Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1959)

Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, December 23, jl has the boxoffice touch! Myers Retires ( Continued front page 1 ) chief administrative functions for the organization. "He needn't necessarily be a lawyer" Myers, who is a practicing attorney said. "He could be an exhibitor, or something else. But the important thing is that his training should be started as soon as possible in order that he will be prepared to take over the responsibilities of the office in a few months." Myers added that his successor could obtain invaluable assistance from Mrs. Bertha Taylor, his secretary for many years and who is thoroughly familiar with Allied States activities. When Myers' probable retirement was rumored early this year he said that while he and his wife, also an attorney, had planned for some time to retire to their country home on Maryland's Eastern Shore, their plans were not yet definite and, he added, "I certainly won't leave while Allied's 'white paper' campaign remains unresolved." Allied Voted Continuance Allied's recent Miami Beach convention voted to continue the "white paper" campaign, presumably by seeking a hearing by the judiciary committee of either the House or Senate of Allied charges that the Department of Justice has been lax in enforcement of the industry consent decrees. A grass roots campaign by Allied members to obtain Congressional backing for the "white paper" objectives also was approved. Thus, indications are that Myers is retiring sooner than he planned a year ago. Whether or not the recent split in Allied militant and conservative board factions influenced his decision is not known. However, Independent Exhibitors of New England, an Allied affiliate, announced after a recent board meeting that it was deferring action on its future relations with the national organization pending developments on reports of Myers' planned retirement. Other Allied organizations are known to have feelings on the subject. General Counsel Since 1932 Myers, now 70, helped found Allied and was its first president, serving three terms from 1929 through 1931, while concurrently acting as general counsel. He became chairman of the board and general counsel of the association in 1932. ' ; ' • , Jto> ATTENDING THE FIRST public showing of 20th Century-Fox's "Can-Can" in Todd-AO at the Fox Theatre in San Francisco: George Killian, president of the American President Lines; San Francisco Mayor George ChristopherMrs. Buddy Adler; Spyros P. Skouras, 20th-Fox president; Mrs. Christopherand Buddy Adler, 20th-Fox head of production. 'Nun 'a Story' ( Continued from page 1 ) movies: 1) "The Nun's Story"; 2) "Ben-Hur"; 3) "Anatomy of a Murder"; 4) "The Diary of Anne Frank"; 5) "Middle of the Night;" 6) "The Man Who Understood Women"; 7) "Some Like It Hot"; 8) "Suddenly, Last Summer"; 9) "On the Beach"; 10) "North by Northwest." 'Strawberries' Honored The Board chose "Wild Strawberries" as the best foreign picture of the year and cited the following other foreign pictures: 2) "Room at the Top"; 3) "Aparajito"; 4) "The Roof"; 5) "Look Back in Anger." Simone Signoret was voted the year's best actress for her performance in "Room at the Top" and Victor Seastrom the best actor for his performance in "Wild Strawberries." Dame Edith Evans was voted the best supporting actress for her performance in "The Nun's Story," and Hugh Griffith the best supporting actor for his in "Ben-Hur." Two Special Citations The Board gave two special citations. The first was to Ingmar Bergman for his versatility as a director and script-writer and for his handling of unusual subject matter. The second was to Andrew Marton and Yakima Canutt for their direction of the chariot race in "Ben-Hur." Branson Resigns ( Continued from page 1 ) tinued distribution of its product, followed by similar action on overseas sales in 1958, with Branson functioning as supervisor. Now that the supervision of the balance of the work has been turned over to others, Branson plans to devote himself to the development of his own plans, it was stated. 'Li'l Abner' Opening Grosses Big Everywhere Panama-Frank's "Li'l Abner" is setting a fast pace, despite inclement weather in many localities, in the first of its more than 400 scheduled holiday engagements, Paramount reported yesterday. Typical early gross reports follow. Representative "Abner" grosses are: Albee, Cincinnati, $8,692, first four days; State, Cleveland, $9,789, first four days; Stanley, Pittsburgh, $12,722, first four days; Towne, Milwaukee, $7,200, first five days; Fox, St. Louis, $9,441, first three days; Michigan, Detroit, $15,729, first five days. Also, Capitol, Salt Lake City, $7,057, first four days; Orpheum, Omaha, $6,038, first four days; State, Minneapolis, $10,005, first four days; Keith's, Syracuse, $7,092, first five days; Broad, Columbus, $4,994, first four days; Lincoln, Trenton, N.J., $6,144, first five clays; Rialto, Allentown, Pa., $2,198, first three days. 'Li'l Abner' Drive On Major tv and radio advertising campaigns for Panama-Frank's "Li'l Abner" are now underway, launching its 400 Christmas-New Year's engagements. Special tv trailers and radio spots have been prepared, underscoring the theme "Li'l Abner Comes Alive." The announcements are being programmed around the most popular shows in each situation. Time is divided between kiddie programs, adult shows and family specials. 'Rookie' Premiere Set The world premiere of 20th Century-Fox's "The Rookie" will be held on Christmas Day at the Utah Theatre, Salt Lake City. Additionally, the company has booked the film for special New Year's Eve engagements at selected theatres throughout the U.S. West Orange Theatre Will Show Only Approved Film 1 Special to THE DAILY 1 1 WEST ORANGE, N. J., Dec. il A West Orange theatre, The 1 1 house, has become the first in fl Newark archdiocese to respond jl request of an archdiocesan agenda show only morally approved film M a matter of policy. The request is being circulated J the Newark Archdiocesan Offic«,a Communications and Entertainni;3 It asks theatre managers to book |g films rated A-l (morally unobject able for everyone), A-2 (approved,«j adults and adolescents) and A-3 1 1 proved for adults), by the Nation M gion of Decency. \M Mayer Charg«| ( Continued from page 1 ) industry, and leading inevitably.! it is not curbed, to public demand^ censorship, classification of films, £ similar restrictions on production f* outside. Such conduct, if unchecil could well lead to industry self-5'; struction, Mayer said. Ultimately, i pictures of this nature will experiet a decidedly adverse reaction at the " office. The motion picture industry, sjj he, has a specific "cultural resp<" sibility" which must not be ignor' Referring to a recent observation t| the industry has a "circus baj' ground," Mayer retorted that I "sawdust in its blood" must not permitted to become "sawdust in t brain," and like the circus acrob1' the film industry is now "walking' tightrope" in the public view. He [ ferred also to another recent remi about "frightened people" talk* about the dangers inherent in the c^ rent production of questionable fm and declared that people, parents pecially, may well be "frightened"!' the film fare offered for their childij1 to see. Mayer called for a careful adh4 ence to the dictates of good taste f the production of films for the ml audience, and concluded with the o servation that what is good for Am^| ica is good for the motion picfi industry. Bob Montgomery, president AMPA, presided at the luncheoi marked by the annual presentation I numerous gifts, in the form of dot' prizes. has the boxoffice i touch!,