Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1959)

Ijjiday, July 27, 1959 Motion Picture Daily 3 IPEDPLE REVIEW: jim Shubouf, manager of Loew's l,anapolis, has been promoted and :ed to Loew's Ohio Theatre, Cobus, where he will succeed Walter iler, long-time incumbent. Kes, as earlier announced, will take ■ the reins of Loew's Warfield, Francisco, from William Elder, I becomes Loew's Northeastern , sion manager with headquarters r„| Boston, Ken Croft, presently asi.nt manager of Shea's Buffalo, ,{ alo, will move to Indianapolis. □ idttlga Curtis, who was women's m of International News Service 1 1955 until its recent merger !i United Press, has accepted the of women's editor on Parade s'azine. iiart Jerome has been signed to a •exclusive five-year writing con: by Revue Productions. The deal set by Marty Shapiro of the '11-Josephy agency. □ jfs. Dorothy Humphrey, formerly cretary at Buena Vista, Atlanta, joined Exhibitor Service there in jsame capacity. JO Pictures Acquired Cory Film Corp. From THE DAILY Bureau nfoOLLYWOOD, July 26. Cory Corporation has contracted to libute a new double feature protp, "High School Caesar" and te Bait" according to Newton P. 1" Jacobs, president. Marathon Auctions, Inc. filmed the duo, irph were produced and directed by lie Ireland. le films are scheduled for immeJ release, according to Jacobs. ittzler Publicity Head AMPP Int'l Group From THE DAILY Bureau 3LLYWOOD, July 26-Roy Metz|f 20th Century-Fox, has been ap:ed publicity chairman of the 'io International Committee of the :;iation of Motion Picture Prodi rs, succeeding Louis Blaine, of 'ersal-International. The appointwas made by Carl Schaefer, man of the International com Ive-In Opens This Wk. ^|i.RY, Ind., July 26.-The Dunes Il«!-In Theatre, which is to be opd by A. J. Feinberg, secretaryirer of Duneland Associates, Inc., 36 opened for business this week, a capacity of 1,500 cars and a ri 126 X 65 feet, the drive-in be the largest in Northern In. Car heaters will be installed for winter operation. Cry Tough Canon Prod. — UA Reflecting a modest budget, made without much fanfare, and featuring new talent. Canon Productions' "Cry Tough" qualifies as a genuine "sleeper"— a breed of film that had apparently ceased to exist. While essentially a melodrama, it rises so far above the average for that class that it can also be sold as a powerful and realistic drama for patrons who like substance in their action films. The screenplay and production are by Harry Kleiner, a proven talent at this sort of thing ("The Street with No Name" and "House of Bamboo"), but this is the first theatrical effort by director Paul Stanley, who comes from television. And the leading roles are played by John Saxon and Linda Cristal, whose previous work on the screen has barely hinted at the kind of impact thev deliver here. Let it be duly recorded that the plot framework is nothing new. It's the one about the slum kid sent to jail who wants to go straight when he gets out but is prevented by evil companions and a seductive dame. This one has been done again and again. It all has a fresh and exciting look, however, thanks to the imagination of the talents involved. Kleiner's script places the hero in a millieu seldom explored in movies so far— the slums of Spanish Harlem in New York. And director Stanley makes the sights and sounds of this world come to life as an integral part of the film. More than that, with the help of actor Saxon, they create an arresting protagonist, one neither all-good nor all-bad. He comes out of prison with a strong desire to renew his ties with his tradition-bound father, get an honest job and settle down. But he also vearns to lise above his family background and escape from the "Barrio" (ghetto) to the world beyond. This desire is exploited by his colleagues in crime who lure him back, despite his early resistance, to the old wavs. His passion for a sensuous Cuban beauty, who marries him at his insistence and then leaves him because she cannot be faithful, is another cause of his eventual downfall. While external circumstances play their part, however, it is the hero's own impetuousness and folly that contribute most to his doom. This point the film makes ringingly clear. The leading role is well-written and actable, and Saxon responds with an intense and dynamic performance that is the core of the picture. And Miss Cristal also has a complex part that she plays with great vitality as the Delilah who contributes to her husband's fall. Harry Townes, Perry Lopez, and Don Gordon are sleazy as the hoodlums who tempt the hero back to crime, and Joseph Calleia gives a moving performance as his father. Aside from a colorful atmosphere and vivid characters, "Cry Tough" boasts also a swift and sizzling pace. Violence erupts intermittently— in a dance hall brawl, a deadly knife fight, an alley beating, and an elaborately planned robbery at the climax. An excellent jazz score by Laurindo Almeida whips up the tempo in these and other scenes. Running time, 83 minutes. Ceneral classification. Release, in August. Richard Gertner 'Porgy' Bow in Toronto Will Benefit Variety Club From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, July 26. The Canadian premiere of Samuel Goldwyn's "Porgy and Bess" at the Tivoli Theatre, Toronto, Aug. 12, will be a benefit performance for Variety Village of Toronto, Variety Club, Tent No. 28. Variety Village is Tent 28's top charitable project catering to physically handicapped children of all kinds in Toronto area. Dan Krendel, chief barker, and J. J. Fitzgibbons, Jr., assistant chief barker, set the sponsorship with the Tivoli's group sales ofiBce. 'U' Sets Audie Murphy; NBC Relinquishes Him From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, July 26. Universal-International, which holds a onepicture-a-year contract with Audie Murphy for the next six years, has pre-empted the services of the actor, who is currently filming a new television series, "Whispering Smith," to star in a motion picture, "Hell-Bent for Paradise." Consequently, since only five episodes of the series are completed, NBC has postponed the scheduled September air date. Production »>n the series will be resumed afte» Murphy completes the picture. News of Day ( Continued from page 1 ) shoots the film and makes up the reel. The Universal Newsreel staff headed by Tom Mead, editor, edits and scores it. Printing is done by Pathe Laboratories. The arrangement was entered into at a time when the continuance of most of the industry's newsreels was a question mark. Warner Pathe News had closed down and Paramount News was about to. The deal resulted in important economies for the Universal Newsreel operation and is regarded as beneficial to both organizations. O'Connor Pleased John J. O'Connor, Universal Pictures vice-president, when asked about the arrangement yesterday expressed satisfaction with the way it is working. He observed that prior to the deal the newsreel was not earning its production costs. Now it is able to throw off something to help meet distribution costs. TOA Urges , ( Continued from page 1 ) on a far more comprehensive basis, more quickly, and more effectively. MPI should have the support of every person associated with a theatre, to the fuU extent of his financial abifity to participate." Kerasotes said TOA was in full accord with the aims of MPI, which, he said, were described in MPI's prospectus as "opposing proposals for the liquidation of any major production and distribution company, suggesting to fibn company management the type and kind of films most needed by and suitable for theatres, and cooperating with and assisting the management of film companies to conduct constructive research and improve production-distribution and exhibitor relations." Praises Officers He said TOA was also impressed with the calibre of officers and directors of MPI, headed by Howard E. Jameyson of Kansas City and Walter Reade, Jr. of Oakhurst, N. J., who is a past president of TOA. "They are men of integrity and responsibility in our industry" who should "provide the dynamic constructive leadership and sound judgment" required of such an investment program. 'Angel' Team ( Continued from page 1 ) for Life; and Bob Seamon, director of motion picture advertising for Look. The executives to be visited this week are Harry Mandel, RKO Theatres; Edward Hyman, AB-PT Theatres, and Ernest Emerling, Loew's Theatres. Other theatremen will be contacted in succeeding weeks. As part of the campaign outline, the executives will be shown tlie special new star trailer featuring May Britt and will hear radio spots and music, tailored for "Blue Angel" promotion.