Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1950)

Motion Picture Daily Monday, August 14, 195( Para. Publicity Shifts Posts Several assignment changes in the Paramount publicity and exploitation departments were announced Friday by Max E. Youngstein, advertisingpublicity vice-president. Fred Goldberg, formerly syndicate contact, will be in charge of promotional tie-ups under Sid Mesibov, exploitation manager and John Tassos will take over as syndicate contact. Bob Montgomery has been appointed editor of the Paramount News, house organ of the sales department, under manager Mort Nathanson, succeeding Milt Hoffman, resigned. Hoffman, with Paramount for the past eight years, will return to Minneapolis where he will operate a publicity and advertising business. 'Bergerac' Tour Is Set for Jose Ferrer A nationwide lecture tour and star personal appearances, has been set for Jose Ferrer in connection with "Cyrano De Bergerac," Stanley Kramer's latest production for United Artists release. Initial appearance of the star is slated for Aug. 24 in San Francisco, as the first of an 11-city circuit. Appearances in each city will be sponsored and advertised by top department stores and civic organizations, and lectures on educational and other values of "Cyrano" will be made to women's clubs, church organizations, school and other educational systems, fashion groups, film exhibitors, etc. Review 9f On the Isle of Samoa (Columbia) 'T^ N THE ISLE OF SAMOA" treats an old theme in standard fashion but with an eye to exploitation angles. The picture will appeal to those who find fascination in forgotten, faraway islands peopled with sarongclad girls and happy-go-lucky natives who, not knowing the value of money, live a presumably happier life. _ Photographed in soft sepiatone and incorporating some lively native tribal dances, the film has its moments of excitement and romance, with a little message tied in for those who overestimate the happiness that comes _ from the possession of money. It certainly is the kind of film family audiences should enjoy. . re produced by Wallace MacDonald, the picture was directed by William Berke without any attempt at originality. Brenda Weisberg and Harold Greene wrote the screenplay which contains a number of lengthy orations on the importance of peace-of-mind. Jon Hall as the hunted robber, who crashes on the little island while trying to escape, does the best he can with his rather skimpy part. Raymond Greenleaf is credible as the old missionary who has elected to spend the rest of his days oh the island. Hall, with the stolen money in his plane and a murder-rap on his conscience', tries to leave the island as soon as possible. Susan Cabot, a native, falls in love with him and does not want him to leave. A volcanic eruption foils the take-off. Hall realizes he loves Susan and signals a passing boat to take him back to civilization. He leaves, promising Susan he will return. Running time, 65 minutes. General audience classification. August release. Mandel Herbstman Para.'s 'Boulevard' (Continued from page 1) To Star Peruvian Singer Hollywood, Aug. 13. — Mrs. Helen Rathvon and Leith Stevens have an for the day was $22,225. On the basis of business up to four o'clock Friday the picture was heading for approximately the same gross, giving the box-office close to $45,000 for the two days. With weekend business correspondingly high, the film should do a lusty $170,000 or better for the week. nounced the formation of an independent producing company and the engagement of Yma Sumac, Peruvian concert singer, to star in its first picture. No release channel was named. TYPICAL PREVIEW COMMENTS ... AND HOW RIGHT! Chicago, III. — "Tense, gripping and superbly done. An A No. 1 film." New Haven, Conn. — "Very exciting, wonderful entertainment, a real thriller." Republic Meeting (Continued from page 1) Eastern branch managers at this final meeting. There will be a discussion of the merchandising of top product, including John Ford's "Rio Grande," starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara ; "Surrender," with Vera Ralston, John Carroll and Walter Brennan ; "Hit Parade of 1951," with John Carroll and Marie McDonald; "The Golden Tide," with Rod Cameron, Adrian Booth and Forrest Tucker, and "California Passage," with Adele Mara and Forrest Tucker. Present at the New York meeting will be : Edward L. Walton, assistant general sales manager; Walter L. Titus, Jr., division manager ; John P Curtin, New England division manager ; A. E. Schiller, manager of branch operations ; Richard T. Yates, executive assistant to Grainger ; John Alexander, manager of the contract department, and Edward Riester, manager of the service department. Branch managers to be present include : William Murphy, New York ; Norman Silverman, Philadelphia ; Arthur Newman, Albany ; Leon A. Herman, Buffalo; Frank Dervin, Boston; Jerome Lewis, New Haven ; I. T. Sweeney, Pittsburgh ; George H. Kirby, Cincinnati ; Jake Flax, W ashington; E. H. Brauer, Atlanta; J. H. Dillon, Charlotte ; Harold Laird, Tampa ; Sam Seplowin, Detroit, and I. H. Pollard, Cleveland. Other executives present will include : William Saal, executive assistant to Yates ; Richard W. Altschuler, president of Republic International ; Douglas T. Yates, assistant foreign sales manager ; John Petrauskas, Jr., treasurer ; Steve Edwards, director of advertising and publicity ; Milton Silver, executive assistant to Edwards, and Dennis Carlin, advertising manager. Will Cite Disney Films Walt Disney will be presented with a bronze plaque designating his "Treasure Island" the picture-of-themonth selection for Sept., by the Protestant Motion Picture Council, on the occasion of the Broadway premiere of his all-live-action Technicolor film at New York's Mayfair Theatre tomorrow. Leo Samuels will accept for Disney. 'Old Faces' Still Pulling Hollywood, Aug. 13. — The popula: belief that American film goers as i whole are tired of "old faces" on th<< nation's screens is not borne out by current Audience Research compila^ tions made in connection with its con-i tinuous audit of an individual player'; ability to sell tickets at she box-office .' individual's on the strength name alone. Current tabulations of this con-i tinuous study reveal an increased willingness on the part of the public to; buy tickets to see long-establisheo stars, according to Beverly Jones, AR1; vice-president. Ticket selling strength: of almost all long estbalished starshas risen from two to six points since the winter of 1949, according to Jones Overall, with a couple of exceptions, ticket selling strength of the established stars and older stars is at an all time high, with more strength shown among female stars than among males. Consequently those who choose a waning interest in established stars as the major reason for the decrease of business at the box-office must look to other causes, Jones says. No Blanket Approval "This vote of confidence in the Hollywood star and player roster does not imply in any manner, that the American moviegoer is not interested in 'new faces,' or the development ol new stars and screen personalities," Jones said, adding, "Nor does it imply blanket approval of the type of picture and subject matter of all the pictures in which the established stars have appeared. "It does mean however, that, in general, moviegoers are satisfied with the work of established stars and want to see them on the screen now more than they did last fall and will buy more tickets to see them if they get to know about the pictures in which the stars appear and the pictures have entertainment value," he said, "These latest findings do not imply, either, that the film-going public won't buy tickets to see a picture having exceptional subject matter treatment but having a cast with little or no ticket selling strength," according to| Jones. "They do imply that pictures having a combination of established stars and high enjoyment value due to exceptional subject matter treatment should lure plenty of ticket buyers." Si :■ 100 NBC TV Programs National Broadcasting in the fall will be originating each week morei than 100 individual television programs from New York City. BANKING FOR THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY I iSrfH — COMPAN sJTrust NEW YORK MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION