Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1954)

2 MOTION Picture Daily Friday, December 17, 1954 "The Silver Chalice'' (Continued from page 1) Simon's assistant, offer intriguing portrayals to fill their name requirements. Offsetting the costly production values is an over-lengthy screen adaptation of Thomas Costain's best seller that could have been trimmed to eliminate the aura of a religious soap opera. The diffused story line provides Saville's directorial prowess with vignette-laden opportunities to appeal to ecclesiastical tastes. Lesser Samuels' screenplay also serves as an introductory vehicle for Paul Newman, who makes the most of his rudderless role, as Basil, the highly skilled silversmith from Antioch, commissioned by Luke, one of the Apostles, to fashion the silver chalice that would hold the cup used by Christ at the Last Supper. It further deals with the struggle by Christians to protect the cup from a group of revolutionists who have chosen Simon to destroy the holy object and to display feats of magic that would overshadow the miracles performed by Christ, thereby establishing Simon as a holier leader to follow in liberating themselves from the Roman yoke. Basil fulfills his agreement to finish the chalice after acquainting himself with Peter and learning more of Christian principles, which enables him to produce a "faithful" reproduction of The Lord's face. In a special performance by Nero and a vast assemblage in Rome, Simon's boast that he has the power to fly results in a fatal leap from a 200-foot tower. This erring display causes an uprising during which the cup is stolen in a riotous looting of homes. Basil acknowledges his true love for Pier Angeli, granddaughter of Joseph of Arimathea, (notably characterized by Walter Hampden), over the cunning of Virginia Mayo. As they set sail to return to Antioch, Peter bids them farewell with the hope that one day the cup would be recovered when "the meek shall inherit the earth," and, with a forecast that there would come a time when men would be able to f\y and put this ability to more useful advantage. The unique production was designed by Rolf Gerard, with excellent art direction by Boris Leven. William V. Skall applied his camera skill to make this an eye-appealing creation. Running time, 131 minutes. General audience classification. Release in Feb. 1955. SAMUEL D. BERNS Personal Mention J OOP GEESINK, president of Holland's Bollywood Studios, arrived in New York yesterday from Amsterdam. • Joseph Harper and Mrs. Harper, who is the daughter of Cecil B. DeMiLLE, arrived in New York from Europe this week, and will leave for Hollywood today, accompanied by their children. • Carl ScHAEyER, foreign publicity head at Warner Brothers Burbank studio, who arrived in New York this week from Europe, will return to the Coast over the weekend. • Robert F. Blumofe, United Artists vice-president in charge_ of West Coast operations, will arrive in New York on Monday from Hollywood. • Robert Clark, Associated British Picture Corp. production chief, returned to New York from the Coast, en route back to London. Rod MiLUNGTOisr, correspondent for the London "Spotlight," is scheduled to arrive here today from Britain via B.O.A.C. Monarch. Jerry Pickman", Paramount vicepresident, will leave here today for the Coast, returning around the middle of next week. Ed Berkson, treasurer of Screencraft Pictures, is recovering from surgery and will return to his duties next week. Olivia De Havilland will arrive in New York Sunday from Hollywood and will leave later in the week for Paris. Ben Goetz, chairman of M-G-M Pictures, Ltd., London, will leave New York for the Coast over the weekend. Elizabetpi Taylor and Michael Wilding will leave here tomorrow for London via B.O.A.C. • William De Mello, manager in Cuba for Westrex Company, Caribbean, has returned to Havana from New York. J. J. Cohen, M-G-M studio executive, is scheduled to arrive here from the Coast on Dec. 29. John P. Byrne, M-G-M Eastern sales manager, will return to New York today from Philadelphia. Henry Fonda has arrived here from the Coast to spend the holidays with his family. Bob Hope returned to Hollywood last night from New York. Richard Todd will leave here Sunday for London via B.O.A.C. NLRB Drops Labor Petition in Florida MIAMI BEACH, Dec. 16. — A petition filed by the United Transport Workers of America which sought to represent the employees at the Beach Theatre here, one of 11 Florida houses owned and operated by Paramount Enterprises and managed by Florida State Theatres, has been dismissed by the National Labor Relations Board. In dismissing the petition, the NLRB concluded: "Inasmuch as the management of these theatres is essentially a local operation, and there is no showing in the record of operational integration between the operation of local theatres and the operations of the parent corporation, we believe that it will not effectuate the policies of the Act to assert jurisdiction in this case." Anti-Trust Suit Filed By Wheeling Theatre WHEELING, West Va., Dec. 16. — Publix Wheeling Theatre Corp., operator of the Rex Theatre here, has filed suit in U. S. Circuit Court charging the owners of three Wheeling theatres with violation of the anti-trust laws by "conspiring" to force the Rex to close its doors. The theatres named in the action are Capitol, Court and Victoria, all of this city. The defendants are Wheeling Theatres, Inc., West Virginia Theatrical Enterprises, Inc., the Victoria Amusement Co., all of Wheeling ; Genessee Theatrical Enterprises and Dipson Theatres, of Batavia, N. Y. ; Nikitas Dipson, of New York, and Thomas Callas, of Wheeling. AMPA Christmas Party Near SRO Reservations for tickets and tables for AMPA's 38th annual Christmas Party at the Piccadilly Hotel here on Dec. 21 are pouring in from film companies and organizations doing business with the film companies, it was reported yesterday. Dave Bader, AMPA president, urges all members and their guests to make reservations now, as it is expected the SRO sign will go up on Monday for the affair on Tuesday, at which Martin Starr, former president and veteran publicist, will be master of ceremonies. Phila. Zoning Board Rejects Drive-in Bid PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 16.— The Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment has turned down a request by A. Mellis, theatre operator, to build a $500,000 l,SOO-car drive-in theatre on a 20-acre site on the West side of Roosevelt Boulevard at Byberry Road. Both the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Commerce Department opposed the plan on the grounds that it would "waste some of the city's already meager supply of industrial land." In ASCAP Post J. M. Collins, ASCAP sales manager, announced the appointment of Howard Connors as a member of the radio and television station relations division. He will make his headquarters in Atlanta and will cover Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. News Roundup Philatelists Nominate The Cinema Stamp Collectors slate of officers for 1955, nominated this week by the executive committee of the organization, named Leon J. Bamoerger for president ; Jack Levy, first vice-president ; Elias Sandburg, second vice-president ; Seymour Glassner, third vice-president ; Sid Weiner, treasurer; James Harvey, recording secretary; Alilton Zucker, corresponding secretary ; Herman Seltzer, sergeant at arms and Jack Hoffberg chairman of the executive committee. A CSC Christmas Party will be held on Wednesday at Rossoff's Restaurant, to be followed by a dinner at the Sheraton Astor Hotel. Perspecta in Paris, Rome Perspecta Stereophonic Sound recording equipment is now installed in M-G-M's Paris and Rome studios. The M-G-M Berlin and Barcelona studios will be similarly equipped soon. An agreement has just been signed licensing the Paris studio of the Compagnie Generale d'Energie Radio-Electrique to handle Perspecta recordings. When the deal is closed with RCA-International, there will be six studios in Europe with facilities open to outside producers to add stereophonic sound to their films. Plan S.F. Theatre Parties Theatre Owners of Northern California is holding its annual pre-holiday Christmas parties for young people confined at the Youth Guidance Center. Through the generosity of three San Franacisco theatres, the youngsters will see "White Christmas" at the Paramount, "Rear Window" at the Balboa and "This Is Cinerama" at the Orpheum. Canadian Board to Move The National Film Board of Canada is expected to occupy its new building in Montreal by the spring of 1956, although the moving of equipment and personnel will begin in the autumn of 1955. The new edifice will put under one roof operations currently carried on in two Ottawa buildings. NEW YORK THEATRES RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL Rockefeller Center i "DEEP IN MY HEART" In Glorious COLOR starring , JOSE MERLE HELEN < FERRER • OBERON • TRAUBEL ' An M-G-M Picture ' & The Music Hall's Great Christmas Stage Show ( MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor. Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company Inc 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Martin OuiMey Jr Vice-President; Theo.' J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Raymond Levy, Vice-President; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; Al Steen, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca-Vine Building. Samuel D. Berns, Manager; William R. Weaver, Editor, Hollywood 7-2145; Chicago Bureau 120 South LaSalle Street, Urben Farley, Advertising Representative, FI 6-3074. 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