Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1954)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY VOL. 76. NO. 8 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1954 TEN CENTS Preparing Draft Arbitration Group Starts Initial Parley Sub-Committee in 5-Hour Meet; Again Tomorrow First steps leading to the drafting of an industry arbitration system got under way here yesterday by the subcommittee composed of exhibitor and distributor representatives. While the actual drafting of proposed provisions of an initial blueprint was not undertaken, the group did explore the possible subjects for arbitration. The committee recessed yesterday after more than five hours of con(Continued on page 4) Arnall Asks Probe of MPEA by the FTC In addition to asking the U. S. ■ Department of State to make a complete study of the Motion Picture Export Association's pact with France, Ellis Arnall, president of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, has similiarly requested the Federal Trade Commission to "investigate and determine" the MPEA's operations and basic authority in entering foreign trade agreements. Releasing the contents of a letter to FTC chief counsel Bernard B. Smyth, the former Georgia governor requested that a thorough and complete investigation and determination be made by the FTC as to : "The detail and involved operation of the MPEA and its basic authority under the law and trade policies of the U. S. {Continued on page 4) Film Executives In Stock Sales: SEC WASHINGTON, July 12.— Harold J. Mirisch sold 18,125 shares of Allied Artists common in May, according to a report yesterday to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The stock was held through Kenilworth Investment Co. Mirisch still owns 28,240 shares through Kenilworth, 1,320 shares in his own name and 200 shares through Harry Mandell and Co. Barney Balaban was reported sell{Continued on page 4) Italian Reds Hit New U. S. Film Pact ROME, July 12. — Communist members of Parliament on Saturday asked that the new film agreement with American companies be made more favorable to the Italian film industry than it is. The expressions came during debate on the government's new budget. Communist Senator Egisto Cappellini asked that Parliament be informed as to how the frozen money of the American film companies here was used. Communists, he said, assume it was used to finance anti-Communist propaganda. Judge Dismisses Suit Filed Against Majors HOLLYWOOD, July 12.— Superior Judge Ellsworth Meyer dismissed the $51,750,000 damage suit against the major studios and their executives yesterday which was filed in 1952 by Anne Revere, Michael Wilson and 21 other plaintif¥s who charged the studios deprived them of employment unlawfully after they had declined to answer questions asked by House Un-American Activities committee. The court ruled, in 24-page opinion, that the defendants were within their rights, and quoted a Supreme Court decision sustaining this opinion. The jurist also ruled that plaintiff's bill lacked sufficient facts for cause of action, and dismissed the suit withotit leave to amend. RANK CUTS U.S. PLAYINGJ^IME Two Circuits Said to Increase U.K, Films Quota from SO to 35 Per Cent By PETER BURNUP LONDON, July 12.— Withdrawal of 20th Century-Fox films from the J. Arthur Rank Odeon and Gaumont-British circuits has resulted in a toughening of the Rank attitude towards Hollywood films generally. Orders have been given, it is understood, to step up the circuit's official 30 per cent British film quota to 35 per cerit in all Rank houses. John Davis, managing director of the group, declares that in some of the theatres an even greater number of British pictures will be screened. "British films are increasingly popular in every country in the world", says Davis. "Only in America is it still difficult to get a fair showing of them. We want to support our own producers and help them earn money". It is reported that the Rank group found itself faced with a booking gap of up to 24 weeks in the current year following the 20th-Fox withdrawal. Other American companies had alri (Continued on page 4) RKO Radio Lists 70 Shorts for '54-55 SAN FRANCISCO, July 12.— RKO will release 44 one-reel and 26 two-reel short subjects during 1954-55, it was announced by Charles Boasberg, general sales manager, today at the opening session of the company's two-day Western sales meeting at the St. Francis Hotel here. Eighteen Walt Disney one-reelers will be in color by Technicolor, Boasberg added. J. R. Grainger, president of RKO Radio Pictures, outlined RKO's future production plans. The RKO president just completed a series of conferences with Howard Hughes and C. J. Tevlin, vice-president in charge of studio operations. Grainger also discussed the release schedule of 12 pictures in color through March of 1955, which he announced at the Eastern-Canadian sales meeting in New York last week. Edward L. Walton, executive as( Continued on page 4) 'Rear Window ?9 [Paramount] ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S latest serving of murder, romance and intriguing camera work adds up to excellent entertainment. First rate performances from James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, Thelma Ritter and Raymond Burr, plus intelligent, humorous dialogue contribute a buoyancy which permeates the entire film. No matter how gruesome things become (and they can be pretty gruesome when a hacksaw murder is involved), there is waiting a light touch to relieve matters without diminishing suspense. "Rear Window" impresses this reviewer as being one of Hitchcock's best because it has much of the same sort of zing and originality typical of some of' his earlier films. Part of this attraction is to be found in the way Hitchcock stretches plausibility and gets away with it, because it is done so colorfully. Since the story is just as much a slice of life as it is a slice of murder, the picture starts at a leisurely pace. The camera tours the courtyard of a Greenwich Village apartment before it settles on Jeffefies (James Stewart), a magazine photographer invalid with a broken leg. On the way it passes Miss Lonely Hearts C Judith Evelyn), a man-hungry female who spurns them when they do arrive ; a young ballet dancer ; a former bird-whistler and her husband who sleep' on the balcony, a Miss Hearing Aid (Continued on page 4) . Mexican Film Strike Off Until July 23 MEXICO CITY, July 12.— A strike scheduled to start today against 1,200 Mexican theatres and against foreign and domestic distributors has been deferred until July 23. The walkout had been called by the National Cinematographic Industry Workers Union to force its demand for a 35 per cent wage increase, but the deferment was ordered by the Confederation of Mexican Labor, to which the union belongs. The Confederation seeks a general 24 per cent wage increase and it hopes to win its demands during the strike abeyance period. The trade has hopes, too, that the labor trouble will be erased, probably with a wage hike of from 10 to 20 per cent before July 23. RKO May Dispose Of 3 Coast Houses Disposal of the Pantages and Hillside Theatres in Hollywood and the Golden Gate in San Francisco is under consideration by RKO Theatres. Sol Schwartz, president of the circuit, returned here from the Coast yesterday, it is reported, he discussed the sale of theatres with an interested group.