Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

People in 1 Ike fit eivd Branson Sees Big Overseas Year for RKO ‘•RKO had a fine year abroad in 1956 and everything indicates next year will see a further increase in the company’s overseas business,” according to Walter Branson, vice-president in charge of worldwide distribution. Mr. Branson added: “Exhibitors around the world who promised to book the product of the new RKO when they learned of our reactivation plans, are now, after seeing the results of our initial efforts, coming through with major contracts for these pictures as well as for the many fine independent productions we are distributing.” The RKO vice-president noted that in 1956 RKO established many new box office records abroad with such pictures as Howard Hughes’ “The Conqueror,” Walt Disney’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” and “The Lady and the Tramp.” According to Daniel T. O’Shea, president of RKO, the company plans to turn out about 15 or 16 films during 1957 and is seeking outside deals for an additional eight to ten releases from independent producers. It was also announced that RKO plans to release 14 pictures — representing a total expenditure of $33,000,000 — during the first six months of next year. RKO will also release several Walt Disney full-length features in Latin America, the Far East (excluding Japan), Australasia and Switzerland. U.A. Foreign Earnings Up United Artists’ foreign earnings in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, which began December 1, 1956, will be the highest ever in the history of the company, in the opinion of Arnold M. Picker, vice-president in charge of foreign distribution. Recently returned from a lengthy trip abroad, Mr. Picker, declining to reveal actual figures, stated that he still “has confidence in the future for the motion picture in the foreign market despite economic and political problems in a number of countries. “The world is still going to see films as they are the best entertainment medium presented,” Mr. Picker declared, citing the success the company is having in the foreign market with the release of “Trapeze,” “The Ambassador’s Daughter” and “Alexander the Great,” to name a few films which his company has released abroad this past year. George Weltner, president of Paramount Film Distributing Corp. and James Richardson, treasurer, left New York by plane this week for London. Sidney Newman, advertising-publicity director of Skouras Theatres, and Alfred H. Tamarin, assistant national director of advertising, publicity and exploitation for United Artists, have accepted posts as National Publicity Co-Chairmen of the amusement industry’s Brotherhood Drive for 1957. Guy Biondi has been named campaign coordinator for Michael Todd’s “Around the World in 80 Days,” it was announced by Roger H. Lewis, United Artists di \Nrit Halts CinemaScope " Oklahoma " in Canada TORONTO: Famous Players Canadian Corporation and Twentieth-Century Fox Corporation, Ltd., are prevented by an interim injunction obtained by Odeon Theatres Canada, Ltd. from showing the CinemaScope version of “Oklahoma.” Odeon’s injunction, issued without notice by County Judge Peter J. Macdonald, acting in the capacity of a judge of the Supreme Court, restrains the companies from releasing the version to anyone other than Odeon. An argument will be held in Toronto to have the restraining order continued until trial of the action. Famous Plaoyers is showin gthe Todd-AO version at the Tivoli, Toronto, where it is now in its 33rd week. Admission Tax Halved At Philadelphia Houses PHILADELPHIA: The efforts of the Theatre and Amusement Association of Philadelphia to reduce the city’s amusement admissions tax proved successful this week when the City Councl passed the 1957 budget with a provision calling for a 50 per cent cut in the amusement tax, from 10 to five per cent. The drive was led by industry leaders William Godman, Lester Krieger, Morris Wax, Lewen Pizor and Samuel Shapiro. Wy/erf Peck Plan Film Academy Award winning director William Wyler has joined forces with actor Gregory Peck, and will direct “Thieves Market” in Spain commencing March 15 as a joint venture with Melville Productions, Inc., it was announced by Mr. Peck this week. rector of advertising, publicity and exploitation. The appointment becomes effective immediately, Mr. Lewis also announced. Robert J. O’Donnell, vice-president and general manager of Interstate Circuit, Dallas, Texas, has been named to the board of directors of the National Milk Bowl, famed site for “little” football, according to an announcement by The Milk Bowl, Bryan, Texas. A complete story of the screen career of Joan Crawford by Lawrence J. Quirk, of the editorial staff of Quigley Publications is the lead article in the December issue of Films in Review. Ritchey Says Great Britain Gross Gains by WILLIAM PAY LONDON: Allied Artists-Monogram business in Great Britain last year improved 25 per cent and resulted in higher box office returns than in any other period in the history of the company, Norton Ritchey, vice-president in charge of foreign distribution, said here last week at a press conference just before he left for the Continent. He was optimistic about the future. “The company’s fiscal year ending last March,” said Mr. Ritchey, “was the best ever. Business improved 25 per cent in Britain and a little more in the United States. Concerning production, he said that last year the company made 16 pictures and that this figure will be maintained next year. He then referred to the success of the company’s Anglo-U.S. productions and, in particular, to their relations with Associated British Picture Corporation. Allied Artists recently participated in Marcel Heilman’s film, “Let’s Be Happy,” with Vera-Ellen and Tony Martin, and will make at least one other picture during 1957 in cooperation with Elstree Studios. Theatre Reopens ELLENSBURG, WASH.: The Pix theatre has reopened after being closed for some months past. It is now being operated by MidState Theatres. 26 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 15, 1956