Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1951)

Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, March 13, 1951 4Best Films' Rating High, MP A A Reports One out of every seven motion pictures shown on American theatre screens last year achieved the distinction of a "best films" rating. This is disclosed in a compilation of 21 lists of the year's outstanding films as selected and published by motion picture critics, periodicals and reviewing groups, and disclosed here yesterday by the Motion Picture Association of America. Analysis of the lists shows that of some 465 feature films exhibited in the nation's theatres last year, 66—50 of them American — won "best films" citations. This total represents an increase in the number that made the "best films" grade in 1949 when, from approximately the same number of releases, the composite "jury" placed 57 motion pictures — 48 from Hollywood— in the blue-ribbon category, the MPAA stated. A number of the critics and pollsters complained that they had considerable difficulty confining their selections in 1950 to arbitrary limits, it was said. Arthur H. DeBra, director of Community Relations of the MPAA, who made the survey, observed : "Most of the films that won top honors last year, as in previous years, appeared on lists that limited the selections to the customary '10 best.' That as many as 66 different films were thus singled out reflects in part the extensive difference in tastes even among the relatively few critics and groups whose selections were published. "Compared with the totals of the previous year, the increase in the number of films adjudged 'best' in 1950 would also indicate that American motion picture audiences are being treated to a constantly increasing variety of fine movies. "According to the composite selections, there was at least one 'best' film for every week of the year — with 14 added for good measure." Personal Mention GEORGE J. SCHAEFER, Stanley Kramer Productions' distribution chief, is scheduled to return to New York from the Coast next weekend. • Kenneth N. Hargreaves, 20th Century-Fox secretary and director in London, sails from England today in the Queen Elisabeth for a home office visit. • Phil Williams, theatrical sales manager of The March of Time, and his assistant, Bob Ogden, have returned here from Cincinnati. • John B. Preston, Humphrey, Neb., exhibitor, has been reelected president of the Loup River Public Power District. • Ted R. Gamble, head of Gamble Enterprises, is due to return here tomorrow from Palm Springs, Calif. • Murray Roman, field representative for Stanley Kramer, is in Dallas from New York. • Alva E. Smith of the Westrex Corp. has left here by plane for Rome. He will also visit Paris and London. • George W. Steck of Westrex Corp. has returned to New York from Teheran. • Elaine Goss of Realart Pictures' art department, has become engaged to Robert J. Gross. Leon Brandt and Ilya Lopert of Lopert Films have returned to NewYork from Chicago. • Mickey Daly, manager of the Center Theatre, Hatrford, is observing his 30th year in show business. JOSEPH HAZEN, pr «J Wallis Productions, is due back resident of Hal back the Coast, is from Goldstone-Savini Deal Harry Goldstone, president of Famous Pictures, New York, has concluded a deal with R. M. Savini, president of Astor Pictures to distribute the following re-releases, "Dark Waters," "Mr. Ace," "The Great John L," "Bridge of San Luis Rev," and one new release, Carol Reed's "Men of the Sea," for the Metropolitan New York and New York State territories. Switch to Technicolor Hollywood, March 12. — RKO Pictures' "Half Breed," with Robert Young and Jack Buetel, which goes into production this week, will be filmed in Technicolor. It was previously reported among 25 films to be made this year in Supercinecolor. Warner District Split Cleveland, March 12 . — Dick Wright and Frank Harpster, Warner Ohio Theatres district managers will divide the Southern Ohio territory handled by Ray Brown, Sr. until his death last week, thus eliminating one district manager from the zone. here at the weekend • Sam Cohen, United Artists foreign publicity manager, observes his 32'nd anniversary in the industry today, 13 years with Paramount and 19 with U. A. • George M. Jones, former office manager for Universal-International, Atlanta, has been appointed sales manager there replacing Bill Kelly, now branch manager. • Ellis G. Arnall, president of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, is expected here today from Atlanta. • Lawrence Kent, 20th CenturyFox's representative on the GaumontBritish board, has returned to London from New York. • Ellison Dunn, owner of Dunn Theatres in Florida and Georgia, is in Emory Hospital, Atlanta, recovering from illness. • Shannon Katzenbach has resigned as city manager in Terre Haute, Ind., for the Fourth Avenue Amusement Co. of Louisville. • Dick Johnson has become office manager for Columbia's exchange at Atlanta. 40 Years for Wilhy At Selma Theatre Atlanta, March 12. — On April 3, R. B. Wilby, president of Wilby-Kincey Theatre Service, will celebrate the 40th year of continuous operation of the Wilby Theatre, Selma, Ala. The theatre, formerly called the Academy of Music, was changed to the Wilby, on April 3, 1939. On April 3, this year, there will be a big celebration in Selma in Wilby's honor. Hughes Stock (Continued from page 1) Bob turned York. Roberts, producer, has reto Hollywood from New Irving Rubine, vice-president of Robert Stillman Productions, has returned to Hollywood from here. Set 'Queen' Tie-in for Variety Convention In cooperation with Robert Stillman Productions, Mutual Broadcasting and the Raymond Morgan Agency, producers of the "Queen for a Day" radio show, a special personal appearance of Jack Bailey and his radio troupe has been set for the evening of May 11 at the Variety International Convention in Philadelphia, Max E. Youngstein, United Artists advertising-publicity vice president, has announced. The "Queen for a Day" troupe will put on a special performance at the Variety convention for the wives of exhibitors, one of whom will be selected "Queen for a Day" and presented with several prizes. The production will go into national release through UA in April. McCall Ups Cunningham Bill Cunningham has been named advertising salesman covering motion picture accounts of McC all's Magazine. Cunningham, a veteran of 25 years in the publishing field, and for 10 years with McCall's, will take over from Fred Bauer, whose new assignment is the household furnishings field on the same publication. Legion Reviews 11; One in Class 'C Eleven additional films have been reviewed by the National Legion of Decency. One was listed as Class "C," two are in Class "B," and the remainder in Class "A." In Class "C" is "Hoboes in Paradise," (French), Distinguished Films. In Class "B" are "Bird of Paradise," 20th Century-Fox and "Footlight Varieties," RKO. Class "A," section one, include "Night Riders of Montana," Republic ; "Skipalong Rosenbloom," Eagle Lion Classics, and "Up Front," Universal-International. Class "A," section two, include : "Fourteen Hours," 20th-Fox ; "The Long Dark Hall," and "Oliver Twist," both (British) ELC; "Missing Women," Republic, and "My True Story," Columbia. by Hughes within two years, or by the trustee in the following two years. Slack's reply, due in court last Friday, was delayed because of his absence in Washington and not, as reported, because he saw no need to reply to the government brief prepared by U. S. Assistant Attorney General Philip Marcus. Most of Slack's latest document concerned itself with the precedents cited by Marcus but he reiterated that the consent decree reached by RKO and the government did not specifically call upon Hughes to do more than trustee his theatre holdings. He referred to the government's motion as "the whim of a single U. S. Assistant Attorney General" and asked the N. Y. Statutory Court to bear in mind that stock sales in other decrees had been specifically agreed upon and voted upon by the stockholders. The government motion is now before the court, which may call further hearings or hand down a decision. The latter course is expected. Gottlober Aids Drive For the 10th consecutive year, Sigmund Gottlober, executive director of the Foreign Language Press Film Critic's Circle, New York, is serving as chairman of the foreign press committee here' for the 1951 Red Cross Fund Campaign, which is seeking $6,500,000 throughout the city and $85,000,000 nationally. Vote Against Capital Bill Washington, March 12. — A Senate District sub-committee has adversely reported on a bill to extend the District's minimum wages to males. At present, it covers only women workers. Theatre owners and other business groups had fought the measure, which may still be favorably acted on by the full Senate committee. SMPTE to Hear Terry Paul Terry, president of Terrytoons, Inc., will deliver a lecturedemonstration on the making of cartoons before the Atlantic Coast section of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers on March 21 in the Wilkie Memorial Building, here. Non-members are welcome. 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