Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1952)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY F Accijr. 1/£ ise and Impartial VOL. 71. NO. 1 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 1952 TEN CENTS Para. Okays Its Films for Skiatron Test Negative Universal Reply Expected; UA Undecided Paramount Pictures will furnish product for a bona fide test in New York City of Skiatron subscription home television, Paul Raibourn, Paramount vice president, disclosed here. United Artists said it was considering Skiatron's bid, while a spokesman for Universal pointed out that Universal was one of the few companies that did not furnish films for the Phonevision test in Chicago and he felt that there should be no change of policy for the Skiatron test. Raibourn, in commenting on Skiatron's request made to all major com{Continued on page 5) 1932 Brings New Executive Roles to Many in Industry Numerous executive changes in film home office executive staffs become effective today with the start of the new business year. Charles M. Reagan officially takes over this morning as head of domestic distribution for Loew's-M-G-M, succeeding William F. Rodgers, now on an extended vacation in Florida, who enters upon a two-year period in an advisory and consultative capacity. Jerome Pickman, advertising-publi {Continued on page 5) ,427,000 Warner Profit Last Year Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc. and subsidiary companies report for the year ending Aug. 31, 1951 a net profit of $9,427,000 after provision of $9,100,000 for Federal income taxes and after provision of $700,000 for contingent liabilities. For the preceding year the net (^Continued on page 4) N, F. Film Delivery Strike Averted Over Holiday; New Deadline Is Set Deliveries of prints to theatres in the New York Metropolitan area and outlying districts were assured over the New Year's holiday and through this week under an agreement reached between the 14 carrier companies and AFL Teamsters Local No. 817, thus dissipating the threat of an immediate film deliverymen's strike, previously scheduled to begin yesterday. The agreement to postpone the strike deadline to this weekend was arrived at following a three-hour drivers' work stoppage which had the effect of delaying print deliveries to theatres by about one hour, according to Ira Meinhardt, attorney for the carriers. The work stoppage prevailed on Friday during a meeting of negotiators for the union and the companies. Two-Day Color Processing For Film Is Tri-Art Claim With the completion of the new Tri Art Color Corp. laboratory in New York, "it is now possible for a producer to have his film printed in color 48 hours after shooting," Al Young, president of Du Art Laboratories, the parent company, declared here. In addition to the fact that independents and majors now have a laboratory in the East that can give them immediate service on color features, the color system also is available for speedy handling of color (Continued on page 5) 20th-Fox Sets 12 for First Four Months Twelve pictures to be released during the first four months of 1952 will be the basis of discussion at the 20th Century-Fox annual sales convention to be held in New York, Jan. 7-11, reports AI Lichtman, 20th's director of distribution. The schedule follows : .January — "Decision Before Dawn," with Richard Basehart, Gary Merrill, Oskar Werner, and Hildegarde Neft', (Continued on page 5) "The Greatest Show on Earth (Cecil B, DeMille — Paramount) THE NEWS this morning is that Cecil B. DeMille is sending another big one your way, one which, aptly enough, carries as its title that immodest but commercially potent slogan of the Ringling Brothers-Barnum & Bailey circus, known everywhere in the land where spare change for entertainment is to be found — "The Greatest Show on Earth." To this motion picture of and about that circus, and its uncomplicated, behind-the-scenes story of circus people, DeMille has brought many of the showmanly investitures for which his productions are noted. Told in a running time of 153 minutes, boasting a cast which includes Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, Charlton Heston, Dorothy Lamour, Gloria Grahame, Jimmy Stewart, Henry Wilcoxon and top personalities of the circus, as themselves, and with eye-satisfying color by Technicolor, theatres are assured of one of the top attractions of the year. The picture, in essence, is a box seat at not one, but several performances of "The Greatest Show on Earth" and, in addition, a guided tour behind the scenes into many phases of circus life and activity uncler the big top, even to the interesting details of striking the great show at the end of a date, or (Continued on page 6) 1952 CECIL B.OEMILin greatest grosses TSS^E Top Business Opens '52 at N. Y. Ist-Runs Yule Week Grosses Grow Into Big Season's Take New York's first-run theatres greeted the New Year with heavy patronage that commenced in full force generally at Christmas and mounted steadily during the week. Along Broadway theatres with their glittering marquees and spectacular signs proved for the most part to be as much of a haven for New Year's Eve celebrants as were night clubs, hotels and restaurants. As usual, crowds streamed into Times Square to witness the arrival (Continued on page 4) Neagle, Rohson Are Honored by King London, Jan. 1. — Actresses Anna Neagle and Flora Robson and scriptwriter T. E. B. Clarke were made Commanders of the Order of the British Empire in today's Royal Honors List. Among the numerous films Miss Neagle has appeared in are "Spring in Park Lane," "Maytime i n Mayfair," and "Odette." Her latest is "Lady With a Lamp." Miss Robson has been seen in "Saraband for Dead Lovers," "Good Time Girl," "Black Narcissus," and many others. Clarke wrote "Lavender Hill Mob" and other Ealing successes. Miss Neagle last week was named the "First Lady of Britain's Screen" for the fifth successive year in Motion Picture Herald's annual poll of "Top Money Maklnff Stars." Anna Neagle ICO OWON EAR int Picture lOr by TECHNiCOLOP