Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1950)

irsday. May 25, 1950 Motion Picture Daily 7 Review "Her Wonderful Lie" ( Cinopera Productions — Columbia) f~l RAND OPERA virtuosi Jan Kiepura and Marta Eggerth bring to the VJ screen in "Her Wonderful Lie" full measure of their vocal talents. This picture, produced in Italy with English dialogue and amply stocked with Hollywood supporting players, is suited mainly for music lovers and especially for those who are partial to the melodic arias and duets from Giacomo Puccini's opera "La Boheme." Based on Murger's novel, "Latin Quarter," the screenplay by Ernest Marischka, Hamilton Benz and Rowland Leigh parallels the opera's story of love among Paris' left bank bohemians, but assumes a present-day background while recounting the tragic stages of a romantic interlude involving an opera tenor and his soprano sweetheart, the latter suffering from tuberculosis. The picture ends with the death scene of the opera, sung in English, wherein Miss Eggerth dies in the arms of Kiepura. Obviously the picture is designed for so-called "art" houses. Music-loving patrons, however, may find considerable detraction in the labored comedy and "up-stage" histrionics that share the screen with the picture's serious features. The cast includes Janis Carter, John Abbott, Marc Piatt, Sterling Holloway, Isobel Elsom, Gil Lamb, Franklin Pangborn, Douglass Dumbrille, Constance Dowling and others. Carmine Gallone directed. Background music was supplied by the orchestra of the Rome Opera House, under the baton of Angelo Questa. Running time, 86 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, not set. Charles L. Franke act 'Break' (Continued from page 1) i such form that the only ossible answer the American rincipals can make to them ill be a yes or no. 'etails of the changed situation d not be obtained immediately but ppeared that both sides have moved dead-center into an area of comThe definite change in the ai^toRjpccurred at a meeting at[e . Hugh Gaitskell, Minister of :e and author of the Gaitskell Re: on the industry made for the gov-nent. Also present were Eric nston, president of the Motion :ure Association of America ; Ellis tall, president of the Society of In;ndent Motion Picture Producers, Wilson. taking his first appearance in the otiations as an aide to Chancellor he Exchequer Sir Stafford Cripps, tskell apparently opened the door to promise during the three-hour i-to-man talk during which no ches were pulled. In any event, and unexpected avenues of negoon were opened which both sides je promised to examine in good i in preparation for Friday's formneeting. Credit Due Gaitskell /hile undue optimism is not warfed at the moment, it is felt that British delegation welcomed the ■ntiality of a way out of the stale£ which has persisted since open\ of the negotiations on May 15. . solution indeed is found, consid|>le credit is due Gaitskell. He considerable knowledge of the inky and during the war was a |rd of Trade official in charge of nlms division. eanwhile, Tom O'Brien, head of National Association of Theatriand Kine Employes and a Member Parliament, had expressed the jive alarms" of members of the iniry over the threatened breakdown the negotiations. However, in a sage to Wilson, he insisted upon a -term production program by erican companies in British studios tart at an early date as a primary Jition of any agreement with the ,;rican delegation. O'Brien said the tence of the British industry dels on such a program and all other fes involved in the negotiations are ;mdary to it. f 0T Reception June 5 .-arch of Time will hold a recepI and preview of its latest release, auty at Work," at the Time and ft Information Center here on June -Lrjorie Harker, MOT publicity laager, will be hostess. 1BEP. FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION Allied By-passes (Continued from page 1) Gloria Swanson's new picture, "Sunset Boulevard." Miss Swanson arrived with a contingent of Hollywood stars, including Patricia Neal, Roy Rogers, Mark Stevens, Dale Evans and Lash LaRue, all of whom will attend the opening session of the MidSouth Allied meeting tomorrow. A ladies luncheon wras held at the local Variety Club today in honor of Misses Swanson and Neal. E. O. Cullins, Mid-South Allied president for two terms, is expected to be elected to the Allied States board tomorrow to succeed John Mohrstadt. Lewisburg" Ruling (Continued from page 1) out due process of law. The drivein opened tonight. Darr also denied a contempt citation against Crescent and its officials for having an interest in the drive-in. General charges of contempt filed against Crescent and certain of its officers and affiliates for allegedly violating the 1945 anti-trust decree are still pending, but yesterday's court denials in the drive-in case may be an indication of what the court will do with them. Cut Prices in St. Louis St. Louis, May 24. — Three Fanchon and Marco first-runs here, the Ambassador, Fox and St. Louis, have announced a reduction to a straight 60-cent admission, with children under 12 accompanied by parents admitted free. Previous top was 75 cents. Edward B. Arthur. F. and M. general manager, called the move an "experimental summer plan" undertaken because of a drop in grosses and in the hope that the Federal tax will be repealed soon. All-Weather Marquee Memphis, May 24— M. A. Lightman's Malco Theatres has awarded to the TriState Construction Co. a contract to build a 1,400-seat theatre, the Crosstown, in Memphis, to be finished this fall. It will feature a drive-in marquee under which patrons can get out of cars in front of the box-office sheltered from the weather. A large parking lot is provided. 1,000 Films Now On German Market Washington, May 24— About 1,000 films are currently being distributed by 71 companies in Western Germany, according to German reports quoted by the U. S. Commerce Department. Of the total, 480 are German, including 400 revivals. The U. S. leads for. eign countries with 225 films, while the British account for 120, the French for 79, Austria, 50, Sweden, 14, and Italy, nine. TOA on TV (Continued from page 1) vision Giant for Theatre Television," that "the American people will not for long throw away their leisure time watching stupid television programs because they happen to be free." Sullivan's statement is embodied in the foreword to the 14-page printed brochure which the exhibitor organization is sending to all TOA members today. Main content of the brochure is an address delivered by TOA television consultant Nathan L. Halpern before the Theatre Owners of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City on March 28. Plalpern's analysis deals with the extent to which television can become "a new dynamic" for the motion picture industry, the rapid growth of theatre TV, non-film attractions to bolster film box-offices, audience impact of theatre video, economics of theatre TV programming and a number of other aspects of large-screen video. McGrann to TV Post Frank McGrann, former Columbia exploitation director and more recently an independent radio producer, has joined the executive staff of the Fox Feature Syndicate in New York, to be in charge of television activities. New Mexican Firm Mexico City, May 24. — Two frontline Mexican producing-distributing enterprises, Mier y Brooks — Dyana Films and Rodriguez Brothers have merged. The new firm is capable of producing more than 60 pictures a year. ANSWER TO YOUR TECHNICAL PROBLEMS The Altec Service Man and the organization behind him 161 Sixth Avenue, New York 13, N. Y. PROTECTING THE THEATRE FIRST PLACE IN ENTERTAINMENT