Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1959)

Motion Picture Daily Friday, January 23. REVIEWS Tokyo After Dark Herman-Segal — Paramount Hartford, Jan. 22 The time is now, the setting Japan, the principal characters both Americans and Japanese, and the story theme concerns the dilemma of an American G.I., who accidentally kills a Japanese national. This is a Norman T. Herman and Marvin Segal production, based on a Herman-Segal script, and directed with showmanship-wise touches by the former. Exploitation values are readily apparent. Americans Richard Long and Lawrence Dobkin and Japanese Michi Kobi and Nobu McCarthy (most recently seen in another Paramount attraction, "The Geisha Boy") top the cast. Michi Kobi, singer in a Tokyo night club, is engaged to American military police sergeant Richard Long. When drunken GIs cause trouble in the bistro, the owner urges American newspaperman Paul Dobov to talk Long out of reporting the incident. The two Americans seem to have a strong dislike for each other. Duty-bound Long reports the happening. In an expansive mood, Long drives to the shopping quarter to acquire a gift for Miss Kobi. Returning to his jeep, some teen-aged Japanese are loitering and in the ensuing confusion, Long's gun is accidentally discharged, killing a youth. From this point, events and conversation are comparable indeed to the reams of copy emanating out of wire service bureaus in Tokyo and other points where American military personnel have encountered native resentment, antagonism and the like. A blind teacher, Japanese, finally convinces an escaping Long that elusiveness is not patriotic manliness, and the subdued soldier returns to face the authorities, knowing in the process that Miss Kobi will be standing by. Running time, 80 minutes. General classification. Release, in January. A. M. W. Paratroop Command Amer. — Int'l. Hartford, Jan. 22 A pictorial salute to World War IPs airborne infantry, this James H. Nicholson-Samuel Z. Arkoff production is toplined by Richard Bakalyan, previously seen in a number of AIP presentations and consequently something of marquee strength, particularly in those action situations that have played and properly exploited such product. The story and screenplay, by producer Stanley Shpetner, concentrates on the African and Sicilian invasions of 1942-43 by paratroopers. For more personalized emphasis, the story focusses on a half-dozen men, including Bakalyan, Jim Beck and Ken Lynch. After jumping into Africa, one of the invaders— Beck— casts off his GI Screen Gems ( Continued from page 1 ) was partially granted to the extent that Screen Gems distribution to television of Universale pre-1948 films is required to maintain the status quo. This is without prejudice to the government to apply to the court for further injunctive relief should subsequent facts develop warranting renewal of its motion. Limited to 50 in Six Months In effect, Screen Gems is restrained, pending trial and determination of the case, from sublicensing additional Universal films at a rate greater than 50 films in any six months period, which approximates the licensing rate under the Screen Gems-Universal agreement up to now. The court also allowed the parties three months to prepare for trial and left open to Screen Gems the right to apply for relief in the event the government delays unduly in going to trial. The government charges in its suit that the Screen Gems-Universal pre'48 film deal unlawfully reduces competition in the distribution of films to television. Screen Gems is a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia Pictures and distributes the latter company's pre-1948 backlog to TV also. Schimel for Universal Judge Arthur Schwartz of the law firm of Schwartz & Frohlich represents Screen Gems in the action, and Adolph Schimel, Universal vice-president and general counsel, argued against the motions for that company. Technicolor Veterans Will Be Dined Today From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 22. _ Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus, president and general manager of Technicolor Corp., will host a luncheon tomorrow to honor nine employees who have been with the company for 25 years. Attending will be Robert Riley, vice-president in charge of motion picture sales (Hollywood) and director of studio operations, and Paul W. Fassnacht, Hollywood plant manager. uniform in favor of Nazi garb, thinking the action will help further Allied advance. During the ensuing confusion, Bakalyan inadvertently kills Beck, and from this point on, fellow paratrooper Jack Hogan warns Bakalyan that he's doomed for certain death. When the remaining men hit Sicily, Hogan tries an unsuccessful attempt on Bakalyan's life. In time, most of the crew is killed off, via one encounter or another. Bakalyan dies after completing an important mission, realizing in the action that he has lived up to his own personal code. William Witney directed and Herb Mendelson served as production manager. Running time, 83 minutes. General classification. Belease, in January. A. M. W. Congressmen Pay Tributes to DeMille From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Jan. 22.-Members of Congress bemoaned the death of producer Cecil B. DeMille. Senator Kefauver (D., Tenn. ), terming him "a giant among moviemakers," said that "his pictures made the American movie an international commodity." "Best known for his great Biblical dramas," Kefauver continued, "this son of a minister proved that the story of religion, the story of the founding of Christianity, had universal appeal to people of all races and religions." Rep. Roosevelt (D., Calif.) said DeMille's death "takes from our national scene one of those few gifted enough to give— in entertainment form— a panoramic view of the great events of history. His contribution to our national life and the enrichment he brought to many Americans will be his lasting memorial." Legion Puts 'Adultery' In 'C Classification The National Legion of Decency yesterday announced it has placed the NTA Pictures' release, "A Question of Adultery," in its "Class C" or "Condemned" category. Explaining its objection to the film the Legion said: "The subject matter of this motion picture is artificial insemination by donor (AID). The emotional arguments of the sympathetic characters in the film are directed toward justifying this practice both morally and legally. "In a 1956 allocation to the Second World Congress on Fertility and Sterility, the late Pope Pius XII taught that 'artificial insemination violates the natural law and is illicit and immoral." SMPTE Names Two for Unexpired Terms The board of governors of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers has named G. Carleton Hunt, General Film Labs., Hollywood, financial vice-president of the organization. Hunt will complete the unexpired term of SMPTE executive vicepresident J. W. Servies of National Theatre Supply Co. Also named to fill an unexpired term is S. P. Solow, Consolidated Film Industries, Hollywood, who replaces Reid H. Ray, Reid H. Ray Film Industries, St. Paul, as treasurer of the SMPTE. Ray is now convention vicepresident. 'Hanging' Promotion Warner Bros., Columbia Records and Ballantine Books, publishers of "The Hanging Tree," have joined in a three-way promotional effort, backing the film, the book and the record of the same title. Four hundred disc jockeys throughout the country have received hard-cover editions of Dorothy M. Johnson's book and the Columbia recording of the title song from the film, sung by Marty Robbins. Exhibitor Urn (Continued from page 1) the telecast by several thousand | tres, with the result that the tt had an audience exceeding 70,0( viewers. The goal for this year'.vj paign is to surpass last year's r^ McCarthy said. Exhibitors who have already to serve as chairmen of telecast pj tion committees are as follows: ' Arizona, George M. Aurelius, nix; Arkansas, K. K King, S,j California, William H. Thedfon Angeles; Colorado, Robert W. Ii| Denver, and Larry A. Starsmore ,"' rado Springs; Connecticut, Ha , Shaw, New Haven; District of Cl bia, Marvin J. Goldman, Washi Illinois, David B. Wallerstein. cago. Drawn from AH Sections Also, Indiana, R. T. Lochry, Ijj apolis; Iowa, D. B. Knight! Moines; Kentucky, Ralph E. Mc han, Irvine, and Gene Lutes, fort; Louisiana, Maurice F. Baril Orleans; Maine, C. J. Russell, Jr gor; Maryland, James L. Whittle son; Michigan, Harold H. Brov Henry Capogna, Detroit; Mini Charles Winchell, Minneapolis ; sissippi, A. L. Royal, of Meridic Also, New Mexico, Nathan C. Santa Fe, and Ed Kidwell, R|j Albany, Elias Schlenger; Nortj kota, F. E. Wetzstein, Mandan Frank Murphy, Cleveland; Pfl vania, Edward Emanuel, Philad Texas, Kyle Rorex, Dallas; Utal Krier, Salt Lake City, and Jack S Denver; Virginia, Carlton Richmond, and Syd Gates, N Washington, Oscar Nyberg, Sea ; Lopert Films Movii Lopert Films, Inc. will mov ; their present location here to quarters in the penthouse formerly occupied by Decca H at 50 West 57th Street in Man It is expected that the transfer,) new location will be comple Feb. 16. Plans for a greatly ex;j distribution production op| made it mandatory that the CrJ seek much large quarters, ac«' to Ilya Lopert, president of Films. 'Man9 Big in Chica Warner Bros. "The Old M the Sea," which had its first release engagement at the R( Theatre in Chicago, is expe<| register a gross of $25,000 in tial week, the company said h< terday. The picture took in for its first weekend alone, i or zero weather. It has pr^ been shown at other theatres i served-seat basis only. Fox Names Montem HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 22. I Montemurro has been named manager at 20th Century-Fox. ceeds Fred Fox, who has beei ferred to the company's Weste nue studio in the same capacit