The Exhibitor (1956)

" Around The World'' Named Best Of 1956 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 9 Major Loews Stockholder Urges Resignations Of Five Directors New York — “Around the World in 80 Days” has been chosen as the best picture of 1956 by the Committee on Exceptional Films of the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. In announcing the choice, Henry Hart, chairman of the committee, and editor of the Board’s magazine, Films in Review, said that the choice was the result of the Committee’s belief that “Around the World in 80 Days” had util¬ ized, more fully and more successfully than any other ’56 film, the artistic and technical resources which distinguish the motion picture from the other arts. The Board’s list of 1956’s 10 best also includes “Moby Dick,” “The King and I,” “Lust for Life,” “Friendly Persuasion,” “Somebody Up There Likes Me,” “The Catered Affair,” “Anastasia,” “The Man Who Never Was,” and “Bus Stop.” The Board chose “The Silent World” as the best foreign film during 1956. The Board’s other choices for the best foreign films were “War and Peace,” “Richard III,” “La Strada,” and “Rififi.” John Huston was named the year’s best director for “Moby Dick.” Dorothy Mc¬ Guire was chosen as the year’s best actress for “Friendly Persuasion.” Yul Brynner was voted the best screen actor of the year for his performances in “The King and I,” “Anastasia,” and “The Ten Com¬ mandments.” Debbie Reynolds was chosen 1956’s best supporting actress for her per¬ formance in “The Catered Affair.” Richard Basehart was voted the year’s best sup¬ porting actor for his performance in “Moby Dick.” Censorship Return Feared Washington — Restoration of film cen¬ sorship laws in Ohio and Pennsylvania next year will be vigorously backed in these state legislatures, it was predicted last week by Manning Clagett, director of state legislative activity, Motion Pic¬ ture Association of America. In addition, Clagett said, groups in Minnesota, Massa¬ chusetts, and West Virginia may make efforts to put such laws on the books. In Ohio and Pennsylvania, censorship satutes recently were rendered inopera¬ tive and efforts to revive them came close to success this year, with the result that the industry can expect strong and renewed efforts during the coming ses¬ sions of the legislatures, Clagett indicated. Gold Medal Names Maguire New York— Martin H. Poll, president, Gold Medal Studios, Inc., announced last week the appointment of Charles Maguire, Sr., as manager of the famed Bronx Studio. A veteran of the industry, Maguire spent 14 years directing training and morale films for the U.S. Army Signal Corps before returning to the motion pic¬ ture industry. Ginger Rogers Goes Independent Hollywood — Ginger Rogers has formed her own independent company for the production of motion pictures and tele¬ vision, according to an announcement last week from her business manager. Properties for both mediums will be announced in the near future. ITOA Asks Martin-Lewis To Continue As Team NEW YORK — At a meeting last fortnight of the Independent Theatre Owners Association of New York at the Sheraton Astor Hotel a resolution was unanimously adopted calling upon Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis to re¬ consider their decision to split as a comedy team and go their separate ways. The resolution emphasized that Martin and Lewis as a popular comedy combination are a “potent boxoffice attraction” and urged other interested groups to join in “urging Martin and Lewis to continue as a team.” Ripps Succeeds Hickey As MGM Division Head New York — Charles M. Reagan, vicepresident and general sales manager of Loew’s, last week announced the appoint¬ ment of Herman L. Ripps to the post of west coast division sales manager for MGM, succeeding George A. Hickey who will retire Dec. 31. Ripps has been as¬ sistant eastern division sales manager for the company with head¬ quarters in New York City. He goes to Los Angeles to take up his new assignment early in January, well quali¬ fied by a background of experience in distribution. He forsook a career in engi¬ neering, for which he prepared at Syra¬ cuse University, for training with MGM beginning in 1928. He learned all facets of branch opera¬ tion by working in booking, accounting, sales and management posts in numerous branch offices before becoming MGM’s youngest branch manager, at Albany, in 1941. He was upped to district manager in charge of the Albany, Buffalo, and New Haven territories in 1945, becoming as¬ sistant eastern division sales manager in 1947. He is a native New Yorker, married, and the father of two teen-age sons and a daughter. Times Sets Seven For '57 New York — Seven pictures will be put into national release in 1957 by Times Film Corporation, it was announced last week by William Shelton, vice-president in charge of distribution. The pictures are “Wee Geordie,” a George K. Arthur-Times Film release; Emile Zola’s “Nana,” Sacha Guitry’s “The Royal Affairs In Versailles,” Jean-Paul Sartre’s “The Respectful Prostitute,” “Casanova,” “Lovers’ Net,” and “The Devil’s Daughter.” New York — The resignation of five Loew’s, Inc., directors, four of whom are vice-presidents, was called for last week by Joseph Tomlinson, Canadian financier who, holding 250,000 Loew’s shares, is the largest individual stockholder. The direc¬ tors named are Howard Dietz, advertising and publicity vice-president; Charles Moskowitz, vice-president and treasurer; Ben Melnicker, vice-president and coun¬ sel; Charles M. Reagan, vice-president; and George A. Brownell, an attorney. If the resignations are not forthcoming, it was indicated, a proxy fight might ensue. Tomlinson’s demands were made in a letter to president Joseph R. Vogel and were subsequently explored at a com¬ pany executive meeting attended by Tom¬ linson and his attorney, Benjamin A. Javits of the firm of Javits and Javits. The latter holds more than 1,000 Loew’s shares in his own name. In a copy of the letter released by Tomlinson to the press, it was asserted that the present manage¬ ment of the film company has failed to act in the public interest and that the corporation has been “riddled with nepotism and favoritism.” Tomlinson said further that he had met with Louis B. Mayer, former MGM production chief, who has offered to return in a similar capacity, but not under the present management. It was emphasized by Javits that Tom¬ linson is acting as an individual stock¬ holder and not as the representative of a committee of stockholders, and expressed the hope that agreement could be reached without his client resorting to a proxy fight. At the same time, it was revealed that Richard Crooks, partner in Thomp¬ son, McKinnon and Company, brokerage firm which handles a securities account for Tomlinson, has resigned from the Loew’s board having joined it only last month. Vogel, who succeeded Arthur M. Loew as president two months ago, stated he desires the fullest stockholder representa¬ tion in the management of the corporation and that it had always been the inten¬ tion of the company to have a majority representation of non-company members on the board, which stands seven to six in that ratio at present. He further said that he had offered a place on the board to Tomlinson on several occasions, but that the invitation had been declined. Vogel added that he would release shortly a detailed program on the future of the company. The board reported that earnings for the first quarter of the current fiscal year, ended Nov. 22, equalled 33 cents a share of 5,303,447 shares outstanding, compared with five cents a share in the same period recently from her business manager, standing. Holden, Paramount In New Pact Hollywood — William Holden and Para¬ mount have signed a new contract calling for the Academy Award-winning actor to star in six pictures over a period of years. It is non-exclusive. Kipps December 26, 1956