Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

MGM Sets 12 Releases in Three Months In addition to “Teahouse of the August Moon,” which will be given special handling, MGM's tentative release schedule for the next three months includes six new productions and five reprints. “Teahouse” has been set to open late in November in Chicago and Los Angeles, and will be the Christmas attraction at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Other exchange city bookings at holiday time are in prospect. The production, directed by Daniel Mann and produced by Jack Cummings, stars Marlon Brando, Glenn Ford and Machiko Kyo. Regular releases in November include “The Rack” starring Paul Newman, and “Julie,” independent production released through MGM and starring Doris Day and Louis Jourd.an. “Julie” recently had its first showings in Ohio, where Miss Day visited her home town of Cincinnati for the world premiere. Reprints in November will be “A Tale of Two Cities” (1935) starring Ronald Colman, and “Marie Antoinette” (1938) starring Norma Shearer and Tyrone Power. For December MGM has scheduled “The Great American Pastime,” a comedy which stars Tom Ewell with Anne Francis and Ann Miller. A second comedy film, “The Iron Petticoat,” produced in VistaVision and color by Technicolor by Remus Productions for MGM release, stars Bob Hope and Katharine Hepburn. A reprint due in December is “Mutiny on the Bounty” (1935) starring Clark Gable and Charles Laughton. Two new releases slated for January are “Edge of the City” and “Slander.” The former, made by Jonathan Productions for MGM release, co-stars John Cassavetes and Sidney Poitier. The latter stars Van Johnson, Ann Blyth and Steve Cochran. January reprints include “Green Dolphin Street” (1947) starring Lana Turner and Van Heflin, and “Boys Town” (1938) starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney. British Lion Unit Will Distribute for Republic LONDON British Lion Films, Ltd., will again distribute product of Republic Pictures in Great Britain and Ireland under a new long-term agreement announced jointly here last week by Sir Arthur Jarratt, British Lion managing director, and Reginald Armour, executive vice-president of Republic International. The agreement takes effect immediately. British Lion had formerly handled Republic product until 1950 when the latter decided to open its own exchanges. PeU in DL n ew5 Mrs. Lela Rogers, mother of actress Ginger Rogers, has been named a member of ASCAP, it is announced by Paul Cunningham, president of the organization, which numbers some 4,000 composers and authors. Mrs. Rogers has been a screen writer and composer of songs. Mrs. Stella Poulnot, president of WOMPI, and Mrs. Mildred Castleberry, corresponding secretary, were honored by members of their home club, Atlanta, at a buffet luncheon at the home of Mrs. Bernice Hilton. David Golding, vice-president in charge of advertising and publicity for HechtLancaster, has arrived in New York from the Coast. J. F. (Jack) O’Brien, widely known throughout the industrial and theatre fields in a quarter-century RCA sales career, has been named manager, Northeastern Region, Radio Corporation of America, it is announced by R. W. Saxon, director of RCA Regional Operations. Ginger Rogers announces that she has formed her own independent company for the production of motion pictures and television presentations. Properties for both mediums will be announced in the near future. Arnold M. Picker, United Artists vicepresident in charge of foreign distribution, flew to Paris last week for a sixweek tour of the company’s offices in Europe. While there he will confer with the company’s sales and promotional executives and will meet with producers preparing films overseas for United Artists release. Sees Independents Strengthening Studios “The independent production field is much sounder these days than the studio structure,” opined producer Sol C. Siegel in discussing the growth of the independent producer. “It’s very good for the industry, bringing in new and different methods of picture making and selling,” he explained. Mr. Siegel was in New York this week with director George Cukor preparing to go into production on “Les Girls,” a musical for Metro-GoldwynMayer. He is under contract with MGM to make four independent pictures, he reported. OLD, OLD, OLD Station WRCA-TV, New York, has announced presentation of a new nighttime program devoted to what it calls "the oldest movies in town." The series is entitled "the old, old show" and any film made after 1927 is ineligible. The series of short silent films dating back to 1897 started October 30 from 12:30 to 1 A.M. It is shown at the same hour Tuesdays through Saturdays over Channel 4. Among the old favorites set to appear in brief flashes are William S. Hart, Lon Chaney, Gloria Swanson, Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, Francis X. Bushman, Marie Dressier, Charlie Chase, Mabel Normand, Clara Kimball Young, John Bunny, Flora Finch, Theda Bara and Tom Mix. Al (Jazzbo) Collins is serving as host for the series. Cite Wyler at " Persuasion ' HOLLYWOOD: In recognition of his outstanding achievements in, and contributions to, motion pictures, high tribute was paid this week to producer-director William Wyler at Allied Artists’ invitational premiere of “Friendly Persuasion” at the Fox Wilshire theatre. Among those honoring Mr. Wyler was President Dwight D. Eisenhower who, in a telegram read by Samuel Goldwyn, chairman of the tribute committee said, in part: “Through his motion pictures Mr. Wyler has strengthened the standards of his craft with imagination and a keen sense of humanity. He has helped us to understand our allies abroad and our people at home. He has brought enjoyment to millions.” A star-studded audience of 2,200 which packed the theatre included many who had won a total of 30 Academy awards for work in Mr. Wyler’s films. In a brief ceremony on the stage, Mr. Wyler was presented with a silver Paul Revere bowl, a huge tray and 12 goblets, each bearing the signature of a star whose work in a Wyler production won an Oscar. Mr. Goldwyn made the presentation. The committee included Charles Brackett, Steve Broidy, Bette Davis, Sidney Franklin, Y. Frank Freeman, Greer Garson, Gregory Peck. David O. Selznick and George Stevens. A release pattern of strategically selected engagements has been evolved for Mr. Wyler’s new film, with extended run engagements. 36 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 3, 1956