Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1960)

liesdav. February 24. I960 Motion Picture Daily mi, Special Effects vitiations for 'Oscar' listing nominations for the 1959 ferny Awards in Motion Picture Jy yesterday two categories — 1 and special effects— had to be jed because of space considera r the record they are reprinted lr the best achievement in sound ■n-Hur," MGM Studio Sound ., Franklin E. Milton; "Journey ? Center of the Earth," 20th Cen|Fox Studio Sound Dept.; Carl ifcner, sound director; "Libel!" I London Sound Dept. (British), . . Watkins, sound director; "The s Story," Warner Bros. Studio d Dept., George B. Groves, sound tor; "Porgy and Bess," Samuel wvii Studio Sound Dept., Gordon mvyer, sound director, and Todd(Sound Dept., Fred Hynes, sound l-tor. >r the best achievement in spej, effects-"Ben-Hur," MGM, A. >Id Gillespie and Bobert MacDon' visual effects, Milo Lorv, sound Ms; "Journey to the Center of Earth," 20th-Fox, L. G. Abbott James B. Gordon, visual effects, Harrv Leonard, sound effects. rent Best Censor (Continued from page 1) lied by William K. Zinsser, forfilm critic for the New York i\d Tribune, in an article on cen'hip in the Feb. 29 issue of Life ;azine, published today, sserting that American films have ■ed to be "family entertainment," .ser cited examples of the "frank" feet matter being employed in both rent and forthcoming pictures, s has stirred "cries of alarm round land," he says, "but the reaction ■s no simple organized form. It sists, instead, of a general awarei that American movies have sudh' become more 'frank,' 'adult' or ty,' that the public morality may liehow be in danger, and that perils something ought to be done i-L'it it." S Sees New Demands Ml — jtinsser predicts new demands for sorship in 1960 and also for some :em of classification. "Neither of se cures," he adds, "is likelv to k-k." the reason: "The new freedom (of »ject matter and treatment) is more n a revolution within the film in;try itself. It is part of a change in entertainment appetites of the ion as a whole." \s a result, he concludes, "the task policing American movies in the ning era of frank expression will ■ in two places. The first is Holly■od itself, for if the motion picture tustry misuses its freedom, public -pinion will soon snatch that freedom ay." ;The other he defines as the parent, • ■'ing "true censorship, like charity, . gins at home, the one place where I incontestably belongs." Mail Reaction Reported Adverse to N. Y. Film Classification Bills Special to THE DAILY ALBANY, N.Y., Feb. 23.— The mail reaction to film ratings (classification) bills has been "bad" (that is, adverse) in the Assembly Education Committee, a spokesman said today. Pending before that committee are: A measure by Joseph B. Younglove, Johnstown Bepublican, and chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Offensive and Obscene Material, empowering the State Education Department's motion picture division, when authorized by the Begents, to classify as unsuitable for children subject to the compulsory education law (to 16) a film which, though licensed, portrays nudity, horror, violence, brutality, sadism, juvenile delinquency, drug addiction or sexual conduct or relationships "to an extent believed by the division contrary to the proper mental, ethical and moral development" of such children. One Bill For Adults' An act by Luigi Marano, Brooklyn Bepublican, permitting the motion picture division director to classify a film for "adults only"— under standards and regulations established by die Begents— and to make unlawful the admission of anyone under 19, with a $25 fine for violation. Assemblyman Joseph J. Weiser, New York City Democrat, is sponsor of a bill identical with Younglove's. Marano, who won the support of the Cadiolic War Veterans and some other Catholic groups in Brooklyn, for several years, to a three classifications measure (sponsored this year by Senator William F. Conklin), has made a determined effort to widen the basis of backing for his adult-classificationand-fine legislation. The Tablet, organ of the Brooklyn Catholic Diocese, approved it in a "nice"' editorial several weeks ago, according to Marano. There has been no written comment locally, although the reaction of several organizations has been sought. Dr. Hugh M. Flick, former director of the motion picture division and present executive assistant to State Education Commissioner James E. Allen, Jr., is on record for "classification," without specifying any particular bill. Same as Last Year's Measure When profiling his, Younglove issued a statement to the effect that joint committee had submitted the same bill last year, had conducted hearings at which many representatives of the motion picture industry testified, and had "conferred with leading producers, distributors and exhibitors and with representatives of the Motion Picture Production Code Administration." "It was the committee's expressed hope that voluntary and effective self regulation and improvement would result within the industry, following evidences of deep public concern in this state and throughout the nation," Younglove said. "Unfortunately, such self-regulation and improvement have not materialized." Holiday Grosses (Continued from page 1) mount broke the all-time record for Washington's Birthday at the theatre by returning $11,500 for the day. "On the Beach," in its ninth week at the Astor, grossed $29,882 for the weekend, topping the Lincoln's Birthday three-day gross by more than $5,000. In its ninth week at the Criterion, "Suddenly, Last Summer" did a good $25,072. "Our Man in Havana'' drew $16,615 for the three days at the Forum, and 14,764 at the' Trans-Lux 52nd Street, where tlie film is playing day-and-date. "The Mouse That Roared" continued its steady business at the Guild by grossing $8,156 for the three-day period, part of the 18th week of the run. Music Hall Crowded ' Once More, With Feeling," in its second week at the Music Hall, turned in $95,791 over the weekend. At the Trans-Lux Normandie "Swan Lake" grossed $6,641 for the three days. "Bosemary," German film in its sixth week at the Beekman, broke a Washington's Birthday house record when it took in $3,348 for the day, highest holiday gross in the history of the theatre. The four-day weekend figure for "Ben-Hur" at Loew's State was $34,680. At the Capitol, "The Last Voyage" produced $26,000 for the same four days. "Operation Petticoat," which began its first New York break last Wednesday at 68 houses, was headed for a record $860,000 on its seven-day engagement. Favorably Report Tax Foreign Investment Bill From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Feb. 23. — The Ways and Means Committee has favorably reported H.B. 5, the Boggs ( D., La. ) foreign investment incentive tax bill. In its report the committee makes it clear that the motion picture industry can hope to benefit from the tax deferral features of the bill, but that this will not be an easy thing to do. One Democrat and 10 Bepublican.s" dissented to the report. he bill permits deferral of U.S. tax on certain income earned abroad until the funds are distributed or brought back into this country. Though the measure imposes a 25 per cent limit on such income in computing deferral elegibilitv, the report points out: to the extent that income from patents, copyrights, etc., may qualify as income from the active conduct of a trade or business or as income other than dividends . . . the 25 per cent restriction does not applv." Film-Seal Bill (Continued from page 1) Committee on Offensive and Obscene material, and by Sen. Thomas A. Dully, Long Island City Democrat, or a bill amending Section 122 of Education Law to provide that the state's motion picture division, when it has licensed a film, may classify it as approved for patronage by children attending elementary and secondary schools, and shall, if authorized: by the Begents, have the authority , to award the producers, distributors or exhibitors of any film so classified "a seal or other appropriate evidence of its approval," was followed by statements today from Younglove and committee counsel James A. Fitzpatrick, of Pittsburgh, that the ney measure has "a positive approach to the problem.? It supplants an earlier committee bill dealing with the same subject. The hew proposal adds to. the particular section of the statute these words: "When licensed, a film may be classified as approved for patronage by children attending the elemental') and secondary schools of the state. No film shall be so classified if the same portrays nudity or violence, brutality, sadism, juvenile delinquency, drug addiction or sexual conduct or relationships to an extent believed by the division to be contrary to the proper mental, ethical and moral development of such children. "The division shall maintain a record of all films so approved and shall publish, release or otherwise disseminate such record and at such times and in such manner as may be authorized by the Begents. "If authorized by the Begents, it shall have the authority to award the producers, exhibitors, or distributors of any film so classified a seal or other appropriate evidence of its approval." The bill also amends Section 124 of Education Law, to permit an aplicant for a license to appeal to the Begents, in the event a film licensed by the motion picture division has not been classified approved for patronage by children as provided in the rewritten section 122. Wage Law Views (Continued from page 1) of the far-reaching minimum wage extender being considered by the committee, proposed an amendment to his bill which would substitute $1,000,000 for the $750,000 coverage floor embodied in the bill as it now stands. Dirkson Feels that Eisenhower Opposes Minimum Pav Hike WASHINGTON, Feb. 23. Minority leader Dirksen (B.. 111.) today stated that even though labor secretary Mitchell has said that a "modest increase" in the minimum wage would not be inflationary, he has no reason to believe that the Administration and the President favor any increase. He added that he has not changed his own view of opposition to raising the pay floor.