Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1956)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY 80, NO. 100 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1956 TEN CENTS Council to Act ores Use of 3ds' Abroad U.S. Firms "itism Is Charged •oduction, Financing Worn THE DAILY Bureau LYWOOD, Nov. 25. The ' ood AFL Film Council, whose membership embraces virtually Idy employed in motion pic■ oduction, tonight declared war erican interests producing or "g pictures made abroad with ,unist union members in preto members of anti-Commu•ons." The Council stated that made under such conditions -how on" will be prominently ed, along with the names of _ipanies and "American inter^kein" given along with picture Council's attention to the matcalled by the AFL-CIO Free iJnion Committee, which enhelping democratic unions in and that Council's campaign \ concentrated first on Comtaffed films made in France ly, where there are competiIpn groups, one operated by ^Continued on page 12) die' Premiere Here Benefit Hungarians ■rial benefit for First Aid to ", Inc., in conjunction with ■vill launch the world premiere IB "Bundle of Joy" at the Capitre here on Wednesday night, i /e same time RKO also an! that advance publicity for ^ure will be generated when jjker, magazine, radio, televi3 trade paper reporters, along I Continued on page 12) i Explains Red Film Pacts By LESTER DINOFF Tentative three-year film agreements covering distribution of American product in Russia, Poland, Czechosovakia and Romania have been worked out to start in January, it was announced at the weekend here by Bernard Kreisler, president of International Film Associates, who has returned from a nine-week trip through Europe and behind the Iron Curtain. Kreisler, speaking at a trade press conference at the Overseas Press Club, said that he, while representing five American independent producers, has worked out film pacts covering distribution of 11 films in the U.S.S.R's 15,000 theatres, seven films in Czechoslovakia, and 10 films in Romania and Poland each. In explaining the agreements, Kreisler said "no actual deals have been set. Each government has selected from a list of 20, the number of films it would like for distribution. Com( Continued on page 12) Carolina T0A Meeting Opens in Charlotte Special to THE DAILY CHARLOTTE, Nov. 25.-With approximately 500 people expected to be in attendance, the 44th annual convention of the Theatre Owners Association of North and South Carolina opens here at the Hotel Charlotte today. Today's agenda is expected to be taken up with registrations and personal get-togethers. A meeting of the board of directors is scheduled for this evening. Highlight of the convention will be Tuesday when delegates will hear leaders of the industry and H. B. (Continued on page 12) To Introduce Film Buying Plan At Allied Meeting Special to THE DAILY DALLAS, Nov. 25 — A film buying plan for theatres of all categories is expected to be introduced at the Allied States Association convention here this week by Eastern exhibitors, it was reported. The scheme, adapted from Allied Theatre Owners of New Jersey's "Concord Plan," calls for a ceiling on film rentals, and it is hoped that the formula will be adopted on a national exchange area or state operational level. The proposal provides for a 50 per cent top rental in first-run theatres, 35 per cent in second runs, 25 per cent in sub runs, and a flat rental in all theatres grossing $1,000 per week or less. A sliding scale provision is also included in the plan. Cites Advantages of Technirama Process By LAWRENCE J. QUIRK A "splendid future" is foreseen for Technirama, new Technicolor widescreen process, by Marcello Girosi, executive producer of Titanus Films' "The Monte Carlo Story," which United Artists will release here in 1957. Girosi describes the new process, which employs film traveling horizontally through the camera, as "twofold in its benefits." The first of these, he said, is "the wonderful detail, the superb focus, which catches natural beauties, and details as much as a thousand feet away." The second, he added, was "the possibility of printing in any format required, such as CinemaScope, VistaVision, regular 35 mm , etc." He also told a trade press confer(Continued on page 12) Paramount Reported Negotiating with 30 TV Stations for Sale of Pre-1948 Film Library Paramount Pictures is negotiating with a group of 30 television stations in top U.S. markets for the sale of its pre-1948 film library, it was reported here at the weekend. Among the stations seeking to acquire the backlog, which is said to be over the 700 mark, are the two DuMont Broadcasting Corp. tv stations in New York and Washington, and KTLA, Los Angeles. The production-distribution company owns substantial interests in DuMont Broadcasting and in the West Coast station. No purchase price was reported. To Honor Cole 500 Exhibitors Expected for Allied Meeting EDC, Board Conferences Precede Dallas Opening Col. H. A. Cole Special to THE DAILY DALLAS, Nov. 25.-Some 500 exhibitors from all parts of the nation are expected to attend the national convention o f Allied States Association here this week which will honor Col. H. A. Cole, prominent industry veteran for his many years of "dedicated service to Allied, to motion picture exhibitors, and to the industry." The convention, which officially opens at the Statler Hilton Hotel on Tuesday, is being preceded by two days of conferences today and tomorrow among members of Allied's Emergency Defense Committee and the association's board of directors. The Allied board meeting, over which chairman Abram F. Myers and president Ruben Shor are presiding, (Continued on page 11) Holiday Gives a Boost To Broadway Grosses The four day school holiday Thanksgiving weekend gave Broadway and neighborhood theatres a substantial attendance increase, with most managers contacted reporting business for the extended period ahead of the Thanksgiving weekend last year. "The Ten Commandments" at the Criterion, and "Around the World in 80 Days" at the Rivoli were reported complete sellouts for Thursday through yesterday. The four-day gross for the Rivoli was estimated at $22,500 and at $40,000 at the Criterion. "Giant," which started its seventh week at the Roxy on Thanksgiving (Continued on page 12)