Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1959)

Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, May 1 PERSONAL MENTION CIDNEY G. DENEAU, Paramount ^ distribution vice-president, left New York yesterday for Minneapolis, where tomorrow and Friday he will conduct the company's "Summer Boxoffice Festival." Mrs. Spyros P. Skouras will return to New York from London tomorrow via B.O.A.C. James Gilland, of Stewart & Everett Theatres, Charlotte, has left there for Atlanta. Graham Wahn, of the Warner Brothers publicity department, has returned to New York from Washington. • Montgomery Clift will arrive in London today from New York. Lawrence Terrell, Paramount branch manager in Charlotte was in Atlanta from there. Charles Schneer, producer, will arrive in New York today enroute to London. • Ernest Anderson, publicist, will leave New York today for London via B.O.A.C. • Carol Beed, producer-director, and Alec Guinness will arrive in New York today from Havana, enroute to. London. Wald Scores Youngstein Reply to W Lipton to Address V.C. HOLLYWOOD, May 12. David A. Lipton, Universal Pictures vicepresident, will be guest speaker at the general membership meeting of the Variety Club of Southern California, Tent No. 25, Wednesday evening. He will talk on "What's 'Bight' about Motion Picture Advertising." WM11ED-I1EIIJ CUSTOMERS ( Continued Awards telecast could have been done in 15 minutes rather than the two hours it did take. While Youngstein reportedly said that the industry sponsored telecast did nothing of benefit to the industry, Wald disagreed, pointing out the Oscar ceremonies "are the greatest public relations arm this industry will ever have." He added that the Academy Awards "are a news event and should be treated as a news event." Wald pointed to the "tremendous" press coverage accorded the event, which he said hit the front page of "every paper in the world." People were "talking pictures" for days afterward, he said, adding that TV ratings were so high that a major network has offered the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences $1,000,000 for the right to present next year's telecast on a sustaining basis. Recalls Awkward Ending Apologizing for the awkward final 15 minutes of the Oscar telecast, Wald, who produced the show, said that "somebody forgot to press a button." It was reported that Eddie Albert was posed before a TV camera ready to present a wrap-up of the ceremonies and commentary on past presentations, but that the signal was never given to commence. Wald blamed this failure on an inability to communicate with the control booth because of union restrictions. Stressing his strong conviction that from page 1) new faces are "the only salvation of the picture business," Wald also singled out United Artists for an alleged failure to develop young talent. Whereas 20th-Fox, MGM, Warner Bros, and other companies are constantly developing new personalities, Wald said, "can you name me one star UA has built up?" The producer pointed out that in his own pictures, he tries to put at least one new player in an important role, although he often ends up by placing three or four. His "The Best of Everything," for example, which begins location work here today, will feature Suzy Parker, Stephen Boyd, Hope Lange, Martha Hyer and Diane Baker. 'No Shortage of Talent' United Artists apart, Wald said, other companies pour back money from their profits to develop new personalities. 20th-Fox, for example, can cast almost any picture completely from the stockpile of new faces it has developed, he pointed out. "There is no shortage of talent in Hollywood," the producer said, "only the shortage of talent to recognize talent." "People the world over are curious about new personalities," Wald continued. "Unless filmmakers follow the pattern of developing new people, there will be no one around in a few years." He said it takes a period of from two to five years to build a new player into a star. Matsoukas to Agency; Heads Own Department Nicholas J. Matsoukas announced yesterday he is joining Seklemian, Phillips & North, Inc., where he will head his own department in creative advertising and special public relations campaigns. For the past four years Matsoukas was with Magna Theatre Corp. as national director of advertising, publicity and exploitation for road show engagements of "Oklahoma" and "South Pacific" in Todd-AO. Prior to that he was with Skouras Theatres. Hughes Is Sued on Film Distribution Colorama Features, Inc., has filed suit in New York Supreme Court against Hughes Productions charging breach of contract in an alleged agreement made by Hughes to distribute a feature film called "Forbidden Paradise" or to arrange for its distribution through some other company. Named in the suit are Howard Hughes and Greg Bautzer, Hollywood attorney. Colorama, which is headed by Jules Weill and Carroll Puciato, asks dam 500 Exhibitors Attend UA Birthday Parties More than 500 leading independent exhibitors, circuit heads and film buyers are helping United Artists to celebrate its 40th anniversary at branch parties and special screenings in Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Detroit, Salt Lake City, Denver, Philadelphia, Boston, Indianapolis and Winnipeg. Part of UA's year-long celebration, the parties at the 12 exchanges commemorating the company's 40th year, are being hosted by the following UA branch managers: J. M. Imhof, Milwaukee; John A. Zomnir, Pittsburgh; Byron Adams, Jacksonville; C. Frank Harris, San Francisco; W. B. Pollard, Los Angeles; S. J. Bo vman, Detroit; W. W. McKendrick, Salt Lake City; M. B. Austin, Denver; Al Glaubinger, Philadelphia; Harry Segal, Boston; Boss Williams, Indianapolis, and Abe Feinstein, Winnipeg. ages of $1,000,000 and seeks returns of stills and two positive prints which it states that Hughes has kept in its possession. (Continued from page was "a singular public relations "It's the way in which th was presented that I obje Youngstein said. Denying that commented that the show cou been done better in 15 minu UA executive did say that he could have been completed in or even an hour and a half. T 15 minutes were "inexc Youngstein commented, refu accept Wald's explanation that body forgot to press a button.' in the audience in Hollywo' that was not the case," Yoi said. Favors Mentioning Prodi The fact that the telecast f no plugs for upcoming prodi was scored by Youngstein: I that the event was an opportu the industry to "put its best I ward," what with the number in attendance, but that the ! advantage of it wasn't taken. Youngstein blamed Wald's at him and United Artists on r differences. He said that as rece seven or eight months ago, Wi tried to talk a deal with UA b negotiations got nowhere. "H to cry the blues," Youngstein 1 "When it comes to talking Fox and its policies," Youngste tinued, "I would prefer to ll Spyros Skouras. As for 'taw cream off the bottle of milk', if doing that— which I don't coi the only reason is because Jerr) get there first." Points to Talent Develop Youngstein feels that it is the responsibility of its independei ducers, and not UA itself, to new talent. "But you didn't hea criticizing Hecht-Hill-Lancasti some of our other producers did; Youngstein asked, while citing | Kubrick, Sidney Lumet, Ernest nine and Johnny Nash as creati" acting talent recently dev through UA releases. Youngstein also attacked statement that every compan UA pours its profits into deve new stars. He said Wald uses only because he can't get "tl names." "No company since I've been ,#; has been pouring more money earnings received from theatre new product than we have," \ stein said. No Steele Successor i The office of chairman of the of Pepsi-Cola Co. has been disc ued with the death of Alfred Herbert L. Barnet, who has president of the firm, has been r chief executive officer and will side at meetings of the board rectors. E V Club, ndents i e, Rock. matter Sept. 2l,19M,ittht^i Office at°New Vnrlt N Y iitiIIp £ * ^ w Motion 1 fm'T Da'.'y : Motion Picture Almanac, Television Almanac, Fame. Entered as e , ac tne rost umce at JNew York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign. Single copie;