Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1955)

Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, January 11, 1955 Loew's Reviews {Continued from page 1) between the production company and new theatre company and could not get substantially similar financing to replace the existing financing. In that event, the decree declared, the new stock did not have, to be distributed for another two years — until Feb. 6, 1957, — unless a division of the debt or a refinancing could be worked out Similar Financing Unavailable In a petition filed yesterday, Loew's claimed that it could not work out a division of its existing funded debt and could not get substantially similar financing. Therefore, it told the court, it wanted the extra two years for distributing the stock of the new theatre company. The court will hold a hearing on the question next Monday afternoon. Justice Department officials in Washington said they are prepared to tell the court that they have investigated the situation and have found nothing to dispute Loew's claims that they can't divide the debt or get substitute financing. They'll tell the court that the final decision on the facts is up to the court, but that if the court decides Loew's has proven its claims, then the two-year extension is automatic under the decree. This would seem to indicate strongly that the Loew's petition will be granted. Loew's exhibition operations have been conducted since Sept. 1, 1954, separately from its production-distribution operations, as required by the judgment. Only the distribution of stock of the new theatre company has not taken place., and only this is involved in the two-year extension. Interest Rate Very Low The Loew's petition said that the present holders of the funded debt have indicated they do not want to divide the debt, on the grounds that at present the debt is backed by the assets of production, distribution and exhibition, whereas once the debt is divided, each part will be backed by only part of the company's present assets. As for arranging similar financing, Loew's says that the present debt is at an extremely low interest rate, which would not be duplicated in any new financing. Justice officials said that as far as they knew Loew's hoped to meet the Feb. 6 deadline for completing the theatre divestiture required in the original consent decree. This is distinct from the divorcement situation. Don George Sells Four Theatres NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 10.— Four theatres of the Don George Circuit have been purchased by Thomas L. McElroy, president of McElroy Theatres, and O. D. Harrison, hotel operator and head of a wholesale tobacco company. The purchase price was said to be in excess of $500,000. Included in the deal were the following theatres : the Don, in downtown Shreveport ; Venus, a Shreveport neighborhood house; Davis, Bossier City, and Don Drive-in, on the outskirts of Bossier City. The new management already operates four Shreveport theatres and one in Monroe, La. "Underwater!" (RKO Radio Pictures) (SuperScope) THE tropical terrain, the marine settings, underwater as well as above the surface of the Caribbean, are wonderfully well photographed in color by Technicolor in RKO Pictures first SuperScope release "Underwater!" which stars Jane Russell, Gilbert Roland and Richard Egan as seekers of the pot of gold at the end of the big rainbow, it can be said without reservation that this production is worth the money for eye-pleasure alone — in seeing Miss Russell in excellent interior, exterior and undersea settings and in enjoying a narrative about a picturesque and sometime perilous mode of adventure such as skin diving with aqualungs and flippers. SuperScope adds a great deal to the effectiveness of this production. "Underwater!" would still be an exciting film even if photographed and presented in the conventional screen-size treatment, but the picture takes fine advantage of the sweeping and panoramic effects provided by the anamorphic SuperScope lenses, especially in the underwater scenes and episodes above the surface. They should be a powerful magnet for customers. Audiences should be enthralled by the bright hues of coral reefs and the striking tints of underwater life. SuperScope can be projected through a CinemaScope lense, also affording exhibitors an opportunity to play a big picture without buying additional booth equipment. Perennial rainbow-chaser Roland, after discovering the remains of an ancient sunken ship off the Cuban coast, enlists his old friend Egan and padrescientist Robert Keith in an expedition to salvage whatever treasure may be in the hulk. At first, Egan's wife, Miss Russell, is against the venture but after awhile relents and mortgages their fishing cruiser to provide funds for the expedition. The expedition is finally on its way when Roland enlists the aid of beautiful Lori Nelson, owner of a yacht. Miss Russell's Spanish accent at times wanders, inviting amusement when the vein of conversation is serious. Roland, a romantic figure in many of his past pictures, sticks to his credo here of adventure before romance. The venture seems to have been launched to a safe and resourceful start when the treasure seekers locate the sunken ship and bring up from the depths valuable relics. However, the group suddenly finds itself under the polite but strangely ominous scrutiny of two lethal looking native shark fishermen, Joseph Calleia and Eugene Iglesias. Uneasy as to how much the intruders suspect, the divers, Egan, Roland and Miss Russell, proceed to exhume the treasure amidst the threat of the rotting hulk caving in on them and the ever-present danger of sharks. Climax of the story is reached when the salvaging operation is thwarted with the breaking up of the underwater wreck in which Miss Russell, and later on Gilbert are pinned by wreckage, saved by Egan, and upon returning to the surface, find themselves under the guns of Calleia and his crew. Both groups reach a satisfactory agreement after some anxious moments on the theory that there is plenty for all. "Underwater!" was produced by Harry Tatelman and directed by Join Sturges from a screenplay by Walter Newman. The original story was b;, Hugh King and Robert B. Bailey. Running time, 99 minutes. General classification. Release, in January. LESTER DINOFF Battle Taxi (Tors-United Artists) THE suspenseful and vital events in Korea and in the everyday performance of the Air Rescue Service elements of the U. S. Air Force form the background of this Ivan Tors and Art Arthur production in which Sterling Haylen, Arthur Franz and Marshall Thompson are the top names and principal characters. This well-made film, which utilizes much combat footage shot by Air Force and Signal Corps photographers, has its melodramatic situations and unexpected developments plus some sequences in which there are so-called flag-waving oratory and heroics. With pictorial interest and forcefulness, "Battle Taxi" captures in terms of human interest a few fragments of the Air Rescue Service's story. The daily duties of the helicopters' missions and the other types of aircraft assigned to the service branch have been played down time and time again until they are almost called "routine." However, to many onlookers and laymen, the ARS performances are "above and beyond the call of duty." The sole uncertainty about this story of "choppers" is whether or not the theatre-going public is in the mood for a war film which is stark realism. If it is, this attraction will give some measure of satisfaction to audiences and to exhibitors who will have an unusual presentation to sell. Hayden is the commander of a helicopter unit which is located close to the front lines in Korea and is worried about the many missions which his pilots are flying and the high number of repairs which are needed by the "whirlybirds." Franz, a former jet jockey who had been assigned to Hayden's unit, is dissatisfied with the role he is playing in the war. While on a rescue mission with co-pilot Thompson, he maneuvers his helicopter in a manner similar to a Sabre Jet, causing damage to his craft and in turn, receiving a blistering reprimand from Hayden. As the story unfolds, Franz, who hates flying the "choppers," learns the real value of the craft and in the end is sold on this manner of transportation. Numerous combat pictures of actual helicopter rescue missions are interjected, but at times, the editing is confusing when Air Force and Signal Corps photographs are tied in with the Hollywood scenes. This picture was produced with the full cooperation of the Department of Defense, U. S. Air Force, Headquarters, Air Rescue Service and the 42nd Air Rescue Squadron. The director was Herbert L. Strock and Malvin Wald wrote the screenplay. Running time, 82 minutes. General classification. Release, in January. L. D. Compo (Continued from page 1) newspapers, says : "The theatre in your city, of course, is not 60 years old, but it might make a highly readable local story to trace the development of the 'passing fad' of the movies into the deep-rooted, irreplaceable part of the community life which they nave become. "Looking back, those have been 60 rather eventful years — two World v/ars, Prohibition, the boom of the 20's, the depression, changes in manners, changes in our way of living. The movies have weathered them all. Moreover, they have licked a few extra special problems of their own, such as discriminating taxation, threats of crackpot censorship, the advent of the automobile, radio, night baseball, television. Quite a sturdy youngster, the movies. And still growing. War Service Recalled "At any rate, it was our thought that there must be a lot of good material in your town for a story on your local theatres, and what they have done since those early days. In every city the local movie houses played an important role during both World Wars, helping in Red Cross drives, staging war bond rallies, and in other ways making themselves the center of the town's war effort. In peace, too, they have done more than cneir share, raising money for sufferers from drought or flood, for poor kids' toys at Christmas, for a hundred and one other worthy causes. And over all, of course, was their regular job, which they have performed with extraordinary success, of bringing laughter and relaxation to your lOwh's people. "You might find, indeed, that all of this material might very well justify some sort of editorial salute to your local movie theatre and the man who runs it." K.C. Multi-Million Verdict Is Reduced KANSAS CITY, Jan. 10.— Federal Judge Albert Ridge has sliced a jury verdict of $2,406,602 in the Electric Theatre's anti-trust suit against six distribution companies to $1,334,402. The verdict was the largest damage award ever handed down in an industry trust case. Judge Ridge also fixed maximum attorneys' fees for the plaintiff at $100,000, and court costs at $9,130. He also freed the Electric, a Kansas City, Kans., theatre from playing after first runs in Kansas City, Mo., which was the main issue of the suit. The court order rejects motions for a new trial and amended judgment filed by defendants, on condition the Electric accepts the reduced verdict within 15 days. The distributor defendants are expected to appeal, re1 gardless. Three other suits involving Kansas City, Kans., and Kansas City, Mo., competitive situations have either been filed or are in preparation. 'Toko-RV to M. H. Paramount's "The Bridges A Toko-Ri," will open at the Radio City Music Hall here on Jan. 20, it was announced by A. W. Schwalberg, president of Paramount Film Distributing Corp., and Russell V. Downing, president and managing director