Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1951)

6 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, February 20, 1951 Swiss TV ( Continued from page 1) Reviews tiations in Zurich recently which marked 20th-Fox's identification with the system. The consensus of those who heard Charles Skouras yesterday appeared to be that it would take two or three weeks of contemplation and review of possibilities before any one of those present could venture to speculate on the extent to which the new development might influence the circuit executives' mass orders plan. Calculations have pointed to the likelihood that 200 orders from exhibitors at one time would result in a reduction in the price of theatre TV units from $25,000 apiece to around $15,000. Pledges are said to have been made thus far for approximately 100 units, 71 of which would go to Fox West Coast Theatres, a National Theatres subsidiary. It was pointed out following the meeting yesterday that the Swiss Institute of Technology will need from 18 months to two years for further development work on the new system before production could be put into "full swing." . With Federal Communications Commission hearings on theatre TV frequencies to start shortly, some of those connected with the mass orders plan now are wondering if circumstances will be such as to make advisable a waiting period of 18 months to two years. , ( Among those present at yesterday s meeting, which was held at United Paramount Theatres home office, were George Skouras, Ted R. Gamble, Frank C. Walker, Joseph Vogel, Fred J. Schwartz, Leonard H. Goldenson, Gael Sullivan, Robert O'Brien, Paul Raibourn, Nathan L. Halpern and Luther Gamble. Nat'l Theatres Postpones Meeting; Discussion Will Swing Around TV Los Angeles, Feb. 19.— Every division and department of National Theatres will be represented here at the opening of a three-day meeting of the circuit, the agenda of which is "dedicated to an analysis and roundtable discussion of methods to stimulate business at the box-office." The sessions, to be held at the company's home office, will highlight the annual district managers and division presidents conference. The four-day meet will get under way next Monday. Charles P. Skouras, president of National Theatres, and of its related Fox West Coast Theatres, will preside at the main confabs. He is expected to discuss the new Swiss directprojection television development, known as the Ediphone, in which 20th Century-Fox has obtained an interest, and which was recently inspected by Skouras and 20th-Fox executives on a trip to Zurich, from New York._ Division executives of National Theatres on the roster of delegates attending the meetings will include Rick Ricketson, Denver ; Elmer Rhoden, Kansas City; Frank Newman, Sr., Portland; Harold Fitzgerald, Milwaukee ; David Idzal, Detroit ; Harold Seidenberg, Philadelphia. Executives from here will include H. C. Cox, NT treasurer; George Bowser, FWC general manager, and Dick Dickson, Southern California, FWC division manager ; Spencer Leve, San Francisco. "Lightning Strikes Twice" ( Warner Broth ers ) A MYSTERY-DRAMA with psychological trimmings, "Lightning Strikes Twice" offers many a puzzling moment for armchair sleuths. The story is styled along conventional lines and unfolds against shadowy backgrounds and moody atmosphere. Richard Todd heads the cast as a young man who retreats into surly silence after being acquitted of the murder of his wife. Others in the cast include Ruth Roman, Mercedes McCambridge and Zachary Scott. The screenplay by Lenore Coffee builds up in suspense but there are many incredulities that rob it of potential impact. Miss Roman plays an attractive young actress bound for a vacation on a Texas ranch. The story takes her through a series of coincidents that get her involved in the aftermath of the murder. Riding in a borrowed car in a raging storm, she takes refuge in a nearby house where Todd happens to have sequestered himself. Miss Roman finds herself strangely attracted to him. The next morning she heads for the ranch where more melodramatic events seem to have taken place. Save for Miss McCambridge and her brother, the ranch is deserted. There is considerable chatter back and forth over the guilt or innocence of Todd. In time Miss Roman decides to marry Todd but then becomes the victim of her own fears and flees from him in terror. Determined to find out for herself whether he really killed his wife, Miss Roman does some probing which finally brings clarity. It comes to light that Miss McCambridge, who was in love with Todd, actually killed Todd's wife when she discovered her with another man. Meanwhile, Todd, thinking that his foster father committed the murder, tried to cover up by allowing the suspicion to fall upon himself. The acting is as competent as the cumbersome script allows. King Vidor directed and Henry Blanke produced. Running time, 91 minutes. Adult audience classification. Release date, Feb. 20. Mandel Herbstman Navy Bound (Monogram) Hollywood, Feb. 19 TUCKED neatly into this smooth little tale about a sailor boxer is more story, interest and impact than anybody might expect in its 60-minute dimension. Although light insofar as marquee names are concerned — Tom Neal's and Regis Toomey's being the best known — the production is likely to give its audiences more down-to-earth satisfaction than many longer and so-caffed. bigger attractions. Producer William F. Broidy, director Paul Landres and screenplay wright Sam Roeca have done a right spanking job with Talbert Joselyn's Collier Magazine story of the same title, this last circumstance of derivation furnishing an advertising angle that should not be overlooked by the practical showman. The story opens with Neal, a sailor boxing for the fleet championship, which he wins, just before being mustered out, the latter against the wishes of his pals and commander. Going home, he finds his father, a fishing-boat operator, in financial straits, and his foster-brother endangering the parental "fortunes" by estranging fishing crews and shore associates. Numerous complications arising from this state of affairs, and from the indecision of Wendy Waldron as to which of the boys she wishes to marry, lead to a situation in which Neal unwillingly agrees to fight a professional boxer on a winner-take-all basis. He is losing the fight until his sailor pals arrive at the ringside, after which he wins the purse, puts the parental house in order, and rejoins the Navy. (It sounds corny, but it isn't handled that way) John Abbott, Murray Alper, Paul Bryar, and especially Ric Roman, give sturdy support. Running time, 60 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, March 4. Fury of the Congo (Columbia) SAM KATZMAN'S latest production in the series based on the comic strip figures, Jungle Jim, and starring Johnny Weissmuller, is tailored for the juvenile trade. Direction by William Berke keeps the action moving along familiar lines, with Carroll Young's story revolving around the activities of a narcotics ring seeking a source of supply in the jungle. Weissmuller rescues a pilot following a crash landing. William Henry the pilot, passes himself off as a police inspector assigned to find Joel Friedkin, a biochemistry professor, who has disappeared. Henry is actually the leader of the narcotics ring that has captured the professor and is forcing him to make a drug from a gland excretion of the Okongo, an animal sacred to a tribe that has been enslaved by the gang. Weissmuller, after a series of narrow escapes from both the gang and a fantastically large desert spider manages to capture the gang. Others in the cast are Sherry Moreland, Lyle Talbot, George Eldredge, Rusty Wescoatt, Paul Marion and Blanca Vischer Running time, 69 minutes. General audience classification. For April release. 'Cyrano' in Portland First Northwest opening of Stanley Kramer's "Cyrano de Bergerac" has been set for Portland, Ore., where the Jose Ferrer starrer for United Artists release will begin a roadshow run on Thursday. Sam Nathanson, Kramer advance man, is in Portland handling the advance campaign for the opening. '14 Hours' Opens March 5 "Fourteen Hours," 20th CenturyFox production starring Paul Douglas Richard Basehart, Barbara Bel Geddes and Debra Paget, will have an invitational world premiere on Mon day evening, March 5, at New York's Astor Theatre. It follows the run of U-I's "Harvey." Music Fees Apply To Stage Shows Ottawa, Feb. 19.— The Canadian Copyright Appeal Board has approved a demand from the Composers, Authors and Publishers Association of Canada for permission to collect music fees from motion picture theatres which present stage shows unaccompanied by motion pictures. Theatre companies objected to the proposed fee at public hearings held here. At the same time, the Copyright Board refused to fix a music fee for television stations in Canada until they start actual operations. Name Goldenson to Head JDA Unit Leonard H. Goldenson, president of United Paramount Theatres, was named chairman of the motion picture exhibitors committee of the amusements division of the Joint Defense Appeal, Herman Robbins, division chairman, announced here yesterday. Goldenson will mobilize support among all theatre executives for the JDA drive, which is seeking half of its national goal of $6,000,000 in the Mertopolitan New York area, making it the largest campaign of its kind ever held in this city. Meanwhile, Robbins has appointed four more industry executives to key posts in the division. They are Saul Trauner, branch manager of Columbia Pictures, who will head the exchange committee ; Edward Seider, Prudential Film Delivery executive, named chairman of the film delivery committee ; Allen G. Smith, branch manager of National Theatre Supply, chairman of the supply dealers committee, and William H. German, president of J. E. Brulatour, Inc., chairman of the laboratory committee. Walsh, Back in N. Y., Readies Meet Report Richard F. Walsh, IATSE international president, has returned to New York from Tucson and Hollywood where he engaged in, respectively, a meeting of the "IA" board and conferences with Coast labor leaders. Announcement of business transacted and decisions reached by the board is being withheld pending formal notice to the membership. Legion Reviews Nine; Two Are in Class "C" Nine additional films have been reviewed by the National Legion of Decency, of which "Manon," (French) Discina International Films, and "No Orchids for Miss Blandish," Alliance Films, were rated Class C. "Payment on Demand," RKO, was listed in Class "B" and the others in Class "A." Under section one, Class "A" are "Gene Autry and the Mounties," Columbia, and "Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm," UniversalInternational. In Class "A," section two, are: "Another Shore," (British), Pentagon Pictures ; "Only the Valiant,-" Warner; "Royal Wedding," M-G-M, and "Three Guys Named Mike," M-G-M.