Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1957)

Motion Picture Daily Thursday, January 31jbj| •H National Pre -Selling "W RITTEN on the Wind" is reviewed in the February 5 issue of "Look." The motion picture editor summed up his review by titling it "Trouble in Texas," and says: "It is a frank melodrama about a tormented family. This Universal-International movie pulls no punches, yet has the power to arouse your sympathy." Action packed photos taken on the production sets are used on two pages devoted to the review of this U.I. release. Hecht-Hill Lancaster has purchased "The Unforgiven," by Alan Le May. "The Unforgiven" is scheduled to be run as an eight-part serial, starting in the "Saturday Evening Post" in August. "The Girl He Left Behind" is repeatedly mentioned in a pictorial biography of Warner's star, Natalie Wood, in the January 28 issue of "Life." The editors, mindful that Natalie Wood has been in films since she was four years old, have photos from the top pictures in which she appeared for the past 14 years. This brings the biography up to date with "The Girl He Left Behind." Three pages are devoted to photos of this Warner star rehearsing with two fellow performers in a Hollywood park, a lunchroom and in a crowded department store elevator. • An interesting, compelling ad on "Full of Life," the Columbia film starring Judy Holliday, appears in the February issue of "McCall's." • "Three Brave Men," reports Florence Somers in the February issue of "Redbook," is a film produced with the approval of the Navy, and is based on the Pulitzer prize-winning article by Anthony Lewis about a man falsely accused by his neighbors. • "Written on the Wind" is mentioned prominently in an article written by Liza Wilson for the January 27 issue of "American Weekly" about Dorothy Malone who stars in this new U.I. film. The theme of the article deals with the off-screen life of Dorothy Malone in comparison with the woman she portrays in "Written on the Wind." It is illustrated by an attractive full-color photo of Dorothy in a bathing suit. Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier, stars of "The Sleeping Prince," appeared on the color cover of "Parade's" January 27 issue. The photo was made in London by Lloyd Shearer, Hollywood editor of the publication. Shearer, who visited the studio in England where "The Sleeping Prince" was filmed, wrote an interesting production story which appears in the same issue. WALTER HAAS Court Delays {Continued from page 1) pear before him on Friday for questioning under oath. Judge Palmieri declined to sign the order, which provided that Loew's Theatres assume "not more than $5,000,000 of the funded debt," because he did not "fully understand tlie petitions and order" and said he "wanted to avoid giving court approval to anything which provides for joint and several liabilities." Points to 'Roadblock' Maurice Silverman, attorney for the Anti-trust division of the Department of Justice, informed the court that the order provided for the "elimination of a roadblock in the divorcement of the production-distribution company from its theatre holdings." He said that the Department feels that "the order is a reasonable solution to a problem which will result in a stock division by no later than June 30." S. Hazard Gillespie, of the law firm of Davis, Polk, Wardwell, Sunderland and Kiendl, which represents Loew's Inc., informed the court that "officials of Loew's plan to split the stock between both companies in four weeks notwithstanding a division of the funded debt." Presently, the funded debt is required to be divided between Loew's Inc. and Loew's Theatres by Feb. 6 and the stock to be distributed by March 8. Explanation by Silverman Judge Palmieri questioned Silverman on how the Justice Department figured that Loew's Theatres could assume no more than $5,000,000 of the $30,000,000 funded debt which is held by eight insurance companies. Silverman replied that the gross assets of the theatre subsidiary amount to an approximate aggregate value of $78,000,000. The company also has between 12 and 13 million outstanding in other debts, leaving the assets at $65,000,000, he said. "Using a ratio of 13 to 1, we found that the theatres could at most assume $5,000,000 of the debt," he said. Benjamin Melniker, Loew's vicepresident and general counsel, Gillespie and Silverman informed the court that company executives have been conferring with the insurance companies on the debt division for "the past five years." Judge Palmieri pointed out to them that it appears that "there has been ample time to effect the division" and that he still would not sign the order just on the basis of agreement between counsel. Affidavits Ordered Saying that he refuses to let "more time go by," the court presented the attorneys for Loew's and the Department with a two-fold "suggestion." Affidavits have to be on his desk by Friday morning which fully present the case and its problems and the terms of the debt allocation, and financial officers have to appear before him to answer questions under oath, in confidence, "if so desired." Television Jo d ait NBC Stations Schedule Who's Whe Daily Hour Color Show The seven television stations owned by the National Broadcasting Co. will launch a major one-hour color television program to be broadcast daily during local station time, according to Thomas B. McFadden, vice-president of NBC-owned stations and NBC spot sales. The full-scale color production, with a big-name master of ceremonies, an orchestra, and new and established supporting talentwill originate at Station WNBQ, Chicago, NBC's all-color television station. The 60-minute color television program will be preceded by a half-hour broadcast from New York City by Tex and Jinx McCrary, in which they will ask questions of newsmaking guests from the fields of entertainment, politics and the arts. The programs — spanning the time period from 1 to 2:30 P.M. EST, Monday through Friday— will be fed over network lines for presentation on the NBC-owned television stations. Carrying the programs will be WRCATV, New York City; WRCV-TV, Philadelphia; WRC-TV, Washington; WNBC, Hartford-New Britain, Conn.; WBUF, Buffalo; WNBQ, Chicago; and KRCA, Los Angeles. Davies Will Produce Academy Awards Show HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 30 Writerdirector Valentine Davies today was chosen to produce the 29th annual Academy Awards presentations show, which will be staged on March 27 at the Pantages Theatre, with the NBC radio and television networks broadcasting the event. Use Portable Machine A small and portable film processing machine, designed by CBS News engineers and technicians, was used commercially for the first time during the Presidential inaugural weekend, during which CBS Newsfilm shot and distributed more than 10,000 feet of film to more than 100 domestic and foreign subscribers. Designed for fast processing of spot news film reports, the small machine can be shipped by air to any point here or abroad. Revlon to Fox Hour Revlon, Inc., will take over sponsorship of the "20th Century-Fox Hour" dramatic program presented over CBS-TV on alternate Wednesdays, effective Feb. 6, it is announced by William H. Hylan, CBS-TV vicepresident in charge of network sales. The hour-long series, presented at 10-11 P.M. EST, alternates with the "United States Steel Hour," and its stories are based on famous and successful 20th Century-Fox motion picture properties. W. Spencer Harrison has named vice-president and bii manager of talent and contract erties, CBS-TV, it is announc Merle S. Jones, president of CE In his new capacity Harrison vv sume administrative responsibi! the broad field of program and I business administration, worki close association with Hubbell 1 son, Jr., executive vice-preside; □ Fred W. Yardley has joine sales force of C & C Television according to an announceme E. H. Ezzes, vice-president an< eral sales manager. Yardley w: mediately begin working wit "Movietime USA" library of feature films. □ The appointment of Thom Fisher to the newly-created tive position of vice-presiden general attorney for CBS-TV ha announced by Merle S. Jones dent of the network. □ Edward B. Passow has returil Zenith Radio Corp. as head gineering for the company's 1 products division, it is announcl G. E. Gustafson, vice-preside] charge of engineering. □ Arthur L. Chapman has named president of CBS-Hytroil announced by Dr. Frank Sl| president of Columbia Broad<5l System, Inc. CBS-Hytron is th<bltt tronic tube manufacturing divis;n d CBS. □ Edward J. Montagne has pea named to the newly-created pitioi of executive producer in chargef film operations for CBS-TV, fin York, it is announced by Hjbe1 Robinson, Jr., CBS-TV executive president in charge of networjppgrams. □ Saul J. Turell, president of Srfoi Television Company, Inc., hi! a> nounced the appointment o! f 4 Liebeskind as general manager Brian Keith To Malfc New Series, 'The Gi^ Actor Brian Keith has annctic formation of a partnership to pidi a new TV series, "The Gun." Fpii is to start as soon as he finish) i;; current assignment. Keith's assdat are Charles and Michael Cirill awriter Bill Telach. Keith, who starred in and dijcte some of "The Crusader" segme's o TV, will direct and narrate allws) on "The Gun" and also star in:om of the stories. The series wj l> filmed in color for release in tlwFal