I Accuse! (MGM) (1958)

PET GRIPES CONTEST Newspapers give readers a chance to air their grievances in this kind of a contest. The movie title is perfect for similar promotion. Allow contestants to choose their favorite gripe, giving reasons. Offer cash prizes and free movie tickets. Each gripe must start with the movie title, thus: “I accuse most men of fickleness because ..., L accuse women car drivers of sheer stupidity because ....,”’ ete. PUBLIC LIBRARIES Help them prepare a display announcing the noted novel by Nicholas Halasz, the sensational Captain Dreyfus case, has been made into one of the screen’s most dramatic and gripping pictures, “I Accuse!”’ The card can also contain other suggested books by French authors. WALKING BOOK Prepare a walking book as a street ballyhoo. Use compo board and cover with M-G-M poster material and whatever else is necessary. Allow eyeholes for vision. As your man walks the streets inside of this book, he points an accusing finger at shoppers and pedestrians. Copy: “I accuse moviegoers of missing an exciting picture if they fail to see ‘I ACCUSE!,’ starring Jose Ferrer,”’ ete. STREET IDENTIFICATION CONTEST Arrange with newspaper or TV station to put an unidentified man on the streets. Give his daily itinerary and clues to his identity. Winner of the cash prize can be the first person who says to him, “I accuse you of being the (name of newspaper or TV program) mystery man.” TV PANEL The charge of treason or espionage has been levelled against many people in conjunction with questionable activities. It’s a constantly recurring one in the public prints and on the airwaves. As the picture is based on the famous French case of Captain Dreyfus, try to get a panel of high school or college students on a TV program for discussion of it in relation to current events. POSTER STUNTS M-G-M has made 1, 3 and 6 sheet litho posters on this picture (no 24 sheet). Each poster has a giant pointing hand, with large “Tt ACCUSE!” running up the arm. Here are several ways of using them: Display several 6 sheets flat on your lobby floor. Convert a 6-sheet into an advance outside lobby display, moving it inside at playdate time. Mount several of the 3 or 6 sheet titlebearing hands on stick signs for kids to carry around town. How about snow banks? Use one of the title-pointing hands on your box-office and placed so that it points at ticket buyers. NEWSPAPER OVERPRINT Arrange for an overprint of a regular newspaper edition with this banner headline in red: “I ACCUSE!” Cries Prosecutor In Famous Treason Trial. In small type underneath, refer readers to the page number inside which carries theatre picture ad. CHALK WRITING Weather permitting, have I ACCUSE! written on sidewalks and elsewhere as teaser advertising. ARROWS AND STENCILS Directional street arrows, with this title in big bold letters, will capture attention of motorists and pedestrians. Stenciling busy street intersections is another method. WHO WAS CAPTAIN DREYFUS? Print small leaflets for hand-to-hand distribution away from your theatre. In large letters ask: ““Who Was Captain Dreyfus?” Explain in smaller type that the first 50 persons phoning your theatre will receive a free ticket to “I Accuse!”’ Captain Dreyfus was a French army officer who was accused of betraying military secrets to the Germans. Same offer can be made, through newspaper classified ad tie-up, to people placing want ads during a specified time. TV COURTROOM TRIALS Should there be a TV program with a courtroom trial, arrange for spot announcements right after the end of it. OLD-TIMERS CONTEST Back many years ago, the Dreyfus case was one of the most publicized treason affairs in the world. Even today newspapers and commentators make reference to it in conjunction with current events. Old-timers among your movie patrons will recall it. Announce prizes in a contest to those who can recollect it, with the best descriptions, in letters of not more than 100 words. INFAMOUS TREASON CASES There have been a number of notable treason cases here and abroad. Plan a contest for high school and college students, or throw it open to the general public. Basing the contest on the picture’s Dreyfus ease, offer prizes to those who, in their opinion, select the most infamous treason case and support it with the best reasons why. Among treason cases which come to mind are Benedict Arnold in the American Revolution; Quisling of Norway who worked with the Nazis; Sir Roger Casement (Ireland) who was executed by the British; Lord Haw-Haw was another celebrated English case of betrayal; the Rosenbergs XPLOITATIO of recent memory in the United States; Robert Tone and Robert Emmett of Ireland. Get school and/or college sponsorship. Plant contest with a newspaper, or present it as a TV program with students as panelists. LAWYERS AND JURISTS The courtroom trial and events leading up to it, and the framing of an innocent man, may have special interest for lawyers, judges and others connected with the law. Extend a special invitation to them to see “Tl Accuse!”’ as your guests. VALANCES, FLAGS, ETC. Any theatre desiring a valance, flag, bumper strips or ushers’ badges, should write direct to the Valley Forge Flag Co., Spring City, Pa. LOYAL WIVES Lucie (Viveca Lindfors) is the wife of Captain Dreyfus (Jose Ferrer). Through the false accusation of treason, his conviction, banishment to notorious Devil’s Island and eventual vindication, she remained loyal and steadfast to him. Develop a contest for husbands who are asked to cite examples of exceptional wifely loyalty. Ask for letters of not more than 100 words and offer prizes. EDITORIALS The real Captain Dreyfus was helped to freedom by the French newspaper publisher, Georges Clemenceau (Peter Illing) and the famous French novelist, Emile Zola (Emlyn Williams), both daring fighters for the rights of man. Clemenceau’s newspaper printed a stirring letter to the Pres.. by Emile Zola,”” and the public clamored for a new trial. ident of France, “‘I Accuse . . A parallel between this treason case and modern accusations of a similar nature can be drawn editorially by a local newspaper which advocates due caution lest someone be falsely accused and imprisoned. Reference, of course, will be made to picture and theatre playdates. ORDER M-G-M TRAILER FROM NSS The dramatic power and emotionally arousing conflict between the forces of right and wrong are presented in this accessory. Picture dialogue and commentary intensify these scenes which have been taken from the picture. Order and screen it for better boxoffice returns from theatre playdates.