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MGM PRODUCTION ON MOVE;
U FINISHED, 40 READY TO GO
Accelerated Program Will
Place 12 Films Before
Cameras Next 4 Months
NEW YORK—As an example of the accelerated
pioKiam which Joseph R. Vogel
has inauBurated at Metio-Goldwyii-Mayer,
It was announced this week that the company
has 14 completed features being
edited for 1958 release and 40 more to go
into production, including a dozen which
are scheduled to roll within the next four
months.
AKTEK CONFERENCES ON COAST
TTie announcement came after Vogel,
president of Loews. Inc.. returned from a
series of conferences on the west coast with
Benjamin Thau, vice-president and administrative
head of the studios.
The big production to get under way will
be "Ben Hur." the Lew Wallace classic of
several generations which MGM .served up
as a major worlc of the silent movie day.s.
The picture, which Vogel .said will be the
most ambitious production ever undertaken
by a motion picture company, will get under
way in Rome in early spring and will be
before the cameras for about a year. Sam
Zimbalist will produce and William Wyler
will direct.
The features which now are being edited
for relea.se were announced as; "The Brothers
Karamazov," starring Yul Brynner. Maria
Schell. Claire Bloom and Lee J. Cobb: "Merrj'
Andrew." with Danny Kaye and Pier Angeli:
"Gigl," starring Le.slie Caron, Maurice Chevalier
and Louis Jourdan: "Saddle the Wind."
with Robert Taylor. Julie London and John
Cassavetes: "Seven Hills of Rome." .starring
Mario Lanza: "Underwater Warrior." with
Dan Dailey: "The Safecracker." starring Ray
Milland: "The Sheepman." with Glenn Ford
and Shirley MacLalne; "I Accu.se." the Captain
Dreyfus story, starring Jo.se Ferrer and
Viveca Llndfors: "The Law and Jake Wade."
with Rot>ert Taylor and Richard Widmark:
"torn thumb." .starring Rus.s Tamblyn. a
George Pal production: and "Cry Terror,"
with James Mason. Rod Steiger and Inger
Stevens; "The High Co.st of Loving," with
Jose Ferrer and Gena Rowland; and "Handle
With Care," with Dean Jones, Joan
O'Brien and Thomas Mitchell
riioin ( TIOSS ON SCIIEIU'tE
The productiom on the tchedule beginning in
Jonuory include-
INFAMY AT SEA, «torring Jomet Moion and OofO-
'hy Oondndge A Virgino and Andrew L Stone
pfodixtion
TMf TUNNtL OF LOVE, tlorring Oorli Ooy. Richord
W.'ir. .. '.r, .-.i^ -r^ G,g Young A Joteph Fieldt
P"> -'V Gene KoUy
'^t ilornng Glenn Fofd, Red
':ed by William Howkt;
ng AJon Lodd ond Ernett
g- Areola produotton; di-
'>ot«d on Tennetiee
i>tov, »(orrir>g Elt20-
-^.' eft-Avon production.
'' 'ANTE, tlarring R«k Hot-
Downward Business Trend Stopped,
Vogel Reports to Stockholders
NEW YORK— Tile downward trend in the
Loew's. Inc.. earnings picture has been
rison. Key Kcndoll, Sorxlro Dee, John Saxon and
Angelo Lonsbury. Pondro S. Bermon-Avon production;
directed by Vincente Minnelti.
THE JOURNEY, starring Yul Brynner ond DetX)roh
Kerr. Anotole Lilvok production.
PARTY GIRL, storring Robert Taylor orxJ Cyd
Chonsso, Joseph Posternok-Eurtepe production.
END OF THE WORLD, starring Horry Bclofonte. Sol
C Siegcl-Hortwl production; directed by Ronald Moc-
Dougoll.
GREEN MANSIONS, bosed on Williom H. Hudson's
classic romontic novel, storring Audrey Hepburn ond
Anthony Perkins. Pondro S. Bermon-Avon production;
directed by Mel Ferrer.
THE VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED, to be produced
by Milo O. Frank, jr.
COMPANY OF COWARDS, to be produced by Edmurvl
Grainger.
SOME CAME RUNNING, bosed on the Jomes Jones
novel, his first since "From Here to Eternity." Sol
C. Siege! production.
NORTHWEST BY hJORTH, to be produced and directed
by Alfred Hitchcock
THE BOY FRIEND, bosed on the London ond
Broodway musical success, starrir>g Debbie Reynolds.
Produced by Cy Feuer ond Ernest Mortin; directed by
Chorlei Wolters.
NEVER SO FEW, odapted from Tom Chomoles' novel
about World War II. To be produced by Som Zimbalist.
THE ANGRY HILLS, ttorring Robert Mitchum ond
to be filmed in Greece. Produced by Robert Strosi;
directed by Robert Aldrich
THE BLESSING, botod on Nancy Mitford's novel,
ttorring Ooborah Kerr Produced by Sidney Franklin
orxl Korl Tunberg, directed by Franklin.
HELL BELOW, tlorring Glenn Ford Produced by
Edmursd Grainger.
NO BLADE OF GRASS, based on John Christopher's
novel orxj Soturdoy Evening Post teriol. LowrerKe
WeingortervAvon production
DEVIL MAY CARE, o romontic comedy ttorring
Frank Sirsotro. Written, directed and produced by
Garson Konin.
HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL, to be produced
by Albert Zugsmith, starring Ruts Tomblyn.
THE SCAPEGOAT, from the (Xiphne du Maurier
Uuu uniiually and lliul oDier reorganiaztion
programs have resulted in additional payroll
halted. Joseph Vogel. president, reported to savings of $2,000,000. Because of .severances
.stockholders this week. Although the company
showed a loss of $455,000 for the fiscal savings will not be fully reflected for several
and related expenses, however, these pa>TolI
.year ended Aug. 31, 1957, there are many months.
factore to bring a note of real optimism for The annual report .showed that the company
had substantial profits except in the
future operations, the report implied.
This note of confidence was e.xpressed fields of motion picture production and distribution.
MGM studio and distribution
even in view of a loss of $1,290,849 in the fii-st
quarter of the current fiscal year, a loss operations lost S7.784.00O before interest
which Vogel explained came before the upturn
in the company fortunes began.
television, radio, record and music publishing
charges and federal income taxes, while the
"There has been a resurgence of business subsidiaries earned $5,520,000, while domestic
which commenced with the holiday season and Canadian theatres earned $3,975,000 The
and promises well for the coming months net Ixjok value was listed at $137,359,190, or
with the features we now and will have in $25.73 a share.
release," Vogel said.
The consolidated income for the year to
"Moreover, the economies we are effecting Augast 31 totaled $154,320,404 of which $129,-
and the quality and audience appeal of the 350,723 came from film rentals and theatre
pictures which we expect to result from the receipts. Of this figure $34,552,551 came from
tighter standards now imposed upon production
by our studio administration will, I The sale of features to television was a
U. S. and Canadian theatre properties.
believe, reflect themselves in profitable profitable venture, Vogel reported. Stations
operations."
in 81 markets have acquired the MGM backlog
in whole or in part, with the .sales to
Vogel reported that since he took office
during the year the fixed payroll of the reach about $50,200,000 over a seven-year per-
studio had been reduced by almost S4.000.-
iod
best-seller, stornrsg Alec Guinness, to be produced in
Er\glorxJ by Sir Michoel Bolcon.
I THANK A FOOL, t>ased on Audrey Erskine-Linop's
romantic novel "Mist Over Tollo," stornng Inghij
Bergmon Sol C. Siegel production; directed by Peter
Glenviltc.
BELLS ARE RINGING, on Arthur Freed
production,
with Judy Holtidoy portraying the role stie erected
in the successful Broodwoy muticol hit. To t>e directed
by Vincente Minnolli.
The following pictures also are being
planned as part of the new production schedule,
with scripts now in preparation;
THE ARTLESS HEIRESS, bosed on Clarence Budington
KellorxJ's Soturdoy Evening Post senol. Aaron
Rosenberg-Arcolo production.
ANDY HARDY RETURNS, starririg
To be produced by Red Doff.
Mickey Rooney
THE THUNDER
Edmund Groinger.
OF DRUMS, to be produced by
THE UNVANQUISHED, bosed on Williom Foulkner's
rwvel. to be produced by Albert Zugsmith.
IT STARTED WITH A KISS, an Aoron Rosenberg-
Arcolo production.
DARLING BUDS OF MAY. bosed on H E Batet'
soon to be published rx>vet ond Soturdoy Eversing
Post senol. To be produced by Philip Sorry ir
PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISIES, bosed on Jeon
Kerr's novel, now No. 1 on ttie best-selling lists. To
be produced by Joe Posternok.
TOO BIG FOR TEXAS, on Aaron Rotentwrg-Arcola
production.
BACHELOR IN PARADISE, a Sol C. Siegel production.
THE BIXBY GIRLS, bosed on Rotomund Mortholl't
novel obout two tittert. A Pondro S BermorvAvoo
production
THE WRECK OF THE MARY DCARE. based on
Hammond Innet' rwvel obout the seo To be produced
and directed t>y Alfred Hitchcock
*6 DAYS TO KUFRA, on Aoron Rotenberg-Artola
production.
SNOB HILL, ttorring Debbie Reynolds, to be produced
by - ' "--'---lak,
THE IV Aed on Woller Ro»»' toon »i
publittsed
*
Holiywoott
12 BoxorriCE .I.uuiun L'7. 19.1