Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1956)

Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, November 20, Bishops Hit Sees Exhibitor Future Bright Rogers Fun (Continued from page 1) and obvious dishonesty through misrepresentation ( already noted bv trade and secular journalists) call for immediate remedy bv the motion picture industry, lest our films here and abroad be characterized as a complete glamorization and deification of the flesh." During the past year the Legion re\ iewed and classified 328 motion pictures of which 269 were domesticallymade and 59 were from abroad, the bishop stated. Of American films, 88 or 32.71 per cent were A-I ( morally unobjectionable for general patronage); 117 or 43.50 per cent were A-II ( morally unobjectionable for adults ) ; 62 or 23.05 per cent were B and one (produced without a Motion Picture Code Seal ) was C ( condemned ) . One movie, "Storm Center," was separately classified. Report on Foreign Films Ten foreign films, or 16.95 per cent, received A-I typing; 24, or 40.68 per cent were A-II; 18, or 30.51 per cent were B, and seven, or 11.86 per cent, were condemned. Last year, 92 American films, or 33.45 per cent, rated B classification, while four were condemned. At the time the Legion noted the largest percentage of offensive films in its history. Film Firm Dividends (Continued from page 1) ber, 1955, to $312,000 this October; and to a special 4,000 stock retirement dividend paid by the Roxy Theatre. For the first 10 months of 1956, film company dividends payments dropped slightly from the same 1955 period, totaling $23,317,000, as compared with $23,635,000, Commerce reported. Other October payments reported today, unchanged from the 1955 dividends, were: District Theatres, $15,000; Republic Pictures, $100,000; American Broadcasting Paramount Theatres, $1,162,000, and Chesapeake Industries, $121,000. RKO to Release (Continued from page 1) ter Branson, RKO vice-president in charge of worldwide distribution, following conferences with Daniel T. o O'Shea, president, and William Dozier, vice-president in charge of production. Branson left tonight by plane for New York. Use Filmack's New, Deluxe RtfTt ~ IMMEDIATE SERVICE! ^HHT . NO CONTRACTS NO BETUBNS Use at Prevues, Advance or Cross Plugs! FILM AC K Ckiei(t,. III. w.ih Copy. Photos and OH Slogs Talk Used by many circu ( Continued the presentation of the Quigley Award plaque for showmanship to John McKim of the Odeon circuit. McKim was the manager of the Odeon theatre, Ladysmith, B. C, when he won the Managers' Round Table competition but he has since been transferred to the circuit home office in Toronto. The meeting, which reelected the incumbent board of directors, was told by President Lionel Lester of a letter sent to the Fowler Commission, opposing pay-as-you-see television. Membership Fluctuates Russ Simpson, reporting lor the membership committee, said while there had been 31 new members, four of them drive-ins, the association had lost 24 memberships. There are a total of 346 paid-up members in the association. Jack Clarke, on finances, said there will have to be something done about increasing the membership fees, since the association has operated at a loss for the last three years. Lester said that discussions are going on with the major bus companies toward the eventual elimination of railroad express for the shipment of films. The question of the cost of press books and mats charged for by Canadian film distributors, brought up by Jack Weiser, Oshawa, will be taken to the national committee of Canadian Exhibitor Association which begins its sessions tomorrow. 'Human Nature Does Not Change' Speaking on "The Exhibitor Today and Tomorrow," Quigley said, "The public seeks good entertainment. The bedrock strength of the motion picture industry and the motion picture theatre operator is that human nature does not change. Entertainment supplies a realistic human need. Customs of people change as do the places where they live. The type and method of motion picture theatrical presentation must adjust with the changing times. But the theatrical presentation of motion pictures is a permanent part of world life. "We do not know for sure," he continued, "whether the theatres of tomorrow will be projecting film made photographically as they do today. The presentation may be electronic or in some manner not yet dreamed of. Yet long after all prophets of doom arc forgotten and home television finds its rightful place in the household along with the telephone, electric refrigerator, radio, vacuum cleaner and other devices and gadgets, there will be theatres— thousands of them— in every country of the world providing motion picture entertainment." Cites Six Films Discussing each of the three major branches of the industry in relation to the future of exhibition, Quigley cited "War and Peace," "Giant," "Around the World in 80 Days," "The Ten Commandments," "The King and from page 1 ) I" and "The Seven Wonders of the World" as just a few examples of modern top notch product. "These," he said, will gross worldwide more than any equal number of pictures that can be named in the entire fifty years of history of the feature film. Certainly no industry that is producing that kind of product is dead or dying." Points to Production Abroad Turning to the future he said that the outlook for quality product is certainly as promising. "The studios realize that pictures have to be better to compete successfully for the public's time. Studios in Britain, on the continent and in other parts of the world are learning more and more how to make films that will appeal in the international market." Quigley then cited the revolution in Hollywood from studio-made product to independent production and said that this would give the creative artist, the producer and the director a greater stake in the financial success of the picture and greater autonomy in making it. On the exhibition plant itself he pointed out that largely it has not kept up with the times. This obsolescence, he said, has had much to do with the recent wave of closings. "It is axiomatic," he said, "good product should be shown in the best possible circumstances." Among other problems of exhibition Quigley mentioned falling mid-week attendance and the rapidly changing pattern of runs and clearances. Calls for Adjustments "Each of the various types of exhibition situations," he said, "must adjust as circumstances indicate to changing conditions. Each theatre needs to adjust with population changes. Each theatre needs to keep modernized. The introduction of the new techniques has required new equipment and in some instances entirely new theatres." On distribution Quigley mentioned the present moves by the majors to streamline their exchange plants. Concerning exhibition's relations with distribution, he said, "We look forward to the time when distributors and exhibitors will work together, at least most of the time, with their attention on their main target. That is— The Public. "At present and in the past exhibitors and distributors have spent too much time and trouble in negotiations with each other." 'The Best Devised Medium' Summing up, he said, "After all the motion picture medium theatrically presented is simply the best devised medium for die dramatic re-creation of reality. What the writer, dramatist and entertainer of the future can conceive may best be presented in theatres. This insures the motion picture exhibitor of a bright tomorrow." Richard Main, of Sutton, described (Continued from page 1) the annual MPAA gift, Abe Moi president of the hospital fund| "The major companies are si in a very substantial way thei ingness to support and maintaii Will Rogers Memorial Hospi: Research Laboratories. This gift again proves that each and one of the ten companies are sc behind the hospital, and tha recognize the worth and the ni the services rendered to 'oui employees and their families, indeed grateful to the MPAA help and, as in the past, it wil us well along our serious way bringing healing to our industi i pie and restoring them to lives." N.Y. State in '54 (Continued from page 1 paid employees— took in $298, i i comparisons with the 1948 censi reported. The 1,159 regular film grossed $176,807,000, in 1< against the $198,196,000 colle< the 1,241 under-roofers opera) years earlier; the 126 drive-ins $6,828,000; grosses of the 33 d operating in 1948 were not di: Ohio figures, also reported tc the Census Bureau, revealed n producers— seven with payro total receipts of $650,000 in is! 34 film exchanges— 30 with p took in $19,969,000. Again, If ures were not available. The 599 regular theatres $46,474,000, as against $63,54 in by the 792 film houses in 1£ 164 drive-ins grossed $10,7 compared with $3,732,000 gro the 88 outdoor theatres opers 1948. Progress Report Ms On Study of Code A progress report on the st the Production Code and the picture industry's self-regulati been presented at a meeting Code committee of the Motion Association of America. The meeting was presided Eric Johnston, MPAA presidei was brought up to date on th committee's work on recommer for changes in procedures of t duction Code Appeal Board certain Code regulations. Roy Kellino Dies HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 19-R [ji lino, 44, motion picture direct* ; di of a heart attack in his home||f day. Funeral' services will Wednesday in West Los AnsleS Quigley's speech as 'Thought ■ '< quiet,' He added that 'we are Wj to find that Martin Quigley's \m editorial director has been tap] one as intelligent,'