Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

MONEY MAKING STARS (Continued from page 12) office. A new venture, “The Wings of Eagles.” with his favorite director, John Ford, is ready for release and certain to keep him in the upper strata. James Stewart slipped a trifle from his stronghold last year as Number One but "The Man Who Knew Too Much” still remains in an enviable position. And he’s got two sure winners waiting to be devoured. The first is another biography, the long-awaited version of Charles Lindbergh’s “The Spirit of St. Louis,” and the other is a thriller, “Night Passage.” First of the newcomers is Burt Lancaster who, this year, celebrated a decade as a Hollywood personality. Of course now he’s more than just a star what with his own producing company in which he modestly gets last billing after Messrs. Hecht and Hill. The former circus acrobat apparently likes to mix up his roles as he moves sublimely from tongue-incheek adventure to off-beat drama and back again. This past year found him in two such diversifications — the happy-golucky oaf in “The Rose Tattoo” and the has-been aerialist in “Trapeze.” Directly behind him is another longtime favorite making his Top Ten debut. Glenn Ford made his first film in 1940 and thereafter appeared in a brace of good, fair and indifferent films, learning his trade in such varied items as the “Blondie” series, color Westerns, adventure yarns and an occasional “class” film. As the years progressed, so did his roles until he was getting a good deal of the cream. However, it was the sensational TOP ACTRESS The 25th annual Money-Making Stars poll was conducted in conjunction with Lustre-Creme's $35,000 Movie-Star Sweepstakes contest in which the public was invited to pick the "Top Screen Actress of the Year." All those who chose Marilyn Monroe are eligible for the drawing and the winner will be announced December 14 on the Colgate-Palmolive show, "Strike It Rich," over the CBS Television network. The contest was promoted heavily by Colgate with dealer displays and tieups and in theatres by circuits and several of the major companies. “Blackboard Jungle” last year which made this Ford a favorite with the public. “Interrupted Melody,” “Trial,” “Jubal” and “Ransom” also helped. The country’s favorite cutups, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, continue to weave their magic monkeyshines and were successful enough to move up one spot this year. This was through the courtesy of their two annual outings in “Artists and Models” and “Pardners.” Unfortunately, for the public at least, the boys have definitely decided (so they say) to go their separate, professional ways and only one of their joint ventures is awaiting public reaction — “Hollywood or Bust.” However, each has since made films on his own and next year’s results should be most interesting. Gary Cooper has the distinction of being a Top Ten winner more times than any THE NEXT FIFTEEN COMBINED CIRCUIT INDEPENDENT Rock Hudson Rock Hudson Audie Murphy Doris Day Doris Day Frank Sinatra Susan Hayward Marlon Brando Doris Day Marlon Brando Grace Kelly Susan Hayward June Allyson Susan Hayward June Allyson Grace Kelly Yul Brynner Jeff Chandler Audie Murphy Bing Crosby Marlon Brando Jeff Chandler June Allyson Grace Kelly Gregory Peck Jeff Chandler Gregory Peck Bing Crosby Gregory Peck Jane Wyman Yul Brynner Deborah Kerr Bing Crosby Ernest Borgnine Audie Murphy Randolph Scott Jane Wyman Ernest Borgnine Ernest Borgnine Randolph Scott Kirk Douglas Alan Ladd Alan Ladd Jennifer Jones Yul Brynner other performer in the history of the poll — 17 to be exact. And although he dropped two places this year, he can hardly be considered a casualty inasmuch as he’s appeared in every position from one to 10 over the years. “The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell” was his main event for the year, with “Friendly Persuasion” just getting started. He also has a Billy Wilder film, “Love in the Afternoon” currently shooting in which he costars with Audrey Hepburn and Maurice Chevalier. It should help keep his status, at the very least, quo. Marilyn Monroe, after a brief interlude in 11th position, returns for her third session among the elite. “Bus Stop,” incidentally, was the lady’s lucky candidate for the year and she’ll be throwing her lovely weight around soon in “The Sleeping Prince.” Newcomer number three and the only other female capable of overcoming the male supremacy is Kim Novak, a comparative novice to films who wasn’t even n the top 25 in any previous year. Her first film, “Pushover,” was released in the summer of 1954, she was a Star of Tomorrow in 1955 and now places second only to The Monroe. Miss Novak had three blockbusters going for her this time out — “The Man with the Golden Arm,” “Picnic” and “The Eddy Duchin Story.” Her happy home studio, Columbia, has a one-two punch lined up that should keep everybody happy. They are “The Jeanne Eagels Story” and the adaptation of Rodgers and Hart’s famed musical, “Pal Joey” with Frank Sinatra. Caught Public Fancy Speaking of Mr. Sinatra, the croonerturned-actor-turned-producer has finally wended his way into the land of the illustrious. For a man who, four years ago, was practically living a life of professional solitary confinement, he has really caught the public’s fancy to the point where some of his strongest scoffers in the days of his youth are now his biggest boosters. The Academy Award for “From Here to Eternity” was undoubtedly the turning point and he has taken advantage of this brilliantly. Among the reasons for his latest coup are the aforementioned “Arm,” “Guys and Dolls,” his own “Johnny Concho” and “High Society.” The perpetually busy man recently completed “The Pride and the Passion”; is currently working on “The Joker,” a biography of night club comedian Joe E. Lewis, and will soon play the charming scoundrel, “Pal Joey.” Our neighbors in Canada concurred with the foregoing selections in eight of the 10 cases (although not necessarily in the same position). Doris Day and Bing Crosby replaced John Wayne and Gary Cooper north of the border and the complete list of winners, chronologically, are: William Holden, Glenn Ford, Martin and Lewis, James Stewart, Miss Day, Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra, Crosby, Marilyn Monroe and Kim Novak. l4 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 8, 1956