Motion Picture Herald (1954)

ALLIED ARTISTS Allied Artists SETS 37 FILMS Net $914,460 12 Scheduled in the Next 10 Months; Seven Will Be Technicolor Pictures CHICAGO : Thirty-seven films for the 1954-55 season, 12 of which will spearhead releases during the next 10 months, were announced Thursday, October 14, by Walter Mirisch, Allied Artists executive producer, at the opening day of a three-day national sales convention at the Blackstone Hotel Steve Broidy, president, predicted new heights of achievement, and spoke of acquisition of top creative talent, such as John Huston, William Wyler, Billy Wilder, Samuel Bischoff, Humphrey Bogart and Gary Cooper. He predicted the new high budget films would obtain receipts comparable to those of major companies, and said they would be booked into the country’s largest, “flagship” houses, on percentage of gross terms. Sees Company’s Best Year In announcing the product for the new season, including at least two films in CinemaScope and seven in color by Technicolor, Mr. Mirisch disclosed that it represents the greatest box office potential in the company’s history and by far reflects the company’s heaviest investment in production. “I am certain,” he told the salesmen from all key cities “this program will result in Allied Artists’ greatest year at the box office. “We at Allied Artists have passed through a transitional period to the point where today we have a program of pictures, completed or in preparation, that will compare favorably with any in the industry. We have selected our stories with utmost care and each of them is being cast with important players. The exhibitors of America have asked for a new source of major product, and we are ready to deliver that product.” Of the 12 pictures to be released between now and next August, Mr. Mirisch revealed, at least one will be in CinemaScope, three will be in color Technicolor and the entire new product will be diversified. Ten Already Filmed Ten of the 12 already have been filmed. They and the months of their release are : “The Human Jungle,” with Gary Merrill and Jan Sterling, and “The Bob Mathias Story,” in which the Olympics decathlon champion portrays himself, October ; “Cry Vengeance,” with Mark Stevens, and “Target Earth,” a science-fiction film, November ; “Tonight’s the Night,” Technicolor, with David Niven and Yvonne De Carlo, December; “The Big Combo,” Cornel Wilde, Jean Wallace and Richard Conte, January; “The Annapolis Story,” Technicolor, with John Derek and Diana Lynn, February; “John Brown's Raiders,” with Raymond Massey, Debra Paget and Jeffrey Hunter, March; “Shotgun,” Technicolor, with Sterling Hayden, Yvonne De Carlo and Zachary Scott, April; “The Black Prince,” CinemaScope with Errol Flynn and Joanne Dru, May. To be ready for June and July, respectively, are “Hold Back the Night,” to star Richard Basehart and Neville Brand, and “Mother-Sir,” to be produced by Walter Wanger with Joan Bennett starred. Also for the new season is “Wichita,” in CinemaScope with Mr. Mirisch producing. Bischoff’s AA Debut Other forthcoming large-scale productions will include four in color by Technicolor. They are “Yellow Knife,” to be produced by Mr. Wanger; “Legionnaire” and “African Fury,” each of which Richard Heermance will produce, and “The Green Hills of Idaho,” which Scott R. Dunlap will produce. Scheduled also for filming are “Phenix City,” with which Samuel Bischoff will make his debut as a producer for Allied Artists; “Gun Point,” which Vincent M. Fennelly will produce; “General Hospital,” with Hayes Goetz aa producer, and “The Atomic Submarine.” In addition, producer Lindsley Parsons will provide “Massacre at Dragoon Wells,” to star Barry Sullivan; “Today Is Forever,” “Desperate Women” and “The Intruder.” Producer William F. Broidy will contribute “Singapore East,” starring Broderick Crawford ; “Dangerous Assignment,” with Brian Donlevy; “Port of Hell,” with Dan Clark, Carroll Mathews and Wayne Morris, and “Sweet Charity.” Rodgers Addresses Meeting The program will be completed with four Bowery Boys comedies, the first of which will be “High Society,” with Ben Schwalb producing and Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall starring, which goes before the cameras next week; two films to star Bill Elliott and two in the Bomba, the Jungle Boy, series starring Johnny Sheffield. William F. Rodgers, who recently joined the company in an advisory and consultant capacity also addressed the sales force. The sessions were opened by Edward Morey, vice-president, who introduced Morey R. Goldstein, vice-president and general sales manager, who presided. Mr. Goldstein discussed sales plans for the new season and current liquidations. Following his address he introduced John C. Flinn, director of advertising and publicity, who outlined general advertising plans. Prior to Mr. Mirisch’s address Thursday, regional sessions were conducted under the aegis of L. E. Goldhammer, eastern division sales manager ; James Prichard, southern division sales manager, and Harold Wirthwein, western division sales manager. Consolidated net profit before taxes shown by Allied Artists Pictures Corporation for the fiscal year ended July 3, 1954, was $914,400 compared with $761,113 for the preceding fiscal year, according to the company’s annual report, just released. After provision of $500,000 for Federal income taxes, the net income in 1954 amounted to $414,480. In 1953 the net income was $411,113; however in that year the provision for Federal income taxes was only $350,000. The 1954 net income after preferred stock dividends was equivalent to 46 cents per share on the 852,740 shares outstanding at the year’s end. This compared with 48 cents per share computed on the same number of shares in 1953, after giving effect to the 10% stock dividend paid July 10, 1953. Last year’s gross income reached a new all-time high of $11,838,500 compared with $9,994,000 recorded in 1953. S. Broidy, president, announced that as the result of the company’s retained earnings and the issue of 150,000 shares of Sl/2% $10 Par Cumulative convertible preferred stock the company’s working capital increased to $4,066,000 at July 3, 1954 from $2,460,700 at June 27, 1953.' “This new capital which is essential to our program of higher budget pictures has served to place your company in the strongest financial position in its history,” Mr. Broidy said. Allied Artists' "Jungle" Is Banned in Memphis Lloyd T. B inford, Memphis film censor, has banned Allied Artists’ “The Human Jungle,” because of a dance sequence by Jan Sterling, it was disclosed last weekend. The film, dealing with police efforts to crush crime in a metropolitan city, has won the endorsement of many police departments. The studio pointed out that the film has been given a certificate of approval by the Motion Picture Association of America. In a sharp reaction to the ban, Miss Sterling declared: “I would never lend myself to an indecent performance. My dance in the picture . . . was carefully staged and photographed to avoid causing offense to anyone.” Wile Seeks Support tor Ohio Censorship Fight All candidates for the Ohio Legislature and all newspapers in the state have been invited by Robert Wile, secretary of the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio, to support a renewed campaign to kill Ohio’s 40year-old film censor law. Mr. Wile sent letters to all candidates for the legislature and to all Ohio newspapers. In the letter he said that because of recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, the question of film censorship probably will be an issue in the 101st General Assembly. 22 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, OCTOBER 16, 1954