Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1955)

Motion Picture Daily Thursday, January 27, 1955 Will Help Find 3-D Glasses for 'Revenge' COLUMBUS, O., Jan. 26.— I.T.O. of Ohio will act as a clearing house for 3-D glasses for member theatres that plan to play Universal's "Revenge of the Creature" in that version. Exhibitors who have glasses on hand and do not plan to play the film in 3-D are asked to notify Robert Wile, I.T.O. executive secretary, who will tell those who want 3-D glasses where they may be obtained. 16mm. Suit (Continued from page 1) ernment's motion to include as coconspirators the Council of Motion Picture Organizations, Allied States Association, Metropolitan Motion Picture Theatre Owners Association, Independent Theatre Owners Association and Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners, has been set for a hearing on Feb. 7 before Federal Judge Harry C. Westover in Los Angeles Federal Court. Barnes, asked if subscription television interests had made any complaints against the industry to the Justice Department, replied in the affirmative, adding that the complaints have been made over a period of time and he did not know how recent some of them may have been. Reiterates Government Position He repeated the sentiments of Department of Justice officials in Washington regarding the government's position in allowing divorced theatres to engage in production or the financing of production. "Naturally," he said, the department has "considerable doubt about approving such a procedure." The anti-trust official went on to say such a move would seem to contravene existing decrees. He raised the question of whether economic justification for modifying the decrees exists today, indicating that although the department is willing to sit down and talk with those seeking modification in this area, the department retains a good deal of "respect" for the decrees containing production and distribution limitations. "I know the problems," Barnes continued, "and we're having several conferences with various interested parties." He declined to name the parties, but Theatre Owners of America has announced plans to meet with Justice officials in Washington sometime in mid-February on TOA's proposal to modify the decrees to allow divorced theatres to engage in the production or financing of production. Kaufman Says 'Women's' Bow Set Columbia's "Women's Prison" will have its premiere at the Palace Theatre here on Feb. 2, the film company announced. Industry's Merchandising Inadequate; Needs 'Push' By LESTER DINOFF The entire motion picture industry's mode of merchandising product has become too standardized and a rejuvenation is necessary so that films can secure the proper handling to insure worthwhile grosses, Joseph Kaufman, producer of "Long John Silver" declared here yesterday. The present methods of selling and merchandising top-notch films are wholly inadequate as the industry seems to have forgotten that each area and territory needs a different approach in building the public's desire to seek entertainment at theatres, Kaufman said in a Hotel Delmonico trade press conference. The former exhibitor and distributor, revealing a program of four pictures to be made under his aegis in the next two years in Australia, was also highly critical of the Theatreman's approach in presenting product to an audience. 'Exhibitor's Responsibility* "Films are the responsibility of an exhibitor, also, not just the producer and distributor," Kaufman asserted. "An exhibitor doesn't avail himself sufficiently of all the merchandising material, pressbooks, etc., with which he is furnished so that he can sell a picture properly," he said. Usually, the merchandising material is furnished way in advance of the film's opening and the exhibitor, instead of reading it, just glances at it and files or throws it away, he said. If an exhibitor utilizes some of the merchandising material afforded him properly, everyone, theatre, producer and distributor, will make money, Kaufman said. The proper approach by all industry factions in building up the public's desire to see a picture is currentlytaking place in the New England area, according to Kaufman, where the Distributors Corp. of America, which is releasing "Long John Silver" domestically, is setting up a saturation opening covering 83 theatres of the production on Feb. 16. Prior to completing "Long John Silver" in Australia, Kaufman revealed that he shot a 12-minute black and white "featurette" for free presentation in schools, auditoriums and on television. Also, a six-minute "John" trailer is being supplied to theatres in advance of the film's opening, he said. Kaufman also said that he has started to sell and give away one-half hour radio shows on "John" which were also produced in Australia. Another factor which will help "John" in the moneymaking department was the television presentation of Walt Disney's "Treasure Island" on "Disneyland," an hour-long American Broadcasting Co. television network show, Kaufman said. Kaufman disclosed that "Long John Silver" has accumulated rentals in Australia of about $200,000 and that the CinemaScope production, currently in release in England, is second in grossing "power to 20th CenturyFox's "The Robe." Kaufman's picture is being distributed in certain foreign markets by 20th-Fox. Four in Work On his future production plans, Kaufman listed four screenplays which are currently being worked on by his organization. The four films, to be made in Australia under the Eady plan, are "Medicine Whip," a Sioux Indian plains story, "Sundowners," "Come Away, Pearlers" and "Spanish Main." Kaufman was not certain which of the new film media he would utilize in these productions. Local 171 in 2-Year Pact With Pa. Allied PITTSBURGH, Jan. 26.— The Allied Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Western Pennsylvania and the Moving Picture Machine Operators, Local 171, IATSE, have agreed upon a new two-year contract. The exhibitor negotiating committee was represented in the negotiations, which commenced last August, by Harry Hendel, Norman Nervis, Paul Bronder, Morris Finkel and George Tice, representing about 46 theatres in this area. Negotiating for the Local was James V. Sipe. Terms of the new two year contract were not revealed here. To Sponsor 'Holiday' PITTSBURGH, Jan. 26. — The Pittsburgh Junior Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the Pittsburgh premiere of "Cinerama Holiday" the night of Feb. 16 in the Warner Theatre. Proceeds will go to the 14 youth welfare programs supported by the Jaycees here. Cleveland Group Asks Censorship _ CLEVELAND, Jan. £'6. — A resolution calling on the State Legislature to enact a motion picture censorship law that could be upheld by the United States Supreme Court was adopted unanimously by the welfare committee of the Cleveland City Council in its open meeting yesterday. Msgr. Clarence E. Elwell, head of Cleveland parochial schools, speaking for censorship, said : "The movies seem far more potent that most other media of communication in their influence. This crusade for motion picture censorship is a battle for human rights against the secularist and the confused liberal. The battlefield for the entire nation is here in the state of Ohio." Also in defense of censorship, one woman charged : "The movie industry is infected with Communism." Another charged, "Movies are a contributing factor in juvenile delinquency." No one spoke against the resolution which now goes to the main body of the City Council for final action. Ohio I.T.O. Will Oppose Two Bills COLUMBUS, O., Jan. 26.— The I.T.O. of Ohio will oppose bills now before the state legislature providing for continuation for daylight saving time every summer and requiring all Ohio State University football games to be televised, but not in theatres unless such telecasts also are available to homes. The exhibitor organization points out this would require the University to get a sponsor, yet, even if theatres bid more for the games than a sponsor, the University would have to reject the bid. Ohio Censors (Continued from page 1) produce approximately $65,000 per year, or $200,000 less than the figure obtained under the old law. The bill provides that exhibitors can appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court if licenses should be refused. Sen. Elizabeth F. Gorman, Cleveland Democrat, also introduced a Lausche-approved bill which would control comic books. Offenses Outlined A film may be found to be obscene if it portrays explicitly or in detail an act of adultery, fornication, rape, sodomy or seduction or if either theme or manner of presentation, or both, present sex relations as desirable, acceptable, or proper patterns of behavior between persons not married to each other, or the dominant purpose or effect of which is erotic or pornographic, or if it portrays nudity or a simulation thereof, partial nudity offensive to public decency, sexual relations of any kind, sex organs, abortion, or methods of contraception or if it contains vile or profane language. A film may be found to incite to crime if the theme or manner of presentation is of such character as to present the commission of criminal acts or contempt for law as constitutional, profitable, desirable or acceptable behavior, or if it teaches use of or methods of use of narcotics or habit forming drugs, or if it presents explicit methods for commission of crime. Service Fee of $5 The bill provides for a service fee of $5 for each additional copy of film or fraction thereof to which license is granted. The bill exempts scientific and educational films, trailers and newsreels. Robert Wile, Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio secretary said the $5 fee will raise about $100,000 per year rather than the administration's $65,000 estimate. Wile said the bill is an attempt to get around the word "censorship," but the license system is "just as unconstitutional as any other form of prior restraint." Busch Joins Grainger HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 26.— Niven Busch, novelist and screenwriter, will join Edmund Grainger Productions, Inc., at RKO immediately to w@rk on two assignments, it was announced by Grainger. YOU CAN ALWAYS DEPEND ON FOR THE BEST JOfc SPECIAL Igg TRAILERS ^EBF