Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1955)

Motion Picture Daily Monday, February 14, 1955 Nominees Reviews (Continued from page 1) ment and presented most of them in person on the home screens. Using 18 cameras to pick up personalities from four points of origination, NBC set several new technological records for live program coverage. In addition to the basic origination at the NBC studios, the program offered "remotes" from three of the most prominent of Hollywood's gathering places : the Cocoanut Grove, Ciro's and Romanoff's. From nominees named in Saturday's telecast, Academy members will select, by sealed ballot, winners in each category to receive their Academy "Oscars" on a similarly-sponsored telecast from the Hollywood Pantages Theatre on March 30. Saturday's telecast was the first in Academy history used far naming nominees. The decision as to whether this will become a regular practice will be reached after reaction from exibitors and the public has been evaluated. Meanwhile, consideration will be given nominations in the following principal categories : Best Motion Picture: "The Caine Mutiny," Columbia, Stanley Kramer, producer ; "The Country Girl," Paramount, William Perlberg, producer ; "On the Waterfront," Columbia, Sam Spiegel, producer ; "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," M-G-M, Jack Cummings, producer ; "Three Coins in the Fountain," 20th Century-Fox, Sol Siegel, producer. Best Actress: Dorothy Dandrige, "Carmen Jones" ; Judy Garland, "A Star Is Born" ; Audrey Hepburn, "Sabrina" ; Grace Kelly, "The Country Girl" ; Jane Wyman, "Magnificent Obsession." Best Actor: Humphrey Bogart, "The Caine Mutiny" ; Marlon Brando, "On the Waterfront"; Bing Crosby, "The Country Girl" ; James Mason, "A Star Is Born" ; Dan O'Herlihy, "The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe." Best Supporting Actress: Nina Foch, "Executive Suite," M-G-M ; Katy Jurado, "Broken Lance," 20th Century-Fox ; Eva Saint Marie, "On the Waterfront," Columbia ; Jan Sterling and Claire Trevor, "The High and the Mighty," Wayne-Fellows, Warner Brothers. Best Supporting Actor: Lee J. Cobb, Karl Maiden and Rod Steiger, "On the Waterfront," Columbia ; Edmund O'Brien, "The Barefoot Contessa," United Artists ; Tom Tully, "The Caine Mutiny," Columbia. Best Director: George Seaton, "The Country Girl," Paramount ; William Wellman, "The High and the Mighty," Warner Brothers ; Elia Kazan, "On the Waterfront," Columbia; Alfred Hitchcock, "Rear Window," Paramount ; Billy Wilder, "Sabrina," Paramount. FPC-20th Deal (Continued from page 1) "The Glass Slipper (M etro-Goldwyn-Mayer) LESLIE CARON, the girl of "Lili" fame, captures many a charming moment for "The Glass Slipper." In this adaptation of the Cinderella story, she does her captivating bit to introduce the necessary whimsy and fancy to lift the fairy tale from falling into a too familiar pattern. The outline of the story is a literal translation of the fairy tale, telling the plight of a much-abused girl, her step-sisters and her prince charming. It is dressed up in Eastman color and punctuated with two ballet sequences— one quite comical and fetching. There should be a warm audience for this lush flight into fancy, an audience not too concerned with the factors of action or surprises. ., , . T_ Aiding Miss Caron in her capers is Michael Wilding as the prince, Keenan Wynn, as the principality's aide-de-camp, and Estelle Winwood, as a pixyish old maid with a streak of kleptomania who does the chores of the fairy godmother. Miss Winwood's portrayal has many delights. Elsa Lanchester fs the mean step-mother, while Amanda Blake and Lisa Daniels are those awful step-sisters of story-book fame. _ Poor, rejected, Miss Caron, told that her loved one is a cook in the princes palace 'imagines a ballet sequence, featuring the Ballet de Paris, which offers a fresh, spritely sequence. The other ballet has as its theme the responsibility of the prince to marry an Egyptian princess, depite his love for Cinderella. The latter does not come off as well. The opening scene finds the small principality preparing for the return of the handsome prince— and Ella, the girl called "Cinderella" by the townsfolks, for she always is covered with cinders, is seen as rejected, unloved, unwanted. Her final triumph in the picture should please many a heart, as the book heartens many a soul. Others in the cast include Barry Jones, Lurene Tuttle and Lihane Montevecchi. Edwin H. Knopf produced and Charles Walters directed. Helen Deutsch did the ballet numbers, lyrics and screenplay. Running time, 94 minutes. General classification. For April ^q^q^yTZ producing company's feature films and short subjects, is the largest deal ever worked out on 20th Century-Fox CinemaScope product. Details of the huge deal were worked out by nresident John J. Fitzgibbons, Rube Bolstead and Ben Geldsaler of the theatre organization ; while representing 20th Century-Fox were Al Lichtman, director of distribution; Arthur Silverstone, assistant general sales manager, and Peter Myers, Canadian division manager. "White Feather" (Panoramic-20th Century-Fox) (CinemaScope) A TIP-TOP WESTERN, marked by professional craftsmanship of a high order, is offered in this 20th Century-Fox release, starring Robert Wagner, John Lund, Debra Paget and Jeffrey Hunter. Most everyone participating in the production, from the director and writers to the stars, contributes something that adds to the picture's saleability. _ _ In color by Technicolor, the picture tells a story which comes within the traditional framework of stories about the old West. Yet, due to expert craftsmanship, suspense is built, character is developed and the magic _ of CinemaScope delights the eye. Extras are used lavishly and the production values are high. Most customers, especially those with a yen for adventure and action, will be well satisfied with this product. The story evolves from the decision faced by the proud Cheyennes in 1877, when they are faced with a choice to war against the white men or to move peaceably from the Northern territory to land allotted them in the South. Playing the principal roles in that decision are Robert Wagner, a young surveyor who wins the respect of the Indians for his fearlessness ; Jeffrey Hunter, the son of the Cheyenne chief, and Debra Paget, the Cheyenne chief's daughter who falls in love with the young surveyor and leaves her tribe. The characterization and the acting are so well handled that there is a good deal of identification, drawing the audience into the drama, which rolls to an unusual and climactic end. The closing scene finds the defiant Cheyenne chief's son and his closest tribal friend Hugh O'Brian challenging the entire cavalry troop to a fight to the finish. How Wagner and Lund, the cavalry colonel, cope with the situation without losing face or arousing the Cheyennes into retaliatory measures becomes the high point of the picture. The late Leonard Goldstein was executive producer, while Robert L. Jacks is credited as producer. Robert Webb directed from a screenplay by Delmer Daves and Leo Townsend, based on a story by John Prebble. Others in the cast include Eduard Franz, Noah Beery, Virginia Leith, Emile Meyer and Milburn Stone. Running time, 102 minutes. General classification. For February release. M. H. New England Allied To Meet March 1 BOSTON, Feb. 13.— Independent Exhibitors, Inc., of New England, a unit of Allied States, is to hold its annual meeting and election of officers on Tuesday, March 1, at the Hotel Bradford here. Toll TV will highlight^ the discussion period. The unit is soliciting members and all independent theatre owners in the area for funds to be sent to the Joint Toll TV Committee. Irving A. Isaacs, president of IENE, will preside at the meeting. 80 Films for TV To M.C. Pictures Two packages of motion picture features totaling 80 films, a majority of the product belonging at one time to Producers Releasing Corp., will be made available to television this month, it was announced by Jerome Balsom, general sales manager of M. C. Pictures, Inc., who acquired the pictures recently. The packages consist of 45 features and 35 westerns, which previously have been shown on a number of TV stations in the U. S. Compo Unit (Continued from page 1) statement to the national organization, has declared : "In all friendliness, I must emphasize the fact that Rocky Mountain COMPO is not out to replace any exhibitor organization, but is the outgrowth of the largest exhibitor organization in the Rocky Mountain area. Our single purpose is to defend our mutual industry against all adverse factors." Membership All-inclusive McGee pointed out that the Rocky Mountain group welcomes as members groups denied inclusion in the national organization because they do not own theatres. Among these, he said, are supply houses, buyers and bookers of cooperative groups, film salesmen and other fringe segments. The only other regional COMPO group, said McGee, is Texas COMPO. the success of which, he said, prompted the formation of the Rocky Mountain unit. Dealers to Distribute Superscope Abroad HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 13.— RKO foreign exchanges, which have been handling the sales of Superscope lenses for the Tushinsky brothers, are contacting distributors in foreign countries to handle sales and service on Superscope. Walter E. Branson, RKO worldwide sales head, felt that Superscope lenses and Superscope pictures would benefit by having the lenses handled by companies equipped to install and service the product. The reported demand for the lenses abroad has made it impossible for the RKO representatives to give proper attention to Superscope and handle their own chores, it was said. Follows Overseas Survey A survey made by RKO abroad indicated that licensed distributors would be able to obtain sufficient import licenses to take care of unlimited orders. Orders from abroad are said to have been so numerous that securing the needed import permits has posed a severe problem for the Tushinskys. Meanwhile the Tushinskys report progress in attempts to obtain concessions on remittable funds from the British Board of Trade in their attempt to establish a Superscope factory in London. Studios Start Three, Complete Four More HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 13.— Three new pictures were started and four pictures were completed last week, for a total of 21 pictures in work. Started were : "The Lonesome Trail," L & B Productions (independent) ; "House of Bamboo," CinemaScope, color (20th CenturyFox) ; "The Brass Ring," Challenge Pics. (United Artists). Completed were : "Bring Your Smile Along," Technicolor (Columbia) ; "The Cobweb," CinemaScope, EastmanColor ( Metro GoldwynMayer) ; "Soldier of Fortune," CinemaScope, color (20 CenturyFox) ; "The McConnell Story," CinemaScope, WarnerColor (Warner Bros.).