Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1951)

Wednesday, October 3, 1951 Motion Picture Daily 5 Guaranty Plan Hit By EC A Group Washington, Oct. 2.— Staff members of the Economic Cooperation Administration are recommending that the film guaranty program be discontinued, it was learned here today. The staff is reported believing that the films going abroad under the guaranty contract are no longer of sufficient importance to the general foreign aid effort to warrant continuation of the program. Reviews "Reunion in Reno" ( Universal International) THERE IS sturdy entertainment in this unpretentious production of a light comedy coloration in the family category, presented in a plot which is unique to say the least. The title is a misnomer, giving the ready impression that the tale unites two married persons who are about to be, or have just been divorced and are reunited in the city of quick divorces. There is a reunion, but this one reunites the highly talented youngster, Gigi Perreau, with her parents, Frances Dee and Leif Erickson. Gigi, an only daughter living with her parents in a Western city, learns that she is adopted and learns, too, that her parents are expecting a baby. Feeling unwanted, she runs away, taking a train to Reno where she tries to hire a lawyer to file for a "divorce" for herself from her parents. The numerous situations following are unusual — as is the whole situation — and very funny, all the while Mark Stevens, a lawyer, and his fiancee, Peggy Dow, try vigorously to determine the identity of Gigi and the identities and address of her parents. Eventually, of course, they succeed, and, unknown to Gigi, they telephone the mother and father to pick up their nine-year-old offspring, a climax which brought on the reunion and title of the production. The cast is suitable, and also includes Ray Collins, Fay Baker and Myrna Dell. Gigi, however, is away out front all the way ; she is a very talented little miss who catches interest at the very outset and sustains it throughout. Leonard Goldstein produced, and quite satisfactorily. The same can be said of director Kurt Neumann. Hans Jacoby and Shirley White are responsible for the screenplay and its different twist. Lou Breslow adapted, from a story by Brenda Weisberg and William Sackheim. A "sneak" preview audience in New York responded with outspoken amusement. Running time, 79 minutes. General audience classification. October release. James P. Cunningham "Two Dollar Bettor" (Rcalart) THE EARNEST message that the gambling instinct, once out of bounds, leads to disastrous consequences, is delivered emphatically in "Two Dollar Bettor." Centering around race track activities, the picture has good exploitation angles. Its presentation, however, is weakened by a lack of imagination. John Litel plays a respectable bank comptroller who is persuaded to make a small bet at the track. Winning, he is encouraged to make more bets. His w innings continue at first, but then the losings come, and mount and mount. In time Litel finds himself cashing in his bonds, savings, and valuables. When these are gone he grows desperate and starts taking money from the comptroller's fund, and thus his undoing is begun. Marie Windsor plays an employee of a bookie who ingratiates herself with Litel. Trusting her thoroughly he hands her $20,000 in embezzled money for a "sure" bet. It develops that Litel has been victimized by Miss Windsor and her boy friend. A bitter gun battle follows in which all three are shot. When all looks blackest for Litel, the benevolence of his employer brings the silver lining into view. Barbara Bestar and Barbara Logan are seen as Litel's teen-age daughters in this Jack Broder production released by Realart Pictures, Inc. Edward Leven produced and directed. Running time, 73 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, not set. Mandel Herbstman ECA Releases (Continued from page 1) The new contracts were put on a Sept. 1, 1950, to Aug. 31, 1951, basis to conform to the German quota law, and since contracts had already been signed for the last three months of 1950 under the 1950 contracts, the new contracts could have been expected to be smaller. Top Contract for Loew's Loew's pulled down the top guaranty contract, with over $370,000 for nine features and six shorts. The guaranty contracts provide in effect that each company will be able to convert to dollars the specified amounts of earnings in marks. The amount payable under each contract is limited to $25,000 per picture, plus actual out-of-pocket costs for preparing German language versions. ECA says on the basis of post-war experience in Germany, it is expected the amounts which may be converted under the contracts will be only "a modest portion of the actual net receipts from the pictures covered by the guaranties." All pictures receiving contracts have been recommended by the special ECA film advisory committee. Here are the contracts announced today, covering distribution of American films in Germany between Sept 1, 1950 and Aug. 31, 1951 : Columbia Pictures: $160,295 for five features ("Woman of Distinction," "No' Sad Songs for Me." "Affairs of Sally," "The Doolins of Oklahoma," "Man from Colorado") and $25,000 for four short subjects ("Washington. D. C," "Smithsonian Institution," "Library of Congress," "A Day with the FBI"). Goldwyn Productions, Inc.: $99,240 for three features ("Roseanna McCoy," "Our Very Own," "The Westerner"). Loew's: $363,000 for nine features ( 'Father of the Bride," "Ambush," "Wizard of Oz," "Barkleys of Broadway," "Neptune's Daughter," "On an Island with \ou," "Anchors Aweigh," "Luxury Liner," "Kismet") and $8,750 for six shorts ("Wrong Way Butch," "Badminton," "Set "Em Up," "Seesaw and the Shoes," "Willy and the Mouse," "Flag of Mercy"). Paramount Pictures: $312,595 for eight features ("Sorrowful Jones," "September Affairs," "Sorry, Wrong Number," "The Furies." "Unconquered," "Reap the Wild \\ind." "Perils of Pauline," "Copper Canyon") and $5,250 for seven short subjects ("Aquatic Houseparty," "Outboard Shenanigans," "The Glass Orchestra," "Sporting Swanee," "The Flying Dancers," "The Early Bird," "Operation Jack Frost"). Republic Pictures: $59,305 for two features ("Dark Command" and "California Passage") and $5,000 for one short ("Glacier National Park"). RKO Radio: $304,570 for seven features ("Station West," "Tarzan and the Huntress," "Spanish Main," "White Tower," "Pinocchio." "Secret Life of Walter Mitty," "Cinderella"). , Selznick Releasing Organization: $110,555 for three features ("Rebecca," Spellbound," "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer ) . Twentieth Century-Fox: $201,640 for Houston Resigns Baltimore, Oct. 2. — J. Ted Routson has resigned after nearly two decades with the I. M. Rappaport theatre interests here. Originally manager and press relations director for the Hippodrome, he was obliged to accept management of the Little Theatre due to a heart condition. He continued, however, to retain his press contacts. His future plans were not stated. five features ("Panic in the Streets," "Thieves Highway," "Yellow Sky," "Captain from Castile," "The Dolly Sisters") and $) 1,000 for four shorts ("What Happens at Night," "Just a Litle Bull," "The Snow Man," "The Tortoise Wins Again") . Universal Pictures: $251,777 for nine features ("Woman's Vengeance," "Woman on the Run," "Singapore," "Lady Gambles." "Johnny Stool Pigeon, "Harvey," "Francis," "One Touch of Venus," "Bagdad") and $16,250 for 10 short subjects ("Fun at the Zoo," "Jack Vina's Orchestra," "Riches of the Veld," "Nomads of the Jungle," "Four Years Before the Mast," "Cheating at Gambling," "Tiny Terrors of Timberland," "Tiny Terrors Make Trouble," "Barber of Seville," "Factories, Mines and Waterways"). Warner Brothers: $233,3 50 for seven features ("MyDream Is Yours," "Young Man with a Horn." "The Unfaithful," "Dark Passage," "Prince and the Pauper," "Charge of the Light Brigade." "Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex"). $11,658,000 Film Subsidy in France Washington, Oct. 2.— The French government has subsidized the domestic film industry to the tune of $11,658,000, according to Commerce Department film chief Nathan D. Golden. Golden said April 1 was the latest date for which figures are available. The subsidies are paid under a 1948 law granting "temporary aid" to the French industry. The largest part of the financial help — about $7,114,000 — went to French feature film producers, Golden reported. About $3,546,000 went to exhibitors for modernizing and improving their theatres. The remaining $998,000 went to producers of short subjects and newsreels, to Unif ranee Films for development of foreign markets, and for operating expenses. Mono. Meet on Coast Hollywood, Oct. 2. — MonogramAllied Artists will hold a final regional sales meet here at the Ambassador Hotel, Oct. 20, with Morey Goldstein presiding. 'Movietime' (Continued from page 1) offices have been instructed by the airway's management to place their extensive publicity and promotion facilities at the disposal of local "Movietime" committees, to aid in publicizing the star tours and other phases of the industry campaign. Thus, when the stars and other industry personalities connected with the campaign arrive in a city on the company's planes, the TWA publicity organization will exert every effort to see that "Movietime" is emphasized in all the company's releases to local media. The cooperative tieups are expected to remain in force all through the campaign. Each of the 1,578 Community Chests throughout the country has been alerted by its national headquarters to extend every cooperation possible to local and regional "Movietime" committees, as a major promotion in its own annual "Red Feather" drive. Community meetings would be held jointly, with the Community Chests seeing to it that "Movietime" receives due credit in all "Red Feather" publicity. Pioneer Foundation (Continued from page 1) new foundation, the industry in the East will now have one organization of sufficient size and importance to assure the necessary assistance to its many veterans, rather than forcing them to depend on the several smaller groups which have attempted to deal with this problem in the past. Heading the new foundation as president will be Jack Cohn, with Marvin Kirach as vice-president and Harry J. Takiff as secretary-treasurer. The board of directors includes Jack Alicoate, Barney Balaban, Harry Brandt, Steve Broidy, Jack Cohn, Sam Dembow, Ned Depinet, Gus Eyssell, Si Fabian, James R. Grainger, Abel Green, William J. Heineman, John J. O'Connor, R. J. O'Donnell, Martin Quigley, Sam Rinzler, Herman Robbins, Gradwell Sears, Spyros Skouras, Joseph Vogel and Albert Warner. Bernard Estes is publicity director. Yesterday's action by the Foundation marks the culmination of three years of planning by the Motion Picture Pioneers, which in 1939 was formed as a social group. Stock Firm Strong (Continued from page 1) of new broadcasting stations, is taken fully into account in the Paine, Webber report. It concludes that, regardless of the number of stations in operation and sets in use, and even with TV in color, top-notch films will draw good audiences. The report also predicts that dollar remittances of the film companies from foreign markets this year will be "among the highest on record" and that "1952 should be an even better year" in respect to foreign earnings. It predicts a strong earnings recovery for 20th Century-Fox in the last half of 1951, bringing its earnings for the year to $2.50 to $2.75 per share, compared with $3.26 last year. It also sees a higher net for United Paramount Theatres than the $3.06 per share of earnings and 66 cents per share in capital gains profits of last year.