Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1950)

4 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, February 14, 1950 'Phonevision' Is Greatest Threat: Allied Reviews "Father Is A Bachelor" {Simon-Columbia) WILLIAM H OLDEN, as a vagabond minstrel man, falls heir to a bundle of troubles when he decides to adopt a brood of five orphaned youngsters in "Father Is a Bachelor." The film is an amiable drama in a country setting and has qualities that make for good family entertainment. More sophisticated film-goers are likely to find the story's development on the obvious side. As it is, Holden is the sort of fellow who shuns responsibility and most always has an easy-going song on his lips. When first he encounters the youngsters in their little shack at a river's edge he wants to help them without becoming too deeply involved. In time, however, he becomes completely captivated and finds himself more and more dedicated to the youngsters' needs. Plot complications develop when a movement to send the kids to an orphanage threatens. Then there are differences which Holden has with the town villain. The screenplay, by Aleen Leslie and James Edward Grant, provides the romantic interest for Holden in the form of Coleen Gray, the town judge's pretty daughter. The situation develops to a point where romantic hopes for Holden are imperiled but things are eventually cleared up in a happy ending. Charles Winninger provides a happy touch as the operator of the medicine show and companion of Holden. The youngsters in the cast are Mary Jane Saunders, Gary Gray, Billy Gray and Wayne and Warren Farlow. An S. Sylvan Simon production, it was produced by Simon and directed by Norman Foster and Abby Berlin. Running time, 84 minutes. General audience classification. For February release. Mandel Herbstman "Gunmen of Abilene" (Republic) SUBSTANTIAL western fare is provided in this latest Allan "Rocky" Lane picture directed by Fred C. Brannon, with Gordon Kay the associate producer. Hired by local druggist Peter Brocco, who'd discovered gold underneath the town of Blue Valley and wished complete possession, gunmen from Abilene rob supply wagons, burned houses and killed leading citizens. Their leader, Roy Barcroft, obtains deputy marshal "Rocky's" papers and poses as the new deputy marshal, sent to preserve order. This ends their terrorizing, however, as "Rocky" discovers their headquarters and leaders, and although temporarily bested, escapes in time to foil the plot to blow up the citizens' wagon train. He kills Brocco, knocks out Barcroft, and the others are buried in a landslide brought on by their own dynamiting. The suspense provided by good direction and M. Coates Webster's script help to make this a satisfying action film. The cast includes Eddy Waller and Donna Hamilton in addition to Lane, Barcroft and Brocco. Running time, 60 minutes. General audience classification. For February release. Allied Tells RKO to Withdraw' Stromboli' Washington, Feb. 13. — All American exhibitors were asked not to play RKO's 'Stromboli' and the company was told to withdraw the film and stop "the meretricious advertising campaign it has inaugurated in a aeful effort to promote ^ picture" in a resolution passed at the Allied States Association board meeting here on Friday. The resolution, authored by Stanley Kane, extended the scope of the resolution passed Thursday, which asked all Allied members not to play "Stromboli." Washington, Feb. 13. — Phonevision "is the greatest threat to exhibition conceived to date," according to the report of Allied States Association's television committee, headed by Trueman Rembusch. The only weakness in the system, the report stated, is the lack of sufficient telephone circuits. Rembusch raised the question whether, in view of the limited number of circuits, the revenue that would go to a film producer would be enough to make up for the fact that the film would almost certainly be excluded from all first-run and some subsequent-run theatres. Rembusch and W. A. Carroll said they were convinced Zenith has interested film producers, nonetheless, to a point where "top reissues may be supplied for the test run" in the Chicago area. Warns on Micro-Waves The Rembusch report bitterly attacked rumored plans of the producers and Theatre Owners of America to seek theatre television frequencies in the micro-waves, declaring that micro-wave transmission required too much equipment to be economically feasible for small rural or suburban theatres. "Micro-waves for theatre TV would mean a TV monopoly for the large affiliated theatres," the report said. It urged that Allied, in its appearance before the Federal Communications Commission, ask that channels two, three, four, five and six, in the very-high band now used by commercial TV broadcasters, be vacated by the broadcasters _ and turned over to theatre television. MPAA's TV Report Ready This Month Washington, Feb. 13. — The Motion Picture Association hopes to have ready by the end of the month a comprehensive study of the impact of television on the industry. Research has been under way for several months and the MPAA television committee has gone over different parts of the report at recent meetings. It will take in all phases of the problem, whether television offers a market for Hollywood production, the effect on the box-office of home television, Phonevision, theatre television, and other specific topics. Elect Rembusch (Continued from page 1) petitive bidding, with an eye to possibly asking the Justice Department to move against some companies under the anti-discrimination clause in the New York court decree and the RKO and Paramount consent decrees. The information will probably be put before the next board meeting for possible action. Abram F. Myers, general counsel, said that due to the pressure of time and a lack of interest among some members, the board did not discuss whether Allied should appoint a committee to approach distributors on using commercial arbitration to settle clearance and other disputes. The board authorized an "antitrust" library, probably in Washington. Copies of all briefs and pleadings in industry anti-trust cases will be analyzed so that lawyers fighting for the same principles in anti-trust cases will not take different positions. The library will be primarily for the use of Allied members, Myers said, but its services will be available to counsel for any independent involved in an anti-trust suit against a major company. Territorial surveys on the box-office slump will be concluded immediately, the board decided after hearing a report which showed that box-office had dropped 26 per cent in Maryland from a similar test period last year and had "very seriously" declined in Eastern Pennsylvania. Myers said he hopes to have the information in time to present to the House Ways and Means committee as an argument for the repeal of the admission tax. The board decided to hold a national convention and equipment display for all outdoor theatre exhibitors, both Allied members and others. The convention will be held in Kansas City in early May, and will be followed by regional conventions. Some of these, in Texas, Iowa and Nebraska, have already been scheduled. The standing committee on forced percentage playing was authorized to visit distributor sales managers to propose an extension of the class of theatres included in the flat fee category. The board also took the following actions : Appointed Rembusch Allied's representative on Compo, with Nathan Yamins as alternate and Myers as counsel. Selected Pittsburgh for the 1950 national convention, to be held Oct. 2-4, with a board meeting Sept. 30Oct. 1. Decided to hold the next board meeting in Memphis in May. Crown (Continued from page 1) named Crown's assistant on domestic sales, while Robert B. Pell, who has been Crown's assistant during the past four years, will be his assistant in the foreign sales field under the new arrangement. It was announced also that William Tourney, formerly of Eagle-Lion, has been engaged as assistant to Jock Lawrence, newly-appointed vice-president of Goldwyn's advertising-publicity. 'Strombolf (Continued from page 1) for which attorney Joseph Rosenberg, representing Disney, petitioned. Both films were further intertwined in the RKO Theatre agreement made with the U. S. District Court and attorney Thomas McConnell, representing the Jackson Park Theatre, whereby the Grand could play films on a long run basis, while the Palace plays double features under a twoweek limit, so that between the two houses IS films are made available to the outlying houses within 13 weeks. Friday's decision will reverse the agreement, making the Palace the long run house, at least until "Cinderella" run ends. McConnell protested against both films playing extended runs, but approved the "Cinderella" extension because of it's "pure" story. RKO attorney Bryce Byrnham in citing to Judge Igoe that "Stromboli" had the Legion of Decency's approval, was told by the judge: "You're not going to get this court to approve that film for more than two weeks downtown." Neighborhood theatres, however, will be able to play the film directly after the Loop run. Bar Bergman Picture, Georgia Senate Asks The Georgia senate has adopted a resolution asking the state's theatres not to show any films made by Roberto Rossellini or with Ingrid Bergman, according to wire service reports received at the weekend. Meanwhile, a resolution asking the Texas legislature to ban "Stromboli" was referred to a subcommittee. In Maryland the general assembly received a resolution urging residents to boycott Miss Bergman's films, but the state board of censors refused to ban them. The Housewives League of Houston, Texas, reportedly has planned a telephone campaign to urge the. city's women to boycott "Stromboli." The Rock Hill, S. C, Women's Council, which asked for a ban on the film, added a denunciation of Rita Hayworth's films. A resolution for a ban on "Stromboli" was introduced in the South Carolina House. Boston, Feb. 13— Mayor John Rr Hynes states that he has no present intention of banning "Stromboli" from Boston. "The picture will be judged on its merits as a film and not on the record of its actors," he declared. Allied Gives Myers Cadillac (Tax-Paid) Washington, Feb. 13. — If you thought Abram F. Myers was a colorful person before, you should see the Allied States chairman and general counsel now. Allied officials over the weekend presented Myers with a new Cadillac in recognition of his 21 years' service to the independent exhibitor organization. The car, selected by Mrs. Myers, is fawn colored with red leather cushions.