Boxoffice-October.01.1955

. . Let
Federal Film Co. Sues
Filmakers on 'Bold'
BOSTON A bill ill eqiiily ha.-- been filed m
Suffolk superior court hero by Albert Swerdlove
and Federal Film Co of Boston against
Filmakers Releasing Organization of California.
Swerdlovc and Federal Film hold the
exclusive franchise to distribute In New England
eight pictures to be released by
Filmakei-s. four of which have already been
released, and the fifth "Tlie Bold and the
Brave." ready for release.
Tlic complaint alleges that Irving H. Levin,
president of Filmakers. tried to get Albert
Swerdlove to relinquish "The Bold and the
Brave" from the franchise so that Levin
could sell the picture or distribute it through
a national distributor. Upon Swerdlove's refusal
to agree, the complaint continues,
Filmakers has served notice of t.ermlnation
of Federal Film Co.'s rights as franchise
holder under the franchise agreement.
A temporary injunction was issued by the
superior court restraining Filmakers Releasing
Organization from licensing or distributing
"The Bold and the Brave" in the New
England territory excepting by and through
Federal Film Co. and Albert Swerdlove as
franchise holders. The court also issued an
order of notice to Filmakers to show cause
on Wednesday (28 • why the temporary relief
asked for should not be granted. Mintz.
Levin & Cohn of Boston appeared as
counsel for the franchise holder.
The four films already released by
Filmakers and distributed by Federal Film
are "The Bigamist." "Private Hell 36." "Mad
at the World" and "Crash-Out." The remaining
three films have not as yet been
started in Hollj-wood by Filmakers. "The
Bold and the Brave" stars Mickey Rooney
and Nicole Maury and has Wendell Corey
and Don Taylor in .supporting roles.
Black Hills Theatres Join
Audience Awards Program
NETW YORK—Word has been received here
at the Council of Motion Picture Organizations
headquarters that Richard Klein,
general manager of the Black Hills Amusement
Co., has instructed his 11 theatres in
South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming to
take part in the Audience Awards election.
The participating theatres are: Elks and
Rex and the Rapid and Starlite Drive-ins,
' all of Rapid City, S, D.; Belle Theatre, Belle
Fourche, S. D.; Dakota Theatre, Sturgls,
S D.: Hot Springs, Hot Springs, S. D.; Dogle
Theatre. New Castle, Wye; Pace, Chadron,
Neb., and Pace, Gordon, Neb.
20th-Fox May Make Eight
CinemaScopes in England
LONTHDN— Plans for the production of
eight British Cinemascope pictures for 20th
Century-Fox yearly are under discussion here
between Sir Alexander Korda and Sumar
Productions. Six would be from Korda and
:he remaining two from Sumar.
Spyros P. Skouras, 20th-Fox president, and
Darryl F. Zanuck. vice-president in charge
of production, have gone to southern France
to put the finishing touches on the deal.
Korda is recovering there from an illness.
Audience Awards Poll
Praised by Newspapers
NEW YORK—Newspaper editors and columnists
are showing much Interest In the
Audience Awards election. Editorial comment
and stories and pictures about It are appearing
with increasing frequency. Here are .some
quotations from prominent papers:
Richmond (Va.) News-Leader: "Biggest
news to come out of the movie Industry In
many months is the decision to let the theatregoers
bestow their own Oscars. The Council
of Motion Picture Organizations has hit upon
a scheme that should benefit Just about
everyone who Is interested In the movies."
Virgil Miers in the Dallas Times-Herald:
"It sounds as if the gentlemen of COMPO
have gone Into the project with a lot of
thought behind it. It should be a most Interesting
gauge of the popularity of the stars
and pictures. What is .selected may not be
anyone's 'best picture of the year," but it
certainly will be the people's selection of the
best picture released between Oct. 1. 1954,
and Sept. 30, 1955."
Arthur Spaeth, Cleveland News: "The nation's
film critics and the Academy Awards
people will watch this balloting with fascinated
interest. It will be so good to know
how far out of step with the popular viewpoint
the pros can get."
Elinor Hughes, Boston Sunday Herald: "I
strongly suspect that we'll all be in for some
surprises."
Allen M. WIdem, Hartford Times: "The
film industry will do it-self as well as audiences
a distinct favor by not only paying attention
to the poll results, but also by taking
care to see that the newly acclaimed faces
are not lost In the shuffle from the scriptwriter's
office to the location set."
Edith LIndeman, Richmond Times-Dispatch:
"This will not be an election by the
movie industry who decide on the Academy
.Awards, nor by women's groups or subscribers
to any magazine or film critics. It will be by
the people who ought to know best—the
moviegoers—and the chances are that this
particular poll will w'ind up as the most
significant of them all."
Hamilton B. .*IIen, Rochester Times-Union:
"HollyT^ood is going to get a few answers
from the ticket buyers. Mr. John Q. is going
to have a chance to get off the bench and
take a few swings at bat. The results may
be very Interesting."
Rasper Monahan, Pittsburgh Press-Sun:
"Obviously, Hollywood by tabulating these
votes win have an indisputable valuation of
moviegoers' likes and dislikes. Sounds like
a sensible gimmick. Hope It works."
Ruth Elguttcr, Toledo Times: "Such a poll
has a double value. Not only will It enable
every person who cares to voice an opinion
to do so, but It aUso will give moviemakers
an Idea of the type of film the public actually
appreciates, something which Is not always
clear In cross-section sampling or even Indicated
by attendance records."
Edwin Howard, Memphis Preas-Sclmltar:
"We plain moviegoers can at last talk back
to Oscar. The artists and technicians who
make the movies—the 2,500 members of the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
—sit In judgment on them.selves to bestow the
Academy Awards. Now the movie producer.-*
and performers will receive rccognHlon from
the millions who decide the succe.ss or failure
of motion pictures anyway— the ticket buyers"
Bill DIehl. .St. Paul Pioneer Prnm: "Oscar
presentations didn't start until the late 1920s
and It wasn't until the '30s that they rccclVTd
real stature . . . The COMPO people have u
long lead to overcome, but by letting the
ticket buyer pick the winners, they enhance
the poll."
William H. Mooring, The Pilot, Boston:
'This Is going to be a big thing. It Is com-
.
mercial, right enough. It Is Intended to Increase
public Interest In movies, and I find
nothing WTong with that us try to
.see that honor goes where honor Is due."
Norman Clark, Baltimore News-Post: "An
audience movie poll— that sounds sensible."
Theatres Are Asked to Sign
Audience Awards Pledges
NEW YORK-Theatre enlistment pledges
for the Audience Awards election are being
mailed to all circuit operators and 16,000
theatres in the U. S. by the Council of Motion
Picture Organizations. Each pledge contains
the official rules for the public balloting
November 17-27. It notes there Is no entrance
fee and that a signer does not commit himself
to cash expenditures except those necessary
for promotion of the election.
A letter from Elmer C. Rhoden, national
committee chairman, accompanies the
pledges. In it Rhoden says he is aware of
the average person's reluctance to sign
pledges.
"I am sending you this pledge blank for
two reasons," the letter says. "First, when all
the returns are in we will have a clearer Idea
of the number of participating theatres
Secondly, this pledge blank will advise theatremen
what will be expected of them In the
conduct of the voting and In reporting the
results of the poll, and will thus help to
protect the Integrity of the election, which of
course must be preserved If the Audience
Awards project Is to be the success we expect
it will be.
"I wish to emphasize that the signing of
this pledge Is entirely voluntary. I feel
confident, however, that you will appreciate
my position as national chairman of the
Audience Awards committee and that you will
give me your cooperation in this matter."
Theatre operators are asked to sign the
pledges and mall them as soon as possible to
Rhoden at COMPO headquarters In the
addressed, postage-paid envelope Inclosed for
that purpose.
Ralph Russell Will Speak
At Canton Awards Lunch
CANTON, OHIO—Ralph Russell of the
Palace Theatre, Canton, will be the principal
speaker at the kick-off luncheon for the
Audience Awards program. He has conducted
.several programs In the past.
Harry B French of the Minnesota Amusement
Co. and Ben Berger. president of North
Central Allied, are co-chairmen of the meeting.
BOXOFFICE :: October 1. 1955
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