Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1958)

Motion Picture Daily Spencer Tracy and Felipe Pazos in "The Old Man and the Sea." The Old Man and The Sea (CONTINUED FROM PAGE I) the companionship of a young bov he has taught to fish, goes out in his small skiff alone one day and hooks a huge marlin. The fish puts up a terrific battle for three days before it gives in. The old man's victory is hollow, however, for before he can bring his catch back to port it is eaten away by sharks. The old man returns home with only the skeleton of the marlin, and the story concludes. Except for a few brief scenes at the beginning and end when the close relationship of the old man and the boy is developed, the entire action takes place in the skiff, where the fisherman is alone with the elements and his thoughts. He muses about his past life, about the nobility of his adversary in its struggle to survive, and about his own victory and subsequent defeat. He is a proud and thoughtful old man in the last years of his life. How to put such material on the screen was the gigantic problem faced by Hayward, his script-writer Peter Viertel, and director John Sturges. Their method was a bold one: Tell the story exactly as it was in the book. Over the sound track Hemingway's words— just as they were written— are narrated by Spencer Tracy, who also plays the old man. The film images serve as a photographic illustration of what he reads. Scenes with the boy— at the start and finish— are played in the usual objective fashion. But most of the picture is an illustrated dramatic reading of the novelette. Does it work? This reviewer believes it does— and with brilliance. Bare though the plot be, Hemingway's story actually has both substance and suspense. The audience is in there pulling with the old man in his struggle with the fish, and the battles with the sharks are extremelv exciting to watch. And there is a diff^erent kind of thrill in the beautiful photography (by the celebrated James Wong Howe ) —especially the shots of the lonely figure of the old man against the ever-changing colors of the sky and sea. WarnerColor enhances these scenes. But even beyond this, the picture oflFers its finest reward in the performance of Tracy. His acting exists on two levels; one is his reading of Hemingway's work, which is eloquent and inspired. The other is his revelation of the character of the old man. Pride, agony, humility and dignity are all unforgettably shown. And the role of the young hoy is wonderfully played by Felipe Pazos. "The Old Man and the Sea" is a picture which will present problems in selling to the mass audience. They may be overcome to a large degree, however, by aggressive showmen who concentrate on the Tracy and Hemingway names. Running time, 86 minutes. General classification. Release, in August. Richard Gertner 4 Skouras Sees {Continued from page 1) on 2,644,486 shares outstanding at tliat time. Since then the number of shares in the hands of the pubUc has been reduced to 2,564,686 shares as a result of purchases, among which were 284,300 shares acquired in April, for $8,805,480. The company bought 191,000 shares from Howard Hughes April 24 for $26.50 per share. Unafraid of Competition In a review of the company's activities and plans, Skouras said that the company would make pictures for every type of theatre and would meet "every type of competition." The reference was to television. General conditions have been responsible for the decline of the last six years, he said. He expressed the opinion that general conditions are now changing for the better. Ten directors were reelected. They were: L. Sherman Adams, Colby M. Chester, Robert L. Clarkson, Daniel O. Hastings, Robert Lehman, Kevin C. McCann, William C. Michel, B. Earl Puckett, Spyros P. Skouras and Gen. James A. Van Fleet. A cordial atmosphere prevailed throughout the session. Lewis Gilbert had many questions, and received specific answers from various officers of the company without hestitation. Earnings-Rate High When Skouras predicted that this year's earnings would be comparable to last year, there was a pleased murmur, because the 1957 net of $6,511,218 was $312,700 above the previous year and the rate per share was $2.49 per share. With the total of stock outstanding in the hands of the public reduced by 284,300 shares since that time the earnings rate has been further improved. Skouras said there would be further purchases of stock. In reviewing the foreign theatre holdings of the company Skouras paused to introduce Julius Schlesinger of South Africa. The extension of the company holdings has worked out well in South Africa, Skouras said. He added it was important for the company, which now has theatres in India and Egypt, to have showcases in important cities abroad for exploitation purposes. Questioned Regarding Hughes Lewis Gilbert inquired about the purchase of the Hughes holdings. Skouras explained the deal and said no other large group holdings were to be purchased. A broker interrupted to point out that even though the company borrowed money to make the purchase the decrease in dividend requirements gave the company a profit of approximately $400,000. Many questions were asked about the Century City development announced some months ago for the unused portion of the studio property. Skouras said the project was still under study with no definite commitments made. Wliile this discussion was on questions were asked about the oil drilling on the property. Several suits are pending in Texas in this connection. Men who had small shares in the oil rights before the company acquired the property are demanding percent ages of the oil revenue. TwentiethFox is resisting these. These deals date back to the old Fox Film Corp. The drilling was first discussed in 1924, again in 1936 and later in 1946. Wednesday, May 21, 19i Theatre Admissions Topic at fox Meet Lewis Gilbert, speaking for anoth; stockholder, asked Spyros P. Skour; at the annual meeting of 20th Ce:; tury-Fox yesterday why theatre aij missions were so high, and expresssi the opinion that these should be r turned to 50 cents. Skouras smiled. "You like me, don't you?" Gilbert agreed that he did. ' "Well, don't ask me to send myse; lo jail." I He pointed to Sol Schwartz, wl was sitting in the foruili row of sea' and said: "Ask him." t No Complaints, Says Schwartz Schwartz, head of RKO Theatre remarked quickly, "You should a me that at an RKO meeting. All i can say here is that I don't thimk a missions are out of line. As you kno'l distributors can't dictate theati prices. We don't hear any complair about the current sales, and the bl pictures certainly do big business." Gilbert seemed satisfied with tl replies. ' Officers Reelected by 20th-fox Board Following the reelection of ten c rectors at the annual meeting of 20 Century-Fox's stockholders yesterd;( the board met and reelected office for the coming year. They are: Spyros P. Skouras, pre;, dent; William C. Michel, executivice-president; Murray Silverstoii vice-president; Joseph H. Moskowil vice-president; S. Charles Einfel vice-president in charge of adverb ing, publicity and exploitation; Do aid A. Henderson, treasurer and se retary; C. Elwood McCartney, cci troller and assistant treasurer; J. Codd, assistant treasurer; Francis ' Kelly, assistant treasurer; Frank 1 Ferguson, assistant secretary; J. Ht old Lang, assistant secretary; Nc man B. Steinberg, assistant secretar William Warner, assistant secretai and Morris L. Breggin, assistant co troller. Dividend Declared The board declared a quarter] dividend of 40 cents per share pn'B" able June 28 to holders of record Hjj the close of business June 13, 1958. ]■ Warner Exchanges W ( Continued from page 1 ) & New Haven, which will end its oBi erations this month. These have been in areas where operations coiJB' readily be handled from neighboriiB^ exchanges. As announced yesterday NatiorjB' Film Carriers will take over physicW* handling of film for the company V' its 27 remaining exchanges startiiB' June 1, but sales and booking fatiW' ties will be retained.