Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1951)

4 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, July 12, 1951 ' Alice' Suit (Continued from page 1) Review picture. This sort of competition should be encouraged rather than suppressed." Plaintiffs' Claim Plaintiffs RKO and Disney had claimed that they had acquired property rights because of the vast sums of money spent in the making of their "Alice" and in advertising and that the film title had acquired a secondary meaning in which they had the property rights. In answer to that argument the judge said: "Admittedly the book is no longer subject to copyright and is in the public domain like a Shakespeare play. Anyone has the legal right to make a picture based on the Louis Carroll 'Alice in Wonderland' story." Cites 'Drastic Remedy' The court also indicated that a preliminary injunction is a drastic remedy ordinarily not granted except to maintain a "status quo" and even then is granted only on a substantial showing. Besides Souvaine, defendants were Harry Brandt and the Picto Corp., representing the Mayfair and TransLux theatres here where Bunin's "Alice in Wonderland" is scheduled to have its dual American Premiere on July 26. Henry Souvaine, president of Souvaine, in commenting on Judge Holtzoff's decision, said, "It is comforting to know that even in so quixotic an industry as the motion picture, 'equal justice under the law' is not just an adage but a living fact." Bruno Lessing, West Coast executive of Walt Disney Productions, who has been in New York from Hollywood for 10 days on the "Alice in Wonderland" litigation, started conferences here yesterday with plaintiff Disney and RKO lawyers executives on possible further legal moves against Souvaine and is expected to announce a decision this morning. "His Kind of Woman" (John Farrow — RKO Pictures) HIGH-QUALITY melodrama is developed along with sequences of hilarious humor in "His Kind of Woman," to make an outstandingly enjoyable picture. Robert Mitchum, as a professional gambler immersed in underworld doings, takes care of the melodramatic aspects of the story, while Vincent Price, a ham actor with a desire to play heroics in real life, handles the comic balance. Contributing further to the picture's box-office appeal is Jane Russell, a sultry vocalist of mysterious ways. _ The story is launched on its engrossing way when Mitchum, pretty much down and out. accepts a strange offer of $50,000 from a racketeer to take a vacation in Mexico. Mitchum's instructions are to proceed to a swank lodge and await further orders. En route he meets Miss Russell and thus the background is set for a future romance. In the course of events Miss Russell sings three songs and cavorts about in an assortment of gowns that frame her anatomy to striking effect. ,. . . T , As the story develops it is learned that a deported vice czar living m Italy would like to get back into the United States. It is his plan to assume Mitchum's identity and looks with the aid of plastic surgery. When Mitchum learns what is in store he tries to escape, but his attempts only earn him a savage beating that is graphically depicted. What saves Mitchum from murder is a chance friendship he made with Price at the lodge, Iired of playing make-believe all his life, Price decides to get into the arena of real adventure He organizes a motley band of assistants and decides to rescue Mitchum from his captors. The sequences surrounding this rescue provide some of the best laughs in a long, long time. As a ham, Price turns his role into a triumph. Tim Holt, in a small role as an F.B.I, agent, turns m a creditable performance. Considerable credit for the picture's success goes to director John Harrow who kept an adroit balance between the serious and the humorous A John Farrow Production, presented by Howard Hughes, it was produced by Robert Sparks from the screenplay by Frank Fenton and Jack Leonard. Adult audience classification. Release date, Inc. Souvaine's 'Alice' Near Completion in New Form Souvaine Selective Pictures reports that Lou Bunin's live-action and puppet version of Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland," in Ansco color, is currently being completed for the first time in English by Leo Hurwitz. Hurwitz has reedited the complete footage and has supervised the re-voicing of many of the musical sequences and the processing in the laboratory of the Ansco color nega fives. The creatures of Alice's dream are depicted by Lou Bunin's puppets. The film was directed by Dallas Bower. EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY MIDWEST DIVISION MANAGERSHIP FOR FOREIGN FILMS IS OPEN FOR EXPERIENCED MAN. Sales and Exploitation background required. Contacts with leading circuits and territorial film buyers of Chicago, Kansas City, Omaha, Denver, Minneapolis, Milwaukee and St. Louis essential. Send complete resume and any other pertinent information to Box 460, Motion Picture Daily, 1270 Sixth Ave., New York 20. Running time, 120 minutes July 25. Mandel Herbstman Theatre Wrecking In Mob Style Mexico City, July 11.— The Cine Alcazar, ancient subsequent run, is being razed spectacularly. Attaches who have been on strike for two months to enforce a pay hike demand, aided by friends, to a total number of 400, armed with stones and clubs, are being held back by police armed with bayonetted rifles and tear-gas guns to protect the wreckers. The Federal government owns the theatre. It plans a skyscraper on the site. The Cine Alhambra, also an ancient subsequent run, has closed and its owners plan to pull it down to make room for a skyscraper. Flood Conditions Ease in Missouri Legion Reviews 13; Two in Class B Thirteen more films have been reviewed by the National Legion of Decency, which put two in Class B and the remainder in Class A. Those in Class B include The Hoodlum," United Artists and 'Strictly Dishonorable," M-G-M. Under section one, Class A, the Legion lists "Silver Canyon," Columbia, and "The Texas Rangers," Columbia. Those in section two, Class A, include "Fort Worth," Warner; "Guilt Is My Shadow," Monogram; "Hard, Fast and Beautiful," RKO Pictures; 'Jim Thorpe— All American," Warner; "Kind Lady," M-G-M; "PekingExpress," Paramount; "Song of Dolores (Spanish), Lux Film; "That's My Boy," Paramount; "Wooden Horse," London Films. 'Mindszenty' Ban Is Held Confusing Mexico City, July 11.— The trade in Mexico is puzzled by the National Cinematographic Board's censorship of "Cardinal Mindszenty," being handled here by the Selznick Releasing Organ ization of Mexico. The ban on its ex hibition is considered contradictory to the government's anti-Communist policy. The board is not very clear on the reasons for its judgment. Trade opinion is that the prohibition is based upon a not very often used clause of the cinematographic law that forbids public exhibition of pictures that are totally or predominantly religious. Kramer Gets Another The Stanley Kramer Company has purchased Michael Blankfort's novel "The Widow Makers" for production at Columbia. Blankfort has also been signed to write the screenplay of "My Six Convicts," the first film on Kramer's schedule of 30 for Columbia in the next five years. Another Drive-in Opens in Chicago Chicago, July 11. — The Sunset Drive-in, at Touhy Avenue and McCormick Road on the northwest outskirts of Chicago, is being rushed to completion for its grand opening on Friday. The 14,000-car theatre is owned by Jerome Marx, Raymond Marx and Martin Rosenfield, who also operate the Double Drive-in, which is the only drive-in theatre inside the Chicago city limits. The concessions will be handled by 20th Century Concessionaires. Si Griever, who also books for the Double Drive-in, is booking for the Sunset. Elliott Is Named Theatre Inspector Toronto, July 11. — Howard Elliott, manager of the Odeon Fairlawn Theatre, Toronto, since it opened in August, 1947, has resigned to accept the appointment by chairman O. J. Silverthorne of the Ontario Government Theatres Branch to the position of theatre inspector, effective Aug. 1. Replacing Elliott at the Fairlawn is John Gibson from the Glebe Theatre, Ottawa, where the managerial duties have been taken over by Barry Carnon, assistant to G. D. Beavis. Kansas City, July 11. — Flood conditions have eased in the Kansas City trade area, though the recent heavy rains in northern Missouri and Northeastern Kansas have aggravated the high waters and further impeded farm work. The harvest has been resumed in Kansas, about a week late. Surprisingly, few missouts of theatre performances have occurred in the flooded region. Prints have reached theatres in time, although several exhibitors have had to meet film delivery trucks, particularly exhibitors not regularly served or off film deivery routes — the company having taken on such off-route emergency service when trains could not get through. The Kaw theatre, Marion, Kansas, was closed for two days because of high water in the town, and the Plaza at Burlington, Kansas was closed one night, seats having been taken out when the flood rose in the streets. Several highways are still blocked in Kansas and Missouri. Marley-Baker Luncheon Hollywood, July 11. — Allied Artists' star Florence Marly and Josephine Baker will be guests of honor at a luncheon-meeting of the Foreign Press Association of Hollywood at the Biltmore Hotel tomorrow. Kills III. Ad Bill Chicago, July 11. — The bill requiring theatres to designate in their ads in print "at least half as large as any other used in the advertisement" whether a film is second, third or fourth run has died in the Illinois Senate after being passed by the House of Representatives. Carol Woods in Boston Boston, July 11. — Carol Woods arrived here today in the first stop of a 25-city tour to promote 20th CenturyFox's "David and Bathsheba." She will address the members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in the afternoon session. She will be accompanied on the tour by Sterling Silliphant, promotion manager for 20th Century-Fox. Bing on New Air Show Bing Crosby will be the first great star on a new series of radio shows entitled "Fan Mail," which will have its premiere tomorrow over the 286 stations of the ABC Network. Bing will promote his latest Paramount film, "Here Comes the Groom." NEW YORK 630 NINTH AV. FILMACK TRAILER CO. CHICAGO 5,. . . . . 1 327 S. WABASH AVE.