Boxoffice-11.04.1950

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^(Md(M êfront rVER SINCE ITS INCEPTION the royal film performance itself has been preceded by a cocktail party, the ostensible purpose of which is to introduce the American and British stars to the press and to the committee of the Cinematograph Trade Benevolent Fund, the charity which benefits by the show. While that may have been the original intention the event seems by now to have run away with its organizers and the crowd is so great that it is almost impossible to meet the visiting artists. This year the reception was held at Londenderry House in Park Lane, lately the home of Lord Londonderry, but now housing the Royal Air Force club. The ballroom there is stately and impressive, but not nearly so large as the room at one of the big hotels in which it was held in former years. The result was a crush so thick that it was difficult to move—much less to get around easily and meet the visitors from Hollywood. Many of the people present at the reception have had only the remotest connection with the royal performance. It might be more sensible next year to revert to the original plan and hold a smaller party, at which the press can meet the Hollywood stars in comfort and the visiting stars be introduced to their British opposite numbers. « • * A MORE PLEASANT PARTY was that given by 20th Century-Fox for the seven New York film critics flown in to cover the royal film performance. The American critics were invited to meet the British press at the Savoy hotel and after this the American tradepaper correspondents in London joined them at the Cock Tavern in Fleet street for dinner. It was a pleasant thought to have this small dinner in a room in which Charles Dickens ate many times while he was working In Fleet street. Later still BOXOFPICE and other film trade publications joined forces to entertain the New Yorkers at the Screenwriters club after which they retired to bed for the first sleep which they had had in two days. Now that the precedent has been set London critics are sitting back hopefully waiting for the first offer by a British film company to fly them to New York for a premiere of a British film. « * • TRADESHOWN LAST WEEK was the first effort by Betty E. Box as an independent producer. Although she is no longer under contract to the Rank organization Miss Box is still distributing through them and this film, "The Clouded Yellow." will go out through General Film Distributors. Ralph Thomas directed and the film stars Jean Simmons and Trevor Howard. "The Clouded Yellow" is a butterfly and the film opens with a British secret service agent (whose specialty is removing people from behind the Iron Curtain), being dismissed from his Job and going down to the country to help an elderly gentleman to classify his collection of butterflies. The Idyllic existence in a lovely old house is a perfect rest after his nerve-racking career In the IntelligeHce service, but his peace is By JOHN SULLIVAN shattered when a man is murdered and suspicion falls on a young girl whose mental processes have been clouded since she discovered the bodies of her mother and father shot in what looked like a suicide pact. The man decides to smuggle the girl out of the country, using the contacts he made while doing his job, but the police and the intelligence service join forces to encircle them and it is only by means of an accident that the real murderer is discovered just as the net is closing in on the girl. "The Clouded Yellow" has no pretensions to art. It is an honest, straightforward thriller which sets out to entertain and succeeds in its aim. After a slow start to introduce its characters thoroughly, the pace becomes terrific and the chase scenes which are set among country rarely seen on the screen are most exciting. The story is incredible, but the director has brought his film along with such snap that the audience has little time to think of credibility. Ralph Thomas, incidentally, is one of Sydney Box's discoveries and in this picture justifies the faith which Box has in him. Since Jean Simmons is becoming well known in the U.S. and Ti-evor Howard has attracted favorable notice in "The Third Man" this film looks like a good bet for American theatres. It has the fast pace that Americans demand of their screen fare. ANOTHER TRADESHOW last week was of a film that would not normally have justified mention, save that it illustrates a trend in film production which cannot be ignored. This film was a small second feature called ELECTED PRESIDENT—John Arent, former production supervisor and vicepresident, elevated by Laurel Films. He will be executive producer, a post he took with the making of "Mister Universe," Jack Carson-Bert Lahr-Janis Paige film recently completed in New York. He joined Laurel three years ago as treasurer and later supervised "C-Man" and "Guilty Bystander." "Ha'penny Breeze," which three young men shot in a small fishing village in Suffolk on the east coast of England. Since the National Film Finance Corp. has been more careful of its financing and tends to invest only in pictures which are made by longestablished producers many technicians are turning to the second feature and co-feature and trying to keep going by making these. They are encouraged by a 25 per cent quota for supporting programs. "Ha' penny Breeze" is the story of a small fishing village which seems doomed to die when trading vessels desert it for a larger port. Two young men return from the war and persuade the inherently conservative villagers that they can keep their village alive by turning it into a yachting center and after they win a yacht race with a homebuilt yacht the village sees good times coming again. This simple theme is, in fact, the history of the village in which the film was shot and the three men, D'Arcy Conyers, Don Sharp and Frank Worth, tried to persuade a distributor to finance them in making the picture. Associated British was their last hope and after reading the script an executive there told them that if their first two weeks' rushes were satisfactory they could rely on a 75 per cent advance. Publicity in the national newspapers after the picture was shown means that they will probably find it easier to finance further lowbudget pictures. This kind of struggle to get a film going is undoubtedly good for the intending producer. It was when things were made too easy a few years back that our films began to degenerate in quality. • « • NOW THAT "THE MUDLARK" has been definitely chosen for the Royal film performance details are being given of the other films which were in the short list submitted to the committee for choice. It should be stressed that the quality factor was never mentioned by critics who complained of the inclusion of "The Mudlark" on the Ust; it was merely that it was felt that the fUm was not a truly British production. Since quality in a production is usually associated with cost it is difficult to see what other film could have replaced this choice. Of the four films so far shown since the performance was inaugurated, three were big Technicolor productions so it seems reasonable to use the argument that the size of the film has something to do with its choice. Allowing this it would seem that the nearest contender was another Anglo-American production. "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman," and presumably the same objections would apply to that since an American director and producer were employed. Of the remaining purely British productions only George Minter's "Tom Brown's Schooldays" looked like being in the running since it was suitable as to subject matter. A rough cut version was submitted to the committee during the early stages of choice but was withdrawn later when it was obvious that the film could not be completed in time for the event. It is unfortunate that In a year which has seen two entirely suitable pictures, "The Wooden Horse" and "Odette," a completely British film should not have been available. Either of those two war films would have made a good choice had it been possible to hold them over. > 52 BOXOFHCE November 4, 1950 J
1 belong, I sets, ; azid-con ! ing i added ! years I TV I She I I age . establish a research foundation to train color technicians in every department from pho- to set decoration. * • • i tography j half-hour ; company. '• [ minimum I "for j that ! At [ make *L Color TV Is Far Away, Says Mrs. Kalmus HOLLYWOOD—To the chorus of pro- argument and conjecture concernthe advent of color in television was that of Natalie Kalmus, for many an executive of Technicolor and currently engaged in the manufacture of TV who ventured the prediction that colorwill be impractical for continuous fullscheduled public viewing for years to come. bases her opinion on the assertion that video has an inadequate supply of color directors and technicians, a manpower shortwhich she estimates will take years to overcome. To that end she is planning to Filming has been launched by Jerry Fairbanks PYoductions on a new series of 14 dramatic video films, the "Bigelow Theatre," for sponsorship by a carpet Frank Woodruff produces and directs. Cast of the initialer, "Kerry Fallon's Birthday," includes Albert Sharpe, Rhys Williams, Doris Lloyd and John Sheehan. Producers of video films in the Hollywood area gained a substantial concession on their labor costs when the Hollywood AFL Film council, to which almost all principal crafts approved a recommendation that crews shall be at least one man every craft where there is work for craft on that production." the same time the council voted to each craftsman responsible to his own local to see that the production is being adequately manned. Eight Wives Ask Release For 'Unfriendly Ten' HOLLYWOOD—A new campaign seeking release from prison of filmdom's so-called "Unfriendly Ten" has been launched, this time by the distaff side. Wives of eight members of that group have begun circulating an "open letter," addressed to "all the American people," copies of which are being dispatched to President Truman, Attorney General McGrath, members of Congress and ministers, educators, civic and public opinion leaders. The missives contended the ten—Alvah Bessie, Herbert Biberman, Lester Cole, Edward Dmytryk, John Howard Lawson, Ring Lardner jr., Samuel Ornitz, Albert Maltz, Adrian Scott and Dalton Trumbo—were targets in a drive to "undermine civil liberty." The prison sentences are being served after they were found guilty of contempt for refusing to tell a Congressional sub-committee of their union and political affiliations. The "open letters" were signed by Helen Bessie, Gale Biberman, Jeanne Cole, Susan Lawson, Frances Lardner, Sadie Ornitz, Margaret Maltz and Cleo Trumbo. LP Shooting TV Trailers HOLLYWOOD — Three TV trailers are being shot by Lippert Productions as a means of plugging its upcoming "The Steel Helmet" for video audiences. Two of the trailers run one minute each, the other 20 seconds. £^êc44.tlae East: Among Hollywoodians attending the Theatre Owners of America convention in Houston: David A. Lipton, U-I advertising-publicity chief, accompanied by actress Peggy Dow; James R. Grainger, Republic sales chief, who concluded a ten-day studio visit before heading for Texas; Robert L. Lippert, president of Lippert Productions: Steve Broidy, president of Monogram. West: Currently visiting MGM's Culver City studios are four executives of Loew's International: N. Bernard Freeman, managing director in Australia and New Zealand; W. Lewis Simpson, manager, Panama and Central America; Edward P. O'Connor, regional supervisor in the Orient, and Waldemar Torres, publicity director, Brazil. East: Paul Henreid, William and Edward Nassour, principals in the recently formed H-N Productions, planed to New York to set up distribution arrangements and scout talent for the company's first picture. West: Joseph H. Moskowitz, 20th Century- Fox vice-president and studio representative in New York, was due in for huddles on the Westwood lot with Darryl F. Zanuck, Joseph M. Schenck and other production executives. East: Due to leave his MGM production berth shortly, Sam Marx plans a junket to England early this month to discuss plans for filming a picture there independently next spring. East: Herbert J. Yates, Republic president; Director John Ford; and Stars John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara left for San Antonio to attend the world premiere there Wednesday (1) of "Rio Grande." West: Irving Asher, Paramount associate producer, returned from Paris, accompanied by a 10-year-old French actor, Jacky Gencel, who has been cast in the next Bing Crosby starrer. West: Loren Ryder, head of Paramount's sound department and a past president of the Society of Motion Picture and Television ^n^cufeleÛ Engineers, returned from Lake Placid, N. Y., where he attended the SMPTE's semiannual convention. East: Richard Thorpe, MGM director, will leave for England next week to launch preparations for filming "Ivanhoe" there early in 1951. West: Producer William Pine and Actor John Payne checked in after a 16-city tour plugging "Tripoli," the new Pine-Thomas picture for Paramount release, which stars Payne. East: Edward Schellhorn, head of the Paramount studio foreign department, planed for Gotham for two weeks of home office conferences with Paramount International executives. Beautiful, responsive and durable seats bring many dollars to your boxoffice window. The gentle, caressing action in use inspires the most indifferent and sluggish individual to come again and again. Don't sit back with that helpless feeling — woo new customers with International Seats by RCA. We have a beautiful seating service Low priced. wKmw iheamMimwkm. 337 GOLDEN GATE AVE.'> HE 1-8302. SAN FRANCISCO 2. CALIF. CHBISTMAS GREETING TRAILERS WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF YOUR LOCAL MERCHANTS ROLLER OR INDIVIDUAL FRAME TYPE ORDER THEM FROM minDLin ROLLER TYPE 65c PER NAME mFILM TRAILER COMPANY 2901 PRAIRIE AVE., CHICAGO, ILL. SPECIAL LOW PRICES! INDIVIDUAL FRAME TYPE $1.25 PER FRAME — UP TO 12 WORDS BOXOFTICE November 4, 1953 53
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Page 8 and 9: TOA Convention Report: THEATRE TV N
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Page 52 and 53: i STUDIO PERSONNEUTIES Barnstormers
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NY TIME is a GOOD TIME to read and
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. . . and m Vol. XVII No. 11 NOVEMB
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The new Sonistand women's urinal ha
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A gracefully falling curtain in the
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' When i flushing flow stops when t
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; copy Where passers-by stop. ..AND
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Plan Film Theatre For L. A. Center
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tfH Screen Tests Show Low Sound Los
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RCA Makes Dealer Awards in Chicago
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1 I iproblems I [house. I I Proper
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iL II Experience Proves: Chewing Gu
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li, NMMBgRA/ IT READERS' BUREAU For
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I I } The I chines. ; association '
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1. FILM 2. ADVERTISING 3. BOOTH SUP
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I With ' more ' ing 9. For the exhi
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EQUIPMENT & DEVELOPMENTS _J Flexibl
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Canada Dry Fountainette Is Package
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îi Drink Dispenser Measures Each S
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j( {OFFICE BAROMETER • EXHIBITOR
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Good.—W. L. Stratton, Lyric Theat
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I j 1 120 ; 111 I Bomba I 1 107 ; 1
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i MGM Very Good; + Good: — Fair;
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Feature chart
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SHORTS REVIEWS Opiniotts on the Cur
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MANUFACTURED BY INTERNATIONAL PROJE
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Boxoffice-11.04.1950

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