Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1959)

Wednesday, September 30, 1959 Motion Picture Daily 7 D. M. Nelson Dies; Once SIMPP Head From THE DAILY Bureau , HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 29.-Donald , M. Nelson, 70, World War II head j of the War Production Board, and ■I later president oi^ the Society of In I dependent Motion Picture Producers, died today of cerebral hemorrhage at J Good Samaritan Hospital. K Funeral arrangements at Forest II Lawn Memorial Park have not been completed. Censorship Bill {Continued from page 1 ) II as soon as formal authorizations to , proceed have been obtained from all I companies concerned. Informal, verbal approvals already have been given, 'j Pennsylvania law permits a taxpayer challenge of the constitutionality of [| any statute which calls for appropriation and expenditure of public funds. The new censorship law calls for a I $75,000 appropriation to pay the salaries of four members of the censor ^ board and its expenses. Two Courses Open I ' Should the test result in invalidation 1" of the law, obviously no further inI ' dustry action would be necessary. If it does not, the normal tests of the constitutionality of the law could be undertaken at such time as the Pennsylvania censor board refused an exhibition perniit to a particular picture at one or more theatres, it was pointed out. Reportedy, the suggestion for a test of the law by a taxpayer's action was suggested by a Philadelphia attorney, who has handled film cases previously. The law was passed at the current session of the Pennsylvania legislature and was signed by the governor only recently. Members of the board have not been appointed yet so it is not operative. Provisions Outlined It provides for inspection and licensing of films after they have opened in a theatre within the state. It is claimed that this procedure avoids prior censorship, already outlawed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Rosen Keynoter (Continued from page 1) ness session on Monday morning, Nov. 9, it was announced by Richard H. Orear of Kansas City, Gerald J. Shea, of New York, and Dwight L. Spracher of Seattle, the convention co-chairmen. It is expected he will review the state of the industry, and make concrete recommendations to the nearly I, 000 theatre owners from all over the United States, on how he feels business conditions may be improved. The five-day convention will be held concurrently with the annual meeting of the National Association of Concessionaires. Both groups will have an all industry trade show during the convention. REVIEW: Wolf son Lauds The Wonderful Country D.R.M.-United Artists Robert Mitchum, an extraordinarily attractive Julie London, the screen debut of Leroy "Satchel" Paige, the ebullient Jack Oakie of old in a bit part, and some beautiful Technicolor photography of the Mexican Sierra and desert country mark this somewhat different western. Although there is considerable action and although Mitchum is satisfactorily menacing and heroic by turns, there are long pauses and the story is curiously episodic. Mitchum plays an expatriate Texan who is "pistolero"— gunman— for a Mexican politician. On a trip to Texas to buy illegal guns he breaks a leg in a fall and meets Miss London, frustrated and roving wife of Gary Merrill, a U.S. cavalry major. He is tempted to give up his life in Mexico by both the attractions offered by Miss London and by an opportunity to join the Texas Rangers but flees after killing a man who had insulted the luscious Miss London. Back in the confused Mexican political scene, he loses favor with his patron for refusing to carry out an assassination; meets Miss London and her husband there on a diplomatic mission; flees again for his life; saves the remnants of Merrill's troop after they have been decimated by Apaches and Merrill himself mortally wounded; delivers Merrill's dying message to his wife, now a widow; and escapes the vengeance of his former Mexican employer in a final gun battle. In spite of the script and editing trouble there are some good action sequences and all round excellent performances by the cast. Oakie plays a raihoad real estate agent who is trying to arrange peace along the troubled border, and Paige is a cavalry trooper. Pedro Armendariz appears briefly as the Mexican politician. Chester Erskine produced and Robert Parrish directed. The screenplay was by Robert Ardrey from a novel by Tom Lea who also has a bit part as the town barber who takes care of Mitchum during his convalescence. Running time, 96 minutes. General classification. October release. James D. Ivers (Continued from page 1) supply and other exhibition problems, Wolfson said Skouras is one of those "not only trying to make more and better pictures but is one who has a great deal of consideration for exhibitors. Urges Wide Support "I think you will agree that he is certainly a distributor who expects and wants us exhibitors to remain in business. I want to urge every exhibitor to support this sales drive. Without our support he will not be able to make more and better pictures. I want to assure Mr. Skouras that Wometco intends to 'go down the line' for his program of more and better pictures and for this particular drive, and I hope that every exhibitor in the U.S. will see that his efforts, courage and faith are recognized and rewarded. "Moreover, it is up to every exhibitor to provide comfortable theatres, with adequate sound, picture lighting, quality, parking, promotion, local advertising and publicity, to make the pictures earn their just return on the industry's investment. It is up to us to show our appreciation by supporting in every way possible the Spyros Skouras drive." Praises Tidwell Wolfson appealed to Florida exhibitors in particular to support the drive also as a mark of appreciation for services accorded them over the years by Tom Tidwell and his staff at 20thFox Jacksonville exchange. Need for Liaison (Continued from page 1 ) renovated for the first roadshow engagement of Edward Small's "Solomon and Sheba." "In addition to building and maintainig the largest and most effective field force in the industry," Lewis declared, "we are developing the closest possible contact with our field representatives and exhibitor clients in order that they may be fully aware of the campaigns and materials available to them to meet the specific needs and requirements of their situations. There is no substitute for the ready exchange of ideas and methods that this kind of working together produces." Outlines Company Policy Lewis said that the current Boston conferences reflected the company's policy of keeping UA representatives and exhibitors up to date on projected campaigns and to hammer out merchandising programs in terms of local requirements. He said UA will continue the same pattern of close liaison in other major exchange areas on important forthcoming product. Fred Goldberg, UA national director of advertising, publicity and exploitation, and Al Fisher, assistant exploitation manager, took part in the Boston confrences led by Lewis and Sack to blueprint the extensive promotion campaign for the film's hard ticket opening at the showcase theatre on Dec. 25.