Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1956)

4 Motion Picture Daily Friday, November 2, j| Fox-NTA Pact (Continued from page 1) features will go into the NTA network programming, Landau explained, which began operations last month with 110 affiliated stations. The bulk of the new properties will go into general distribution to the 337 "clients" through NTA, he declared. The agreement gives 20th-Fox the option of negotiating for new financial arrangements if it so desires when any of the subsequent three packages come due for delivery, Landau said. Fox will also participate in the gross receipts of the films over and above a specified return. It will also have the right to appoint members to the board of directors of the NTA film network. Pilot Films to Be Made Fox also agreed to produce pilot films for four new tv series for the NTA network, the initial episodes to Ix ready by March, 1957. They will be made by TFC-TV Productions, the motion picture studio's tv film-making subsidiary, it was announced. The new network has so far failed to find a national sponsor for its film programs, but Oliver A. Unger, executive vice-president of NTA, said that local sponsorship was "excellent," stating that "New York's WPIX is completely sold out locally" for the current network schedule. Play dates have not yet been set for any of the features acquired in the new Fox deal. Earlier this year, Fox released 52 feature pictures to NTA for tv distribution for approximately $45,000 each Some of the new titles acquired are: "Laura," "This Above All," "Gentlemen's Agreement," "The Razor's Edge" and "Jane Eyre." Sees Expanded Activities "There is no doubt that NTA will be able to greatly expand its creative program development activities through this new association by utilizing the huge technical facilities of 20th Century-Fox and by adapting appropriate properties to the television medium," Landau said. REVIEW: Yaqui Drums Skouras See* Allied Artists Historical Exhibition Set For Venice Festival ROME, Oct. 29 (By Air Mail).An "Historical Exhibition of Film Art" will be held in the summer of 1957 for the first time and will then be made an annual event associated with the Venice Film Festival. The project was undertaken by the directors of the Venice Festival and by the executive committee of the International Institute of Film Art," which has headquarters in Paris. The executive committee of UFA has also made known that UNESCO has acknowledged establishment of the International Film-Library of Film Art in Florence and announced the reconstitution of the International Institute of Motion Pictures, and a new volume of the general catalogue of the "International Film Art." A cast not normally associated with the program western field, for which this William Broidy production was obviously intended, go through their assigned dialogue and action with a briskness and proper attention to business that would be envied by many a major film's director. In this instance, Jean Yarbrough has handled the megaphone— and handled it right well. That he has some right professional performers on hand is all to the good; that the screenplay by Jo Pagano and D. H. Beauchamp, based on a Paul L. Bell story, has a persistency of purpose rarely encountered in a western, is even more beneficial. There's love interest here, true; Mary Castle, who's been cast in some impressive product in the past several years, is seen in that traditional classification. But the story isn't essentially one of romance under the western moon; it has to do with Mexican bandits, led in this instance by the ever-competent J. Carrol Naish; stateside outlaws, headed by Denver Pyle; a conventional hero, plaved with spirit and dispatch by Rod Cameron; and the out-and-out villain, Roy Roberts. After the Naish crew finishes a stage holdup, they are ambushed by Pvle. Wounded, Naish finally reaches Rod Cameron's camp, where he is able to recover. The two separate, however, when Cameron ventures forth to investigate the murder of his brother at his ranch. Big landowner Roy Roberts, who has all the markings of a killer, orders Cameron thrown off the ranch and severely beaten. Later, our hero meets singer Miss Castle, a friend from long-remembered California days, now working in Roberts' town saloon. Naish returns to the setting, pleads with Cameron to join a freedom cause in Mexico. Miss Castle, Roberts, Pyle and Cameron (he tried to rescue Miss Castle) are kidnapped by Yaquis and held for ransom. (Latter, ostensibly, to be used for acquisition of arms). Cameron kills Pyle as latter attemps to molest the singer. Robert Hutton, Roberts' son, discloses a plan to go after ransom monev, but Roberts kills him after learning that the weakling never intended to return. The Mexican Army rides to the rescue, killing Naish, and escorting the remainder of the party, including the now-demented Roberts, across the border to apparent safety. One song— "Frankie and Johnnie"— is heard. William Broidy's practiced production hand is discernable throughout this up-and-at-'em melodrama with a western setting. Running time, 71 minutes. General classification. For October release. A. M. W. Minnesota Station ( Continued from page 1 ) which Loew's has acquired a 25 per cent capital stock interest. The other two are KTTV in Los Angeles and KTVR in Denver, on which Loew's holds a purchase option. All three stations are independents. Sy Weintraub, president of United Television, Inc., owners of the Minneapolis station, disclosed that the new acquisitions would be shown during the prime hours of the night in direct competition to the big network shows. A different picture would be run every night, he said, under the label of "spectacular." McKenna in IV. Y. B. J. McKenna, vice-president and general manager of Manley, Inc., manufacturers of popcorn equipment, is in New York this week visiting his Northeastern manager, L. O. Seeley, who came here from Boston to join him. While here McKenna announced the appointment of Irving Dunn as new district manager and assistant to Seeley. Invite NAC Members To Join with C0MP0 Concession equipment organizations in the industry have been approached by the Council of Motion Picture Organizations regarding membership in COMPO, it was reported here yesterday by a representative of the National Association of Concessionaires. The COMPO move to seek members in this branch of the business was recommended during the executive meeting of the industry organization last Sept. 25. The NAC members said that in his opinion the association would not join COMPO for it couldn't be visualized that "COMPO could aid us. However, I am sure that my association would be only too glad to help COMPO by notifying NAC members that if interested, they should contact COMPO direct." He said that "as individuals, I am sure NAC members would join COMPO as that organization has done a lot for the exhibitors with (Continued from page 1) i minds of television viewers a d to see entertainment in the rnOt picture theatre style, "a vastly 'I perior technique, possessing a quit far surpassing tv entertainment." \ "Especially in children," Skc I said, "who are introduced to the tion picture form through these productions, this should produ appetite for the new and su films and create in those childre habit of going to the movies. According to the Fox state the price of $5,850,000 for eaci of 78 films is for a five-year 1 to show 39 older Class A picture 39 Class B pictures from the F brary. The second group of 7£ tures will be turned over to N' 1957, also under a five-year li The terms for the second grou to be at least as favorable to Century-Fox as for the first gro market conditions justify a price and higher percentage provision is made for arbiti Twentieth Century-Fox has an to require NTA to license three tional groups, making five in al In connection with the acqu by Fox of a one-half interest i NTA network, Skouras said tha would participate equally with in the control of the network by inating one-half of the director the treasurer of NTA Network The network began operatin Oct. 15 with 100 television st; as affiliates. i ■ in COMPO's Ad Stresses Value of Film News Under the caption, "These Know Value of Movie Newslj 69th in the series of COMPO "Editor & Publisher," which wi pear tomorrow, calls attention t recent stories which should be terest to all newspaper editors "One," the ad says, "dealt v, talk given by Cecil Harms King, publisher of the London 5 group of newspapers, which hi weekly circulation of 42,OO0,i King said wide coverage of w news was one of the chief reasons this enormous circulation. "The other story," the ad contin "was ... an interview with O'M A. Doob, a former newspaper i t who recently retired after servinjjl years as publicity and advertising! rector of Loew's theatre circuit. HI ing newspapers editors to take a [J look at their movie pages, Doob that, while there are many 'fme;j teresting movie pages,' many neWijj| pers have never realized the fulif^ tentiality of reader-interest in nlj of film personalities and product'l' nor have they developed the full tential in paid advertising from , classification." whom we deal. I feel that we J help a business and industry j which we derive our livelihood. 1