Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1955)

r ~~rr~ All 1 MOTION PICTURE A Ml MMtt «Hi Concise The News TPV ATT m./ And That 1 1A 1 1 V To The le &1 pace Id pi c Vt 5 1 l#/rA 1 ■ Jt ■ 1 ill Jfc A# idlk Point VOL. 77. NO. 4 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1955 TEN CENTS Exhibition Split Debate Stirred On Arbitration Priority Issue TO A For, Allied Against Postponing Round-Table By MURRAY HOROWITZ Organized exhibition ranks were split yesterday on the decision to give top priority to the arbitration issue, with Theatre Owners of America in agreement with the judgment that the proposed round table conference should be put aside in the meantime, and Allied States Association, represented by Ben Marcus and Abram F. Myers, strongly opposed to the move. Speaking for TOA, E. D. Martin, president, said he fully endorsed the views recently expressed by Al Lichtman, 20th Century-Fox distribution director and author of the round table proposal. Allied president Ben Marcus called the decision "unfortunate," while Allied general counsel Abram F. Myers (Continued on page 8) 20th to Open Sales Meet Here Tomorrow A full discussion of merchandising policy for nine releases during the first quarter of 1955 and a general review of company sales policies head the agenda of an important two-day division managers meeting called by Al Lichtman, 20th Century-Fox director of distribution. The conclave, to be held at the home office tomorrow and Saturday, will be attended by the company's seven domestic and Canadian sales heads (Continued on page 8) Kirk Douglas Forms Unit Arthur B. Krim, president of United Artists, and Kirk Douglas, the motion picture star, announced jointly yesterday that Douglas had formed his own independent film company, Bryna Productions, to produce six pictures for United Artists release. "Viking Raiders" and "Van Gogh" will be : h e first two films from Bryna Productions. Douglas will star in both. The initial f i 1 m, "Viking Raiders," is an original story to be directed by Richard Fleischer, who directed Douglas in "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." The second Bryna Production, "Van Gogh," based on the life of the Dutch artist, will be directed by Jean Negulesco. Kirk Douglas Lippert to Exhibitor: 'Pay Higher Rentals' From THE DAILY Bureau CHICAGO, Jan. 5. — Robert L. Lippert, president of Lippert Pictures, addressing an exhibitor luncheon meeting here today, said, "Unless you are willing to pay higher rentals for program pictures, to make them profitable, they will continue to disappear." Pointing out that many situations require double bills, notably some 4,000 drive-ins, Lippert added, "Confections sales represent 50 per cent of the gross receipts for these driveins. Without these sales 90 per cent of them would go out of business." 'Good Old Days' Out D OF J COOL TO PRODUCTION PLEAS Would Impose Restraints If Divorced Circuit Ever Is Authorized to Produce Special to THE DAILY WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.— The present policy and thinking of Department of Justice officials holds out little promise of a clear authorization to divorced theatre companies to engage in film production at any early date, conversations with Department Seek Equitable Release Plan to Army Theatres The industry has no intention to try to relegate Armed Forces theatres to subsequent run status, E. D. Martin, president of Theatre Owners of Ameri c a, declared here yesterday. Martin made this declaration following the exhibition-distribution meeting on the problem to clear up any misunderstanding. The TOA president stressed that even in "critical situations" the industry is seeking an equitable release pattern between commercial exhibitors and Armed Forces theatres. The TOA president would not be (Continued on page 3) E. D. Martin FCC Setting Toll TV Hearings From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Jan. 5. — The Federal Communications Commission is expected to announce sometime within two to three weeks formal hearings on subscriber television. The hearings would go into the question of whether pay-as-you-see television should be authorized and if so, on what conditions. Indications were that the hearings would not be scheduled to take place for at least several months. This would give the various parties time to work up their presentations for or against. Mean while National Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters has asked the FCC not to take action on the establishment of a subscriber television system without holding such hearings. In a letter sent to the commission the NARTB pointed out that FCC's obligation to the public interest in regard to subscriber television is one "requiring the utmost in regulatory consideration" and that the opportunity should be given to all interested parties to air the subject completely. In anticipation of a Commission executive session discussion of the matter early next week, the Exhibitors Joint Committee on Toll Television will file with the Commission tomorrow its detailed objections to subscriber television. The objections will be filed by the Washington law firm of Cohn and Marks, retained as counsel by the exhibitors group. Earlier, the committee had notified the Commission of its^ intention to file such detailed objections and has asked the Commission not to take any action until such detailed objections were filed. jfficials make it clear. Their attitude is that a heavy burden of proof rests with a divorced circuit that its entry into production would not be a step in a monopolistic direction, or a trend toward reestablishment of conditions the Justice Department fought in the courts for so many years to terminate. At the same time, the possibility that approval of the Department for production could be obtained was not ruled out entirely. For example, in unique circumstances such as those governing the approval granted by the Department to Stanley Warner Theatres to engage in Cinerama production. A similar approval possibly could be obtained for standard production, too, but it obviously would be much more difficult and would be ringed 'round with restraints and checks. The problem then would boil clown to whether the divorced circuit seeking the Department's approval was sufficiently anxious to engage in pro(Continued on page 2) Industry-Supported Foreign Trade Bill Gets Quick Action From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Jan. 5. — The President's program for expanding foreign trade got rapid action as the 84th Democratic-controlled Congress got under way today. House Ways and Means Committee chairman Cooper (D., Tenn.) and Rep. Kean (R., N. J.), third-ranking Republican on the committee, introduced identical bills, prepared by the White House, to extend the reciprocal trade agreements program for three years and to give the President_ new power to cut tariffs far below existing rates. Film industry leaders have strongly supported the trade program as a way of strengthening foreign (Continued on page 3)