Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1954)

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MOTION PICTURE DAILY Accurate Concise ahd Impartial VOL. 76. NO. 16 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1954 TEN CENTS "Wants Facts'' Plan to Extend Arnall Frencli Pact Protest SIMPP President to Alert Other Agencies Ellis Arnall, president of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, who has charged that the new French film agreement violated the Export Trade Act, will bring the matter to the attention of other government agencies in addition to the Federal Trade Commission and the State Department. Arnall told Motion Picture Daily yesterday that he would be in Washington next week in connection with the complaint which he already has lodged with the FTC and Department of State. "All we want are the facts," Ar{Continued on page 5) WB Sales Heads in 2-Day Coast Meet Ben Kalmenson, Warner Brothers' vice-president iu charge of distribution, headed a contingent of home office executive and district managers to the Coast last night for a two day meeting at the studio. The s e s s i ons will get under way on Monday. The purpose o£ the meetings is to give the sales heads an opportunity to see completed product and other pictures that are n earing completion. Awaiting national release are "A Star Is Born,^' "Dragnet" and "Battle {Coniimied on page 5) U.K. Declines Role In Eady Levy Fuss LONDON, July 22.— The government apparently has no intention of fixing the new Eady levy rate, as requested by the British Film Producers Association following the disagreement with Cinematograph Exhibitors Ass'n on the matter. Answering the question put to him ' {Continued on page 5) Ben Kalmenson Bar N. Y.C. from Collecting Tax Fractions Over 5% Columbia Announces Lineup of 19 Films On Current Program Columbia Pictures yesterday announced a lineup of 19 productions which, according to the company, is the strongest product schedule in the company's history. The 19 films art entering release, awaiting release, in production or in final planning stages. "The Caine Mutiny" is being looked upon b}^ the company as the pace-setter for the entire program, although Columbia executives say that future product may top the marks set by "From Here to Eternity" and "Caine Mutiny." Ten of the 19 pictures are in color by Technicolor and four in CinemaScope. Parts of virtually all of the productions, Columbia stated, were filmed on location in this country and abroad, while "On the Waterfront" was shot entirely on location. Among the early releases will be "On the Waterfront," to be followed shortly by Columbia's first CinemaScope film, "Three For the Show," starring Betty Grable, the Champions and Jack Lemmon. Already pencilled in for February release is John Ford's "The Long Gray Line," also in CinemaScope and Technicolor. "Joseph {Continued on page 5) Censor ^War' Seen in Md. Exhibitors Win First Round of Court Fight with City; Hearing on Form of Order Monday; Trial Is Set for Sept, 13 New York City exhibitors won a decisive victory in their fight against the recently passed municipal five per cent amusement tax yesterday when Supreme Court Justice Nicholas M. Pette issued a temporary injunction against the tax's "major fraction" feature, ueclaring it illegal and setting the case for trial on Sept. 13. The September 13 hearing will decide whether the injunction issued yesterday should be made permanent. One effect of the ruling will be the elimination of the tax on all admissions of less than 20 cents. Admittedly, this will apply to only a limited nusnber of theatres and almost entirely to children's tickets in those. Indications are, according to Thomas Bress, Loew's attorney, that the injunction v^'ould not become effective until Monday. Today, the , exhibuor plaintiffs will file an order for the court to sign, which will be argued along with the form of order to be drawn up by the city. Amount of a bond to be posted by plaintiffs also will be argued. Bress said plaintiffs will recommend a $500 bond be posted. On Monday both sides will argue the provisions of the order after which Justice Pette will decide which to sign. At that time the temporary injunction will go into effect. BALTIMORE, July 22.— A new censorship law for Maryland which would define how a picture can be termed "immoral" or "tend to incite crime" was urged here yesterday by Sydney R. Traub, chairman of the state's Board of Motion Picture Censors. At a hearing before a special committee of the Legislative Council, Traub cited the recent censor law passed in New York and added that the current Maryland laws are "inadeciuate" because of the decisions of the U. S. Supreme Court. Yesterday's hearing by a Legislative Council committee headed by State Senator Layman Redden was the first of several which will be held this summer and fall. They will be pre{Continued on page 5) Broken Lance ^ [20th Century-Fox] {CinemaScope) ONE of Spencer Tracy's most notable acting performances in recent years in a powerful, moving and, at times, tender story, places "Broken Lance" high on the list of top fihiis to come before the CinemaScope lenses. In CinemaScope and color by De Luxe, the film explores a violent family conflict which results in bloodshed, the color line as it pertained to the American Southwest in the 1880''s and the character of a self-made man who carved a cattle empire out of Indian country. "Broken Lance" shows every indication of achieving box ofHce success everywhere. It is the type of film which should appeal to everj^ type of audience. Action, breath-taking scenery, engrossing story and realistic aqting by every member of the cast are combined to entertain and enthuse both young and old alike. Tracy tops the cast, with Robert Wagner, Jean Peters, Richard Widmark and Kat}^ Jurado matching the veteran's stellar performance. Hugh O'Brian, Edward Franz, Earl HoUiman and many others contribute important and competent portrayals in support. Although camera work is secondary to story and acting in "Brozen Lance," Joe MacDonald's ciliematography, employing the improved Cinema ■ {Continued on page 6) The restraining order will not halt collection of the tax. Although three other charges were filed recently by five Queens theatres against the city, the court found only the city tax's "major fraction" feature to be illegal. Although exhibitors still will be required to collect the tax from patrons, any part of the levy in excess of the {Continued on page 5) Republic 26-Week Net in Slight Rise For the 26 weeks ended May 1, Republic Pictures Corp. and its subsidiaries reported a net profit of $1,045,393 before Federal tax provisions, estimated Federal normal and surtaxes of $565,000, or a net after taxes of $480,393. For the 26 weeks ended April 24, 1953, Republic reported a net profit of $1,019,150 before Federal tax provisions,, estimated Federal normal and surtaxes of $546,000, or a net Sfter taxes of $473,150.