Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1951)

2 Motion Picture Daily Friday, March 9, 1951 Personal Mention EK. O'SHEA, vice-president of • Paramount Film Distributing Corp., is slated to return here today from St. Louis. • Ed Leftwich, television director, has resigned from Young and Rubicam to join the radio and TV production firm of Masterson, Reddy and Nelson. Herman Silverman, Wometco Theatre Circuit executive, has flown back to Miami from Nassau where he suffered injuries in a boating accident. William B. Zoellner, head of MG-M's short subject and newsreel sales, is due to leave here Sunday for the Midwest. Edward Morey, Monogram first assistant director, and Mrs. Morey announce the birth of a daughter, Deborah, their fourth child. • Leo S. Rosencrans, film and radio writer, has arrived in Hollywood from New York to join the staff of Jerry Fairbanks Productions. • J. J. Cohn, M-G-M studio executive, has left New York for Miami before returning to the Coast. • Eric Johnston, Economic Stabilization Agency administrator, will speak over the CBS network tonight, e Marvin Fish, of Realart Pictures' advertising department, has become engaged to Frances Alterman. To Honor Freeman Hollywood, March 8. — Y. Frank Freeman will be the honor guest at a dinner Wednesday evening, at the Beverly Hills Hotel on the occasion of his accepting the Association of Motion Picture Producers board chairmanship for another year. About 100 industry leaders will attend. Reviews The Sword of Monte Cristo {Edward L. Alperson—20th Century-Fox) SOME swashbuckling adventure along a familiar pattern is offered in Edward L. Alperson's "The Sword of Monte Cristo." The picture's note however lies in the fact that it is the first to be unveiled in the new Supercinecolor. The process is splendid in quality. Its tones are soft and its colors were reproduced with impressive fidelity. There are many good exploitation points in the picture which is set in France during the reign of Louis Napoleon. The well-meaning Emperor's minister, Berry Kroeger, is a ruthless despot who keeps the people under his corrupt fist. Meanwhile in Normandy a rebellious group has arisen to bedevil the evil rulers. A member of the group is Paula Corday, beautiful niece of a marquis, who in secret, dons the robes of a masked cavalier, and plays havoc with the Royal Dragoons. Miss Corday rides a horse, leaps about, and outduels professional swordsmen with all the dash and agility of a Douglas Fairbanks. It develops that Miss Corday is in possession of the fabled sword of Monte Cristo which, in symbol, bears the location of a fabulous treasure. There follows a dangerous cat-and-mouse game between Miss Corday and Kroeger for possession of the sword. Kroeger has no qualms about torturing and cajoling Miss Corday's uncle, Robert Warwick, into deciphering the symbols on the sword. When his own captain, George Montgomery, falls out of line, Kroeger has him tossed into a dungeon. Finally, Montgomery and his imprisoned men break out of the dungeons, and with the aid of Miss Corday, succeed in overcoming the oppressors. The finale sees the emperor restore civil liberties and convey his blessings upon Miss Corday and Montgomery. Edward L. Alperson, Jr., was associate producer. Maurice Geraghty directed and wrote the screenplay. Running time, 80 minutes. General audience classification, March release. Mandel Herbstman Carl N. Johnson Dies Omaha, March 8.— Carl N. Johnson, owner of the Grand Theatre, Red Oak, la., died here today of a cerebral hemorrhage. He was stricken at the Monogram exchange. Dakota Tax Bills Die Washington, March 8. — The North Dakota legislature has adjourned without taking any action on a bill authorizing localities to impose admission taxes and license fees, according to Jack Bryson, legislative representative of the Motion Picture Association of America. W. Va. Bill Lowers Tax Wheeling, March 8. — The state senate has passed and sent to the house a bill which would reduce from three per cent to two per cent the amusement tax authorized for local imposition in cities with home-rule taxing powers. "Texans Never Cry" {Columbia) GENE AUTRY is in fine fighting form and good voice in this sepia-tinted film that will please his host of fans. Champion, his faithful horse, again cavorts about and though Autry sings only two songs, "Texans Never Cry" stacks up quite well. Autry is a Texas Ranger on the trail of a gang who proposes to sell fake Mexican lottery tickets. A Mexican official is sent to investigate but he is soon murdered by the mob. Then Autry proceeds to clean up the situation in his usual efficient manner. The film has enough straight shootin' and hard riding to satisfy any action fans. The story is easy to follow and should especially have the youngsters sitting on the edges of their seats. The usual characters participate in the proceedings, both on the right and wrong side of the law. Gail Davis is the girl and Richard Powers is the villain. Armand Schaefer produced, Frank McDonald directed and Norman S. Hall wrote the screenplay. Others in the cast are : Pat Buttram, Mary Castle and Russ Hayden. , , Running time, 70 minutes. General audience classification. March release. Rentals on Agenda Of Eastern Pa. Unit Phildelphia, March 8. — Eastern Pennsylvania Allied will hold a general membership meeting here next Tuesday to consider "the National Screen situation, current film rental demands and related subjects." The organization's stand against joining the Council of Motion Picture Organizations is not scheduled for discussion. A board resolution rejecting COMPO membership was automatically approved in the organization's recent annual meeting when the membership ratified all board resolutions of last October. Chicago Theatre Tax Returns Still Decline Chicago, March 8.— William C. Prendergast, Chicago tax collector, reports a continuing decline in amusement tax collections over taxes collected last year for the same period. Theatre tax collections for February were $98,171 as compared with $127,102 collected in February, 1950. Collections for February, 1951, however, were slightly above those for January, 1951, when $92,662 was cited. UA, ELC Both Claim Release of Same Film United Artists and Eagle Lion Classics apparently differ over the release of the Ed Gardner production, "The Man with My Face," filmed in Puerto Rico. The picture has been on ELC's schedule for release on May 22, but yesterday Arthur B. Krim, UA president, announced that his company has added Gardner's picture to its releases. Bernard G. Kranze, ELC distribution vice-president, replied to an inquiry that as far as he knew the film still is on ELC's schedule by virtue of an agreement with Gardner. UA claims to hold a contract signed by Gardner. Juveniles Free in 34 F. & M. Theatres St. Louis, March 8.— Children under 12 years of age, when accompanied by a parent, will be admitted free to any of the 34 theatres operated by F. & M.-St. Louis Amusement Co. The new policy, already in effect, is aimed at getting youngsters back into film theatres, Harry Arthur, F. and M. president, said, adding once the younger element sees the high-type entertainment available they will become good customers of the future. Wolf on New Tour Of Variety Tents Marc Wolf, international chief barker of Variety Clubs, is due to visit Minneapolis on March 20 on the first of a series of trips which will take him to St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Miami and Philadelphia. In Minneapolis, he will participate in dedication ceremonies of the Variety Heart Hospital at the University of Minnesota. At St. Louis he will be the honor guest at a tent luncheon on March 26. NEW YORK THEATRES RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL Rockefeller Center FRED AST AIRE JANE POWELL "ROYAL WEDDING" Color by TECHNICOLOR A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture plus THE MUSIC HALL'S GREAT EASTER STAGE SHOW Paramount presents MOLLY starling DTD A GERTRUDE DLHU Molly Goldberg Midnight Feotur* Retitles 'Teakettle' Twentieth Century-Fox has retitled "U. S. S. Teakettle" to "You're in the Navy Now," the company announced yesterday after a three-city test, during which both critical and public opinion was investigated. The film still retains its national release date in April, prior to which it will be given an intensive promotion campaign throughout the country, the company announced. record week! A Columbia Picture MOTION PICTURE DAILY. Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane Editor; Terry Ramsaye, Consulting Editor P^'1^,^ Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20 N. Y Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable addies ""™c°: New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kami, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr. Vice-President; Theo. J. Sullivan. Vice -President and T«a%rer^ James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus E Fausel, Production Manager. Hollywood Bureau, Yucca-Vine Building. ^MgR^Wea Fditor. Chicago Bureau, 120 South LaSalle Street, Urben Farley, Advertising Representative, FI 6-3074. Washington, J A. 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