Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1950)

8 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, November 21, 195( Dramatists Pledge SWG Strike Support Hollywood, Nov. 20.— Moss Hart, president of the American Dramatists Guild, has sent a message of support to the Screen Writers Guild in case the SWG strikes, as it threatens. Moss, in New York, said members of his group would withhold material and refuse to work in struck studios. The SWG directorate has been authorized to call a special membership meeting within two weeks to consider a strike vote against the studios. Carolinians on TV (Continued from page 1) atre Owners of America, said today "there can be no doubt about the impact television has made upon the nation and family life, and theatres will be using it to advantage and improve the present brand of entertainment." Five hundred are here to attend the convention. Pinanski was one of the top theatre men to address the convention. The first session was held this afternoon with J. B. Harvey of Clover, S. C, president, presiding. H. D. Hearn of Charlotte was temporary chairman. An address of welcome was given by Mayor Victor Shaw. Harold Armistead of Easley, S. C, will respond. Roy L. Smart of Charlotte introduced guests. Addresses were given by Pinanski ; A. W. Schwalberg, president, Paramount Film Distributing ; N. L. Halpern, TOA television consultant of New York, and Arthur L. Mayer, executive vice-president of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations. 20th Sales Meets (Continued from page 1) Meeting with them in Chicago were division chiefs Herman Wobber, West; Edwin W. Aaron, Mid-west and Ray Moon, Central. Among the pictures discussed were "American Guerrilla in the Philippines" and "For Heaven's Sake," to be released in December ; "Halls of Montezuma," "The Mudlark" and "The Man Who Cheated Himself," for January ; "I'd Climb the Highest Mountain," "The Scarlet Pen" and "The Sword of Monte Cristo," February, and "Call Me Mister," "Follow the Sun" and "The House on Telegraph Hill," for March. Unit Booking Plan (Continued from page 1) summer, MPPA's Eric Johnston predicted the ending of the plan which requires the booking of two American films as a program unit, rather than an American and a British film. It is being predicted here that the abandonment of the plan will be announced at the banquet which the Motion Picture Association of America and the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers are giving Somervell the week after next, following the signing of the agreement. Somervell sails for New York on Saturday on the Mauretania, due in America Dec. 1. Reviews "Dallas" (Warner Brothers) GARY COOPER mounts the saddle again in a top-grade outdoor action drama. Generous production values, including Technicolor, support the film which makes a bid for attractive business. Ruth Roman keeps the feminine banner flying and support comes from Steve Cochran and Raymond Massey, as the villains ; and Leif Erickson, a fledgling marshal. It is good Western entertainment all around, even though the story is worked out within the standard pattern. With the period just after the Civil War, Cooper portrays a Confederate colonel whose guerrilla activities have resulted in the Federal government putting a price on his head. He goes to Dallas to hunt down brothers Massey, Cochran and Zon Murray who have looted and ruined his home and fortune. En route, Cooper has a chance meeting with Erickson the new marshal from Boston and exchanges identity with him. Erickson also is en route to Dallas to marry his girl, Miss Roman. When Cooper gets his first glimpse of her, he decides to work the identity switch in more respects than one. In the early phases of the story Murray tries to ambush Cooper, with disastrous consequences. The score is now one down and two to go. It becomes a clever two-way cat-and-mouse game as Cooper pursues his prey and they, in turn, pursue him. Punctuating these activities are bursts of gunplay and fisticuffs with the outdoor scenery forming an interesting background for the hostilities. In time, Cooper corners Cochran and brings an end to his depredations. The final elimination of Massey becomes a minor battle. The romantic cross currents between Cooper and Erickson for Miss Roman's hand wind up in Cooper's favor. Anthony Veiller produced and Stuart Heisler directed from the screenplay by John Twist. Running time, 94 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, Dec. 30. Mandel Heebstman a One Too Many (Hallmark) ALCOHOLISM, its impact on family life and the various possible methods of treatment are depicted in an earnest and thought-provoking film produced by Kroger Babb with Ruth Warrick in the role of the unfortunate alcoholic whose fight against the disease forms the story about which the picture is concerned. Although the action is inclined to drag, box-office exploitation is likely to pay off, the subject matter lending itself aptly to endorsement by and tie-ups with Alcholics Anonymous, churches of all faiths, doctors, women's organizations of all types and other interested groups. Malcolm Stuart Boylan's script, from a story by producer Babb cast Miss Warrick as the wife of a small town newspaper reporter. An alcoholic, categorized in dialogue as a compulsive drinker, she fights against her habit unsuccessfully through a series of incidents threatening the welfare of her family, and is shown at the picture's end having been helped by Alcoholics Anonymous, although declaredly not cured. Incidents include a narrow escape from death in a car ride, confinement in a sanitarium and a hospital, and a drunken affront to her husband's employer.. Richard Travis, Ginger Prince, Rhys Williams, Onslow Stevens and Thurston Hall play the principal roles and the picture offers Erne Westmore in a brief bit as himself, the Harmonaires in three vocal numbers, Louis Da Prom in a dance routine with Miss Prince, and the Carlos Molina orchestra. Erie C. Kenton directed. William Stephens was associate producer. Running time, 105 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, Jan. 1, 1951. New York Grosses (Continued from page 1) the second week of "Mines," together with the Music Hall's stage presentation. Friday through Sunday gave the Hall a tally of $86,000. "Trio" is still corraling capacity business at the Sutton, with the sixth week's take put at $14,800. "Breakthrough" started off well enough at the Strand, where the stage bill is headed by singer Mimi Benzell ; Friday through Sunday brought in $30,000 and the initial week is expected to register $65,000. First week of "Copper Canyon," plus a stage show topped by Dick Contino, brought the Paramount a soso $55,000. At the Mayfair, "Rio Grande" got off to a satisfactory start, with $30,000 indicated for the first stanza. At the Astor, "American Guerrilla in the Philippines" has fallen off, with $23,000 due for the second week following an opening week's gross of $48,000. Also unimpressive is "Harriet Craig" at Loew's State, where a third week's $18,000 marks a drop of $10,000 from the second week's gross. Approximately $15,000 is seen for the second week of "Tripoli" at the Globe. This is fair business. "Never a Dull Moment" will open today at the Rivoli where a weak $10,000 was recorded for the second stanza of "Undercover Girl." "The Jackpot" will open tomorrow at the Roxy, where a fair $52,000 is indicated for the final five days of "All About Eve," with a stage and ice revue. The five weeks and five days run of "Eve" is expected to add up to a total gross of $550,000. "Two Weeks with Love" will bow in at the Capitol on Thursday. Second and final week of "Devil's Doorway," together with a stage bill headed by Tommy Dorsey's band, will bring an estimated $42,000; first week brought $53,276. "The Red Shoes," following a continuous run of 107 weeks at the Bijou, ended last Wednesday, and will take up residence at the Victoria today under a continuous performance and popular price policy. "State Secret" recorded a satisfactory $9,000 for its eighth and final week at the Victoria. "Right Cross" is disappointing at the Profits Tax (Continued from page 1) should be used instead, and that irl any event, the tax increase shouk ] not be retroactive. A similar stand was taken by tht* Radio-Television Manufacturers Asi sociation. Robert C. Sprague, RTMA president, said the Association's members would prefer a straj^fet corporate boost to an excess ]k"g Vs tax The latter tax would espe<jtuily hit his industry, he declared, because th( 1946-49 base period was a time oi pioneering and preparation for tele-s vision set manufacturers and theii suppliers, and would not be a fait base: He said if Congress insisted on an excess profits tax, it should allow all "growth" companies — those whose 1950 earnings are at least 50 per cent greater than 1949 earnings — to have an excess profits tax credit at least*K as high as business in general, or onei of 62 per cent of 1950 earnings. Democrats on the Ways and Means group plan to finish hearings Wednesday and start executive sessions Friday. They hope to have a bill through the House by Dec. 6 or 7. Even though this is far earlier than expected, it is believed that it ii still not early enough for Senate action at the coming short session. John A. Kennedy, representing the ' Television Excess Profits Tax Com-I*1 mittee, a group of independent TV broadcasters, urged deferring any excess profits tax on television income until telecasting "has developed to a point where the application of the law will be fair, practical and equi-; & table." He pointed out that television has: been developing so far and that1 !a broadcasters have no normal earning period to use as a base. Moreover, he said, an invested capital base is1 equally inadequate because television profits are based not on investment but on service. 111! W:, % Artigues Resigns Gulf Allied Post New Orleans, Nov. 20. — M. J. Artigues, general manager of Allied Theatre Owners of the Gulf States, has resigned. No announcement of a successor has been made by organization officials. Gulf States' Allied's annual convention will be held at the Roosevelt Hotel here on Dec. 5 and 6. Film clinics patterned after those held at the Allied national convention in Pittsburgh will be highlights of the meeting. Guest speakers will include Trueman Rembusch, national Allied president; Max Youngstein, vicepresident of Paramount Pictures Distributing Co. ; Sam Shain, exhibitor and trade relations director for 20th Century-Fox, and H. M. Richey of. Loew's, Inc. Criterion, with only $16,000 indicatec for the first week. ii 1 ; Martin, Lewis Boost 'Chicago's' Grosses Chicago, Nov. 20. — Personal appearances by Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis are giving the Chicago Theatre its "biggest week this year." Balaban and Katz officials estimate the theatre will take in between $70,000 and $80,000 for the week. Twenty-one thousand persons saw the show on Saturday alone.