Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1959)

4 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, November 17, 19J National Pre-Selling "WE HEN The U.S. Lost a War," the title of an entertaining pictorial and prose essay on "The Mouse That Roared," which appears in the Nov. 6 issue of "Life." This Columbia film is based on the whimsical tale in which the California wine industry threatened to wipe out the ancient vintners of the municiple Duchy of Grand Fenwick. The Duchy declares war on the U.S. thinking that they will lose and the victor will ply the loser with money. However, when the 20-man Duchy's Army attacks New York, there is an air raid, and the invaders make off with the Q-bomb which could destroy the world. • A striking color ad on "Beloved Infidel" starring Gregory Peck and Deborah Kerr appears in the November issue of "Redbook." Marpessa Dawn, the star of Lopert Films' "Black Orpheus," is pictorially profiled in the November issue of "Ebony." One way for an entertainer to attact attention in America is to make a favorable impression in the European entertainment world. Marpessa Dawn took this overseas route to fame. She was born on a farm near Pittsburgh 25 years ago and worked as a laboratory technician in New York before migrating to Paris in 1953. A Parisian columnist says "she has the graceful locomotion of Audrey Hepburn, and the svelte attack of Eartha Kitt." This new Lopert film will have its premiere at the Plaza Theatre in New York. • Sal Mineo, whose new film "The Gene Krupa Story" is being readied for release, is profiled by Dean Jennings in the Oct. 31 issue of "The Saturday Evening Post." A production photo made on the Columbia lot with Susan Oliver, the feminine lead, dominates the lead page. • A biographic sketch of Shoshanda Damari and Shai K. Ophir, stars of Leo Fuld's "Hatikvak," appears in the "55th St. Playhouse" edition of "Showbill." This new publication issues an individual edition for each first run art theatre in New York. Ingmar Bergman and Ben Hecht have written articles for the Nov. issue. • "Pillow Talk," that witty, romantic comedy reminiscent of Gary Grant's MONEY MAKING MERCHANT IMAS SALES MANUAL FREE ON REQUEST For The Quickest And Best Holiday Promotion Trailers Send Your Order To FILMACK ' W 0 1327 SO WABASH CHICAGO S <i7 ™ 630 NINTH AVE.NEW YORK 34 Beloved Infidel . (CONTINUED FROM PAGE I) career. He had been like the times: in his 20s he was the boy wonder of the literary world and the symbol of the jazz age; by the end of the 30s he was tired, and alcoholic, an unsuccessful screen writer » married to a hopeless mental patient and pursued by the ghosts of his early talents. The affair, though adulterous, provided Fitzgerald with the courage and stability with which to accomplish his greatest work (the unfinished novel, "The Last Tycoon"), and it gave the slightly opportunistic Miss Graham the education which made her a woman (to paraphrase the fitting subtitle of the book, "The Education of a Woman"). The film which tells of this tragedy and triumph is very long, perhaps too long, and like many real life stories, somewhat shapeless, but most importantly it is almost always moving and touching, an important story because the people are honest and worthwhile. The scenes which detail the affair often crackle with life, as in the first meeting of Miss Graham and Fitzgerald at a Garden of Allah dinner party, or when he sets out to improve her mind and she confronts him with some of his own prose from "Tender Is The Night." The bittersweet quality of the romance is beautifully captured in the sequence where the drunken Fitzgerald accompanies Miss Graham to Chicago, to help her with her radio show, and nearly botches the whole thing, and is harrowingly portrayed when, out of his mind with alcohol, he takes after her with a revolver and nearly kills both of them. In these moments there is tremendous impact. However, there also is a good deal of humor and fun in their lives, which makes the tragedy so much more sharp. Miss Kerr is wonderful, and Peck, with a very difficult assignment, comes through with a thoughtful, dynamic performance that easily embraces the childish petulance, the violence and the pathos which were a part of Fitzgerald. In supporting roles, Eddie Albert stands out as a sort of raconteur wit, modeled after Robert Benchley, and Philip Ober is effective as Miss Graham's extremely understanding boss. The physical production is, of course, lovely in CinemaScope and De Luxe color. Paul Francis Webster and Franz Waxman have contributed a lush title song and theme music for the exploitation-minded. Gerold Frank was co-author of the original book with Miss Graham. Running time, 123 minutes. Adult classification. Release, in November. Vincent Canby Batjac Plans 'Houston' Simonelli Joins Trust ' Action \ "Sam Houston," a story of the life of Texas' statesman-soldier, will be the next major film of Batjac Productions, producer-director John Wayne announced. The life of Houston will begin production in Texas in late 1960, following the world-wide roadshow presentation by United Artists of Wayne's current Todd-AO film, "The Alamo." and Irene Dunne's farces of the 1930's, is highly recommended by 'Coronet' in the November issue. • A striking ad on "Odds Against Tomorrow" starring Harry Belafonte, Robert Ryan and Shelley Winters, appears in the November issue of "Seventeen." • Jon Whitcomb in the November issue of "Cosmopolitan," tells how Montgomery Clift, who plays a doctor in "Suddenly Last Summer" directed by Joe Mankiewicz, "sweats, starves and worries his way through films, driven by a desire to make each scene perfect. Many directors feel that Clift would have made a wonderful director." Elizabeth Taylor and Katherine Hepburn are costarred in this new Columbia film. Walter Haas ( Continued from page 1 ) which will hold its next meeting shortly after Jan. 1, are Edward L. Fabian, Emanuel Frisch, Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., Martin Levine, Sidney B. Stern and McCarthy. Simonelli is also a member of the Compo press relations committee, whose record was praised last month in a resolution adopted at the annual meeting of Compo members, directors and executive committee. Deutsch Named Anglo Production Executive From THE DAILY Bureau LONDON, Nov. 16. D a v i d Deutsch has been appointed production executive for Anglo Amalgamated, it is announced by Nat Cohen and Stuart Levy. Deutsch will work in close liaison will the Anglo Amalgamated directors on all aspects of their British production. The son of Oscar Deutsch, the well known founder of the Odeon Theatre Circuit, David Deutsch entered the industry in 1949 as an assistant editor. He became personal assistant to Sydney Box in 1954 and in 1955 joined Rank Productions as assistant to producers. In 1956 he was appointed associate producer. ( Continued from page 1 ) claiming $1,250,000 each in damagl and charging national and local cor! spiracies in restraint of trade and ui reasonable length of time in playin films after first run Providence the? tres. Formerly the plaintiffs' theatri had played 7 to 21 days after compl< tion of the Providence run. In the agreement signed this pa: week, it was stipulated that the Woor socket houses now may play directl after the Providence run. Furthermore they now may play, along with th Providence theatres, films which hav( completed two weeks' run in thos first run houses. Two Exceptions Outlined There are two exceptions to thi arrangement. Roadshow engagement do not come under this category, no certain "big" pictures. Each compan may select four big films a year whic) must play directly after the Provi dence run and not after the first 1-' days of the Providence engagements Defendants in the original suit filei in 1955 were the eight majors ani RKO Rhode Island Corp., operating the Keith-Albee Theatre, Loew's, Inci operating Loew's State and C&F The atres, operating the Fay, Carlton anc Majestic theatres, all in Providence. | RKO Pantages Theatres To Undergo Remodeling The RKO Pantages Theatre in Lo< Angeles, for many years the scene of the Academy Award presentations' will undergo a remodeling in advance of the West Coast premiere in midDecember of "Operation Petticoat,'' Universal International comedy, it was announced here by Sol M Schwartz, president of RKO Theatres] The Pantages will be given a newl marquee and front, and a new lobby.l The lobby walls will be of plastic1 glass, and the floors will be a combina-, tion of carpet and terrazza. The present boxoffice will be removed from the center and another erected on thej sidewalk The auditorium will be re-| furbished and a new surround stage curtain installed. Heinsbergen Company of Los Angels will be in charge of the decorat-j ing and construction. During alterations, the cost of which will run into six figures, the Pantages will remain open, presenting its regular screen' programs. 'Ivan' to Bow Here Sergei Eisenstein's "Ivan the Terrible-Part II" (The Revolt of thei Boyars ) will have its American premiere Tuesday, Nov. 24, at the newly renovated Murray Hill Theatre here. The film is being released in this country through Janus Films. I CAN BE OF VALUE TO YOU! Sales & Administrative Executive, age: 34, 15 years Motion Picture experience. Box 118, Motion Picture Daily 1270 6th Ave., New York 20