Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1960)

4 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, November 2, 1»( San Francisco Town Council Studies Atlanta Censor Calls Burns Head ! (Continued from page 1) Tchukhary, who directed the film and aided in writing the script, personally received the prize for "Best Director" at the awards ball here tonight in the Garden Court of the Sheraton Palace Hotel. On hand to receive applause for the double Russian victory were the two youthful stars of the picture. The hero, 20 -year-old Vladimir Ivashev and pretty Zhanna Prokhorenko 19. Other Golden Gate awards went to Italy's Giovanna Ralli, who played a black market girl of Rome in Roberto Rossellini's war story "Night over Rome" and Mexico's Iganacio Lopez Tarso, the mystical woodcutter of the fable "Macario." They received the prizes for best acting. Supporting Players Honored Awards for the best supporting roles went to Tanie Kitabayashi of Japan for his work in "Diary of Sueko" and to Memmo Carotenuto, who played a traveling actor in Spain's "Little Guide of Tormes," the picture that climaxed the film festival at the Metro Theatre. Of the only two feature documentaries in the festival, Sweden's "Mein Kampf" nosed out Holland's "Symphony of the Tropics." The Swedish film also received a special award for "revealing the face of Fascism and for its salutary warning to humanity." The best screenplay award went to Czechoslovakia. Jiri Weiss (who also directed) and Jan Otcenasek were honored for their script of "Romeo, Juliet and Darkness," a romantic drama set in Nazi-occupied Prague. Panel of These Judges The judges were Alexander Karaganov, Moscow film critic; Herman G. Weinberg, New York film translator and critic, and composer Darius Milhaud of France. Jean Renoir, leading film director of France, was one of the original judges but late last week had to return to France on important business. Milhaud, whose duties first were only to decide the best musical sound track, took over for Renoir. The jury also gave honorable mention awards to three performances by children they felt delivered particularly "endearing portrayals": Laci Totn in the Hungarian "Be Good All Your Life," Akiko Maeda in Japan's "The Diary of Sueko" and "Sung Kian of Korea in "Unheeded Cries." Censorship Changes Censorship 'Democratic' Canada Trade Report (Continued from page 1) show the distributors had been "more than generous" in their help to exhibitors with problems. Also discussed at the annual meetings were the issues of Sunday movies and censorship. Both groups agreed that there should be a more liberal attitude towards censorship in Canada, although the Saskatchewan Motion Picture Exhibitors Association suggested a single motion picture censorship board in Canada. Special to THE DAILY EVANSTON, 111., Nov. 1. -Possible changes in this city's movie theatre licensing and movie censorship structure are being studied by the city council's administration committee as part of the committee review of the city's total licensing system. Evanston has a population of about 75,000. Censorship and licensing are finked in Evanston because part of the theatre licensing rate is the censorship fee each of the theatres pay the city to have movies viewed in advance. Mrs. Joanne Mariani, Evanston policewoman, views the films in Chicago on her own time and does the censoring. The four Evanston theatres pay a censorship fee of $383 to $596 annually, depending on the number of seats. In addition, each theatre pays $180 a year to cover Mrs. Mariani's expenses. Criticized by City Official Alderman Charles B. Marshall recently criticized the censorship system as "prior restraint'" and said one person deciding what everyone else could see is an "insult" to the community. The alderman reviewed censorship policies in other communities at the city council's meeting Oct. 24, singling out Oak Park, 111., a town comparable in size to Evanston. "Oak Park abandoned its censorship board several years ago and has had few complaints since," he said. "I'm not criticizing Mrs. Mariani herself. I think she does a conscientious job. It's the principle of prior censorship I am opposed to." MCA Reports Net ( Continued from page 1 ) three quarters this year amounted to $9,251,346, compared with $7,212,033 for the previous comparable period. After preferred dividends, net income for the nine months this year was equivalent to $1.11 a share, compared with 86 cents per share last year. Stein also reported higher earnings for the third quarter of 1960. Earnings before taxes for this period were $2,735,799 compared with $2,230,059. Net income after taxes was $1,354,626 compared with $1,039,025 in 1959. After preferred dividends net income was $.33 per share for this quarter compared with $.25 for the corresponding 1959 period. MCA Inc. is in the business of television program production, distribution and entertainment agency. Films, Live-TV ( Continued from page 1 ) works, it was reported here today. The present contract expires December 31. DGA is basing its demands for parity of rates on the argument that most of non-filmed programs are taped and taped shows have a close relationship to filmed shows. Frank Capra, DGA president, is remaining in the East for several days. Special to THE DAILY ATLANTA, Nov. 1. Movie censorship here is "the democratic way" to protect the youth of this community, in the opinion of Mrs. Christine Smith Gilliam, Atlanta movie censor. Outlining her work to members of the Northside Kiwanis Club, Mrs. Gilliam emphasized, "We have asked for safeguards in this community because we care about our young people." She went on to say that she has seen 4,230 movies, "not counting the ones I had to see five or six times," and had banned 98 films, 51 of these from foreign countries. Panama-Frank Policy (Continued from page 1) Kong," co-starring Bing Crosby and Bob Hope, which will begin shootinoin Hong Kong at the end of June, 1961, and "Five Pieces of Maria," scheduled to enter production next Fall in Rome, and then moving to the Riviera. Both films, as is usual with this team, will be based on an original screenplay by them. Following these two films, they contemplate producing "13 Sinners," to be filmed "over the world," and "The Spanish Boarder," to be made in Spain. No distribution deal has yet been set on the latter films. James R. Velde, UA vice-president in charge of domestic sales, and Roger H. Lewis, the company's vicepresident in charge of advertising, publicity and exploitation, discussed the sales and promotion plans, respectively, for "The Facts of Life." Expects 250 Bookings Velde said he anticipated some 250 first run and key city booking on the comedy-drama across the country during the Christmas and New Year's holidays. No New York opening has yet been set. Before the meeting began, Lewis screened three special teaser trailers on the film which will be available free to exhibitors as part of a "booking package." One of the trailers is a Christmas /.greeting from the stars, Hope and Miss Ball. Lewis also revealed a Christmaswrapped gift box which will be sent to all UA exchanges for the various sales forces to distribute to "Facts of Life" exhibitors. Each box contains individual gaily wrapped promotion aids, including the teaser trailers; a reproduction of a 7-page full color ad in "McCall's" magazine and spot radio announcements. Lewis paid tribute to Panama and Frank for helping to make possible the unusual "coordination between production, sales and promotion" units in pre-arranging the comprehensive national merchandising plans scheduled for "The Facts of Life." ( Continued from page 1 ) simultaneously with the disclosui that George Shupert, vice-presider of MGM-TV since early 1959, h;ij resigned due to differing opinions .-; policy. j In his new executive positici Burns will supervise all MGM-T; sales divisions. Major changes in the MGM-T staff came at the conclusion of \ meeting held at the studio betwe< Vogel, Sol C. Siegel, vice-preside in charge of MGM production, Ro ert O'Brien, vice-president and trea urer, Robert Weitman, vice-preside in charge of tv production, Burns ar Shupert. Burns joined MGM-TV as direct, of national sales in April of 1959 fo lowing many years as executive : the radio and television industry. Tl last position in which he served w; as vice-president and director of n; tional sales for ABC Films, Inc. Ben Kaufman Heads ( Continued from page 1 ) supervise special publicity for th Vitalite-owned product. Appointment of Kaufman, Vetera film industry reporter and publicis , was described as part of a genen expansion of ValiantVitalite aotivi ties, designed to provide theatres wit! a greater supply of films. Every pic ture will be given top publicity treat ment, said Shore, who heads Valiant' sales and presentation of product un der the distribution arrangement wit] Vitalite. Kaufman has been on the Nev York staff of The Hollywood Reporte for many years, was a publicist witl M-G-M, United Artists and Univer" sal, and held editorial posts with sev eral television publications. Industry Income Tax ( Continued from page 1 ) 304,000, according to figures com' piled by the Internal Revenue Serv-t ice. Of those filing, 3,109 indicated that they had net income from theii total compiled receipts of $1,403,768,000. The net of these firms wa; $72,785,000. In contrast, results of the 6,99 returns show a computed net loss of $665,000. The 3,109 returns with net income1 show $808,521,000 as cost of sales and operations, and indicate compensation of $32,705,000 paid to officers. The 6,993 returns have salesj and operations costs of $1,423, 293,000 and officer compensation of $51,686,000. Music Hall Spotlighted The November issue of "McCall's" spotlights Betsy McCall at Radio City Music Hall, and her delight at its attractions. Wil-KinHandles Century Century Projector Corp. yesterday announced the appointment of the Wil-Kin Theatre Supply Co. as exclusive distributors in the Atlanta film territory of Century Americanmade 70/35mm Projectors and transistorized magnetic-optical sound systems and Century Standard 35mm line of theatre projectors and transistorized sound systems.