Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1957)

4 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, March 12, 1* Pasternak REVIEW: U'to Releasi ( Continued from page 1 ) there is a trend back toward theatre attendance for top attractions. He also noted an improvement in theatre equipment and maintenance. Exhibitors in such cities as Milkaukee, Chicago and St. Paul had told him, he said, that some pictures of late have overemphasized sex and they would like to see more "family-type" entertainment on the nation's screens. Pasternak also noted with pleasure attempts in the Midwest to get the older folk back into the theatres by means of reduced admission prices for certain age groups, clubs for theatre attendance, etc. He urged producers, directors, writers and executives to "get around the county and find out what the people want in film fare. The country is not New York and Holly wcod." Calls for Escapist' Fare The public, he said, needs and wants escapist entertainment, needs to get away from world and personal problems. He feels the Hollywood agents rose to power because the companies failed to develop enough new talent in recent years. They are alerted to this oversight now, he added, and strong, new blood is being injected. Pasternak, who will soon become an independent producer in association with Sam Katz, believes that independents should tie up with major companies who can provide knowhow, distribution and the guidance of past experience. Sunday Films (Continued from page 1) movies on a local option basis— with some cities requiring a vote of the people and others a city ordinance passed by the council. In Memphis, for example, the city "collects" around $40,000 a year in "assessments" against theatres which, under the Memphis ordinance, operate "for charitable purposes" on Sunday. First run theatres are "assessed" $75 each a week and neighborhoods down to a low of $10 a week. The money is not always collected and the law does not have sufficient teeth to make it mandatory. The money is turned over to the Welfare Commission. The proposed new law would wipe out what has often been called "a shakedown" in Memphis. FILMS: for Denmark celand and West Indies Producers or distributors with American feature pictures available for Denmark, Iceland and the West Indies are invited to communicate with the Cinema Service Division of Quigley Publications, 1270 Sixth Avenue, New York 20, N. Y. Designing Woman M-G-M — CinemaScope Dore Schary's final production as M-G-M studio chief is a highly entertaining, luxuriously produced and lovely to look at comedy-drama in CinemaScope and Metrocolor. It affords Gregory Peck, Lauren Bacall and Dolores Grav ample opportunities to display their talents, which they do in most engaging manner under the experienced direction of Vincente Minnelli. It is, in fact, a top drawer production which should prove a strong boxoffice attraction in most situations. Several incongruities in plot structure detract from the film's overall excellence. For example, when Peck, a New York newspaper sports writer, and Miss Bacall, a designer of women's fashions, are married in California and return to Peck's bachelor apartment in Manhattan, there is a great plot to-do over a photo of Miss Gray in Peck's rooms. More, a substantial part of the subsequent action hinges on audiences' willingness to believe that these two mature sophisticates feel it necessary to evade the existence of a pre-marital romance in a cosmopolitan bachelor's existence. But once this flaw is accepted, or overlooked, these people and this picture can provide an exceptional two hours entertainment. Paralleling the marital complications which arise as Miss Bacall becomes progressively more jealous of Miss Gray, who plays a television actress whose path crosses that of "the newlyweds recurrently, is a subplot having to do with a journalistic crusade in which Peck is engaged to break the stranglehold of racketeer Edward Piatt on the city's fight game. Threatened with violence, Peck is obliged to go into hiding while he completes his expose series and, unable to explain his actual whereabouts to Miss Bacall for three weeks, his odd behavior further contributes to her jealousy of Miss Gray. Piatt's mob decides to kidnap Miss Bacall in order to draw Peck out of hiding. Tipped off to the plot, Peck and bodyguard, Mickey Shaughnessy, intercept the gangsters and in a wild free-for-all save Miss Bacall from her would-be abductors. Meanwhile, she lias been convinced by Miss Grav that the latter has had no claim on Peck's affections since he and Miss Bacall were wed. Comic situations are numerous, some preposterous, in the George Wells screen play, based on a suggestion by Helen Rose. Sam Levene, as Peck's editor; Tom Helmore as Miss Bacall's old flame; Jack Cole as a choreographer, and Chuck Connors as a gangster, top a fine supporting cast. Cole also staged the musical numbers and dances, of which there are not too many, and which feature either Miss Gray or Cole. "There'll Be Some Changes Made" is Miss Gray's best song number. Production numbers tied to Miss Bacall's clothes designing and fashion shows are spectacular, even to male eyes. Women everywhere will find them a show in themselves. Running time, 123 minutes. General classification. Release, in March. Sherwin Kane Shanklin Optimistic (Continued from page 1) Mrs. Shanklin for their annual vacation at Hot Springs, Ark., said prior to his departure that he believes the industry is about to enter one of its most prosperous periods. Good product will turn the trick, he believes, pointing out that the good pictures have done good business over the past two lean years, and their number is increasing. Shanklin disposed of two theatres in the past year. He makes a point of keeping the Grand in top condition and equipped with the latest. "I am proud to say," he remarked, "that my home town theatre is as well equipped and furnished as any in the state. By playing the best pictures, and most of them are available, I have found it possible to maintain an attractive show place. However, I use fewer Yorkin Company Will Make Theatrical Films HOLLYWOOD, March 11 Bud Yorkin today announced formation of Nikroy Productions, to produce theatrical motion pictures starting with "Vicious Circle," from his own script. Yorkin is producer-director of the Ernie Ford show on television. Attorney Gregson Bautzer is negotiating a major release for the Nikroy product. pictures than formerly, picking the tops and playing them three or four days to a week. "The business has been good to me most of the 40 years I've been in it," he said. "I succeeded in weathering the bad times, when they came along, and there were lots of ups and downs in that time." (Continued from page 1) of three new feature releases e month, Feldman noted, with four ing released during September. I Scheduled for May are "The YoiV Stranger" (RKO), "Beast of the Kn 1 lin" and "The Deadly Mantis." Jul "Man Afraid," "The Kettles on iffl MacDonald's Farm," and "Pulb Pigeon No. 1" (RKO). July: 'I Pilot" (RKO), "Tammy" and "U Butterfly." 'Night Passage' in August In August the company will relea its first picture in the Technirama j> cess, "Night Passage," along w| "Appointment with a Shadow" ;H "The Land Unknown." Septemtw "Interlude," "Joe Dakota," "Run the Arrow" (RKO) and "That Nigi (RKO). October: "The Man of Thousand Faces," "Quantez" ; "The Unholy Wife" (RKO). Promote Byrd To Het 'U' Houston Exchang« Universal Pictures will open its n exchange in Houston next Mon< with George Byrd, former Unive: salesman in Oklahoma City, as brai manager, it was announced yesten by Charles J. Feldman, vice-presid and general sales manager. Feldn will go to Houston for the open of the company's 33rd dome: branch, along with Henry H. Mar Southern division manager, and ot! executives. At the same time Feldman nounced additional promotions to top positions in the new branch fice. The salesmen in Houston will Mark M. Holstein and Phil Shern from Dallas; the office manager-h( booker will be Richard May from ( lahoma City; Robert Lee from Da will be a booker; Mrs. Janie Lee fr Dallas will be cashier and Miss Gl na Farquahard, also from Dallas, \ be secretary to Byrd. Columbia's Net (Continued from page 1) profit before taxes was 2,859,000 w taxes estimated at $1,253,000. Earnings per share of comrr stock were $1.11 in the 1956 per as compared with $1.36 in 1955. 1 earnings per share of common st( after preferred stock dividends, both the current year and the pi year, are based on the 1,095,shares outstanding on Dec. 29, 19 No further details of the 1956 riod were revealed by the comp;i yesterday. 'FILMACKV y id produces the best in ^ 8k SPECIAL TRAILERS J fm in the fastest time, m I » \ Tri/ uJ ch i/cur next 7} ^ Special trailer tr4er «3 CHICAGO, III. 1327 S. Wabash NEW YORK, N.Y. 630 Ninth Ave.