Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1959)

s Motion Picture Daily Thursday, February 5 Nat. Theatres (Continued from page 1) dated net income for the comparable period last year: $65,401, or 2 cents per share. President John B. Bertero, in a statement to stockholders, said that the net income for the quarter — first in its current fiscal year— included capital gains, net of Federal taxes of $240,000 or nine cents per share, as compared with $179,000, or six cents per share for the comparable quarter of the preceding year. "During the quarter ended Dec. 31, we terminated our interest in 17 theatres and properties not useful in the business," Bertero reported, and added: "Unprofitable operating units and those that do not provide an adequate return on investments are being eliminated. When our program is achieved we will have a solid basis for future growth and the development of additional sources of income." The new National Theatres head, who assumed the company's presidency on Oct. 1, said that "as a result of the overwhelmingly favorable vote" by stockholders, the company expects to be shortly in a position to go ahead with its previously announced exchange offer to acquire a controlling interest in National Telefilm Associates. REVIEW: The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker MPA Group (Continued from page 1) licity directors committee here today. Also up for discussion will be who will accept the award of the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce to be given the film industry this year for its economic cooperation in working with Israel. The award will be presented at the group's annual dinner April 8. The MPA group will further consider two requests for industry participation in International Library Week and New York City's Henry Hudson Celebration, scheduled from mid-June to September. 20th-Fox — CinemaScope the slick and skillful Clifton Webb, he of the impeccable appearance and stiff-backed demeanor, was really made to measure for "The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker," or vice versa. In any case, his handling of the title role of this delightful piece of light-weight but chucklesome entertainment is well nigh perfect. The production, by the experienced Charles Brackett, was based on Liam O'Brien's well known and quite successful Broadway play of several years back. Henry Levin directed with a fine sense of comedy and balance from a smartly-written screenplay prepared by Walter Reisch. CinemaScope and DeLux Color lend a certain happy element of background spaciousness and liveliness to the nostalgic 1890s setting. This is family entertainment, with distinct emphasis on the "family," although it must be borne in mind that the protagonist in the story comes by his appellation of "remarkable" by virtue of having sired some eight children in his hilariously happy Harrisburg (Pa.) household, his wife the lovely Dorothy McGuire, while, it is suddenly revealed, he has likewise fathered some nine offspring in a Philadelphia home, and of course by another Mrs. Pennypacker. You see Mr. Pennypacker— Webbis a firm believer in, and practitioner of the basic philosophy that one should make his life as he sees fit, that rules are made to be broken if they do not appeal to one's sense of reason. Me. Pennypacker is the successful, knicker-clad head of a sausage company, founded by his irritable and straight-laced father, Charles Cobum, and maintaining offices in Harrisburg and Philadelphia. Webb spends a month in the one city, and the next in the other, alternately, has been doing that for some 20 years, and that's how it all came about. But the Philadelphia eldest seeks to save his father from a process server— in another matter— and follows him to Harrisburg. His arrival, and the startling disclosure he inadvertently brings with him really sets things in tumultuous motion. The Harrisburg eldest feels she must break her engagement to the young minister she is about to wed, the father storms madly about, the old maid sister faints, the other youngsters decide to leave home, and Miss McGuire flays him with a look and a word. But then she goes oft to Philadelphia to take a look, finds the other brood motherless (for eight years now), and all ends happily in divers directions, including Philadelphia and Harrisburg. It's really grand fun, and done with altogether the right touch of light-hearted entertainment. Family entertainment? It's certainly entertainment about a family, scads of it, indeed. Running time, 87minutes. General classification. Release, in February. Charles S. Aaronsox Hansen Asks i»* Baim on Tour (Continued from page 1) serve as an officer of one firm and a director of another. Testifying before the Senate-House Economic Committee, he also renewed the Department's request for pre-merger notification legislation and power to compel the production of evidence in investigations looking toward civil anti-trust actions. Life Hails 'PanchaW The Indian import, "Pather Panchali," which has been showing at the Fifth Avenue Cinema here for the past 20 weeks, suddenly gained the attention of LIFE magazine in its current issue. The magazine devotes a full page, with pictures, to the film, and credits "a stubborn New York film importer named Edward Harrison" for its showing here. For 'Black Orchid' Ina Balin, who makes her film debut in "The Black Orchid," is in the East from Hollywood to promote the picture in four cities where it will have special regional premieres. The actress spent last week in Philadelphia on promotional work that preceded the world premiere of the film yesterday at the Arcadia Theatre. She is in Boston this week. "The Black Orchid" will open Feb. 19 at the Paramount Theatre there. In Washington Next Week Next week will find Miss Balin in Washington where the Ponti-Girosi production will bow Feb. 19 at the Playhouse. Before going to Washington, she will come to New York Feb. 9 for promotional activity preliminary to the opening at the Plaza Theatre on Feb. 12. Exhibitors Hi (Continued from page 1) coming soundtracks will be truly stereophonic than those viously employed. Harry Mandel, RKO Theatres president, described the move step that should have been ta long time ago." "All our theatr* equipped for stereophonic sc he said, "and we think they use it whenever possible." M pointed out that the last picture by RKO with stereophonic : 20th's "The Roots of Heaven," rec.l "terrific" audience response. Ernest Emerling, of Loew's The was another circuit executive thought re-emphasis on stereojj sound was a "terrific idea." H<| that since the public is so hi high-fidelity and stereophonic r right now, the same type of system can be a "tremendous for theatres. Emerling remarked, however j most distributors don't have ei stereo prints to go around. "If did," he said, "we'd take full a! tage of it in both advertising anc jection." I Applaud,' Says Hyman Over at American Broadcsi Paramount Theatres, vice-pre;,j Edward L. Hyman said "I apu the Fox decision. "We have 1 urged greater use of stereoj sound." Stanley Warner president Fabian commented that it was logical and constructive suggestii exhibitors throughout the coq which resulted in the Fox deci Since "the public ear is beii creasingly educated by hi-fi reco I and stereo in their living rc Fabian said, "these discrimii people should know that the sound available is part of motio ture theatre entertainment." Fabian added that he hope* increased public acceptance of s phonic sound would prompt no Fox, but all producers, to make prints available to theatres "have invested millions of doll; this equipment." TOA Comment Expected There was no official comme! the move from Theatre Ownf America, which has been hot o subject of increased usage of s j phonic sound for several yea( was reported, however, that president George Kerasotes, wai paring a personal letter of congr tions to 20th-Fox president 5 Skouras. More light + slower burn= lower costs rajATJONAL PROJECTOR CARBONS