Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1959)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY $5, NO. 71 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 1959 TEN CENTS 16 onston Sets )enings for ♦hn P. Jones' Millions Production ed By Industrialists iy WARREN G. HARRIS in Paul Jones," the $5,300,000 ctacle financed by some of the leading industrialists, will s world premiere at the Rivoli 5 here on June 16, producer Bronston announced at a at the Sherry-Netherland here yesterday. The Warner ;elease will have regional prein Chicago, Los Angeles and 'jgton shortly thereafter. Road !gs are not contemplated, j ston said that the production of o hour and seven minute film (Continued on page 2) J. rs Board to Meet tudio Next Week ■ v's, Inc., board of directors will jit the M-G-M studio in Culver text week. 'Wednesday, the directors will 2ii on a tour of the studio by R. Vogel, president, and Sol ;^el, vice-president in charge of {Continued on page 3) mg Land' Premiere )ld Out in Cody Special to THE DAILY pY, Wyo., April 23.— A complete for the world premiere of Cos "The Young Land" here to" night is reported. Pat Wayne, the C. V. Whitney production, ive here tomorrow with a char( Continued on page 3) '/S/ON TODAY— page 6 High Court Decree On Censors Urged By J. A. OTTEN WASHINGTON, April 23. The Supreme Court was told today that unless it rules clearly on the broad question of prior censorship of motion pictures, there will be many more film censorship cases brought to the court. The statement was made by attorney Ephraim London, representing (Continued on page 2) 20th-Fox Holders to Vote On Sale of Coast Studio Stockholders of 20th Century-Fox will have an opportunity at their annual meeting here next month to express themselves on the proposed sale of the company's Beverly Hills studio property to Webb & Knapp for $55,000,000. Status of the deal and details of the proposal are included in a letter accompanying the annual report which will be sent to stockholders early next week. By Martin Quigley HOLLYWOOD— this production center of the world may be viewed as both the hope and the despair of the business of motion pictures in this critical year of 1959. On the hopeful side there is to be observed a quiet and assured attitude of confidence which has replaced an anxiety and uncertainty that had been widespread and deep-rooted in these recent years. Contributing importantly to the changed spirit is the encouraging fact of outstanding performance at the box office of a considerable number of attractions released in recent months. Hollywood characteristically finds it agreeable to dwell on this type of statistic. It makes it easier to banish unpleasant recollections of expensive pictures in which the public showed only slight interest. Out of the ordeal of readjustment of recent times there has obviously been developed a more business-like character of operation. This is not to say that in the intensely difficult and complex work of producing motion pictures an efficiency expert's ideal is anywhere in view. It is not and it is not likely that it ever will be so. But slowly and surely the news did penetrate Hollywood that the box office dollar had become very difficult to come by and that it was up to production to work harder and better— or else! Hollywood has responded. In some ways the response has been surprisingly good. In other ways the only change that has come about is that new handicaps, complications and extravagancies have replaced the old. It is not to be doubted that in Hollywood today there is an amazing concentration of talent and resources for the purpose of producing theatrical entertainment. It is idle to speculate as to whether at any time (Continued on page 3) CEA Letter TO A Hails U.S.British Amity In Exhibition United Action Can Solve All Problems: Kerasotes American and British theatre owners, working together, can solve virtually all their own problems, George G. Kerasotes, president of Theatre Owners of America, yesterday advised the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association of Great Britain and Ireland. In a letter to E. J. Hinge, president of the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association, extending greetings to the CEA on the eve of its annual general conference, Kerasotes hailed the liai( Continued on page 6 ) 704 Not Opposed to B-B Campaign Refunds Theatre Owners of America does not consider its position on disposition of the industry business-building contributions to be in conflict with that taken by the Allied States board of directors at its special meeting in Washington last weekend. Commenting on a story which ap(Continued on page 6) Court Bids AFM Free Welfare Fund Payments From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, April 23. Regarded as a sweeping victory for the rival Musicians Guild of America is a ruling handed down late yesterday by Superior Court Judge Harold Kincaid, whereby approximately $2,000,000, impounded in a trust fund by the American Federation of Musicians, will be released as retroactive wage increases to upward of 7,000 AFM members. Judge Kincaid appointed the Citi(Continued on page 2) l PATHE NOW FOR EVERY FILM NEED : IN B&W OR COLOR Speed, Quality and Service at Low Cost • Specializing in 35mm Color Developing • Dailies * 16mm Coler Prints • Precision Opticals • TiHe Stand Work LABORATORIES, INC. AND HOLLYWOOD