Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1955)

Monday, March 7, 1955 Motion Picture Daily 3 Einfeld Urges Greater Use of TV Promotion Charles Einfeld Less than 300 exhibitors throughout j the country are availing themselves | of television advertising material for promotional purposes in connection , with a film's i presentation at a local theatre, I according t o Charles Einfeld, 20th Century' Fox's advert i s i n g and publicity vice\ president. Einfeld, who screened "ideal ! television packages" for the ( trade press at the company's home office here at the weekend, declared that "exhibitors and television stations in 85 cities are regularly securing TV promotional material — 20 and 60 second spots and trailers." All company material is available to an exhibitor without charge, Einfeld said. He added that a theatreman must, however, show the company where or when the free promotional material was used. Says Demand Is Heavy The TV spots presented by Einfeld and Marty Michel, 20th-Fox radio and television head, deals with the company's latest CinemaScope production of "Untamed." At the end of each spot, composed of film clips from the production, ZOth-Fox has attached a "frozen frame" so that an exhibitor can insert when and where the picture will play. Michel revealed that requests for these "telops" average about 150 while requests for trailers range up to 300. He also talked about a four-minute TV feature, "Destination Zululand," which can be utilized as the basis for a TV show. Review .99 Mary Pickford Plans (Continued from page 1) of theatrical films, and that Buddy Rogers, her husband, will concentrate on television films. Richard K. Polimer, vice-president of the Pickford organization, told Motion Picture Daily during the interview that attractive terms will be offered independent producers and packagers who tie in with the studio facilities of the Pickford company. He pointed out that Miss Pickford has no releasing commitments with United Artists and that she would consider the best possible distribution terms offered by other releasing organizations for any pictures in which her company becomes interested. It was further disclosed that Polimer inspired the sale of the Chaplin stock to UA during his recent trip to Europe at Miss Pickford's suggestion. He said he did not represent Arthur Krim and Robert Benjamin, but relayed the possibility of sale to them as well as to others, in order to benefit the Pickford interest. Bidding for the studio will be started late this month, when sealed bids will be opened to determine the highest offer. Miss Pickford said she has a limit on how high she will go, Yellowneck (Republic) A "YELLOWNECK," according to this film, was the Confederate Army -tA term for a deserter. Five such self-imposed outcasts are shown as they attempt to make their way through the Florida Everglades to the sea and eventually to Cuba. Their trek is as long to the audience as it is to them, for the picture runs on interminably as the men take innumerable breaks to talk. As their conversations are neither realistic, philosophical nor even symbolic, the point of the film is never apparent. The producers undoubtedly intended it to be a study of fear and hope among a group of contrasting personalities, but the results never quite match the intentions. For those who like their entertainment crowded with thrills and vicarious dangers, "Yellowneck" provides a surplus of these, but all crowded together to form numerous and successive climaxes. Between each lengthy session of dialogue, a possibility of forthcoming peril is indicated, but it's not until the last third of the film that any materialize. Of the five men involved, four perish before the end by different and lurid devices. One is shot by an arrow in a foray with some Seminoles, one is attacked by a rattlesnake, another does battle with an alligator and the fourth is removed, much too slowly, by quicksand. The lone survivor is the youngster of the group who apparently has learned the lesson which remains so obscure to the viewer. The picture's main asset is some interesting Trucolor photography of the Everglades where it was made. The small cast, consisting of unknowns, is unimpressive and womanless. Harlow G. Fredrick was executive producer and Nat. S. Linden wrote the screenplay from the original story by R. John Hugh, who also directed. It is an Empire Studios Production. Running time, 83 minutes. General classification. Release date not set. Compo Meet (Continued from page 1) ley Warner, and Elmer Rhoden, president of National Theatres. Meanwhile, it was learned that Robert Coyne, COMPO special counsel, is now on the Coast lining up studio executives for attendance at the meeting, which is expected to draw about 70 persons representing every phase of the business. Others who already have announced their intentions of attending include : Charles Reagan, Loew's-M-G-M vicepresident of distribution ; Charles Einfeld, 20th-Fox vice-president in charge of advertising, publicity and exploitation ; A. W. Schwalberg, retiring president of Paramount Film Distributing Corp. ; Robert J. O'Donnell, vice-president and general manager of Texas Interstate, and Morey Goldstein, Allied Artists sales manager and chairman of the sales managers committee of the Motion Picture Association of America. Also F. H. Ricketson, Jr., NT vicepresident ; Harry Goldberg, S-W advertising and publicity manager ; Oscar Doob, Loew's-M-G-M executive; Gil Golden, Warner Brothers advertising manager, and Harry Mandel, RKO Theatres advertising and publicity director. WAABI Aids V.C. Drive The New York chapter of the Women's Association of the Allied Beverage Industries has presented to the Variety Club Foundation to Combat Epilepsy a contribution of $1,100, representing the proceeds of a party held by WABBI at the Sheraton Astor Hotel here on Dec. 7. but that she and Goldwyn have equal opportunity to outbid each other at five per cent above the highest bid. Other possible bidders are required to go 10 per cent higher than highest bid. Miss Pickford said she would completely re-equip the studio and rename it Mary Pickford Studio. Wise. Allied (Continued from page 1) survey among its theatres to ascertain the complaints which, after being processed, shall be dealt with in combination with the efforts of members of the EDC and the national organization. The regional EDC was formed, the resolution stated, "in order to gain just and equitable film terms" adding that the "independent exhibitors of this territory must align themselves solidly behind the Emergency Defense Committee of National Allied." Name SMPTE Awards Committee HOLLYWOOD, March 6. — Dr. John G. Frayne, president of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, announced the appointment of a five-man committee to select the 1955 winner of the Society's "Progress Medal Award." The Progress Medal goes to an individual for "any invention, research or development which resulted in a significant advance in the development of motion picture technology." It was last awarded, in 1953, to Fred Waller, inventor of Cinerama. Dr. Sandvik Chairman The committee will be under the chairmanship of Dr. Otto Sandvik, assistant division head of the Physics Department at the Kodak Research Laboratories. The committee will be composed of Glenn L. Dimmick, development engineer at RCA; Raymond L. Garman, vice-president, General Precision Laboratories, Inc. ; Hollis W. Moyse of the photographic products department, E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., and Arthur V. Loughren, director of research, Hazeltine Corp. Presentation of the award will be made at the 78th semi-annual convention of the SMPTE, Oct. 3-7, Lake Placid, N. Y. People Robert F. Metzler, former head of the location department of the 20th Century-Fox studio, has joined NBC Film Division as production supervisor on the Coast. n Hollis D. Bradbury has been appointed manager of RCA film-recording equipment. He succeeds Ralph A. Teare who recently was advanced to manager of industrial products. H. J. Cleveland, Jr., owner of the Skyline Drive-in at Tuscaloosa, Ala., has leased the WJRD Auditorium in that city. The house has been closed since 1953. n Wanda Ramey, television personality in San Francisco, has been elected president of the San Francisco local of the AFL's American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Others elected were Bill Weaver, first vice-president; Bill Guyman, second vice-president; Bob Day, secretary, and Deane Stewart, treasurer. Film Cash Dividends Slightly Off in Jan. From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, March 6.— Publicly reported cash dividends by film companies in January were slightly behind January a year ago, the Commerce Department reported. However, Department officials said the dividends were actually up sharply if consideration was given to the fact that three companies which in January, 1954, paid almost $1,000,000 in dividends had decided to make the payments this year in February. The Department said dividends reported by film companies in January amounted to $1,054,000, compared to $1,201,000 a year earlier. Had it not been for the change in reporting months by the three companies, however, dividends this January would have been almost double those a year ago. Officials said RKO Theatres had paid a $783,000 dividend, the first since early 1953, while Allied Artists reported a first dividend of $86,000 and^Guild Films reported a dividend of $70,000. This was the first reported by any company specially makingfilms for television, according to Commerce officials. Carolina Workshop Moved to April 4 CHARLOTTE, N. C, March 6.The dates of M-G-M's ticket-selling workshop and the general meeting of the Theater Owners Association of North and South Carolina has been changed from May 15-16 to April 4-5. The change in dates was made so that M-G-M could conduct its workshop for the Georgia Theater Owners convention, which is to be in session on the former date. Both meetings here will be held at the Charlotte Hotel.