Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Mar 1956)

(^n the JJ'i ovizon NEWSWEEK ' S NOD "Newsweek Magazine," in its January 9 issue, gives a very special nod in the direction of Hollywood and the very special product to be forthcoming in 1956. The magazine informs the layman that the new year will be the year of the Big Frame (55mm) and Big Budget and tells of exciting release schedules which include "The Ten Commandments," "Giant," "The Man in The Gray Flannel Suit," "Picnic," "The Benny Goodman Story," "The Swan" and "The Conqueror." But receiving the major share of the attention in the four-page special report is Warner Brothers ' "Moby Dick" and its fabled director John Huston. This picture, says "Newsweek," may well be "one of the great pictures of the decade if not the century." Quite a send-off ! 1.000 FILMS FOR TV During the past five years, WCBS-TV in New York has shown more than 1,000 feature films that had never been seen before on New York television, according to Sam Cook Digges, general manager, who also said the station presented 207 films in 1955 on its "Early Show" and "Late Show. " NOT WANTED The Russians and their allies wouldn't show most American films even "if we gave them free", publisher William Benton, returning from four weeks in the USSR and eastern European countries, asserted in New York recently. He declared that the Soviets are interested only in pictures defaming this country, and he congratulated the American film industry for not allowing "hand-picking" of its product . GOING TO ^ PUBLIC J. Arthur Rank, who claims there is prejudice here, or a conspiracy or some species of movement to prevent showing of British, and certainly Rank, pictures — Wednesday morning went to the American people . Ad vertising on a full page of the "New York Times", his company cited with stills and critical comment pictures such as "The Cruel Sea", "The Purple Plain", "Genevieve" and "Simba" , pointed out their renowned stars, interesting and action-ful stories, and tumultuous acclaim in other countries, demolished the arguments about "accents", and asked the American movie-goer to tell his local exhibitor he wants to see the best in British pictures. NEXT YEAR, BOOKS To newswriters of the television industry recently came old-fashioned "ex-libris" (bookplates to you) fashioned and dedicated in modern form and verse. Said the verse (best wishes for the holiday season from ABC-TV) — "God bless my television set/Most fabulous of toys/But pity me if I forget/ Bibliophilic joys. ..." Could this be the modern television publicist aghast at what he and his master have wrought? APPRAISAL Mr. Alfred Hitchcock, the man who is presenting these days, television shows (on film, to be sure) has indicated a choice of mediums, publicly. And we quote. The other day, interviewed in Hollywood after returning from two months around the world, the famed suspense man told the press: "If I find TV gets too big. I'll drop it." Mr. Hitchcock's shows currently, certainly keep some people home, and this is mere speculation, from pictures in theatres such as "The Trouble With Harry". GOING OUT Amusement advertising in Christmas Day editions of the "Chicago Tribune" set a record this year, that paper informs us, and deduces: "People just don't stay home the way they used to over the Christmas holidays". The paper on the festive day carried more than 11,000 lines. This included a full page in color f 0 r the 1956 Hollywood Ice WHEN AND WHERE January 14: Induction of new officers of the Variety Club of San Francisco, Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco. January 14: Installation of new officers of The Colosseum of Indianapolis, Variety Club headquarters, Indianapolis. January 29: Sixth annual Communion Brealcfast for Catholics of the motion picture industry in the New York area, Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City. January 29-31: Annual convention of the Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina, Hotel Charlotte, Charlotte, N. C. January 30: Regular mid-winter meeting of the lATSE general executive board, Hollywood-Roosevelt Hotel, Hollywood. February 2: Commencement of hearings, before the Senate Small Business Subcommittee, on trade practice complaints of motion picture exhibitors, Washington, D. C. February 5: Fifth annual Communion Breakfast for Catholics of the motion picture industry In the Los Angeles area, Hollywood Paladium, Hollywood. February 7-9: Annual convention of United Theatre Owners of Oklahoma, Skirvin Hotel, Oklahoma Oity. j February 20: Testimonial winner to M. B. Horwitz, veteran Cleveland motion picture exhibitor. Hotel Hollenden, Cleveland. February 21-23: 1956 National Drive-In Convention, Hotel Cleveland, Cleveland. March 6-7: Annual convention of the Kansas-Missouri Theatre Association, President Hotel, Kansas City, Mo. Review at the Chicago Stadium, and another in black-and-white for MGM's "I'll Cry Tomorrow" at the United Artists Theatre. BILLION DOLLAR GROSS Total sales of products and services by Radio Corporation of America for 1955 will exceed a billion dollars for the first time in company history. Brig. General David Sarnoff , chairman of the board, announced in a year-end statement. He said it was equivalent to more than $4,000,000 business for each working day of the year. Floyd E. Stone — Vincent Canby — William R. Weaver MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JANUARY 7, 1956 9