Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1956)

Motion Picture Daily Friday, July 27, ]! REVIEW: The Wild Oat Carroll Pictures The French touch of situation comedy rather than forceful, humorous dialogue prevails throughout this film starring the popular Fernandel. While the story fails to permit as much comedy as ordinarily expected from Fernandel, it nevertheless provides the art theatre exhibitor with a film diat will attract those to the boxoffice who favor the light, foreign brand of entertainment. As the happy baker in the small mountain village, Fernandel is the object of die audience's attention. All the action centers about him, as he turns the village into turmoil and as quickly reverses his pace and soothes the hearts of the worried townsfolk. He is accused of raising a son who has fathered a child illegitimately. Naturally, Fernandel upbraids the villagers for thinking such a thing but his pride soon fades to humility when his son returns and admits the relationship with the girl. Peace returns when his son marries the girl and Fernandel swallows his pride at the wedding feast— the baby rollicking in his arms. Distributed by Carroll Pictures, die film uses English titles to further the story. Running time, 107 minutes. Adult classification. For immediate release. J.E. M. P. DAILY PHOT ROY HAINES PRESIDES for the first time as general sales manager. Flanking him, Grover Livingston (fore ground), Jules Lapidus, Norman Moray; right, John F. Kirby, W. O. Williamson, and Haskell Masters; righi background, Robert A. McGuire. W.B. 'New Look' Is Outlined Manila Distributors So As larifi Measure Dro ( Continued surpass any previous selling which you have ever accomplished for the organization." With such pictures as "The Bad Seed," "Giant," "The Spirit of St. Louis," "Baby Doll," "The Wrong Man," "The Burning Hills" and "Seven Men From Now" on the immediate distribution schedule, "I know that you will be geared and ready to handle this product in die successful manner it deserves, and RECOMMENDED FOR ADULTS ONLY! from page 1 ) which we will give it," Haines declared. "Every picture is important," Haines told distribution heads. "No picture is any more or less important than any other. We are ready and able to supply the exhibitors of this country with product of unparalleled quality, and to back this product up with a dynamic advertising, publicity and exploitation campaign. But, neither product alone, nor selling alone, nor merchandising alone can attract ' the public to the motion picture theatre without at least an equal effort on the part of the exhibitor. We are prepared to give the exhibitor the product and the tools. The rest is up to him. We urge the exhibitors taking part in the 'grass roots' selling to utilize this tremendous sales effort in their own situations, to bring this topquality product to the ticket-buyers," Haines asserted. Pledges Plenty of Product "With the productions coming up in the immediate future, and with the long-range plans that lie ahead, I can confidently promise you and the exhibitor a continuous and uninterrupted supply of screen entertainment with a 'new look,' to make this 50year-old industry seem like an entirely new business. This industry has just gone through a tremendous period of technical change. It has handled and hurdled these transitions successfully and courageously. The job at hand is to sell pictures and to attract the general public to the box office." MANILA, July 26 The Sena: failure to pass a "crippling" tariff I posal that might have driven for* film distributors from the Fhilipp earlier this week was seen as a m victory by the local film industry 1 today. Distributors here said the Sei deleted from the House-appro measure a section that would ri imposed a tax of more than $100, each on most foreign films. Wari that continued vigilance is neei Leo Hochstetter, Far East man; of the Motion Picture Export Assr America, said the film victory ma) short lived since Congress will pi ably bring up the matter for dis< sion at a special session or When 1 convene again next January. Simplify Customs Pla WASHINGTON, July 26-The i\ ate has sent to the White Housi compromise bill to simplify U. customs procedures. The bill, not quite as far-reaclg as the administration originally ]j posed, makes a major change in {T basis for figuring import duties, t present ad valorem duties are leu on the basis of the price the iteni sold for in the foreign country or i price for which it is exported, wh| i ever is higher. The bill would ml . export price the only basis. HoweU the new plan would not apply to jj 1 item where the new standard wrl | cut tariffs more than five per cen;