Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1959)

4 Motion Picture Daily Monday, November 16, l[i Trailer Tribute (Continued from page 1) niversary celebration, which has as its focal theme the importance of trailers to theatre operations. First prize will be $1,000 in cash; second, $800; third, $600; fourth, $400, and a fifth, $200. Entries may be mailed to the Trailer Contest Editor, National Screen Service, 1600 Broadway, New York, N. Y., through Nov. 27, closing date of the contest. No formal entry blank is required. Entry may consist of a statement, poem, photo, cartoon, newspaper story, audience contest, etc., highlighting the value of the trailer to the box office. 'Grass Roots Outpouring' "There has been a grass roots outpouring to participate in this tribute to trailers, and the contest entries are remonstrating enthusiastic showmanship on the part of exhibition," Robbins said. • • • FEATURE REVIEWS O'Donnell Services ( Continued from page 1 ) brated yesterday morning in Christ the King Catholic Church, with the Rt. Rev. Msgr. W. J. Bender as celebrant. Entombment was at Hillcrest Mausoleum. Active pallbearers were Karl Hoblitzelle, Fred F. Florence John Q. Adams, Frank O. Starz, Raymond Willie, Paul Short, Ed Rowley, W. E. Mitchell and James O. Cherrs, all of Dallas; Harry Morris, London, England; Ned Depinet, Sam Dembow, Al Schwalberg, Sidney M. Markley and Ned Shugrue, all of New York City; and actor Audie Murphy. Guinness to Appear ( Continued from page 1 ) representatives of the local newspapers. The first of the four films in the non-exclusive "personal service" agreement probably will begin production late next year, following Sir Alec's appearance in a London stage presentation, according to Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., Columbia vice-president, who also attended the conference on Friday. Guinness, who said his chores in the films would be limited to acting in them, recently completed "Our Man in Havana," Carol Reed's production for Columbia, which will be released next February. Columbia has distributed previous Guinness films, notably "The Bridge on the River Kwai" and "The Prisoner." Two New SEG Officers HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 15.-The board of directors of the Screen Extras Guild has appointed Murray Pollack as third vice-president, and Evelen Ceder as recording secretary, succeeding Paul Bradley and Bess Flowers, who resigned because of pressure of personal activities. Pollack and Miss Ceder will serve until the SEG annual election next May. The House of the Seven Hawks David Rose — MGM In "The House of the Seven Hawks," Robert Taylor plays one of those heroes who, although not a professional detective, is forced to become one temporarily to clear himself of a criminal charge. The plot set-up is familiar, but the settings, photographed on location in Holland, are novel; and there is a sufficient number of mystifying story developments to keep spectators reasonably entertained. Taylor portrays the skipper of a small cruiser which he charters for short trips along the English Coast. His services are engaged by a man who asks Taylor to take him across the North Sea to a small Dutch port. This trip is illegal as Taylor is not licensed to go that far, but the sum offered by the stranger is so handsome he cannot resist. Quite unexpectedly the man dies, ostensibly of a heart attack, before the destination is reached. The Dutch police claim it is murder, and Taylor is jailed on suspicion. Released on bail, he sets out to clear himself. The trail leads the hero into contact with all sorts of strange characters, including a femme fatale who claims to be the daughter of the dead man but is not; the real daughter of the deceased; a fastidious little old man who wears perfume and offers Taylor a bottle; a rotund and overbearing Dutchman who heads a gang of thieves; and a treacherous police informer. Everybody, it turns out, is after the same thing: a piece of paper the dead man had taped on his body which holds the key to treasure buried under the sea. And everybody is so busy double crossing everybody else, it is sometimes hard to keep who is who New Dallas Theatre Bows with Intrigue' Special to THE DAILY DALLAS, Nov. 15.-Without fanfare, Dallas' first entirely new theatre in 12 years opened its doors to the public with the world premiere of Allied Artists' "The House of Intrigue." Opening night excitement hovered over the Preston Royal, however, with patrons showing their pleasure over having a theatre in their neighborhood by an exceptional attendance record for a weekday night. Theatre manager Joe Jones reported the 2,000-seat house to be three-quarters capacity. Huge spotlights directed patrons to the theatre site in the Preston Royal neighborhood. There is no other theatre in the plush area of fine shops and beautiful homes. The Preston Royal is owned by the father and son team of Barton McLendon and Gordon McLendon. and exactly what is what straight. In the end, however, justice triumphs and Taylor, having found the real murderer, winds up with beauteous Nicole Maurey, the dead man's daughter. Linda Christian plays the femme fatale; Donald Wolfit is a Dutch police inspector; and the various scoundrels are enacted by David Kossoff, Eric Pohlmann, and Philo Hauser. A David E. Rose production, the film was directed by Richard Thorpe from a screen play by Jo Eisinger. The story was derived from a novel by Victor Canning, "The House of the Seven Flies." In the last part of the picture film with a blue tone is used, starting with the sequence in which Taylor and Miss Maurey board a boat to go after the sunken treasure. Running time, 106 minutes. General classification. Release, in November. Richard Gertner The House of Intrigue Allied Artists Hollywood, Nov. 15 This intriguing foreign import, well-dubbed in English and expertly photographed in color, with unusual backgrounds of Holland, maintains its interest in a story of spies and counterspies chiefly through the performances of its principals, Curt Jurgens, Dawn Addams and Folco Lulli. Duilio Coletti, who produced and directed, drafted some exciting, suspenseful scenes with his screenplay collaborators, Ennio De Concini, Giuseppi Scoponi and Massimo Mida, from the H. J. Giskes novel, "London Calling North Pole." Based on a true incident, the story deals with a hoax perpetrated by Jurgens, a high ranking German Intelligence officer during World War II, as a result of which he is able to capture a number of British spies. Possessing the knowledge of a secret wireless code, Jurgens, who effects the escape to London of Dario Michaelis, a member of British Army intelligence, romantically pledged to Miss Addams, also an officer in the intelligence unit, forces one of his captured spies to transmit a message which would indicate that Michaelis is a traitor. Miss Addams pleads for a chance to clear her fiance's name. Making her way through a German-patrolled beach barricade, she makes contact in Amsterdam with Lulli, a turncoat leader of the Dutch underground, who arranges a meeting between her and Jurgens. Jurgens and Miss Addams are surprised to learn of each other's true identity, despite an enjoyable interlude earlier in Spain when Jurgens expressed a sincere fondness for her. Jurgens, knowing of Miss Addams' true love for Michaelis, arranges a safe escape for her with information that will serve her purpose. Jurgens later finds himself under military arrest for attempting to protect the British spies from the firing squ| With little bearing on the std the film receives its title from! brothel-type inn patronized by Gj; man officers and serving as an | erating retreat" for Lulli. Gabor V gany was director of photograpl' and the impressive music score v| by Nino Rota. Running time, 94 minutes. Gene! classification. Release, in Decemb; Samuel D. Be Aren't We Wonderful?! Goldsmith From the moment the credits fla "any resemblance to real persons [ intentional," the tone is set: a bittJ sweet history of Germany from 19! to now. The producers have comm ted themselves to "warn the livini that simple decency needs consta attention in the Germany of the pi 45 years. Its barbed wit combinj with an engaging intimacy create, film that should appeal to art hovj patrons, and word of mouth, by I indications, should be enthusiastic, the picture's country of origin, a Berlin Film Festival dubbed it ta best film of 1958, while the Moscq Film Festival cited it for outstandfjl artistry. L The careers of two friends, fro; childhood to middle age, provi<) the plot. One is a man of steady gofl will trying to work out his love-hf and profession while radical politic! events thunder at the window; tl camera gives his scenes a certain pe| sonal quality against the general uj. roar. Hansjorg Felmy plays the id with a brilliant sense of the winnirj good humor and sensitivity the pa requires. j As Felmy 's friend, the opportuni who is proud of his ability to "berli with the wind," Robert Graf projeo wild and conscienceless fun, wi| frightening overtones. Graf's scenji are all satirically designed to show! world gone mad. The Berlin Fesft val of 1958 selected him as the bei actor of 1958 for this role. Johanr) von Koczian plays Felmy 's wife, arji she brims over with love and whoLs someness. Leisl Karlstad and Mid Lang are superb in bringing to lil an understanding wife and a husbari living on imagined glories. Great creativity was exercised b producer and director Kurt Hoffma in his use of scene-to-scene transition^' devices. The shots throughout ail thoughtfully composed and juxtapose' to make the director's point of vie* clear. Cameraman Richard Angst har! died his asssigment imaginatively. ,» Heinz Pauck and Gunther Net/ man wrote the screenplay from th' Hugo Hartune novel. The team think well in cinema terms and has put to'1 gether a scenario that moves vigor' ously, complementing Hoffman1! work. Without wasting words the sub!1 titles give the story and dialogue. |] Running time, 108 minutes. Genera classification. Release, current.