Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1958)

6 Motion Picture Daily TOP UN MONEY-MAKING STARS (Continued from page 1) whom appeared for the first time in 1957. Canadian ratings were almost the same, with two exceptions. Ford was die leader in Canada, too, followed by Stewart, Lewis, Hudson, Holden, Brando, Brynner, Doris Day, Cary Grant, and Miss Taylor. Ford's appearance in the Number One spot comes at the height of a long career on the screen dating back to 1939. He had made the Top Ten only once before— in 1956, when he placed fifth. In 1955 he was twelfth. Among the pictures in which he appeared in the past year and which served to win him the crown are "Don't Go Near the Water," "Cowboy," "The Sheepman," "Imitation General" and "Torpedo Run." Six Still Popular Six members of the masculine contingent, which had swept the ladies out of the field last year, continued to hold their ground. They include Lewis, Hudson, Holden, Brynner, Stewart, and Sinatra. Brando reappeared among the Top Ten after being out for two years. Last year's Number One man, Hudson, slipped a bit this year to wind up as number five. The appearance of Miss Bardot among the top money makers is unusual because she has not yet appeared in a leading role in an American-made film. She was also cited as a "Star of Tomorrow" by exhibitors in that poll conducted by The Herald tliis year. 'Raintree County' Important Miss Taylor, who jumped from a distant position as Number 20 last year to the number two spot for 1958, achieved her coup over male competition on the basis of only two performances. One of these was in "Raintree County," which, although it had its premiere late in 1957, had the majority of its bookings in 1958. The other was in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," in which Miss Taylor's ap ELIZABETH TAYLOR JERRY LEWIS MARLON BRANDO ROCK HUDSON WILLIAM HOLDEN BRIGITTE BARDOT YUL BRYNNER JAMES STEWART FRANK SINATRA pearance had been eagerly awaited by the public. As a result the MGM picture is certain to be one of the top grossing pictures of the year. Immediately following the box office champions were 15 stars who have excellent chances to climb into the upper echelon next time out. They are, in order: Pat Boone, Cary Grant, Elvis Presley, John Wayne, Doris Day, Kim Novak, Ingrid Bergman, Gary Cooper, Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, Joanne Woodward, Gregory Peck, Paul Newman, Debbie Reynolds and Deborah Kerr. Boone and Presley, as noted, were both among the Top Ten last year, at third and fourth positions, RKO PictlireS Simons Has 3 Theatres Random House Book (Continued from page 1) that it expected to continue to work in close cooperation with the Association. Resigning from MPAA It was pointed out that even without RKO the MPEAA would not be representing less product in foreign markets than before, since the eight remaining companies are increasing their distribution. RKO is also resigning from the Motion Picture Association of America. M. L. "Mike" Simons, formerly exhibitor relations director for Loew's, Inc., and more recently with Sindlinger & Co., has become the operator of three theatres in Indianola, Miss. They are the Honey, Regent and Mojac Drive-in. Stewart, Turner Sign James Stewart and Lana Turner have been signed to star in Otto Preminger's "Anatomy of a Murder," which begins shooting March 16, the producer announced here. "Porgy" Souvenir Random House will have a first printing of 1,000,000 copies of the souvenir book on Samuel Goldwyn's production of "Porgy and Bess." The book will be published in place of the usual souvenir program issued for motion picture roadshow engagements. The "Porgy and Bess" book will utilize three-color reproductions of the photographs achieved by the three photographers engaged by Goldwyn to cover the production. The trio includes Gjon Mili, Phil Stern and Al St. Hilaire. Embassy Suit ( Continued from page 1 ) and Leland C. Dibble, operators of the Embassy, who are seeking $8,000,000 in treble damages from the major distributors, National Theatres and its i affiliates, including Fox West Coast: Theatres, today filed a motion in i United States District Courts demanding a jury trial and asking that the; new trial date be set for next Feb. 2. Two Suits Involved The sudden death last weekend of Judge Murphy, who had heard all the; evidence in the Embassy case and which lacked only final closing oral arguments, left not only the Embassy case up in the air but also the Samuel Goldwyn $2,000,000 monopoly trial against many of the same defendants. Usual procedure would have been for I Chief District Federal Judge Louis. Goodman to assign a new judge toread the transcript of the two lengthy trials, hear the brief closing oral arguments and hand down his decision. Both sides in either case, however, have the legal prerogative to spurn such a move and demand a new trial. The Embassy attorneys today exercised that prerogative. Most unusual in today's Embassy action is that previously attorney Robert D. Raven had waived a jury trial when the case originally was assigned to Judge Murphy. Asked why he now wanted a jury trial, Raven said: "No comment." It is a know fact that jury trials invariably consume far more time than those heard solely by a judge in antitrust suits. The Embassy Case started before Judge Murphy last March 10 and ended, except for the closing arguments and subsequent decision, on Aug. 6. The original suit was filed in Federal District Court here Dec. 29, 1950, approximately six months after the Goldwyn suit was filed in the same court. All Depositions Taken With respect to his motion for an order setting the case for retrial, Raven pointed out that all depositions needed to prepare for the new trial have been taken and that all other necessary discovery procedure has been completed. The Embassy motion added that all pre-trial conferences desired have been conducted and that all witnesses and parties needed for trial are available. Chief Judge Goodman could not be reached today for comment on die surprise move by the Embassy attorney. V01 i A B 01 AC Pitt! the cent ma T ivas ks In New York yesterday, James A. Mulvey, president of Samuel Goldwyn Prods., said diat while he believes no decision has been made by attorneys in the Goldwyn anti-trust action against Fox West Coast and others, he expects "we may do the same as Embassy." Trial of the Goldwyn-FWC case also had been completed without a decision having been reached at the time of Judge Murphy's death.