NOVEMBER

1
|
Action in Color
The Big Theme
In U-l Product
Ten Pictures Get Release Dates
For December-March Period
NEW YORK—Universal-International will
release ten pictures during December, January,
February and March, with eight in Technicolor
and all with the emphasis on action.
January and March, each, will be "All-
Technicolor Month," the five films on the
release chart for these months being color
productions.
The program for the rest of this year and
for all of 1953 "will represent the same boxoffice
appeal as before," says Alfred E. Daff,
executive vice-president, meaning that the
story choices and the method of treatment
will follow pretty much the same lines they
have followed for the past three or four years.
'APPEAL TO THE MASSES'
"It's appeal to the masses rather than to
specialized audiences," says Daff.
William Goetz, in charge of production,
puts it another way. He says the company
will "rely on the public's acceptance" and will
not "anticipate trends, but merely conform
to the type of film the public wants and supports."
"This does not mean we will have a set
formula," he states. "We will make every
effort to foster a variety of pictures intended
to please all
types of motion picture fans.
"We naturally will keep in mind pleasing
both the exhibitor and his customer. If we
please the patrons, we know we will please
the exhibitor. We will make big pictures
with the biggest boxoffice names available.
Jimmy Stewart, Alan Ladd, Gregory Peck,
Tyrone Power, Victor Mature. Dan Dailey,
Joel McCrea, Robert Ryan, Barbara Stanwyck,
The major release
for the Christmas
holiday season. In
Technicolor.
^
•AGAINST ALL FLAGS': Captured British seaman Brian Lawk
(Errol Fljmn) is questioned by pirate chief Spitfire (Maureen O'Hara):
Loretta Young, Ann Blyth, Maureen O'Hara
and Ann Sheridan will be seen in our films.
"We will also utilize the new stars we have
developed on oiu- lot, namely. Tony Curtis,
Jeff Chandler. Audie Murphy. Rock Hudson.
Piper Laurie. Shelley Winters and Suzan
Ball.
The Christmas release will be "Against All
Flags," in Technicolor, starring Errol Flynn
and Maureen O'Hara and the other December
release will be a horror film, "The Black
Castle," starring Richard Greene, Stephen
McNally. Boris Karloff. Lon Chaney and
Paula Corday. This picture was given a
Halloween prerelease.
In January, there will be three Technicolor
films—Raoul Walsh's "The Lawless Breed,"
starring Rock Hudson and Julia Adams;
"Meet Me at the Fair." starring Dan Dailey
and Diana Lynn, and "The Redhead From
Wyoming." starring Maureen O'Hara and
Alex Nicol.
For February, the schedule is headed by
"Mississippi Gambler." in Technicolor, starring
Tyrone Power. Piper Laurie and Julia
Adams. This is described as "one of the biggest
pictures in the company's history." The
second February release will be "Girls in the
Night." featuring Joyce Holden, Glenda Far;
rell. Harvey Lembeck and Leonard Freerhaij
and introducing Patricia Hardy.
The Technicolor film, "City Beneath Xh'\
Sea," starring Robert Ryan, Mala Powers
Anthony Quinn and Suzan Ball will be giveij
a number of prereleases in February an(|
regular release in March.
TWO WESTERNS IN MARCH
Two westerns are set for March — "Semi'
nole," in Technicolor, which stars Rock Hud
son. Barbara Hale, Anthony Quinn and Rich
ard Carlson, and "Gunsmoke." also in Techni-i
color, starring Audie Murphy. Susan Caboi
and Paul Kelly.
Three November releases now in circula-i
tion are: "Because of You," starring Loretts!
Young and Jeff Chandler; "It Grows or'
Trees," starring Irene Dunne, and "Tht
Raiders." in Technicolor, starring Richarci
Conte and Viveca Lindfors.
Several films are expected from the J
Arthur Rank organization. "The Cruel Sea'
is nearing completion in Great Britain, ancj
"The Importance of Being Earnest," Technicolor;
"The Story of Mandy," "The Penn>
Princess" and "Something Money Can't Buy';
are intended for American distribution.
,
Universal Pictures Co. Executive Team on Production and Distribution
liL
Milton R. Rackmil N. J. Blumberg William Goetz Alfred E. Daff Edward Muhl
President Board Chairman Production Chief Executive V-P Studio Manag;er
Charles J. Feldman
Sales Manager
David A. Lipton
Ad-Publicity Head
'COMPANY OF OPTIMISM AND ENTHUSIASM'
Milton R. Rackmil, president, and N. .1. Blumberg. chairman
of the board of Universal Pictures Co., made the following comment
on announcement of its forthcoming releases:
"Universal is inspired more than ever by the thought that the
future of the motion picture business can be a brilliant one. We are
a company of optimism and enthusiasm.
"However, we do not mean that these attributes make us unaware
of the many problems that confront this Industry.
"We believe that, if our industry unites for the general welfare
and attacks its problems with concerted effort, nothing but suc-j
cess can result.
"The main objective of Universal is to design its program of
pictures so that the theatres of this country can prosper with us.
"In the final analysis the major problem is to get more people
into the theatres by offering the public the best in entertainmentand
the best in publicizing and promotion of good pictures which wUlk
provide the entertainment the public seeks."
j
20
BOXOFFICE November 15, 1952
ll