by a string trio. Otherwise, "Partners of the Sunset" is a routine Western of murder, retribution and justice. Story concerns a wealthy rancher who unwittingly marries a young girl seeking his money. The rancher's son leaves home and then is suspected of the murder of his father. Wakely, aided by his side-kick, Cannonball Taylor, eventually exposes the operations of the young bride and her partner and they are brought to justice. The son is vindicated. Produced by Louis Gray and directed by Kambert Hillyer, supporting roles are played by Christine Larson as the bride, Steve Darrell, the rancher, and Jay Kirby, his son. Original screenplay was written by J. Benton Cheney. Running time, 53 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, May 6. "Fric-Frac" (Oxford Films) SOME top foreign names, such as Fernadel, Arletty and Michel Simon, head the cast of this French importation. "Fric-Frac," however, is at best only a dreary and unfunny comedy of two thieves of the Parisian underworld who use Fernandel as an innocent dupe in their criminal endeavors. Further, it is a picture which reaches a new high in poor taste for suggestive actions and dialogue, particularly in one scene where the couple loll in the grass. They are so crudely handled as to insult even the broad tastes and acceptances of art theatre audiences. Direction and production by Maurice Lehmann are routine, while the English translations of French underworld expressions emerge as colorless and trite American slang. It was adapted to the screen by Michel Duran, from a play by Edouard Bourdet. Running time, 132 minutes. Adult audience classification. Set for June release. "Nais" (Siritzky International. French with English sub-titles) FROM Emile Zola's story "Nais Micoulin," a tale of a simple country-girl loved by two men, a hunchback and a playboy, France's outstanding director, Marcel Pagnol here has fashioned an absorbing, romantic film. It is strictly aduh fare because of suggestive dialogue and because of the problems with which it deals. Fernandel is both moving and lovable as the hunchbacked simpleton with a golden heart. Jacqueline Pagnol makes a beautiful Nais ; Henry Poupon, the father, conveys the necessary brutality, and Raymond Pellegrin makes a handsome lover. Pagnol directed and produced. Art theatre audiences are certain to appreciate this offering, but it could be improved by cutting, especially towards the end. Performances are all excellent. Running time, 105 minutes. Adult audience classification. "Blind Desire" (La Part De U Ombre) (Discina International — French with English subtitles) STARRING Jean-Louis Barrault, remembered for his excellent portrayal in the French film "Children of Paradise," this is at best only a routine romantic melodrama which has little to offer in the way of entertainment. Barrault is a talented but impoverished violinist, who meets Agnes Noblet, daughter of a prominent musician. When the father discourages the violinist, to protect his daughter, they separate. During the next 20 years they meet several times but something always pops up to interrupt their marriage. Eventually they part for good. Jean Delannoy directed and Michel Safra and Andre Paulve produced. Running time, 88 minutes. General audience classification. Current release. Stack Named (Continued from page 1) was assistant sales manager and was promoted by Arthur S. Abeles, Jr., whose succession to the managing director's post was confirmed at the same time. Abeles succeeds Max Milder, who also resigned because of ill health, as reported here on Friday. Abeles was Milder's assistant. The latter had been with the company for some 25 years. Rank's Demand (Continued from page 1) on what transpired at the weekend parley. It was learned privately, however, that the CEA chiefs "laid on the line" the indignant protests of British showmen, and that's when Rank evinced amazement and hurt. Maas to Tour MPEA Branches in Germany Following distribution negotiations with Monopoly officials in Prague and Budapest, Irving Maas, Motion Picture Export Association vice-president, has arrived in Munich to begin an inspection tour of German branches with Marian Jordan, general manager of Germany, MPEA reports here. Louis Kanturek, MPEA supervisor of Eastern Europe, participated in the lengthy confabs in Prague and accompanied Maas to Budapest for preliminary discussions with officials of the National Film Bureau, Hungary's newly-created film monopoly. Following his tour of the German branches, Maas will return to Prague for continued talks with Monopoly officials and then proceed to Warsaw for conferences with executives of Film Polski. Production Drops Nine Features, to 34 Hollywood, July 5. — The production index dipped to 34 from last week's tally of 43. Eleven films were completed while only two were launched. Shooting started on "The Lovers," Columbia and "Little Women," MetroGoldwyn-Mayer. Shooting finished on "Boston Blackie's Honor" and lenge of the Range," Columbia ;^^an in the Morning" and "Command Decision," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ; "The Last of the Badmen" (Allied Artists) and "Silver Trails," Monogram ; "Grand Canyon Trail," Republic ; "Brothers in the Saddle," RKO Radio ; "Bungalow 13" (Belsam) and "Tucson" (Wurtzel), 20th Century-Fox, and "Countess of Monte Cristo" ( Westwood) , Universal-International. John T. Madden, 66, Loew Personnel Head Professor John Thomas Madden, 66, personnel director of Loew's, Inc., since 1943, died at his home here at the weekend. Services will be held today with a solemn high requiem Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York, to be followed by burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Morristown, N. J. Born in Worcester, Mass., Madden came to New York in 1909 where he worked during the day and attended evening courses at the New York University School of Commerce. In 1925 he became dean of the NYU School of Commerce, Accounts and Finance. He was internationally renowned in the field of accounting. Survivors include the widow, four daughters and two sisters. Leon Leopold, 65 Philadelphia, July 5. — Services were held here yesterday for Leon Leopold, manager of the Walnut Street Theatre here and brother of comedian Ed Wynn. Leopold, who had been in the motion picture business for 25 years, died at the age of 65 on Thursday at his home here. He started in the sales department of the Fox Film Exchange, later becoming an auditor for the Shubert interests. He had been manager of the Walnut for the past five years. In addition to Wynn, survivors include the widow and a daughter in Los Angeles. Tax Bill Postponed Washington, July 5. — Theatre owner protests have forced the Harrisonburg, Va., City Council to put off until July 13 a decision on a 10 per cent admission tax. I OF COURSE TIMS, BRO®Kt.YN HEAVEN sent from UA •I