Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1955)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY VOL. 77. NO. 100 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, MAY 23, 1955 TEN CENTS On Meet's Eve See No 'Bolt' Of Big Circuits On 'Govt. Issue' S'W's Rosen Tells His Views on TO A, Merger By MURRAY HOROWITZ A big-circuit bolt from organized exhibition ranks on the "going-to-thegovernment" issue appeared very unlikely at the weekend, on the eve of today's joint meeting here of Theatre Owners of America and Allied States Association representatives. This became apparent as Sam Rosen, executive vice-president of Stanley Warner, said that although he personally opposes government intervention, he would not resign from TO A if it joined Allied in going to the government to correct alleged trade grievances. Another prominent {Continued on page 5) Joint Conference Won't Stop Senate Probe: Berger Special to THE DAILY MINNEAPOLIS, May 22.— There will be a Senate investigation of the industry regardless of the outcome of the joint Allied-Theatre Owners of America sessions in New York this week, Benjamin Berger, president of North-Central Allied, said here prior to leaving for the Eastern conference. Berger declined to predict the outcome of the joint meetings but admitted that he had no hope for a top-level roundtable talk with distribution. Commenting on Al Lichtman's proposal for arbitration of film rentals for low-grossing houses, Berger proposed a breakoff figure from a $50 rental to a $1,000 weekly gross. Berger countered the Lichtman offer (Continued on page 5) U-I Ends European Sales Conference Special to THE DAILY BARCELONA, May 22.— "Seventythree cents out of every dollar spent by U-I goes on the screen," Alfred E. Daff, executive vice-president of Universal Pictures and president of its overseas subsidiary, Universal International Films, declared at the con(Continued on page 4) Ky. Allied Unit to Be at Board Meet E. L. Ornstein, of Louisville, Ky., is slated to be on hand for tomorrow's board of directors meeting here of Allied States Association. He will present the credentials of Kentucky Exhibitors Association, newly formed Allied unit of Kentucky, the 17th in Allied States Association, a step formalizing the recognition of the unit by national Allied. See 3 Courses Open to Meet Of Allied-TOA Three courses of action were seen for organized exhibition on the eve of today's joint meeting here between representatives of Theatre Owners of America and Allied States Association, according to a participant at the slated meeting. They are: TO A joining Allied in pressing for Federal regulation of film rentals; the establishment of a joint TOA-Allied committee to confer on an individual basis with the film companies ; adoption of a policy of "noncooperation" against one or more film companies considered by organized exhibition as "most to blame." The representative of organized exhibition, who asked to remain anonymous, said that all courses may be adopted, or one, or two, adding that new proposals may be offered at today's meeting at the Sheraton-Astor Hotel. The proposal to confer with exhibi(Continued on page 5) Lauds Administration JOHNSTON PRAISES PCA AND SHURLQCK MPAA's President Reiterates Confidence In the Code and Its Value to the Industry By WILLIAM R. WEAVER HOLLYWOOD, May 22— Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, on Friday stoutly championed the Production Code and its administrator, Geoffrey Shurlock, in a spirited news conference at 21 -Film Slate Set by Para. From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, May 22.— Twentyone pictures are in various stages of production or will be forthcoming from Paramount, according to Y. Frank Freeman, vice-president in charge of the studio, and Don Hartman, executive producer, who outlined future production plans at the final session of the company's sales and merchandising meeting which closed here at the weekend. Both Freeman and Hartman stressed that the forthcoming films are planned to maintain Paramount' s leadership in high quality production. "Formula pictures are a thing of the past at Paramount," Freeman said. "The studio proclaims a single goal ; to make the finest pictures with the best of everything, so the return will be adequate for our customers and ourselves," he said. Hartman told the meeting that "Paramount's drive will be to attract (Continued on page 4) Love Me or Leave Me" [M-G-M] ( CinemaScope ) OVERFLOWING with top entertainment values, "Love Me Or Leave Me" offers Doris Day in a fine singing and acting role as Ruth Etting, and reintroduces James Cagney as a Chicago racketeer of the 1920's, who takes over the young singer and her professional career. In CinemaScope and Eastman color, with new songs and old, a top-notch supporting cast, and under Charles Vidor's direction, this Joe Pasternak production is tailor-made for long runs to heavy draws in air-cooled theatres through the coming summer months. The story traces the swift professional rise of Miss Etting from a dimea-dance girl to the Ziegfeld Follies and her equally sensational romantic experience with Marty (The Gimp) Snyder — Cagney — as manager and husband, and with her accompanist, Cameron Mitchell, as her faithful and long-denied admirer, in the background. This foundation comes (Continued on page 5) headquarters of the Association of Motion Picture Producers. Lay and trade reporters prese n t advanced the Legion of Decency's criticism a n d James Francis Cardinal Mclntyre's locally published statement to pastors in the Los Angeles archdiocese for refutation or comment. Although Johnston de(Continued on page 4) Eric Johnston Net of Allied Artists For 39-Week Period Rises to $440,686 From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, May 22. — Steve Broidy, president of Allied Artists, on Friday announced that the gross income of the company and subsidiaries for 39 weeks ended April 2 was $9,134,458, which compares with $8,290,681 for the same period the previous year. Net profit before Federal income taxes was $684,868, comparing with $585,289 year before. After provision for income tax reserve, net profit was $440,686, compared with $281,289 the year previous. Approximately $527,000 of newly reported gross was from the sale of old negatives, the announcement stated. Launch Plans for '56 V.C. Conclave Preliminary discussions on the preparations to make next year's international convention of the Variety Clubs in New York the "biggest and most fabulous" in its history were held here at the weekend. George Hoover, international chief (Continued on page 4)