Boxoffice-April.07.1958

. . Jim
. . Republic
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Two Amalgamated Films
Set for MGM Release
NEW YORK—Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
will
handle worldwide distribution, except the
United Kingdom, of two pictures produced by
John Croydon for Amalgamated Pioductions.
They are "The Haunted Strangler," starring
Boris Karloff and directed by Robert Day,
and "Fiend Without a Face," starring Marshall
Thompson and duected by Arthur Crabtree.
Jack Byrne, MGM general sales manager,
has set them for May release as a combination
attraction.
Amalgamated Pi-oductions is headed by
Charles F. Vetter jr. and Richard Gordon. It
has produced ten pictures in two years.
Warner Bros, distributed the firet, "The
Counterfeit Plan," with Zachai-y Scott and
Peggie Castle, in the western hemisphere.
Republic is currently releasing "The Fighting
Wildcats," with Keefe Brasselle. Distribution
is being ai-ranged for the tenth
picture, "The Secret Man," starring Maj'shall
Thompson and John Loder.
Plans for 1958 include the production of at
least six pictures. CuiTently shooting is
"First Man Into Space," starring Thompson
and with Croydon producing and Day directing.
A new Boris Karloff picture will be
started May 5 at the MGM studios in London.
Other subjects in preparation are "The Lion
Man," to be shot in Africa; "Devil Doll," a
horror story, and "Teenage Sacrifice," an exploitation
story to be filmed in Germany.
Award-Winning Shorts
Compiled as Feature
NEW YORK—George K. Ai-thur has put
eight award-winning short subjects into a
feature-length picture called "Octet," which
will be sold as a featm-e on percentage terms.
The shorts are: "The Bespoke Overcoat,"
1956 Academy Award winner; "On the 12th
Day," an Academy Award nominee; Marcel
Marceau's "In the Park," Gold Medal Berlin
Festival winner; "The Stranger Left No
Card," first prize winner at the Cannes Festival;
"Nutcracker Suite," winner at the Edinburgh
Festival; "Martin and Gaston," Golden
Reel winner in Chicago; "A Short Vision,"
first prize winner at the Venice Festival, and
"Tlu-ee Pirates Bold," which won several
European awards.
L. M. Rosenthal to LA
COLORADO SPRINGS — Lawrence M.
Rosenthal, resident vice-president, national
division of Alexander Film Co., has been
transferred from the firm's Chicago office
to Los Angeles. Rosenthal will represent the
company in the Los Angeles and west coast
area with primai-y emphasis on the sale of
film and merchandising programs to national
advertisers and advertising agencies.
U-I Sues Jeanne Grain
HOLLYWOOD—Jeanne Crain, actress, was
sued by Universal-International Pictures in
superior court for refund of $6,633.78, assertedly
in excess of salary payments under a
contract signed in 1954. When the actress
became unable to work, U-I, under the provisions
of the pact, terminated the agreement,
according to the complaint.
SEATTLE
Qpciiing day gros.s«>s at local drive-ins were
donated to the Variety Club, Including
the airers in Bellingham and Port Orchard
Brooks, 20th-Fox office manager was
recovering nicely at Virginia Mason Hospital
. business here is now being
handled by Favorite Films, where Harry
Weaverling, former branch manager for Republic,
is a salesman.
Bob Hope appealed on the stage of the Coliseum
in behalf of his "Paris Holiday" .
Filmrow visitors included Mr. and Mrs. Robert
Hagman, in from Metaline Falls and
lone; C. A. Dunn, Liberty, Wapato, and John
Dore and Howai'd McGhee, Midstate.
UAA Seeks SEC Permission
To Register Debentures
WASHINGTON — The Securities
and Exchange
Commission has received a United
Artists Associated registration statement
seeking registration of $15,000,000 of six per
cent subordinated sinking fund debentures
and cash due in 1963. They are to be offered
for capital stock and warrants of Associated
Artists Productions and in exchange for outstanding
AAP debentures.
UAA gave as the reason for the offer the
acquisition of enough shares to purchase the
film television business and other assets and
properties of AAP.
To Assist Boys Club
LOS ANGELES—Sophie Tucker,
who was
honored by Variety Tent 25 at a luncheon
where Ezra Stern gave her a gold heart from
local members in recognition of her humanitarian
efforts, said that each month for the
rest of her life she will send a three-figure
check to Tent 25 for the organization's Boys
Club.
Medal to George Seaton
HOLLYWOOD — George Seaton. Motion
Picture Academy president, received the
"Silver Lion of Venice" as a token of esteem
to the Academy from the Venice Film Festival.
Dr. Floris Ammannati, president of the
film festival, represented the Italian delegation
who came here to attend the Academy
awards presentation.
Senator Knowland Lauds
Oscar Awards Telecast
WA.SHINGTON-^en. William P. Knowland
(R., Calif. I prai-sed the Industry In the
Senate Monday (31) "for its entertaining telecast
of the .so-called Oscar awards." He said
in
part:
SGtiCfinG
"The annual Academy Award presentation
is, I understand from the experts In the radio
and television field, an eagerly awaited and
greatly-viewed program each year. It affords
not only drama in the announcement of the
winners as best actor, best actre.ss, best picture
and other achievements, but color and
glamor as scores of the world's best known
personalities participate in the program.
"This year the motion picture industry,
which is one of my state's best known and
largest business enterprises, outdid itself in
two particulars. It put on the Oscar ceremony
itself with no commercial .sponsorship intervening,
and it reemphasized tlie international
penetration of the American motion picture
industry.
"It is a tribute to the thou.sands of theatre
owners throughout America that they urged
their patrons to stay home and watch the
televised Oscar program last Wednesday.
This united industry effort to interest the
American people in what the motion picture
industry is doing had the cooperation also
of the Hollywood film colony.
"Ai'tists and talent who can command
from $5,000 to $15,000 for a mere brief appearance
on a television program sang songs,
participated in skits, acted as masters-ofcercmonies,
and made announcements, all as
their contribution to their own industry's noncommercial
television program.
"The motion picture industry, from top to
bcttom, from those who put up the large sum
of money necessary to stage and televise the
program to the actors and musicians w'ho
gave their services, is desei-ving of a hearty
accolade for 105 minutes of enjoyable television
entertainment."
Original Script to Furman U.
HOLLYWOOD—At the request of the
journalism department of F\u-man University,
Greenville, S. C, Fay and Michael Kanin's
original script of "Teacher's Pet," plus city
room stills, is being donated to the department
for placement in its new museum now
under construction.
n 2 years for $5 D
D Remittance Enclosed Q Send Invoice
THEATRE
STREET ADDRESS
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' year for $3 D 3 ycors for $7
POSITION.,
UA's "The Defiant Ones" focuses on a
white and a negro convict who are chained
together in an escape attempt.
umm[ THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 52 issues a year
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BOXOFFICE April 7, 1958
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