Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

[fa wood 'cene Shea Reports Good Quarter With Top Films CLEVELAND: Gerald Shea, president of the Shea Circuit, last week told his area circuit managers and guests at a luncheon here that because of “the flow of outstanding screen product” the third quarter of 1956 has shown the best net results of any third quarter since 1953. He also announced the success of a policy of economy within the circuit, which “without cutting service to patrons” resulted in a 10 per cent saving. The circuit is employing “diversified” advertising through the use of a non-industry advertising agency to “develop new media and to allocate present media to meet the needs of individual pictures,” Mr. Shea said. "I see the necessity to prepare younger people with a young viewpoint in policy levels, he added. “Also, I see the need to develop juvenile stars.” Asserting that the “B” house situation has about reached its level, Mr. Shea told the meeting that he foresees a drop in “A” houses due to the product shortage. The morning business meeting was devoted to theatre management, and the afternoon sessions to concession operations. Among Shea executives present at the luncheon were: Raymond Smith, vicepresident and film buyer; Frank Smith, field representative; Robert Rhodes, Akron; Jack Hines, Youngstown; Harold Snyder, New Philadelphia; Durwald Duty, Ashtabula; Tom Simon, Connecticut; Ray McNealy, Geneva; Dan Gilhulee, Jamestown, N. Y.; Robert Limbaugh, Erie, and Bernie Hickey, Pittsburgh. Navy Helps Promote "The Sharkhghters" The U.S. Navy this week is distributing 12,000 special recruiting posters and 1,000 radio spot announcements promoting Samuel Goldwyn, Jr.’s CinemaScope production of “The Sharkfighters,” United Artists adventure film dramatizing the Navy’s battle against the shark menace. The posters and radio aids are key elements in a national recruiting drive tied to area openings of the film. The recruiting display piece, to be exhibited at enlistment centers and general posting locations, features an action scene from the production, with the prominent credits and tiein copy reading, “Join for adventure in today’s modern Navy.” Radio spots, lobby displays, and local parades are other features. Made on loaction in and off Cuba with Mr. Goldwyn as producer and Jerry Hopper as director, the film co-stars Victor Mature and Karen Steele and introduces James Olson. HOLLYWOOD BUREAU Production increased to 48 pictures before the cameras last week, as 11 started and three finished, marking one of the busiest filming weeks in some time. The week before, only 40 features were in work. Charles Schneer’s Morningside Productions, releasing through Columbia, launched “Twenty Million Miles to Earth,” with Schneer producing and Nathan J. Juran directing a cast headed by William Hopper and Joan Taylor. Also at Columbia, “The Young Rebels,” produced by Wallace MacDonald and directed by David Rich, got under way with Robert Vaughn, Roger Smith and Tom Pittman in the cast. “Gun Glory,” in CinemaScope and Metrocolor and starring Stewart Granger, Rhonda Fleming and Burl Ives, rolled at MGM. Nicholas Nayfack is producing and Roy Rowland directing. Start Chaney Story Another MGM starter was “Silk Stockings,” also in CinemaScope and Metrocolor, with Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Janis Paige and Peter Lorre starred. Arthur Freed is producing this musical version of “Ninotchka,” and Rouben Mamoulian directing. Universal-International got “The Man of a Thousand Faces,” a film which will be of great interest to exhibitors who cleaned up on the old Lon Chaney films. It’s Chaney’s biography, with James Cagney in the title role, and Dorothy Malone, Jeanne Cagney, Jane Greer and Jim Backus among those backing him. Robert Arthur is producing; Joseph Pevney directing, in CinemaScope. Warners producer Richard Whorf and director Richard L. Bare got “Shoot Out at Medicine Bend” before the cameras with Randolph Scott and James Craig toplining. Twentieth-Fox’ producer Benedict Bogeaus rolled “Conquest,” in CinemaScope and DeLuxe color, in Mexico. Ray Milland, Anthony Quinn and Debra Paget star, and Allan Dwan is directing. Hecht-Hill-Lancaster, releasing through United Artists, is rolling one in New York — “The Sweet Smell of Success.” It stars Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis and Susan Harrison, with James Hill producing and Alexander Mackendrick directing the production. Security Pictures, also releasing through United Artists, is active in New York, having started “Cross-Up,” toplining George Montgomery with William Berke producing and directing. Robert Alexander Productions gave the gun to “II Crido,” in Rome, where Steve Cochran is starring. Harrison Reader is THIS WEEK in PRODUCTION . . . Started — 11 Columbia — Twenty Million Miles to Earth (Morningside Prod.); The Young Rebels. Independent — West of Suez (Amalgamated Prod.); II Crido (Robert Alexander Prod.). Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer — Gun Glory (CinemaScope, Metrocolor); Silk Stockings (Cinemascope, Metrocolor). 20th Century-Fox — Conquest (CinemaScope, DeLuxe Color). United Artists — The Sweet Smell of Success (HechtHill-Lancaster Prod); Cross-Up (Security Pictures). Universal-International — The Man of a Thousand Faces (CinemaScope). Warner Bros. — Shoot Out at Medicine Bend. . . . Completed — 3 Metro-Goldwyn-M'ayer — Ten Thousand Bedrooms (CinemaScope, Color). 20th Century-Fox — Man from Abilene (Brady-Glasser Prod.); The True Story of Jesse James (CinemaScope, DeLuxe Color). . . . Shooting — 37 Allied Artists — Gun for a Town (Jerold Zukor Prod.); Love in the Afternoon. Columbia — Zombies of Mora-Tau; The Bewitched; Garment Center; The Cunning and the Haunted; The Bridge on the River Kwai (Horizon-American); The Admiral Crichton (London Films); Fortune Is a Woman (Launder-Gilliat Prod.); The Story of Esther Costello (Valiant Films); Interpol (Warwick Prods., Technicolor); A Town on Trial (Marksman Films). Independent — Kill Me Tomorrow (Amalgamated Prod.); One Man's Secret (Amalgamated Prod.). Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer — The Painted Veil (Cinema Scope); Designing Woman (CinemaScope, Color). Paramount — The Tin Star (VistaVision); The Joker. Republic — Spoilers of the Forest (Naturama). RKO Radio — The Violators (Gallahad Prod.); Escapade in Japan (Color); The Girl Most Likely (Eastman Color); The Lady and the Prowler (Color). 20th Century-Fox — Oh, Men! Oh, Women! (CinemaScope, DeLuxe Color; Island in the Sun (Zanuck; CinemaScope, DeLuxe Color); Boy on a Dolphin (CinemaScope, Color); The Girl Can't Help It (CinemaScope, DeLuxe Color); Heoven Knows, Mr. Allison (CinemaScope, DeLuxe Color). United Artists — Voodoo Island (Bel-Air Prod.); The Trial of Benjie Galt (Grand Prod.). Universal-International — Pay the Devil (CinemaScope); The Lend Unknown (CinemaScope); Night Passage (Technirama). Werner Bros. — Lafayette Escadrille; Top Secret Affair; A Face in the Crowd (Newton Prods.); The Sleeping Prince (LOP Prods.). producing and Michael Angelo Antoini directing. Amalgamated Productions has launched “West of Suez,” in London, with Keefe Brasselle in the dual capacity of directorstar. D. E. A. Winn and Bill Luckwell are producing. 22 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 10, 1956