Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Jun 1949)

4 Motion Picture Daily Monday, January 17, 1949 Short Subject License Tariff Is Increased 17 Times Mexico City, Jan. 16.— Another problem for distributors of American and other foreign pictures in Mexico is the 17 times increased official fees for inspecting films. The inspection charge for 35mm. pictures has been hiked to $14.54, from 90 cents a reel. The Presidential decree that ordered the new rates explained that the money, is to support the National Cinematographic Commission. The Commission will stage an international film fair here in 1949. Reviews "Criss Cross" ( Universal-International) ANOTHER hard-slugging melodrama of violence and vengeance is offered by Universal-International in "Criss Cross." Conventional in plot, with such elements as a romantic triangle, a grand frame-up and a bang-up finale, the film has been given a slick production treatment. Burt Lancaster is starred and once again his role is that of a basically good man who has been drawn by circumstances into a web of evil. Previous exhibitor experience with such melodramas should be the best guide for showmen as to commercial and promotional possibilities. The plot basically is a contest between two strong men, Lancaster and Dan Duryea, over Yvonne De Carlo. On the rebound of her divorce from Lancaster, Miss De Carlo marries Duryea, an unsavory underworld character. Duryea is none too gentle with .Miss De Carlo and she goes to Lancaster for help. After some doubt, Lancaster, apparently still loving Miss De Carlo, sets out -to free her from Duryea's grip. Involved in his hasty plan is the joining of forces with Duryea to rob an armored truck. Things break wrong with the planned robbery and there follows a few more melodramatic events before Duryea shoots to death both Miss De Carlo and Lancaster, and is himself killed. Marriage and divorce, gangsterism and alcoholism are the main ingredients of the screenplay by Daniel Fuchs, which was based on the novel by Don Tracy. As such, it is the ugly side of life that is portrayed. Lancaster gives a creditable performance as a morose bruiser caught in love-torments, while Miss De Carlo as the woebegone woman, carries her relatively heavy role adequately. Duryea is an old hand at conveying sadism and evil, and he does it well. Others in the cast are Stephen McNally and Richard Long. Robert Siodmak directed and Michel Kraike produced. Running time, 87z/2 minutes. Adult audience classification. For February release. Mandel Herbstman "Miranda" (Rank-Eagle-Lion) VERY British in presentation, "Miranda," a fantasy about a mermaid, turns out to be a fresh and witty importation from the J. Arthur Rank studio. Although lacking in marquee names, discriminating film-goers should find it highly satisfying. The story concerns a married London doctor who leaves his wife and office for a needed fishing vacation. No sooner does he cast his line than he finds himself yanked down into the undersea cave of a pretty mermaid. A victim of the mermaid's innocent charms, the good doctor is persuaded to take the mermaid home with him. As soon as the mermaid enters the doctor's household, a series of farcical events happen. Thinking her an invalid rather than a mermaid, several men fall in love with her. It is to the credit of the Peter Blackmore screenplay that the satirical qualities inherent in the theme are amply realized on the screen. In time, the doctor's wife senses something fishy about the unusual visitor, and finally discovers her to be a mermaid. In the finale, after a handful of men have made themselves silly over her, the mermaid returns to her customary haunts, a bit wiser about the homo sapiens. Performances are satisfactory all around. Glynis Johns plays the mermaid, with Griffith Jones as the doctor and Googie Withers as his wife. Others in the cast are John McCallum and Margaret Rutherford. A Gainsborough Production, it was produced by Betty E. Box with Sydney Box in charge of production. Adapted from Blackmore's play, it was directed by Ken Annakin. Running time, 80 minutes. Adult audience classification. For February release. M. H. "Parole, Inc." (Eagle-Lion) ANOTHER in the series of • documentary-styled melodramas, "Parole, Inc." deals with the bribery of parole board officials by members of the underworld for the purpose of gaining the illegal release of hardened gangsters. Suspense is neatly held throughout. Michael O'Shea is seenas the FBI agent who, at the request of a state governor, attempts to expose the racket. Posing as a big-time racketeer he works his way into a gang, finds their method of reaching certain members of the parole board, uses this method to "spring" a convict, then traps the entire gang. Turhan Bey, a suave and enterprising attorney, lends conviction to his role as the unscrupulous go-between of the parole board and the underworld, while Evelyn Ankers is seen as the owner of a honky-tonk night club and brains of the city's racketeering element. An Orbit Production, produced by Constantin J. David and directed by Alfred Zeisler, the story is well-knit and of sufficient interest to hold most persons' attention. The screenplay was written by Sherman L. Lowe, from an original story which he wrote with Royal K. Cole. Running time, 71 minutes. General audience classification. For January release. Loew's Profit (Continued from page 1) number of shares. Amortization and write-offs of film costs in 1947 was $65,274,210, against $73,313,804 for 1948, reflecting the rise in production costs. The annual report was accompanied by an earnings statement covering the 12 weeks ended Nov. 25, 1948, showing a net profit of $1,021,156, equal to 20 cents per share on the common stock, against $1,354,761, or 26 cents per share for the same period in 1927. Gross sales and operating revenues for the 12 weeks in 1948 were estimated at $38,660,000, compared with $38,960,000 for the similar period in 1947. For the fiscal year 1948, Loew reports operating revenues of $185,816,446, and operating and general expenses of $162,070,408. For 1947, operating revenues were $183,948,900 and expenses were $149,504,619. Federal income taxes for 1948 were $3,061,729 ; for 1947, $7,277,478. Loew theatre receipts, rentals, sale of film accessories and M-G-M records for 1948 were $177,096,727; for 1947, $176,342,036. Outside producers' share of film rentals in 1948 was $6,444,972; in 1947, $2,412,290. On Aug. 31, 1948, Loew's had current and working assets of $120,212,009, against total current liabilities of $23,039,396. Last year total current and working assets aggregated $132,171,887 and ■liabilities were $26,941,991. Total assets, including cash of $25,529,216, are listed at $223,141,585. 20th 'Collarites' (Continued from page 1) shops in its blueprint for invasion of SOPEG strongholds. However, thus far in the jurisdictional tilt between the rival unions over control of home office "white collarites," H-63 has actually challenged SOPEG at United Artists and RKO Radio. UA went to H-63 and RKO reverted to SOPEG. Meanwhile, H-63 claims it has won the allegiance of employes in two other erstwhile SOPEG shops : Republic and DeLuxe Laboratories. Second Disney Honor Columbus, Jan. 16. — Walt Disney will be honor guest at a dinner to be given by the Columbus Citizen tomorrow night, the proceeds to go to the Franklin County Infantile Paralysis Fund. Disney came East to receive a citation from Purdue University on Saturday and to attend the world premiere of "So Dear to My Heart." Bob Hope Grosses High Bob Hope is breaking box-office records on his cross-country personal appearance tour, grossing $85,000 in five one-night stands : Fort Worth, Dalas, Abilene, Austin and San Antonion, Paramount reports. New Production Firm Hollywood, Jan. 16. — Richard Oswald and Edward Lewis have established Skyline Pictures, to produce features for Film Classics release. First will be Balzac's "Great Specula "On Stage" (March of Time-20th-Fox) The fascinating story of the events that lead up to a play opening on Broadway is told with skill and sparkle in the latest March of Time subject. It is an outstanding one in the series. A number of Broadway stars appear in the film, also scenes from such current successes as "Red Gloves," and Maxwell Anderson's "Anne of the Thousand Days." Richard Walsh, IATSE president, and many top playwrights also come in for some footage. Much of the story is told through the action of Maggie Garland, an aspiring young actress determined to "make the grade." The subject is one which should have wide popular appeal, and Richard de Rochemont and his staff are to be congratulated for the production. Running time, 18 minutes. Para.-U.S. (Continued from page 1) fecting an estimated minimum of 500 theatres, interests in which it would be required to dispose of. The agreement would leave the new company with interests in between 600 and 900 theatres, according to reports. Company officials who participated in last week's meeting with the Department of Justice in Washington on the decree included Leonard Goldenson, vice-president in charge of the atre operations ; Edwin L. Weisl, attorney and member of the board of directors; Louis Phillips, home office attorney; Robert O'Brien, Paramount secretary, and Walter Gross, theatre department attorney. If an agreement is reached with the Department next week, as now appears likely, it would have to be approved subsequently by the company's board of directors ■ before it could be consummated. Brief Field Men (Continued from page 1) pie congregate in our places of business, making it easy for us to be leaders in all worthy civic causes," the meetings were told. "With this opportunity comes a responsibility that we must grasp. "The exhibitor represents the film industry in his community. 'Brotherhood Week' gives him the opportunity to show the world once more how well the industry supports a worthwhile civic effort and thus his public relations as well as those of the entire industry are improved. "We want to make American 'Brotherhood Week' for 1949 the greatest ever observed in point of new memberships, contributions and exploitation." Johnston Due (Continued from page 1) sions of members' licenses and to canvass operating activities for the coming year with the prospect that it may cease operations in several countries. Several independent producers releasing through United Artists will not renew their MPEA licenses for the coming year.