Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1956)

Monday, July 23, 1956 Motion Picture Daily region View ( Continued from page 1 ) al statement which also quoted the egion's special classification given plumbia Pictures' "Storm Center." he film already has been distrib'ed in England and is approaching (lease in this country. The Legion ossification was made public on June i and reads as follows: "The highly propagandistic nature this controversial film (book burng, anti-Communism, civil liberties) fers a warped, over-simplified and rongly emotional solution of a comex problem of American life. Its >ecious arguments tend seriously to s misleading and misrepresentative f reason of an inept and distorted 1 .* resentation." Text of MPIC Statement The MPIC statement said: "We do not question the Legion's ght to offer normal and religious adership, nor do we approve or disDprove the film at issue. However, e believe that by implication and inrence this action by the Legion goes eyond normal criticism and spiritual Ivice, and is a form of censorship rith the purpose of dictating and ontrolling the content of motion picires, contrary to American principles f freedom of thought and expreson." The matter was brought to MPIC ttention last Wednesday night by creen Producers Guild president amuel G. Engel, who is the SPG elegate to the MPIC and is active MPIC affairs. Indorse FCC Decision fo Shift TV to UHF From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, July 22-A majority of the Senate Commerce Comittee has strongly endorsed the reent Federal Communications Commission's decision to shift television ventually to the UHF band. The committee, which held lengthy bearings on tv problems, issued an "interim report" backing the FCC action. Senators Wofford ( D., S. C.) and Purtell ( R., Conn.) put forth dissenting views. The FCC last month invited comment on a plan to shift most, if not all, tv gradually to the UHF band, and in the meantime de-intermixing UHF and VHF frequencies in some areas. The Commerce Committee, in endorsing t!he shift to the UHF, stressed the need for preserving UHF broadcasters and "urged the Commission move rapidly to the accomplishment of its stated objectives." It also stressed that selective de-intermixture in the meantime "be pursued as broadly and rapidly as possible." The committee promised to follow closely the Commission's progress on its plan, and called for periodic reports to Congress by the FCC on this mlatter. Finally, the Committee urged Congress to eliminate the excise tax on all-channel color sets. REVIEW: These Wilder Years m-g-m HOLLYWOOD, July 22 James Cagney scores again in a role that tempers his fighting spirit with heart-rending emotional appeal; and Barbara Stanwyck earns similar plaudits for her human, yet business-like portrayal of the supervisor of an adoption home. Frank Fenton's crisp screenplay of the controversial subject matter, wherein the real parent of an adopted child suffers loneliness and desires to make himself known to the child after too many years have passed, is at all times a frank forum on the subject. Roy Rowland's direction keeps the film moving at a fast pace, punctuating every scene with human touches. His fine hand is evident in one of the most touching scenes ever filmed, in which Cagney and the 20-year old adopted son whom he fathered, but never knew, suffer the sudden realization and understanding of each other's problem as they meet for the first time. Jules Sehermer's production of Ralph Wheelwright's original storv, is spruced with an exceptionally fine supporting cast headed bv Walter Pidgeon, and featuring the new faces of Betty Lou Keim, as a teen-age unwed mother, and Don Dubbins, the son Cagney meets in the climactic highlights of the film. The story depicts Cagney as a wealthy steel magnate determined to find the son he never knew. Miss Stanwyck tries to discourage him with reasons based on her years of experience in running an adoption home. Cagney engages Pidgeon, an attorney, who finds a loophole which would force Miss Stanwyck to disclose the identity and whereabouts of Cagney's boy. But the case is dismissed when Miss Stanwvck introduces evidence of a sworn 20-year old statement bv Cagnev that he denied any connection with the paternity, in order to shirk the responsibility at the time. In spite of her victory in the courtroom, Miss Stanwyck is conscious of Cagney's great feeling of remorse and loneliness, and arranges for Dubbins to make himself known to Cagney. When they meet, both realize it is too late for Cagney to claim any true love, and the boy makes it clear that his foster parent is a wonderful man who is ready to take him in as a partner in a printing plant. The film ends as Cagney adopts 16-year old Betty Lou, who leaned on his advice during her brief stay at the adoption home, and her newborn baby, named after the grown son that is no longer his. Running time, 91 minutes. Adult classification. Release, August. SAMUEL D. BERNS Decision Due This Week on TOA Meet Aid MPAA Allots ( Continued from page 1 ) headed by William C. Gehring, vicepresident of 20th Century-Fox, has been progressing slowly in launching the project, said the survey group will undertake the Indianapolis study shortly and "it will take about 60 days." The allocation of up to $25,000, he said, is just for the survey. He pointed out that when the credit card plan is launched, additional funds will have to be allocated. Concern for the fate of the plan was voiced last week by Joseph Cantor, chairman of the Indianapolis exhibition group which had been formed to work with the MPAA subcommittee. Cantor said he had not heard anything from Gehring's group for a number of weeks. The industry spokesman, however, said that once the survey group begins its study, "a close liaison with Indianapolis exhibitors will be set up." He said that questions which the public will be asked will be based on information supplied by Indianapolis exhibitors, distributors, and the survey group itself. Loew's Plans (Continued from page 1 ) television and 1 6mm prints in connection with a financial report for the 40 weeks ended June 7. The consolidated net profit for the period was reported to be $2,698,261, which is equal to 51c per share on 5,303,447 shares outstanding. This compares with $4,514,242, or 88c per share on 5,142,615 shares of stock outstanding in the corresponding period for the previous year. Gross sales and operating revenue for these 40 weeks of the current fiscal year amounted to $127,992,000 against $131,272,000 for the same period of the previous year. Figures are subject to year-end audit and adjustments. The decline in net profit has been due to a drop in domestic theatre grosses generally, Loew said in a letter to the stockholders accompanying the report. He also said that "as previously announced, the company has, during the past quarter of the fiscal year, decided that it will itself engage in the business of distributing its motion pictures for television. Since the announcement of this policy, there has Distribution's sales managers will decide "sometime this week" on what assistance the Motion Picture Association of America member companies will give the Theatre Owners of America in the national exhibition association's forthcoming convention, Ralph Hetzel, MPAA vice-president, said here at the weekend. Hetzel, who represented the MPAA member companies at a meeting with Myron N. Blank, president of TOA, last month, said the sales managers have been studying the TOA bid for the past few weeks. Instances Cited The MPAA vice-president said that Blank and other TOA representatives had requested the companies to buy booth space in the New York City Coliseum during their convention, Sept. 20-25. They also asked that the companies act as hosts at luncheons throughout the convention time, and aid TOA in handling the international industry representatives who will attend the convention, Hetzel said. He pointed out that while TOA does not know the exact number of foreign film officials who will attend the exhibition meeting, the MPAA and the Motion Picture Export Association had been advised that a number of French and Italian film officials had planned to be in the U. S. in early September anyway. Will Be Host to Visitors The association, in any event, would extend its facilities to these people, Hetzel said, adding that the foreign motion picture representatives will visit New York, Washington and Hollywood during their stay here. Commenting on a meeting between MPAA-MPEA president Eric Johnston and the company presidents, Hetzel said that "no date has been set." It was learned later that Johnston, who had been here for two days of conferences with association executives, had returned to Washington following a private luncheon with George Weltner, president of Paramount Film Distributing Co. been considerable activity in connection with offers received by the company from various television stations and networks for the right to televise the company's films. "Negotiations are in progress in connection with some of these offers which, when concluded, should result in considerable income, some of which may be realized during the current fiscal year. "The company will shortly inaugurate the distribution in the United States of 16mm prints of its films to the non-theatrical market. This will resulf in additional income to the company."