Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1953)

6 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, August 26, 1953 'Freak Films' (Continued from page 1) one that fits this category. The popularity of the famed Harlem basketball team, gained through their televised games and newspaper attention, has reached such a peak that he estimates the picture will gross between $1,500,000 and $2,000,000 in the domestic market alone. Palca produced a picture with the same team a few years ago for Columbia release and it played 11,000 engagements, he said. No release has been set for "Go, Man, Go!" as yet, but Palca says that several companies have asked to see the picture when it is ready. Many Have "Piece" of Film Palca, who produced the picture in New York, said here yesterday that the practice of cast and creative workers participating in the gross of an independent production is gaining momentum. A large portion of the creative staff of the basketball feature has a "piece" of the picture, he said. National Pre-Selling Cinerama (Continued from page 1) Ontario Calls 6 'Adult TORONTO, Aug. 25.— The Censor Board of Ontario has placed six films in the "adult entertainment" category. They are : "The Last Meeting," "Kill Him for Me" and "Gunman in the Street," released by International Film Distributors; "The City That Never Sleeps" and "Perilous Journey," _ distributed by Empire-Universal Films, and "The" Second Mrs. Tanqueray," from Astral Films Ltd. 'Frisco Manager Shifts SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 25.— Al bert Feldman, manager of the Paramount Theatre here, has resigned to take over management of the Sea Vue, at Pacific Manor, replacing Hal Honore, who has resigned. The managerial post at the Paramount will be taken by Don Haley, who has been assistant at the United Paramount St. Francis here. ' 4 D OMAN HOLIDAY," reports IV "Life," in the current issue, is a story of "a Princess who goes on a spree." "Once upon a time in a European land, there was a princess named Anne, who was young, winsome, and bored with court etiquette," says "Life." "One night, while in Rome on a goodwill tour, she rebelled hysterically against making speeches, and dancing with ambassadors." The princess, Audrey Hepburn, meets a prince charming, in the person of Gregory Peck, a U. S. newspaperman. "Roman Holiday" opens here tomorrow at Radio City Music Hall. • "The Robe's" screen rights were bought in 1942 by Frank Ross, when only the first half of the manuscript of Lloyd Douglas' novel had been written, reports Liza Wilson in "American Weekly" magazine of Aug. 23. The purchase price was $100,000. Eleven years passed before "The Robe" was ready for theatres. It will open here at the Roxy on Sept. 16. It is the first motion picture produced in CinemaScope, o "The Robe" receives prominent mention on the top of a full-color page ad advertising Lux soap in the September issue of "Woman's Home Companion." Jean Simmons, star of "The Robe," dominates the ad, -which was placed up front in the issue. Among the films recommended in the issue are "Roman Holiday," "Return to Paradise" and "Band Wagon." Brethren," and "Paint Your Wagon." The properties were acquired by Mayer before the S-W deal for Cinerama productions and, at the time of the sale, a controversy developed on whether S-W acquired first bidding rights on the properties, with other Cinerama assets. Cooper, who was also on hand for the board meeting, was reported to have briefed the directors on the progress of negotiations with S-W on "Seven Wonders of the World," a Cinerama production for which footage already has been shot. Starr Praises (Continued, from page 1) 'Robe' Opening (Continued, from page 1) scriptive comment, carrying details of the debut of the Biblical drama to France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, the Middle East, India, Pakistan, and Japan. Each of the countries will have individual commentators, microphones and engineer set-ups. The worldwide coverage of the premiere will complement the previouslyannounced Coast-to-Coast radio and television tieup concluded with National Broadcasting and Metropolitan TV station WNBT. 7 DAYS IN HAWAII 441 (from New York), including round -trip transportation and hotel accommodations Fly United DC-6 air tourist service all the way, with stopover on the West Coast, if you like. Only United features 2abreast seating and wide center aisles on all planes. UNITED AIR LINES Fare plus fax. COMPARE THE FARE AND YOU'LL GO BY AIR "Return to Paradise's" opening at Loew's State Theatre here will be promoted by a full-color turnabout ad in the Sept. 6 issue of "Pictorial Review." • "Roman Holiday" has been chosen by Ed Miller as the pictureof-the-month in the September issue of "Seventeen." • "Mister Scoutmaster" has been selected as the outstanding motion picture for family entertainment by "Parents Magazine" in the October issue. A medal designating the award will be presented to 20th-Fox's Charlie Einfeld by Phil Willcox. "The Robe's" stars, Richard Burton and Jean Simmons, adorn the front cover of the current issue of "Look." An informative story of the events which led to the making of the first CinemaScope picture, along with many full color photographs made on the production sets, appear in the issue. In addition, there is a profile of Richard Burton. Also in this issue is a full-page color ad on "From Here to Eternity." e "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," "Return to Paradise," and "Main Street to Broadway" are reviewed in the September issue of "Redbook." • "Roman Holiday" and "Band Wagon," are reviewed in "McCall's Goes to the Movies" department of the September issue. Also in the issue is a profile of George Winslow, the seven-year-old boy with the frog-like voice who plays in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." WALTER HAAS Heavy 'Hans' Grosses Despite chaotic strike conditions in France, Samuel Goldwyn's "Hans Christian Andersen" wound up the first week of its current Paris engagement with more than 10,000,000 francs, topping all other previous Goldwyn productions. Now in a second week, "Hans Christian Andersen" is playing in the original version at the Colisee and Madeleine and in the French version at the Marivaux, the Goldwyn office here reports. Foster to South America Columbia Pictures' short subject producer-director Harry Foster will leave here today for location shooting of four "World of Sports" films in South America. Foster and cameraman Jack Etra will spend almost a month in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay making the films. Ends Polaroid Mission Leonard Spinrad, motion picture consultant, has completed his assignment as press relations consultant to the 3-D glasses division of Polaroid Corp., in which he served as liaison between that company and major film companies and publications in New York. on a large metropolitan theatre are in no wise applicable to the small theatre." If Reagan's letter is an indication that M-G-M recognizes that fact, Starr contended that it is a welcome message to exhibition. An M-G-M spokesman, however, said here yesterday that the M-G-M letter did not specify such a contention, indicating that Starr had put his own interpretation to Reagan's letter. "Far-Sighted and Unselfish" Starr's reply to Reagan follows : "Your letter of August 21st outlines a policy on the part of your company that is indeed far-sighted and unselfish, and one which is bound to be beneficial to the entire industry. We will convey to our entire membership your pledge to render all possible aid to theatres in distress, and I trust that all distributors will immediately follow your example and reiterate in plain language their intention to do their part in saving the distressed theatres from collapse and ruin. "Your letter implies your recognition that there are theatre owners who are now faced with the difficult choice of closing their doors rather than wait for tax relief at some indefinite time in the future. It also underlines the point we exhibitors have made for many years, that it is impossible to blanket all theatres under a national sales policy. The terms and conditions of exhibition which you impose on a large metropolitan theatre are in no wise applicable to the small theatre. If your letter is an indication that your company recognizes that simple fact, then it is indeed a welcome message to exhibition. Sees Move as "Godsend" "It would be a godsend to our industry if all distributors would notify their branch managers to take care of the distressed situations without the prolonged delay of submitting the facts to New York. The branch manager is familiar with these situations and he should be delegated the authority to act, and to act quickly. "Thanking you again for your intelligent and statesmanlike approach to this pressing problem," I am Sincerely. Harris Reopening House TOLEDO, Aug. 25.— Marvin Harris will reopen his La France Theatre in Swanton on or about Sept. 6. He had closed the house in order to serve the state as executive director of the Ohio Sesquicentennial, recently completed. On SPG Journal Staff HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 25— Harriet Parsons has joined the editorial staff of the Screen Producers Guild Journal. She will be associated in this activity with Maxwell Shane and Carey Wilson, Guild president. — ffffft |flrtt (tit* (fflf flfl" (tWljflgjS* MOVIELAB'S new preview theatre brings TO THE EAST the ultimate in projection. • Three dimensional projection if Three channel interlock projection • 16mm interlock projection MOVIEIAB THEATRE SERVICE. INC. 619 W 54th St., N Y. 19. N. V. «JUcUon 6r0367 3-D ELECTRIC INTERLOCKS — $295.00 5.500' Magazines (Set)— $295.00 Selsyn Motors A veritable AFFILIATED ENTERPRISES CO. 85 Van Braam St., Pittsburgh 19. Penna. ATlantic 1-1760 D U B B I N G Studios and year's, of„e^perience for dubbing foreign picfufes -to English. INTERNATIONAL DUBBING CO. Capitol Theatre Bldg. — JU 2-0284 1639 Broadway, New' York