Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

WHEN and WHERE On the Olt onzon DEAL CANCELLED After failure to reach a final understanding on terms. Republic Pictures and 20th Century-Fox have called off a deal under which the latter was to distribute the former ' s product in Great Britain, it was announced this week. William Saal, executive assistant to Herbert J. Yates, Republic president, said the 20th-Fox deal was dropped by mutual consent and that talks are now under way with several other companies. Negotiations in progress include not only Great Britain territory but several other parts of the world, according to Mr. Saal. BOX OFFICE PROGRAM Motion picture studio production heads have set up a series of meetings for this week and next in Hollywood to review the six-point program presented to the industry by the MPAA for the purpose of revitalizing the box office. On Wednesday, the MPAA appointed a coordinating committee under the chairmanship of Spyros Skouras, president of 20th Century-Fox, to follow through on the program. Other committee members include members of the MPAA advertisingpublicity committee, plus A. Montague, James E. Perkins, David Blum and Y. Frank Freeman. For further details, see page 12. THREE-HOUR FILMS Three films currently showing at Broadway theatres are unique in their long running time of three hours or more, and all three have been doing exceptional business, despite their unusual length, according to reports. "War and Peace" at the Capitol has set two house records and has been viewed by over 750,000 people. In nine weeks it will have grossed more than $632,500, Paramount estimates. "Giant", Warner release at the Roxy, has grossed $254,000 since its October 11 opening, topping all previous records except "The Robe" in 1953. "Around the World in 80 Days" (Michael Todd-U.A. ) grossed over $32,000 for its first four days. Another long one, Cecil B. DeMille's Paramount release, "The Ten Commandments," opens at the Criterion November 9. IRON CURTAIN SALES _ A report on the feasibility of selling American product to Iron Curtain countries will be presented to the board of directors of the MPEA October 31 by Eric Johnston, president, who was to return to the U.S. this weekend from Europe, the organization announced. The directors divided up import licenses for the Burma and Pakistan markets at the meeting. In Burma, 237.9 licenses were distributed with Columbia getting 31.2; Loew’s, 39.7; Paramount, 25; RKO, 29, 20th Century-Fox, 33; Universal, 28; Warners, 30; and United Artists, 22. The division is based on the Burmese quota of 2,100,000 feet of film allowed during the current fiscal year. BIOGRAPHIES Hollywood's biographical urge, with the accent on Twentieth Century American personalities who have had outstanding and colorful careers, should continue indefinitely, in the opinion of George Sidney, producer. "Belatedly, the film industry became aware of the vast and fruitful source of fascinating subject matter in the lives of modern-day Americans , " says Mr. Sidney. "There remain countless such personalities, in all walks of life, whose biographies, intelligently treated for the screen, would make outstanding motion picture entertainment." PUBLIC RELATIONS Allied Theatre Owners of New Jersey has taken under consideration a proposal to extend the functions of the New Jersey Federation, representing all state exhibitors in legislative October 28-30: Annual convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Exhibitors of Florida, to be held at Roosevelt Hotel, Jacksonville. November 13-14: Annual convention of the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio, to be held at Deshler-Hilton Hotel, Columbus. November 19: Annual convention of the Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario, King Edward Hotel, Toronto. November 20: Annual convention, National Committee of Motion Picture Exhibitor Associations, King Edward Hotel, Toronto. November 21: Annual meeting of the Motion Picture Industry Council of Canada, King Edward Hotel, Toronto. November 22: Annual dinner of the Canadian Motion Picture Pioneers, King Edward Hotel, Toronto. November 25-27: 44th annual convention of the Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina, Hotel Charlotte, Charlotte, N.C. November 27-29: Allied' States Association, Fall board meeting and annual convention, to be held at Statler Hotel, Dallas. November 30: Eighteenth annual dinner of the Motion Picture Pioneers honoring Robert J. O'Donnell as Pioneer of the Year, Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York. January 29-31: Allied States Association, national drive-in convention, Netherlands-Plaza Hotel, Cincinnati, Ohio. February 26-27: Annual convention of the Kansas-Missouri Theatre Association, Pickwick Hotel, Kansas City, Mo. March 6-7: Second annual convention of the United Theatre Owners of Oklahoma, Blitmore Hotel, Oklahoma City. affairs, into the field of public relations, it is announced by Sidney Stern, president. Mr. Stern, following a membership meeting of the regional unit of Allied States Association in New York, said the New Jersey theatre men also discussed the forthcoming National Allied annual convention in Dallas and appointed Wilbur Snaper and Irving Dollinger as delegates, with Mr. Stern as the alternate. Mr. Stern declared the Jersey unit has been used as an effective representative of exhibition in the New Jersey State Legislature. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, OCTOBER 27, 1956 9