Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1953)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Aecurgfe VOL. 74, NO. 93 NEW YORK, U. S. A., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1953 TEN CENTS May Get Relief Seek Easing of Depreciation Tax Ruling By J. A. OTTEN WASHINGTON, Nov. 12.— Treasury and Congressional tax experts have tentatively agreed to try to get Congress next year to ease the tax rules for depreciating new equipment. The change could be very helpful to theatre owners and producers converting to new film processes and techniques. Treasury staff officials have been working with the staff of the Congressional Taxation Committee for months now on a far-reaching "technical" tax revision bill. The two staffs have just about finished all the preliminary work and are settling down for a final going-over of all the bill's provisions. Then Treasury Secretary Humphrey will go over the bill (Continued on page 4) Objections by P.C.A. Bring Changes in 'Cease Fire' Script HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 12.— Hal B. Wallis today issued to his staff an order to eliminate from the script of "Cease Fire" dialogue words objected to by the Production Code Administration, which objection was subsequently upheld on appeal to the board of directors of the Motion Picture Association .of America in New York. In a statement explaining his action, Wallis declared: "Since we depicted real soldiers in battle scenes, we felt that the use of the words 'hell' and (Continued on page 6) MGM Giving Priority Release to 'Knights' HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 12. — "Knights of the Round Table," M-G-M's first picture produced in CinemaScope, will be given special release priority, with six opening engagements scheduled for the Christmas holidays. This was decided here today following a "sneak" preview of the picture attended by home office and studio executives. "Keen enthusiasm" for CinemaScope and the picture was expressed by Nicholas M. _ Schenck, president of (Continued on page 4) 'Picture Pioneer' of 1953 BARNEY BALABAN, left, president of Paramount Pictures and this year's selection as "Pioneer of 1953," last night received the annual plaque awarded by the Motion Picture Pioneers at the Pioneers' 15th annual dinner held at New York's Astor Hotel. Picture Pioneers president Jack Cohn made the presentation. Crises No Cause for Alarm, Bala ban Tells Pioneers The so-called crises in the industry today "are nothing compared with the 'terrible' crises we had" in the early days of the business, Barney Balaban, president of Paramount Pictures, said here last night at the 15th annual dinner of the Motion Picture Pioneers at the Hotel Astor, at which he was acclaimed the "Pioneer of 1953." Asserting that the picture medium has "come of age," Balaban stated that "we now find ourselves in one of those periods of transition which have characterized our business from its inception," and adding that "although we have weathered many storms in the past, we persist in approaching each new 'crisis' as if we had never experienced one before." Approximately 600 industry representatives gathered in the hotel's grand ballroom to pay homage to Balaban and to observe the induction of 100 new members into the organization whose membership is composed of those who have been in the industry for 25 years or more. Eric A. Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, was chairman (Continued on page 4) Zukor Urges Aid to Pioneers Project An appeal to support the Picture Pioneers' Foundation was made in a cablegram from Adolph Zukor in Paris to Jack Cohn, Pioneers president, at the organization's annual dinner here last night. In a message which described Barney Balaban as "a true symbol of the motion picture pioneer," Zukor added that funds for the Foundation "can do so much to alleviate the misfortunes of our brethren." The cablegram was read by Eric Johnston, who was the dinner chairman. New Blood List Is Elected Chairman of RKO Theatres Layman Also on Board; No Major Changes Seen Albert A. List, new owner of the controlling stock interest in RKO Theatres, was elected chairman of the board of the company at a meeting of the board of directors here yesterday, the first to be held since the sale by Howard Hughes of his entire stock holdings in RKO Theatres last Friday. In addition, List's business associate, Dudley G. Layman, was elected to the board. The two full vacancies created by the resignations yesterday of Ben-Fleming Sessel and William J. Wardall. who had been representatives on the board of Irving Trust Co., trustee of the Hughes stock under (Continued on page 4) New French Accord Seen Very Likely By MPA's Johnston By MURRAY HOROWITZ Assurance that a new U. S. -Franco film agreement will be worked out was expressed here yesterday by Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, on his arrival at Idlewild International Airport from London. Johnston, who led the Paris negotiations for the American side at intervals, said that he may return to France shortly. The MPAA president declined to give any details on the (Continued on page 6) WB Preparing 3 in 'Scope, WarnerColor HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 12.— Three films in CinemaScope and WarnerColor will be available for release by Warner Brothers. The first will be "The Command," based on the "Saturday Evening Post" serial, "The White Invader." This will be followed by two Wayne-Fellows productions which will go before the cameras next week. They are "The High and the Mighty," starring John Wayne, and "Ring of Fear," a circus story featuring Clyde Beatty, as himself, with Mickey Spillane.