Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Mar 1954)

PRODUCT DOLLED UP IN BRIGHT New Technique , Color Add to Values of Films Set for Spring Release by MANDEL HERBSTMAN In joyous keeping with the season, the companies are preparing a dazzling Easter parade of product. The range sweeps from drama to comedy and musicals to westerns with bright splashes of color. None overlooks the box office potential and all are fashioned to meet given exhibitor needs. Included in the sprawling array are films in CinemaScope, wide-screen, standard screen, 3-D and stereophonic sound. Streamlined and aggressive advertising and promotional campaigns will support the product for maximum result. A quick glance at some of the forthcoming pictures will bring an uplift to the outlook. MGM Schedule Has Many Musicals Among those that soon will be seen flying the proud banner of MGM will be "Executive Suite.” In the all-star cast are William Holden, June Allyson, Fredric March, Barbara Stanwyck, Walter Pidgeon, Shelley Winters, Paul Douglas and many others. Others from the company will be "Rhapsody,” a musical drama in color by Technicolor with Elizabeth Taylor and Vittorio Gassman ; the melodious "Rose Marie” in Kodacolor with Ann Blyth and Howard Keel; the musical “Student Prince” stars Ann Blyth and Edward Purdom and is in Ansco color. Another from the company will be “Flame of the Flesh,” in color by Technicolor, with Lana Turner and Pier Angeli. CinemaScope List From Fox Impressive Pictures in CinemaScope, color and 3-D are slated to reach the exhibitors from 20th Century-Fox during the next few months. To name but a sampling few, there are: “New Faces,” the Broadway review in Eastman color and CinemaScope, with Eartha Kitt heading the cast; “Prince Valiant,” in CinemaScope and Technicolor, starring James Mason and Janet Leigh; “Night People,” CinemaScope and Technicolor with Gregory Peck and Broderick Crawford. The drama was filmed in Germany under the production and direction of Nunnally Johnson. In 3-D from the company and in color will be “Gorilla at Large,” with Cameron Mitchell, Ann Bancroft and Lee J. Cobb. “River of No Return,” will bring together Marilyn Monroe and Robert Mitchum in CinemaScope and Technicolor. Among the many pictures_ that will be rolling to the exhibitors of the nation from the Universal-International studios will be MOTION PICTURE HERALD, FEBRUARY 27, 1954 EASTER WATCH TECHNIQUE IN BROADWAY MUSICALS The technique of photographing plays just as they appeared on Broadway, without any concessions to motion picture production methods, was marked in two New York films last week. They were 20th Century-Fox's "New Faces" and United Artists' "Top Banana," both musicals. Audiences seemed to like both pictures and watchful production eyes are fixed on them. Newspaper ads for "Top Banana" said: "See it at movie prices exactly the way New York theatre audiences saw it for $7.70." The "New Faces" ads said: "You've got a front row seat at that fabulous Broadway revue . . . with its stars, dances, wonderful fun at popular admission prices." “Saskatchewan” in color by Technicolor, with a cast including Alan Ladd, Shelley Winters and Robert Douglas; “Johnny Dark,” in Technicolor, with Tony Curtis, Piper Laurie and Don Taylor. In CinemaScope and Technicolor will be “The Black Shield of Falworth,” with Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh and David Farrar. Others will be “The Far Country,” in Technicolor, with James Stewart, Ruth Roman and Corinne Calvet; “Tanganyika” in Technicolor with Van Heflin, Ruth Roman and Howard Duff , Among those to head the parade of product from Warner Brothers will be “A Star Is Born” in color and CinemaScope with Judy Garland and James Mason; “The High and the Mighty,” also in color and CinemaScope with John Wayne, Claire Trevor and Laraine Day; “Dail M for Murder,” is in 3-D and WarnerColor with Ray Milland and Grace Kelly; “Lucky Me,” in CinemaScope and WarnerColor with Phil Silvers, Doris Day and Robert Cummings; “Ring of Fear” with Clyde Beatty, Pat O’Brien and Mickey Spillane ; and “Them!” an adventure drama in 3-D with Edmund Gwenn. Comedy Features From Paramount Those up front among the releases from Paramount will be the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis comedy “Money from Home,” in 3-D and color; “About Mrs. Leslie” a drama with Shirley Booth and Robert Ryan; “Casanova’s Big Night” will see Bob Hope starred with Joan Fontaine in color. Others from the company, all in color, include: “Elephant Walk,” a drama with Elizabeth Taylor and Dana Andrews ; “Knock on Wood,” with Danny Kaye. Columbia in the upcoming months will boast such pictures as “The Caine Mutiny,” in color wjth a top cast that includes Humphrey Bogart, Van Johnson and Jose Fer BONNET rer ; “Indiscretion of An American Wife,” the Selznick picture filmed in Italy with Jennifer Jones and Montgomery Clift; “Black Knight,” an adventure in color with Alan Ladd and Patrica Medina ; “Hell Below Zero,” an adventure drama in color with Alan Ladd and Joan Tetzel; “The Battle of Rogue River,” a western in color Overseas Productions On U. A. Schedule Among the large roster from United Artists will be “Beat the Devil,” the John Huston comedy made abroad with Humphrey Bogart, Jennifer Jones and Peter Lorre ; “Act of Love,” drama also made abroad with Kirk Douglas and Danny Robin; “The Golden Mask,” in color with Wanda Hendrix and Van Heflin; “The Scarlet Spear,” an adventure in color with John Archer and Martha Hyers ; “Witness to Murder” will bring together Barbara Stanwyck and George Sanders; and “Adventures of Robinson Crusoe,” a drama in color has Dan O’Herlihy and James Fernandez in the lead. Last week RKO Pictures announced that a lineup of 10 productions and one reissue has been assured through June. Some of the productions are “Carnival Story,” in color and wide-screen with Anne Baxter and Steve Cochran; “Dangerous Mission,” in color, available in 2-D and 3-D, with Victor Mature and Piper Laurie ; “Son of Sinbad,” also in color and 3-D and 2-D, with Dale Robertson and Sally Forrest; “Susan Slept Here,” in color with Dick Powell and Debbie Reynolds; and “Four Desperate Men,” in color with John Payne and Lizabeth Scott. “Jubilee Trail ” Heads Republic’s Lineup Heading Republic’s array of product are “Jubilee Trail,” in color with Vera Ralston and Forrest Tucker; “Hell’s Half Acre,” with Wendell Corey and Evelyn Keyes; “Geraldine,” with John Carroll and Mala Powers ; “The Hot Heiress,” with Judy Canova and Don Barry; and “Johnny Guitar,” with Joan Crawford and Sterling Hayden; and “Laughing Anne,” a British production with Wendell Corey and Margaret Lockwood. Allied Artists has such pictures lined up as Walter Wanger’s “Riot in Cell Block 11” with Neville Brand and Leo Gordon; “Dragonfly Squadron” with John Hodiak and Barbara Britton ; “Pride of the Blue Grass,” in color, with Lloyd Bridges and Vera Miles; “Cheyenne Crossing” with Wayne Morris ; and “Arrow in the Dust,” with Sterling Hayden and Coleen Gray. As is obvious the companies have on the fire pictures to offset television competition, bring back so-called “lost audiences” and meet every new challenge. 13