Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1955)

4 Motion Picture Daily Monday, January 31, 1955 Tame' Award (Continued from page 1) VistaVision, "White Christmas," already having proven itself an outstanding boxoffice attraction, the company now has in readiness a succession of VistaVision releases for 1955. The initial VistaVision subject was first shown to the public late last year. A 20-minute subject presenting excerpts from a number of those productions has been completed by the company and is being made available to theatres starting in the near future. Uruguay Festival (Continued from page 1) technicians — are to be announced tomorrow. The last of the three Hollywood films competing for honors, "The Caine Matiny," had its showing Saturday night, last official showing of the Festival. Other United States entries were "Sabrina" and "The Living Desert." All competing countries sent delegations which included from four to 20 stars in each to take part in Festival activities, one of these being the celebration held in Montevideo's Centenario Stadium, where more than 60,000 crowded in last Thursday to see and hear the stars who were introduced, to watch folk dancing and hear Uruguayan music. President Peron of Argentina had previously conveniently lowered the restriction on Argentinians crossing the River Plate, Jan. 14, the day the Festival in Punta del Este opened. Many U. S. Stars Attend Among well known international stars attending the Festival were Italy's Silvana Pampanini ; the U.S.'s Mercedes McCambridge, Dean Jagger, John Lund, Dorothy McGuire, Wayne Morris, Pat O'Brien, Walter Pidgeon, Elaine Stewart ; the Argentine's Luis Sandrini and Tilda Thamar ; Spain's Mairo Cabre ; Mexico's Rosita Quintana ; France's Jean Claude Pascale and Collette Repert ; Britain's Richard Attenborough, Sheila Sims and Kathlvn Ryan. NARTB (Continued from page 1) ing that the public should have a chance to be heard on such an important issue. Zenith president Eugene McDonald then charged that Fellows' statement lined the NARTB up with those seeking to kill subscription TV and that Fellows had acted without the authorization of the NARTB board. Clair R. McCollough, chairman of the NARTB's television board, in a letter to McDonald Friday, said that these charges were not true. Declaring that the entire board was approving his letter, McCollough said that it has always been NARTB's policy to "encourage appropriate regulatory procedures" by the FCC on all broadcasting subjects of major public interest, and that Fellows' earlier stand had been "entirely consistent with this long-established policy." Nebr. Tax Bill Advances LINCOLN, Nebr., Jan. 30. — The Nebraska legislature has advanced by a voice vote the bill to increase from five to 10 per cent the state tax which is levied on boxing and wrestling matches. Review Many Rivers to Cress (M-G-M) (CinemaScope) DESPITE the perilous frontier period of this CinemaScope production, M-G-M has concentrated on comedy and it is a good job all around. The romance of a backwoods girl and a trapper is all the more amusing because of the period depicted and it's aided considerably by the fine performance of Eleanor Parker as the girl determined to get her man by any means. Robert Taylor is the unwilling object of her affections and he, too, reveals a nice sense of comedy as a rough and tough frontiersman trapped by the wiles of woman. Practically the entire story centers around this hectic romance and one feels as if it were going to turn into a musical slice of Americana such as M-G-M did with "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers." But with or without music, it's still fun. All of Miss Parker's attempts to land Taylor prove unfruitful until she finagles him into a shotgun wedding. He leaves, she follows, they squabble. When he encounters another rugged individualist, such as he, who has turned farmer and homebody with much success, he realizes the love affair is not one-sided. The climax, which ordinarily would be played for thrills, finds the young couple trapped in a cave by a group of Indians. How they outwit the savages provides an amusing, if slightly wacky, conclusion to an enjoyable, off-beat "western." "Many Rivers to Cross" has the kind of homespun humor and drama that would seem to appeal more to the small town than to the metropolis. But the good cast and color, fine CinemaScope photography, certain favorable wordcf-mouth and smart exploitation can make this a winner at almost any boxoffice. It's bound to please practically all audiences. Although the beginning is unnecessarily slow, action perks up soon enough and director Roy Rowland keeps things moving at a rapid clip right through to the funny finale. Best in support of the stars is Victor McLaglen as Miss Parker's rough-and-tumble father who, with the aid of four sons, assists his daughter in her quest. Two of the brothers are played by a couple of M-G-M's new hopefuls, Russ Tamblyn and Jeff Richards. The picture was produced by Jack Cummings and written by Harry Brown and Guy Trosper from a story by Steve Frazee. It is in Eastman Color. Running time, 92 minutes. General classification. For release February 4. 20th Sets 27 (Continued from page 1) March; "A Man Called Peter," Easter holiday attraction ; "Violent Saturday," "The Magnificent Matador," "That Lady," and "Soldier of Fortune," all in May. "Daddy Long Legs," and "House of Bamboo," in June. Scheduled from the months of June through September will be : "The Seven Year Itch," "Sir Walter Raleigh," "The Left Hand of God," "A Many Splendored Thing," "The Tall Men," "How To Be Very, Very Popular" and "Pink Tights." Cite $30,000,000 (Continued from page 1) Wm. Goldman (Continued from page 1 ) management of Goldlawr, Inc., will undertake a policy of long run pictures as well as the occasional road show stage attraction. Goldman made the announcement of the signing of the long term lease just prior to his departure for a series of West Coast conferences with his associate in production, Paul Gregory, of Gregory-Goldman Enterprises, Inc. While in Hollywood, Goldman plans to discuss production details on the filming of Gordon Mailer's "The Naked and the Dead," which is to go before the cameras in early summer. Rome Newsmen Cite IFE and Zorgniotti The Italian Motion Picture Newspapermen's Guild cited Italian Films Export for its activities in promoting Italian films in America by presenting a special award to E. R. Zorgniotti, executive vice-president, who was one of the guests of honor at its annual Cinema Ball held in Rome last week. The award, which was in the form of a scroll cited Italian Films Export "for having created I.F.E. Releasing Corporation, a commercial organization which was able to penetrate the vast American market, and which now offers to Italy enormous commercial possibilities in all areas of the United States and in all types of motion picture theatres." 'Country' to Globe Universal-International's "The Far Country," starring James Stewart, Ruth Roman, Corinne Calvet and Walter Brennan will have its New York premiere at the Globe Theatre on Lincoln's Birthday, Feb. 12. New SAG Pact (Continued from page 1) demands, SAG seeks to raise the basic rates 15 per cent. On the Coast, Wheeler will join representatives of the West Coast TV spot producers to negotiate with Walter Pidgeon, SAG president ; John Dales, executive secretary, and other actor's union reps. Wheeler is committed for a twoweek stay in California. Accompanying him as observers for the 4A's are attorneys Dave Miller and Jack Devine. CEA Has Difficulty Getting Officers From THE DAILY Bureau LONDON, Jan. 30.— Further turmoil in Cinematograph Exhibitors Association's recent turbulent existence has arisen suddenly through the withdrawal of Wyndham Lewis from nomination as the Association's vicepresident in the coming year. Wyndham Lewis, a highly respected delegate to CEA's general council, was the only nominee to the office, but at the eleventh hour he has felt compelled to withdraw by reason of urgent private business. Financial problems also threaten the organisation's future as a result o£ the withdrawal from membership of the J. Arthur Rank theatres. Finder CEA's constitution only two weeks remain for nominations. A succession of private meetings has occurred among the elder statesmen in an endeavour to solve the problem. Considerable pressure was brought to bear upon George Singleton, delegate to general council from the Scottish Branch. But it is understood that Singleton felt unable at this time to make a weekly journey to London any, that might be realized by the company in the future. The capitalloss-carry-forward, based upon preliminary study, may be as much as $30,000,000," it added. The financial statement, dated Dec. 31, 1954, and the letter by Grainger gave no indication of any change in the status of the company, with Howard Hughes and Atlas Corp, now owning the principal number of shares. The company, since its letter of Dec. 16, 1954 to stockholders, has not renewed its offer to purchase outstanding stock at $6 per share, an offer which expired for general stockholders on Dec. 31 of last year. The company's assets were put at $17,833,567, $17,796,958 of which listed as cash and the remainder interest receivable. The report, covering a ninemonth period, stated that of the $23,489,478 received from Howar 1 Hughes for the sale of RKO Radio Pictures, $5,717,952 was utilized in redeeming 952,992 shares of its stock. At the present time, the report continued, the holdings of the company consist of the equivalent of cash, equal to at least $6 for each of the 2,961,921 shares now outstanding. Toll TV Committee (Continued from page 1) Communications Commission for immediate permission to go ahead in subsdription, television presentation with Phonevision. The film opposition group had also retained a short time ago a public relation counsellor, Harold Wolff Associates, to begin an information program "to combat the propaganda issued during the past few years by the protagonists of subscription television." Regents Back Flick On Birth Scene ALBANY, Jan. 30.— "Mom and Dad" cannot be licensed in New York State with the birth sequence included, the Board of Regents unanimously ruled Friday. Ephraim S. London, attorney for the appellant, had announced he would appeal to the courts if the Regents failed to reverse the finding of Dr. Hugh M. Flick, director of the Motion Picture Division, State Education Dep't. Flick had offered to issue a seal if the birth scene was eliminated. The distributor appellant refused. from his home town of Glasgow. Most likely nominee now to the office is B. T. Davis of Birmingham, a former president of the Association.