Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1954)

6 Motion Picture daily Friday, July 23, 1954 Reviews ''Pushover" (Columbia) IN addition to being' a Grade "A" murder melodrama, "Pushover" has the added drawing power of Fred MacMurray in a role that fits him like the proverbial glove. It also introduced Kim Novak, a siren type, who gives a capable performance. Director Richard Quine keeps the tempo running smoothly throughout the grim action which deals with murder-for-profit and a $200,000 bank robbery. MacMurray plays the role of a detective assigned to crack the robbery case and, in so doing, takes up with Miss Novak, girl friend of the suspected thief, Paul Richards, on the theory that Richards eventually will contact her. Their friendship develops to a point bordering on love. When Miss Novak discovers that MacMurray is a cop, she proposes that he shoot Richards when the latter contacts her, in violation of MacMurray's orders to bring Richards in alive, so that the two can leave town together with the stolen money. MacMurrav's surrender to the lure of money provides the motives that lead to the climax. The scheme, however, backfires and MacMurray is killed in a gun battle with police. The happy ending is supplied by a romance between MacMurrav's detective partner, Phil Carey, and Dorothy Malone, a nurse, who occupies the apartment next to that of Miss Novak. The story by Thomas Walsh and William S. Ballinger was adapted for the screen by Ro}^ Huggins. Running time, 88 minutes. General classification. For August release. "Broken Lance {Continued, from page 1) Scope lens, deserves mention. Nearly all of the film's panoramic shots, as well as many of the close-ups, enhance and add to the interest of the forceful story. Told in flashback, as Wagner reminisces about his dead father, Tracy, the film shows the effect of the domineering rancher on his four sons and the inhabitants of the Southwest territory. Led by Widmark, three of the sons revolt against their father's tyranny and wrest control of his ranch after he is afflicted by a stroke. Their hatred stems from Miss Jurado, an Indian, as Tracy's second wife, and Wagner as her half-breed son. Wagner returns from prison to fight it out with his antagonists, but soothed by the wisdom of his mother and his love for Miss Peters, as the governor's daughter, he decides against further bloodshed. The love affair, between a half-Indian and the daughter of the governor, is treated with tenderness and good taste. Sol C. Siegel produced and Edward Dmytryk expertly directed from Richard Murphy's screenplay. The film is base on a story by Philip Yordan. Running time, 96 minutes. General classification. For release in August. "The Law vs, Billy the Kid" (Columbia) BILLY THE KID rides again as a fugitive from the law in this Western about the gunman who was so fast on the draw that before long it didn't matter who was right. Scott Brady makes a manly Billy and Betta St. John is appealing as his girl. Billy goes to work for British-born cattle rancher, Paul Cavanaugh, who treats him like a son, knowing his niece, Betta, loves him. Alan Hale, Jr., a jealous ranch hand who hates Billy, arouses the neighboring county's sheriff and his men to action. Cavanaugh is murdered without cause, so Billy declares personal war on Hale. Otis Garta, as Gov. Wallace (the same Lew Wallace, it is revealed, who wrote "Ben Hur"), offers Billy freedom if he will lay down his arms and keep the peace. Desiring retribution for Cavanaugh's slaying, he refuses. He is captured, tried and condemned to hang but escapes, shoots Hale and returns to Miss St. John. Thereupon he is killed by duty-bound friend, James Griffith. The picture has standard production values for its bracket and performances are in kind. It should fill the bill where Westerns are in demand. It was produced by Sam Katzman and was directed by William Castle from a screenplay by John T. Williams. Running time, 73 minutes. General classification. Release date, not set. Film Shares Active; New Highs Are Set Amusement stocks, active and strong on the New York Stock Exchange for some time, moved to several new highs in yesterday's trading. American Broadcasting Paramount Theatres closed at a new 1954 high of \7y%. Decca Records, with a 16,200 share turnover, closed at a new high of 11 54 The issue has been heavily traded recently, giving rise to reports that unidentified interests were buying into the company, which controls Universal Pictures. The latter at a closing price of 24, was near its high for the year. Loew's and National Theatres were other amusement issues whose trading yesterday exceeded the 16,000-share mark. Both closed fractionally near their highs for the year, as did all other major motion picture issues, although in less impressive demand for the day than those mentioned. ^Living It Up' Tops Grosses of 'Shane' In its first 11 playdates, "Living It Up," the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis comedy, has drawn a total gross 16.5 per cent better than "Shane," which set new house records in many of the same theatres where "Living It Up" has opened to date, according" to Paramount. In nine of the 11 engagements reported, "Living It Up" has beaten "Shane" figures, and in the remaining two engagements has matched the western's grosses. Paramount said. Theatres and opening day grosses for the film are : the Metropolitan, Boston, $5,004 ; Paramount, Buffalo, $4,167; State, Portland, Me., $1,893; Palace, Albany, $2,707 ; Olympia, New Bedford, $1,954; Lincoln, Trenton, $2,104; Boulevard drive-in, AUentov^'n, $1,317; Paramount, Springfield, Mass., $2,176; Embassy, Reading, $1,417 ; and Stanley, Philadelphia, $5,516. 'Obsession' Tops 'Miller' Grosses "Magnificent Obsession," UniversalInternational's Technicolor film based on the Lloyd C. Douglas novel, continued to top "The Glenn Miller Story," the biggest grosser in the company's history, in new openings, U-I announced today. Opening days where the film topped "The Glenn Miller Story," were the State Theatre in New Bedford, with a $1,548 gross; the Midwest in Oklahoma City, $1,683 ; the Lafayette in Buffalo, $3,250; the Orpheum in Kansas City, $2,883 ; the Paramount in Syracuse, $1,850; and the State in Pittsfield, Mass., with a return of $589. Record first week grosses were reworded at the RKO Palace Theatre in Clsveland, with a mark of $27,500 on the basis of six days and the evening premiere ; at the United Artists Theatre in Chicago, $49,000, a new house record; at Loew's Grand in Atlanta, $16,500; the Warner in Youngstown, $11,000; and the Palace in Akron with $10,500. ^Living' Opens Today Paramount's "Living It Up" will open at the Criterion Theatre here today. Gualino Reelected President of ANICA Dr. Renato Gualino has been reelected president of the International Federation of Motion Picture Producers Association for the third time. An Italian film industry leader. Dr. Gualino is also chief of ANICA's foreign offices,' president of I.F.B., director general of Italian Films Export and president of Lux Films. Jackson to Seek lATSE V-P Office HOLLYWOOD, July 22. — Alan Jackson, business agent for the lATSE Laboratory Technicians, Local 683, will run for the second vicepresidency on the Roy M. Brewer ticket opposing Carl Cooper, who is an international representative here, it was announced today. The lA administration has uine vice-prtsidencys. Film Quality Quotes In New COMPO Ad The 22nd in the series of COMPO ads being published in "Editor & Publisher," which will be printed in the issue of tomorrow, summarizes some of the recent favorable comments by newspaper writers on the quality of current films, and predicts tliat the pictures coming up for the new fallwinter season will be even better. The ad, captioned "Adjectives, Sure, But This Time They're Not Ours," points out that Otis Guernsey, Jr., the "New York Herald Tribune" critic, in writing in his paper about the task of selecting the 10 best pictures of 1953 had this to say : "The vastly improved quality of recent movies makes this a tough year for a man trying to assemble a list of best films. There's enough to justify a list of 20 or 30." Wayne Oliver, AP writer, is quoted as follows : "The movie industry is maintaining its hard won gains of recent months and looking for a new boost later in the year from a crop of top-flight pictures." Bob Thomas, another AP correspondent writing from Hollywood said: "You, the ticket buyers, are going to the movies more often. The 'lost' audience has been found again. You and your neighbors don't stare at TV sets as much as you used to." The ad also quotes from the annual report last year of the motion picture division of the General Federation of Women's Clubs which, after calling attention to the fact that "two exceptionally fine motion pictures were released every week," went on to say that "American movie goers saw a greater number of outstanding motion pictures during the past year than in any previous 12month period on record." "Believe us," the ad says, "there are plenty of good movies. And with new wide screen devices and sweeping improvements in production and projection, they're getting better every day. If you're in the mood ' for a movie, there's always one around worth seeing." 111. Allied Re-Elects Kirsch, All Officers CHICAGO, July 22.— Jack Kirsch, who has been president of Allied Theatres of New Jersey since 1938, has been re-elected president of the group for a term of three years at a Blackstone Hotel meeting here today. Also re-elected, for one year terms, were Van Nomikos, vice-president, and Benjamin Banowitz, secretarytreasurer. Directors who were re-elected for the year are : Bill Charuhas, Jack Clark, James Gregory, Robert V. Harrison, Donald Knapp, Verne Langdon, Charles Lindau, Howard Lubliner, Sam C. Meyers, Richard B. Salkin, Arthur Sass, Arthur Schoenstadt, Nate Slott, Joseph Stern and Bruce Trinz. Harry Nepo was again named sergeant-at-arms for a one-year term. Fla. Personal Changes TAVARES, Fla.. July 22.— Kenny Sears, manager of the Lake Theatre here, has moved over to Eustis, Fla., to manage the Movie Garden. Joseph Gibson of Marietta, Ga., replaces him in Tavares.