Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1959)

4 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, December 29, 1959 Television Joday w°* That LadY? Filmways to Invest In 'Outside' Pilots By SAMUEL D. BERNS HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 28. Television producers who have "packages" with leading and key supporting players tied in will find a haven for their efforts with the recently formed Filmways Tv, Inc., Al Simon, president, stated in an interview at his office on the General Service Studio lot. Simon, former executive with Desilu and McCadden Productions, said he is ready to invest in "outside" pilots, citing the difficulty today in obtaining leads for five projects he has ready for production. Filmways Tv, which is a subsidiary of Martin Ransohoff's TV commercial producing organization, Filmways, Inc., is ready to roll with Ralph Leavy's situation comedy, "Mr. Cellini," written by Arthur Alsberg and Mel Diamond; Harold Swanton's script of "Life and Hard Times of Barney Benedict"; "War Birds," a series based on World War I fliers; Jay Somers' teleplay of "Double Take"; and a series on a fascinating trouble shooter, "Joe Domino," as soon as the proper leads can be obtained. Simon said that while he is playing "lead" detective, the company will benefit from a re-run deal of thirteen "21 Beacon Street" programs, star Announce Series on State Dep't. Officers The forthcoming production of a TV film series dramatizing the activities of United States foreign service officers engaged in consular operations abroad was announced by Jerry Feldman, president of Derel Producing Associates, Inc. Feldman said the series, entitled "The Consul," had been assured the full cooperation of the Department of State. Stories for the series will be drawn from accounts of foreign service officers' dramatic experiences from the files of the Department. The State Department will also provide technical advice. NBC Promotes Eiges Sydney H. Eiges, vice-president, press and publicity of the National Broadcasting Company, has been promoted to the newly created position of vice-president, public information, it was announced by Robert E. Kintner, president of NBC. At the same time, Kintner announced the promotion of Lester Bernstein, director of information, to the newly created position of director, corporate affairs. Both promotions are effective Jan. 8. ring Dennis Morgan, on the ABC-TV network Sundays at 10:30 P.M., which it is expected will be expanded for a continuing series. THE TENTH ANNUAL COMMUNION BREAKFAST for Catholic people of the Motion Picture Industry in the New York area will be held Sunday, January 24th. Mass at nine o'clock at St. Patrick's Cathedral, with breakfast immediately following in the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Waldorf-Astoria. For information and tickets, communicate with the member of the Sponsoring Committee in Your Office, or Miss Marguerite Bourdette, Room 1107, 1501 Broadway. Tel. : BRyant 9-8700. (Tickets $4.00 each) CONTINUED FROM PAGE P one of the zaniest marital comedies. In addition to the three stars, there!, are the priceless performances of James Whitmore, as an FBI ageni with an ulcer which is aggravated by the antics of Curtis, Martin anc Leigh; and Larry Storch who portrays a Russian spy with such frustratecj reactions, while attempting to get information from a "drugged" Curtis!, that he gives the picture one of its longest and enjoyable laugh sequences! And, for an extra measure of fun, Barbara Nichols and Joi Lansingl looking their sexiest, will be remembered as the Coogle Sisters, ready and willing to give their all for a chance in show business. Krasna's adaptation of his play, "Who Was That Lady I Saw Yovl, With?" which was produced on Broadway by Leland Hayward, gets off to a good start and keeps building to big laugh payoffs as Janet Leigfj. threatens to leave her husband, Tony Curtis, a Columbia University chemistry professor, whom she catches in an embracing kiss with on6 of the foreign exchange students, after class. Curtis calls on his buddv Dean Martin, a TV writer, to help him ouj" of the jam. Martin dreams up a story, which results in Tony's convincing Janet that he has been an FBI agent working under orders to prevenlj enemy agents from obtaining the names of professors working on secre; projects, and that kissing the foreign exchange student was in line witl the performance of his dutv. The doubting Janet falls for the contrivec story and projects a new admiration for her husband when he produce; an FBI identification card and gun, (obtained by Dean for Tony from the CBS Television prop department), as proof positive that he isn't lying. The conscientious prop man at CBS notifies the FBI that the card is sued for an alleged show has not been returned, and Whitmore is put oi the case. Martin, having a great deal of influence over his buddy, in veigles him into keeping a "fun" date with the Coogle Sisters, offering Janet the excuse that Tony has to help him on a dangerous assignment] Janet having been convinced also that Dean is a member of the FBI. Whitman, trying to retrieve the false identification card without caus ing another rift between the young couple, becomes more deeply in volved when Janet takes him to a Chinese restaurant where she know! Dean and her husband are keeping a rendezvous with what she believes are two enemy spies. This scene ends in hilarity as Janet tries to us< Tonv's gun to protect him from trouble with the two "hot" Coogles, anc grazes Whitmore's arm with a bullet. A CBS-TV news portable uni happens to roll by at the same moment, and a talkative Janet disclose: her husband's "heroism" as an FBI agent in preventing information fron falling into the hands of Russian spies. Curtis and Martin are now deeply involved as a result of their hoax but are enlisted to help the FBI track down a couple of Russian spie.j who, they have discovered, are planning to kidnap Curtis to get the, names of the professors. The FBI get their men, but not before Curtis, and Martin, subjected to drugs and beating by the spies, are left helpless^ in the basement of the Empire State Building. When Curtis and Martirj regain consciousness they believe they are being held captive on a Russian submarine in surroundings of pipes, levers and meters. In an explosively funny climax, Curtis and Martin decide on a heroic gesture: to flood and sink the "submarine" while singing "God Bless Amerj ica." With the turning of a number of valves, the boys find themselve^ waist-deep in gushing water, flooding the basement of the world's largesl building. On being saved by the FBI, Curtis professes his love for Janet; who has learned of the hoax, and the picture ends on a happy note a? Curtis, Martin and Leigh take off in a merry gait down 34th Street. Running time, 116 minutes. General classification. Release, in January Samuel D. Berns Freet Replaces Keough Goulding Services Toda^ LINCOLN, Nebr., Dec. 28 -Phil Keough, who has been city manager for Cooper Foundation Theatres in Omaha, Nebr., has resigned effective Jan. 2, 1960, and will be replaced by Tom Freet, it was announced by Kenneth E. Anderson, general manager of the circuit. Freet has been the manager of the new Cooper Todd-AO Theatre in Omaha. He had not previously been associated with the motion picture industry. Keough will announce his plans in the near future. HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 28-Funera1 services for Edmund Goulding, 68 who died Thursday at Cedars of Lebaj non Hospital of a heart ailment, will be held tomorrow at 11:30 A.M. a the Forest Lawn Wee Kirk O' the Heather. A noted director, writer! and composer for films, Goulding wa; born in London, England. His credit: for direction include "Grand Hotel,'1 "The Old Maid," "Dark Victory,' "The Great Lie," and "The Razor': Edge."