Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1959)

6 Motion Picture Daily Friday, May Sunday Films (Continued from page 1) Mr. Rumley declared, '"we will sign warrants against all businesses we find open in the county in violation of the so-called blue laws. "We figure the only way to iron these laws out is to close those businesses in violation of the laws," he asserted. "Perhaps the closing down of businesses which are normally open on Sundays will cause enough people to protest to get some action against the blue laws." Rumley added that the action to take warrants against such businesses is "definitely scheduled for next Sunday, May 10." He said that he and his attorneys will decide which businesses they believe are in violation. "Our first consideration will be to determine if the television station here (WSPA-TV) is in violation. Other businesses will also be investigated." Alfred Rumley says he represents four theatres in North Carolina. In the Rumley family there are a total of 17 theatres represented, he added. The Fox Drive-In Theatre is the only Rumbley enterprise in Spartanburg County. Meanwhile, Claude Rumley has been admitted to Spartanburg General Hospital here with a "general nervous condition," it was learned. Rumley, who spent the night in county jail and was released on $400 bond Monday, complained bitterly about the treatment accorded him at the jail and has demanded a jury trial on two charges lodged against him for opening his theatre last Sunday night. S.C, Council Won't Act On Sunday Film Ban Special to THE DAILY SPARTANBURG, S. C, May 7.Meeting in regular session this week, Spartanburg City Council decided to remain non-committal— at least for the present— on the controversial question of Sunday movies here. Reporters asked Council members: "Does Council intend to reaffirm its policy to close movie theaters on Sunday and allow other businesses to operate illegally and openly at the same time?" Speaking for Council members, Mayor Neville Holcombe replied: "We haven't considered that!" It will be recalled that last summer, Council declared city police in Spartanburg must enforce laws which are on the statute books. Special 'Pork' Prints United Artists is preparing 100 special, high-key prints for drive-in theatres for its release of "Pork Chop Hill," it was announced by James R. Velde, general sales manager. Brightened for better-defined projection in open-air situations, the special prints will be shipped to UA exchanges to service drive-in dates set for June for the Melville Production. REVIEW: Shake Hands with the Devil Pennebaker — United Artists All the rules for making a good, rousing melodrama have been faithfully and diligently observed in "Shake Hands with the Devil," the first picture from the new Pennebaker, Inc. company, with George Glass and Walter Seltzer as executive producers. The time and setting of the story carry a high potential for action and excitement— Ireland in the early 1920's when the Irish Republican Army worked through underground activities to sabotage the hated Blackand-Tans who occupied their land. Some sympathetic characters are thereby placed in immediate peril, which is the primary requisite for suspense. The hero is a young American of Irish ancestry who has come to Dublin to study medicine and is swiftly drawn against his will into joining the band of patriots alongside of whom his late father had fought years before. Don Murray portrays this character, and James Cagney is the local leader of the group he assists. Both are ingratiating actors, and the audience is on their side forthwith. Action? There is plenty of it from an early run-in Murray has with the Black-and-Tans in which a student friend of his is killed to a daring raid on the enemy headquarters bv Cagnev and his men to rescue Murray after he is captured. And the climax is a wow— a bloody set-to on the Ashtown Docks in which rifles roar and a hand grenade explodes under an army truck. Producer-director Michael Anderson is at his best in handling these scenes which are swiftly and imaginately staged. Romance? There are two lovely ladies in Dana Wynter and Glynis Johns to supply this, and Murray becomes involved with them both. Miss Wynter is an Englishwoman, daughter of the advisor to the military governor, who is kidnapped by the Irish rebels and held as hostage in their efforts to secure the release of one of their own, an aristocratic old patriot played by Sybil Thorndike. Miss Johns is a barmaid of easy virtue who distributes her favors among all the rebels but is particularly attracted to Murray. Strong dramatic finish? "Shake Hands" has that, too. After a truce has been decided upon between the Irish and the English, Miss Thorndike dies and Cagnev wants to kill Miss Wynter in retribution. But Murray saves her by shooting Cagney. This makes for a stirring last scene which takes place high on a cliff overlooking the sea. These are the elements required for an absorbing melodrama, and an authentic setting helps here, too. The picture was shot in its entirety in Ireland with interiors at the new Ardmore Studios near Dublin. Other good actors on hand include Michael Redgrave, Cyril Cusack, Noel Purcell, and Niall MacGinnis. The screenplay was written bv Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts from the adaptation bv Marian Thompson of a novel by Rearden Conner. Running time, 110 minutes. General classification. Release, in June. Richard Gertner Form Netw Expect Waiver ( Continued from page 1 ) Treasury soon, Kenneth Clark, Motion Picture Association vice-president, said here yesterday. Under the agreement the films were to be admitted and played here tax-free. However, the 30 per cent Federal tax on earnings of foreign films in this country had to be waived and the State Department and Treasury now are working out the procedure. When that has been completed, Clark said, terms and conditions of sale of the individual films will have to be worked out between Soviet agencies and the film companies that handle the pictures here. Currently, color strips are being exchanged with the Soviet and tests will be made to determine whether they can be projected in the equipment in use. Approve Two Bills ( Continued from page 1 ) merger plans. The other would give the anti-trust division the power to compel presentation of documents in civil anti-trust investigations; the bill approved goes beyond one originally recommended by the Administration, but the Administration said it would accept the broader version. Both bills now go to the full judiciary committee. The government now has power to subpoena evidence in investigations looking toward criminal action, but must use a grand jury proceeding to get documents in investigations looking toward civil action. The bill approved by the subcommittee would permit use of a Civil Investigative demand to get documents in civil investigations. The subcommittee said the C.I.D. would apply to individuals (Continued from page pointed, McCarthy said, publ terial of an all-industry natun issued from the COMPO offic As opportunity permits tl mittees will work in cooperat the producer-distributor natio licity organization which inated to promote the recent Awards telecast and is no1 made permanent by the adi publicity directors committa Motion Picture Association, rate story on this development in adjoining columns. The plan calls for the estat of a copy committee based COMPO press relations that has been in operation foi several years. Present membeicommittee include Harry chairman; Harry Goldberg, Emerling. Representatives of f pany advertising and publicib ments will be asked to fill in the committee caused by members' resignations or tpj Hollywood. Exchange area committees appointed to the COMPO are as follows: Albany— Seymour L. Morris ■ Circuit; Atlanta— Leonard All, amount Pictures; Buffalo— Ger;, tergren, Basil Theatres; Ch Taylor, Paramount Theatn ward Meade, Loew's Theatres H. Mackenna, Basil Theatres Krolick, Paramount Theatres; Gibson, Dipson Theatres. Dallas— Kyle Rorex, Franc Interstate Circuit; Don Dougl ley United Theatres; Edward Frontier Theatres; Des Moil Knight. Kansas City— Darrell Presrj Midwest; M. B. Smith, wealth Theatres; Los Ange Ida Schreiber; Memphis Doyne, M. A. Lightman, Jr. New Haven— Maurice Bailn ry Shaw, Norman Bialek, Al, Jim Totman, Lou Brown, Hai stein; New Jersey— Charles F Richard Turteltaub, Wilbur Olkahoma City— Howard Paul Townsend, Warner Fabi;. tres; Roger Rice, Video Theati man Praeger, Cooper For Omaha — George Gaughan, Foundation. Salt Lake City— George Washington, D.C.-Paul Rc Zins, Columbia Pictures; Jac1 Loew's; Frank LaFalce, John Broumas. Capitol Books 'Wo MGM's "The World, the F' the Devil" has been booked next attraction at the Capitol here following the run of "T ins: Game." as well as corporations, and give the government physical sion of the documents and n< look at them.