Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1948)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Reviews "Sealed Verdict" (Paramount) RAY MILLAND shares the principal roles here with an alluring newcomer to the American screen, Florence Marly, formerly a star in her native Czechoslovakia. Her debut in "Sealed Verdict," a serious drama focussing on the nagging conscience of a U. S. prosecutor of Nazi war criminals, is suggestive of exploitation possibilities. However, it is Milland's picture, and he handles with characteristic competence the role of the prosecutor in Germany of one of Hitler's lesser generals, a Junker whose alleged atrocities are without documentary evidence but whose doom is sealed by virtue of Milland's eloquence as a prosecuting attorney. After the prisoner, played with icy rigidity by John Hoyt, is sentenced, Milland's conscience awakens within him misgivings and doubts as to whether the condemned general really is guilty. Attracted by the beauty of the chief defense witness, an aristocratic French girl (Miss Marley) who, meanwhile, is wanted in France on charges of collaborating with the enemy, Milland joins with her in endeavoring to unearth evidence bearing on Hoyt's case. The climactic outcome carries an element of mild surprise, but the story leans from time to time on coincidences and implausibilities and is unrelieved by humor. However, there is compensation in the suspense generated in the screenplay by Jonathan Latimer, based on a novel by Lionel Shapiro, and the overall effect is favorable. Supporting roles are well performed by Broderick Crawford, John Ridgely, Ludwig Donath, Paul Lees, Celia Lovsky, and others. Lewis Allen's direction is smooth. Exterior scenes for this Robert Fellows production were filmed in Europe. Running time, 83 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, Nov. S. Charles L. Franke "In This Corner" {Eagle-Lion) ANOTHER excursion into the world of pugilism is made in Eagle-Lion's "In This Corner." The film is briskly paced and has adequate story and production values. Scott Brady handles the top assignment as a Navy veteran who wants to become a champion fighter. Brady at first is handicapped by a fear of using his right hand because in the Navy he accidentally killed a man with that hand. After he overcomes his fears, he appears to be a good boxer. His girl, played by Anabel Shaw, doesn't want him to fight but finally she becomes reconciled. The young fighter is sponsored by a crooked fight promoter but when Brady realizes it he breaks with him. While working out for his big fight, he hits his opponent and is afraid he has killed him. However, the fight promoter had fixed it to appear that way so Brady would lose the fight. The girl discovers the situation and in a tense climax convinces Brady that he didn't kill the man. Then he wins. This is an Arc production which was produced by David I. Stephenson and directed by Charles F. Riesner. Burk Symon and Fred Niblo, Jr., wrote the screenplay. Running time, 63 minutes. General audience classification. Set for September release.. !j Wednesday, September 8, 1948 il New York Grosses i (Continued from page 1) ; to finish its initial week with $70,000. t The Paramount, Roxy and State all \ claim weekend records. , "Ruthless" is fairly substantial in its first week at the Gotham where $16,500 is indicated for a first week. "Larceny" appears headed for about $22,000, which meets requirements in a first week at the Winter Garden. "Sofia" is big at the Rialto with a r^l^tively hefty $12,000 apparent for j.73~|rst week, f'^econd week of "Rope" at the Globe is likely to bring in a huge $56,000. "Date with Judy" is still doing splendidly at the Music Hall, where it (is supported by a stage show, and where a fifth week's income is likely to hit $140,000. At the Criterion, "Tap Roots" is faring well enough with $28,000 seen for a second week. "Two Guys from Texas" with a give-away show on stage should give the Strand a healthy $42,000 in a second week. "Velvet Touch" probably will take in a moderate $24,000 in a second week at the Rivoli. "Babe Ruth Story" at the Astor is fair at $19,000 for a sixth week. "Pitfall" with Dick Powell on stage at the Capitol is good in its third and final week, estimated at $67,000, it will be followed by "Luxury Liner" tomorrow. "Race Street" should conclude its third week at the Mayfair with $17,500, which is good enough. Upstate Now Has 28 Albany, N. Y., Sept. 7. — Upstate Theatres, Inc., buying-booking unit here, has three new houses : William Kennedy's Lyric, at Rouses Point ; Lyceum, at Champlain Lake, and the Chezy. This makes 28 theatres for the group in New York and Vermont. Leonard Rosenthal is Upstate's counsel and film-buying adviser. Opens Rural Theatre Huntsville, Ala., Sept. 7. — "Five Points," a 200-seater, has been opened by Younger Ellis at a road junction five miles from Hazel Green as an experiment in the operation of a strictly rural house. If the theatre proves profitable, he plans other similar houses in Madison County. Nestler Buys Theatre Harry Nestler, formerly associated with the Interboro Circuit here, has purchased the Florence Theatre property in Florence, N. J., under a deal arranged by Berk and Krumgold, theatre realtors. Martin Fishbein has been operating the Florence for the past five years. Improve GE Video Outlet Schenectady, N. Y., Sept. 7. — General Electric has scheduled a mobile video unit for picture and voice pickups outside the studio, three new studio cameras of the Orthicon type, two new Kinescope cameras for televising films and a complete new transmitter at the main Helderberg station for its video station WRGB. Navy Contract to DeVry Chicago, Sept. 7. — DeVry Corp. here has been awarded a $1,000,000 contract by the U. S. Navy for 16mm. projectors in what is believed to be the largest single peace-time order ever placed for equipment of this type. Another contract from the U. S. Signal Corps is for 35mm. projectors. May Pro due e Raw Stock in Mexico Mexico City, Sept. 7. — Increased financial stress resulting from the monetary devaluation which has raised prices as much as 50 per cent for raw stock and other film materials and equipment imported, has prompted leaders of the trade here to urgently consider plans for making raw stock in Mexico. Sponsors of the proposition contend it is entirely feasible because Mexico produces all raw materials necessary for film stock. 'Pearl' Cited as the Best Mexico City, Sept. 7. — "The Pearl" has been cited as the best Mexican picture of 1947 by the Mexican Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences. Emilio Fernandez was named best director and Pedro Armendariz best male actor for their work in the film. Other awards went to Blanca Estela Pavon as best actress ; Gabriel Figueroa, cameraman ; Victor Manuel Mendoza, male support ; Marga Lopez, female support. Tenn. House Reopens Old Hickory, Tenn., Sept. 7. — The Old Hickory, acquired by the Crescent Amusement Co. of Nashville from E. I. du Pont de Nemours, who operate a plant here, has been reopened after complete renovation. N. Y. Rabbis Seek Shelving of 'Twist' The New York Board of Rabbis disclosed yesterday that in a message cabled to Eric A. Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, it requested that J. Arthur Rank's "Oliver Twist" be withheld from exhibition here. Johnston now is in Europe. It was said that objections to the film were based on an article in the press which complained that the Fagin character in the film represented the "worst caricature of a Jew ever to be depicted in an Englishspeaking movie." An executive of Eagle-Lion, distributor here, said yesterday that release of the film has been temporarily deferred. Theatre Attendance In Uruguay Rises Washington, Sept. 7. — Attendance at Uruguayan theatres is still increasing, but U. S. films are getting keener competition from French, British, Argentine, Mexican and Spanish films, film chief Nathan D. Golden of the Commerce Department reports. As of July 1, 1948, the report also says, there were 194 theatres in the country, with a total seating capacity of 109,635. Of these, 92 are in Montevideo, the other 102 in the interior. b Two U. S. Films Get Venice Films Awards Rome, Sept. 7. — Two international awards of the Venice Film Festival went to the United States for "The Fugitive," directed by John Ford, and the "Louisiana Story" of Robert Flaherty. Grand prize winner of the ninth International Exposition of Cinematographic Art went to J. Arthur Rank's "Hamlet." Top award for best musical score went to Max Steiner for "Treasure of the Sierra Madre." Sharing top honors among animated films were Walt Disney's "Melody Time," and the French film "Little Soldier." Amity Bid (Continued from page 1) Americans will be squeezed out step by step. . . ." "The government's Finance Corporation added another source of alarm and irritation for the Americans," the article continues, holding that under it "British production tends to be encouraged even when it is likely to be unremunerative." The Times argues, however, that the genesis of British film legislation is "founded primarily on monopolistic devices of the Americans themselves here after securing an initial advantage largely due to the 1914 World War I preventing the showing of British films." The newspaper concedes the "necessity for unfettered international film trade," but concludes that Motion Picture Association of America's proposals "don't point in the desired direction any more than those of the British government." Informed circles here attach great importance to the article, which has provoked intense discussion. The hope is expressed almost universally that it will serve to open the door to further Anglo-American discussion. Rank Tribunal Bid (Continued from page 1) CEA committee, which appointed a deputation of 10 to negotiate with Rank toward evolving a general basis of fair trading terms. Meanwhile, the committee has recommended that CEA members refuse new Rank terms until such negotiations end. An informal meeting of independent exhibitors was summoned for tonight, meanwhile, to weigh Motion Picture Association of America president Eric A. Johnston's plan for "double bill selling" in Britain, and their support of Johnston is expected. Astor in 16mm. Deal Worldwide distribution rights to the 16mm. version of Sam Coslow's "Copacabana" have been acquired by Jacques Kopfstein, executive vicepresident of Astor Pictures, from United Artists, distributor of the 35mm. version. Astor's release of the film will begin next May. 25-Cent FP-C Dividend Ottawa, Sept. 7. — Famous Players Canadian Corp. has declared a quarterly dividend of 25 cents per common share, being at the rate of $1 per share per annum, for the quarter ending Sept. 30, payable on Sept. 25, to shareholders of record on Sept. 10. British List 94 Films British Information Services here has published a new catalogue of British official films, listing 94 subjects and a synopsis of each.