Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1957)

4 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, August 20, li Perri (CONTINUED FROM PAGE I) better " That's what the audience at Academy Awards theatre in Hollywood was saving of the great Disney last Friday evening when his priceless "Perri," a life study of a squirrel, had run out its allotted 75 minutes of pure delight. His "Perri" is not an animal study in the splendid TrueLife Adventure series. He calls it "a true life fantasy," and he^ could have gone a step further, dispensing with the word "fantasy" altogether, without violating the facts in the matter, for there never was a more accurately recorded, completely authenticated life-story than the one the Disnev cameras tell of the first full year in the life of his heroine. (Biography, if it weren't a stuffy^ word, would be the one to describe correctly the story told of "Perri.") This is, it should be made clear, no mere frolic of a biography. It has tragedy, fear, sonow, catastrophy and misery in it, as well as glee, gaiety and good humor. The first tragic shock to folks who expect only happiness of Disney stories comes early in the story when the baby Perri's father gives his fife to save the family in their nest. (The great Griffith would have applauded this early killing off of a loved character, in the interests of audience suspense thereafter, for it was one of his most cherished devices.) Tragedy and great drama strike often thereafter, not always at Perri herself, and not always fatally, but always quickly, savagely, fiercely, and always with tremendous dramatic impact. The story, based on the book by Felix Salten, covers in detail and over-all the life of all the animals and birds, flowers and trees, streams and stream-life in a certain section of forest in the Utah-Wyoming country for one full year. It took nine master-cinematographers two full years to photograph it, and no synopsis from these keys is going to undertake to brief it. The picture was produced and narrated by Winston Hibler, whose narration, from his own rhymed prose, is perhaps the finest narration ever given a motion picture. Direction is by N. Paul Kenworthy, Jr., and Ralph Wright, and the writing is by the latter and Hibler. Songs, which have a good deal to do with the charm of the production, are by George Bruns, Paul Smith, Gil George, Wright and Hibler. "Perri" is a great picture, a magnificent picture, for everybody in the family— EVERY family— everywhere. Running time, 75 minutes. General classification. Release date not set. William R. Weaver Rhoden Queried on Sale Of Kansas City House Special to THE DAILY SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 19 A "secrecy clause" in a transaction involing the sale of a Kansas City theatre in 1937 involved most of today's testimony in the Samuel Goldwyn anti-trust suit. The witness was Elmer C. Rhoden, president of National Theatres and his testimony revealed that every effort was made to keep the terms of the sale of the Rrookside Theatre in Kansas City a secret. Admission Regarding Terms To Joseph L. Alioto, attorney for Goldwyn, the witness finally admitted that the sale of the Rrookside was consumated with these terms. "That (the buyer) will not disclose any terms nor confirm existence of this contract or answers any questions Rhoden Hits Toll-TV {Continued from page 1) formally applied for a closed circuit franchise in San Francisco. Expressing his faith in the film theatre "either downtown or out in your neighborhood" Rhoden said "the toll TV deal won't work" under the present plans submitted by various organizations. At his press conference Shapp told reporters that "the drawing power of sports programs is over-rated." He even ridiculed Skiatron's ambitions to televise big league baseball even as the announcement came today that the Giants were moving into San Francisco. by any one regarding this contract." The contract also contained a covenant that the place would not be used for a film theatre. Varied Views on Telemete {Continued from page 1) Theatres, Springfield, Ohio and S. J. Pappas, representing Chicago's Alliance Amusements Company. Hall said yesterday that he believes the system's "ideal for small communities and may be readily adapted to our situation". By "our situation" Hall was making reference to the fact that the towns in his area are served by community television antennae because the area normally receives poor TV reception. Pappas indicated that his previous scepticism had been dispelled after seeing the demonstration. "The service now seems feasible for all communities, large as well as small," he said. In his view, the Telemeter system promised to expand the exhibitor's market and he announced his intention of utilizing "some practical form of subscription" service in the future. Tom Rodgers Optimistic Tom Rodgers of Translux Theatres feels that despite Telemeter's apparent problems, it may provide the necessary stimulus and excitement to attract younger men to the theatre business. Still giving a cold look to pay television was Philip Hading, of Fabian theatres, longtime opponent of all subscription television. Said Harling: "I don't see any advantage to the system." Representatives of the Perakos circuit in Connecticut embraced a philosophy well known to the industry. "Let's wait and see what happens." Elmer Nolte of Durkee Enterprises (Mt land) gives a reporter his impressioi Richard Hall of Chakeres Theatres (Ohi listens to Carl Leserman. From New England, John and Sperie Perakos of Perakos Theatres and Max Hoffman of B & Q Associates. M.p. DAILY pictures THE GEVAERT CO. OF AMERICA, INC. Quality photographic materials since 189k ""' ■GEVAERTl 150 No. Wacker Drive Chicago 6 Illinois 6370 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles 38 California 9109 Sovereign Row Dallas Texas (CANADA! LIMITED 345 Adelaide St . West Toronto 2-B Ontario Professional MOTION PICTURE FILMS 111 release positive