Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1954)

Wednesday, December 8, 1954 Motion Picture Daily 3 'There^s No Business Like Show Business^ {Continued front page 1) Marilyn Monroe, Dan Dailey, Johnnie Ray and Mitzi Gaynor are such as to set one wondering when, if ever, they may have been surpassed. The terrific CinemaScope production numbers for the Irving Berlin "hit" tunes, in marvelous color by DeLuxe, are luxuriously dressed, beautifully sung, danced and acted. Among them are the title tune, and "Heat Wave," "When That Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam'," "Laz}'," "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "After You Get What You Want' You Don't Want It," "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody," " You'd Be Surprised," and many others. In addition to the abundance of eye and ear appeal, there is emotional stimulus and heart in the Phoebe and Henry Ephron screen i^lay, from the Lamar Trotti story. And the way it is played by every member of the cast, under Walter Lang's discerning direction, will command the undivided attention of audiences from beginning to end. It has so much to offer, so much to sell and to be talked about, that this excellent show is certain to attract huge crowd which can but go their way as salesmen for it, after seeing it. THE story relates the personal and professional adventures of the Donahues, a show business family headed by Miss Merman and Dailey, a vaudeville team, ultimately expanded to include the children, O'Connor, Ray and Miss Gaynor, and their excursions into ttie night club and other fields after the demise of vaudeville. As the children grow up, Ray becomes a priest ; O'Connor falls in love with Miss Monroe, an aspiring entertainer, and Miss Gaynor also finds romance with Hugh O'Brien, a lyric writer. Misunderstandings jar the course of the O'Connor-Miss Monroe wooing, after one of which O'Connor is injured in an automobile accident on tne night of a show opening and, after an altercation with his father, disappears, blaming himself, Dailey sets out to find U Connor. An actors' benefit performance at the old Hippoarome in New York provides the occasion for the family reunion and the reconciliation between O'Connor and Dailey, on the one hand, and O Connor and Miss Monroe, on the other. With show business as the background of the principals and the story, the magnificent production numbers are worked naturally into the narlative and seem as much a part of it as any day-to-day happening in the lives of the Donahues. The circumstance is one of many which contribute to the distinguished and happy whole that is this Sol C. Siegel production. Richard Eastham as a play producer, Frank McHugh as an agent, Robin Raymond as a snow girl, and Mimi Gibson, Linda Lowell, John Potter, Jimmy Baird, Billy Cnapin, Neil McCaskill and Donald Gamble, as the Donahue children at early ages, make substantial contributions in support. The mark of quality is upon this production, every foot of the way. It is superb entertainment, the kind of which all of show business may be justinably proud. And, as has been indicated above, not the least of its discinction is attributable to expert use of CinemaScope, of stereophonic sound and of color. Running time, 117 minutes. General audience classification. Release, in December. SHERWIN KANE Say Wage Law Can Apply to Film Theatres Theatres could conceivably be brought under the Federal Minimum Wage Law on the theory that motion picture product moves in interstate commerce, it was the opinion of several industry attorneys who agreed that if there ever was a court challenge on the issue, it could be asserted. Labor Secretary Mitchell is reported to be considering asking Congress next year to extend the minimum wage law to theatres, which currently, along with other retail and service establishments, are exempt from the law, which requires a minimum of 75 cents per hour. Theatres generally have been held as engaged in intra-state commerce, but it is only a matter of constitutional law, one attorney said. Small independent theatres are regarded as engaged in intrastate commerce, but the large circuits which have theatres in many states, and which book films for the entire circuit, are actually in interstate commerce, another attorney said. The National Labor Relations Board under the Taft-Hartley Act has said that it could, if it wanted to, assert jurisdiction over an intra-state theatre, but it would not do this as a policy matter, and not on legal grounds. The issue, however, is much clearer with circuits whose activities cross state lines. Cinerama (Continued from page 1) gross will enable the company to realize a profit, before operating costs, of $1,200,000' for the same 14month period. From the initial opening in the fall of 1952 to Nov. 27 last, in the 13 theatres where "This Is Cinerama" is being presented, the first production has grossed an estimated $16,500,000 with Cinerama Productions securing an income of $2,900,000 from its 50-50 agreement in the first four theatres with Stanley Warner Corp., Stevens said. The S-W organization is currently planning to open "This Is Cinerama" in Montreal on Dec. 27 followed by a January premiere in Buffalo and Miami, the stockholders were informed. The stockholders unanimously elected Lowell Thomas, Louis B. Mayer, Milo J. Sutliff, Theodore R. Kupferman and Stevens as directors. They also approved and ratified an agreement dated Nov. 3 for the termination of an employment agreement and for stock arrangements between the company and Merian C. Cooper and between the company and Argosy Pictures Corp. Also, the stockholders approved and ratified an agreement dated Nov. 3 for the termination of an employment contract and for a stock arrangement and for a bank loan guarantee arrangement between the company and Mayer; and voted permission for certain officers, Kupferman, Stevens and Irving N. Margolin, to purchase Cinerama Productions stock in blocks of 5,000, 5,000 and 2,500 shares respectively, at $2.25 per share. Kupferman, at the beginning of the meeting, informed the stockholders that between Oct. 1953 and July 4, 1954, Cinerama Productions had spent $1,950,000 in opening the first nine theatres about the country now showing "This Is Cinerama." The money was spent on equipment, refurbishing the houses and promotion "and your company has received a profit, as of July 1, of $1,600,000," he added. ''By February, we will be even," he said. Thomas Resigns Post As Cinerama Head Due to his production responsibilities for the third Cinerama film, "The Seven Wonders of the World," Lowell Thomas, president of Cinerama Productions, Inc., yesterday announced that he is withdrawing his candidacy for the company office during the forthcoming year. Following a meeting of the board of directors of Cinerama Productions, who were elected at a stockholders meeting held earlier, it was announced that Milo J. Sutliff was elected president, succeeding Thomas. Other officers named were Theodore R. Kupferman, vice-president and secretary ; Ira S. Stevens, treasurer and assistant secretary; and Irving N. Margolin, assistant treasurer. NT Divestiture (Continued from page 1) Fox consent decree, the company had two years from June 7, 1951, to dispose of some 110 theatres and properties. There were three six-month extensions of this deadline, and as of today, the company has only nine or 10 theatres and properties still to divest. The five theatre-owning film producers sued by the government in the Paramount case were ordered to get rid of approximately 1,200 theatres under the consent decrees that followed the Supreme Court's decision in favor of the government. By the end of the year, fewer than 65 theatres will remain to be sold. Justice officials estimated. Within a few months, they said, divestiture should be completed for National, RKO Theatres, Stanley Warner and possibly even Loew's, with American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres the only chain likely to need substantially more time. 'Prince' to Rivoli Twentieth Century-Fox's CinemaScope production of "Prince of Players" will be the holiday attraction at the Rivoli Theatre here, following the engagement of Otto Preminger's "Carmen Jones," the film company announced. Fabian ( Continued from page 1 ) try segments for government intervention in the industry and stated: "It is my firm conviction that all the energy being expended by both sides in exhibition is being largely wasted." He cited the united effort by the industry in getting admission tax relief, pointing out that "an aroused exhibition industry working in concert with other elements of our business can perform miracles and do wonders for itself when it is united with a definite goal ahead." Fabian said he "honestly believed" that if a referendum were taken today and exhibitors' opinions throughout the nation were duly registered, "our theatre owners would be overwhelmingly in favor of one central organization." Turning to production, Fabian said : "If you review the records of all the major studios for the past five years, you'll discover they all have a pretty fine batting average. Where they turned out 20 pictures a year, you'll find three or four smash hits, five or six good pictures, three or four average and a few run-of-themill. Suppose this same studio were to increase its number of pictures produced yearly by 50 per cent, lavishing the same care and production effort on this larger group of pictures. The percentage of hits and good pictures would go up almost in proportion to the added number of films. Wants Hollywood Encouraged "That's why we in the theatre business should encourage Hollywood to make more and encourage everyone willing to invest his money in producing pictures to fill the playing time of our theatres. "New stars are created by the pub-" lie when they indicate their preference by paying money at the box office. The more people who see the creative efforts of new producers — applaud and are entertained by stars and new faces, then more new blood will be pumped into our industry and revitalize our motion picture business. "Yes, my companies are committed to a policy of maximum aid, financial and otherwise, to any person or organization that can bring more pictures into the market. My faith in our business has never wavered and is as strong today as ever." In conclusion, Fabian said : "We've got to stop fighting amongst ourselves, we've got to let our communities know that great attractions are on the way and that every theatre is equipped with the most modern means of projection to enchant their audiences. Let's organize into one big harmonious industry organization. We've got the brains and finances, the imagination and the manpower to whip any temporary problems and pave the way for the greatest prosperity this industry has ever known." Ed Thorne today was elected president of Theatre Owners of Oklahoma. Other officers named are : Ralph Drewry, vice-president ; Ray Hughes, secretary-treasurer, and Mrs. Zella Geek, assistant secretary-treasurer. Mrs. Geek and Drewry were the only officers reelected. The posts of chairman of the board of directors and second vice-president were eliminated.