Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1947)

Metro in 10Year Deal for Africa The signing of a sweeping 10-year contract providing for the showing of all MGM releases in the houses of African Consolidated Theatres, the largest circuit on the continent, was announced this week by Arthur M. Loew, president of Loew's International, in New York. The deal covers not only all African Consolidated Theatres in South Africa, British Southwest Africa, Rhodesia, Tanganyika and Kenya, in some of which MGM will now have exclusive playing time, but also includes any houses that may be built during the next 10 years under the circuit's proposed building program. Final details of the agreement were completed at a luncheon last Monday, attended by Mr. Loew and I. W. Schlesinger, president of African Consolidated Theatres. Also in attendance were Morton A. Spring, first vice-president of Loew's International ; Samuel N. Burger, sales manager; Charles Goldsmith, regional coordinator for the British Empire for Loew's International, and M. A. Schlesinger. While the deal further solidifies MGM's position in that part of the world, the company already is operating two first runs in South Africa — the Metro theatre in Johannesburg and the Metro in Durban. In addition, MGM product has played the Schlesinger circuit for the past 12 years, but on short-term contracts. Enterprise Productions are included in the agreement. "New Orleans" in Dual Opening in Baltimore The United Artists-Jules Levey release, "New Orleans," was to have had a dayand-date opening at the Hippodrome theatre, a downtown first run, and the Harlem, a Negro first run, in Baltimore Thursday. This marks the first time that a picture will have played a downtown first run and a Negro first run house simultaneously. Both premieres are being promoted by the same type of ballyhoo that characterized other key city openings. The Harlem is increasing its admission scales to match those of the Hippodrome and other first runs for the "New Orleans" run. NAVED Convention Set for Chicago August 3 to 6 The 1947 annual convention and trade show of the National Association of Visual Education Dealers will be held from August 3 to 6 at the Hotel Sherman in Chicago. With 75 firms participating, the trade show's booths will exhibit the. products of nearly every manufacturer and producer in the 16mm and audio-visual field. The convention itself will be conducted under the "participation" system, D. T. Davis, general chairman of the convention committee, has announced, and the three-day program will include 12 conference groups. LATE REVIEW Wyoming Republic — Adventure Western Premiered at Cheyenne Wednesday during the fifty-first annual Frontier Days celebration, Republic's "Wyoming" is a high budget Western packed with all those exploitable ingredients which fill theatres catering to audiences who prefer the outdoor adventure type of picture. In this, associate producer-director Joseph Kane has taken a well-written screenplay by Lawrence Hazard and Gerald Geraghty, and from it has emerged with a swift-paced melodrama of the rugged grazing lands of Wyoming in the 1870's and the equally rugged people who lived by the code of the gun. In it he has incorporated all the elements of adventure and romance, swift riding and hard fighting and touches of homespun comedy in the person of the veteran Western player, George "Gabby" Hayes. In addition it has the exploitable names of William Elliott, who has appeared in more than 60 Westerns ; Vera Ralston, John Carroll, Albert Dekker, Virginia Grey and Mme. Maria Ouspenskaya, all of whom carry their roles with ease and conviction. The story is concerned with Elliott as a pioneering rancher who has built a cattle empire for his beautiful daughter and then has his land threatened by homesteaders and rustling. Circumventing the forces of justice, he takes the law into his own hands but is brought to realize by his daughter and his foreman that the cattle are being stolen by a gang headed by Dekker, using the homesteaders as a coverup for their illegal activities. Justice, of course, eventually triumphs. "Wyoming" is further highlighted by the excellent outdoor photography of John Alton, and the musical background by Cy Feuer. Exhibitors should have little trouble in attracting first day audiences and from there they can depend on word-of-mouth attention. Previeived at the Republic projection room in New York. Reviewer's Rating : Very Good. — George H. Spires. Release date, August 1, 1947. Running time, 84 min. PCA No. 12214. General audience classification. Charles Alderson William Elliott Karen Vera Ralston Glenn Forrester... John Carroll Windy Gibson George "Gabby" Hayes Duke Lassiter Albert Dekker Virginia Grey, Mme. Maria Ouspenskaya, Grant Withers, Harry Woods, Minna Gombell, Dick Curtis, Roy Barcroft, Trevor Bardette, Paul Harvey, Louise Kane, Tom London, George Chesebro, Linda Green. Jack O'Shea. Three J. Arthur Rank Films Booked by U.S. Circuits Several theatre circuits have signed with the Universal-Rank organization for J. Arthur Rank's "Odd Man Out," "Great Expectations" and "Stairway to Heaven," William J. Heineman, vice-president of the Universal-Rank organization, said Monday in New York. The circuits include Warners, RKO, Paramount, Loew's, Fabian, Interstate, Wilby, Lucas and Jenkins, Kincey, National Theatres, and others. Selznick Forms Canadian Distribution Company David O. Selznick has filed a charter with the Secretary of State's Office in Dover, Delaware, showing the formation of the Selznick Studio Releasing Division of Canada, Ltd. This Canadian company will sell product of the Selznick Releasing Organization in the Dominion as SRO is doing in the United States. Cheyenne Greets Film "Wyoming" \ Concurrent with the fifty-first annual Frontier Days celebration in Cheyenne, Wyo., the world premiere of Republic's j "Wyoming" was held at the Paramount and j Lincoln theatres there Wednesday. The picture stars William Elliott, Vera Ralston and I John Carroll. The festivities got under way Tuesday with the arrival of a special train from Denver bearing the stars, Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers, Herbert J. Yates, president of Republic; William Saal, his execu < tive assistant; Mort Goodman, publicity di j rector ; F. H. Ricketson, president of Fox InterMountain Theatres, and Ray Davis, supervisor for the northern division of the circuit. Charles P. Skouras, president of Fox West Coast Theatres accompanied the stars as guest of Mr. Ricketson. Republic tieins arranged with the committee included a Republic float in the grand opening parade through the downtown city district; the induction into the Sioux tribe of Indians of Miss Ralston and Mr. Elliott, and a special presentation of the stars at the Frontier Days' rodeo. A special premiere of the picture was also held Wednesday aboard the battleship Iowa, on which several state governors were enroute to Honolulu. Senate Group Backs Mundt Bill, But Urges Inquiry Washington Bureau The Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week approved the controversial Mundt bill, but at the same time recommended a joint Congressional inquiry into the policies, functions, personnel and value of the State Department's International Information and Educational Exchange Service. The group said $100,000 should be allotted for the inquiry. The Mundt bill, which legalizes the Department's information programs, includes the "Voice of America" broadcasts. The Congressional group not only will look into the effectiveness of these activities, but also will determine whether they are a proper Government function or should be carried on by private industry. The investigating committee would replace the 11 -man civilian commission called for by the House to keep a permanent check on the program. The joint committee would be instructed to report back to Congress February 1, 1948. Senator Vandenberg said he would try to push the amended bill through Congress before it adjourns, but other GOP leaders have indicated that the bill is dead for the current session. Open "Desert Fury" The world premiere of "Desert Fury," Hal Wallis' Technicolor production for Paramount, was -held at the Utah theatre in Salt Lake City July 23. 46 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JULY 26, 1947