Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1955)

2 Motion Picture Daily Monday, January 31, 1955 Arthur Lubin Says Low U.K. Production Costs Enticing U.S. Film Makers By LESTER DINOFF Despite the difficulties encountered in making pictures in Britain, UnEnglish government's Eady Plan benefits, the lower production costs and the utilization of frozen funds, are enticing more and more U.S. producers to make pictures there, according to director Arthur Lubin, who recently completed "Rebound" for Columbia Pictures release. Lubin, a contract Universal-International director, noted for his "Francis" films, reported here at the weekend that with all the advantages of English production, "film producers are hampered by the labor union members who tend to stretch out the job as long as possible, and take morning and afternoon breaks for tea." The English workers are very slowmoving and like to take their time, Lubin said. "In Hollywood, it takes only one day to get Technicolor rushes, but in England, it takes three days," the veteran director asserted. Lubin recently finished "Rebound" for producer Mike Frankovich who is making four films for Columbia. Under this package, Lubin said he will direct "The Ghost of Drury Lane," possibly after he completes "Francis Weighs Anchor" for Universal. The other two Columbia releases by Frankovich are "Fire Over Africa," currently in distribution, and "Matador," the director said. Sees Profit for 'Rebound' The director reported that "Rebound" will afford a profit in England to the producer, in addition to the Eady Fund benefits, of about $600,000. This film, which stars Jean Simmons and Stewart Grainger, will be domestically released in July, he said. Personal Mention ROBERT M. WEITMAN, vicepresident of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres, has arrived in Las Vegas from Hollywood. • Jacques Gauthier, Entreprise Generate Cinematographique, Paris, is now in New York from France, and will leave here this week for Hollywood. • Lee Katz, executive of Allied Artists in Great Britain, has returned to London from New York via B.O.A.C. Monarch. . • Mike Simons, M-G-M customer relations director, has returned to New York from Jackson, Miss., and Memphis. • George Cukor, director, arrived in New York from the Coast on Friday, and left here shortly thereafter for Pakistan. Joe Friedman, of the Warner Brothers home office exploitation department, will leave here today for Buffalo. Kenneth Hyman, vice-president of Associated Artists Productions, has left New York for Hollywood. • Irving Shiffrin, of the Allied Artists exploitation department, is in Washington from New York. G. Ralph Branton, Allied Artists vice-president, will return to the Coast todav from New York. Anna Magnani will arrive here from Hollywood tomorrow. Martin Quigley Is En Route to Coast Martin Quigley has left New York for Hollywood by train. He is due to arrive on the Coast Wednesday and will remain in Hollywood for a visit of several weeks. Einfeld Returning Following a series of studio conferences at which plans for the international promotion of forthcoming 20th Century-Fox CinemaScope attractions were set, vice-president Charles Einfeld will return to New York today from Hollywood. In meetings with production head Darryl F. Zanuck and studio publicity chief Harry Brand, long-range plans were developed for five CinemaScope and one standard film which are scheduled for release between February and April. Roxy Dividend HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 30. — Roxy Theatre, Inc., declared a quarterly cash dividend of 37J/2 cents on outstanding preferred stock, payable March 1 to holders of record on Feb. 15. Stations' 'Yes or No' On TV Films Sought From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.— Most television stations will soon be asking film producers and distributors to include in any contracts selling films for TV a clause giving the stations the right to "alter or reject" films that don't measure up to television code standards. This is the outcome of a meeting of the television code review board of the National Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters. It sets the "good standards" code for television stations and networks to follow in their programming. According to NARTB officials, many TV stations have been buying films sight unseen, and as a result, find later some portions which don't measure up to the standards of the TV code, but are unable to do anything about it. The code review, board, and also the television board of the NARTB, meeting in Florida last week, approved a recommendation that all stations and networks subscribing to the code include in future contracts with companies which produce and distribute films for television a clause giving the station the right to "reject or alter" any film the station decides doesn't measure up to the code's criteria. The two boards also agreed to conduct an informal campaign among TV film producers and distributors to educate them in the television code's standards. Republic Dividend A dividend of 25 cents per share on its preferred stock, payable April 1, to stockholders of record on March 10, was declared by the board of directors of Republic Pictures Corp. I Memphis Censors Ban 'Bamboo' MEMPHIS, Jan. 30. — Memphis' Board of Censors has banned "Bamboo Prison," a Columbia Picture. Lloyd T. Binford, 88-year-old board chairman, announced the banning but said he did not vote. He said the three women members of the board, Mrs. B. F. Edwards, Mrs. St. Elmo Newton, Sr., and Mrs. Walter Gray had voted to ban the picture. "We found it inimicable to public welfare," Mrs. Edwards said. "That is a provision of the censor law. It's a picture about an American who was captured by the Chinese Reds in the Korean war. He seemed to be working undercover for us for awhile, but he was a progressive," she contended. "At the end," she continued, "the star, Robert Francis, denounced the United States. They tried to win him back by a shortwave broadcast from his mother, but he refused. It was most unpatriotic. He said he didn't believe in democracy. I do not think it would be a good picture for our young people to see." Wm. Balahan Heads ABC Closed Circuit The American Broadcasting Co., an affiliate of American BroadcastingParamount Theatres, which has been active in pioneering closed circuit theatre television, has announced the formation of a closed: circuit program department to be headed by William Balaban, assistant program manager for WABC-TV in New York. The move to establish a further expansion of ABC service to clients Vv,r setting up the closed circuit program department was announced here at the weekend by John H, Mitchell, vice-president of the ABC-TV network. News Roundup Favor Seattle Sales Tax A proposed one per cent sales tax in Seattle has the approval of local exhibitors. Theatremen say the levy would get rid of the business and occupational tax and the city amusement tax which, they feel, are more trouble to collect than they are worth. Norway Complains Reports from Oslo claim that the exhibitors association there is protesting film terms on some American pictures. The showmen say that the distributors are asking terms that are five per cent higher than the base agreement between the Norwegian industry and the MPAA. Charter to N.O. Tent A dinner dance at the Jung Hotel on Feb. 7 will spark New Orleans' Variety Club Tent No. 45. The presentation of its charter will be the major event which is expected to draw approximately 200 guests from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Among the guests will be Gov. Robert Kennon and Mayor "Chep" Morrison. International officers also are expected to attend. Back Garage Bill A bill to provide Boston with an underground parking area has the backing of Hub exhibitors. Downtown theatre managers consider the completion of the $15,000,000 project will be a definite business booster. Famous Lab to Go The Oyster Bay, L. I., indoor tennis court where Cinerama was developed is to be restored to its original purposes by the new owner, William Woodward. Reed, Canham Again On USIA Committee WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.— President Eisenhower has nominated Philip D. Reed, chairman of General Electric Co., and Erwin Canham, editor of the "Christian Science Monitor," for additional three-year terms as members of the advisory commission in the government's overseas information program. Both have been members since the advisory group was set up some years ago. Nebraska Pioneer Dies CRETE, Nebr., Jan. 30. — A. James Burress, 79, theatre owner here since 1920, died suddenly on Friday. He is survived by his widow, two sons and a daughter. 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: "Ouigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President: Martin Quigley, 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. Pausel, 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, FT 6-3074. Washington, J. A. Otten. National Press Club. Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London W. 1; Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald; Better Theatres and Better Refreshment Merchandising, each published 13 times a year as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Motion Picture and Television Almanac; Fame. Entered as second-class matter Sept. 21, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. 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