Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1956)

6 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, February 28, k British Stars to Travel for Fame From THE DAILY Bureau LONDON, Feb. 27.-The J. Arthur Bank Organisation is going to use every legitimate method to make the names of its stars known throughout the world, according to John Davis. He said he is sending a number of stars "on safaris" to places like Venice, Helsinki, Stockholm, Paris and Canada to promote forthcoming Rank product and to gain recognition abroad. No High Court Study Of Stunt Man Case WASHINGTON, Feb. 27. -The Supreme Court today refused to review lower court decisions throwing out the claim of Jules Garrison that he was entitled to a $1,000,000 reward offered by Warner Brothers. The reward was offered for anyone who could prove that Burt Lancaster didn't personally perform the dangerous stunts in "The Flame and the Arrow." Garrison claimed he had proof that stunt man Don Turner had done some of the stunts. Lower courts threw out his claim, holding that Turner had done only minor bits and not the dangerous stunts, and that in any event Warners had withdrawn the offer before he made his claim. Garrison appealed to the high court, and the court today said it would not review the case. The court gave no reason. Court Rejects Shea Estate's Appeal ALBANY, N. Y., Feb. 2 7. The New York State Court of Appeals turned down an appeal filed by the heirs of Maurice A. Shea in which they charged the administrators of the Shea estate had committed waste and mismanagement. In its last decision, the court praised the administration of the estate by Edward C. Raftery, Edmond C. Grainger and the late Dennis F. O'Brien and rejected the heir's charges. In a companion decision the Court of Appeals ordered the heirs to proceed with the arbitration of Grainger's claim for damages for a breach of contract which expires on Dec. 31. Grainger was removed by the heirs on Jan. 1, 1952. However, the Court has expanded the arbitration theme by permitting the heirs to raise the question of no return on capital investments in computing Grainger's bonus. Cinerama for Atlanta ATLANTA, Feb. 24. Approximately $140,000 will be spent in renovating the Roxy Theatre here by the Georgia Cinerama Co. which has obtained a two year lease on the theatre, the first in the southeast to be adapted for the showing of Cine Vincent Fennelly Believes Producers Should Meet Exhibitors To Determine Their Product Needs Film producers should get out and meet exhibitors in order to find out their product needs, according to producer Vincent Fennelly, who yesterday also said that he plans to produce five features in 1956, all for Allied Artists. Fennelly, who recently completed "Crime in the Streets," which AA will release domestically in June, said that his juvenile delinquency film will be the first which AA will trade show in 31 exchange cities in a number of years. The industry veteran, who produced 50 pictures in seven years, 43 of them being Westerns, said that he is of the opinion that producers should travel with their films to find out what theatre men are looking for in product. "I am aware that an exhibitor is primarily interested in films which make money," Fennelly stated, "but he also is keen on story values" and has his finger on what type of entertainment his patrons like. Fennelly said that while his recent production is lacking in "star names," he feels sure that "Crime in the Streets" will attain a good measure of success at the box office. Since the picture is highly exploit able, Fennelly said that an advertising-publicity budget of $200,000 has been set and that public opinion groups in many cities will be invited to attend screenings prior to the film's opening. Commenting on his 1956 production plans, Fennelly said that under his contract with AA, he will produce "Counterpunch," "Story of the Texas Ranger" and " Cavalcade of Radio." He said that "Capital Punishment" and "The Story of Mother Cabrini" will be made independent productions. Points to Savings Fennelly pointed out that independent production has many compensations, among them being lower production costs. He said that "Crime in the btreets" which has a negative cost of $500,000, would "have cost 35 to 40 per cent more if made as a studio venture." Production by USIA RCA Business Over Reported to Congress Billion Dollars in '55 WASHINGTON, Feb. 27. Film production by the U. S. Information Agency during the last six months of 1955 included 85 films in 27 countries, according to the semi-annual report of the agency to Congress. The report also pointed out that in the two years since the president's "Atoms-for-Peace" message, U.S. I. A. has used 14 films to carry the "peaceful uses" story in 32 languages to audiences in 80 countries. Television material is now being sent weekly to 100 overseas stations and is used regularly by most, the report said. It declared that mosl films in the agency's foreign language film libraries abroad have been made available for TV use. Yarhrough to Handle Fox Publicity in S.E. SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 27.-Don Yarbrough, publicity director for the Fox Theatre here, will handle publicity and exploitation in the Southeast territory for 20th Century-Fox. His father, Eddy Yarbrough, is publicity and exploitation manager for the Western division of 20th Century-Fox. The Radio Corp. of America in 1955 did the largest volume of business in its 36-year history, exceeding one billion dollars in sales for the first time. Brig. General David Sarnoff reports to the company's stockholders. Sarnoff noted that sales of RCA products and services amounted to $1,055,266,000, compared to $940,950,000 in 1954, an increase of 12 per cent. Net profit in 1955, before Federal income taxes, was $100,107,000, and after taxes, $47,525,000, as compared to the corresponding figures for 1954, which were $83,501,000 and $40,525,000, he said. Earnings per share of common stock were $3.16 last year compared with $2.66 in 1954. RCA's Federal income taxes, social security, property, state, local and excise taxes totaled $97,998,000 in 1955, an amount equivalent to $6.98 per common share. To Raze Erlanger BUFFALO, Feb. 27.-The Erlanger Theatre here has been sold to a Rochester real estate investor who will raze the building that has housed many of the outstanding stage performances during the last quarter century. Levine, Bereson and Rybnick in New Firm BOSTON, Feb. 27. Joseph E. Levine, president of Embassy Pictures Corp., of Boston, in association with Edward Bereson and Harry Rybnick, of Los Angeles, has formed Trans-World Releasing Corp. Bereson and Rybnick in the past have produced for United Artists release. The first world release by the new organization will be "Godzilla," a science-fiction feature. Promotion will be directed by Terry Turner. Bus Strike Helps Balto. Neighborhoods Special to THE DAILY BALTIMORE, Feb. 27. The 1 street car strike, now in its weeK here, is proving a boon neighborhood theatres. Vvniiout trolley or bus service the downtown district, him goers visiting their neighborhood thea, REVIEW: Mystery of the Blact Jungle Republic Pictures Lex Barker is the principal marc name in this film which concen fantastic Indian cult and which heres to the time-tested formula offering melodrama overlooking pi ibiiity in favor of action. As straight-a-way script by Murphy and Jean Paul Calleji based on a Salgari novel, has; Barker, and his aides, are attac by cult members while in the junj Repelling the attack, Barker takes in pursuit of the ambushers and covers the fanatic's temple, whert learns that the priestess is Jane IV well, daughter of the commandei the nearby British garrison. Determined to rescue the fetct Miss Maxwell, Barker is capm and is propositioned by cult le£ Luigi Tosi. He will Iree both i Maxwell and Barker if Barker ag! to assassinate the British garnn commander. Barker, with an eyei) Miss Maxwell, says yes, and plurs off into the brush in the directioirf the garrison. He's captured by | latter, and using truth serum, British learn of tne plot. Tossing caution to the winds, B garrison chief (Pamela Palma; lal Barker and his forces along on attji against the cult stronghold, II time out, Palma is captured and! about to be killed by Tosi when l|« ker, on the right side of the law nfl comes to the rescue. Georges Venturini produced, :d direction was handled by Rail Murphy. Running time, 72 minutes. Gemil audience classification. " N. Y. Theatre Liqur Sale Bill Introduce ALBANY, Feb. 27.-Bills permit! the sale of liquor to patrons I theatres, not earlier than a half-™ before the commencement of a m formance and not later than a hthour after its conclusion, have bl introduced by Assemblyman Anibald Douglas, Jr., of New York, I Assemblyman Alfred A. Lama, j)f Brooklyn. Hie Douglas measure provides IH theatres so licensed shall be exeipt from the requirements for operatig a restaurant. Permit fees would be half the normally charged.