Motion Picture Daily (Apr-June 1956)

OL. 79. NO. 70 MOTION PICTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1956 TEN CENTS 'ost-Easter thoden Sees JetterProduct, brighter B.O. 7ill Hold Conferences 7ith de Rochemont By MURRAY HOROWITZ National Theatres business was icked up" by the Easter holiday and, with better product fort h coming, prospects at the box office appear better than a year ago at this time, Elmer Rhode n, NT president said here yesterday. Rhoden, here for conferences with Louis de Rochemont on f's Cinemiracle process and other (Continued on page 4) Elmer Rhoden leven Wonders' Has ivitational Premiere 'Seven Wonders of the World," the rd Cinerama adventure produced Lowell Thomas, opened last night leview of the third Cinerama reease, "Seven Wonders of the World" appears on page 6. the Warner Theatre to an invitalal audience that included figures tlie diplomatic, social and enter(Continued on page 5) ?gin Shipment of ptical 'Carousel' pment of initial optical "Carousel" nts to exhibitors began yesterday, official of 20th Century-Fox anmced here yesterday. To date, the company had only eophonic prints available for dismtion. The official estimated that > optical prints will be made availe for distribution. Full Support of Industry For Kings Tax Measure Decca Earning" Rate Will Be Maintained In 1956: Rackmil By LESTER DINOFF The dividend rate and earnings of Decca Records and subsidiaries, among them Universal Pictures, "will be maintained and will show contin u e d imp r o v e m ent," Milton R. Rackmil, president of Decca Records, told company stockholders yesterday at the annual meeting. Decca's 1955 net, including earnings of Universal (Continued on page 4) Bill Limits Levy to Admissions in Excess Of $1; COMPO Starts Campaign With Copies Sent by Mail to Tax Groups The full support of the industry will be thrown behind the King measure to limit the application of die Federal admissions tax "to that portion of the amount paid for any admission which is in excess of SI," it was announced here yesterday Milton Rackmil McEldowney to Make 'King' in Todd-AO Kenneth McEldowney, who produced "The River" in India, will utilize the Todd-AO process in making the "The Pearl King" in Tokyo later this year, thus becoming the first (Continued on page 5) Schwalberg's APA In Tieup With New Gold Medal Company A deal whereby Artists-Producers Associates will supervise and direct sales, distribution and advertising activities for the newly-formed Gold Medal Productions was announced here yesterday by A. W. Schwalberg. president of APA. Schwalberg also is a director of Gold Medal, of which Martin H. Poll, formerly executive producer for Theatre Network Television, is president. William B. Jaffe is general counsel. Release Through Majors The new producing organization, according to Schwalberg, will concentrate on the production of feature films as well as special subjects for theatres. Release will be through the major (Continued on page 6) R. J. O'Donnell REVIEW: THE SWAN M-G-M— Cine ma Scope Whether or not Grace Kelly was about to be married to a prince of the blood royal, her new starring vehicle, "The Swan," would be an outstanding entry in both the entertainment and box office sweepstakes of the year. It is that good, appraised only as a picture. It may very well be Miss Kelly's best to date. And with The Wedding certain to be talked about 'round the world for unguessable months to come, this motion picture fable of a beautiful princess in search of her prince is without doubt destined to be seized upon by the world as the next best thing to witnessing The Wedding and the romantics preceding it. "The Swan" is a sheer delight, given a beautiful and, obviously, costlv production by Dore Schary to match its palatial setting and regal prin(Continued on page 5) by the Council of Motion Picture Organizations. The decision was made by COMPO's tax campaign steering committee in the belief that Rep. Cecil King's (D., Calif.) tax bill has the best chance of adoption both by Congress and tlie Administration. Copies of the bill are being sent to all members of COMPO tax campaign committees with the request that diey write their Congressmen at once, urging them to support H.R. 9875, the number of the King measure. Congressmen should also be requested, COMPO advised, to urge their fellow members on the House Ways and Means Committee to do likewise. Meanwhile, it was learned drat ( Continued on page 5 1 Extend Schwartz RKO Circuit Pact The existing employment contract of Sol A. Schwartz, president of RKO Theatres, has been extended, it was announced here yesterday by the circuit. The continuation of Schwartz as president was disclosed in the wake of the proposed acquisition by RKO Theatres Corp. of the assets of the Cleveland Arcade Co., the principal asset of which is common stock of Gera Corp., a diversified enterprise engaged in textile finishing, electronic research and manufacturing.