Variety (November 1954)

PICTURES Wednesday, November 3, 1934 on 2-D Print* Once Hailed a» Necessary Buoy* to Theatres Now Called Step Backward Distributor executives continue | to be confused by the vacillations in exhibitor thinking; A little over a year ago 20th-Fox was bit- terly denounced because of its de- cision to provide pictures in CineinaScope only. NOW, many exhibitor leaders have expressed the view that they think it . would be wrong for 20th to make its pic- tures available in the old dimen- ion. Most of the film companies which have converted to Cinemar Scope haye indicated they would provide the films in regluar 2 : D once they have sold all possible C’Scope situations. Before the major Outfits reached this deci- sion, the exhibs squawked loudly, shouting over and over again “what about the little guy who can’t afford to install Cinema- Scope?” This chant has now petered out to a whisper,, and the new cry is if “The Robe” or other tqp. C’Scopers were' made available in 2-D; it would be a step backwards. The contrast in the appraisal of 20th is alsO worthy of note. The film company is kudoed many, times for coming through on its promise of financial assistance for exhibs who wish to instill C’Scope. And exhibs. are bluntly told by their leaders that it’s an expense that must be incurred-"' order to keep up with the til ■20th is also getting a pat on the back for dropping its “must" stereophonic sound policy and for agreeing to sell C’Scopers at flat rentals. iMliili AT UNIVERSAL STUDIO Hollywood, irov. 2. , New studio, executive committee has been set up at Universal under Edward Muhl, v.p. in charge of production, it’s designed to “get the maximum 1 production benefits from the creative, policy-making and management experience of the studio executives.’* In a realignment of exec duties at the studio, George Douglas, stu- dio treasurer, is advanced fo the ifew post of manager of operations, and Charles Stirieford, assistant 'business manager, becomes studio treasurer. Morris Weiner is vacat- ing his job as studio manager to become head of industry'relations. New . exec, committee consists of Muhl, Janies Pratt, studio exec manager; Morris Davis, business manager; Robert Palmer, talent exec; Ray Crossett; scenario and: story editor; Weiner, Douglas and Ernest Nims, = editorial exec; The studio operating, committee also has been streamlined to serve as an arm of the exec group. Douglas will serve as chairman of the oper- ations committee. All changes be- come effective immediately. UA Foreign Idea Continued from, page 5 particularly heartening the struction of new theatres at various global points. In Bangkok; for ex- ample, five new houses have opened in the past four months, Things are' going* fine for UA, said Krim. Worldwide billings for the past, six .weeks; amounted to $7,Odd,000, • highest in the coin- pany’s history for a like period, he disclosed, As a result, he added, his previous estimate of a $40,000,- 000 gross for the year must now be revised upward by “several mil- lions.” Brotherhood Awaits Harris This year’s. Brotherhood cam- paign, under the banner of the amusements division of the Na- tional Conference of Christians and Jews, tees off next Tuesday (9) with a N. Y; luncheon. John H. Harris, of Pittsburgh, newly elected chair- man, will disclose plans he has for- mulated for the drive. Emanuel Frisch, N. Y. theatre- owner, will be presented With a plaque for his work .as chairman of the 1953 campaign.. Appeals Asked' to Hold Judge Dawson Erred In Dismissing Dyckman An exhibitor whose $325,000 an- titrust suit against RKO, Warners, 20th-Fox arid Universal was recent- ly dismissed by judge: Archie Q. Dawson m N. Y. Federal Court on Friday (29) moved to restore the action to the ’calendar via a writ of inandamiis fr!bm the Court of Appeals, William\Gold; rapping the New Dyckman Theatre Corp., .operator of the Dyckman Theatre in the In- wood section of Manhattan, asks that the higher court direct Judge Dawson to vacate that portion of his Sept. 27. order which strikes, out the plaintiff’s complaint in its en- In papers filed with the, appeals tribunal, Gold contends that the lower court ruling not only bars the Dyckman from bringing the cause, of. action but in effect refuses to permit prosecution “f any action which . alleges more than those "limited facts that the Judge con- ceives to be a ‘short’, and plain statement of alleged combination and conspiracy . . .’ ’* Less Chase Continued from page $. 55 ^ mood for something new and: dif- ferent.” While, only 20th-Fox has . made a complete switch, to Cinemascope, and has reduced air other forms of. shorts, other distribs, too, are going in for the wide screen. Walt Dis- ney having started off the C’Scope cartoons with his “Toot, Whistle,. Plunk and Boom,” Metro will fol- low suit with four C’Scope “Tom & Jerry” subjects. First to be made by Fred Quimby will be “Pet Peeve,” which goes out Nov. 20, It’s followed by “Touche Pussycat” in mid-December. In all, M-G will have nine C’Scope shorts next year, including ffv6 “Musical Gems” two- reelers. Columbia, with 93 shorts set for ■54 - ’55 — against Metro’s 49- launches it^ first C’Scope onereel- ers via United Productions of America’s “When Magop Flew.” It’ll probably be paired with Col’s first C'Scope feature, “Three for the Show.” At Paramount, where Oscar Mor- gan has just released the first VistaVision short, "VistaVision Visits Norway,” ptper Similar sub- jects are in the ATOrks. Morgan .said last week that an attempt would be made to fit shorts content to the features with which they are to be released. VistaVisiori subjects run in cost anywhere between $50,060 to $100,000, Morgan reported. War- ner Bros. also, has C’Scope shorts, and RKO may get Disney’s Cinema- Scoped “Donald Duck in Grand Canyon” for its ’54-’55 lineup. Lat- ter hasn’t been definitely set, but is likely, to run a few less than the 71 total for 1953-'54. Disney himself, of course, has had his nature shorts. It’s pix like these, and-the radically different UP A cartoons, which can rouse suf- ficient talk to get exhibs to up the ante, distribs say. There’s a. feel- ing that, if theatre and audience can be made aware of a new value in shorts, better prides would fol- low automatically; ... Problem of s p i rail i n.g.cosis is haunting ..the shorts men. Twentieth started off in the C’Scope shorts field by transferring part of the production operation to the Coast under the ageis of pro- ducer Gtto Lang. Some 19 sub- jects were made under, studio su- pervision. Then costs began to rise to the ppirit- where a short would run to $60,000. and. $75,000. Shorts production headquarters is now back in the east,.at Movietone, and; headed up by Edmund Reek. , Forest Theatre in Des Moines will probably go to the Interna- 1 tional Assn, of Machinists (AFL) via a $34,000 bid. Now-closed house was formerly operated by W. J. Logan arid has had Federal tax liens against it. Protestant Advice For those who tend to pick their films on the basis of who's in them, William Miller, motion picture critic of The Episcopal Church News, had some sage.advice in the cur- rent issue; “Usually the best way to check on the quality of a film you want to see is by noting the director} or, sometirries, producer; You cari make mis- takes that way, but then you make . mistakes every way.” he writes. Goldeii Dozen Continued from 4 calities, during the past month. It landed in fifth spot. “Brigadoon” :(M-G), a newcomer,, copped sixth money, being helped obviously by its solid showing at the N. Y. Mu- sic Hall. “Rear, Window” (Par), a strong second September, showed enough sustained strength to grab seventh position, being among the top seven pix three weeks of the month. “Egyptian”. (20th), champ in September, still .was strong enough to capture eighth place, "Suddenly” (UA), a new entrant, wound up ninth although starting out ' sixth slot the initial week out on release. “Rogue . Cqp” (M-G), inclined to be uneven, dis- played enough to land I0th ! posi- tion. “Human J angle (AA)., shap- ing as a comer late in the month, was Util while “Seven Brides” (M-G) rounded out the Top 12 list. “Brides” . was third in the preced- ing month. “Vanishing Prairie” (Disney), 12th in Septehiber; “Betrayed” (M-G), and “Naked Alibi” (U) were the runner-up films in that sequence. Brightest new production on the horizon is “White Christmas,” first VistaVision picture, judging . from its showing on its first two play- dates. Preem week at the N. Y. Music Hall was terrific, being one of greatest non-holiday sessions at that house, while it also was leader with wow biz In Denver. It. is open- ing up in several additional im- portant key cities this week. Be- ' sides “Star,” which promises to be very big all through November at least; arid “Sabrina,” “Barefoot Contessa” (UA) also looks' to; be a sock: winner among the new- comers. ‘Contessa* Promising . “Contessa,” now in its fifth week at the N. Y. Capitol, started in smash fashion in Chi and Phila- delphia. United Artists also ap- pears to have a promising boxoffice bet in “Suddenly,” just • getting Under steam. “Sitting Bull,” also fUA, also looms as a moneymaker. It was top runner-up one week. “Human Jungle”- (AA),' also comparatively new, likely will be heard from additionally in forth- coming weeks. “Bengal Brigade” (U), also new, preem. inSfast fash- ion in Philly and was rated neat in Toronto. “Hajji Baba” (20th), good in several locations, held up okay in N. Y. for one week but was dis- appointing in three other key cities, “Beau Brummell” (M-G), fine in N; Y. and Cleveland, was rated smart in Philly and slow in L. A. RKO tried the reissue package of “Notorious” and “Farmer's Daugh- ter” with fine results ‘ Boston and Providence. “Magnificent Obsession’* (U), sixth in September and second in August, manaiged to finish seventh one week last month. “Duel in Sun” (SRO) (reissue) managed to pace, the runner-up films another week. “High and Dry” (U) did ex- cellent trade in arty houses in sev-: era! key cities. “Hulot’s Holiday”: .(GBD) gar- nered solid takings, during the month. “King Richard and Cru- saders” (WB) collected some addi- tiorial coin near the end of Oc- tober. “Black Shield of Falyvorth” (U) displayed enough to finish I2lh one week arid cop rvinrier-up post another. .Hollywood, Nov. 2. Latest theatre circuit, owner to join the Hal R. Makelim Plan, call- ing for 12 pictures, a year, is Rob- ert L. Lippert, (who also has his own distribution company.) Signing of Lippert chain raises the number Of theatres participat- ing ini the plan to more than 3,000. His houses are in Northern Cali- fornia and Southern Oregon. Hollywood, Nov. 2i Rhonda Fleming bought Ste- phanie Angel's yarn, “Bedrock,” for filming on a package deal to bo worked out later... Fay Morely re- suming Her film career, with a role' in “The Shrike” at UI.. Les Tre- mayne snagged , a part in “A Man Called Peter” at 20th-Fox. .^Rob- ert Aldrich acquired Robert Wal- lace Russell’s screen story, “Pot Luck’ for Pomeroy.” .... Frederick Brisson moved into the Paramount studio to make “The Girl Rush” in VistaVision ... Robert L. Lippert, Jr., will produce “The Violent Land” in Mexico ;.. Ul signed Faith Domergue to star in “Cult of the Cobra,” to be produced by Howard Pino,.. Mike Frankovich’s British production, “Deadlock,” will be released by Columbia-... John Meehan drew a term contract as art director at UI.'. .“The Hi- jackers” is new tag on “Today is Forever” at Allied Artists... . Gor- I don Jones and Steve Dorrell joined the “Rider of the Ruby Hills: Cast" at Allied Artists. Horace MacMahon and Barbara Brown checked in at Columbia for roles iri “My . Sister Eileen” . . . Jay C. Flippen up for a featured spot in Frederick Brisson-s “The Girl RUsh” . . National Legion of Decency handed a “B” rating .to Warners’ “A Star Is Born” because “suicide is portrayed sympatheti- cally.” Allied Artists’s “The Human Jungle” drew a similar rating because “it tends to arouse disrespect for. the law” . . Dennis O'Keefe, Abbe Lane and Xavier Cugat will appear iri Sam Katz- mbit's Columbia production, “Chi- cago Syndicate,” with Fred F. Sears directing . . . Darryl F. Zanuck assigned Frank Ross t to produce a remake of" “The Rains Came” in India and Pakistan . . Milton Frome joined the cast of “You’re Never Too Young” at Paramount. . Richard Denning stars iri Sam Katzman's “Creature With the Atom Brain.” with Edward L. Cahn directing at Columbia . Mimi Hutson, daughter of Eileen Sedgwick, makes her screen bow: in “A Man Called Peter” at 20th- Fox ; . U assigned Allison Hayes arid Danl Crane to roles in “The Shrike” . . . Martin Milner, just: * out of the Army, plays a sailor in “Mister Roberts” at Warners . . . Gameron Mitchell gets a featured role in 20th-Fox’s Clark .Gable starrer, “Soldier of Fortune” . . . Helen Ainsworth checked in at Co- lumbia as associate producer on “FiVe Against the House” Cy Roth signed Stanley Clements for* this indie, “Air Strike” . . . John Champion will produce two indies, “Laredo” and “The Gambler’s Lady,” next year, .with* screen- plays by Clark E. Reynolds. Featured role in "A Man Called Peter” at 20th-Fox goes to James Best . . , Phil Chambers plays one of the baddies in Nat llolt^s “Seven Bad Men” . , Editors working at Allied Artists are John Fuller on “High Society!’; “Robert Eisen on “The Big Combo”; William Austin on “The Annapolis. Story” and Richard Meyer on “John Brown’s Raiders” . . French soldier Mar- cel Dalio plays one in Warners' “Jump Into Hell” ... Allied Artists negotiating for Fred MacMurray to star in “Gun Point” . . . Metro added Paul Bryar to its "Inter- rupted Melody” cast . . Richard Lupirio drew a , part “The Marauders” at Metro . . . New. indie company, Magnum Produc- tions, headed by John Bash, will tee off with (‘Never Leave Me” and follow with “Dream Merchants” , , i Flossie Sundstrom will recre- ate her stage role in. Hal- Wallis’ “Rose Tattoo.” Metro handed Joe Pasternak production reins on “Music to My Ears" tunefilm Starring Jane Powell . , . Fred Kohlmar and^mv left for Tokyo to shoot exteriors for Columbia’s “The Gentle Wolf- hound” . . .. Olivia de HaviUand re- sumed work .‘ Stanley Kramer'S “Not as a Stranger” after a week out with, flu . . . David Raskin scor- ing “The Big Combo” at Allied Artists . . Leopold Sachse, stage director for years at the Metro- politan Opera House, plays himself in Metro’s “Interrupted Melody” .... Stephanie iSidney arid James Murphy will play college students in “A Man Caller Peter” at 20th- Fox—Navy assigned Capt. Frank Turner as technical adviser on Cy Roth’s “Air Strike” . . . Jerry Paris drew a top supporting. role in Hecht-Lancaster’s “Marty.” Richard Carlson will star in the science-fiction indie, “The Dune Rqller,” to be produced, directed and written by Harry Essex . .. Hal Wallis borrowed Ben Cooper for the sailor role in “The Rose Tattoo.” . , Kathleen .Hughes Winds her U contract with. a ro- mantic lead: in “Cult of the Cobra,” starting Faith Domergue . , . Vin* cent Sherman bought Theodore Pratt’s novel, “Smash-up,” for indie production , , ■, Reginald LeRorg signed Peter Packer to script “Corrida” for production in Mexico . . New; tag; for RKO’s Jane Russell starrer, “The Big Rainbow,” .Underwater,” .-. Paul Gregory acquired screen rights to “The Original Si ,” authored by Richard Cordeau . . . Audio Murphy's three-year-old son, Terry, will play his father’s younger brother in “To Hell and Back” at U ; Jane Wyman's next is “All That Heaven Allows” at UI,. to be fol- lowed With “Miracle iri the Rain” at Warners . . . Robert Aldrich rented stage space at Sutherland studios Where he will produce and direct “Kiss Me Deadly” . . Gene Brooks moved into Paramount as publicity director for Hal Wallis .Productions , . Leith Stevens handling the scoring of Filmakers' (‘Crashout” at Republic . . Edward J. Wood Jr. signed Loretta King and Tpny McCoy; as romantic leads in his indie, “Bride of the Atom,” with Bela Lugosi starring . Carl K. Hittleihari will produce “Pony Tracks,” based on his own original for Howco Productions ... . Mar- shall Thompson arid Richard Long have top male roles iri tjl’s “Cult of the Cobra.” Mel Epstein acquired screen rights ► to Helene Buford’s mag yarn, “Neighbor Smith!' . ... U as-- signed Marie. Windsor as femme lead in “Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy” . William Hooper joined the cast of Jacks-Goldstein’s “Robbers' Roost” . . “The Little Ariibassador” is the riew title for N. Peter Rathvon’s “Embassy Baby” ... Sam Katzman assigned Spencer Rennet. to direct “Devil Goddess,” starring Johnny Weiss- muller at Columbia. ,. . ., Dorritt Kelton will play the school teach- er role in the Hal Wallis screen version of “The Rose -Tattoo" Jimmy Dobson signed for a supr port role in U's “Cult of the Cobra” . . .“Billy Chapin snagged the!moppet part in “A Man Called Peter” at 20th-Fox. Cathy Downs and Jeanne Cag- ney signed for femme leads in HowfO jproductioris’ “Kentucky Rifle” . . Andrew rStone closed a deal to produce and dh'ect indie, "Terror in the Night,” for Colurri- bi ^release . . . Technicolor ap- pointed Dr. Maurice 'Nelles direc- tor of research, develppirient . . . UI signed Colin Romoff to sub for Vocal coach' John Scott who is ill. Harry Lauter r Larry Blake rind Don C. Harvey joined the cast; of ‘(Creature With the Atom. Brain” at Colombia . . Barbara Britton drew a key role in “Third Girl From the Right” at U . * . William Castle will direct “Duel on the. Mississippi” for Sam Katzman at Columbia i . Stewart Whitman snagged a featured role in Metro’s “Interrupted Melody;” Ranald MacDougall will make . his bow as a director on “Queen Bee,” starring Joan Crawford at Columbia , . . Robert Warwick plays the heavy in Benedict Bogeaus' “Escape to Burma” . Marjorie Rambeau signed for a featured role in "A Man Called Peter” at 20th-Fox , . . Dick Sim- mons joined the cast of “The Scarlet Coat" at Metro . . James Robertson Justice and Cecil Parker in from London for top roles Danny Kaye’s “The Court Jester” . . Paramount bought Robert. Smith's yarn; “Intermission,” for production by Paul Jones . , Angela Stevens will 60-star with Richard Denning iri Sam Katzman’s “Creature With the Atom Brain” at Columbia . . . Vincent Fennelly ripped Dan. Uliman to director and. assigned him to “Code Three.” starring Bill Elliott .. . . David Miller purchased “House on the Seined for indie production in France., i Benedict Bogeaus signed Jackie Loughery, Sharon Lee arid Gloria Marshall, for: his indie, “Escape to Burma!' . . . Metro handed Charles Watts a role in “Scarlet Coat" . . . Pat Sheehan joined, the “Daddy Long Legs” troupe at 20th-Fox .. James Anderson snagged a role In “The Marauders” at Metro... Landmark Productions handed Peter Bourne a spot in “Top of the World” . . . Rodgers & Hammer- stein completed the book portion of "Oklahoma,” leaving only the dream ballet sequence to be filmed*. . . . Dani Crayne added to the “‘Third Giri From the Right” cast 9 at U . . Arthur Ross screenplay- ping “Prince Bart" at Warners.