Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1955)

Above, Paramount depends on the powerful "Popeye" and, below, on "Herman and Katnip" in the cartoon department. Above right is a sample of their "Topper" series of shorts. WILDLIFE ALBUM BwcK” J NAJMATHJ THOMAS MITCHELL mi TECHNICOLOR RKO's "The Whitetail Buck," above, is a new special from that company. NEW HORIZONS ( Continued from page 28) best of their older ones. MGM, for instance, is taking six Robert Benchleys and six Passing Parades from its vaults, in addition to a group of its celebrated cartoons. Paramount will bring back 12 Cartoon Champions and six “Speaking of Animals” Champions, while RKO, Warners, Universal and Columbia have several series of past winners on their schedule. In addition to the distinctive and offbeat subjects discussed, the companies will also distribute the customary types — cartoons, comedies, sports, musicals. The breakdown by companies follows : Columbia — plans to release four serials and 97 shorts during the 1955-56 season. Two of the serials, “The Sea Hound” and “The Monster and the Ape,” are reprints and the others are “Perils of the Wilderness” and “Blazing the Overland Trail.” There will be 27 two-reelers including the Musical Travelark, eight starring the Three Stooges, six All Star Comedies featuring Andy Clyde, Joe Besser, Wally Vernon and Eddie Quillan, and 12 reprints (Assorted Favorites and Comedy Favorites) starring Hugh Herbert, Vera Vague, Buster Keaton, Gus Schillinar and Richard Lane. UPA will provide 13 cartoons including nine in CinamaScope, eight starring Mr. Magoo. There also will be 15 Color Favorites, reprints, on the schedule. Others include 12 Screen Snapshots, 12 World of Sports, six Topnotchers and 12 reprints — Thrills of Music and Candid Microphone. Paramount — will provide, in addition to MGM plans a special Christmas campaign for "Good Will to Men," above. its VistaVision and reissue shorts, 8 Popeye cartoons, 6 Noveltoon cartoons, 4 Herman and Katnip cartoons, 6 Casper cartoons, 6 Grantland Rice Sportlights and 6 Paramount Toppers for a total of 58 subjects. 20th-Fox — is going to have 50 shorts for the coming season to be divided in but two categories, CinemaScope shorts and Terry toons. There will be 24 in the former which will be subdivided into Musical Cameos, Sport and Adventure, and World Today, and 26 Terrytoons, half of which will also be in CinemaScope. Universal — will have a total of 52 tworeel and one-reel subjects. They are 13 Musical Featurettes including “The Nat King Cole Story”; eight Color Parade; eight Variety View which includes the “Brooklyn Goes — ” series; 13 new Walter Lantz Technicolor Cartunes featuring Woody Woodpecker, Chilly Willy and others ; six Lantz reissues ; two two-reel specials in color, and two in black-and-white (“A Time Out of War” which the company bought after it had won the Academy Award this year, and “Mambo Madness”). Warners — plans 93 shorts for exhibitors including the nine anamorphic ones. Others on its schedule are 10 two-reel Color Specials, six Sports Parade in WarnerColor, 13 Blue Ribbon Cartoons (reissues), six two-reel black-and-white featurettes, seven black-and-white Warner Varieties, 30 Cartoons (including the Merrie Melodies, Looney Tunes, Bugs Bunny groups), six Joe McDoakes Comedies and six Melody Master Bands (reissues). MGM — will provide five series. Among these are six MGM CinemaScope Cartoons, (Continued on page 34, column 1) Columbia still plugs its serials. Above, "Perils of the Wilderness." 30 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, OCTOBER 22, 1955