Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1956)

Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, January 11, 1 PEOPLE Cecil B. DeMille today will receive the 1956 citation for outstanding service from the California State Society, Daughters of the American Colonists. Given annually to a leader in the motion picture industry, the DAC citation went to the late Lionel Barrymore in 1954 and to Walt Disney last year. Dick Fitzmaurice, former manager of the Rivoli Theatre in downtown St. Louis, has leased the Holiday Drive-in in Overland, St. Louis County, and has reopened it. Hall Walsh, Southern Prairie district manager for Warner Brothers Theatres, is recovering at DePaul Hospital, St. Louis, from a heart ailment. Paul Smallen has moved his advertising agency to new quarters on West 56th St. here. Smallen handles National Theatre Supply, International Projector and Walker-American accounts. n Murray Bloom, theatrical manager, has been released from the Roosevelt Hospital here following a brief confinement. A. B. Padgett, booking manager of Wilby-Kincey Theatres in Atlanta, has succeeded John E. Branch as president of the Northside Kiwanis Club. R. E. Bland of Martin Theatres of Georgia is passing out cigars since the recent arrival of a baby girl at his home. Salvador Ortigosa, former newspaper man, has been appointed head of the Mexican motion picture censor board of the Ministry of the Interior. In All Branches of the Business French Industry Discovers General Improvements Developed Last Year By HENRY KAHN PARIS, Jan. 10. -At the end of the year the French film industry took stock and discovered that on the whole there had been a general improvement all-round. 0 The National Film Centre's figures show that in 1955 70 per cent of the films made in France were strictly French and only 30 per cent co-production against 50 per cent in 1954. The average cost of production also fell from 115 million francs to 75 million and it is noted that costly productions were fewer. On the other hand, average costs of co-productions doubled. Attendances also improved. They are only estimated, of course. The figure given is 390 millions against 383 millions in 1954, and receipts, 40 million francs against 45 million francs in 1954. Admission Prices Up Prices of seats were slightly increased for special films bringing the average to 120 francs against 118. The number of cinemas also increased. ,What of 1956? The position is not too bright because exhibitors and distributors have developed their muscles and are trying to sell producers what the public wants. Independence has always been one of the foundation stones of French production. It gave the French cinema such films as "Les Enfants du Paradis," "Le Diable Au Corps," "Les Diaboliques," none of which escaped harsh criticism from one quarter or another. In other words, the struggle is on. Should exhibitors and distributors dictate, keeping one eye cocked on the provincial theatres, or should producers and directors still guide the destinies of the French film industry? Fear Lowering of Quality It is evident to many that if the exhibitors take command then the quality of French films may slip because exhibitors are interested only in those films which will attract the local public. Parisians are very different from provincial audiences and further, the reputation France now holds abroad may be threatened. It is said that for this reason many directors, like Clouzot, abandoned monumental subjects and are satisfied making short documentaries. Others like Carne have gone to Italy. The Government is not unmindful of what is taking place and for this reason the Aid Law now includes special prizes for quality films. It is thus hoped that while little subjects may lubricate the commercial machinery, the prizes will help the French film industry to retain its dignity. A A Augments Field Staff for 'Gunpoint' Allied Artists has increased its field exploitation staff to insure maximum promotion coverage for "At Gunpoint!" John C. Flinn, the company's advertising-publicity director, announced. Jimmy Boyle, Sam Hart and Mike Zala have been assigned to the CinemaScope and Technicolor production, which will have its world premiere next Wednesday at the Roosevelt in Chicago. These three complement AA's regular exploiteers George Bannon, Harry Goldstein, Jack Leewood, Paul Montague and Jim Schiller. Ezzes Leaves Guild; Expansion Plans Set Guild Films reported yesterday the resignation of Erwin H. Ezzes, vicepresident and sales manager, and also announced that top sales supervision would be under the jurisdiction of Reub Kaufman, president of the company. Simultaneously, Kaufman said that Guild Films was undertaking an expanded sales program to match its enlarged production set-up. "Our immediate objective," Kaufman said, "is to set up a world-wide television sales program as well as stepped up sales activities in this country. During 1955, Guild Films doubled the size of its sales organization and increased its sales branches to sixteen. We are planning continuance of this growth in 1956." Kaufman, Katz to Europe Ezzes joined the company last February, coming from Motion Pictures for Television when Guild Films took over the MPTV library. He is expected to announce a new affiliation in the near future. Kaufman and treasurer Aaron Katz will leave on an extensive trip to Europe later this month to negotiate for production of TV-film shows and sale of current domestic shows in at least four foreign countries. Report Mexico Gov' May Earmark Cash To Make 100 Films Special to THE DAILY MEXICO CITY, Jan. lO.-Procj (l tion of about 100 feature-length ijL tures by Mexicans this year will financed to the extent of $16,000 * by the trade's own bank, the stL official Banco Nacional Cinematoi fico, according to reports in the t) here. At least half of those pict will be in color. Producers are!' manding the best possible stories: The 96 Mexican pictures that \ produced last year were financec the amount of $4,800,000. Bill Nacional Cinematografico, Pelie Mexicanas, independent distrib'i of Mexican pictures abroad; Pe las Nacionales, semi-official place Mexican films in Mexico and abr and Cinex, semi-official controlle Mexican picture distribution oun of Mexico, provided $4,500,00* that money. Columbia Pictures up $300,000. it k Film Going to TV Gets 'Farewell' Date DETROIT, Jan. lO.-The Surf and Coronet Theatres here seem to have, inaugurated a new policy, namely that of a "Farewell Appearance" for a movie in a theatre. "The Man in the White Coat" starring Alec Guinness, copyright by the Rank Organization in 1951, will be available in a matter of weeks to television stations. The Surf and Coronet Theatres on hearing this picture was included in a TV deal, made one final booking. Also in Co-Feature Each house is doing substantial business, and each has run a co-feature with Guinness on the same bill. The Surf has "Great Expectations," made when Guinness was of minor stature and had a supporting role, and "Kind Hearts and Coronets" in which he later played multiple starring roles. Gaskill, Col. Office Mgr. in Phila., Dies PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 10. Norman Gaskill, office manager of Columbia Pictures here, died at work of a heart attack yesterday. He had been with the company for nine years and was 39 years of age. Name Horowitz IF Phila. Sales Mgr. Siegfried "Sieg" Horowitz has appointed Philadelphia sales mail1 for I.F.E. Releasing Corp., it was nounced by Manny Reiner, I! general sales manager. Horowitz, who gives up the tion of sales manager for Univ in Philadelphia to take his new has had a long career in film i He began with the Columbia 1 force, spending some 25 years that organization before joining versal in 1954. Irving Shiffman, mer I.F.E. Philadelphia repres tive, is ill and will be transfers I.F.E.'s Boston office upon h covery. f his Weiner, Former U Cuba Manager, Dh HAVANA, Jan. lO.-Henry W< former United Artists manage Cuba, died at his home here y< day. He was 79 years old. Weiner joined UA in 1921 as of the company's newly opened in Havana. He held that post f< years and was regarded as the "c of American distributors in 1 when he retired in 1952. How he continued his association as a cial consultant. Phila. Booking Units Merge Into Tri-State Special to THE DAILY PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 10.-A booking-buying combine has formed here by the merger of tht Sullender and Sandy Gottlieb or zations. Trading as the Tri-State Thtie Service, the new firm is hante more than 50 accounts, of whie* are drive-ins.