Boxoffice-May.12.156

: May
7IMISM AT U-I's GLOBAL CONFERENCE
World Revenues to Rise
For US. Filmmakers
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Delegates representing 55 countries throughout tlie world were briefed on Uni-
\ci sal-International's production plans and its plans to intensify overseas distribution
activities when they arrived at the company's studios in Universal City for a week-long
series of conferences.
The above is a group shot. Top company officials are in the second
row from the bottom, beginning third from left with Charles J. Feldman, vicepresident
and general sales manager; David A. Lipton, vice-president in charge of
advertising and publicity; Edward Muhl, vice-president and production chief; Alfred
E. Daff, executive vice-president; Milton R. Rackmil, president, and Americo Aboaf,
foreign general manager.
HOLLYWOOD—World revenues for American
films in general are certain to increase
as living standards improve in various foreign
nations, Milton R. Rackmil, Universal-International
president, predicted in keynote remarks
at U-I's first global sales conference,
a week-long affair which got under way Monday
(7) at the studio. The conclave was
attended by 72 delegates representing 55
countries.
Rackmil waxed optimistic concerning U-I's
increasing .share of such upped foreign
grosses and stressed that his company is
pursuing a policy of "carefully analyzing"
its product to make certain that all upcoming
features have "international appeal." Tastes
throughout the world "vary only slightly," he
said, "where good entertainment is concerned."
Overseas trade will continue to expand as
long as the free countries of the world prosper,
the U-I head man asserted, adding:
"I do not believe we have reached anything
like our peak in the international
field."
In opening the conference, Alfred E. Daff,
executive vice-president, stressed that the
gathering marked the culmination of his desire
of many years to have the entire foreign
sales organization meet in Hollywood so they
could meet U-I's production and creative personnel
and become acquainted with filmmaking
problems and techniques.
"The governments of the world should
focus their eyes on this spot," Daff said.
"They would see different nationalities mixing
in a way to confound the prophets of
international rivalries and jealousies. Here
under this one roof we have representatives
of all the free countries of the world, meeting
in a spirit of complete friendship and understanding,
with the object of assisting each
other to make a great company even greater."
Daff paid tribute to the conventioneers as
a "great world team."
Welcoming the delegates to the studio, Edward
Muhl, vice-president in charge of production,
declared he was certain they will
become "effective ambassadors" for Hollywood
and U-I in particular after analyzing
the complexities involved in making pictures
and studying the "tremendous" technical advances
of the past few years, including widescreen
anamorphic techniques and stereophonic
sound.
Other addresses of welcome came from Nate
J. Blumberg, board chaii-man; Charles J.
Feldman, vice-president and general sales
manager; David A. Lipton, vice-president in
charge of advertising and publicity, and
Americo Aboaf, foreign general manager, who
conducted the sales meetings. Also a speaker
was Col. Dean Hess, the Korean war ace,
whose life story is being brought to the
screen in U-I's '^Battle Hymn," starring Rock
Hudson.
On the opening of the conference, Rackmil
read to the participants a telegram from
President Eisenhower, hailing the industry
and U-I for "day-by-day contributions to international
goodwill." Said the President's
message:
"Please extend my greetings to all those,
from this country and from overseas, who will
participate ... I wish all of you the greatest
possible success in your day-by-day contributions
to international goodwill."
Prior to the beginning of the meetings the
visitors were hosted by Daff and Blumberg
at their respective homes. Blumberg paid
tribute to the overseas representatives for
their efforts.
U I's Foreign Take
Up 78% in 5 Years
HOLLYWOOD — Universal-International's
foreign business has increased 78 per cent
since 1951 and the company's product now is
playing in more than 25,000 situations, exclusive
of the United States and Canada and
the Iron Curtain countries, Americo Aboaf,
vice-president in charge of the foreign subsidiary,
told the global sales conference at
the opening day's session Monday (7).
Between 1950 and 1955, the percentage of
Universal's foreign business in relation to the
company's total percentage increase was from
33 per cent to 43 per cent. The European
market alone showed a jump of 36.58 per
cent since 1951.
In breaking down the sources of the income
abroad, Aboaf said 35 per cent came from
Europe; 19 per cent from England; 19 per cent
from Latin American; 15 per cent from the
Far East; 6 per cent from Australasia and
6 per cent from licensees during the 1955-56
year.
Bookings increased in 1955-56 over 1954-55
with England and Europe showing the greatest
percentage of increase at 8 per cent each,
while Latin America showed 7.62 per cent and
Australasia 3.24 per cent.
More than 6,000 prints a year in black and
white. Technicolor and Cinemascope are used.
Aboaf said that a satisfactory ratio has
continued to exist between the increase in
income and expenses at a time when costs
of the entire industry have been rising.
The company will release 30 productions
in the foreign market during the 1956-57
releasing year—March 1, 1956, to Feb. 28,
1957, Alfred E. Daff, executive vice-president
of Universal Pictures and president of Universal-International,
said.
Of the 30 on the list, 20 have been completed,
or are in the final stages of production.
Eighteen, or 60 per cent, are in Technicolor,
ten in Cinemascope and one— "Away
All Boats"—in VistaVision.
The Cinemascope films will be: "Istanbul,"
"Kelly and Me," "Battle Hymn," "Walk the
Proud Land," "Four Bright Girls," "Gun for a
Coward," "Cory," "My Man Godfrey," "The
Goddess" and "Interlude."
Other Technicolor
pictures are: "Congo Crossing," "Toy Tiger,"
"Written on the Wind," "Unguarded Moment,"
"Raw Edge," "Tammy" and "The
World and Little Willie."
The conventioneers attended a tradescreening
of "Away All Boats."
UA Reissues 'High Noon'
To Play Up Grace Kelly
NEW YORK—United Artists will re-release
Stanley Kramer's "High Noon," Academy
Award-winning picture starring Gary Cooper
in June, according to William J. Heineman,
vice-president
in charge of distribution.
Since the picture was originally released by
UA in May 1952, Grace Kelly who played
opposite Cooper, has become a world-famous
star. The picture played 22,000 domestic dates
and grossed more than $4,000,009.
The reissue will have a new ad campaign,
plus a promotion of the Academy Awardwinning
title song, which will be reissued on
Columbia, MGM, Capitol, London and King
Records. The reissue will be aimed at driveins,
which have increased by 1,800 to make a
total of 5,000 current open-air theatres, since
the picture was originally
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released.
12, 1956