Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1950)

I Motion Picture Daily Thursday, August 3, 19S Review "Edge of Doom" (Samuel Goldwyn-RKO Radio) THE bleak story of a boy pursued by an obsession has been turned into a powerful and absorbing motion picture by Samuel Goldwyn. From the beginning one is struck by the unusual and daring nature of the theme and the candor of its presentation. There is a poverty-ridden boy whose devout mother has just died. The boy feels that he must compensate for all the earthly denials of her life by an elaborate funeral. Pursuit of this end leads to the boy's murder of a parish priest. There follows a succession of episodes, all in a monotone of hopelessness, culminating in the boy's confession and surrender to the law. Farley Granger has the focal role as the boy who thrashes about the lonely city in an effort to arrange a fine burial. At the parish house he tries to convince an aging and troubled priest that, despite the lack of maney, an expensive funeral is wanted desperately. In a frenzy following a rebuff the boy picks up a crucifix and strikes the priest dead. This is the outward structure of the story but one can find deeper meanings and implications. The unmistakeable Goldwyn touch shines throughout. In a climate of gloom and criminality there flower oddly engaging incidents and fine characterizations. In fitting with Philip Yordan's screenplay based on Leo Brady's novel, Mark Robson's direction is in stern and realistic style. Although the burden of acting falls on Granger, he has some excellent support. There is a compassionate quality to Dana Andrews as another priest through whom Granger finds final peace. Throughout the story Andrews works patiently at reasoning Granger out of a hostility to the church, a hostility which was born earlier when the church denied his father burial rites in consecrated ground because of suicide. An outstanding vignette is contributed by Paul Stewart as a petty racketeer who lives by his underworld wits. In other secondary roles are Joan Evans and Mala Powers, the one niece to the murdered priest and the other the sweetheart of Granger. Robert Keith as the wily detective who outwits his prey, gives a sharp and effective portrayal. Obviously this is a picture that will be widely discussed by those who see it irrespective of their individual reactions. This naturally will go a long way toward arousing a ticket-buying curiosity. What the overall boxoffice returns will be remains a question not easily predicted, for despite the picture's many virtues the theme is macabre and unrelieved. Running time, 99 minutes. Adult audience classification. Release date, not set. Mandel Herbstmann Variety Chiefs Head For Toronto, Okla. City for Tent Fetes Variety Clubs International chief barker Marc J. Wolf, Ringmaster Robert J. O'Donnell and executive director William McCraw will be among the out-of-towners who will attend banquets which have been slated by the Oklahoma City Tent, Aug. 9, and the Toronto Tent, Dec. 14. The first event is for the purpose of recreating Heart Fund interest in the state, and the second will be marked by an award of the silver plaque to Toronto's tent voted by the International Convention in New Orleans. Two More lst-Runs For Ind. Drive-ins Indianapolis, Aug. 2. — Two more films were booked into drive-ins here this week for first run showings. The pictures, United Artists' "Love Happy" and Eagle Lion Classics' "The Jackie Robinson Story," will play day and date at the Theatair Twin and Westlake, which have a combined capacity of 3,000 cars. ELC has booked "The Jackie Robinson Story" in three nearby drive-ins simultaneously with the Avenue theatre, a colored house. The new first run bookings at the two drive-ins follows a test engagement with Lippert's "Baron of Arizona." General Precision Net Sales at $6,779,814 General Precision Equipment Corp. and subsidiary companies report consolidated net sales of $6,779,814 for the three months ended June 30, 1950. compared with consolidated net sales of $7,505,491 for the three months ended June 30, 1949. For the second quarter of 1950, the company reports consolidated net income of $195,662, compared with net income of $317,756 for the corresponding period of 1949. Essaness Ruling (Continued from page 1) Circuit Court Judge Harry Graber in the suit brought against the circuit and its president, Edwin Silverman, by Essaness stockholders. The stockholders charged in their complaint that Silverman fraudulently bought the theatre building last year so that when the lease was up for renewal next year he would then have ownership of the theatre building and, in turn, would force out the remaining partners. Chief plaintiffs were Mrs. Emil Stern, wife of a former Essaness partner, and James Booth, both partners of the Woods Amusement Corp. Also involved was Mrs. Velma Silverman, wife of the defendant, she also being a partner in the Woods Corp., but not named as a plaintiff. Woods Theatre Corp. is an operating subsidiary of Essaness, which technically is paid manager of the theatre. Operation of the house is actually separate from Essaness circuit. The building was purchased last year by Silverman from the Franciscan Brothers, a Catholic order, who in turn bought the property which was the site of the razed La Salle Theatre. Laud Films (Continued from page 1 ) bers. Actor Charles Coburn, star of "Louisa," accepted in behalf of U-I, and Francis Harmon, MPAA vicepresident in charge of exhibitor community relations, accepted in behalf of the industry. Miss Senie praised the increasingemphasis of pictures for family audiences. Harmon said that U-I in its pictures has contributed to the "campaign of truth." He said the industry must think in terms of making films "to cement bonds of understanding between all nations." Maurice Bergman, U-I executive, was chairman of the luncheon. Others present from U-I were W. A. Scully, Adolph Schimel, Leon Goldberg, Alfred E. Daff, A. J. O'Keefe, Henry A. Linet, Charles Simonelli, Foster M. Blake, Philip Gerard, Milt Livingston. Others representing MPEA were Marjorie G. Dawson and Alfred Corwin. Snyder Holds Door (Continued from page 1) mittee voted today not to press for an excess profits tax this year. Snyder also renewed the Administration's plea for a 10 per cent manufacturers' excise on television sets. Such a tax is now levied on radio sets, but the House refused to extend it to TV sets, as asked by the White House. Snyder said in justifying his renewed request that "television now is a strong competitor with alternate forms of entertainment, such as the radio, motion pictures and professional sporting events, all of which are subject to Federal excise tax." FC, E-L (Continued from page 1) move does not indicate that an agreement between the companies is hopeless. Rather, he said, he has definite hope that the negotiations will terminate satisfactorily at conferences tentatively scheduled for either today or tomorrow between himself, E-L executive vice-president William C. MacMillen, Jr., and Joseph Bernhard, FC president. A similar hope has been expressed by MacMillen. Kaufman said that actually the two companies have "agreed in principle" to the procedure to be undertaken in connection with FC's indebtedness and producer commitments, the crux of the negotiations, but that many significant details have yet to be ironed out. The assignee indicated that a suit against E-L and Pathe would charge failure to perform on the basis of the original merger agreement, but he emphasized that his application to the court for permission was merely in line with his duty as a fiduciary, and does not necessarily anticipate litigation. Mayor Clarifies TV Stand Mayor William O'Dwyer, who last week commended television for its ability to keep people at home, has clarified his stand at another video ceremony here. "We don't see any conflict," the Mayor said, referring to the two entertainment industries. "As a matter of fact, we look for the day when television will increase the type of entertainment and communication and education that the motion pictures give today, and that one implemen' the other. I'd like to have that stated as clearly as I can, that I still want the motion picture people to know how we appreciate them, too." Scollard-UA (Continued from page 1) nation of the services of Harry E Buckley after more than 25 years witi the company in executive capacitier mostly in supervision of domesti operations. Buckley was given tw weeks' notice. Severance of his services was i the pattern of recent dismissals c'j such veterans of UA ?/ Harr , Schroeder and T. J. MulrocP^jf tl I foreign department, who^f?centl A were given one week's notices aftei nearly 30 years of service with tHl company. Report Lazarus Offer Paul Lazarus, Sr., another UA vetf eran executive, who has been recupei ! ating from a heart attack with whioi he was stricken some months agc| was similarly cut off the compan: payroll recently. Reports yesterda were that the action in this instanc , might be temporary, dependent upofl continuation of Paul Lazarus, Jr! with the company. One version was that the new Uii management has asked Lazarus, Jr to remain without definitive employ rhent conditions and subject to 9! days' notice of termination of his sei vices by either side. It was reportecj that if Lazarus, Jr., accepted the con J ditions his father would be restore1 to the company payroll. Takes Kelly's Title Arthur Kelly, whose UA contract has just expired and who also waj let out by the new management, ha I held the title of executive vice-presi dent, which now goes to Scollarc The latter was in banking before en J tering the industry with the old FBO company as manager of exchang operations. He later became treasure: then executive vice-president of thj old Pathe company. The new management also has dis; continued salary payments to Grad1 well L. Sears, former UA presides who is recuperating from a hear attack suffered two months ago. Th action concerning Sears is regarde< as temporary. His contract with thj company has until the end of nex year to run. UFA Auction (Continued from page 1) rights to a large number of pre-wa German films, including "Blue Angel, the film which brought stardom ti Marlene Dietrich. Bidding on the three studios b; foreign interests is limited to 25 pe cent of the control of any one studic a limitation imposed to keep Holly wood from acquiring the core of th company. No such restriction applie to the rest of the property and Amer ican interests are expected to bid higl for the theatres. Also forbidden to bid are govern ments, political parties, governmen officials, former Nazis and former exi ecutives of UFA when the compan; was the tool of Josef Goebbels, Naz' propaganda chief. Colonial Remodels Housi Atlanta, Aug. 2. — The Carolin; theatre, Hickory, N. C, has been re modeled and redecorated by Colonia Theatres. H. F. Ragsdale, of Atlanta was in charge of the complete pro gram. This included recarpeting, nev; drapes and rest room remodeling.