Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1951)

6 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, March 13, 1951 U.A. (Continued from page 1) in the neighborhood of 29 per cent as against whatever percentage a producer is charged, thus leaving a minimum spread of about three per cent between what it would cost the distributor to sell and promote a picture and what would be charged as a distribution fee. Pictures which are viewed as continuing within the former distribution fee range, notwithstanding the higher costs, are those which were contracted for by the former UA management. Such pictures which are just going into release include Harry M. Popkin's "The Second Woman," I. G. Goldsmith's "The Scarf," Irving Allen's "New Mexico," S. P. Eagle's "The Prowler," W. Lee Wilder's "Three Steps North" and Robert Stillman's "Queen for a Day." It is viewed as likely, however, that contracts covering some of these could have been renegotiated with the new management with the result that distribution fees were increased, thereby providing the producers with the assurance of the maximum efforts of the sales and promotion departments under the increased costs structure. Reviews Lullaby of Broadway ( W am cr Brothers) THE ARRAY of old, nostalgic tunes that are brought back in "Lullaby of Broadway" is the real attraction of this musical drama. The production is in Technicolor and has enough entertainment assets to make it dependable merchandise despite conventional story material. The story has Doris Day returning home from a theatrical career in England to visit her mother, Gladys George, who is presumed to be riding the crest of a successful stage career. Actually, Miss George is on the lower rung of the theatrical ladder, addicted to alcohol, and working in a cheap village cafe. To shelter Miss Day from the reality, the latter is led to believe that her mother is the owner of a swank home which actually is the property of S. Z. Sakall, a theatrical "angel." As the masquerade continues, complications deepen. Meantime, Sakall decides to back a musical and have Miss Day as the star. The association of Miss Day and Sakall leads to several misunderstandings, mainly from Gene Nelson, tap-dancing boy friend of Miss Day's, and Florence Bates, Sakall's wife. In time Miss Day learns the truth about her mother, is crestfallen, and prepares to return to England. A last minute series of events reunites Miss Day and her mother, and then the show, "Lullaby of Broadway," goes on with Nelson as Miss Day's leading man. Others in the cast are Billy De Wolfe and Ann Triola, vaudeville team working as butler and maid for Sakall. Songs, beside the title one, include "In A Shanty in Old Shanty Town," Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone," "Somebody Loves Me," and others. William Jacobs produced and David Butler directed from a screenplay by Earl Baldwin. Running time, 92 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, March 24. M. H. Double Refund for Seattle's Patrons Salem, Ore., March 12.— Oregon Legislator Bernard D. Gleason of Portland, has dropped a bill in the hopper that provides a theatregoer to be refunded twice the cost of a ticket if he is not seated within 30 minutes. The purchase time of the ticket would be stamped on it when it is sold. A standing-roomonly ticket would sell for half price. tt New UA Management Discusses Prospects with Mary Pickford United Artists officers met with Mary Pickford at a luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel here yesterday to discuss company prospects under the new management. Present were Arthur B. Krim, UA president; William J. Heineman, distribution vicepresident ; Max E. Youngstein, vicepresident and national director of advertising-publicity, and Matthew Fox and Robert Benjamin, principals with Krim in the take-over of the company. Services for Lif ton (ContimKd from page 1) since the company's reorganization in 1936. Prior to that he had been Eastern story and talent executive for Republic. Earlier film experience included associations with Educational, World-Wide, British International and Metro. Born in New York and educated at Columbia, Lifton had been a staff member of the Chicago Tribune's Paris edition, and also was a reporter for the Brooklyn Eagle and Times, prior to joining the film industrySurviving are the widow, Lillian, his father and mother, a sister and three brothers, all of New York City. Hollywood, March 12 Industry Firms Gave $87,325 to N. Y. Fund Contributions to the Greater New York 1950 Fund Drive collected by the entertainment group totalled $87,325 from firms and $16,353 from employes, according to a final report made by Joseph R. Vogel, Loew's vice-president and head of the entertainment group. The Man from Planet X (Sherrill Corwin — Mid-Century Pictures) INDEPENDENT motion picture theatre owner Sherrill Corwin, with an eagle-eye peeled in the direction of what he believes to be a box-office bonanza, for marketing through an as yet unnamed distribution company, purchased "The Man from Planet X" from its producers, Aubrey Wisberg and Jack Pollexfen. operating as Mid-Century Pictures. To make certain of his estimate of the production's future box-office potentialities, Corwin opened the film for a test run at the Paramount Theatre in San Francisco on March 9, further strengthening his economic conclusions by screening the film for professional reviewers in Hollywood prior to the San Francisco test. Out of all of this attention came the consensus of opinion that Exhibitor Corwin had dealt himself ace-high merchandising product. The tale reverses the procedure of films about people of the Earth visitingother planets, and depicts people of other planets visiting Earth. Corwin apparently had in mind the highly satisfactory box-office performances of the predecessor productions of the Earth -visiting-other planets sphere. Ably directed by Edgar Ulmer, from an impressively literate script by the co-producers, this production relies, as seems to be the correct procedure in enterprises of this character, on subject matter rather than upon magnetic personalities for its pulling power. Opening the story, a New York newspaper reporter journeys to a remote island off the Coast of Scotland, on invitation of a scientist who is his longtime friend, to cover the news of the approach of a hitherto unknown planet, which he has called Planet X. The scientist has calculated the date of its closest approach to Earth, but while they are awaiting this date they discover a torpedo-shaped conveyance in which an agent of Planet X, peacefully disposed, has landed to make preparations for further landings of X-people. When the scientist's assistant crosses up the friendly visitor, who depends on a tank of X-atmosphere for survival, the visitor enslaves the scientist, his daughter, his assistant, and several townsfolk, by use of a mesmeric ray. The reporter summons Scotland Yard men, then rescues the enslaved people by shutting off the visitor's supply tank, and the police blow up the visitor ?nd his vehicle in time to prevent his signalling landing instructions to Planet X, which finally swings on past and away. The story is by no means as incredible, fantastic and cartoon-like as the above synopsis suggests, and it it handled in such a way that it builds genuine suspense and solid impact. The cast goes along well, and includes Robert Clark, Margaret Field, Raymond Bond, William Schallert. Roy Engel. Running time, 70 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, not set. Phonevision {Continued from page 1) telecast problem. During the recent National Collegiate Athletic Association meetings in Chicago, Zenith demonstrated Phonevision for the delegates. Their reaction was very favorable, it was stated, the most noteworthy comment being made by Tom Hamilton, head of the NCAA television committee, who said, "in presenting sporting events on TV without harm to the financial structure of college athletics, I feel that the development of Phonevision will make TV all the more valuable to the public." No Action on Cole Suit Against Loew Washington, March 12. — The U. S. Supreme Court today did not act on the appeal of Lester Cole from a lower court ruling tossing out his reinstatement suit against Loew's, Inc. This means that no action will come before March 2'6 at the earliest, the date of the next court session. Some film industry officials had hoped the Court would dispose of the: appeal before the House Un-American Activities Committee's Hollywood hearings open next week. The issue in the Cole appeal is whether a refusal to cooperate with the House Committee and to answer questions on Communist affiliations constitutes ground for dismissal under the "morals" clause in most talent contracts. Would Exempt Films From Tenn. Sales Tax Nashville, March 12. — A bill introduced in the Tennessee Legislature by Representative Paul Phillips of this city would exempt rentals on motion picture film from the state sales tax. Missing Women9* (Republic) PERENNIAL INTEREST in police work and in particular the Bureau of *■ Missing Persons may give this semi-documentary study a lift at the boxoffice. Exploitation with the cooperation of city and police officials, may also help this film, which doesn't quite come off. Penny Edwards sees her groom of an hour killed after they stop on an isolated road to remove something from the back of their car. When police appear to be taking their time about finding the killers, Miss Edwards takes things into her own hands, completely changes her name and appearance and starts on their trail. Her disappearance becomes a problem to the Missing Persons detail and she is tracked down. The police discover how close she is to the solution and to the whereabouts of a gang of auto thieves who operate in lover's lanes." They close in just in time to rescue Miss Edwards, engage in a gun fight and apprehend the gang. Acting is up to par and the direction by Philip Ford is adequate. Stephen Auer was associate producer. Others in the cast are James Millicum, John Gallaudet and John Alvin. Running time, 60 minutes. General audience classification. February release. Arthurs on Coast to Present F-M Awards Hollywood, March 12. — Harry C. Arthur and Harr" C. Arthur, Jr., who arrived here last night from St. Louis to present the Fanchon and Marco Circuit's first annual box-office winner award to the 20th Century-Fox studios, will also present a special silver plaque to Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus. This will be in appreciation of Technicolor's "immeasurable contributions to the welfare and progress of the motion picture industry." To Select Committee For Allied Meet New Jersey Allied will hold a membership meeting at its New York headquarters tomorrow to select a committee to handle arrangements for the national Allied convention scheduled for next Oct. 28 through Nov. 1 at the Hotel Biltmore here. Wilbur Snaper, president of the New Jersey regional, will preside at tomorrow's meeting. The New Jersey unit recently was selected by Allied States' Board to play host to the 1951 national convention delegates.