Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1950)

6 Motion Picture Daily SayWald-RKO To Sign Pact Hollywood, Aug'. 10— An agreement appears near on a contract under which the Jerry Wald-Norman Krasna production company would make 12 pictures annually for five years for RKO-Radio as an eightweek negotiation period draws to a deadline Saturday midnight. Both parties today displayed confidence that the final details will be settled to their mutual satisfaction by Saturday. Jerry Wald, who left the Warner lot to launch his own company, said today all matters have been agreed upon except autonomy, and that he anticipates no hitch on this point. Asked whether negotiations^ would be continued beyond the deadline if this or other differences develop, Wald said, "There is no provision for continuation of negotations beyond Saturday midnight. Besides, we have four other offers which come up for consideration Monday if we are available at that time. We like the setup here at RKO and want to stay here if we can do so on a basis that will enable us do our best work." C. J. Tevlin, who has been conducting the negotiations for RKO, said, "I am confident the deal will go through." Asked whether autonomy is among the final details to be settled, Tevlin said, "That depends on what is meant by autonomy. The word has not come up in our negotiations. Certainly Wald-Krasna would have complete autonomy on every picture after it is set. On some matters, such as how much the picture is to cost, who's to be in it, etc., RKO would want some measure of control, as is normal for the distributor. I have no doubt we can come to agreement about this." Review Columbia to Make 2 On Defense A ctivities Columbia is preparing to make two productions based on current defense activities in the nation's capital and overseas. The projects are "The Flying Jeeps," story of the cub observation planes which are used as the "eyes" of jet fighters in the Korean war, and "Pentagon," a semi-documentary de signed to show how security problems are handled out of the hub of the nation's military headquarters. Pro ducer Robert Cohn has submitted outlines of the stories to Defense De partment officials in Washington. Hughes-Brandt (Continued from page 1) effectiveness next January of warran ties given now. The result has been a delay in closing the deal while lawyers endeavor to work out the problem Thomas Slack, Hughes' attorney, will remain in New York on that aspect. Dietrich said a deal could be closed whenever the problem is worked out but declined to predict how long it might take. 37 Y2c Disney Dividend Hollywood, Aug. 10. — The board of directors of Walt Disney Productions declared a regular quarterly dividend of 37y2 cents per share on its out standing six per cent cumulative con vertible preferred stock, payable Oct. 1 to holders of record on Sept. 16. A Life of Her Own" (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) AFTER a two-year hiatus, Lana Turner has resumed her auspicious screen career with a role that is high in emotional content. And costarred now with Ray Milland, she give a first-rate performance in a demanding part. These considerations, and the fact that "A Life of Her Own" is the story of a beautiful New York model's unsuccessful bout with love, establish this Voldemar Vetluguin production as a woman's picture of the first magnitude. . , Backgrounded by lavish metropolitan settings and keenly appreciative ot tasteful feminine attire, the film, as written by Isobel Lennart, nevertheless takes a sardonic view of the modeling profession and some of its alleged traditions of shallowness and insincerity. Here is the picture's leitmotif, and it is evoked by touches of humor and irony that emerge from time to time to save a resolute love story from descending to soap-opera. The plot is refreshingly uncomplicated, and develops under George Cukor s direction with a fluidity and momentum that tend to make the film seem of less duration than its 108 minutes. Miss Turner plays a country girl who goes to New York to succeed as a model. Forewarned by a tragic example against some of the indiscretions which the film would have models tempted by, Miss Turner, by virtue of hard work and unswerving application, soon reaches the pinnacle of the profession. Notwithstanding this, she senses an emptiness in her life. This is soon corrected when she falls deeply in love with Milland, a married mining engineer who is required to make frequent business trips to New York. The hitch is that Milland's^ wife is a hopeless cripple, a victim of an auto accident in which he was involved. Thus a love born of pity makes it impossible for him to leave his wife in the lurch. Meanwhile, Miss Turner, despite a vigorous determination, is unable to bring herself to reveal her love affair to the wife when the two come face to face. Milland in the interim had set up1 Miss Turner in an apartment. The lovers part finally with Milland returning West and the model deciding to face life as best she can without the man she loves. Some choice acting is brought to the fore at times, no little of it by supporting players Louis Calhem, Margaret Phillips, Ann Dvorak and Tom Ewell. Milland is good for the most part, notwithstanding his being handicapped by a one-dimensional role. However, the major honors go to Miss Turner, for whom no doubt there are eager audiences waiting. Running time, 108 minutes. Adult audience classification. For September release. C. L. F. Asks INto Films For Russia 10. — Immedi [ of America urged upo wire sent b. Columbus, O., Aug ate ban on shipments films to Russia was President Truman in a P. J. Wood, secretary of the Indt pendent Theatre Owners of Ohi( Wood's wire followed his reading c a column by W. Wa; LJVTarsh, ff| editor of the ClevelaiX^Aain Dealt in which Marsh said tnac, in the ligl of "what is going on all over tH world — particularly in Korea and tH U. N. Security Council, the Motio Picture Export Association should rr vise its plan for sending 20 Holh wood pictures to Russia." Para.'s 'Boulevard Sets Year's High Paramount's "Sunset Boulevard' which opened at the Music Hall heii yesterday, was heading for the bigge;; opening day business for the housJ this year. Based on business up to si P. M. yesterday, it was heading for 1 gross of $21,000. Meanwhile, "Three Little Wordsi which opened at Loew's State her] Wednesday was slated to draw healthy $14,000 for its first two day The figure equals the first two da) of its predecessor, "Annie Get Yoi:' Gun." RKO-Reade Delay (Continued from page 1) The decree was scheduled to have been entered by the court yesterday in consequence of the inability of RKO Theatres and Reade to agree between themselves on terms for dissolution of the partnership, as required by RKO's Federal consent decree. The Storrs' estate reportedly has retained new attorneys and asked for additional time for them to familiarize themselves with the case. RKO did not oppose the request for delay and the court set Aug. 21 for the next hearing. Presumably, further efforts will be made in the meantime by RKO and Reade to agree on dissolution terms, although prior to yesterday's scheduled hearing talks between the two had bogged down. RKO owns 50 per cent of the 12theatre circuit and once made an offer of $1,600,000 for the ReadeStorrs' estate holdings. The offer subsequently was reduced to $1,500,000. Reade countered with an offer to buy out RKO's interest at book value, considerably under the price offered to him. RKO next applied to the court for a dissolution order and specified terms. Linda Darnell Opens 3-day Tour Tonight Linda Darnell arrived here from the Coast yesterday and tonight will begin a three-day personal appearance tour of metropolitan theatres in behalf of Darryl F. Zanuck's "No Way Out," in which she appears. The tour will culminate at the picture's world premiere at the 20th-Fox Rivoli Theatre on Wednesday. Miss Darnell is scheduled to appear at the Roxy tonight, along with radio stars Tex and Jinx McCrary. 'IA' Convention (Continued from page 1) Para. Profit (Continued from page 1) make-up artists, electricians, carpenters, grips and propertymen. There will be workers from the home offices of the film companies in New York ; inspectors, shippers and clerks from the film exchanges, projectionists from film houses, stagehands and wardrobe mistresses from the legitimate houses ; boxoffice staffs, doormen and ushers from theatres of all sorts, and technical employes of the television studios. They will meet in the Masonic Temple Drill Hall. This biennial convention of the organization is being held in Detroit for the first time since 1928. The "IA" general executive board has been in session all this week at the Hotel Statler, with International president Richard F. Walsh presiding. The convention will be addressed by Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of America; William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor ; Senator Hubert Humphrey; Congressman Roy W. Wier of Minneapolis (an IATSE member) and Joseph D. Keenan, national director of Labor's League for Political Education. Among those scheduled for addresses of welcome are Governor G. Mennen Williams, Mayor Albert E. Cobo, Council President Louis Miriani, George Dean, president of the Michigan State Federation of Labor ; Frank K. Martel, president of the Detroit and Wayne County Federation of Labor, and David Newman of the Detroit Motion Picture Exhibitors Association. The convention will be opened by E. Clyde Adler, president of Detroit Studio Mechanics Local No. 812. Temporary chairman will be fifth International vice-president Roger M. Kennedy. B. DuMont Laboratories, Inc. The above earnings include only f o , I; eign film revenues which are remi table in dollars. It is the pracuY of Paramount's domestic companies 1 record such revenues only to the e: I tent that dollars are receivable in Ne York. The consolidated estimated earnini of $1,385,000 for the second quart : mentioned above represents 52 cen» per share on the 2,641,544 shares ou| standing and in the hands of the pu/ lie on July 1. Computed on the san basis, the $2,826,000 of estimated eari >A ings as above for the six months 'I 1950 represent $1.07 per share. There were 3,172,870 shares of tl' i common stock of Paramount Pictur j outstanding in the hands of the publ | at the end of the corporation's fir I quarter on April 1. Between April ! and July 1, the corporation purchasi for retirement 531,326 shares of i common stock, leaving 2,641,5' shares outstanding in the hands of tl i public on July 1. Since that date has purchased additional shares of im common stock for retirement, therel reducing the number of shares on standing as of Aug. 10 to 2,615,648 Ugast Promoted (Continued from page 1) vise the entire Far Eastern operatio! of 20th Century-Fox in territories ii eluding India, Pakistan, Burma, Ce; Ion, Siam, Singapore, Indonesia, Ph lippines, Hong Kong, French Indi China, China and Japan, the latter association with the Motion Pictui Export Association. Ugast has been in the motion pi' ture business for 26 years. Prior i 1946, when he joined 20th Centur Fox, he was associated with Par; mount and United Artists in posts Europe and the Far East.