Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1955)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Concise And To The Point VOL. 77. NO. 52 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1955 TEN CENTS More Than EDC See Wide Area For Allied's Meet with TO A Many Aspects of Mutual Interest May Come Up The joint meeting between committees representing Allied States Association and Theatre Owners of America, proposed originally for the purpose of discussing Allied's Emergency Defense Committee projects, may delve into other aspects of mutual interest. The meeting, it was reported, may explore all areas in which Allied and TOA are not in disagreement and may even include a preliminary discussion of the often-suggested merger of the two organizations. The sessions currently are awaiting the return of Ruben Shor, Allied pres( Continued on page 6) N. J. Allied Pledges Anti-Toll TV Funds Allied Theatres of New Jersey has subscribed a "substantial" amount of money to the fund to combat subscription television, Wilbur Snaper, president of the unit, said here yesterday following a membership meeting in Trenton on Monday. Snaper declined to name the exact amount of money pledged. He said that the New Jersey unit had advanced the money from its treasury and that the members would reimburse the organization individually. The Monday meeting was the annual session with state legislative (Continued on page 6) Kramer Sells Two To Astor Pictures Stanley Kramer has sold the rights and negatives of "Champion" and "Home of the Brave" to R. M. Savini's Astor Pictures Corp. for an amount reported to have been in excess of $175,000. The pictures were Kramer's first two for United Artists distribution, both having been released in 1949. It is reported that Kramer is seeking to liquidate completely his older pictures, with "The Men" and "Cyrano de Bergerac" possibly to be offered at a later date. Exhibitors in Dallas Hear Broidy Outline AA Product Plans Special to THE DAILY DALLAS, March 15.— More than 100 exhibitors of this area, whose spokesman for the occasion was Robert J. O'Donnell, general manager of the Interstate Circuit, today heard Steve Broidy, president of Allied Artists, outline the steps by which AA is building what Broidy characterized as "a new source of major product." The meeting with exhibitors was the first of a cross-country series which Broidy has planned. He is accompanied by Morey R. Goldstein, vice-president, and John C. Flinn, advertising-publicity director. Broidy told the exhibitors : "I am not asking you to invest your money in our company ; I am asking you to invest your playing time. We are building a power house to keep your marquees lit with box-office attrac(Continued on page 2) B-City Debut for 'Man Called Peter' Marking the first international world premiere of any 20th CenturyFox CinemaScope production, "A Man Called Peter" will have simultaneous openings in Glasgow, New York and London on March 31, in debuts highlighting the Easter holiday season, it was announced. The three-country introduction is designed to rank among the most glittering accorded a motion picture, with government leaders, stars of the entertainment world and prominent (Continued on page 6) Progress Report Reveals 90 FROM UA OVER THREE-YEAR SPAN Company to Release 48 This Year; No Plans to Put Stock on Open Market By MURRAY HOROWITZ Ninety pictures over a three-year period already have been lined up by United Artists through the company's deals with independent producing units, it was announced here yesterday by Arthur B. Krim, president of UA. These esti Bill to Boost TV. Y. Film Tax Special to THE DAILY ALBANY, March ^. — Characterizing as "indefensible and inequitable" a bill by Senator Frank D. O'Connor, Queens Democrat, to increase the motion picture license fee from $3 to $4 per thousand feet on originals, and from $2 to $4 on each additional copy, Senator Fred G. Moritt, Brooklyn Democrat, said this afternoon he would oppose it. Moritt believes the measure would be defeated, an opinion expressed in another quarter, too. The bill was advanced from general orders to third reading on the calendar last night. However, it was "starred," when Senator Moritt requested the introducer to do so. This means the measure can not come to (Continued on page 6) 15% Ahead in 1954 'Scope Introduction Builds French Theatre Business By LESTER DINOFF Theatre business throughout France has been increasing steadily since 1952 and reached a high when the 1954 fall-to-winter season receipts were about 15 per cent ahead of the 1953 comparable period, according to Jean Thevenot. general manager of Societe Nouvelle Pathe Theatres, and Lucien Nachbaur, managing director of the French Pathe circuit. Speaking at a trade press conference here yesterday at the Paris Theatre, Thevenot and Nachbaur stated that the increased business and the doubled receipts commenced with the introduction of CinemaScope and stereophonic sound in France. "There are roughly 500 theatres throughout France equipped for Cine(Continued on page 6) Press to Be Briefed At 'Command' Bow Special to THE DAILY OMAHA, March 15. — One hundred newspapermen, magazine writers and photographers and radio and television columnists on March 26 will receive special briefings at Offutt Air Force Base here on the structure~and plans of the Strategic Air Command of the United States Air Force. Gen(Continued on page 7) mated 90 productions represent a partial production, and releasing schedule which will be supplemented by other deals, yet to be announced, Krim added. The UA president, flanked by other members of the Robert S. Benjamin-Krim management group, made these disclosures in rendering another progress report on UA activities. Commenting on the many deals recently consummated, Krim declared, "this represents the strongest group (Continued on page 7) Arthur Krim Nat'l Advertising Up For Majors in 1954 Expenditures in 1954 by the nine major film companies for national advertising, exclusive of local, radio and television, increased 15 per cent over the total for 1953, according to figures submitted by the magazine "Coronet." The figures submitted by the publication are based upon a survey by Publishers Information Bureau, Inc. Expenditures for 1954 totaled $3,(Continued on page 7) Bill Extending D.S.T. In Gotham Passed New York's City Council yesterday unanimously passed the bill extending daylight saving to the last Sunday in October. Previously, daylight saving time ended in the city on the last Sunday in September. New York City exhibitors did not oppose the measure, although TV and legitimate stage interests did.