Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1956)

6 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, October 11, 1 National Pre -Selling ((TI7AR and Peace*' is the reVV cipient of considerable promotion in the Oct. 16 issue of "Look." An eye-catching, two-page spread in full color is devoted to this Paramount film. An artist's impression and location photos of the Battle of Borodino are reproduced in sparkling colors. The motion picture editor sums up by saying, "AH honor must go to those who had a part in re-creating War and Peace,' especially to director Vidor and English cinematographer Jack Cardiff, who proves for all time that film photography can produce a trulv distinguished work of art." • "Friendly Persuasion,"' among other top films of the fall season, is highlighted in the October issue of "Woman's Home Companion." • "Tea and Sympathy" receives a good review in the Oct. 8 issue of "Life." The review occupies the major part of three pages and is illustrated with photos made on the production sets. • "The Pride and Passion" will get a substantial plug in the Oct. 20 issue of "The Saturday Evening Post" by reason of a personality story on the film's female star, Sophia Loren. • "The Brave One" is reviewed and recommended by Florence Somers in the October issue of "Bedbook." She reports it is a story of "Leonardo," a young Mexican boy who cherishes a rather unusual pet, a bull— not a Ferdinand who is docile and likes to smell flowers, but a real fighter. He took him to school with him to kneel for the blessings of the animals. Under the loving care tendered him, the bull grew strong and handsome, but Leonardo failed to realize that such a fine animal must fight in the bull ring. This picture has a happy ending and we also recommend it highly. • "Secrets of the Reef," reports Ed Miller in the October issue of "Seventeen," "is a uniquely beautiful movie about creatures that live in the sea. Three years in the making, filmed in the Bahamas and at Marineland, Fla., it records a fantastic world in vivid color. Myriad underwater inhabitants—from the courting octopus and the Moray eel to infant sea horses— are seen in their continuous fight for life." WALTER HAAS WITH A SPECIAL TRAILER CHICAGO, ILL. 1327 \. W1IISH REVIEWS; Between Heaven and Hell 20th Century-Fox — CinemaScope There is much box office potential in David Weisbart's production of this "love-and-war" story. The direction bv Richard Fleischer is dynamic and the cast is top-notch. Even Robert Wagner, who is having trouble finding his acting niche, does his best job so far in the role of an uncertain and unhappy World War II doughfoot. The support is very good all the way down the line. Photography and landscaping, in CinemaScope and De Luxe color, are fascinating, full advantage being taken of CinemaScope's qualities for framing vast stretches of terrain and for following extensive action across big spaces. War pictures are a natural for the wide screen, and this war, in which there is plenty of fighting, blood and brutal death, is handled with commendable restraint. Wagner plays the part of a young Southern landowner who is oppressive with his sharecroppers. When his National Guard unit is called into active service at the outbreak of World War II, he regretfully leaves his beautiful wife, played by Terry Moore. Wagner slowlv learns respect for the sharecroppers in his unit as war brings out the worst and the best of all involved. He finds his own self wracked bv alternating fits of irresolution and trembling hands and moments of great coinage. When a panicky officer shoots three of his own squad, Wagner goes into a rage and assaults him with a rifle butt. He escapes a court-martial because of the circumstances and his distinguished service. He is transferred to a front-line outpost, where he meets Rroderick Crawford, a cowardly officer who has discarded his insignia and refuses to be saluted for fear that enemy snipers will get him. Another humble sharecropper rises to such noble heights in battle that Wagner loses the last of his feudal attitude. Wounded and a hero at picture's end, Wagner starts for home knowing that "things will be different in the South." Running time, 94 minutes. General classification. For October release. Gus Dall/^s Oklahoma! Wee Geordie George K. Arthur The most salable attractions of this homespun tale from the British Isles are two of its stars— Alastair Sim and Norah Gorsen Sim needs no more exploitation than a prominent place for his name on the playbill, and he turns in his usual bright and expert characterization. His portrayal of the bemused Scottish laird is the sparkling highlight of the film, but the character has little to do with the movement of the story. Norah Gorsen is a new face, but what a face! She is one of the most beautiful voung redheads to appear on the color screen this season. "Wee Geordie" is a tiny boy, the son of Laird Sim's game keeper, who is laughed at by the other schoolbovs until he subscribes to a correspondence physical culture course. The years pass and the tiny boy grows into the largest, tallest, strongest man in the Highlands and actor Bill Travels takes over the role handsomely. The correspondence course instructor suggests that Travers make some practical use of his muscles, such as throwing the hammer. He does this so well that the Olvmpic committee takes him to Australia as a member of the 1956 British team. He becomes homesick on the way, never having left the glen before, until he meets a Danish lady shot-putter, played by buxom Doris Goddard. Travers wins the hammer throw at the games and wildly embraces Miss Goddard on the field. The games announcer broadcasts all the passionate details to the radio audience, including Miss Gorsen, his sweetheart, and the rest of the folks at home. Travers can't understand the cold shoulder he receives at his homecoming, but his naive charm and brawny big arms soften the beautiful Gorsen for a clinch ending. The color and photography are well done. However, the slow and homely type of humor which the British appreciate and which "Wee Geordie" follows may seem a little too pedestrian for the American audience. Sidney Gilliat and Frank Launder produced, with Launder directing. Running time, 94 minutes. General classification. October release. G. D. ( Continued from page 1 ) of the year in both the ToddAO I ' CinemaScope processes. The 20th-] executive said that Magna Thea would retain the domestic distribui rights to "South Pacific" with 2l> Fox securing the foreign releas^ rights under the agreement. It reported that close to $5,000,00( involved in both agreements. The foreign distribution rights "Oklahoma!" had been acquired mid-summer by RKO Radio Picrt from Magna Theatres. The 20th-Fox directors, besides cussing internal business, also | ferred on the proposal to sell rfl pre-1948 films to television, it reported. The company has thus sold 52 features to National Tele Associates. An announcement confirming 20th-Fox agreement with Ma Theatres is expected on Monday w George Skouras, Richard Rodgers Oscar Hammerstein will hold a g| conference. Angel Reports on Tri (Continued from page 1) big houses. You can always get art houses on the way," is what Ai says. His reading of the situation is j things improve every day for gi British product in America. He < mates that a successful British s ject can now gross £ 700,000 £800,000 ($1,960,000 to $2,240,0 in art houses alone, against ■ £200,000 to £400,000 ( $560,001 ' $1,120,000) which prevailed a or so ago. But Angel is playing for big He feels that a picture of the ca of "Reach for the Sky" is entitl some of the 85 per cent of the of the American market eame the five circuits. He said that delegates who were shown this during their convention declaret to be not just for art houses but theatres in big cities. Sam Rosei the Stanley Warner circuit, said Ac , is ready to book it round his en circuit. W&P* Opening Abr London and Paris openings "War and Peace" are being scried tor next month, Charles Boasberg pervisor of world-wide sales at mount Pictures, for the Ponti-Del rentiis production, reported here or return from Europe. Openings* other European countries will be layed until January or February cause of the time required for c bing, Boasberg added. Collier Seeks FCC No The Crowell-Collier Publishing yesterday filed an application, thro its wholly owned subsidiary Coj Broadcasting Co., with the Fed Communications Commission in W ington, D.C., for approval of acquisition of Consolidated Tel sion and Radio Broadcasters, Inc.