Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1959)

l!''uisday, December 24, 1959 Motion Picture Daily in, TOP TEN MONEY MAKING STARS (Continued from page 1) paid Money Making Stars annual U is conducted by direct mail ballot Hong the exhibitors of the United %tes and Canada. Theatremen in U.S. are divided into circuit houses J independents with the final tally seise combined opinion. "Five of the Top Ten stars this year :re also among the winners in 1958; ir.are making a return after abiices; and one is appearing for the 'it time. On last year were Hudson, ;wart, Ford, Sinatra, and Lewis, ^appearing are Grant, Miss Day, toyne, and Miss Hayward. On the list | the first time is Miss Reynolds, jho was selected by exhibitors as a noijir of Tomorrow in 1952 in that [ill, also conducted for FAME. Hudson, who had slipped to Numlr Five last year (after being Numr One, as noted, the year before it) bounced back on the basis of o "blockbusters" — "This Earth Is ine" and "Pillow Talk." Grant's sudden resurgence to the umber Two spot is a tribute to that -able actor's remarkable durability, b was among the Top Ten in 1944 d again in 1949. In recent years he Jh always been prominently menit jined but just below the charmed Icle list. "North by Northwest" this (ar shot him to the heights and "Opu](|ation Petticoat" and his other planij|d projects for 1960 should keep him [lere. Immediately following the box ofe champions were 15 stars, who e, in order, as follows: Elizabeth lylor, William Holden, Gary Cooper, ml Newman, Dean Martin, Sandra ee, Brigitte Bardot, Tony Curtis, lirley MacLaine, Marilyn Monroe, larlon Brando, Pat Boone, Ingrid ii?rgman, Yul Brynner, and Kirk Uouglas. CARY GRANT JAMES STEWART DORIS DAY an DEBBIE REYNOLDS GLENN FORD FRANK SINATRA JERRY LEWIS SUSAN HAYWARD Marcus Plan (Continued from page 1) inual convention in Miami Beach. The Marcus Plan, which was enbrsed by convention resolution, also j-oposed that the films acquired be [leased either through existing disputing companies or a distributing ipmpany to be formed specifically for lat purpose. The Justice Department spokesman id the Marcus plan is similar to hers that have been proposed and )mmented upon by Department offiials. Notably, he said, comments on le subject of exhibitor acquisition of pst-'48 films were made by Victor R. lansen, former Assistant U. S. At■prney General in charge of the Antitrust Division, at Theatre Owners of jmerica's convention in Miami Beach 1st year. At that time, Judge Hansen said the department could have no favorites as between the motion picture and television industries, and that each must stand on its own feet. If one industry could acquire the product, he said, that would be all right, and the Department could not then protect the other industry from such legitimate competition. However, Hansen also said that any conspiracy to prevent feature films from being licensed to television would be counter to the anti-trust laws. This presumably refers both to conspiracy among exhibitors and to collusion with distributors. States D. of J. Views, He Says In any event, the Department spokesman said, the Hansen statement still accurately reflects today's position of the Department on the question. There is, however, some question as to whether such decree companies as National Theatres & Television, Stanley Warner Corp. and Loew's Theatres would be able to participate in any plan that essentially put exhibitors into film distribution. The consent decrees of the three companies are restrictive on that; those of RKO Theatres and American BroadcastingParamount Theatres are not. Myers Sees Plan Feasible Abram F. Myers, Allied chairman and general counsel, told the Miami Beach convention he thought the Marcus Plan "could be legally accomplished." He added that he did not "want to get in a hassle with company lawyers who must act with extreme caution in those matters on account of past history," but he said that he sees the situation as two rival groupstheatres and television— each competing by vying for product. "Television's purpose is to play the pictures, but also to keep them away from theatres." He noted that if the owners of the pictures conspired with theatre owners, that would be illegal. The Allied convention authorized further study of the Marcus Plan. WGA Contract ( Continued from page 1 ) an agreement to a new five-year contract was reached with Edward Small Productions, Inc., Global Productions, Eclipse Films, Inc., Reliance Films, Inc., Superior Pictures, and World Films. The contract is the same as the one entered into several weeks ago by the Mirisch Company, Harold Hecht Productions, Stanley Kramer Companies, Pennebaker, Inc., and Seven Arts Productions, Inc. Payment for Post-'48 Films The pact includes a recognition of payment to guilds and unions on post1948 pictures released to television; a satisfactory increase in minimums; separation of rights for original material either sold or written under employment whereby the writer reserves publication rights, dramatic rights and sequel rights. Also, the contract includes the right to reopen negotiations in the area of pictures produced for pay television. Borgese Named (Continued from page 1) Paris office, will go to Italy next month as assistant to Frank Gervasi, director of the Rome MPEAA office and the Mediterranean area. Prior to joining MPEAA Borgese was associated with the Experiment in International Living which sponsored the Community Ambassador Project. He served with that organization from 1951 to 1954 in the United States, Holland, France and Italy. He later taught English conversation and culture for two years at the College Moderne, Versailles, France. Now Home on Leave Borgese is now in the United States on home leave and following the holidays he will return to Paris for a few days before reporting for his new duties in Rome. The finest carbons ever made... ATIONAL TRADEMARK PROJECTOR CARBONS