Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1959)

6 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, December 29, 1959 1 REVIEW: A Dog of Flanders 20th-Fox — CinemaScope Hollywood, Dec. 28 There has been little fanfare connected with this dramatic blockbuster, but, by the time it hits the screens during the coming Easter season, the whispers will be loud and strong to herald one of the biggest box office surprise "sleepers." Based on the internationally famous children's classic by Ouida, it is a simple, vet powerful story of a boy's great love for his dog and his heart-rending determination to become an artist. It will zoom to importance the name of David Ladd for a magnificent, sensitive portrayal of the impoverished Dutch boy whose inspiration to become a great painter was nurtured by his reverence for the famous Rubens. Robert Radnitz' entire production is in itself a masterpiece framed in CinemaScope, artistically designed by Nico Baarle, with highly impressive colorful backgrounds and costumes filmed entirely on location in Holland and Belgium. The subject matter contains a number of basic human emotions drawn from Ted Sherdeman's screenplay, with pleasing strokes of direction bv James B. Clark, highlighting the memorable characterizations of Donald Crisp, as the boy's grandfather, Theodore Bikel, a temperamental but soft-hearted artist, and Monique Ahrens, as his lovely model. Add to this for box office assurance the appearance in the title role, as the dog "Patrasche," Old Yeller, the dog from Walt Disney's highly successful film of the same name. Creditable performances are also delivered by Siohban Taylor, the little girl model and playmate of the Dutch boy, and her father, Max Croiset, the stern miller, a stalwart in the community. Unusual opportunities for exploitation tie-ins and publicity are in evidence throughout the film. Outstanding among these is a rare opportunity to view the famous Rubens painting, The Deposition, which covers a wall within the sanctity of Antwerp's Cathedral Of Our Lady; and which was filmed under special privilege to producer Radnitz for the manner in which it has been integrated and presented in the story. As a moving "painting" of farm and city life in Holland and Belgium, circa 1900, it tells the story of the struggle by an aging grandfather, suffering with a leg ailment, and his grandson, an orphan, to maintain a milk cart service to the city for neighboring farmers. They find and nurse back to health a cart dog left to die by his drunken master, a peddler. The dog assists Ladd in covering the route after Crisp finds it difficult to walk, and his hopes of having his grandson help him out by becoming an apprentice diamond cutter are denied. Ladd, on his trips to the city, befriended by Bikel and his model, is given encouragement to pursue his ambition as Bikel supplies him with painting materials. Bikel also saves the dog for the boy when the peddler tries to reclaim him. The peddler dies later as he is swept by a windmill following another attempt to take the dog. Crisp dies while posing for his grandson, who has just completed a drawing which he will enter in a children's art competition. The boy, destitute and frustrated by the unreasonable selection of the winning art study, which would have brought him prize money and salvation, leaves his dog with the miller's daughter and runs off in despair. Bikel, discovering the boy's work, which should have won the competition, decides to take care of the boy and help him become a painter. Bikel learns from the miller that the boy has run away, but the dog helps track him down in the Cathedral where he seeks solace on Christmas eve, in the presence of the Rubens painting, unveiled for him by a kindly priest. Running time, 97 minutes. General classification. Release, in March, 1960. S.D.B. has the boxoffice touch ! Critics Select ( Continued from page 1 ) finished second in two other categories, best actress and best screenplay. Other nominees for best picture were "The Diary of Anne Frank," "The Last Angry Man," "Suddenly, Last Summer," "Career," "Anatomy of a Murder," and "On the Beach," which placed third. The closest race was for best actress, where Audrey Hepburn ( "The Nun's Story") edged Simone Signoret ("Room at the Top"), 8-7, on the sixth ballot. Earlier nominees were Elizabeth Taylor ("Suddenly, Last Summer"), Millie Perkins ("The Diary of Anne Frank"), and Lee Remick ( "Anatomy of a Murder" ) . Stewart Won on 5th Ballot James Stewart ( "Anatomy of a Murder") trailed Paul Muni ("The Last Angry Man" ) for four ballots and finally won on the fifth, 10-5. Those named earlier were Jack Lemmon ("Some Like it Hot"), Charlton Heston ( "Ben-Hur" ) , Laurence Harvey ("Room at the Top"), Joseph Welch ( "Anatomy of a Murder" ) , Orson Welles ("Compulsion"), and Richard Burton ( "Look Back in Anger" ) . The sixth and final ballot for best director was split four ways. Fred Zinnemann ("The Nun's Story") won with eight votes. Jack Clayton ( "Room at the Top") had five, William Wyler ("Ben-Hur") and Basil Dearden ("Sapphire") each received one vote. Others nominated for best director were Joseph Anthony ("Career"), Joseph L. Mankiewicz ("Suddenly, Last Summer"), Alfred Hitchcock ("North by Northwest"), Otto Preminger ("Anatomy of a Murder"), and George Stevens ( "The Diary of Anne Frank." ) 'Black Orpheus' Second The award for best foreign film went to "The 400 Blows" (French) which received 12 votes to three for "Black Orpheus" ( French ) , on the third ballot. Other nominated films were "Aparajito" (Indian), and "The Magician" and "Wild Strawberries" ( both Swedish ) . The screenplay for "Anatomy of a Murder," by Wendell Mayes, was voted best for 1959, 10-3, on the third ballot. Also nominated for best screenplay were "Ben-Hur," "The Diary of Anne Frank," "Sapphire," "Career," "Look Back in Anger," "Suddenly, Last Summer," and "Room at the Top." One abstention and one absence was noted in the voting for best screenplay. Presentation of the awards will be made on Jan. 23 at Sardi's. Columbia Pictures pointed out yesterday that its "Anatomy of a Murder" is receiving top honors on "best films" lists for 1959. It was the only picture to appear on the "best" lists of five major New York newspapers — the Times, Herald Tribune, Daily News, JournalAmerican and World-Telegram and Sun. James Stewart, star of the picture, placed third in the Top Ten Money Making Stars poll of Quigley Publications, Columbia noted. Mass. Bill Would Ban Under 18s from Drive-Ins Special to THE DAILY BOSTON, Dec. 28.-A bill which would ban young people under 18 from attending drive-in theatres in the Commonwealth unless they are accompanied by an adult has been' filed in the state legislature by Rep. j Charles Iannello. U.K. Film Bill (Continued from page 1) through the House of Lords but is likely to have completed its passage f through Parliament by the end of ' February. To date, only one amendment, deal ' ing with the controversial Clause 8 j on the employment of foreign pro 1 ducers and directors, is scheduled for the report stage of the Bill. The goveminent has already indicated that, as ( a result of industry pressure, Clause 8, which restricts the participation of foreign talent in British films, will be re-drafted. This Clause provided that for a film to qualify as British everyone engaged as a producer or director, except one, must be a British subject, 1 or a citizen of the Republic of Ire I land, or resident in the Commonwealth. This, it was alleged, could I prevent American finance being avail 1 able with a consequent loss of "know t how" to Britain. About 40 per cent ' of British film production had the [ help of American finance. : U.K. Admissions ( Continued from page 1 ) next Budget," said Sir Alex, "all extra | revenue we require to keep going \ could come from the benefits of that i concession." This decision, Sir Alex added, was 1 in keeping with the Chancellor's policy J of keeping prices down. If, however, the Chancellor did not abolish the tax j next April "our policy will be revised," I said Sir Alex. The circuits' statement issued two ) weeks ago said that even if the Chan \ cellor granted complete abolition of \ the tax, the industry as a whole would | not be showing a reasonable return on its capital outlay. The downward ! trend of admissions had been sev j erely aggravated by the long, hot j summer in Britain this year, it was pointed out.