Variety (June 1954)

1954 When a theatre installs a turnstile to'save moneys there’s bound to be some, question as- tb whether the guy who goes back to the b.o., maintaining be saw the picture is telling the truth. . To solve this problem, the Pix and other Braiidt theatres in the mid-Manhattan area, put up signs saying “Positively: No Refunds” shortly after convej*sion to turnstiles.' But since signs don’t mean a thing, management is still straining its judgment deciding who’s being honest and who isn't in demanding refunds. Said a wag: “They got a turnstile going in; they oughta have a lie-detector coming out.” CffTW in Kine Si Modernization of him classics* to meet the demands of the wide- * screen and stereophonic sound era may become commonplace. Retread treatment apparently will be re- served for the “great” pictures of yesteryear and not accorded to just any reissue. An example of the pictures selected for the up-dat- ing are “Gone With the Wind” and “The Jolson Story.” Combined with the original in- gredients of the. pictures, the new look is p.roving a bbxoffice plus. On the basis of early experience on modernization, film companies are combing their vaults in search of product suitable for re-working. During- the early stages of the switch to widescreen, the major distribs re-released a ra£b pf spec- tacle films which’they hoped would be satisfactory for widescreen viewing. However, with the addi- tion of stereophonic sound, more careful consideration is given to the films selected, since the re-re- cording of the sound is a relative- ly costly operation. .. Columbia added a magnetic sound track to “The Jolson Story” while Metro provided a Perspecta sound track for “GWTW.” Origi- (Contimied on page 18) PAPAL HONOR Ed Dowden of Loew’s Made Knight ' ’ of St.* Gregory Knighthood in the Order of St. Gregory, a high honor of the Ro- man Catholic papacy, has been be- stowed upon Edward C. DOWden, a Lojew veteran of over 25 years and assistant director of its Publicity- Advertising Department in N. Y. Award was conveyed by Arch- bishop Thomas E. Mulloy of the Brooklyn diocese on advice from the Papal Secretary of State in Rome on a citation of an “edify- ing, life of practical Catholicity.” Dowden is active in various Catholic good works organizations in Brooklyn. Of Quality-TOA Theatre Owners of America lead- ers, at the special summer meeting of the executive committee and the board in Los Angeles June 17- 19, plan to sit down with the pro- duction heads of the major com- panies and of independent compa- nies to seek some solution to the current product shortage. Walter Reade Jr., TO A prexy, termed the upcoming session as perhaps “the most important in the history of TOA.” “Certainly -we recognize,” said Reade, “the fact that new processes as well as an increased number of epic pictures have caused a de- crease in the number of*pictures produced—and, just as certainly, we are not pleading for quantity rather than quality. But we’* feel that there are practical answers if we have cooperation and under- (Continued on page 16) McCoy Backgrounds Pay Off When Foreign Story Gets Back to Foreigners From the standpoint of interna- tional relations and in helping our Government combat Communism abroad, the best thing our industry is doing is making pictures which require foreign backgrounds in the countries that are depicted. That’s the view of Edward Lachman, for- mer prexy of Allied Theatre Own- ws of New Jersey. Pictures made in Hollywood with foreign-back- grounds, Lachman said, are bound to misrepresent small details and these minute defections which the Communist press picks up and make a big to-do about. Lachman recently returned from a six-week trip abroad and sur- ^edthe Aim situation both as an exhibitor and as an equipment dis- tributor. He’s head-of Lorraine Car- bons, an outfit which has the west- (Continued on page 18) Walt Disney product set for com- pletion by the end of this year rep- resents an investment of $8,500,000, believed to be the highest amount of coin tied up for a like period in recent Disney history. Major portion of the budget has been allotted to “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” live action Cine- mascope version of the Jules Verne classic. This is slated for release at Christmas.'Also on the new pro- gram for the balance of 1954 are “The Vanishing Prairie,” as a fol- lowup to “Living Desert” in the True Life Adventure feature se- ries; “The Littlest Outlaw,” fea- ture live actioner being produced in Mexico, and two two-reelers in the People and Places series and seven cartoon shorts. Both “Prai- rie” and “Outlaw” are skedded for distribution in the fall. As is Dis- ney’s custom, all product will be in Technicolor. Included on the producer’s 1955 (Continued on page 10) Strike Hits Radio In Argentine; Film Distribs, Exhibs Under Threat Buenos Aires, June 8, 1954. Strikes, which have been fairly general in Argentine industries for more or less 40 days, have now spread to the entertainment fields, and whereas so far the Press has not been allowed to mention this situation,- the spread to radio is bringing the whole mess right out in the open. Although the motion picture in- dustry so far is not on strike, agi- tation has been intense for some time, and today film-theatre op- erators are threatening to go out either tomorrow, or over this week- end. Distribution office personnel have been hassling with manage- ment for the better part of six weeks, without reaching any settle- ment. Yesterday the American distributors submitted their abso- lute maximum offers to the union, which nixed them outright and countered by repeating demands which management had rejected from the start of negotiations. The Union has served an ultimatum on distributors, giving them up to (Continued on page 18) , Production of from seven to eight “quota” films 1 a year in Britain is planned Jby 20th-Fox, Company prexy Spyros P.. Skouras disclosed last week. Discussions with a number of British producers are currently going on, he said. Discussing his recent trip to London, Skouras also reported that 20th relations with J. Arthur Rank had been “completely 1 severed” but that it had been done “in’ the friendliest way.” This apparently completes the break originally caused by stereophonic sound and Rank’s refusal to give Cinemascope pix extended playing time on his circuits. Asked what would happen to the 75 Rank houses that had been com- pletely equipped for C’Scope and stereo sound, Skouras replied that 20th product could not play them “since we are playing the opposi- tion.” . 20th CinemaScopers have gone to first-run indies in Britain with, good success. Also, 20th has leased two showcases in London. The controversy with Rank started when the latter continued to yank C’Scope films out. of his houses re- gardless of the business done. Ac- cording to 20th, this was a breach of a prior promise; Skouras said Joseph M. Mosko- witz, 20th v.p. and the studio's liaison exec at the horn eofflee, would go to London soon to con- tinue discussions he had started during his visit there. He declared he was not ready to divulge details of producers Or scripts since both are still in the negotiating stage. It’s indicated that 20th will not produce these films itself but will (Continued on page 16) Reinhardt’s ’Rosalinda’ Hollywood, June 8. After 20 years with Metro, Gott- fried Reinhardt has organized his own independent company with “Rosalinda” as his first production. Tunefilm, based on the Strauss opera, “Die Fledermaus,” will be filmed in Munich this summer. Two separate casts wiU appear in Eng- lish and German versions. Cur- rently Reinhardt is negotiating with Kathryn Grayson to star in the English version. ‘Dolls’Deal Real Final and formal wrapup of the Samuel Goldwyn deal for purchase of the'sereen. rights to “Guys and Dolls” is expected within the next couple of weeks. “We’re now be- ginning to see light,” commented one of the parties to the transac- tion, in referring to the labyrin- thine legalistic work involved. extract and appended docu- ments relating to title clearances and considerations of the Danion Runyon estate now run over 70 pages. Goldwyn is guaranteeing $1,000,000 against 10% of the worldwide £ross for rights to the click musical legiter. Metro Butters Up Selznick Feud between Metro and David O. Selznick has been patched up, with the film company bending over backwards to placate the pro- ducer of “Gone With the Wind.” Bad feeling stemmed from Metro’s alleged failure to give Selznick due credit for “GWTW” during a special 30th anni program on Ed Sullivan’s “Toast of the Town” video show in February. Extent to which Metro has gone to satisfy Selznick is indicated in the ads and publicity for “Wind,” now iii release for the fifth time. The printed matter contains no mention of Metro at all, eliminat- ing even ■ the usual identification of the company releasing the pic- ture. Picture is listed as a David O. Selznick production and as a Selznick International picture. Sullivan’s show two weeks ago spotlighted “Wind” and Selznick, who appeared in person to talk about the picture and his career. The 30th anni Show in February featured production chief Dore Schary. Insiders may have noticed a basic difference in the views of Selznick and Schary, Selznick, as a result of questioning by Sullivan, stated that the sole purpose of the (Continued on page 18 ) National Boxoffice Survey Post-Holiday Dip Bops Trade; ‘Coins’ Cops 1st, ‘Dial M’ 2d, ‘Cinerama’ 3d, ‘Guitar’ 4th Most key cities are suffering usual post-holiday slump in cur- rent stanza, with some spots taking a beating from changeable weath- er. There is not much new product to help, either. Pittsburgh and In- dianapolis are still trying to over- come handicaps of transport strikes “Three Coins in Fountain” (20th), out for first session to any real extent, is soaring to top position. It is showing up nice to smash in some 17 keys. “Dial M For Mur-, der” (WB) is taking second place* with 14 playdates. “Cinerama” (In- die) is winding up third. “Johnny Guitar” (Rep), fifth last round, is capturing fourth spot, with many smash to great play- dates. In many locations it is bet- tering the sock trade registered by “Quiet Man,” one of Republics greatest boxoffice winners. It is particularly strong in the south, including Ft. Worth, Dallas, Hous- ton, Atlanta and San Antonio. In most Texas cities, it’s running way ahead of “Quiet.” “Executive Suite” (M-G), third last week, is fifth: “Long Wait” (UA) is taking sixth money while “French Line” (RKO) is jseventh. “Knock on Wood” (Par) is Winding in eighth. “Elephant Walk,” also Par, and “River of No Return” (20th) are finishing ninth atyd 10th, respectively. “Genevieve” (U) and “Indiscre- tion of American Wife” (Col) are the two runner-up pix. “Student Prince” (M-G), with string of fresh playdates, still re- mains very uneven. It- is nice in Chi and solid in Cleveland, but fair in Pitt and Indianapolis, and modest in Denver. Pic is rated okay in Louisville. Another new film, .“Witness To Murder” (UA), shapes so-so in St. Louis, okay in Detroit, mild in Denver and slow in'Boston. “Black Horse Canyon (U), also hew, is good in Portland, oke in In- dianapolis and mildish in Boston,. “Gog” (UA) is rated moderate in L.A. "Gone With Wind” (MG), out on reissue again, is sock on new open- ing in K.C., and continuing great on second weeks in Frisco and N. Y. “Prisoner of War” (M-G) looms nice in Chi. “Carnival Story” (RKO) still is fancy in N. Y. and starting out fine in Cincy. “Living Desert” (Disney) is smash in Minneapolis and trim in St. Louis. “Secret of Incas” (Par), just get- ting started, looks okay in Seattle and fair in N. Y. “Men of Fighting Lady” (M-G) shapes nice in Chi. “Top Banana” (UA) looms fat in K.C. and okay in Chi. “Gorilla at Large” (20th) is nice in Buffalo. New reissue packages were tried this week. “Shane”-“Detective Story,” both Par pix, look about best with okay session irr Detroit. “Okinawa,” paired with “Fighting Coast. Guard,” both Republic oldies, also are okay in Chi. (Complete Boxoffice Reports on j • Pages 8-9> * Long-smoldering feud in the dye* works end of the picture business exploded yesterday (Tues;) as Pathe Laboratories asked the Fed- eral Trade Commission to crack down on Technicolor; Latter was charged with alleged unfair prac- tices. FTC specifically was asked to en- join Techni from describing as “In Technicolor” or “Color by Techni- color” ’all pix which actually were made in the Eastman color proc- ess. In such cases, Techni process- es the release prints after the ac- tual lensing is with Eastman. Pathe charged this- practice has “brought intentional deception of producers, distributors and tha movie-going public and as such was unfair competition.” Pathe offered advertising show- ing, said the complaint, that the Techni label was on “The Robe," “How to Marry a Millionaire, 1 * “Beneath the 12-Mile Reef” and ^ “Prince Valiant,” although these pix were in the Eastman process. Pathe stated its case thus: “For approximately 20 years the dys (Continued on page 18) Doomed Killer Columbia is paying $10,000 to Caryl Chessman, who is now await- ing execution in San Quentin’s gas chamber, for film rights to his autobiography, “Cell 2455, Death Row.” Convicted of a total of 17 crimes, Chessman, known as the “Red Light Bandit,” is to die July 30. Jerry Wald, Col exec producer, was particularly interested in the memoirs and arranged for the pur- chase. How the convict plans dis- position . of the cash was not dis- closed. Col intends “Death Row”, as a factual, documentary story offer- ing no defense of Chessman. Trad# Mark Registered FOUNDED BY SIME SILVERMAN Published Weekly by VARIETY, INC Harold Erfcbs, President 194 West 46th St. New York 36. N.Y JUdson 2-2700 Hollywood 21 6311 Yucca Street Hollywood 9-1141 Washington 4 1292 National Press Building STerllng 3-3445 Chicago II 612 No. Michigan Are. . DElaware 7-4904 London WC2 6 St. Martin's PI.. Trafalgar Sq. Temple Bar 5041 SUBSCRIPTION Annual $10 Foreign 611 Single Copies 25 Cents ABEL GREEN, Editor Vol. 195 120 No. 1 INDEX Bills 53 Chatter 62 Film Reviews 6 , House Reviews 53 Inside Pictures 13 j International. 12 Legitimate 56 Literati 61 Music 37 New Acts 47 Night Club Reviews .... 54 Obituaries 63 Pictures 3 Radio-Television 23 Radio Reviews 31 Record Reviews 38 Frank Scully 61 Television Reviews ... *.. 26 TV-Films 36 Vaudeville 47 DAILY VARIETY (Published in Hollywood by Dally Variety, Ltd.) • SIB a Year, 630 Foreign