Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1955)

THE MONEY-MAKING STARS ( Continued from page 14) men during and since her ascendancy and MGM (to where she's finally returned and not likely to be leaving for quite a while) signed England's number one favorite over here, Alec Guinness, to appear with her in her latest, The Swan. This has certainly been the year of Grace. Th is is the seventh consecutive year for John Wayne, three of which he was top man. He has never been lower than fourth and his forthcoming crop, including "The Searchers, "The Conqueror and maybe even the elusive ' Jet Pilot," could keep his record rolling. The man known as "Duke" has been hitting the trail since 1931 when he made something called "The Big Trail." After plowing along for years in dozens of hour-length Westerns, he rode the "Stagecoach ' to fame, fortune and this wellearned paragraph. Holden Moved Up William Holden, despite his 16-plus years in Hollywood, made his first appearance in the previous poll. He moved up three places this time out and the caliber of his pictures makes one wonder why only three. Such titans as "Sabrina," "The Bridges at Toko-Ri," "The Country Girl" and "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" lend credence to such a thought. Set for release soon are Picnic" (seen by many already, including the writer, and unanimously praised) and ' The Proud and Profane." Although he started and starred prophetically enough in 1939 in "Golden Boy" it THE MONEY-MAKING SHORT SUBJECTS 1. Bugs Bunny 2. MGM Cartoons 3. Walt Disney Cartoons 4. Mr. Magoo 5. Pete Smith Specialties 6. Tweety 7. CinemaScope Specials 8. Merrie Melodies & Looney Tunes 9. Popeye 10. Lantz Cartunes took a dozen years for recognition beyond the everyday publicity variety. There are two veteran winners this year tied for the most appearances in the poll's 24-year history. The first is Gary Cooper whose 16 claims to FAME began in 1936. In the intervening years he has placed everywhere from Number One to Number Ten, a solid indication of his cumulative popularity. The man who played Lou Gehrig, Sergeant York and Dr. Wassell also has another biography coming up — "The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell," in addition to William Wyler's "The Friendly Persuasion." The man is obviously going places, yet. Another second appearance star is Marlon Brando who catapulted from virtually nowhere two years ago to tenth last year and sixth this year. No one, least of all the man himself, would deny that "On the Waterfront" (and its resultant awards) was responsible for this enviable assault on the established players. He has "Guys and Dolls" going for him now which is a most warming thought for a winter’s evening. The madcap successors to Abbott and Costello, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, are making their fifth collective consecutive appearance and dropped to seventh place, a position more to be coveted than pitied. The bovs made merrv at a circus and at college this year and are currently creating their own brand of horseplay and havoc with artists and models and out west. First Appearance Since 1949 Making his first appearance since 1949 is Humphrey Bogart who has been on the periphery since then. Although his first touch of success came as a result of his able portrayals of shady characters, on either side of the law, his versatility has come into focus these past several years. From the psychotic Captain Queeg in "The Caine Mutiny" and the cynical director in "The Barefoot Contessa" to the amusing executive in "Sabrina," he has proven that anything in his forte. And just to make the circle complete, he's at his most devilish as the gangster in the current "Desperate Hours." "The Harder They Fall" is next on his busy agenda. The girl with the throaty catch in her voice and everybody's favorite wife has at last wended her way to the top (or at least the Top Ten). June Allyson, who has hovered near the inner circle for some years now, gave herself a mighty push this year with the aid of "Woman's World," "Strategic Air Command" and "The Shrike" (the latter her first attempt at wifely malevolence). She's back in the domestic groove now as the better half of "The McConnell Story" and is currently shooting her first musical in years, "It Happened One Night." A Long Time Absentee The other long-time absentee is Clark Gable who also has been missing from the ranks since 1949 and this is his 16th go round as well as Cooper's. He also has the distinction of being one of the charter members of the Top Ten in 1932. He appeared 12 successive years when Uncle Sam beckoned. His return to civvies was followed immediately bv his return to success and three more winning years. He, too, has hovered on the borderline and was able to bounce over it with "Soldier of Fortune" and "The' Tall Men." Our Canadian friends had slightly different choices although eight of the winners were duplicated but in altered positions. Grace Kelly was their top favorite followed by Martin & Lewis, Marlon Brando, James Stewart, Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper, Glenn Ford, June Allyson, Doris Day and William Holden. THE NEXT FIFTEEN COMBINED Marilyn Monroe Glenn Ford Bing Crosby Doris Day Audie Murphy Burt Lancaster Alan Ladd Jane Wyman Susan Hayward Jeff Chandler Jane Russell Randolph Scott Robert Mitchum Rock Hudson Kilbride & Main CIRCUIT Bing Crosby Martin & Lewis Glenn Ford Doris Day Burt Lancaster Audie Murphy James Cagney Alan Ladd Jane Wyman Frank Sinatra Henry Fonda Cary Grant Jane Russell Susan Hayward Jeff Chandler INDEPENDENT Audie Murphy Marilyn Monroe Bing Crosby Clark Gable Burt Lancaster Doris Day Alan Ladd Jane Wyman Randolph Scott Susan Hayward Jeff Chandler Kilbride & Main Rock Hudson Jane Russell Robert Mitchum 28 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 31, 1955