Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1959)

jiday, September 11, 1959 MOTION PiCTURE DAILY 3 t REVIEW: The Crimson Kimono Columbia Hollywood, Sept. 10 Using the framework of a murder m\'sterv, Samuel Fuller has written, directed and produced a daring piece of screen entertainment which has big commercial possibilities. Its box-office reaction will depend on the "get behind it" effort to tell the public that here is a powerful drama of human emotions created by years of racial differences, in which two Korean wartime buddies, one white, the other Japanese, both American, now working together as a team of detectives, fall in love with the same white girl, Victoria Shaw. For the first time, an American film tells a stor\ in which a Japanese bo\ wins the white girl. Fuller makes his bid for the climactic justification by projecting his philosoph\' that manv of us are governed bv the expressions we see on another's face when we should be following the dictates of our hearts. James Shigeta, a handsome Japanese-American, springs into the star orbit with his film debut. His night club engagements and recent appearance on Dinah Shore's TV program as a singer have paved the wav for his acceptance as a topnotch entertainer; but Fuller has showcased his dramatic abilit\ in this one. Word-of-mouth will do much to influence the film's grosses, since Shigeta's clean-cut appearance will temper the shock of the fadeout kiss and the ultimate Japanese boy-American girl relationship. Glenn Corbett is another handsome newcomer who makes his film debut in this one. He portrays, with authority, the role of Shigeta 's teammate, who makes no bones about the breach in their" relationship when he learns his girl and Shigeta are in love with each other. He makes it clear, however, that the breach is not due to anv racial conflict. Fuller's direction is exciting, unconventional and geared for realism. He takes his camera into the little Tokyo section of Los Angeles for much of the action and authentic backgrounds. His direction is further complemented by Sam Leavitt's expert camera eye, and a stirring musical score bv Harry Sukman. Fuller's screenplay is built on the murder of Gloria Pall, a burlesque stripper, with Corbett and Shigeta assigned to find the murderer. Going on the clue of a painting featuring a crimson kimono, the team of detectives gets to know Miss Shaw the artist. Her memorv sketch of the man who commissioned her to do the painting helps trap the killer, a jealous female. Japanese sword games. Judo and realistic fight sequences directed by Fuller add color to the offering. Anna Lee, Paul Dubov and Jaclynne Greene are also featured in the film. Running time, 81 minutes. General classification. Release, September. Samuel D. Berns PEOPLE Alex Harrison, general sales man: r of 20th Century-Fox, will be the ncipal speaker at Michigan Allied's I nention luncheon at the Statler Iton Hotel, Detroit, on Sept. 24. □ Samuel Bronston, producer of the I irner Bros, release, "John Paul I les," was presented the Meritorious Ijlic Service Citation by United tts Secretary of the Navy William Franke this week at a ceremony in Pentagon building, Washington, Z. i O Morgan, after 20 years with Mc ,hdon Theatres in Alabama and irida, has resigned to enter busis in his home town of Milton, Fla., ,1 has been replaced by Phil Rich Ison. iL . CI IjVIarie Allen, secretary with the ^ited Artists exchange in Atlanta, resigned to become a stewardess ,j Delta Airlines. ■I . ° 'Jliott H. Newcomb has been ap nted administrative assistant to the j.sident of Encyclopaedia Britan -ji Films, it was announced by the jer, Mam-ice B. Mitchell. Newcomb ; formerly with the Dictaphone P □ i:|'rank Manente, formerly manager iijLoew's Stillman, Cleveland, has |ed the independent General TheaCircuit in that city as manager of Detroit Theatre. He succeeds Ray jfault. 'jlane Flynn O'Neil has returned to MOM exchange in Cleveland after J J absence of 16 years devoted to jjie-making and bringing up her j,j now aged 13. □ en Hershberg, manager of the ' jt Side Drive-In, first outdoor theaI jl built in the greater Cleveland ^ji, recently gave away prizes to jif/brate the theatre's 22nd anniverjj. The theatre operates all through H year. □ Iharles Isenberg has been apited story editor for Drexel Films .-p. and Drexel Pictures Corp., it , announced by Charles D. Reeves, '•utive vice-president of both com il' es. Isenberg has been a writers' ;;it for seven years. □ ['erwyn Marland Severy, an asso; research engineer at the Uniity of California at Los Angeles, been named recipient of the Soj' of Motion Picture and TeleviI Engineers' Journal Award for the |t outstanding paper originally pub■d in the SMPTE Journal during i. The Daper was titled "Photohic Instrumentation for Collision ry Research." □ I'illiam Moclair, general manager 16 Fox Theatre, Philadelphia, has resigned. He explained that he had been given a leave of absence from National Theatres to stay on at the Fox when it was recently taken over by the Milgram chain. I I Charles Poorman has joined the Claude Schlanger Circuit as manager of the newly-acquired Starlite DriveIn, near Quakertown, Pa. _ □ Fergus Martin, veteran Famous Players employee, has been named administrative assistant to E. E. Fitzgibbons, president of Trans Canada Telemeter. A. E. Brown will be the company's program director. □ Charles Ramage, 36-year veteran of the MGM branch in Vancouver, has been retired, and has joined West Coast Booking Associates, also in Vancouver. □ Harry Joyal, Winnipeg branch manager for Sovereign Film Distributors, has been promoted to Western Canada supervisor of branch operations. More Showmen Hear Par, Campaign Details Paramount's promotion campaign for the re-release of "Samson and Delilah," outlined yesterday at the company's home office to representatives of 19 metropolitan area circuits, was termed a "successful formula," and an "important stimulus" by exhibitors present. Could Set Precedent Jerry Pickman, Paramount advertising publicity vice-president, in explaining the campaign to the exhibitors predicted that if the promotion effort succeeded exhibition could look for additional re-release campaigns from distribution. Pickman made it plain at yesterday's meeting that he foresaw no "flooding of the market with reissues" in consequence of a "Samson" success; but what he would anticipate was "hig, important campaigns for motion picture classics of the past." Fox Meeting ( Continued from page 1 ) discussions: Harry Lustgarten, Balaban and Katz; Duncan Kennedy, Great States; Alex Manta, Indiana-Illinois Theatres; Eddie Silvennan, Essaness Theatres; and Julian Silverstein, Essaness Theatres. Also, Ralph Smith, Essaness Theatres; Si Griever, Griever Booking Agency; Arthur Schoenstadt, Schoenstadt Theatres; John and Aaron Jones, McVickers Theatre; Sylvan Goldfinger, Loop Theatre; and Harry and Elmer Balaban, H&E Balaban Theatres. Also, Al Frank, FoxWisconsin Theatres; Harry Mentz, StanleyWarner; Rex Carr, Y&W Circuit; Bob Jones, Affiliated Circuit; John Doerr, Alliance Theatres; Harry Arthur, Fanchon & Marco; John Menardi, Fox Midwest; I. Weinshank, Great States Theatres; and James Frescina, Frescina Theatres. Remodelled Ohio House Reopens with Party special to THE DAILY HAXHLTON, O., Sept. 10-A dinner for 2.5 invited guests marked the opening of the newly remodelled theatre, The Court, here, last week. Formerly the Rialto, the house seats 1,000. Its current attraction is "Anatomy of a Murder." Completed Without Closing Participating in the opening ceremonies were Woodrow Praught, president of United Detroit and Northio Theatres; Gil Green, general manager United Detroit-Northio; Thomas Byerle, film buyer; Donald Hicks, Paramount Pictures branch manager at Cincinnati; Rufus Shepherd, manager of the theatre, and Mayor Beckett of Hamilton. Remodelling of the theatre was completed without closing. Orrin Judd, Ex MMPTA Albany Aide, in New Post special to THE DAILY ALBANY, Sept. lO.-Orrin G. Judd, solicitor general of New York State from 1943 to 1946, and later as a member of a New York City law firm, representative for a time of MMPTA in legislative matters at Albany, is chairman of the three-man advisory council which will help administer the state's new labor law. Judd was appointed recently by Governor Nelson Rockefeller for a three-year term. Convention Clinics ( Continued from page 1 ) private consultation room for two hours on each of the three convention days to hear exhibitors' problems. The private consultations will be held in strict confidence between the panel and the exhibitor, it was stated. After consultation, the panel will come to a conclusion on each problem, and will offer a plan for its solution.