Boxoffice-Febuary.18.1956

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—By ANTHONY GRUNER
CALENDARiEVENTS
FEBRUARY
JJAROLD MACMILLAN. the new Chancellor
of the Exchequer, does not look like handing
over any entertainments tax relief to
the film industry He has warned leading industrialists
and trade unions about the grave
economic situation facing the country in the
most gloomy terms. In answer to questions
from members of Parliament about the need
for aid for small cinema exhibitors. Chancellor
Macmillan said he was unable "to give
either a positive or a negative answer." Noting
his caution, the industry is planning to
send a very authoritative deputation to meet
him to discuss this very important subject.
* • «
What is described as the biggest convention
held in British industry takes place on
February 21. when the J. Arthur Rank Circuits
Management Ass'n holds its first national
convention. Attending it will be every
cinema manager, district manager, district
regional controller and executive in the organization.
In short, no fewer than 800 delegates
will attend the Leicester Square Theatre
for this gigantic conference. They will
hear speeches on a wide variety of subjects,
ranging from a survey of current production
activities by John Davis; a lecture on censorship
by the chief censor, A. T. L. Watkins: a
special television survey, two panel sessionsone
an exchange of views between some of
Britain's leading film critics and the other
a publicity brains trust consisting of some
of the top advertising and publicity personalities,
outside the film industry.
* * *
Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat, the talented
makers of "Geordie," "Gilbert and
Sullivan." and "State Secret," are to write,
produce and direct a new film for Columbia
Pictures. Both of these director-producers
were for years with London Films and most
of their successes came while working for Sir
Alexander Korda. Now, Mike Frankovich, a
no mean producer in his own right, has induced
them to join the ever-growing roster
of talented British producers and directors
who are making films for Columbia over here.
Incidentally, Columbia held a midnight premiere
to give their Cinemascope production.
"Picnic," an appropriate west end sendoff.
Considering the near-Arctic temperature, the
number of stars who turned up on Saturday
for this first night was staggering.
* • *
Miss Mirva Arvinen, known as Finland's
most beautiful girl, is in London as a guest
of Elstree Studios. For a week, Mirva will be
wined and dined and photographed with all
the most important show-business folk in
town. In the words of Robert Clark, head of
Elstree Studios, "this is our way of thanking
Finland for her kindness to the British Film
Industry in organizing the recent highly successful
British film week in Helsinki."
* * •
News in brief: The British Film Institute
is organizing a month's salute to Warner Bros.
at its National Film Theatre on the south
bank. The films include some of the greatest
productions to come from Warner Studios . . .
David Lean has been signed by Horizon Pictures
to direct "The Bridge Over the River
Kwai," the Technicolor production for Columbia
Pictures to be filmed in London with
locations in Malaya. Lean directed "Breaking
. . . Philip
the Sound Barrier" and "Hobson's Choice" .
Bob Wolff, RKO Radios British chairman
and managing director, is now on his way to
the states to take part in conferences with
the company's executives in New York .
Ronald Lewis. London Films contract artist,
who played Aneas in Warner's "Helen of
Troy." ha-s been signed to play the lead opposite
Vivien Leigh in Noel Coward's stage
production, "South Sea Bubble"
Dorte has been appointed Midlands controller
for Associated Television, Ltd. . . . Twentieth
Century-Fox will present its British Cinema-
Scope 55 demonstration on March 13 at the
Carlton Theatre . tax collection
increased in December 1955, compared
with the same period for 1954. The figures
were £2,444,000 and £2,423,000 . . . Variety's
King for a Day at the next monthly luncheon
is Sir Tom O'Brien, whose two guest
speakers will be Hugh Gaitskell, the new
Labor party leader, and Christopher Soames,
M.P., son-in-law of Sir Winston Churchill .
Jack Hawkins is leaving the Rank Organization
after he finishes his next film for Sir
Michael Balcon, "The Man in the Sky." He
has just completed a Scotland Yard film for
Ealing, "The Long Arm."
• • •
For many years.
Arthur Christiansen, editor
of the Daily Express, has been a good
friend of Sidney Bernstein, chairman of
Granada Theatres. Last week, however, Bernstein
received a severe (and obviously an inspired)
wigging in the leader column of the
Express for a speech he had made criticizing
Sir Ian Jacob, head of the British Broadcasting
Corp. The Express took issue with Bernstein
over his claim that commercial TV had
as strong a sense of responsibility toward the
public as the British Broadcasting Corp. The
Express said this was a bold claim for him
to make in view of the fact that Granada
had engaged a newspaper crime reporter for a
series of TV programs in which people with
criminal records would appear. Said the Express,
"That such a program is in prospect,
is a powerful condemnation of the way commercial
TV is developing." Bernstein, who
usually likes controversy, has, up to this writing,
not replied to the leader.
* * *
The European premiere of Paramount's
Danny Kaye film, "The Court Jester," turned
out to be a great success in spite of the freezing
weather that has descended on London
and hit business at many west end theatres.
All the seats for the premiere, w-hich was in
aid of the West Indies Hurricane Relief
Fund, were sold a week before the film's first
night, which was attended by Danny's royal
friend and admirer, Princess Margaret. At
the end of the performance. Danny appeared
on stage and for 35 minutes clowned, danced
and sang to the obvious enjoyment of a
packed and enthusiastic audience.
Acquires TV Film Firm
NEW YORK—Official Films. Inc., has
taken over all the assets of Four Star Productions.
Inc.. in a deal involving an exchange
of 695.000 shares of Official stock. This means
the transfer of 192 television films.
The stock involved in the transfer is valued
at about $1,500,000.