Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1951)

Tuesday, March 6, 1951 Motion Picture Daily 7 Hope for 'Freeze' Ruling by Weekend Washington, March 5.— Officials of the Wage Stabilization Board said here today they "certainly hope" to have some ruling by the end of the week on the request of Hollywood producers and talent guilds for relief from the wage "freeze." Spokesmen for the Hollywood groups met with the WSB officials again on Saturday and today. ELC Sales (Continued from page 1) Sell 4Twist' As a 'Regular' Feature "Oliver Twist" prints carrying the seal of the Production Code Administration will be in Eagle Lion Classic's exchanges from next week on, it was reported here yesterday by Bernard G. Kranze, LLC distribution vicepresident. The picture, he added, will be sold as a regular feature, meaning that whatever plans there may have been for increased prices, on a reserved-seat two-a-day policy have been abandoned. April 17 has been set for national release of the film. Howard LeSieur, ELC advertisingpublicity director, announced at the same time that his department will give the picture "A" treatment "all the way." The advertising department, he added, is prepared to spend more _ in promoting the film than is set aside ordinarily for regular company releases. Referring to the promotional effort and sums expended on a previous J. Arthur Rank film that went through U. A., LeSieur said "Oliver Twist" will receive " 'Red Shoes' treatment on a regular release." New NPA Unit (Continued from page 1) needed in an area being built up by the Atomic Energy Commission, the OCR might help the owner get building materials. Again, if a studio is having trouble getting a particular item essential to its operations, OCR might help out. The NPA film division, headed by Nathan D. Golden, will remain as the group charged with administering controls affecting the film industry and working out broad material problems that affect the entire industry. OCR will come in chiefly as a helper in individual cases where something is needed for an essential service. The new head of the division, announced today, is Lewis Allen Weiss, former chairman of the board of the Mutual Broadcasting System and an NPA consultant since Jan. IS. He was prominent in California broad casting circles and briefly was a man agement adviser for the Hughes Air craft Co. justice to foreign product." Prestige formerly handled J. Arthur Rank "art" product going through Universal here. An individual to head up the new "art" sales unit will be named soon by Kranze, who once was associated with the Prestige set-up. He pointed out that not all foreign-made pictures released by ELC will be channeled into the new unit. "Just pictures which seem to be designed for 'art' theatres' screens" will be sold through it, he explained. The appointee will tour the country to sell the films. The following three-month regular release schedule was announced by Kranze: "My Outlaw Brother" (formerly "My Brother, the Outlaw"), produced by Benedict Bogeaus, starring Mickey Rooney, Wanda Hendrix and Robert Preston, March 15; "Circle of Danger," produced by David E. Rose, starring Ray Milland and Patricia Roc, March 22 ; "Skipalong Rosenbloom," starring" Maxie Rosen bloom and Max Baer, April 3 ; "Bad man's Gold," produced by Jack Schwarz, April 3 ; "The Long Dark Hall," produced by Peter Cusick, starring Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer April 10 ; "Oliver Twist," starring Robert Newton and Alec Guinness April 17 ; "When I Grow Up," produced by S. P. Eagle, starring Bobby Driscoll and Robert Preston, Apri 20 ; "Volcano," produced and directed by Willian Dieterle, starring Anna Magnani, May 1 ; "Fighting Rebels," produced by Schwarz, May 8; "Cairo Road," a Bering Production, May 8; "Hoodlum," produced by Schwarz, May 15 ; "Two Guys and a Gal," produced by John Arent, May 15; "Man With My Face," produced by and starring Ed Gardner, May 22. Early June, Kranze said, will see release of Cusick's "Pardon My French" and Schwarz's "Revenge." Kranze said he expects to appoint an assistant distribution-executive in the near future. In answer to reporters' questions, Kranze said the company's contracts with its producers provide that pictures are not to be made available for television showings until after they have completed all theatre runs. N.Y. Grosses (Continued from page 1) Compo Seminar (Continued from page 1) 6 Rank Films to Mayfair for West Los Angeles, March 5. — Six J. Arthur Rank productions comprise the initial release schedule of the newly-formed distributing" company, Mayfair Pictures, here. The company will service 11 Western states with offices in San Francisco, Seattle and Portland, as well as here. British featurettes and American reissues also are on the company's schedule. for the first seminar. Sullivan will leave here today by train for the Coast. Noting that exhibition appears to be "flexible" on the question of a date for the first seminar, Sullivan said once he learns what time would be satisfactory to the Coast segment of the industry, plans can get under way accordingly. The COMPO seminars, approved at a meeting of the all-industry agency board in New York last year, are intended to implement a closer working relationship between the various branches of the industry. Herman M. Levy, TOA general counsel, will accompanv Sullivan to the Coast. Ted R. Gamble, TOA stalwart, who is in Hollywood at present, is expected to join Sullivan in the seminar planning conferences. some time. Top stage attraction is songstress Josephine Baker, whose appearance was heralded by ads on newspaper concert pages, in addition to regular cinema spots. Another newcomer is "Three Guys Named Mike" at the Capitol where an all-right $43,000 is due for a first week. Johnnie Long's band is on stage. "Cry Danger" is bowing out at the Paramount after a two-week stand ; an estimated $50,000 gross for the final week is not bad; "Molly" will open there tomorrow. "Payment on Demand" is having a fair third and final week at the Music Hall, with $105,000 expected. "Royal Wedding" and the annual Easter show, staged by Leon Leonidoff, will open there on Thursday. At the Roxy, "U.S.S. Teakettle" is modest in a second week, with about $55,000 expected, but it will hold for a third week; the Ritz Brothers are on stage. "Born Yesterday" is still a consistent money-maker at the Victoria, with a fine $24,000 expected for an 11th week. Also holding up well is "Tomahawk" at Loew's State, with a gross of about $15,000 due for a third week. At the Rivoli, "The 13th Letter" is having a fair second week, with $12,000 estimated. "14 Hours" Opens "Harvey" bowed out of the Astor yesterday after 11 weeks, with $9,500 racked up for the last six days. Last night "14 Hours" had its premiere there, with the regular run startingtoday. "Target Unknown" opened at the Criterion on Saturday with the first week's gross heading for a satisfactory $15,000. "No Orchids for Miss Blandish" is holding up well at the Globe, with $15,000 expected for a second week. Two reissues, "Dodge City" and "Virginia City," are still doing excellent business at the Mayfair, with an approximate $16,000 gross for a second week. The Bijou's long run of "Cyrano de Bergerac," showing twice a day, continues in a 17th week, with a satisfactory $8,000 expected. "Trio" at the Sutton is still moving along in a 22nd week, with a gross of about $5,500 due. "Of Men and Music," which has been doing excellent business at the Park Avenue, is down a bit to a $7,000 gross for a third week, but that figure is still excellent for the house. Beznor Hits 'Freeze' In Johnston Plea Milwaukee, March 5. — In a wire to Eric A. Johnston, Economic Stabilization Administrator in Washington, David Beznor, general counsel of the Colesseum of Motion Picture Salesmen of America, has appealed for the exemption of film salesmen's salaries from the wage freeze. "Immediate relief is necessary to permit freedom of collective bargaining," Beznor urged. He is due to open negotiations soon with the distributors. Studio Labor Peace (Continued from page 1) meeting, was the principal issue dealt with, again unsuccessfully, in a second meeting late on Friday. Brewer today said he has no intention of letting the matter drop, and that he believes a common ground for a compromise can be found, possibly in another meeting some time this week. None has been scheduled so far. Although the offer has been made to all unions on an all-or-none basis, the IATSE has taken the lead in negotiations and the belief is that others will follow the IATSE pattern. The offer, which includes a cost-ofliving provision following the General Motors formula and using the Jan. 15 price level as a base point, represents approximately $4,000,000 annually at the present production employment rate, according to studio statisticians. It would go into effect on acceptance. N. Y. ITOA Okays Compo Plan The Independent Theatre Owners Association of New York haT ratified the orooosed change in the bv-laws of COMPO. Heineman-UA (Continued from page 1) industry has had a harder-hitting sales force on quality product," Heineman told the U. A. personnel. "I know that given a steady flow of quality product you will come through with the kind of performance that will again place United Artists among the very top majors of the industry. Every person in this company will be given ample opportunity to prove his worth by pulling his own weight in the tremendous job that lies before us," Heineman said, indicating" that he starts his job with no plans for a turnover of personnel. His message reported "expressions of good will and cooperation" received bv United Artists from leading exhibitors as well as independent producers. U.S.-Italian Pact (Continued from page 1) resentative in Italy, upon his arrival on the SS. He de France. _ Canty said it was an "adjustable situation" and added the expectation that the forthcoming study here of the Italian delegation will lead to a film agreement. The delegation will sail for America today on the 6*6" Queen Mary. The committee is composed of Eitel Monaco, president of ANICA, representing" general trade organization ; Dr. Renato Gualino, president of the Italian Producers Association ; Francesco Penotti, president of the Italian Distributors Association ; Italo Gemini, president of the Italian Exhibitors Association, and Michele Lauria, secretary of the delegation. Canty said he would report today to John McCarthy, MPAA vice-president in charge of the international division. Cohen Named (Continued from page 1) the ELC board as well. The latter has become United Artists' distribution vice-president. Cohen, who is 46, started his film career as a salesman with UA in Chicago in 1929, joining Columbia in a similar capacity in 1931. The following j'ear he became Columbia's Detroit sales manager, and in 1938 took a similar post with RKO, becoming RKO Detroit branch manager in 1942. Cohen is scheduled to begin a tour of ELC exchanges at an early date.