Variety (October 1954)

20 PICTURES P^RIETY Wednesday, October 6, 1954 * ♦ »t ♦ > ♦♦♦♦» > ♦♦♦♦♦ ♦ ♦•♦♦♦ * iv 4 ♦♦♦♦ ♦ ♦»♦ > ♦ i f ♦ M ♦ ♦■♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦ ♦♦♦»♦♦ . ♦ ♦ »♦ ♦ > > ♦ ♦ > ♦♦♦♦»♦+ ♦ Hollywood;. Oct, 5. William Castle assigned to direct Sam Katzman’s “The Gun That Won the West” at Columbia .■ . . Wagners handed Pat Blake a term contract with “Jump Into Hell” as her first assignment . Robert Strauss signed for a featured role in “The Seven Year Itch” at 20th- Fbx ... v National Legion of De- cency handed Metro’s “Rbgue Cop" I “B” rating because of “excessive J brutality” and a “suggestive se- quence” . . Kevin Ehrlffht: spotted, in Columbia’s “Tight Spot” Russell Johnson set as top heavy in “Goldon Grotto,” to be . pro- duced by Vincent Price and John Brahm in Germany next. Spring; . Robert HortOn plays a heavy in Silliphant - Barhwell’s ‘‘Five Against the House." Rita Moreno’s player ticket re- newed by 20th-Fox . Nat Hoii readying “Seven Badmen,” indie production, for RKO release ... William Wellman will direct “C’est la Guerre/’ story of the La- fayette Escadrille in World'War I, for Batjac Productions . . King Bros, will make their next film, “The- Syndicate," in Cinemascope and Eastman-color for RKO release , . Frank McFaddeii, formerly with Panoramic, formed, his own flackery with Jim Eddy as ah as- sociate . . Lindsley Parsons’ next feature for Allied Artists release will be “Tonight Is Forever.” start- ing late this month . . , Warners bought screen rights to “Prince ..Bart,” best-seller by Jay R ; chard Kennedy . . .‘Bobby Mayo joined | Batjac Productions as casting di-• rector-. . . Next for Esther. Williams at Metro will be “Body Beautiful,” with Joe Pasternak producing . ; . Peter Votrian plays the moppet, in Aubrey Schenck’s “Big House, i U. S. A.” . . Alberto Morin cast j .as a French army officer in War- ners’ “Jump Into Hell.” . . Charles Evans drew a part in Metro’s “In- terrupted Melody." . . . Dewey Martin joined Humphrey Bogart \ and Fredric March in William Wy- ler’s “The Desperate Hours" at Paramount . > James Starbuck signed as choreographer for “The- Court Jester,” starring Dariny Kaye . . . George Dolenz drew a featured role in “The. Purple Mask,” starring Tony Curtis and. Colleen Miller . Walter Wanger signed Joan Bennett to star in. “Mother-Sir,” to be filmed ..parti- ally in Japan . . Metro bought “The Wilder Shores of Love,” authored by Lesley Blanch, as a Starrer for Elizabeth Taylor, Evelyn Keyes signed to star in “The Top of the World,” to be pro- duced by Michael Baird and Lewis R. Foster under the Landmark. Productions banner .. . Dean Cromer drew a role in Columbia’s “Tight Spot.” . . . Michael and Fay Kanin scripting “Swordsman of Siena,” starring Stewart Granger, at Metro . . . Dennis Weaver and Richard Cutting joined the “John Brown’s Raiders” cast at Allied Artists v . .. Metro signed Cleveland Amory to write a screen treatment of ‘‘Jazz Festival,” based on his own idea . . . Roy Webb will handle musical direction on Hecht-Lancas- ter’s indie, “The Kentuckian” . . Ray Teal and Jennings Miles added, to the cast of "Justice Comes to Tomahawk” at U .. . Judy Canova’s daughter. Tweeny, plays a mdppet in Republic’s "Lay That Rifle Down.” Anatole Litvak, currently in Eu- rope, was signed for two more years as producer-director by 20th- Fox , . Leonard Penh drew a role in “Jump Into Hell” at Warners . Arlene Dahl, recently in “A Woman’s ^brld’* at 20th-Fox,. signed for another picture, to be selected later . . .» Jo Gilbert, Herb Vigrah and Patty Brill joined the cast of Stanley Kramer’s “Not As A Stranger.” . . . Leith Stevens do- ing the score for Hal E. Chester’s ihdie, “Crashout” ..... . Jimmy; Dor- sey’s daughter, Julie; making her screen bow in Pine-Thomas’ “Lucy Gallant” ? . . Genevieve Aumont checked in at 20th-Fox for a role in “The Racers.” ' Irene Montwill .switched from teevee to films for a foie i “JUmp Into ■Hell" at Warners . . , Aaron Rosenberg will produce “Apache Agent,” based on a book by Wood- worth Clum, at U , . . Paul Fix and Louis van Rooten joined the cast of Warners’ “Sea Chase" on location in Hawaii . . . Benedict Bog^aus bought screen to “Wash- able Pink,” authored by .-Dorothy Curnow Handley . . .‘Roberta Haynes signed for femme lead in “Garden Of Semiramis,” an Italian production . . . Ralph Meeker re- turning to the screen as co-star with Broderick Crawford in :Bel- Ai.f’6 “Big House, U. S. A." . . Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall will co-star in “High Society’v.for Al- lied Artists , ; William Goetz signed Seton I, Miller to screen- play “Captain Calico,” Clark Gable starrer. ..Kurt Kasznar plays the landlord in Columbia’s musical version of “My Sister Eileen,” staring *Janet Leigh and Betty Garrett • « . Josef Shaftel signed Marsha Hunt as femme lead in “No Place to Hide," to be produced in the Philippines . . Anne Baxter, currently in Paris, will star for U in the Ross Hunter production, “Tracy Cronv well” , . Patricia Medina draws top femme role in Sam Katzman’s “Duel, on the Mississippi” at Co- lumbia . . William Beaudine will direct; the Bowery Boys in “High Society” at Allied Artists John Payne, Faith Dbmergue ahd»j Rod Cameron will co-star in Re- public’s “Santa Fe Passage,” with Sidney Picker producing and Wil- liam Witney directing . . . Paula Raymdnd draws the feme lead op- posite Dennis'Morgan in ‘The Gun That Won the West” at Columbia. : Vanessa Productions ‘ wiL shoot ‘Moll Flanders” as a musical in- stead of a dramatic film, as origi- nally. planned . . . Columbia; bought screen rights to “My Dear Children” in which the late’ John Barrymore starred on the stage . Marty Melcher's Arwin Pro- ductions bought “Nothing But a ' .Woman/ as a possible starrer for Doris Day . ., Marian Carr snagged a top role in Columbia’s "Cell 2455” . Ray Anthony Or- chestra will .do a featured, spot in "Daddy Lflng Legs” at. the 20th-Fox ...Lucy Marlow plays the role of Helen in Columbia’s musical ver- sion Of “My ' Sister Eileen” Helen Ross starting her 14th year, as. a Metro fashion designer with a new contract . . John Carradine will play the role, of Aaron, in Cecil B. DeMille’s “The Ten Commahd- ments.” Buddy. Adler and a five-man unit left for Hong Kong to hunt locations for 2Qth-Fox’s “Soldier of Fortune,” starring Clark Gable . . . Michael Pate draws second male lead i Budd Boetticher’s .bullfight film, ‘The Number One,” starring Anthony Quinn and Mau- reen O’Hara Harry Lauter drew a part in “The Admiral Hos- kins Story” at Republic . . Dolores Gray makes her screen debut with' a musical specialty in Metro’s “It ? s Always Fair Weather” . Donna Percy, typist, signed a term player. .contract with Paramount , . . Law- rence Dobkin returned to Warners for a role in. “Jump Into Hell” . Leo Robin and Jule. Styne turned in two songs, 'Atmosphere” and “This Is Bigger Than Both of Us,” foi; Columbia’s ‘My Sister Eileen,” TOA, in recent months, has echoed the beefs of Allied, particularly at the insistence of its smalltown members, but the TOA leadership has firmly opposed any additional appeals to the Government, It has,j however, launched a' campaign calling for stricter enforcement pf the present antitrust, laws, espe- cially as they, apply to the 'film companies. Last Year’s Victory Last year the prime problem faced by both Allied and TOA at their annual conventions was Cin- emascope end the various screens, lenses, and sound connected with, it. Both units strongly fought 2Qth- Fox and the film companies com- mitted to similar policies and suc- ceeded in winning freedom on choice of equipment. According to Myers, exhibs demonstrated “that through organized resistance and affirmative action they could break through the, monopolistic barriers with which. Cinemascope had been surrounded. As a result, exhibitors today may show Cinemascope with lenses, screens,, and sound systems of their own choosing/’ The Allied leader maintains that all present-day complaints •— “ex- 4 orbitant film rentals, oppressive terms, lack of prints, and delayed availabilities stem from one basic eyil-4-the artificial film shortage." Another angle that will be punched at the Allied confab is tlie idea that exhibs are entitled to a profit, and a slogan, of the meet! f; -Will be “What's , Wrong About Making A Profit.” Alliedites have charged that current distrib terms have made it impossible for theatremen to show a black state- ment at the end of the year. According to Allied’s convention GHQ 'in Milwaukee, a record at- tendance is. anticipated this year. While major concentration will be on .the business sessions, provisions have been made for the usual so- cializing, with several cocktail par- ties, luncheons, a nitery visit,. and a closing banquet being scheduled. Allied Catcalls Continued from page 5 Inside Stuff-Pictures Box Office Television is again, offering theatres a series 6f closed- circuit football games, featuring Notre ' Dame, as a. Saturday after- noon attraction. First game on the slate is the Qct. M clash between ND. and, Michigan State. BOTV is currently working oii corralling theatres for the games, but hasn’t revealed how many have: agreed to carry the telecast. Gridcasts Were offered for the first >tiit»e last year by BOTV, but they failed to develop into a sock bo^Cofd^e'at- traction, many exhibs feeling that no matter how good the LftD& r e r iypu couldn’t compete with a. contest of equal calibre oh home ; tv. The series of five games laist year attracted a lineup of fromi ; eight to: 15 theatres, with the total gross for the season only $05,001). / . - With Rene Glair’s “A Nous La Liberte" opening tomorrbW (0) ) at. Art Theatre, N.Y., the classic’s, famed “singing floWer” scbnef^u'be a part of the film, thanks to the cooperation of the "Moifc ern Art. Joseph Burstyn office, which distributes; got from Clair .an edited version of the 1932 picture, with the garden scene, and the one with the singing flowers cut out. When Clair fans objected, he explained that he had taken them, out because he didn’t thihk. tdday’t audiences would appreciate them. Urged to reinstate the/.fcfofAge# Clair explained that the negative had been destroyed. That’s where the Museum came in. Sir Laurence Olivier’s upcoming production of “Richard III” in Vista Vision likely Will figure largely in future arguments concerning the U. S; acceptability of British films. For the. pic, according to Lon- don Til ms, N. Y., will have some' of the most important names in England: as cast members. Olivier will play the title role (lieTl also direct) and others set for key spots include Sir John Gielgud, Sif Ralph Richardson, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Claire Bloom, Pamela Brown and Helen Haye. Olivier is now negotiating with John Mills fo# another sole. Will shoot exteriors in Spain and interiorsiat the Shep- pertori Studios in England. Chicago film exhibs are wincing over terms for two reissue pi soon to swing into first subsequent runs from the Loop. Nabe theatres are being asked 35% for “A" week of “Duel In the Sun” and 40% for “Gone With the Wind.” Exhibs consider this but Of line for any- thing but important new pix . Incidentally Warners in Chicago is claim- ing record for greatest number of theatres to day-and-date an “A" week pic in the city limits. “Di-agheit” currently is being shown at. 45 outlying theatres, and exchange is anticipating a $500,000 gross for the full week. gust. Should the full convention approve Myers’ bill, attempts will then be made to have a friendly legislator introduce it in Congress. In commenting on his proposed bill, Myers said: “Reconciling price regulation of so varied a product as*films with constitutional require- ments posed the most difficult problem I have ever tackled. How- ever, I believe this has certainly been solved so far as the inte- grated producer-distributors are concerned and probably the others/’ Driven to Contemplation Myers, charged that the film com- panies “by their confiscatory pric- ing policies ‘have driven exhibitors to- :the. contemplation of. this dras- tic step.” He said Allied’s appeals “for a modification of those poli- cies have for, the most part fallen bn deaf ears and the trade 1 papers’ admonitions, that the distributors take action to avert the impending crisis have been ignored;” Allied members, it’s noted, will be given ample time to study. Myers’ proposed legislation. Copies \ will be distributed at the opening j session, and it will be up to the membership ‘‘to discuss the meas- uro and decide whether to make an all-out effort: to secure its passage by Congress,” Arthur for U. S, Rule Support for Government regula- tion has come from Harry C: Aryiur, prexy of the Southern Cal- ifornia Theatre Owners Assn., who indicated that Federal control “would be a lesser evil and far more satisfactory than the piratical control as now practiced by the distributors.” However, Theatre Owners of America, a national group rivaling Allied, is on; record ; as opposed “to calling in the cops.’’ Sept. Top Films Continued from pape 7 positi “Cai Mutiny”. (Col), champ for the month of August, wound" lip 10th. ‘/Susan Slept Here” (RKO), wi - ner of ninth place, for August, cap- tured 11th spot. ‘‘Vanishing Prai- rie” (Disney) rounded out. the Golden Dozen in 12tli position, ‘Falworth’ Tops Rtinner-Ups “Black Shield of Faljvorth” (U) headed the runner-up films; it just now is getting around into sorhe key cities, with “Duel in Sun" (SRO) (reissue) and “Living It Up” /Par) the other two in this cate- ,gory. “Sabrina” (Par) shapes as. one of the standout newcomers, judging. from the smash start it got the .final week of the month. The pic copped first in this - session, with great to standout showings in some eight key cities. It hung up a new Jiouse record in N. Y. opening week. . “Brigadoon” (M-G) also looms as a stout, if not sensational, grosser, judging from what it has done so far. It is now i' its third session at the N. Y. Music Hall. “Sudden- [ ly” (UA), fine in Cleveland and Indianapolis, also shapes as a po- tentially strong boxoffice winner, “Black Shield of Falworth,” a runner-up this month, looms as a nice moneymaker on future dates. . “Waterfront” likely will be heard {.from additionally in coming weeks; judging from smash results final weeks of September. “Betrayed” (M-G j, which finished, sixth one week last month, also looks a sturdy entry at the wickets. Same applies to “Duel In Sun,” ner-up in September. * “Apache” (UA), high; on the lists for two months, managed 'to place among the Top 12 one week; It has finished most of its biggest first-run engagements: “Naked Alibi" !U) Came through with sev- eral - fine playdates during the month, but is not but on release to any extent so far; “Sitting Bull” (UA) did well on its initial big date in Denver. “Karamoja” (Hall) continued to score on some additional playdates, being big in Indianapolis and huge in Portland. “Francis Joins Wacs” (U) did fine to' sock on some addi- tional bookings; “Duel in Jungle’* (WB), rather disappointing in many spots, man- aged to finish runner-up several weeks in September. “Mr. Hulot’s Holiday’- (GBD) chipped in with some. big to sock sessions, and is noW in its seventh week on a N. Y first-run. , Independent Theatre Owners of Oliio, which has beep trying to knock out Ohio’s 41-year-old censorship law, recently sent letters to every candidate for the state Legislature, asking in effect, “Where do you stand on film censorship?” Only 23 legislature candidates have answered. But letter has attracted attention and elicited an editoi’ial in the Bryan Times of Sept. 22, which called, film scissoring a “characteristic of totalitarian countries” and urged that “The state should shed this contradiction to the thing for which this country is supposed to stand against—any restriction on freedom of. expression." A cycle of films representing Hollywood’s view of itself via com- edy, satire and serious drama will be offered by the Museum of Mod- ern Art as. the first of a series marking the Museum’s 25th anniversary. Showings will run for nine weeks under the title “Through the Look- ing Glass.” A wide range of. Hollywood “images” of itself Will be presented, including satires on pix made as early as 1912. Programs were put together by Curator Richard Griffith and from “A Vitagraph Romance” of 1912 to “Calloway Went Thataway” of 1951. Sam Nathanson, Who recently exited as Hal R. Makelii sales manager, is readying a similar exhib guarantee playdate plan as pro- pounded by Makelim. Nathanson has formed Gibraltar^ Motion Pic- tures Inc., with offices ip Hollywood, and is currently preparing a brochure to outline to exhibs what he terms “producer-exhibitor con- tract commitments to establish another source of products/’ He’s acquired as his first release “A Love Story,” an Eric Pommer Ger- man-ianguage film starring Hildegarde Neff. Upbeat, note among operators of the arties was. detected by Georga Rpth, Atlantic Pictures topper, on ‘ his recent midwesterri' swing. “They've had a good summer and there appears to be more pf a demand for good, foreign, films,” Roth said. “I know of quite a few exhibitors who are converting their regular houses to'an ‘art’ policy, playing primarily British, but also Italian and French films. Some theatres that didn’t do too Well before have perked-up with the switch.” Members of the sub-committee of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is investigating juvenile delinquency, are looking in on the film.industry. On the basis of queries put to a couple of pxecs i N. ,Y. last week, the Senate group wants to Size up the effectiveness of self control, meaning Hollywood’s Production Code,” and how coun- terparts of it might work in the comic-strip and other fields, Sub- committee shifted its probe ^to the Coast and likely will call on some production officials. » Joseph Kaufman, who recently completed “Long John Silver" ijt Australia, has taken a two-year option on. the Pagewood studios in Sydney, with' the idea of making more pictures Down Under. He stopped briefly in N. Y., .on his way 'to London for final dubbing of ^‘Silver.” Producer said his program' calls for four Cinemascope productions within the next two years as .well as several television series/ all to be filmed in or near Sydney. CinemascOpic effects with individual slides were demonstrated .for first-time last week by, Academy Filnis: in : Chicago, which staged, a three-screen slide presentation, for’ the annual sales powwow/of the Outboard Abating Club. Three Synchronized slide projectors were twed with. Thatching-up slides in each. • Scenes shbwn Were those of recent Chicago Boat Show. Julian Hoffman’s first film for .Communications of Canada, new Toronto p.r, firm, will be “The Two-Way Street/’ sponsored by United Nations public information department, where Ralph Foster, a partner in the firm, .worked a few .years ago. It will be a ivorld-distributed theatre film 1 on “the role of a fully-developed mejenber nation of th# UN." Hoffman, who recently joined C, of C. as film production chief, previously directed “Thomas Alva Edison” for Jules Levey. Metro, has a hefty stake in Joseph ,L; Mankiewicz’s independent pro- duction of* “The Barefoot Contessa," United Artists release, Via the appearance, of Ava Gardner in the top'femme role. Miss Gardner worked in the film On a loanout from M-G and the latter studio is to collect a flat $200,000 plus J0% of the domestic profits a$ they’r# later determined. ** Exhibitors with small seaters are renting large-capacity auditoriums *for tlie, presentation of ciosed-circuit telecasts. This was done for the first time for the recent Rocky Matciano-Ezzard Charles fight in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Oakland, Portable large-screen equipment was installed in these spots and reports indicate that the reception and picture quality was g<fod.