Variety (January 1954)

Wednesday* January 27, 1954 n »u\ PICTURES I I l illflKllll 31 It [ Bi Theatres equipped with Cinema-4 Scope recently discovered that in addition to the b.o. plus the medium provides, the widescreen installations are attracting industrial rentals. Specifically, the Ford Motor Co. has been renting theatres during morning hours to show auto dealers, salesmen and mechanics two films made in Cinemascope. Pix, one Showing the company’s 1954 passenger car line and the other its truck line, are each of about 35 minutes duration; They were filmed by Wilding Pictures, a 40-year-old commercial and _■ industrial film company and cost approximately $225,000. Following the showing of the films at CinemaScbpe-equipped theatres, the auto firm usually holds a pep meeting, Under its deal with 20th-Fox, holder of the rights to Cinemascope,, the Ford Co., which pays the film outfit a specified fee for the use of the CinemaScofie projection lenses, has exclusive rights (for an auto company) to 4he medium until Pec. 31, 1954. While no other auto manufacturer can make i a Cinemascope picture until the expiration of the agreement, it does not prevent other industrial and commercial firms from entering similar agreements with 20th. In fact, Wilding Pictures is currently negotiating with other companies relating to* the making 01 demonstration or instructional films in Cinemascope, The Ford pix also makes use of sterophonic sound, four-track magnetic sound having been dubbed in. Like the 20th theatrical films, they (Continued on page 26) But Closings in 1953 Tell Story MARILYN SUSPENDED— AGAIN Expected Back On Lot After Honeymoon, Doesn't Show Hollywood, Jan. 26. , For the second time in three weeks, 20th has suspended Marilyn Monroe for failing to report for starring assignment in “Pink Tights.” Actress . first went on suspension Jan. 4, was put-back oh salary January ; 16, following marriage and given until Monday (25) to show up for the film after studio had extended deadline from last Wednesday. Additional time was granted because her reps hadn’t . been able to contact her but anticipated her return from honeymoon over the weekend. Deal for 12 Feafiires, Release of Pix to TV Hollywood, Jan. 26. William F. Broidy closed a deal to produce 12 pictures in 12 months for release by Robert L. Lippert. As part of the two-way deal, Broidy agreed to sell Lippert product to television. First of Broidy ’s productions is slated to roll in April. The 12, added to Lippert’s regularly acquired films, will swell his distribution program to 24 features during the next year. Broidy has arranged with Official Films to represent him in the sale of Lippert pictures to Video. They include more than 100 features, 170 musical shorts, 39 BlaCkstone magic subjects and 26 femme wrestling shows. In addition to his films for Lippert release, Broidy is currently negotiating a new deal with Allied Artists which has been distributing his product for several years. STANDARD FACTORS HAILS ’QUALITY’ RULE Fewer and better pictures have renewed public interest in filmgoing and restored financial confidence in the industry, according to a survey released today by Staridard Factors Corp., titled “Upswing hi the Film Industry.” This emphasis on quality, rather tham quantity, has brought back, theatre trride in cities with television to the extent that the in7 now feels it has taken the worst the competitive entertainment can hand out and survive, ^ot even the threat of color tv is — ■ “so long as Hollywood sucks to the new quality product,” the survey states. Consensus of opinion in the surls ^-D will fade within a °f ^o, while wide screen — . th of the CinemaScope and Cinerama variety— will remain.’’ SurK ;swat!s that °T the nation^ 18,^hn„theot^esA 0nly about 1.000 have in°tK,n 3'^ ^lms» mainly in houses cnrr^^pjlinar.y cities» leaving the rent depthies with many play cititfc ■ Possibilities 4n secondary ies and rural communities. Film industry is giving the “gala premiere” routine its most intense workout in years. Time was when most companies used the kleiglight approach for a few pix a year —those which which needed lullscale ballyhoo or deserved to be distinguished from the ordinary lineup of product. Now, it looks like everyone is on the “glittering opening” kick. Three major (worldwide) debuts are on the sked for next week alone v Over the past ■ couple of weeks numerous others took place. How come this new concentration on the opening-night Jioopla? Big pictures are coming out and they, must be sold big, according to some of the trade’s ad-pub masterminds. Bowing next Monday (1) is Paramount’s “Red Garters” at the Par • and State Theatres, Austin, Texas. Guy Mitchell, Pat Crowley, Joanne Gilbert and others of the cast will appear at these openings plus subsequent ones throughout the Interstate chain in Texas. Statewide celebrations have been cooked up. Don Hartman, Par production chief, was in Dallas last week to talk up the tub-thumping with Interstate , managers. 20th-Fox has a promotional nifty going in advance also next Mon( Continued on page 18) SPITZ, GOETZ, HOLT NEGATIVES FDR VIDEO Hollywood, Jan. 26. Moulin Productions, now headed by Alfred W. Crown, has set up a television department to distribute film properties owned or controlled by the Company. Features available for sale to video include seven produced by Leo Spitz and William Goetz, . and /three old Randolph Scott starters made by Nat Holt. Meanwhile, Moulin is going ahead with its production of theatrical films. Next is the Gregory Peck starter, "Moby Dick,” to be produced by John Huston in conjunction with Associated British Pictures for release by Warners. Says lucasta’ Based On By GENE ABNEEL Deal by which Columbia contracted William Goetz, formerly Universal’s production boss, for an unspecified Taut obviously-expensive number of partnership pix, is another reflection of the sharpest shift in Company policy in years. For many years Columbia has been the outfit that somehow came up With a really big .film at the rate of only one a year. . Col now appears playing for the tallest takes in its career. The blue-chips splurge, and risk, is in a number of the studio’s own properties in addition to participation pacts with “outsiders,” such as Goetz. Within the next few weeks Col will roll two CinemaScopers, each reputedly budgeted at about $1,500,000. These are “Pleasure’s All Mine,” with Betty Grable arid Marge & Gower Champion, and “Mr. West Point,” Tyrone Powerstarrer with John Ford directing. Goetz’s. Starters Goetz has listed three pix with Which he’ll tee off his Col partnership, first of which is an adaptation of “Guy^and Dolls,” legit musical click. Negative cost is figured at $2,000,000 for the entry, which might also go in C’Scope. “Maurice Chevalier Story.” starring Danny Kaye, and “Dawn in the Sky," James Stewirt, are next on the Goetz lineup. Goetz-Cbl tieup is a "package” (Continued on page 18) MOULIN STOCK LURED AL CROWN FROM RKO Alfred W. Crown, veteran distribution exec, has been given a 10% stock participation in Moulin Productions as part nf the payoff for his taking presidency of the outfit. Crown is bowing out this week as head of the RKO foreign department to shift to Moulin. Indie company, co-chairmanned by David Stillman and Eliot Hyman^ has been active in the financing end of production, including the click United Artists release, “Moulin Rouge.” Name of the company was taken from the title of this pic. Outfit also has acquired all residual rights, including television; to seven pix lensed up to (Continued on page 24) WIESENTHAL'S PROJECT Reactivates Olympic— After Peck For ’Bitter Sage’ Hollywood, Jan. 26, Sam Wiesenthal; who recently exited RKO, is reactivating his indie Olympic Productions. George Bagnall is associated with him in the venture. Initialler wHl be “Bitter Sage,” new Frank Gruber novel which Wiesenthal purchased for $75,000 after reading galleys. He’s after Gregory Peck to star and is dickering for ;RKO release. Olympic’s previous “Cry Danger,” Dick Powell-Rhorida Fleming costarrer* was an RKO release. mm HUS “The Frericli Line,” RKO entry which has been denied Production Code approval, has been set to go into full scale distribution in February. Company heretofore bed not been licensing any bookings with the exception of the pic’s run in St; Louis which began early this month. Prints are being sent to all RKO ’domestic branches with instructions to show the controversial film to local censor boards where they exist. Thus, “Line” looms as the first newr pic of possible troublesome •j nature to go before official city and state blue-pencillers sirice the recent U. S. Supreme Court ruling which attacked the censorship statutes in N. Y. and Ohio. I?. In many cases a nix by the Pro• duction Code, coupled with “coni demnation" by the National Legion of Decency, as in the instance of “Line,” almost automatically would mean negative actio? by certain censor panels across the country. ! Whether this still will obtain, in | light of the Supreme Court's stated i ( Continued on page 18) ’ ; Despite the individual optimism on certain levels in the industry, the fact remains that there were more theatre closings in 1953 than in 1952, a statistic that the industry, will present , to Congress when it makes its next pitch for a cut or elimination of the 20% Federal admission tax. A total of 1,200. [theatres, according to a reli-» able industry source, closed their doors during the past year as compared to 973 closings in 1952. In 1951, 886 theatres ceased operation while: in 1950, 692 houses, called it quits. The optimism is generally expressed among the big chains : whibh operate firstrun houses in : key cities. These houses, equipped * for the presentation of pictures in the new techniques, have been siphoning off attendance from the neighboring, suburban; and. riearby smalltown theatres, thereby making the plight %of the small house even more desperate. While attendance in the key city chain-operated houses has ( Continued on page 20) Trench Line’ Case May Cue Possible Upset Of MPAA-MPEA Status Is the Motion Picture Assn, of America headed toward the status of “subsidiary” to its affiliate. Motion Picture Export Assn.? There’s some fear on the “inside” that this might be the case. Point is raised that if RKO pulls I out of MPA A, a new appraisal of the organization by other companies would, be a natural conse' quence. There’s no hint of possible dissolution of the outfit, of course. It serves too many important functions of benefit to the entire industry. . What is seen as a threat is a lessening of MPA A's structure in (Continued on page 20) Trade Improves; ‘Knights9 Again Champ, ‘Cinerama9 2d, ‘Sadie9 3d, ‘Reef9 4th, ‘Rifles9 ’5th . Winter blasts continued to Detroit, hefty in Philly and brisk plague film business in many key in Balto. “Cease Fire” (Par) is cities covered by Variety .this starting out well with a batch of week, but in other spots across the gratifying dates. “Go Man Go" opuntry picture theatres fared bet (UA), also new, is riice in L.A., ter as milder weather set in, at being top new pic. least temporarily. Few new entries “Glenn Miller Story” (U), given were launched in current stanza world preem in three Miami. Fla., but those which braved preems, houses, wound up with a mighty especially in the south, did well, gross, being the biggest ever for However, in most cities exhibitors a Universal film in these three were setting up schedules to bring theatres. It is running way ahead in stronger fare for the two Feb 0f “Mississippi Gambler,” its pre Trad* Mark Registered FOUNDED BY SIME SILVERMAN Published Weekly by VARIETY. INC Harold Erichs. President 134 West 46th SL New York 56. N.Y Hollywood 11 6311 Yucca Street Washington 4 1292 National . Press Building Chicago 11 612 -fio. Michigan At*. London WC2 8 St. Martin's PI.. Trafalgar Sq. SUBSCRIPTION Annual. . $10 Foreign ill Single Copies 25 Cents ABEL GREEN. Editor ruary holidays. vious top grosser there. “Jubilee “Knights of the Round Table” Trail” (Rep), also preeming in the (M-G) continued in No. I spot for south, hung up a sock opening the third consecutive week, with week in New Orleans, gross being annfhop crtiach total ‘T.inprama" nn..nt INDEX Bills another smash total. “Cinerama’ (Indie), which was second last stanza, held in same spot. Third about equal to “Quiet Man" (Rep). “Wicked Woman” (UA) is smash on its preem in Philly. “Forever ilia 1 f nond ijiijTvvjwyv Los Angeles. Jan. 26. Piracy suit, demanding an injunction and $1,400,000 damages, was filed by Errol Aubrey Jones in Federal Court against Columbia Pictures, Philip Yordan, Marilyn Nash, Harry N. Gribble, John Wildberg, George Zorn, Abraham Hill and the American Negro Theatre of NY. Plaintiff declares the defendants committed plagiarism by filming, 'staging and publishing a book, “Anna Lucasta.” He. claims he had a legit play, “Sin-Sister,” for which he filed copyright July 22, 1935. He contends “Lucasta” is based on his material. 1 . • j. rT*t~ vti uo ui cvui ui a uiuj • ■ . a w *>» Female” (Par) looks stout in N. Y. SOn (Col), fifth a week ago. anrl fail* in PnrHanrf ‘‘rifilrfpn ^ | and fair in Portland. “Golden 12-Mile Reef (20th) continued coaCh«* gfe) likely will hit a new 6 house high opening week in N Y. last session, took fifth spot. !5ee^e !n “Hondo” (WB) wound up sixth, at' N. Y. Paramount, is big in with “Millionaire” (20th), seventh. Louisville and Buffalo and good in “T.itMp r!apsar”-“Piihtic Enemv ” Cmcy. “Man Between” (UA), fine “Little Caesar”-“Public Enemy,” rirl^V man Between i WB oldie combo, is landing eighth £flsco’ ^ °^ay . place. “Walking Baby Home” (U) ^|r.s. ■ .\s, pushed up to ninth, brisk in Cincy. Living Desert r . _ . r _ I _ . /Mipm A4i\ « n iwirM im T A “Julius Caesar” (M-G), “War Ar (Disney) is trim iuL. A.. Washingrow” (U) and “The Bigamist” (FR) ton;, and Qfhi. Wild One (Col) is round out the top, 12 list in that r°bjist ^hi and Boston. -r •• Tumbleweed” (U) looms nice in order. “Forbidden’ ‘Cap tain’s* Paradise” (UA) and “Para Louisville. “Escape Ft. Bravo” trooper” (Col) are runner-up films. [M*G); ■ is sturdy in N. Y. and. “Eddie Cantor Story” (WB) is an Boston; outstanding new entry, being sock (Complete Botoffice Reports on in Providence and K.C., okay in Pages 8-9) Chatter Film Reviews , House Reviews . . . Inside Legit Inside Music ..... inside Pictures Inside Radio-TV . . International ...... Legitimate Literati ......... Music New Acts Night Club Reviews Obituaries i ...... . Pictures Radio-Television .. Radio Reviews .... Record Reviews ... Frank Scully Telepix Reviews Television Reviews TV-Films . Vaudeville ..... 70 6 61 .’.... 62 DAILY VARIETY (Published in HoUy wood by Dally V*rlety, Ltd.) 615 a Ytar. 620 Foreign