Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1958)

Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, December 3, ljf National Pre -Selling YUL BRYNNER, 'The Buccaneer's" energetic star, was interviewed by Pete Martin for the Nov. 22 issue of "The Saturday Evening Post." Brynner is as compelling in print as he is on the screen. He sleeps only four hours each day and spends all his waking hours getting things done. While playing in the stage version of "The King and I" in Chicago, he took a few courses at nearby Northwestern University. During a philosophy class at the University a fellow student asked him to explain the terrible compulsion which drives him a man who has already arrived— into attending a university during his spare time? "What is eating you?" Brynner answered; "only when I am dead and buried will tbe time come when I would like to have said of me, he has arrived." "If you are stupid enough to think you have arrived before that, you are dead already. From there on, there can be only be stagnation. You're merely animated meat." Gazing off the cover of "Life's" Nov. 25 issue is Kim Novak flanked by a blue-eyed Siamese cat. They both seem intent on bewitching "Life's" readers into seeing "Bell Book and Candle," which is reviewed in the same issue. Columbia Pictures employed "Life's" photographer Eliot Elisofon as color consultant for the film. Some striking color photos of James Stewart, Kim Novak and Hermione Gingold are used to illustrate this article about junior and senior grade witches. "Houseboat," starring Gary Grant and Sophia Loren, received an upbeat review in the November issue of "Seventeen." "A Night To Remember," as a movie stirringly re-creates the sinking of the great ship "Titanic" reports the "Journal About Town" department appearing in the December issue of "The Ladies Home Journal". "The Nine Lives of Michael Todd" by Art Cohen, an interesting and informative biography of the producer of "Around the World in 80 Days," appeared in the "New York Herald Tribune," in 12 installments. "The Horse's Mouth," the story of dirty Gulley Jimson, an elderly artist with a touch of genius, enacted by Alec Guinness, is breaking box office records at the Paris Theatre in New York. Jimson takes possession of a vacationing patron's apartment without permission and paints a gigantic, totally unsolicited masterpiece on the Krim Presides at Weizmann Dinner Arthur B. Krim (left), president of United Artists, presided at the 15th annual dinner of the Weizmann Institute for Science at the Waldorf-Astoria last night which raised $350,000 for the research program of the Institute. Highlight of the function was the presentation of a unique 6th Century A.D. map of the Holy Land to Meyer W. Weisgal (center) by Ambassador Abba Eban (right) of Israel. Weisgal is executive council chairman of the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute. Shown during the evening was a UA film, "Profile of a Miracle," which portrays the conquest of Israel's desert by modern science and technology. S-W Circuit Sets French 'Hulot' in First-Runs Special to THE DAILY HARTFORD, Dec. 2. Stanley Warner lias booked another French import into key-city first-runs. Continental Distributing's "My Uncle, Mr. Hulot," will have its regional premiere, day-and-date, at the Strand, Hartford, and Roger Sherman, New Haven, opening Wednesday. Both theatres have traditionally played Hollywood product almost exclusively in recent years. Drive-Ins Staying Open HARTFORD, Dec. 2.-An unprecedented number of Connecticut drivein theatres are remaining open for the winter; free, electric in-car heaters are provided patrons. Such service is now available at the Meadows, Hartford; Berlin, Berlin; Middletown, Middletown; Candlelite-Pix Twin, Bridgeport; and Norwalk, Norwalk. Degree to Hoblitzelle DALLAS, Dec. 2 Karl Hoblitzelle, president of the Interstate Circuit, received the degree of Doctor of Humanities from Kudos College at a luncheon held in the Adolphus Hotel. living room wall. "Life" in the Nov. 10 issue reproduced the artist's mural on a two-page spread in full color. John Huston's two current films both made in foreign lands received laudatory reviews in the Nov. 25 issue of "Look." "The Roots of Heaven" was filmed in the unrelenting 135-degree heat of Africa's elephant country. "The Barbarian and The Geisha" was shot entirely in Japan with John Wayne as its star. Walter Haas Dallas Wompis Aid in Christmas Projects Special to THE DAILY DALLAS, Dec. 2. The entire membership of the Dallas branch of the Women of the Motion Picture Industry took part in dressing 134 dolls furnished by the Salvation Army for Christmas distribution. This involved 67 women creating the various outfits to order for the wide selection of dolls which the Salvation Army will find homes for on Christinas Day. Mrs. Blanche Boyle of Frontier Theatres, doll chairman, reported that the members were so proud of their work they exhibited the dolls last week at Index Booking here. As the holiday season approaches, the WOMPI's will be involved in collecting food for needy Dallas families. Film Row will participate in this with the WOMPI's by bringing canned goods to designated deposit boxes. The WOMPI's will furnish the perishables such as turkeys and meat for the holiday tables. 'torn thumb' Party KANSAS CITY, Mo., Dec. 2.-A Yuletide celebration for orphan children will be sponsored by Mayor H. Roe Bartle of Kansas City and Loew's Midland Theatre at 9 o'clock Saturday morning, Dec. 13. Called the "Mayor's Christmas Tree Party for Orphan Children," the event will be headlined by the showing of "torn thumb." Nome 'Sinbad' Roc; Win Role in Film m Columbia Pictures has set a natioj contest— "Name the Roc! Win a Ro j —for its "The 7th Voyage of Sinbaj' which it says can be staged in evjr city in the United States that ha| daily newspaper. The contest, with the Roc be|( the two-headed baby bird in the If namation film and die "role" beinij part in the forthcoming Columbia duction, is open only to teen-agj who are between their 13th and ll birthdays. Rules call for entrantsl| name the Roc and write a 25-ww reason for their selection. Local v| j ners will be aw arded prizes and til entries will be submitted to Coluirl for selection of the national winil March 1, 1959, is the deadline |jj local contests. Newspaper Cooperation Necessa A local contest may be stagedlw any theatre which can secure die operation of a daily newspaper, i many key cities, Columbia will aic setting the contest. The only pr sion is that Hearst papers, which: cooperating in the venture, must ceive first consideration in cities which they are published. Slate 'Windjammer'' ft Seattle in January Special to THE DAILY SEATTLE, Wash., Dec. 2.-"W jammer" will open late in Januar the Paramount Theatre here, it is nounced by William H. Thedf president of Fox West Coast Tl tres and Evergreen Theatres, and car Nyberg, district manager Evergreen. Little Change in Seating Plan The Cinemiracle equipment wil installed without any "dra> changes in seating or capacity, it stated. 'Anna9 Big in Chicago "Anna Lucasta" rolled up a big $39,400 gross for die first week of its premiere engagement at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago, according to United Artists. The film scored the highest first-week gross in two years at the Chicago theatre, UA added. Book 'Horse's Mout) Three key regional playdates 1 been set by United Artists for Horse's Mouth" to coincide with Christmas holiday season. The ture will open at the Krim The) in Detroit on Dec. 18, the Bevj Canon Theatre in Los Angeles on 1 24 and the Peachtree Theatre in lanta on Dec. 25. The film also been announced for the Playlnj Theatre in Washington Dec. 27, ton and Philadelphia holiday sen bookings will be announced by company shortly. Will Attend 'Inn' His Excellency Christian Palai^ Greek Ambassador to the United | tions, and Madame Palamas will 1 an array of prominent UN person^ who will attend the Dec. 11 beJfit premiere of "The Inn of the Sfl Happiness" at the Paramount T litre here. The American debut of Buddy Adler production is b sponsored by the Queen's Fund Greek Orphans. i or