Variety (December 1954)

PICTURES T Wednesday* December 22* 1954 H’WO OP’S ’5 4 PIX COUNT Hollywood Production Pulse SJftOTERS 179 allied artists Starts, This Yaar 25 This Date, Last Year 26 T pTod l ®W^ll5m L F V Broldy H'chardTonte^CoMtance Smith. BruW Bennett. Cathy Down*. J»mei Mlllican (Started Nov. 29) COLUMBIA Starts, This Year This Date, Last Year .. 33 37 • my SISTER EILEEN" Prod.—Fred Kohlmar l)ir.— Richard Quine Janet Leigh. Betty Garrett. Jack Lennon. Kurt Kazsnar (Started Sept. 10) "DEADLOCK" . . . Ex Prod.—Mike Frankovlch Prod.—Maxwell Seton Dir.—Arthur Lubin . , Stewart Granger. Jean Simmons. Finlay Currie. William Hartnell (Started Nov. 16) 20th CENTURY-FOX Starts, This Year !5 This Date, Last Year 18 "DADDY LONO LEGS" Prod.—Sam D. Engel Dir.—Jean Neguleaco Fred Astaire. Leslie Caron. Terry Moore. Thelma Ritter. Fred Clark. Charlotte Austin. Kay Anthony Sc Or- chestra. Katherine Givney. Kelly Brown (Started Nov. 13) "SOLDIER OF FORTUNE" (Shooting In Hong Kong) Prod.—Buddy Adler Dir.—Edward Dmytryk Clark Gable. Susan Hayward, Michael Rennie. Alex D’Arcy, Gene Barry. Jack Kruschen, Frank Tang Started Nov. 22) "VIOLENT SATURDAY" Prod.—Buddy Adler Dir.—Richard Fleischer Victor Mature. Sylvia Sidney. Tommy Noonan. Richard Egan. J. Carroll Naish. Stephen McNally (Started Dec. 6) METRO Starts, This Year 20 This Date, La6t Year 30 "ITS ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER" Prod.—Arthur Freed I,ir.—Gene Kelly. Stanley Donen Gene Kelly. Cyd Charisse, Dan Dailey. Michael Kidd, Dolores Gray (Started Oct. 13) "SCARLET COAT" Prod.—Nicholas Nayfack l)ir.—John Sturges Cornel Wilde. Michael Wilding. Anne Francis. Bobby Driscoll. Robert Doug- las. John McIntyre, Robert Dix (Started Oct. 25) "ELACKBOARD JUNGLE" Prod.—Pandro Berman I)ir.—Richard Brooks _ , Glenn Ford. Anne Francis. Louis Cal- hern. Margaret Hftyes (Started Nov. 15) "LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME" Prod.—Joe Pasternak Dir.—Charles Vidor Doris Day, James Cagney. Cameron Mitchell. Robert Keith. Harry Bel- iaver (Started Dec. 6) "THE COBWEB" Prod.—John Houseman Dir.—Vincente Minnelli . Richard Widmark. Lauren Bacall. Glo- ria Grahame, Charley Boyer. Lillian Gish. John Kerr. Oscar Levant. Kee- nan Wynn. Jarma Lewis. Adele Jer- gens. Fay Wray, Susan Strasberg (Started Dec. 10) PARAMOUNT Starts, This Year This Date, Last Year.... 20 17 UNIVERSAL Starts, This Year This Date, Last Year, 32 29 I OUTPUT "AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'" Prod.—Sam Marx Dir.—Eddie Buzzell Rory Calhoun. Piper Laurie. Jack Car- son. Mamie Van Doren. Reginald Gar- diner. Barbara Britton. Dani Crayne, Harris Brown (Started Oct. 28) "KISS OF FIRE" Prod.—Sam Marx Dir.—Joe Newman Jack Palance. Barbara Rush! Rex Rea- son. Martha Hyer, Alan Reed. Leslie Bradley. Henry Rowland, Larry Dob- kin (Started Nov. 8) "TACEY" Prod.—Ross Hunter Dir.—Jerry Hopper Anne Baxter. Rock Hudson. Julie Ad- ams. Natalie Wood. W'illiam. Hopper. Barry Curtis. Betty Garde. Fay Morley (Started Nov. 19) "FEMALE ON THE BEACH" Prod.—Albert Zugsmilh Dir.—Jerry Hopper Joan Crawford, Jeff Chandler. Jan Ster- ling. Cecil Kellaway, Natalie Schafer WARNER BROS. Stqrts, This Year 17 This Date, Last Year 21 "THE SEA CHASE" Dir.—John Farrow John Wayne. Lana Turner. Tab Hunter. Lyle Bettger, Richard Davalos, James Arness. Alan Hale, Jr. (Started Aug. 16) "the McConnell story" Prod.—Henry Blanke Dir.—Gordon Douglas Alan Ladd, June Allyson. James Whit- more (Started Nov. 24) "THE TEN COMMANDMENTS" Prod.-Dir.—Cecil B. DeMlile Asst.—Henry Wilcoxon Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter, Yvonne De Carlo. Debra Paget. Nina Foch. Edward G. Robin- son, Cedric Hardwicks. Vincent Price, John Carradine, John Derek. Olive Deering "YOU'RE NEVER TOO YOUNO" Prod.—Paul Jones Dir.—Norman Taurog Dean Martin. Jerry Lewis. Diana Lynn. Raymond Burr, Nina Foch. Mltzi Mc- Call, Veda Ann Borg, Hans Conried, Romo Vincent. Donna Percy, Whitey Haupt (Started Oct. 18) "THE GIRL RUSH" Prod.—Frederick Brlsson Dir.—Robert Pirosh Rosalind Russell, Fernando Lamas. Ed- die Albert. Gloria De Haven, Jimmy Gleason. Marion Lome, Robert Fortier (Started Dec. 6) "THE DESPERATE HOURS" Prod.-Dir.—William Wyler Humphrey Bogart, Fredric March. Martha Scott, Arthur Kennedy. Dewey Martin. Gig Young. Mary Murphy. Robert Middleton. Richard Eyer. Whit Bissell, Beverly Garland, Walter Baldwin. Bert Freed (Started Oct. 19) "THE ROSE TATTOO" Prod.—Hal Wallis Ihr —Daniel Mann Burt Lancaster, Anna Magnani. Marlsa Virgfijnia Grey, Ben-Cooper, Jo V®** J •®*t, Florence Sundstrom, Dor- nt Keiton, Rosa Rey, Georgia Sim- mons. George Humbert. Mlmi Aguglia, reSfrW.r* N *‘*“* Murr *» COURT JESTER" ^Frank*-— Norman Panama. Melvin Johns. Angela Lans- AntH* Pathbone. Cecil Parker. rhilV d » N .* twick ’ Et, ward Ashley. Mi- AhV* 1 Allan Napier, Patrick (Sta?ted Nov W 22) M * rtin * ” 0el Drayton RKO Starts, This Year 8 This Date, Last Year 6 INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC S f °rts, This Year 9 This Date, Last Year 19 "MOBY DICK" (Moulin Productions) (Shooting Overseas) Prod.-Dir.—‘John Huston Gregory Peck, Leo Genn, Richard Base- hart. (Started July 15) "GENTLEMEN MARRY BRUNETTES" (Russ-Fleld-Voyager Prods.) (Shooting in Paris) Exec. Prod.—Robert Bassler Co-Prod.—Richard Sale. Robert Water field Dir.—Richard Sale Jane Russell. Jeanne Crain, Scott Brady. Alan Young, Rudy \£pllee. (Started Sept. 13) "NOT AS A STRANGER" (Stanley Kramer Production) (U. A. Release) Prod.-Dir.—Stanley Kramer Olivia de HaviUand, Robert Mitchum, Frank Sinatra. Gloria Grahame. Brod- erick Crawford, Charles Bickford, My- ron McCormick, Lon Chaney. Jesse White, Lee Marvin. Whit Bissell, Har- ry Morgan. Jerry Paris. Virginia Chris- tine, Mae Clarke, John Dierkes, Jack Rain. (Started Sept. 28) "MARTY" (Hecht-Lancaster Prods.) (Shooting at Goldwyn Studios) Prod.—Harold Hecht Dir.—Delbert Mann Ernest Borgnine, Betsy Blair (Started Nov. 1) "ROBBERS ROOST" (Goldstein-Jacks Productions) (Shooting in Durango. Mexico) Prod.—Robert Goldstein Dir.—Sidney Salkow George Montgomery, Richard Boone. Svlvia Findley. Bruce Bennett. Peter Graves. Warren Stevens, Tony Ro- mano. William Hopper. Leo Gordon. Stanley Clements. Joe Bassett, Leon- ard Geer, A1 Wyatt, Boyd Morgan (Started Nov. 8) "MAGNIFICENT MATADOR" (National Pictures Corp.) (20th-Fox Release) (Shooting in Mexico City) Exec. Prod.—Edward L. Alperson Prod.—Carroll Case Dir.—Budd Boettlcher Maureen O'Hara. Anthony Quinn. Rich- ard ENnning. Lola Albright. Thomas Gomez. Manuel Rojas. Eduardo Norie- ga. William Chlng (Started Nov. 8) "KISS ME DEADLY" _ Prod.-Dir —Robert Aldrich , Ralph Meeker. Paul Stewart. Maxine Cooper. Clovia Leachman ledgers Question of whether there’s a product shortage, and who suffers the most from it, may be debatable, but there’s no denying one basic fact: There’s been another severe drop In output from the major studios in 1954. Statistics show that nine Holly- wood studios put only 179 featuie pix into work between January and mid-December of this year, a drop of 24 from last year when 203 were put before the cameras in the same period. Not counted in the 1954 or the 1953 totals are the inde- pendents who contributed approxi- mately 35 features in ’54. If the current production pace is maintained in 1955, this will mean that, in numerical terms. Holly- wood will rate third or even fourth (numerically) among the world’s theatrical film producers. Japan and India both make an average 200 features a year. (Mexico makes around 100). Numerical index isn’t realtisic in the light of the superior Hollywood production values. Also note must be taken of the large number of tv pix turning on Coast soundstages. Comparative rundown shows Metro and Republic as having suf- fered the largest production cut- backs, both being down 10 pix from 1953—Metro to 20 and Republic to 9. Warner Bros, and Columbia both dropped four; 20th-Fox three and Allied Artists one. On the positive side, Paramount and Universal both gained three pix in 1954, starting 20 and 32 respec- tively. RKO is up two, from six to eight, this year. In addition, Metro, Par and U each are starting a pic a piece between now and the end of the year. Six indie productions ) have gone before the cameras since* July. The 179 total for 1954 is close to one-half of the number the studios used to turn out in years gone by. Drop reflects a realization that it doesn’t pay to turn out small- budgeters. It’s argued, however, that pix today are better and com- mand longer runs in the theatres. Furthermore, while production is down, the actual number of re- leases handled by distribs doesn’t correspond since various compa- nies have taken on outside product. Investment of the studios in the 179 pix is as high, if not higher, than that put up in prior years for a much larger number of theatres. Production costs are up by as much as 60% in some types of pix, and color content is much higher, run- ning to about 70% of all films turned out. Exhibs Demand for 75-100 Extra Features Must Be Supplied From Other Than Hollywood Majors 20th’s First Batch First four months of 1955 will see 20th-Fox releasing eight Cinemascope pix (all in color) and two standard films (one tinter). Then’ll be two C’Scope pro- ductions a month, with the 2- Ders going out in February and March respectively. 500G 16m Field In U.S., Canada Not for C’Scope FOREIGN LANGUAGE QUEST Walter Reisch Chairs Acad’s Com- mittee For Non-English Films Hollywood, Dec. 21. Charles Brackett, Academy president, has appointed Walter Reisch chairman of *the Honorary Foreign Language Film Commit- tee for the 27th Oscar Derby. Other members of the commit- tee are William Feeder, Field Gray, William Holden, Steve Goodman, Ely Levy, William Gor- don, Luigi Luraschi, Roy Metzler, Geoffrey Shurlock, Carl Schaefer and Robert Vogel. Unwilling for both practical and policy reasons to reduce Its Cine- mascope pix to 16m, 20th-Fox is virtually giving up its U. S. and Canadian narrow-gauge market. Annual loss involved runs close to $500,000. Company’s 16m market abroad isn’t affected at the moment due to the accumulated backlog of 2-D features there. Shortage in 16m releases isn’t expected to affect 20th’s foreign setup until 1956. Narrow-gauge operations abroad net 20th approximately $1,000,000 a year. In the U. S. and Canada, 20th, in turning out reduced C’Scope versions of its films, actually would be put in a position where it would have to make available also stand- ard 16 editions of its C’Scope re- leases. It’s pointed out that most of the nontheatrical situations probably couldn’t afford Installing Cinemascope anyway and that, in order to retain that market, 20th would have to reduce to flat film. Execs take the view that there’s little to be gained from such a policy. Also, it’s feared that, once 20th agrees to produce standard 16m versions, the next step would be for exhibs to ask for standard 35m editions of the CinemaScopers. And this is one thing 20th wants to delay as long as possible. There is a considerably large area of agreement between the company and C’Scope equipped ex- hibs that no good purpose would be served in deliberately diminish- ing the widescreen appeal. It’s 20th’s thinking also that, with the company showing & very solid prof- it, the loss of $500,000 was worth taking in view of the difficulties that present themselves via serving the limited 16m market. Only one Cinemascope film, "The Robe,” was lensed in a stand- ard "flat” 35 version. It’s never been made available and there are no present intentions of offering it. 20th is said to be in a position to reduce C’Scope to 16m if it wants to, but it’s not a simple proc- ess and, from the point of view of the limited outlets, not an eco- nomic one. 4- Exhibitors who want 75 to 100 additional pictures annually will have to look to sources other than the eight major film companies if they expect the 1955 output to be boosted by that extent. On the basis of early announcements of the major producer-distributors, tentative plans, and projection of early 1955 release schedules on an annual basis, it appears that the prime suppliers of pictures are going stick pretty close to their 1954 release turnout. Despite the clamor for more product, exhibitors can expect no more than 20, or at the most 25, extra films from the eight majors. If there’s any hope of establishing a buyers market, the pix will have to come from the new’, independent producer - distribs. from Allied Artists and Republic, or from foreign sources. Reissues In Tally During 1954, the eight majors— Metro, 20th-Fox. Columbia, Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal, RKO, and United Artists — released a total of 228 new pictures. This total was bolstered by 32 reissues. Latter includes only those films officially placed on the release schedule. Some companies — Co- lumbia, for example—do not spe- cifically list re-releases, claiming that most of their past films are available for reissue. A rundown of tentative 1955 release plans reveals that the ma- jors. as of the present, plan to issue a total of 237 pictures. This is only 11 above the 1954 total, but this not a final count. The majority of the companies haven’t indicated the full extent of their ’55 pro- grams, and have intimated they intend to add several productions to their tentative '55 skeds. Gaby 1954 Compared With 1953 Following is a breakdown of the number of pictures put into w'ork by each studio between January and mid-December of 1954. It shows a total of 179 compared to 203 films that started lensing COMPO PoD To Seek Press Aid Council of Motion Picture Or- ganizations is angling for the sup- port of the nation’s newspapers when ft comes time to conduct its public poll covering pictures and players. Industry organization also is making the point that the proj- ect will not conflict with Holly- wood’s annual Academy Awards. In its full-page ad in the current Editor & Publisher. COMPO states that "because moviegoers are newspaper readers, the poll, it seems to us, offers an excellent opportunity for newspapers to par- ticipate. The nature of this par- ticipation, of course, is something that will have to be worked out between newspapers and local theatres.” Although details have yet to be worked out, the broad plan is to have local theatres canvass their local patrons with the results tabu- lated on a national basis. Special COMPO committee last week rec- ommended that the poll be con- ducted between next Thanksgiving and the following Dec. 7. COMPO says the "people’s choice” nature of its project will distinguish It from the Oscar win- ners who are selected by film in- dustry professionals. Two Bids for Allyson Hollywood, Dec. 21. June Allyson is being paged si- multaneously for leads in two fea- tures. She’s wanted at 20th-Fox for "Left Hand of God” and at Warners for the proposed remake of "Dark Victory.” 20th-Fox is seeking Humphrey Bogart for the male lead of "Left Hand of God,” which Buddy Adler will produce. Henry Blanke produces "Dark Victory” for W. B. It was first done in 1939. with Bette Davis and Bogart.