Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1955)

2 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, March 24, 1955 Personal Mention JEFF LIVINGSTON, Universal %J Pictures Eastern advertising manager, has returned to New York from Charlotte. • Mima Hartman, daughter of Don Hartman, Paramount executive producer, will be married in Beverly Hills on Saturday to Ensign Arthur Pereira, U.S.N.R., son of Hal Pereira, supervising art director at the Paramount studio. e Herbert H. Greenblatt, RKO Radio domestic sales manager, will return here over the weekend from Philadelphia. • Jean Hersholt has arrived in Copenhagen from New York on a trip that will take him to all the principal countries of Europe. • Robert L. Sapan, sales promotion manager of S.O.S. Cinema Supply Corp., will leave New York this week for Atlantic City. • Harry Stevens, of Crowell-Collier Publishing Co., has left New York for the Coast. • Kirk Douglas will leave Buffalo today for Detroit. He is scheduled to arrive in New York at the weekend. Bev Michaels, British actress, will leave here tomorrow for London via B.O.A.C. Monarch. David E» Rose, producer, has returned to Hollywood from London. Previews of 'Peter' May Draw 100,000 The number of clergymen and community opinion makers attending showings in 60 cities of 20th CenturyFox's "A Man Called Peter" has passed the 64,300 mark and a total of 100,000 is expected by Friday, according to estimates of the distributor. Indicative of the intense interest aroused by the showings is the report to Fox from the Brookside Theatre, Kansas City, a 1,085-seat house, where an overflow crowd at a 2 P.M. screening made necessary a second showing at 4 P.M. The CinemaScope feature will have simultaneous world premieres on March 31 in New York, London and Glasgow, Scotland. 4 -Theatre Premiere For 'Purple Plain' United Artists' "The Purple Plain," starring Gregory Peck, will have dayand-date American premieres tomorrow at the Chicago Theatre in Chicago and the Paramount, Sheridan and Coral Theatres in Miami. The openings climax twin, all-media advance campaigns that featured personal appearances in each city by Win Min Than, Burmese beauty who makes her screen debut in the film opposite Peck. Douglas Praises Percentage Deals For Performers Kirk Douglas Special to THE DAILY ALBANY, N. Y., March 23.— The offering of percentage deals to actors, producers, and directors, a practice now employed by Universal-International studios, and others is an added incentive in turning out quality pictures, according to Kirk Douglas, who is currently making a personal appearance tour in con j unction with the openings of "Man Without A Star." Douglas, who recently announced the formation of a production company in which he will turn out six films for United Artists release, said that a financial interest in a picture helps to get better workout of a performer and shortens shooting schedules. Says 'Outside' View Helps Commenting on his tour around the country during which he is meeting exhibitors and the public, Douglas declared that "it is illuminating to learn what goes on outside of Hollywood. For one, I found out that U-I appears to be out in front in merchandising and launching its product, and I also found out something about the public's tastes in motion pictures." In reply to a question concerning television, Douglas said that "television is the best thing to have happened to movies, for the success of one entertainment medium always helps another. Television is now better than the legitimate stage because it provides motion pictures with competition, talent and material." Honored in Albany Douglas was honored early this week by the citizens of Albany with a "Welcome Home" dinner at the Hotel Sheraton-Ten Eyck sponsored by the Variety Club. The mayor also proclaimed Monday and Tuesday as "Kirk Douglas Days." In regard to his future plans, Douglas said that he will begin in May his first independent production "The Indian Fighter," which will be directed by Andre de Toth in CinemaScope and Technicolor. He also said that he will make "Lost for Life," the story of Van Gogh, for M-G-M after that. Douglas said that he was in favor of any production medium which builds box-office. CinemaScope, for one, is an added advantage to a picture, especially films with outdoor action, he said. L.D B & K Dividend CHICAGO, March 23.— Balaban & Katz Corp. declared a $1 dividend on its common stock, payable March 30 to stockholders of record on March IS. 'Bamboo' Is Banned Again in Memphis Special to THE DAILY MEMPHIS, March 23.— The Memphis board of censors last night agreed to see "The Bamboo Prison" a second time, and banned it for a second time. The three women members of the board voted unanimously the second time to ban the Columbia picture. Chairman Lloyd T. Binford, 88, said he agreed with them. The fifth censor, Avery Blaneken, attorney, did not attend the first or the second screening. Called First Double-Ban Binford said it was the first time during his 26 years as chief censor that the board has reviewed a picture again, banning it both times. Before the picture was shown, M. A. Lightman, Jr., Malco Theatres, Inc., spoke to the board. He pointed out certain things in the picture, which deals with progressives in a Korean prison camp. Progressives were American soldiers who fell for Red propaganda, and some 21 who refused to return home after the Korean war ended. Lightman said the hero of the film was not a real progressive but an American agent pretending to be one. William W. Goodman, attorney for the Malco Theatre and Columbia Pictures, and Norman T. Colquhoun, branch manager for Columbia, were also present at the second screening. Undecided on Appeal Goodman said the first screening of "Bamboo Prison" wasn't legal because it had been requested by a distributor rather than an exhibitor. He said the second one was legal, as the MalcD Theatre had asked for it. Goodman said he conferred with the city attorney about this phase. He said it would be up to M. A. Lightm?n, Sr.. and Columbia Pictures in New York whether or not the board's action is appealed to the circuit court. News Roundup IFE and K of C In 'Conclave' Deal I.F.E. Releasing Corp. and the Knights of Columbus have concluded arrangements for specialized theatrical and non-theatrical national distribution of "The Secret Conclave." I.F.E.'s American-language film dealing with the life of Saint Pius X. The agreement was finalized by Thomas V. McCue, special representative for Bernard Jacon, vice-president in charge of sales for I.F.E., and Leo J. McCarthy, executive vice-president of Eternal Film Corp., motion picture advisor and producer for the Knights of Columbus. Under this plan actual distribution will be directly supervised by McCarthy through the Catholic Film Distribution Plan of the Knights of Columbus. S-W Secretary's Mother Mary A. Von Bevern, mother of Grace Bevern, Stanley W arner executive secretary to assistant treasurer Tames M. Brennan, died yesterday morning. Communion Breakfast The Detroit entertainment industry will hold its Communion breakfast at the St. Aloysius Catholic Church on April 3. Edgar Lamoureaux, manager of the Palace Theatre, Windsor, Ont, and Thomas Allen, United Film Service division manager, are co-chairmen. WOMPI Insignia Designed Mrs. Claire Tremorel, national chairman of publicity and public relations of Women of the Motion Picture Industry (WOMPI) announced that among members of the New Orleans unit Mrs. Ora Johnson, of Motion Picture Association, won first prize in the contest for the most appropriate design of a national insignia. Lillian Bourgeois, Universal, design was chosen second best. These two insignia have been entered in the national race to compete with Dallas, Memphis and Atlanta clubs. Renews 'Disneyland' American Motors Corp. has renewed its contract to sponsor "Disneyland" TV program in 1956 and will continue its sponsorship through the summer. Canadian Awards Slated The Canadian Film Awards will be made in Ottawa on May 5 and the top production will receive an "Oscar" by the Association of Motion Picture Producers and Laboratories of Canada. 'Da Vinci' Franchises Set Manor Films Corp. has concluded a deal with the Howco exchanges in Dallas, Memphis, Charlotte, Atlanta and New Orleans for the distribution of "Leonardo da Vinci." Plan Drive-in A 900-car drive-in theatre planned for Wethersfield, Conn., Perakos Theatres Associates of New Britain. is by Delay Buffalo Openings The planned "gala" reopening of the drive-ins in the Buffalo area has been postponed until next Thursday because of bad weather this week. Acquires 'Island' HOLLYWOOD, March 23.— Producer Bryan Foy has acquired American and European rights from the Jules Verne estate and will proceed With the production for Columbia of "The Mysterious Island." MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher: Sherwin Kane, Editor. Published daily except Saturdays. Sundays and holidays, by Quiglev Publishin" Company Inc. 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." 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