Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1952)

4 Motion Picture Daily Monday, May 12, 1952 "The Quiet Man" {Continued from page 1) ferred to the screen in color by Technicolor, with photography directed by Winton C. Hoch, the scenic charm of the locale is captured for all who have eyes for natural beauty. In the action department, and it is extensive, there are two high points. A climactic fist fight between Wayne and McLaglen that starts in the fields, traverses the countryside and ends in the village tavern. The second is a steeplechase, run by Irish racers over a natural obstacle course, colorful and exciting in itself and pertinent to the romantic proceedings. Frank S. Nugent's screen play, from the Saturday Evening Post story by Maurice Walsh, sharply outlines the chief ingredients, romance, feuding, humor and the traditions and characteristics of the Irish. In the latter two respects it is not always complimentary, but the Irish will not mind because the camera sees them pretty much as they are, the good and not-so-good together, without cinematic gesticulation in either direction. The non-Irish will like it because they will realize that the camera has not departed from its story-telling to extoll the Irish. THE story has Wayne, son of Irish emigrants to America, returning to Ireland after a successful career as a pugilist, cut short by his vow never to fight again after having killed an opponent in the ring. He buys the ancestral cottage and land, which McLaglen had hoped to add to his neighboring farm, and earns the latter's enmity thereby. Wayne falls in love with Miss O'Hara, as McLaglen's sister, but their marriage is impossible without the brother's consent. Tricked into giving it, McLaglen discovers the ruse after the ceremony has been performed and withholds his sister's dowry, without which, according to Irish tradition, she cannot be a real wife to him. Wayne realizes he will have to fight McLaglen to get the dowry and have his marriage consummated, but is reluctant to do so because of his fatal ring experience and the resultant vow never to fight again. Only when his bride leaves their home is he moved to meet McLaglen's challenge. There is a wealth of talent in supporting roles from such Abbey Theatre players as Eileen Crowe, Charles fitzSimons, James Lilburn, Jack McGowran and others. In addition, Ward Bond plays a village priest ; Arthur Shields a minister ; Mildred Natwick, a wealthy widow, and others too numerous, but nonetheless deserving, to mention, contribute flawless bit parts. Victor Young's music adds considerably to the mood and enjoyment of the John Ford-Merian C. Cooper Argosy production, as do a half dozen Irish songs interspersed throughout. Running time, 129 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, not set. Sherwin Kane Rackmil-Rank (Continued from page 1) with Universal has seven years to run and Rank's theatres furnish the major revenue here from such pictures. Rank and Rackmil had not met previous to a dinner here last Wednesday. They have had two other meetings since and more are scheduled for this week, prior to Rackmil's planned departure on the Queen Elisabeth, Wednesday. In some of the talks, John Davis, Rank's chief aide, and Al Daft', distribution vice-president of Universal, have participated. Daft" left here today by plane for New York, taking with him, it is understood, a suggested basis for a deal, for the consideration of Nate J. Blumberg, Universal president, and other principals. No Disclosure from Daff Prior to his departure, Daff refused to discuss the Decca developments, as did Rank, Rackmil and Davis. Authorities close to Rank insist that prior to the Rackmil meetings no positive scheme for a Universal-Decca merger had been placed before Rank. These sources suggest that although Rank may be overtly unfriendly to a merger, it is not unlikely that he would accept an offer well over the market price for his 134,375 shares of Universal stock, rather than remain in the company and wage a futile fight against a merger, should that be his alternative. Any such sale by Rank of his Universal stock, it is believed, would be conditioned on his deal for British distribution of Universal product being properly secured. Based on this theory, the current talks are believed to be concerned with how much Rackmil is prepared to pay for the Rank holdings in Universal. Decca paid $15 per share for the Universal holdings it has acquired. Rank would not sell at that price and some sources here doubt he would sell at less than $20 per share. City of London financial circles believe a deal is imminent. However, Rackmil, questioned on Friday, said: "The talks with Rank are proceeding but there is nothing to report yet." London Studio Sold; Another on Block London, May 11. — Further indicating the decline of Britain's film production potential, London Films has sold the Isleworth, an adjunct of its Shepperton Studios, to the National Coal Board. All equipment has been transferred to Shepperton and efforts are being made to find employment for those affected by the sale. Additionally, it is learned reliably that J. Arthur Rank is negotiating for the sale of his huge Denham Studios to the Electrical and Musical Industries interests. Warners recently sold its Teddington studio to aircraft manufacturers. 'The Press' Raises Rates Cleveland, May 11. — The Press, evening newspaper, has notified theatre owners of a three-cent-a-line advertising rate boost, effective July 1. This is approximately a boost of eight per cent over the rate established in April 1951. The three other dailies here are expected to follow suit. UA Reissues 2 in 'Answer' to Snaper The recent allegation of Wilbur Snaper, president of national Allied, that distributors have been deliberately withholding reissues from the market is being answered by United Artists, for its part, with the rerelease of two of the company's major offerings of the past, Paul (Scoop) Conlon, who will promote the pictures, said here at the weekend. The reissues, "Red River" and "Tulsa," will be sold as a double bill and will be offered to deluxe houses at the outset. William J. Heineman, UA distribution vice-president, indicated. These are the only pictures UA is re-releasing at this time. It is expected that if exhibitor acceptance meets with the company's satisfaction, UA will undertake to put more reissues on the market. Hence, the reissuance of "Red River" and "Tulsa" is in the nature of an experiment. "Red River," first released in September, 1948, stars John Wayne and Montgomery Clift. "Tulsa," one of the pictures that went to UA with the purchase of Eagle Lion's assets, stars Susan Havward. and first was released in April, 1949. Conlon, who normally represents producers Howard Hawks, George Stevens, Frank Capra and others, was assigned by UA to handle promotion of the reissue bill in advance of three or four regional openings. He returned to the Coast at the weekend. RUN THE CEREBRAL PALSY CAM PAIGN TRAILER. ASK AT YOUR N. S. S. EXCHANGE. Canadian Theatres' Expenditures Drop Ottawa, May 11.— A sharp decline in capital expenditures for theatres across the nation during 1952 is anticipated by the Canadian government. The government says this will amount to $2,100,000, compared with $4,600,000 in 1951, including $1,100,000 for construction and $1,000,000 for machinery and equipment in 1952, against $2,700,000 for construction and $1,900,000 for machinery and equipment in 1951. Repair and maintenance expenditures for theatres will decline to $600,000 in 1952, including $300,000 for construction and $300,000 for machinery and equipment, compared with $700,000 in 1951, including $300,-000 for construction and $400,000 for machinery and equipment. The total capital, repair and maintenance expenditures for 1952 for theatres will drop to $2,700,000, against $5,300,000 in 1951, it was said. Kiendl Joins ASCAP Counsel in TV Case Theodore Kiendl, member of the New York law firm of Davis, Polk, Wardwell, Sunderland & Kiendl, has been retained as counsel to ASCAP, Herman Finkelstein, the Society's general attorney, announced here. Kiendl, who recently represented U. S. Steel, will be associated with Finkelstein and the New York law firm of Schwartz & Frohlich, ASCAP general counsel, in the current television rate-making proceedings before the U. S. District Court here. Says Beautiful Stars Better Box-Office Hollywood, May 11. — The importance and effectiveness of the COMPO "Movietime USA" tours has been pointed up in a letter received by producer Hal Wallis from E. D. Martin, president of Martin Theatres, operating in Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee. Referring to a recent tour of the above states by actress Lizabeth Scott, Martin wrote: "Just what such a tour needs, a glamorous, beautiful movie star. These tours do a great deal for the exhibitor and for all branches of the industry. I feel confident that when we show her latest film, 'Red Mountain,' the results of this tour will be shown in its big success. These tours bring us immeasurable goodwill which the industry sorely needs." Distributor Action ( Continued from page 1) Burnham, representing Loew's Inc and RKO Pictures, have filed in Federal Court here for dismissal of nine theatre cases filed by Attorney John J. Sullivan on behalf of the Alex Avenue, Bell, California, Homan', White Palace, Norwal, Langley and Savoy theatres (all in Chicago), claiming that the suits were filed after the two years allowed by the statute of limitations for cases other than those against persons and personal property (which fall under the fiveyear limitation) had run out. Ruling Set Down The Shiffman-Texaco ruling was set down after Attorney Seymour Simon, representing the plaintiff, Shiftman Oil Co., had gone into court asking that a previous ruling in the Hoskins Coal Co. vs. Truax-Traer case invoking the two-year limitation be set aside. Inasmuch as the RKO decree was entered on Nov. 8, 1948, RKO attorneys are arguing that any suits filed after Nov. 8, 1950, are null and void. Some attorneys here are of the opinion that over half the 60-odd industry anti-trust suits pending here will be contested on the grounds that they were filed after the statutory limitation had expired. Kalmenson Drive (Continued from page 1) Lovejoy, Abbott and Costello, Dennis Morgan, Gene Nelson, Danny Thomas, Will Rogers, Jr., Ray Bolger, Alan Ladd and Cornel Wilde. The company's 38 branches in the U. S. and Canada have been divided into competitive groups for the drive, with each group captained by one of the studio's feminine stars. The 12 pictures to be featured are: "Mara Maru," "The San Francisco Story," "About Face," "Carson City," "Three for Bedroom C," "The Winning Team," "Where's Charley?," "The Story of Will Rogers," "She's Working Her Way Through College," "The Crimson Pirate," "The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima" and "Springfield Rifle." RUN THE CEREBRAL PALSY CAMPAIGN TRAILER. ASK AT YOUR N. S. S. EXCHANGE.