Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1949)

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6 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, October 11, 1949 ' RCA Color Video Test 'Disappoints' Washington, Oct. 10. — RCA gave its first public showing of its new color television system here today before FCC officials and the press. Unofficial observers were in general disappointed with the showing, and DuMont president Dr. Allen B. DuMont renewed his charges that "color television is still many years away." The RCA system permits ordinary black-and-white receivers to pick up the colorcasts and reproduce them in black-and-white without any adjustment in the receiver. Most observers thought the picture was as good as that picked up from a regular blackand-white signal. Series Telecasts (Continued from page 1) Fox in Brooklyn went to about 3,000 at game time on Saturday and was a little more than 2,000 at game time, Sunday. This, however, was regarded as substantially better than normal weekend business. Some Brooklyn theatre executives pointed out that "repeater" attendance may have been discouraged by the fact that attendees of the first games who had seen the Fox's film program were in the position of paying an advanced admission to see the baseball telecast only, since the film program remained the same throughout the Series. Saturday Tops in Chicago Saturday attendance at Chicago's State Lake was reported as "near capacity" and the best of five games. Sunday attendance was below Saturday by about 1,800. Portions of the sixth and seventh innings were skipped at the Saturday telecast, and the audience complained audibly. During all showings of the series at the State Lake the film was hazy. At Pinanski's 1,800-seat Pilgrim, Boston, the big-screen telecast of the fourth game drew an approximate 1,200 for an estimated gross of $1,800 ; the fifth game, at slightly reduced ad TWA=TWA~TWA=TWA 1 I ONLY TWA III offers 300-mph | CONSTELLATION | SERVICE Coast-to-coast | and overseas | For reservations, call your TWA office I i Review "Christopher Columbus (Gainsborough — Universal-International) THIS is one of England's costliest attractions. "Christopher Columbus," bearing all evidence of a lavish production hand, looks it. In point of production trapping's, its richness and its good taste leave little to be desired. Dramatically, there is considerable. Always falling back on the use of dramatic license, "Christopher Columbus" nevertheless tells the essential story of the history books — how the Genoese navigator stood by his conviction of a world that was round, fumed and fretted until Queen Isabella made the expedition possible, landed in San Salvador, claimed the discovery for Spain, faced intrigue and jealousies at the court and his final undoing. There are, of course, no surprises. History has seen to it that each major event has been telegraphed ahead to the audience. But, while nothing could have been done about that, much might have been done to infuse vitality into this very handsome film with its superb photographic values in Technicolor. "Christopher Columbus" has been given visualization, but not very much life. The high order of excellence which marks the technical phases of the production is similarly characteristic of performances and direction. The principal players range from very good to good and thereafter, but their performances manage to remain aloof from the emotional reactions of the viewer. Thus, while it is correct to report that Fredric March as Columbus, Florence Eldridge as the Queen, Francis L. Sullivan as Don Francisco and Derek Bond as Diego play their roles with considerable competence, they do not succeed in stimulating very much by way of sympathy for or against them. Perhaps the events of which they were a part were too momentous. This is a Sydney Box production for J. Arthur Rank. A. Frank Bundy produced and David MacDonald directed, from a screenplay by Muriel and Sydney Box and Cyril Roberts. Arthur Bliss' musical score, played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Muir Mathieson, is a considerable asset. Production designed by Maurice Carter deserves particular commendation. Running time, 104 minutes. General audience classification. For October release. Red Kann mission scales, drew about 1,250 for an estimated gross of $1,750. At Comerford's West Side, 1,700seat Scranton, Pa., house, attendance was at capacity for the weekend games with many turned away. The theatre was the only place in the city, public or private, where the telecast of the Series game could be seen. Also, regular admission of 30 cents was charged. Milwaukee Low Operators of the Tower and Oriental, Milwaukee, which charged advanced prices for a telecast of the games on seven by nine screen, declined to reveal attendance or gross figures but a check of the houses at the weekend showed about 500 in the 1,600-seat Tower for the Saturday game. Scales were reduced there from $1.50 and $1.80 to $1. Attendance at the Oriental was about the same and continued in that pattern on Sunday at both houses. The Variety Club of New England, Boston, offered telecasts of the games' to members and guests under arrangements made by E. Harold Stoneman, chief barker, and William S. Koster, executive director. Universal Without (Continued from page 1 ) year's Series, Universal Newsreel reduced to 16mm. regular theatre footage filmed at that event and distributed it through United World, Universale 16mm. subsidiary, it was said. Allegedly unauthorized, though not necessarily in violation of contract. Universale production of lower-gauge films of last year's games "irked" some leaders of organized baseball, it is understood. It is understood also that the action by the baseball commissioner against Universal was limited to this year's series. Hence, it is expected that the company will have cameramen on hand next year. TV Engineers (Continued from page 1) ture theatre, and the increasingly common television and cinema engineeringproblems as reasons for opening the membership to TV engineers. The recommendation will be submitted to the SMPE membership by mail ballot. Edward P. Curtis, guest speaker at the luncheon session, departed from the engineering theme of the convention to discuss the industry's economic problems arising from an 'unbalance of trade" between U. S. and foreign nations. He pointed out there are two phases of this situation affecting film business : One concerning restrictions and cmotas in effect before Britain's dollar crisis became so acute that devaluation became necessary; the other is the over-all problem now faced by all industries. Stating the U. S. has been exporting $5,000,000,000 more goods annually than it has been importing, he said, "We must import more or export less." Curtis urged cooperation as the only solution. Election of Ralph B. Austrian as financial vice-president, Fred Bowditch as engineering vice-president and Frank Cahill as treasurer was announced. All other executives will continue in office. The evening session was devoted to color. John G. Capstaff described Eastman's experimental 35m.m. multilayer stripping negative. Ralph Evans, also with Eastman, gave an illustrated review of the photographic factors which must be observed to obtain depth perception in color photography. Charles H. Elmer, U. S. Navy, reported on the role played by color photography in the Navy's rocket test program. Ten additional papers on color are scheduled for tomorrow. Series Dents NY lst-Runs I Mono. Stockholders Meet Hollywood, Oct. 10. — Monogram's annual stockholders meeting will be held on Nov. 9 at the studio, president Steve Broidy announces. Although a few theatres are doing very well, business at the majority of New York first-runs is mild, substantially as a result of the stiff competition provided by the World Series which put a heavy dent in theatre matinee income. Those houses which include tomorrow in the current week on their books will have, of course, an assist in the anticipated strong holiday take. 'Pinky' Still Strong A definite winner is Paramount's "The Heiress" with a stage presentation at the Music Hall which figures to amass a robust first week's gross of $150,000. "Ichabod and Mr. Toad" is good, but not outstanding, in its debut at the Mayfair where the first' week's take might reach $25,000. At the Rivoli, "Pinky" continues to draw big money, the second week's gross being estimated at $63,000. "My Friend Irma" with Dick Stabile, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis on stage probably will give the Paramount about $70,000 in a good second week. "Thieves' Highway" with the Edj Sullivan review and an ice show on stage is likely to do about $52,000 in sluggish five-day third week at the Roxy. Next there will be "Father Was a Fullback," opening tomorrow, earlier than the usual opening day. "That Midnight Kiss" with Gene Krupa's orchestra on stage is mild in its third week at the Capitol where the take is estimated at $45,000. "Jolson Sings Again" is headed for $24,000 in a fairenough eighth week at the State. 2nd Week for 'Task Force' "Task Force" witha condensed version of "High Button Shoes" on stage is likely to draw about $45,000 in a good second week at the Strand. "The Blue Lagoon" is on its way to a mediocre second and final week's gross of $10,000 at the Globe; it will be followed by "The Black Book" on Saturday. "Easy Living" will open at the Criterion tomorrow, succeeding "Sword in the Desert" which might do $12,600 in a seventh, final week. "Spring in Park Lane" is still] strong at the Trans Lux where $8,800 is apparent for a third week. "Quartet" probably will provide the Sutton with about $6,500 in a good 28th week. "Hamlet" should give the Park Avenue an adequate 54th week's gross of $6,700. "The Red Shoes" at the Bijou will take about $9,000 in a good 51st week. "Lost Boundaries" is figured to do about $8,600 in a soso 11th week at the Astor. The 10th and final week of "The Window" brought the Victoria about $5,000. IN THE "EAST • Negative Developing • 8-16-35 MM Printing • Special Video Service • First Print Dep't. 4 • Kodachrome Printing • Cutting Facilities • Title Department ..ITS 619 WEST 54 ST., N. Y. 19 Tel: JUdson 6-0360