Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1956)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY ■0, NO. 86 NEW YORK, U. S. A., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1956 TEN CENTS ORIAL ng to Reds .By Sherwin Kane JOHNSTON, reporting yesay on his recently concluded behind the Iron Curtain, on p was accompanied by George and MPEA staff aides, said < w spirit of nationalism apparias replaced Stalin-worship, Moscow's recent switch lividual to group inspiration le Soviet orbit, aasonable to suppose that the n national thinking noted in Europe could be an imporor in determining the size and markets there for American hnston recalled that a numhe satellites had been good tomers prior to 1948 and t they could become good s again. iuld appear from Johnston's lat proper safeguards against as of the films sold to Iron countries can be obtained, payment for them will be dollars. Importantly, too, it de clear to the prospective rs that MPEA cannot underguarantee any wide distribuheir films in the U. S. with the likelihood of emig consequences to the int a minimum, the resumption of our pictures to the Soviet llite countries appears likely reopen what could be an im Inew market and to get at he of the American story bepeople of Central Europe at 'hen a re-birth of nationalism lids special significance to do the first year of a three-year |:rs rather modest returns to jstry— Johnston estimated it at '—he expressed confidence second year would show an Ible increase. If concluded, '11 be three-year deals and |ie reviewed and appraised within that time, 'prospective augmentation of jion picture's export market, i d by the MPEA board yes[ippears in the light of surcircumstances to be worth !il hazard. C0MP0, Allied Talking On Reaffiliation Preliminary discussions between the Council of Motion Picture Organizations and Allied States Association concerning the exhibitor organization's reaffiliation with COMPO have taken place during recent weeks, it was reported here yesterday by a COMPO representative. A committee appointed by COMPO, chairmanned by Emanuel Frisch of Metropolitan Motion Picture Theatre Association, is seeking a "rapprochement with Allied" by which the latter would rejoin COMPO. The committee's talks have been on a "ground breaking level" in its efforts to study the Allied charges against COMPO and its special counsel Robert W. Coyne, it was said. Coast Ad-Pub Report Today A report on the Hollywood attitude toward the Motion Picture Association of America's plan to bolster the box office by promotional and merchandising schemes will be presented to the MPAA's business builders coordination committee at the Harvard Club here today by Roger H. Lewis and Paul N. Lazarus, Jr. Lewis, chairman of the advertising and publicity directors committee, and Lazarus, a sub-committee chair(Continued on page 6) MPEA Takes Action Approve Film Sales To Five Red Lands Product to Be Paid for in Dollars; Set Safeguards to Prevent Context Changes By LESTER DINOFF The board of directors of the Motion Picture Export Association yesterday unanimously approved a recommendation presented to them by Eric Johnston to sell films produced by MPEA member companies to five countries behind the Iron Cur Compo Awards Dates Criticized by Rhoden From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 31 Elmer Rhoden, president of National Theatres, has protested to the Council of Motion Picture Organizations the Audience Awards voting during Christmas Week and presentation of awards in January, declaring that ex(Continued on page 7) tain. The board also authorized their European rep resentative Eric Johnston O'Neil Sees RKO Tel. Earning $3,500,000 AKRON, Oct. 31-RKO Teleradio Pictures will earn $3,500,000 as compared with $2,106,369 last year, it was estimated here today by William O'Neil, president of General Tire and Rubber Co., the parent corporation. Siege! Says Independent Producing Field Is 'Sounder1 Than Studios' By GUS DALLAS (Picture on Page 2) "The independent production field is much sounder these days than the studio structure," opined producer Sol C. Siegel in discussing the growth of the independent producer. "It's very good for the industry, bringing in new and different methods of picture making and selling," he explained. Siegel is in New York this week with director George Cukor preparing to go into production on "Les Girls," a musical for Metro-GoldwynMayer. He is under contratc with M-G-M to make four independent pictures, he reported. "High Society" was the first in the deal, he added, and he has two more already scripted, "Man on Fire," to star Bing Crosby and scheduled to start next month, and "Merry Andrew," with Danny Kaye, which is expected to start in May. His contract with M-G-M is the first that the studio has ever made with an independent producer, Siegel said. That the studio is reportedly ( Continued on page 2 ) negotiate immediately with three satellite nations with which tentative film agreements have been worked out. J o h n s t o n, speaking in a press conference immediately following the MPEA board meeting, announced : That MPEA member companies will offer their product to East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Rumania. These will be the first U.S. film sales to these companies since 1948. That Marc Spiegel, MPEA representative in Paris, would carry on negotiations that have already been started in Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary. Sales to East Germany and (Continued oti page 7) MPAA Talks Appointing COMPO Representative The board of directors of, the Motion Picture Association of America yesterday discussed the appointment of a production-distribution representative to the triumvirate of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations, according to Eric Johnston, MPAA president. Johnston said that the directors had a number of candidates for the post, but no action was taken.