Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1950)

4 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, March 1, 195( Review "Stars in My Crown" (M-G-M) AS native as hot dogs and apple pie, "Stars in My Crown" is a heartwarming story of grass roots America. As such, its principal — and probably most widespread — appeal will be to the myriad families who are, in fact, the grass roots. They will understand it better and appreciate it more than their urban counterparts. This film, based on a novel and adaptation by Joe David Brown, in its way is synonymous with the growth of small town America in the period immediately following the Civil War. The Southern town of Walesburg is the scene of the homespun story, placid and even routine for most of its way until it erupts into racial bigotry directed by hooded riders toward a dignified old Negro and then dies before the point of actual explosion is reached. _ Marshall Thompson is the occasional narrator. He is the adult voice of young Dean Stockwell who lived and grew up in Walesburg and thereafter was never able to tear its place out of his memories or his heart. To this town comes Joel McCrea, Civil War veteran now restored to his peacetime avocation — that of a pastor. The story proceeds to unfold how he establishes himself as minister, marries Ellen Drew, adopts and raises his nephew, Dean, shepherds his flock, builds his church, earns his place among the townspeople and conveys to them the meaning of the spiritual. It also tells of a greedy owner who first attempts to steal for a pittance the land owned by Juano Hernandez, the Uncle Famous whom the men folk knew as boys and how McCrea thwarts a lynching by reading the Negro's will in which he leaves his earthly belongings to the men who are prepared to hang him for the possessions he voluntarily is prepared to leave them. Only there is no will ; the sheets of paper are blank. Thus, McCrea, relying on faith and its persuasion, restores calm and neighborliness to his community. The second dramatic highlight deals with an outbreak of typhoid and pits McCrea, the man of faith, against the man of medicine — James Mitchell, the town doctor — evaluates them and their callings and finds room for both with the scales tipping in the direction of the former. But, in the main, the mood is quiet and devoid of excitement. "Stars in My Crown" is an American pastoral, always wholesome, generally nostalgic and sometimes dull. 'Transient ticket buyers are conditioned to look for entertainment more vibrant so that this attraction is not for them. But away from metropolitan centers, the best guess is this film will find open arms ready to embrace and welcome it. Principal performances are competent. The production atmosphere appears authentic. Jacques Tourneur, who directed for producer William H. Wright, delivers nicely from a screenplay by Margaret Fitts. Running time, 89 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, not set. Red Kann NEWS in Brief . . • A SPEAKING tour of eight cities in Florida and Texas will be made this month by Maurice N. Wolf, assistant to M-G-M exhibitor relations chief H. M. Richey. He will speak before Rotary and Kiwanis groups in behalf of M-G-M's public relations. • San Francisco, Feb. 28.— Frank Jenkins, former 20th Century-Fox publicist, has been appointed Northern California field represenative for Paramount, with headquarters here. He left here today for Fresno, his first stop on a tour of the territory in behalf of "Samson and Delilah." • Los Angeles, Feb. 28. — Charles P. Skouras, president of National Theatres and a group of executive aides will leave here by plane on March 7 for Milwaukee, the first stop on a circuit-wide tour to launch the eighth Charles Skouras Showmanship campaign, which will open March 10.» • Ottawa, Feb. 28.— Operation of five Ontario drive-ins formerly under the control of the Ochs Management Co. has been assumed by 20th Century Theatres. The outdoor theatres are at Oshawa, Peterborough, Britannia Beach and two in the Toronto area. • Albany, N. Y., Feb. 28.— Motion picture houses are specifically excluded from a bill, introduced by Sen. Samuel Greenberg, Brooklyn, which would permit operators of legitimate theatres to obtain liquor licenses. Changing 'Outlaw' Copy Atlanta, Feb. 28.— William K. Jenkins, president of Georgia Theatres, Inc., operating the Fox Theatre where "The Outlaw" was booked to play and later cancelled by Jenkins on account of the way the picture was played up on posters, has again booked the film after RKO Radio said it would change the copy. Kerner Returns to Coast Lew Kerner, executive talent director for Samuel Goldwyn, has returned from New York to the Coast, following the reopening of the company's Eastern talent and story department, with the return of Mrs. Carolyn Willyoung Stagg as Eastern representative. Paramount Sets 13 Shorts for Spring Thirteen Paramount short subjects have been scheduled for release during April, May and June, by Oscar A. Morgan, general sales manager for shorts. One subject will be released each week. April releases will include : Paramount Champion, "Three Bears In a Boat" ; Grantland Rice Sportlight, "Start 'Em Young" ; Paramount Pacemaker. "Sing Me Goodbye" and Screen Song, "Win, Place and Showboat." May releases: Champion, "Yankee Doodle Donkey" ; Popeye, "Beach Peach" ; Screen Song, "Jingle, Jangle. Jungle." and Noveltoon, "Tarts and Flowers." For June: Rice Sportlight, "Down Stream Highway" ; Noveltoon, "Ups an' Downs Derby" ; Pacemaker, (not yet titled) ; Popeye, "Jitterbitg Jive," and Screen Song, "Heap, Hep Injuns." Sound Track Imports (Continued from page 1) ing magnetic sound film or magnetic tape, and the studios have contemplated using these magnetic systems in shooting films abroad. But the U. S. Customs Bureau has told them the magnetic sound tape imports would be taxed on an ad valorem basis, involving much complicated figuring of the sound track's value, rather than the linear foot basis, and the studios have held off using the new processes. King's bill would tax the magnetic sound film or tape on a linear foot basis as the present film sound track is taxed. The measure was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee, of which King is a member. DeMille to Plead for 'Samson' Extension Chicago, Feb. 28.— In an unusual move for a producer, Cecil B. DeMille will appear as a witness in the U. S. District Court tomorrow on behalf of Paramount's petition seeking an extended Loop run for "Samso ;nd Delilah." \tS< The producer spoke tonight at a Red Cross dinner at the Stevens Hotel. Among those attending were Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount vicepresident, and Donald Hayne, DeMille representative. TOA Meeting (Continued from page 1) on the acceptability of the financing program drafted for COMPO at the last organizational meeting. The recent meeting in Washington of TOA's executives and directors took that attitude on COMPO financing. Financing of COMPO to the extent of $600,000 still is opposed strongly by influential TOA leaders. However, the theory prevails that TOA should throw its full weight behind the allindustry goodwill effort, and take up at the next COMPO parley its opposition to a budget as high as $600,000. It is expected too that the executive committee will approve all, or virtually all of the proposals for a fair trade practice code which have been drafted by TOA's distributor-exhibitor relations committee, headed by Walter Reade, Jr. If the proposals are approved, it is likely that an early meeting with distributors will be sought with a view to drafting an actual code. Due to attend the two-day executive committee meeting, which will be conducted at the Hotel Astor, are : chairman J. J. O'Leary, and S. H. Fabian, Ted R. Gamble, Leonard H. Goldenson, R. J. O'Donnell, Nat Williams, Robert W. Coyne, Morris Loewenstein, Robert R. Livingston, Robert B. Wilby, Max A. Connett, B. D. Cockrill, William F. Ruffin, Sr., and the following ex-officio members : TOA president Samuel Pinanski, Arthur H. Lockwood, Mitchell Wolfson, Sherrill Corwin, Charles P. Skouras, Edward G. Zorn and general counsel Herman M. Levy. Other matters on the agenda include selection of a 1950 TOA convention city and approval of plans and a budget for theatre television hearings before the Federal Communications Commission. Goldsmith Gets Title Rights to the title, "Three Husbands," which had been contested by 20th Century-Fox, were affirmed yesterday to producer I. G. Goldsmith and United Artists by a board of arbitration of the Motion Picture Association of America. Goldsmith returned yesterday to Hollywood. Nathan Leaves Warner Ted Nathan, ad copywriter for Warner here, is leaving his post in order to revise a play he has written. Nathan intends to return to motion picture advertising when his writing stint is completed. A HAL WALLIS PRODUCTION • A PARAMOUNT PICTURE Based on the startling Reader's Digest story!