Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1953)

Monday, March 2, 1953 Motion Picture Daily US Reports Drop In Industry Firms Washington, March 1. — The number of firms in the motion picture industry dropped again in the second quarter of 1952, the Commerce Department reports. The Department said the total fell from 14,900 at the end of March to 14,800 at the end of June. These figures include all branches of the industry. The number had reached a peak of 15,100 in the third quarter of 1950. In the fourth quarter of that year, the total dropped to 15,000 and remained steady through June, 1951. In the third quarter of 1951, it fell again, to 14,900, and then stayed at that figure until the new drop in the second quarter of 1952. Commerce officials said that in the April-June period last year about 300 new firms entered the industry while approximately 400 old firms discontinued operations. Government Film Workers Discharged Washington, March 1. — Thirty and 90-day discharge notices have been handed to the 50 employes of the Agriculture Department's film production section. The section, which for the past 41 years has produced and printed films for the Agriculture Department and other government agencies, has run out of work due to the economy program of the new Administration, officials explained. They added that business might pick up later and that if so, some discharge notices would be withdrawn. They added, however, that they are not too optimistic. The move does not affect the far smaller section of the chief of the film unit. This unit acts as an adviser to the Secretary of Agricluture on film training material and also distributes pictures. Wilson Compton Resigns Washington, March 1. — Doctor Wilson M. Compton has resigned as head of the State Department's International Information Administration. The Administration is in charge of the film division and other branches of the overseas information program. Review ff San Ant one (Republic) THERE is enough action, including Indian fights and hand-to-hand combats, in this picture to satisfy those fans who like the outdoor flavor in their film fare. The picture is particularly rich in scenic beauty and excellent photography. The theme is familiar, that of a cattle drive with the accompanying hazards and obstacles until the mission is accomplished. Rod Cameron portrays a young Texas rancher who, in 1861, arrives at the estate owned by Arleen Whelan's father with orders for Forrest Tucker to give military escort to a large herd of cattle being driven to rebel headquarters. Tucker resents Cameron's appearance because the latter is a civilian while Tucker is a Confederate lieutenant and also because he appears to be a rival for Miss Whelan's hand. But in reality, Cameron has little use for the Southern belle because she is flighty and deceptive. On the cattle drive, a troop of Union soldiers attacks the party and Tucker turns coward and runs away while Cameron is captured and remains a prisoner for the balance of the war. Meanwhile, Tucker has joined the forces of Maximilian in Mexico and his raiders kill Cameron's father. The aim of Cameron then is to find Tucker and get revenge and the core of the story is Cameron's trek into Mexico in search of his father's killer who is a prisoner of Juarez's bandits. With Cameron are Miss Whelan and Katy Jurado, sister of Rodolfo Acosta, leader of the bandits. Cameron finds Tucker and there is a terrific fight, but Cameron spares his enemy's life and sends him away with Miss Whelan, while Cameron bestows his love on Miss Jurado. Cameron is convincing in his role and carries the acting honors of the picture. One criticism might be some overly-melodramatic dialogue and some dramatic sequences that do not register from the standpoint of plausibility. Joseph Kane, who directed, also was associate producer. Steve Fisher wrote the screenplay, from a novel, "The Golden Herd," by Curt Carroll. Others in the cast are Roy Roberts, Bob Steele, Harry Carey, Jr., James Lilburn, Andrew Brennan, Richard Hale, Martin Garralaga, Argentina Brunetti, Douglas Kennedy, Paul Fierro, George Cleveland. Running time, 90 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, Feb. 15. Al Steen Anderson Is Named UPT City Manager Buffalo, March 1. — Francis Anderson has succeeded Ira Epstein as United Paramount Theatres city manager in Rochester, according to an announcement by Arthur Krolick, UPT general manager of Buffalo and Rochester. Anderson resigned the UPT city management post in Rochester about a year ago to enter the publishing business. Before becoming associated with UPT, Anderson was with RKO Theatres in the same city. It is understood Epstein is returning to New York but has not as yet announced his future plans. Favorite Films of Cal. Buys Out G. & K. San Francisco, March 1. — M. P. Jacobs, president of Favorite Films of California, Inc., in Los Angeles, has closed a deal whereby he bought out Goodman and Kaufman, distributors of films in 11 Western states and elsewhere. As a result, Favorite will distribute Classic Pictures, formerly handled by G. and K. Herbert Kaufman of the bought-out firm will go to Favorite as general manager with headquarters in Los Angeles. 3 Higgins Houses Leased to Sterling Portland, Ore., March 1. — Three additional theatres in a neighboring Seattle community have joined the Sterling Theatre circuit, reports Fred Danz, general manager. They are the Lake City, Bel Vue and Gateway in Kirkland, Wash. They were leased to Sterling by Pete Higgins, operator of Higgins Amusement Co. Gets 3 Theatre Bills Toronto, March 1. — On the agenda of the new spring session of the Ontario legislature are bills to amend and consolidate the Theatres and Cinematographs Act, Public Halls Act and the Touring Shows Act. Recommendations for theatre and censorship regulations were submitted to the provincial government by a special committee of the Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario. 16mm. Suit {Continued from page 1) theory, in the event the courts find the defendants guilty and before the Department would ask for specific relief from the court. "If they're found guilty, " says one official, "then we'll have a big powwow and consider the industry's views as to what relief we can get without hurting the exhibitors. But that's quite different from dropping the case. It's never been contended by the theatre owners that the defendants aren't guilty — just that the case will put them out of business. That's not necessarily so — it depends on the relief we ask after the defendants are found guilty." Legion Places One Film in Class B The current Legion of Decency report places one film, "One Girl's Confession," Columbia, in Class B, and three films in Class A. "Confidentially Connie," M-G-M, is placed in Class A-I and "Seminole," Universal, and "The Tall Texan," Lippert, were put in Class A-II. Industry Probe (Continued from page 1) Southern cities and other points. A meeting has been tentatively set for Tuesday with Allied general counsel Abram F. Myers and other Allied leaders. A Committee spokesman said Allied was preparing a formal presentation for the Committee and would undoubtedly be among the witnesses at the coming public hearings. Approved Plans The Committee Friday also approved plans for hearings to be held by a sub-committee headed by Sen. Schoeppel (R., Kans.) and tentatively scheduled the hearings to start March 30 or 31, and run for about two weeks. The Justice Department has been sounded out for its views, it was learned. The department has taken the stand — according to this report — that most of the matters involved in the exhibitor complaints are now involved in various anti-trust suits pending in the courts, and that the matters should be left for the courts to decide. The Committee's position, it was reported, was that many independent exhibitors cannot afford to take their troubles to court, and so Congress must look at the problem. The Federal Trade Commission has told the Committee that it has received many exhibitor complaints, but has channeled them to the Justice Department, feeling that it was more the type of problem that should be handled by the anti-trust division. 32 Productions in Work on the Coast Hollywood, March 1. — The production index remains even for a total of 32, with three new pictures starting and an equal number completed. Started were : "Valley of the Headhunters" (Katzman Corp.), Columbia ; "The Robe," 20th Century-Fox ; "The Burning Arrow," Warner Brothers. Completed were : "The Moon Is Blue" ( Preminger-Herbert Productions) United Artists; "Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," Universal-International ; "House of Wax," Warner Brothers. 'Bwana' Gross (Continued front page 1) is considered very satisfactory normally. The Orpheum in Denver pulled $24,699 in its initial week, which is about double a normal week's business. Other record-breakers were in Dayton where the Keith drew $25,000 and the Palace in Columbus which took in $20,000 in their initial weeks. In a dual opening in the Fox Palace and Wisconsin theatres in Milwaukee, "Bwana" took in $40,000 in the opening week. At the Albee in Cincinnati, the 3-D feature drew $32,000 in its first seven days. "Bwana Devil" opened at the Branford Theatre in Newark late last week and rang up $7,653 in its first two days. First 3-D Release (Continued from page 1) Wax" is due to open at the Paramount Theatre in New York on April 10, and it is understood that Columbia is racing to be the second company among the majors to deliver a 3-D feature. If "House of Wax" should be delayed, Columbia still may be the first on the scene. Both companies have started to sell their tri-dimensional product and it is expected that the first theatres to play the pictures will be those that have booked "Bwana Devil" because the equipment is on hand. CinemaScope (Continued from page 1) "The Robe," now being filmed in color by Technicolor and costing an estimated $5,000,000, will be utilized. Alterations are currently being made at the home office projection room to facilitate the staging of the CinemaScope demonstration. Spyros P. Skouras, president, who delayed his departure for the Coast last week, is now slated to leave over the coming weekend for the studios to set up the program. Tax Proposals (Continued from page 1) tee, when the matter is presented to them this week, probably Thursday. They also emphasized that even if hearings are held this year, actual legislation growing out of the hearings might go over until the following year. Members refused to say exactly when the excise hearings were programmed, merely saying they would be "sometime after Easter" and "before adjournment" in July.