Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1957)

Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, August 21, 19= I The Three Faces of Eve (CONTINUED FROM PAGE I) manding one that not only would tax the resources of a veteran dramatic actress but puts a strain on the credulity of the audience as well. It is the role of a woman with a neurosis which the psychiatrists call "multiple personality." That is to say, she is "three people in one bodv" —and any one of the separate and distinct individuals can come to the fore without warning and take over control of what she does. At one moment, for instance, she is a prim and demure housewife devoted to her husband and small daughter. Then suddenly she changes completely and becomes a wanton female aggressively pursuing other men. And during the course of her analysis by a psychiatrist a third "side" comes out one day— a personality which is adjusted and emotionally mature. These three forces do battle for sole possession of the lady. Shades of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde! The storv is all the more amazing, because it is based on a case history which was described in a recently published book. In his carefully worked out screen play Johnson has captured audience attention immediately by opening with an atmosphere of mystery not unlike that to be found in good suspense films. And then he has kept the spectator intrigued and guessing all the wav to the end. The tone of authenticity is set at die start when Alastair Cooke appears in a foreword to explain the medical background. And the presentation by Johnson is in semi-doeumentarv stvle, with Lee J. Cobb, who plays the psychiatrist, acting also as a narrator to clarify some of the more weird manifestations of this psychological illness. Whether or not thev wholly believe all that transpires, adult audiences should be fascinated bv this film. Many will scoff; others will accept. But nobody is going to be indifferent, which is a good thing for any exhibitor's box office. As for the performance of Miss Woodward, however, there should be no controversy at all. She manages the quick changes in the character's moods, appearance, and speech with a facility that is quite astonishing, and she makes the character pathetic, amusing, and touching, by turns. This is the kind of acting that inspires tremendous wordof-mouth. It is also the kind that wins Academy Awards. The other actors all support the star ably. David Wavne is perfect as the heroine's first husband, a bewildered and unintelligent man who finally solves the problem his wife presents bv seeking a divorce. Cobb is nicely restrained as the patient and understanding doctor, and Ken Scott does well as the man who marries the heroine after her "best side" becomes triumphant. Running time, 91 minutes. Adult classification. Release, in October. Richard Gertner 'Sun' Drive ( Continued from page 1 ) production, so the entire home office and field exploitation staffs have been mobilized for some high powered striking while the iron is hottest. The national magazine campaign includes Life, Time, Newsweek, American Weekly, Esquire, McCall's, Harper's Bazaar, Parade, Seventeen, Coronet, Glamour, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Redbook, People Today, Saturday Review of Literature and Pageant. Magazine and syndicate writers covered the production locations in Spain, France and Mexico, and the magazines carried layouts featuring Tyrone Power, Ava Gardner, Mel Ferrer, Errol Flynn and Eddie Albert. The two newcomers, Juliette Greco and Robert Evans, also were treated liberallv. Ed Sullivan's CBS-TV show, August 24, will highlight scenes and interviews. Interviews have already been featured on the NBC "Monitor" show during the past 60 days. Robinson Won't Fight For TNT; May Cancel The Robinson-Basilio fight, scheduled to be televised on a closed circuit by Theatre Network Television on September 23 was endangered late yesterday, when Robinson suddenly announced that he would not fight unless the event was televised by Teleprompter, Inc. instead of by TNT. More Seats Promised In bids submitted to the International Boxing Club, TNT had guaranteed an availability of 250,000 theatre seats and Teleprompter had promised to make available 400,000 scats. James Norris, head of IBC refused to accept the Teleprompter offer and Robinson walked out. Robinson has the right to approve of television rights according to terms laid down in his contract. As the situation stands, many theatre contracts have been drawn up by TNT which now may have no event to televise. Television Today MCA Head Announces Stock Distribution Special to THE DAILY HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 20-Jules C. Stein, chairman of the board of the Music Corporation of America, Loday announced another of a ssries of distributions of common stock representing ownership of the MCA companies. Today's new allocations were to the following six officers of the MCA companies; Jack Bolton, Herbert T. Brenner, Ned Brown, Raoul Kent, Charles Koren, Manning O'Connor. Today's distribution increased the total number of executives now owning slock in MCA to 48, in addition to the trustees of the MCA profit sharing trusts. British Like Those Commercials on TV From THE DAILY Bureau LONDON, Aug. 18 (By Air Ma —BBC (British Broadcasting Corpi r.ition) sound programmes are fa losing their audiences with the rap expansion of television in Britai Figures show the average night audience of BBC sound programme dropped by a million over the la three months to 3,500,000. In addition, commercial TV coi tinues to gain ground over the BB TV programmes. In homes whei viewers can choose either programni the BBC attracts an average night! audience of only 1,000,000. One Man's TViews By Pinky Herman ii en ALTHOUGH "Assignment Foreign Legion," a teleseries, starring Merle Oberon, moves into the CBSat. nite slot Sept. 21 replacing "The Jimmv Dean Show," the grape-vine has it that the talented young ster will move to a Sat.-at-noon seg. ... A new spy thriller series, "OSS, starring Ron Randell and filmed by Flamingo Films for the Mennei Co., will be ABCarried by 108 affiliates starting Thurs., Sept. 26 (9:30 10:00 P.M.) . . . The music training he received during his pre-militar\ service as assistant to his dad, Martin Block, and the lad's spark, person alitv and drive, are the factors why Gene, in less than three years, ha: been named National Sales Director (singles) for Columbia Records (Chip off the etc.) . . . Miriam Stern, executive secretary of the Song writers Protective Ass'n will sail on the He de France Saturday for ; six-week tour of England and the Continent. While in London she'll attend the annual meeting of the Songwriters Guild of Great Britain . . . Allen Swift, Gotham's WPIXilated "Popeye," currently earning plau dits for his play-acting in the Tom Ewell role in "Seven Year Itch" atj the Hvde Park Plavhouse. . . . After 3 years, CBSoapera "Valiant Lady,' gave wav to another daily strip, "Cosmopolitan Hotel," starring Donald Woods. The effective background music is provided by John Gart's organ magic. Incidentally Gart's latest LP Album (Kapp Records) consists of 38 all-time great polkas and is a must for record libraries and deeja\ programming. With the sale of four programs to Saudi Arabia, "Buffalo Bill, Jr.," "Range Rider," "The Whistler" and "Whirlybirds," CBS TV Films are now seen in every major market in the world, according to Fred J. Mahlstedt, director of operations and production.' Seems that action "westerns" are just as popular in the Near East and the Far East as in East Brooklyn. . . . The new ABCycle of "Telephone Time" TVehicles, which will bow in Tues., Sept. 10 (9:30-10:00 P.M.) and which will be hosted by Dr. Frank Baxter of U.S.C., will star Greer Garson, Joseph Cotten, Thomas Mitchell, Walter Winchell, Hoagy Carrr ichael, Anne Jeffreys, George Tobias, Bob Sterling, Ethel Barrymore and Billie Burke, the latter two slated to appear in the same drama. . . . Formerly with Shamus Culhane Prod., Robert Schultz has been named Film Service Supervisor for Cal. Nat'l Prod, new electronic system by CNP's T. H. Markovic. . . . Next stop for Milt Grant, New York and the big time. After three years as deejay at WOL in Wash., D.C., Milt has taken over as emcee of a daily 90minute TVariety series at WTTG-TV and his clever hosting mixed with home-spun philosophy and genial delivery has made the show one of the bright spots in the Capitol area. Fred Mahlstedt