Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1957)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Eisenhower NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 1957 TEN CENTS Vsks Delay in Substantial' fax Reduction fotes Need of Relief lor Small Businesses By J. A. OTTEN WASHINGTON, Jan. 16. Presiant Eisenhower told Congress it must at off small business and excise tax ;lief proposals involving any "subantial loss of revenue. 1 He said Congress should consider fiose small business tax relief schemes hich entail "a minimum loss of revenue." No one in the administration as ready to say exactly what these light be, and Treasury Secretary [umphrey said that the President fasn't even urging Congress to apIrove these changes but merely to ronsider" them. 1 The tax views, contained in the ■resident's annual budget message Int Congress at noon today, didn't liention the admissions tax specifi(Continued on page 4) mther Extension of Mntmssm Wage Sought From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 Presiant Eisenhower asked Congress Tain to extend the Federal minimum fage law "to additional workers." The President's budget message ive no details. These will be suplied by Labor Secretary Mitchell hen Congressional hearings start. The President also asked Congress \ extend the life of the Small Busi( Continued on fage 5 ) Virginia Group Hears roldberg Compo Plea Special to THE DAILY RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 16-Exhibi>rs of this state gathered in goodly lumbers here today for the meeting f the Virginia Motion Picture Theae Association despite the fact that irginia is practically snow bound y its first snow in two years. Harry (Continued on page 2) Danish, Spanish Situations Encouraging New Problems Loom for Industry As Others Near Solution From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-The year ahead will see a few solutions to existing industry problems abroad, but will doubtless see also the emergence of some new problems, according to State Department officials. In Denmark, the 18-month embargo which stopped the flow of American pictures to that country may be nearing an end. According to the Department, the tightly-controlled Danish exhibitor organization is close to reaching an agreement with American distributors on film rentals— the subject in dispute. A similar situation in Spain, which has also been cut off from American films for some time, may also be solved soon, the department feels. Distributors appear to be headed for (Continued on page 6) Balaban Sees Business Rise By SAMUEL D. BERNS HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 16 Barney Balaban, president of Paramount Pictures, today told Motion Picture Daily that business is on the upbeat, according to revenues reported in the final quarter of 1956 and to indications thus far in 1957. Citing the re-opening of the long-closed Garrick Theatre, Chicago, as a sign of the (Continued on page 2) Seek Clmifimtion of Brazilian Film Ruling The board of directors of the Motion Picture Export Association has asked the Film Board of Brazil for further clarification of a governmental plan to increase admission prices on programs running two hours or more. The MPEA directors requested the (Continued on page 2) Mew 10% Ticket Tax Levied in Argentina The Argentine government has enacted a new national law in support of the domestic film industry which calls for a special 10 per cent tax on admissions to support domestic production and the establishment of a national motion picture institute, according to the Motion Picture Export Association. The MPEA yesterday said that under the new decree, the Argentine film (Continued on page 2) 20th-fox' Six-Month Releasing Schedule Its Largest Line-Up in Over Decade: Harrison Twenty-six films will be released by 20th Century-Fox between January and June in the "largest six-month product line-up in more than ten years," Alex Harrison, general sales manager, announced yesterday. The half year slate is part of an overall distribution program for 1957 of more than 50 attractions announced recently by president Spyros P. Skouras. Going into general distribution in January are three films playing selected engagements currently: "Anastasia," "The Girl Can't Help It," and "Oklahoma." Additional releases for that month include "Three Brave Men," "Smiley," and "The Quiet Man." February releases are "The True Story of Jesse James," "Oh Men! Oh Women!" and "Two Grooms for a Bride." For March the company will have "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison," "The River's Edge," "The Storm Rider," and "Break in the Circle." Set for April are "Boy on a Dolphin," "China Gate," "Kronos," and "The She-Devil." May product includes "The Way to the Gold," "The Desk Set," "The Wayward Bus," "The Restless Breed," and "All That I Have." Heading the list for June is Darryl F. Zanuck's "Island in the Sun." Others for that month include "Three Faces of Eve," "Bernadine," and "Lure of the Swamps." See Replies Tomorrow Ask COMPO Units Approve Sweepstakes To Continue Discussions At Monday Night Meeting Letters outlining plans for the Academy Award Sweepstakes have been sent to all member units of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations, whose approval must be obtained before promotion can be undertaken as a COMPO enterprise. This further progress in the Sweepstakes preparations was reported at a meeting here Tuesday night of representatives of the COMPO press relations committee and the Motion Picture Association business-building committee at the Sheraton-Astor Hotel. Also at(Continued on page 5) Texas Compo Presses State Tax Campaign Special to THE DAILY DALLAS, Tex., Jan. 16.-Texas COMPO is currently seeking to obtain further adjustment of the state admission tax on theatre tickets in a campaign emphasizing contact with state legislators. The main objective is to boost the present Texas tax exemption from 81 cents to one dollar. Exhibitor committees within the (Continued on page 5) Chromatic Facilities Acquired by Litton The acquisition by Litton Industries of a license agreement and of the Emeryville, Cal., experimental and development facilities of Chromatic TV Laboratories, Inc., was announced here yesterday by Litton presi(Continued on page 4) Television Page