Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1955)

6 Motion Picture Daily Friday, February 4, 1955 Holly wood ■By Samuel D. Berns Todd-AO i NCIDENTALLY: Letter from a London lookout hints M-G-M is planning to coin MetroScope. . . . Frank Modell refused to don a set of aqualungs at the Florida "Underwater" premiere with the ad lib, "I'll wait 'til it comes to my neighborhood swimming pool." . . . John Ford and Mervyn LeRoy, two former "Oscar" winners, will share director credit on "Mr. Roberts." . . . Bodde is readying a big announcement on a new screen with a new spray type surface that allegedly offers better angle and higher reflectance. . . . The matinee kids who were weaned on Bob Steele westerns will be surprised to see him as a brutal convict in Warner's "I Died A Thousand Times." . . . Anita Eckberg, the Swedish doll, largely responsible for the scarcity of Esquire's November issue, who filled in for Marilyn Monroe on Bob Hope's TV show from Greenland, is tied to a Wayne-Fellows contract. . . . Unpleasant situation was avoided when the Academy reversed its decision by declaring "The High and the Mighty" song entry eligible for the nominations on the basis of a reissue run at the Pickfair Theatre, featuring the song's lyrics. The lyrics were not in the original music track for the initial engagements. . . . Howard Welsch, Jane Russell, Howard Hughes, "Portofino," April, Technicolor and CinemaScope unscrabbled means arrangements have been made for a loanout of the star to the producer whom she once worked for in "Montana Belle." . . . Joel McCrea will yield to the TV bug when he finishes Walter Mirisch's 2.55 to 1 production of "Wichita" for Allied Artists. n n n That precious load of material on the life and adventures of Dr. Roy Chapman Andrews, recently acquired by Robert H. Nolan, is getting the o.o. at Disney's via the William Morris Agency. . . . Ann Blyth will give the opening address at the L. A. Communion Breakfast on Feb. 13. . . . Gene Nelson's thesping on TV's Studio One clinched his starring role in Tony Owen's "Time Slip" to be filmed in England. . . . George Sidney cited importance of children as pivotal characters in today's screen and TV stories to Beverly Hills PTA Council. Called attention to the talent demanding roles as compared to the older dramas when the kids used to lisp out some inanity to induce estranged parents to reconcile. . . . And Vance King wires from Mexico City that Ed Nassour has signed seven-year-old son of Dr. Mario Novarro for a key role in UA's "The Beast of Yellow Mountain." . . . Sam Taylor, author of "Sabrina Fair," takes over the Moss Hart screenplay assignment for "The Eddie Duchin Story." The doc wants Moss to forget writing for six months. . . . Don't ask us why, but, whatever happened to all that footage Orson Welles shot in South America for RKO, B. H. (Before Hughes) ? n n n FRANK O. PINYONS: M-G-M could have used a better title to bridge "Marty Rivers To Cross." Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker are simply great as a comedy team — thanks to director Roy Rowland* . . . The King Brothers' switch from Spain to Mexico to film "The Boy and the Bull" is not only because of the climate, technical and casting difficulties, but Meheeko eez more closer to de budget, I teenk. . . . There ought to be some kind of an award for the poor FISH who casts his vote for the P.A.T.S.Y. Award {Picture Animal Top Star of the Year). We're finding it tough to ballot our choice between M-G-M' s Gypsy, the horse; Disney's Esmerelda, the seal; U-I's Francis, the mule; 20th's Satan, the tiger; Columbia's Tamba, the chimp; and Lipperfs Buck, the dog. . . . Commenting on the industry's future with VistaVision, Adolph Zukor stated, "Cost of making pictures is no longer a problem, since the public is responding with greater interest." . . . Aside to AMPP: If those film clip "cut-outs" are good enough to be televised for free in Germany to help sell American films, how about making them available to the Motion Picture Relief Fund, for doing the same kind of good domestically, under sponsorship yet? Allied Board (Continued from page 1) tee's recent report and the companion question of Federal legislation will probably take most of Monday, Myers said. If next week's board meeting still does not come up with a decision on whether to sponsor legislation for Federal Trade Commission regulation of the film industry, there is a strong likelihood that such legislation would not be sponsored at all this year. Allied's spring meeting would probably take place too late to make Congressional action possible this year. The matter could be handled by a special emergency board meeting or by a mail poll of the board, but these are considered unlikely. Myers said one important factor which the board will have to consider is whether it would be advisable to initiate legislation "on the eve of a top-level round-table conference of industry leaders." This was a strong indication that the board will not recommend legislation at this time, though Myers refused to comment on this specific question. The Emergency Defense Committee will almost certainly be directed to continue its work by the board, Myers said. For one thing, EDC members have been holding meetings with exhibitors all around the country, discussing current problems. These meeting have been very popular, he declared, and there is strong demand that they be continued. The board may give the committee some further directions as to the items to be pursued in the future, Myers added. So far, there's been no suggestion that arbitration be included on the agenda, continuing Allied's habit in recent board meetings of ignoring this subject, Myers said. Rembusch to Treat Toll TV Trueman Rembusch will report on the work of the exhibitors' committee against subscription television, and the board will almost certainly endorse proposals for financing this fight, Myers predicted. The board will likely review the government's recent action to name Allied as a co-conspirator in the 16mm. anti-trust suit, and decide whether to try instead to be made a defendant in the suit, Myers said. Other items on the agenda are : picking the time and place of the springboard meeting ; the annual report of the general counsel ; discussion of potential new Allied members and organizational problems. Fox TV Films (Continued from page 1) sidering this type expansion was seen in the disclosure, several weeks ago. that the company had decided to renovate its old and virtually abandoned studio on Western Avenue here so it could be offered to independent tele-film producers on a rental basis. In continuing discussions this week at the studio, company officials have expanded this plan to include large expenditures for building additional stages, remodelling existing structures, and installing the finest equipment. In general outline, the Fox operational plan will conform substantially to those being used by Columbia Pictures, in connection with its Screen Gems subsidiary, by U-I with its United World Films, Inc., and by Republic with its Hollywood Television Service. Sid Rogell, former RKO pictures vice-president in charge of production, and present manager of the Fox studio, will be in charge of the company's I television activities. TC36 Plans June Meet The second meeting of the International Standardization Organization's Technical Committee 36 on cinematography will be held in Stockholm, June 11 to 16, it was announced here by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. (Continued from page 1) Todd-AO developments because of UATC's heavy investment in Magna Theatre Corp., which owns SO per cent of the Todd-AO Corp. Under Magna's agreement with Rodgers and Hammerstein for "Oklahoma," Magna has distribution rights for 10 years, plus an optional period of three years, it was stated. Such distribution is at cost but Magna derives 60 per cent of the net profits realizable after the deduction of distribution, advertising, print and related costs, the balance of 40 per cent going to the producers. Its share of these profits, the prospectus explains, was reduced at the time of the $6,000,000 debenture issue to 35 per cent for the duration of the distribution contract and 11.67 per cent at the end of the distribution period. Regarding the stock flotation, the prospectus said that approximately $5,200,000 of these net proceeds will be used to retire outstanding bank indebtedness under two collateral bank loans with Bank of America, National Trust and Savings Association of Los Angeles and the Marine Midland Trust Co. of New York. 'IP Office Managers (Continued from page 1) the best and most efficient use of prints and the most effective means of handling the availabilities of pictures. Today's meeting will be held in New York at the Hotel Warwick and continuing through tomorrow. This will be followed by a second meeting at the Hotel Roosevelt in New Orleans next Friday and Saturday. The third meeting will take place at the Hotel Ambassador in Los Angeles on Feb. 18 and 19 and the final meeting will be held at the Hotel Drake in Chicago on Feb. 25 and 26. Charles J. Feldman, vice-president and general sales manager will open the New York meeting which will also be attended by the home office sales cabinet including Ray Moon, assistant general sales manager ; P. T. Dana, Eastern sales manager; F. J. A. McCarthy, Southern and Canadian sales manager ; Foster M. Blake, Western sales manager ; James J. Jordan, circuit sales manager, and F. T. Murray, manager of branch operations and maintenance. Four to Attend All Meetings Ray Moon, Murray, G. J. Malafronte and Irving Weiner, head of the print department, will conduct and participate in the New Orleans, Los Angeles and Chicago meetings as well . as the New York meetings. Attending the New York meetings will be the office managers and head bookers of the New York, Albany, Buffalo, Boston, Cleveland, New Haven, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington branches. Office managers and head bookers of the New Orleans, Charlotte, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Memphis, Dallas, Oklahoma City and Cincinnati branches will attend at New Orleans. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Portland and Salt Lake City office managers and head bookers will attend the Los Angeles meetings. Chicago, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Des Moines, Omaha, Detroit, St. Louis and Kansas City office managers and head bookers will attend the final of the series of meetings in Chicago.