Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1959)

22 Motion Picture Daily Friday, April 10, U.A. to Make 2 Films In Israel Next Year Arthur B. Krini, president of United Artists, announced that two major United Artists releases, Otto Preminger's film version of the current best-seller "Exodus," and Stanley Kramer's "My Glorious Brothers," will be filmed in Israel next year. Plans for these projects were revealed to the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce in a report by Krim. He underscored the roles played by the motion picture industry in the economic progress of the Israeli nation over the past ten years and in fostering greater understanding between U.S. and the new republic. Personality Tours Continued tor 'Lite' Universal-International is continuing to maintain promotional activity in support of "Imitation of Life" through the use of personalities in support of new openings, followed the pattern which contributed importantly to the early record openings of the picture before the Easter holidays. Douglas Sirk, director of "Imitation of Life" and Robert Alda, who has one of the important featured roles, are the latest personalities to join in the campaign. Sirk will visit Indianapolis, Detroit and Cincinnati for television and radio appearances and press activity while Alda is covering Philadelphia and continuing support of the Cleveland engagement where the picture starts its fourth week today. Susan Kohner, is currently in London aiding in the launching of the picture there. Dan O'Herlihy is scheduled to come to New York to aid in the Roxy opening next Friday. FMPC Hears Samuel Goldwyn Samuel Goldwyn ( Continued tion of Motion Picture Councils at its annual meeting here. Goldwyn was presented an award by the group for "his faithfulness to the ultimate in the art of motion picture production." Presentation was made at the Hotel Warwick by Mrs. Dean Gray Edwards, president of the Council. A ccepting it was James A. Mulvey, long time associate o f Goldwyn, who also read the p r oducer's speech in the latter's absence. "What t h e producer must do," Goldwyn said, "is make a picture that he believes in:— that he thinks will provide good entertainment:—that pleases him. It is a good feeling to look back and to know I have never made a picture I was ashamed of." Goldwyn referred to his new film, "Porgy and Bess," as one "conceived and executed in good taste, which is one of the very important ingredients in any picture. A picture must be developed and handled in a manner not cheap or vulgar or offensive. "This does not mean that pictures must be so bland or innocuous that they must be geared to the mental outlook of a 12-year-old child. A picture can be provocative of thought; it can treat with real human problems in a realistic manner; it can and must be honest with itself and with its audience. But all this must be done within the bounds of taste which every person sets for himself." On censorship, Goldwyn remarked: THE CHASE FOR THE FACE WILL RACE THROUGH YOUR TOWN AND INTO YOUR THEATRE ACE of A FUGmvrttem c^w< from page 1 ) "You know my views— I'm against it. But it is precisely because of that, that I feel every motion picture producer is under a duty— to himself and to the public— to exercise the highest degree of self-censorship that is possible." Another highlight of the final day's program was a talk by Silas F. Seadler, advertising manager of Loew's, Inc. Seadler's subject was "CinemaScope, Technicolor and Women." Suggests 'Womanscope' "Let's add 'womanscope' to the vocabulary of motion pictures along with CinemaScope, Technicolor and all the other technological advancements," Seadler said, "You can be a vital ally of this art form to which you have so long and so generously given your loyalties, by your militant participation in the current problems of the screen. Our industry is unquestionably on the upbeat and no greater opportunity has ever existed for the Councils to think upbeat, to talk upbeat and to surge forward with us now. There are two strategic areas in which the women of the Councils can do heroic work, one where the economic survival of a local theatre is threatened; and two toward a better understanding and more aggressive local approach to censorship." Arthur DeBra Praised Mrs. Max M. Williams, the first president of the Federation of Motion Picture Councils, paid warm tribute to the late Arthur DeBra, former director of MBAA Community and Exhibitor Relations Department. Miss Fannie Hurst, whose novel is the basis of Universal's "Imitation of Life" received a special award in person. Miss Hurst's award read as follows: "To Miss Fannie Hurst . . . poet, novelist, short story writer and playwright, for her contribution to literature; and more specifically, for the sensitive portrayal of the human spirit in her novel 'Imitation of Life', the inspiration of two memorable films." Award to Frank Capra Frank Capra, producer and director of "A Hole in the Head," released by United Artists, was also presented with a special award. Capra received his award in person. His award read as follows: "To Frank Capra: producer, director, craftsman, and citizen: for his remarkable record of distinguished films, and for his many years of devoted service to the motion picture industry, and to his adopted country." The Federation's Annual Film Awards were as follows: Best Actor of 1958— Spencer Tracy for his performance in Warner Bros. "The Old Man and the Sea." Best Motion Picture of 1958— Twentieth Century-Fox's "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness." Best Actress of 1958— Ingrid Bergman for her performance in "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness." Best Director of 1958— Mark Robson for his direction of "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness." The three awards for "Inn" were accepted by Alex Harrison, general sales manager of Twentieth CenturyFox. 'Warlock' Bow to A Camp Green Acres 20th Century-Fox's "Warlock"; have a gala world premiere at Paramount Theatre here, April 3C the benefit of the New York Mission Society's Camp Green Proceeds from the charity ope will help send almost 300 underr leged children from the metropc area to the family camp, locate Dover Furnace, New York. Green Acres has been sponsored New York City Mission Societj the past six years. Talent Agencies Seen Change in N.Y. Law Action taken by talent agenci change a New York State Law of has resulted in the preparatio: approval of an amendment by a session of the N.Y. State Asse1and Senate ( passed a day pri( « adjournment last month ) which is E awaiting the signature of Gov * Rockefeller. Presented before a joint Legis] \ Committee at a hearing held Del ber 5 last by Michael Halperin, rj senting TARA and ARA, the m will eliminate the "maximum weeks" during which an agency mission applies. It substitutes the necessity for agents to file r commission schedules with the Li Commissioner of New York City "regularization" of agency proce which has been in practice for years, is still subject to and regu by franchise agreements betweeii agency and thearical unions a patterned on legislation now in i in California, New Jersey, Pe vania, Ohio, Minnesota and Wise 'Shane' Re-Release S] At 170 Texas Theat l George Stevens' "Shane,' mount re-release which the corni is marketing and promoting though it were a new picture, I have a 170-theatre saturation opt, in the state of Texas in mid-Apra Big-scale promotion is prect the openings and will continua the duration of the engagements.] new theatre trailers, newspaperj and theatre accessories, together I special radio spot announcercl have been prepared for the retu'j "Shane." Circuits that have bo the picture included Interstate, ferson Amusement, Rowley U Theatres, Video Independent Frq Theatres and J. G. Long The! Approximately 50 independe I owned theatres also are involvqfl the Texas saturation opening. Takes Maryland Driw BALTIMORE, April 9. Manuel, owner of the Belair E in Theatre, Churchville, Md.. taken over the Crystal Drive-i Cumberland, Md. Opening is sc uled for April 15.