Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1955)

Ohio Mouse Masses J\ew Censor Bill COLUMBUS : The Ohio House of Representatives passed the new state censorship bill last week by a vote of 105 to 10. It also approved another bill banning the exhibition of obscene films to children under 18 and the sale of obscene comic books by a vote of 124 to 3. Leading the debate for the first measure was Rep. Andrew \V. Putka, one of its authors. who said, “We have a constitutional as well as moral right to stop this evil of obscene and objectionable movies at the source.” Rep. Gilbert Bettman, attacked the bill as unconstitutional and a violation of the right of free expression. He said the problem should be handled by criminal laws. Tennessee Theatre Men Elect Tune, New Slate Morton Tune, of Shelbyville, Tenn., is the new president of the Tennessee Theatre Owners Association. The organization elected him at the annual meeting Tuesday, in Nashville. Other new officers are W. Russell Holder, Rockwood Amusement, Nashville, vice-president; Aubrey Crouch, Nashville, secretary-treasurer. Among directors are Kermit Stengel, Crescent Amusement, and Alfred Starr, Bijou Amusements. Toll television, newspaper publicity on trade problems, and other topics were discussed. The organization voted to appoint, for the first time, a representative to the Theatre Owners of America. Mox to Hare 13 Features PROPAGANDA {Continued from page 13) then mobilized through the local workers’ unions, and their march saves the town. “Silvery Dust,” which observers describe as a horrifying picture, sets up the premise that United States business interests are using the development of the atom as a money-making scheme, with the intent to enslave the world. “Council of the Gods,” made a year and a half ago, also has a pleasant theme. Its story is that Churchill and Roosevelt, who were manipulated by United States monetary interests, attempted to double cross Russia. The title refers to an alleged group of munitions manufacturers who were trying to negotiate with Hitler to destroy the Soviet Union. Quality Is Good In Any Technique “Doomed Village,” “Silvery Dust” and “Council of the Gods” are glaring and heavy-handed in their approach to propaganda. “The Circus” sells a more subtle brand. According to Mr. Shelton, all Russian pictures fall into either of these two categories. They are viciously anti-American and anti-Western, he says, or highmindedly pro-Russian and pro-Communist. And they are good. Mr. Shelton believes that by and large Russian pictures are very effective where they are shown. “They make the USSR look like a paradise,” he says, “compared with the violently unfavorable terms in which they show the United States. They do us harm because they are shown to audiences that don’t know the United States.” Of course output from Hollywood gives a strong helping hand to USIA films in telling the story of daily life in America — which is the only thing the Motion Picture Division tries to tell in its pictures. USIA head Theodore Streibert, speaking about Hollywood films, told a House Appropriations Committee recently, “We consider the showing of American films abroad does the United States a great deal of good.” And Hollywood is helpful in another w'ay, too, Mr. Shelton adds, since on request it can arrange for theatrical distribution of USIA films overseas, thus opening the way to what Mr. Shelton calls “the finest and most effective distribution system in the world.” Expect New Moves to Gain Republic Stockholders List New moves to gain access to the list of Republic Pictures stockholders by the dissident group led by Bernard Smith, Jr., a director, are expected shortly since Mr. Smith requested and was allegedly refused such a list at last week’s board meeting. The board declared a regular dividend of 25 cents per share on preferred stock, payable July 1 to stockholders of record June 10. The board also elected Ernest A. Hall, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., a director and he is said to be sponsored by management. To Go to Senate The bill was scheduled to go to the Senate this week where it will be referred to the Education Committee. State Senator Charles A. Mosher is chairman of the committee and the leader in the battle against censorship. Even if the bill should pass the Senate and be signed by Governor Lausche, film distributors and exhibitors are not likely to find it as onerous as the old censorship law which was declared unconstitutional by the courts. The present measure cuts the annual distribution expenditure for review board licenses from approximately $250,000 under the old statute to an estimated $40,000$50,000. In addition, the criteria for banning a film are so drawn that practically nothing produced by Hollywood that was not patently liable to police action could be refused a license under the rulings of the new measure. ^Moreover, a film could be banned only by the advisory board of three which would be appointed by the Governor, and that action could be taken only after open hearings at which the producer-distributor or his representative was present. Urged by K. of C. Head At the 56th annual Knights of Columbus convention here, Henry J. Kondrat, newlyelected state deputy of the Ohio K. of C., said the bill offers “some restraint” but it defines “only a bare minimum of standards for the rejection of films which are obscene or tend to glorify crime and criminals.” He said a flood of indecent and offensive pictures will “engulf the state” unless film censorship is restored. Also speaking at the convention was Bishop Michael J. Ready of the Columbus diocese, who scored the “seeming indifference” of many legislators to the “moral climate of the community.” He felt that “much of the current indecency, flaunted publicly in word and action, in print and picture, incites to public indecency and debased morals.” In 3 Months With the number of releases from 20th Century-Fox in 1955 expected to hit 28, the company today announced that 13 major attractions will be placed m national release between June and October. Of the total, 12 are in CinemaScope and color, and one is a standard release in black and white. Heading the June releases is Charles K. Feldman’s Group Productions presentation of “The Seven Year Itch,” starring Marilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell and directed by Billy Wilder. Also in June the company is offering “Soldier of Fortune,” starring Clark Gable, Susan Hayward, Michael Rennie and Gene Barry ; and “The Magnificent Matador,” starring Maureen O’Hara and Anthony Quinn. July releases are “House of Bamboo” in CinemaScope and color by DeLuxe, starring Robert Stack, Robert Ryan and Shirley Yamaguchi; “How to Be Very, Very Popular” in CinemaScope and color by DeLuxe, starring Betty Grable, Sheree North and Robert Cummings ; “A Life in the Balance,” starring Ricardo Montalban, Anne Bancroft and Lee Marvin ; and the first CinemaScope featurette, “The Living Swamp.’” August releases are “The Virgin Queen” in CinemaScope and color by DeLuxe, starring Bette Davis, Richard Todd, Joan Collins and Jay Robinson; “Left Hand of God” in CinemaScope and color by DeLuxe, starring Plumphrey Bogart and Gene Tierney. .September releases are “Love Is a ManySplendored Thing” in CinemaScope and color by DeLuxe, starring William Holden, Jennifer Jones and Gloria Grahame; and “The Tall Men” in CinemaScope and color by DeLuxe, starring Clark Gable, Jane Russell and Guy Madison. October releases are “Seven Cities of Gold” in CinemaScope and color by De Luxe, starring Richard Egan, Michael Rennie, Rita Moreno and Cameron Mitchell, and “The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing” in CinemaScope and color by DeLuxe, starring Ray Milland and Joan Collins. .16 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JUNE 4, 1955