Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1954)

4 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, November 9, 1954 RKO Business (Continued from page 1) Europe and the Near East, especially in Germany. RKO has fulfilled its import quotas with pictures, some of them being re-releases, and we have had good grosses with them." Branson, in an April press conference, disclosed that the RKO business then was 10 to 12 per cent ahead of a comparable 1953 period. During his tour of England, France, Italy, Holland, Germany and Belgium, Branson met with RKO branch managers, and in association with Tushinsky, conducted demonstrations of the Superscope lenses in London, Paris and Rome where he screened a special product trailer for exhibitors, utilizing outstanding sequences from "Susan Slept Here," "Underwater," "Son Japan (Continued front' page 1) , especially for submission to the Cannes and Venice film festivals, and it will make them in Eastman Color, Japanese color processes having proved so far unacceptable for high quality. The company also has made a deal with Thomas Brandon for release, probably during th^ Christmas season, of "The Impostor." They were accompanied by T. Koida, their representative, who has opened headquarters in Los Angeles, and who at the interview acted as translator. They already have been in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium and Great Britain, talking with exhibitors and studio executives, and expect to do the same in New York and Hollywood. Little Communist Influence Communist influence among Japanese producers is small, they declared, answering questions. Seven of 300 films last year were from leftist producers. These men, they asserted, began their careers with propaganda pictures. It was the first experience in such an appeal, for Japanese audiences — "which soon stopped coming." The producers now have changed to almost straight entertainment. Both men asked reporters to tell them of such matters as CinemaScope, television, and the like. They asked about the competition between films and television, and were told it had decreased. They asked which "Scope" the reporters favored, and were told they wouldn't get an answer. They asked whether Cinerama would compete with CinemaScope, and were assured it would not. Also, they asked whether, if European producers combined, as they often talked of doing, to make a dent in the American market, they could do so. They were answered : there are too few European pictures. Two TV Outlets in Tokyo They spoke of television as an incipient force, making impression now only during sports events. Tokyo has two television stations. The government station has "uninteresting" programs, they said. The commercial one hasn't been able to obtain advertisers because there are only 20,000 receivers. They feel two factors militate against television as a , competitor in Japan : high costs, so far ; and a large number of mountains. Is Up 5% Over of Sinbad" and "The Conqueror." "European exhibitors are trying to find something compatible for all films and they have expressed much interest in the Superscope lenses,"' Branson said. "The French are slow-moving in equipping for the latest media, but they are highly interested in Tushinsky's lenses," he said. Lens demonstrations were held at the London Odcon for some 750 British exhibitors, at the Paris Rex for about 2,000 theatremcn, and at the Rome Capital where 1,500 exhibitors and Italian producers were in attendance, he said. Branson said that all future company releases would be available with Superscope anamorphic prints. "This company policy will immensely broaden the domestic and foreign markets as Superscope prints can be projected Mexico Fair (Continued from page 1) department, a costs budget for such a fair. They calculate the expenses at $240,000 and want the Government to cover that outlay. The Ministry considers that quite a price for lodging, boarding and entertaining invited guests, representatives of various branches of the industry from all picture producing countries, publicity, etc. The producers say $240,000 is the absolute minimum cost of a successful world film fair, adding that unless such a fair can be a success, it is better not to stage it at all. Stressing that there must be no stinting nor stinginess, the producers cite the world picture show which .A.rgentina presented last year. They point out that the Buenos Aires Government thought nothing of paying all costs of that fair. Para. Re-Signs Dolan Paramount Pictures has exercised its option on Robert Emmett Dolan, producer. Dolan currently is preparing "Anything Goes," as his next film. Last Year through the regular anamorphic lenses which are used in CinemaScope up to at 2:1 aspect ratio," he said. The anamorphic Superscope prints will have optical sound tracks, he added. Commenting on the numerous film festivals around the world, Branson stated that "the festivals have lost their original intent and have become very commercial." Questioned about the possible efl^ects of subscriber television and commercial television in Europe, the RKO executive said "Pay-TV is an interesting phase" and that he didn't hear any discussions about the medium while in Europe. However, he said, the British public does not seem concerned with commercial television as TV in Great Britain is no competition to motion pictures. Trust Suits (Continued from page 1) pending and that every out-door exhibitor who has been in business for many years has a cause of action. The Pennsylvania suits could set in motion a nationwide series of claims or could be wrapped up in the two cases filed, it was said. Runs, clearances, film terms and alleged withholding of prints are involved in the charges. Malkan also filed a $1,080,000 antitrust suit yesterday on behalf of the Austin Theatre in Kew Gardens, L. I., naming many of the defendants in the drive-in suits. McCarthy Rites (Continued from, page 1) than 20 years. Earlier affiliations had included managerships in Philadelphia and other Pennsylvania cities. He started in the industry with the old Sylvester Z. Poli interests at Bridgeport. Funeral services will be held in the latter city on Thursday. People Forrest J. Beard has been named advertising manager of Ampex Corp., Redwood City, Cal. He was formerly with Ray Oil Burner Co. and Pabco Products, both of San Francisco. n Allan Noye, Mexico manager for 20th Century-Fox, has been elected president of Variety Club Tent No. 1, Mexico City. New vice-presidents are Emilio Azcarraga, Jr., and Rumolo O'Farrill, Jr. n Johnny Parsons, chief barker of Variety Club of Northern California, has reported an all-time high attendance of 200 at the annual costume dinner and dance held recently at the Richelieu Hotel in San Francisco. n Ed Stevens, president of Stevens Pictures, Atlanta, has returned there following a tour of his branches. n Mitchell Little, who has been office manager for Republic Pictures in Charlotte, has joined Buena Visla as a salesman in the Atlanta and Charlotte territories. n Elmer F. Lux, Buffalo exhibitor and city council president; Mrs. Lux, Jack Chinell, RKO Radio exchange manager in Buffalo and Mrs. Chinell will be the "greeters" at the "Get Acquainted Night" Friday in the headquarters of Tent 7, Variety Club of Buffalo. n R. A. Morris, overseas sales manager for Associated British-Pathe, Ltd., visited recently at the Atlanta offices of Allied Artists Southern Exchanges. 'Fate' Opens Tomorrow United Artists' "Twist of Fate" will have its American premiere tomorrow at the Monroe Theatre in Chicago, with Ginger Rogers and co-star Jacques Bergerac, her husband in private life, the honored guests at the opening ceremonies. "Sign of the Pagan 9? (Continued from page 1) appropriate musical score, an outstanding vehicle of entertainment which should make its weight felt at the box office. Universal exchanges will carry three different prints, four track magnetic sound, one track optical sound tor CinemaScope equipped theatres besides a regular, flat print. The picture has a star-studded cast headed by Jack Palance, who portrays Attila the Hun with an outer harshness and cruelty, but an inner warmth and inner understanding of life and faith ; Jeff Chandler, who portrays the Roman centurion, _ the son of a sandalmaker, whose love of country is surpassed only by his love of a woman; Ludmilla Tcherina, princess of the Eastern Roman Empire, whose remarkable masquerade as the most wanton woman in Constantinople helped hide from Attila her dedicated role as proctectress of the Church and the Empire, and Rita Gam, daughter of Attila who yearns and dies for Christianity. Set in 450 A.D., Attila captures a young centurion. Chandler carryino a message from the Emperor to Constantinople, and against the wishes of "his daughter. Miss Gam, nurses the Roman back to health and sends him on his way. Chandler learns that the Eastern empire has entered into an alliance Y-j Hunnish hordes and sets about to take counter measures Aided by Miss Tcherina, and Jeff Alorrow, commander of the Eastern legions Chandler prepares to meet Attila in battle, but he is denied the satisfaction of ending the Hun's life— the fatal knife thrust in Attila's body comes from Allison Hayes, a slave whom the Hun had forcibly taken as his wife. Others in the cast are Eduard Franz, a Persian philosopher who forsee's the end of Attila ; George Dolenz, Sara Shane, Leo Gordon and Moroni Olsen The picture was produced by Albert J. Cohen and directed by Douglas Sirk from a screenplay by Oscar Brodney and Barre Lyndon. The story was written by Brodney. Running time, 92 minutes. General audience classification. Release in December. LESTER DINOFF Harriman Presents Finance Aid Plan Averell Harriman, newly elected Democratic governor of New York, expressed the hope that New York City's financial and tax problems would be handled on a non-partisan basis in a television appearance on. the Citizen's Union Searchlight Hour over Channel 4 of the National Broadcasting Co. network here. Outlining his "affirmative program" which will be presented to a Republican-controlled Legislature, Harriman said that he hopes to work out an equitable plan of state aid for New York City and other cities as well whose fiscal relations with Albany are not what they should be.