Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1953)

MOTION PICTURE Accurate Concise and Impartial VOL. 73. NO. 118 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 1953 TEN CENTS Cowdin Heads U.S. Overseas Film Program Johnson Names Former 'U' Board Chairman By J. A. OTTEN Washington, June 17. — J. Cheever Cowdin, chairman of the board of Universal Pictures from 1936 through 1949, was named today to head the government's overseas film program. Cowdin will head the International Motion Picture Service, now part of the International I n f o r mat ion Administration under the Department of State and soon to be part of a semi -independent overseas information agency. His appointment was announced by I. I. A. head Robert L. Johnson, who said Cowdin was "exceptionally well qualified" for the job due to his "expert knowledge of foreign operations, particularly in film distribution." Johnson said he had asked his chief (.Continued on page 4) 3-D Runs Second to Wide Screen Abroad, Daff Finds Installation of wide screens in 1 Kingdom and Continental Europe for 3-D projection there is lagging J. Cheever Cowdin See McCarthy In U.S. Post John G. McCarthy, former vicepresident of the Motion Picture Export Association, has been offered the post of special assistant to Robert L. Johnson, head of the government's International Information Administration. If he accepts the post, McCarthy will supervise all media operating (.Continued on page 4) Utah Meet Draws 100 From Mountain Area Salt Lake City, June 17. — More than 100 exhibitors and distributors from Utah, Idaho, Montana and Nevada gathered here Wednesday for the start of the 10th annual meeting. The conclave will continue for three days, with a golf tournament tomorrow and a "Victory Dinner-Dance" on Friday. Rackmil, Daff Leave For Studio July 1 Milton R. Rackmil, Universal president, and Alfred E. Daff, executive vice-president, are scheduled to leave here for the Coast July 1 for studio conferences. Asked at a trade press conference yesterday whether negotiation of a new contract with William Goetz as head of production would be resumed at that time, Daff replied that the subject is not in his province. Goetz's original seven-year contract with Universal will expire in the fall. Initial talks on a new pact were held prior to Rackmil's departure for Europe last month. arge circuit theatres in the United s proceeding steadily but equipping despite the current success abroad of such pictures as "House of Wax," Alfred E. Daff, Universal International executive vice president, reported yesterday following his return from a three-week trip abroad. Daff said there are a number of reasons for the lag in a swing to 3-D in Europe, chief among them being the difficulty of obtaining equipment. American equipment cannot be purchased in many countries, and few (Continued on page 4) 3-D Double -Prints May Go to Nord for Single Stripping Companies with 3-D pictures in distribution or production may turn their double-prints over to Nord Process, Inc., for transference to a single negative under the company's system whereby three-dimensional product can be exhibited through a single projector. While no definite commitments have been made, major company representatives who saw demonstrations of the Nord process here yesterday indicated that their prints may be so treated. The Nord company has been "tooling up" so that it can turn out 1,000 (Continued on page 4) Johnston European Agenda Up at Meet A review of import and remittance problems in European countries will be made at a meeting of the Motion Picture Export Association here next Tuesday, prior to the departure of Eric Johnston, Motion Picture Association of America president, and (Continued on page 4) Alfred E. Daff Plans of Color CorpOutlined by Yarnall Hollywood, June 17. — Color Corporation of America has invested $250,000 for expansion of its plant facilities since taking over Cinecolor six months ago, has expended another half-million in aiding independent producers to finance productions, and anticipates ending 1953 with a net profit, W. R. Yarnall, president, told the press today at a luncheon in the Brown Derby. Included in "expanding plant facilities," questioning brought out, is the installation of equipment for handling 45,000,000 feet of color-television film annually when color television is (Continued on page 4) See Vote Next Week On Ohio Censor Bill Columbus, O., June 17.— The Ohio legislature is expected to receive and act upon the Mosher bill to exempt newsreels from the state censorship statute early next week. The bill was reported out of committee favorably two weeks ago. Final action on the measure is expected at this session of the legislature even though efforts to adjourn by July 3 are being made. Bids Extension Of Cinerama Rights to '58 S W Seeks to Amend Cinerama, Inc. Pact By MURRAY HOROWITZ A two-year extension for the exclusive showing of Cinerama is being sought by Stanley Warner in the circuit's current negotiations with Cinerama Productions, Inc., it was learned here yesterday. The additional two years would extend the exclusive exhibition rights to 1958, it was stated. Disclosure of the extension bid brought to light the need for the two principal parties to obtain the approval of Cinerama, Inc., the company which licenses the system and manufactures the equipment. It is the lack of such approval, a principal stated, that has been delaying consummation of the deal. In addition to the extension issue, it was learned, there are other problems yet to be ironed out. However, a Cinerama Productions spokesman expressed hope that the parties will be much closer to an agreement by next Thursday, when the special meeting of Cinerama Productions stock (Continued on page 5) 20th Revises Release List "Inferno," initial 3-D and color in Technicolor film to be presented, by 20th Century-Fox, and "Dangerous Crossing" have been made August releases, the company disclosed yesterday in announcing a revised product slate for July and August. The revised line-up totals 10 pictures, three of which are in color by (Continued on page 4) Republic Joins Skiatron Show Republic Pictures made two of its features available for the Skiatron subscription television system yesterday, the last day of the Skiatron demonstration here at the Belmont Plaza Hotel. The Republic clearance came so late that only one of its features, "The (Continued on page 4)