Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1951)

4 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, May 8, 1951 National Pre-Selling Review .ft TT/ OMAN'S HOME COMrV P 'ANION, for June, will contain the results of its seventh annual poll in which the magazine's readers are asked to name their favorite movie star. This is the year of the bigshake-up, they say, because there have never been so ..many changes in 12 short months. The readers' choice, in order of preference, were : For first place, Bette Davis and Clark Gable ; second place, June Allyson and Bing; Crosby; third, Irene Dunne and James Stewart, fourth, Greer Garson and Spencer Tracy. Gloria Swanson was given a special award for her performance in "Sunset Boulevard." The magazine has some editorial comment on the changes in comparison with standings in previous years. The advertising pages include a color portrait of Bette Davis, from Lustre-Creme shampoo, which is exactly in line with the poll. • Linking television and the motion picture industry in an unusual search for new talent, UniversalInternational Pictures and National Broadcasting's weekly network television show, "Hollywood Screen Test" have developed a six-week talent quest in 11 cities, as promotion for the forthcoming U-I picture, "Hollywood Story." Winners selected in each city will be brought to New York over a period of five weeks beginning May 21, to appear on the program sponsored by Ironrite and "emceed" by Neil Hamilton, Hollywood actor. Over 100,000 entry blanks will be distributed by Ironrite dealers and local television stations will help make the initial eliminations in their own areas. The film, starring Richard Conte, is scheduled for June release. • Following up the successful 25-city tour initiated by Morgan Hudgins of M-G-M's studio publicity department, M. L. Simons, assistant to H. M. Richey, will give the same lecture and slide-film demonstration on "Quo Vadis" to' exhibitor groups at their various conventions, including local newspaper contacts. *He appears this week before Arkansas theatre owners in Little Rock, and next week at the Georgia Theatre Owners convention at Atlanta. The program includes demonstration and proof of M-G-M's claim that the new "Quo Vadis" is the most costly film ever made, and the picture which they believe is most likely to win top honors'this year. • Three weeks of concentrated radio and television appearances by Coleen Gray have been hitting top network programs with plugs for "Lucky Nick Cain" as an original promotion for ■this new 20th Century-Fox picture now playing at the Globe Theatre here. Miss Gray has appeared on The Starlight Theatre, CBS-TV; Colgate Comedy Hour, NBT; Buddy Rogers Show, W OR; Stork Club, CBS-TV; Wayne Howell, NBC, and the Jane Pickens show, NBC. She is scheduled to appear with Tex and Jinx, NBC; Strike It Rich, CBS; Barbara Wells Show, WOR, and the Lux Theatre, CBS, in addition to a number of local Metropolitan radio stations. Walter Brooks Mr. Imperium (Metro-Goldivyn-Maycr) OBVIOUSLY intent on making Ezio Pinza's screen debut worthy of the mature opera star who two years ago ascended overnight to the heights of popularity for his achievements in "South Pacific" on the Broadway stage, M-G-M teamed him with Lana Turner in "Mr. Imperium," got Harold Aden and Dorothy Fields to provide the film with the fruits of their songwritmg talents, and topped it all off with characteristic M-G-M production opulence, in Technicolor. . .. What meets the eye here in terms of production values is indeed delightful, and what vocalizing is done by Pinza and the lovely Miss Turner is equally compelling. It is more than a mild disappointment therefore, to find that the producers employed a tenuous and basically threadbare story plot to support audience interest once all else has been taken for granted. For all of Miss Turner's blonde beauty and. Pinza's. enthusiastic middle-aged charm, and notwithstanding Don Hartman's exercise of directorial acumen, the 87_ minutes it takes to set forth this sugar-coated, melodic romance between a prince and a commoner are leisurely in the extreme. Hence, it should be apparent that what this picture achieves box-office-wise will be due mainly to the curiosity and interest held' for Pinza, plus Miss Turner's own marquee strength. In selling the picture, the wisest course would seem to be to refain from making extravagant claims in behalf of the story and let the stars' magnetism be reflected fully in advertising and promotional copy. The story opens in 1939 in Italy where Miss Turner, a nightclub singer, finds herself romanced by Pinza, the incognito heir to a European throne, who calls himself Mr. Imperium. Hardly has their affection for each other blossomed fully when political turmoil in his country forces him to return to it, thus putting an end to their balcony meetings by the Mediterranean, small talk, trips to the country and song-making. Twelve years later, we find the songstress has become a famous Hollywood star. The two renew their romance at a secluded Palm Springs resort, and just when things are getting to be like old times the prince is again called to serve his country, leaving the lady with only her platonic feelings for a film producer (Barry Sullivan) to fall back on. Slim supporting roles are filled by Marjorie Main, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Debbie Reynolds and Ann Codee, as well as Sullivan. Edwin H. Knopf, who produced co-authored the screen play with Hartman, using a play by the former as a springboard. Johnny Green's musical direction is effective and the songs, particularly one titled "Andiamo," should enjoy a measure of popularity. Running time, 87 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, June 15. Charles L. Franke See Anglo-US Pact Talks in Late July London, May 7. — Board of Trade officials are expecting a visit to their new chief, Sir Hartley Shawcross, by the Motion Picture Associations of America's John G. McCrathy during the first week in June. At that time, a date late in July may be set for the formal negotiations on the monetary agreement between the government and the U. S. film industry. McCarthy concluded Paris meetings recently with MPAA's Fay Allport and left for Rome. JN CA Meet {Continued from page 1) charged field sales heads with ignoring commands from higher-ups on allocations and said that two managers had been fired at Allied's insistence for violating allocation orders. He asked for affidavits or wire recordings of salesmen's promises and threats, as well as forcing, to be turned over to the Department of Justice. Outlining Allied plans to continue its fight for theatre-TV" channels, and for low-cost theatre television equipment, Rembusch accused the Federal Communications Commission of "playing politics" with radio and TV. He said that Phonevision and Skiatron systems were no threat to motion pictures, adding that "while television is not going to put theatres out of business, neither will theatres halt the progress of television. In a brief report, president Ben Berger outlined the benefits obtained for members during the past year through NCA action and legislation "watch-dogging." He praised executive counsel Stan Kane and legislative committees for stymieing all anti-film legislation proposed in the last session of the legislatures in Minnesota and the Dakotas. He urged all members to contribute one per cent of rentals to the Council of Motion Picture Organizations. Kane attacked distributors for allegedly using print shortages to foist illegal clearances on independent exhibitors. Expect Myers to Delay Report on Arbitration Minneapolis, May 7. — It was indicated here today that Abram F. Myers, general counsel of national Allied, here to attend the convention of North Central Allied, will withhold his re port on the recent arbitration and bidding talks with distributors in New York until the Allied board meets in Kansas City, May 14 and 15. WB's De Patie In AM MP Hollywood, May 7. — E. L. De Patie today was appointed Warner Brothers' representative to the Association of Motion Picture Producers succeeding Carrol Sax. Myers on Tour of Exhibitor Meetings Washington, May 7. — Abram F Myers, general counsel of Allied States association, left here today for a two-weeks tour of Allied conven tions and board meetings. He is in Minneapolis tonight for the meeting of North Central Allied, then he will go to Denver for a session of Rocky Mountain Allied, and will then go to Kansas City for national Allied's spring board meeting and the convention of allied of Kan sas and Missouri. Mayer to Address NCA Meet Arthur L. Mayer, executive vice president of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations, left New York yesterday for Minneapolis to address the meeting of North Central Allied. Mayer is expected to discuss the need for COMPO at the present stage of the industry's development. See Congress Barring (Continued from page 1) the commercial rent proposal. He said that written briefs would be accepted, and would be taken up at the end of the hearings, "if at all." 'Show of Future' Has Ills of Past London, May 7. — A demonstration program for newsmen at the Festival of Britain's Telekinema Theatre, purporting to reveal what the Show of the Future will be, was somewhat marred by a sound break-down during the big screen television preview. The program also included stereoscopic sound and film, with the aid of spectacles worn by members of the audience. Following the press preview, several pairs of the polarized spectacles (five shillings each) were not recovered. Studio Guilds Slate Meet on TV Revenue Hollywood, May 7. — The AFL Film Council today appointed a threeman committee to meet Wednesday with representatives from the Screen Writers, Screen Actors and Screen Directors guilds to undertake the fashioning of a "TV-revenue participation" formula. Roy Brewer, chairman of the AFL Film Council and chairman of the committee, said this is the first of several meetings which will be required. Press to Virginia On 20th-Fox Junket Norfolk, Va., May 7. — At the invitation of Admiral William Fechteler, Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic fleet, newspaper, magazine, radio and trade press representatives will journey to Little Creek, Va. on May 24 for the world premiere of 20th Century-Fox's "The Frogmen". Remaining through May 25, the contingent will take part in the first public demonstration of the activities of underwater demolition teams, whose story is told in the film. General Mark Clark and Assistant Secretary of the Navy John T. Koehler will be on hand. World Premiere The world premiere of "The Frogmen," which stars Richard Widmark, Dana Andrews and Gary Merrill, will take place at the Navy base on the night of May 24, before the "frogmen". Naval and military leaders, newsmen and a host of dignataries including Morris F. De Castro, Governor of the Virgin Islands, where part of the picture was filmed.