DECEMBER

More documents

Recommendations

Info

I -'-''- Serious Pictures Needed, '" Producer Wallis Says NEW YORK—Does the public want only escapism in pictures or can serious pictures become boxoffice succcesses? Has anything upset the view of many exhibitors that escapism is greatly preferred because the industry is dealing with "lO-year-old minds and films should be kept down to that level?" Hal Wallis, producer, expressed his views on arrival here from Hollywood for talks with Paramount, which releases his pictures, and with Defense department officials in Washington. He pointed out that his long production record included light comedies and escapist pictures such as "My Friend Irma" and all but one of the Martin and Lewis comedies, as well as mature pictures like "Watch on the Rhine," "Kings Row," "Dark Victory" and the new "Come Back, Little Sheba." "There's nothing wrong with escapism," Wallis said, "but there's also nothing wrong with films that make audiences think a little while they're being entertained. It isn't that the general IQ of the public is suddenly rising. It's simply that film producers have suddenly become aware of the public's new and higher entertainment standards in film fare and are catering to it." Wallis said there is recognition now that plays which have been big stage hits in New York, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco will do just as well on theatre screens everywhere. He cited "Come Back, Little Sheba," co-starring Burt Lancaster and Shirley Booth, which was a Broadway success. It will be released in December in time for possible Academy award recognition. Its director was Daniel Mann, who directed the stage play. "I've been fighting for years," WaUis said. Clips from "Come Back, Little Sheba" are studied by (left to right) Burt Lancaster and Shirley Booth, who co-star in it, and Hal Wallis, producer. The reaction is obvious. Rembusch Formula for Luring Crowds Reported in "against the theory that fine, artistic plays which do good business on Broadway cannot do just as well elsewhere on film. Just look at what happened during the past yearor so with 'A Streetcar Named Desire' and 'Detective Story.' They were tremendous as Broadway stage plays, just as 'A Place in the Sun' was tremendous as 'An American Tragedy' on the stage, and all were outstanding successes as films. A short time ago, but not now, those films would have been taboo with producers, who took their cue from exhibitors as the best source of knowledge of public taste. In 'Come Back, Little Sheba' we feel certain we have a film that will appeal to all segments of the moviegoing public." NEW YORK—Motion picture exhibitors throughout the nation are going to lure customers away from television with a batch of feature films they simply can't resist. What is happening stems largely from the enterprise and foresight of Trueman T. Rembusch, president of the Allied Theatre Owners of Indiana and operator of a chain of theatres in Indiana. Martin Bunn reports in the December issue of the American Magazine. An intensive survey was undertaken by Rembusch in 32 states to determine the kind of motion pictures the public prefers. He applied what he learned to his own theatres and the customers poured in to the tune of $1,000,000 a year. Other exhibitors who were once skeptical of his formula are rushing to get on the bandwagon, according to the article. His findings are reported in the American magazine as follows: "We don't care for present-day Academy award pictures. The last five Oscar winners were superb productions, technically, but most of the folks who saw them found them com- December American paratively dull. "We aren't even slightly impressed any more by super-productions costing $10,000,000. "We are losing our appetite for love. At one time when the word 'love' was in the title, movie fans stormed the doors. Now that word is poison. "We want no messages in our entertainment. "John Q. Public, in his search for relaxation and entertainment, is not serious-minded. Sometimes we pass up first-class entertainment because we suspect a preachy picture. "Most of us don't go for 'arty' or 'longhair' pictures. As a rule, we don't like foreign productions. "We usually don't give a hoot, either, for professional critics' opinions of a picture. "We've had enough run-of-the-mine westerns. "We are sharply divided on double bills. "We average people pick our favorite actors usually because they have warm, lovable personalities. "Most of us like drive-in theatres.*' ^^^ Newsreeis Movietone News, No. 97: French battle Red offensive in Indo-China; Ike names two women to jobs in government; Assam tribes honor Nehru; paratroops on alert in Korea; O'Dwyer quits Mexico post; Marshal Tito is re-elected; Eric Johnston in Latin America; Florida picks Miss Tangerine. News of the Day, No. 227: Amazing air drops 1 filmed in Korea; Vishinsky vs. Acheson; Eric Johnston jj in Rio; AFL elects president; Bill Stern's stars Qnd\ ploys of 1952. Paromount News, No. 30: Meony named AFL| president; UN-Visninsky says no; Eric Johnston Brazil; Mrs. Eisenhower honored by USO; women I oppointees in new administration; feature sports [ presentation— 1 952 All-American football team. Universal News, No. 417: Korea paratroops; motion I picture pioneers; British jeep; Santa Clous parade p in Seottle; France—observatory examines cosmic rays. Worner Pathe News, No. 32: Visitors pour into Ike's busy hecdquorters; parodrops in Korea; George I Meony named new AFL chief; Medal of Honor owarded to Koreo hero; Rio de Janeiro— Eric Johns- _ ton calls on President of Brazil; motion picture pioneers honor Not Blumberg; New York City—new designs for fashions in resorts; Cleveland— Eagles beat Browns in pro-football. Movietone News, No. 98: Mrs. Eisenhower seestw Mrs. Truman at White House; Seoul awaits Ike's J* ornval; Koreans activate two new divisons; 36 killed in crash of C-54 at Tacoma; Chicago is host to' prize cattle; Notre Dome holts Southern Califormo, 9-0; Navy defeats Army, 7-0. : News of the Day, No. 228: Koreo prepares big, welcome for Eisenhower; new tenant visits White House; U.S. steel; 37 perish as plone crashes in fog; 100,000 see Navy sink Army; Irish beat Trojans. Paromount News, No. 31: Koreo ready for Ike; Mrs. Eisenhower visits Mrs. Truman; heavy toll ir C-54 crash; new envoy to Britain; Christmas toylond, football — Army-Navy; Southern Canifornio-Notre^ Dame. * Universal News, No. 418: Korea awaits Ike, plane! crash; Mamie at White House; BARC vehicle; Wilson.' and Lovett; Operation RAWIN; football—Army-Navy: y Middies sink Cadets, 7-0. j^ Warner Pathe News, No. 33: Koreo awaits Ike; air crash kills 36; Mrs. Truman and Mrs. Ike meet at White House; Seattle—army shows giant 60-ton amphibian; cars and stars at Warner Bros studio; Homestead, Pa.—pour town's billionth ton of steel; Army -Navy game; Notre Dame tops USC. American Newsreel, No. 543: John T. Wright is first Negro elected councilman in Bergen county, N. J.; The Rev. Nathan Wright, his wife and chil-J dren named Pittsburgh Courier's Family of the Week;' success story—Joseph Christian promoted to o top post with one of the nation's largest distillery corporations; Charles Brown holds world's record of 64| years tor diplomatic service in Woshinglon; Mrs.| Floy Jones, first woman on Negro police force m\ St. Louis; Duke Ellington's 25 years m show busi-i ness celebrated in Providence, R. I. [ Telenews Digest, No. 48B: News from the Korean, front; lost rites paid to William Green; one-man crusade against Reds; new fiber is flame stopper; British prepare for coronation; Italian sport—boor hunting in Tuscany; court tennis—champion retains vitle. Telenews Digest, No. 49A: Mammoth reception* set—Seoul is ready for Ike's visit; 60-ton duck; army's new land-sea giant; ordi nonce display—now stages rocket show; Indo-Chino war—French potrob hit Red lines; st>/li5h timepieces; football classic- Navy tops Army, 7-0. Clubwomen List 3 Films Out of 11 for Family NEW YORK—Three pictures are rated for, family audiences, seven for adults and young' people and one for adults in the November 15 listing of joint estimates of current motion pictures prepared by the Film Estimate Board of National Organizations. The family films are "It Grows on Trees' (U-I». "Pony Soldier" t20th-Fox» and "Prisoner of Zenda" (MGM). The adultyoung people films are "Because of You' lU-I). "Bloodhounds of Broadway" (20th- Pox). "Hangman's Knot" (CoH. "Tlie Lustj Men" iRKO). "Operation Secret" iWBt. "The Steel Trap" (20th-Fox) and "Voodoo Tiger' (Col). The single adult film is "Night With-, nut Sleep" i20th-Fox) \'}M SI D jecrel lUffitn -Of 26 BOXOFFICE December (i. 1952
BOXOFFICE BAROMETER Thii chart recordi the (Mfformanci of currtnl ottraclioni in lk« apfiiiii^ «t«li of >lnn l»«l '»•• >« the 20 key citict checked Picture* with le»cr than li>e engogementt ore not Inled A* ae* 'MM ore reported, rolingt ore added ond o>eraqet roiied Compuloli«
Page 1 and 2: tR Re BOXOFFICE BAKUMt i tropKMl BH
Page 3 and 4: EYES HAVE NEVER BEFORE BEHELD SUCH
Page 5 and 6: Ui_ LER GEORGE . GIVGT PAUL HARVEY
Page 7 and 8: ^/e T^fi^e oft/ie ///r/ion 7^i'cfn7
Page 9 and 10: GREATEST BOXOFFICE PICTURE: 1951-52
Page 11 and 12: ^tl 1 a tmj-Posb' le for to ,84i,9
Page 13 and 14: ' patrons ni_ rheatie! tf I .ii tip
Page 15 and 16: 0/// THE. SONGS THEY SANG! ^ q '^^^
Page 17 and 18: I it w h leavalit; mint 1. , > acvf
Page 19 and 20: BUSINESS WAY UP in early dates, wit
Page 21 and 22: 1 _ij_ fi yAUGHN MONROE IDOL O^MILL
Page 23 and 24: 1 n ''What would you have done?'' a
Page 25: ai::i fiamerifiimiiitiienl K 111 I'
Page 29 and 30: CHESTER FRIEDMAN EDITOR HUGH E. FRA
Page 31 and 32: AL t) tie site , t , -'l School Co-
Page 33 and 34: helped 11 0 lonsP*" • Dec' School
Page 35 and 36: I : I '' « Mm. ""lite. «cal lie t
Page 37 and 38: ' ' ; »' ' . . Max . . Joe . . Eth
Page 39 and 40: , John rnierciili 5 K will litrs [o
Page 41 and 42: I dent, I I I Kohler. I Smith. I .
Page 43 and 44: • lldlltjwood prfsJ| NEWS AND VIE
Page 45 and 46: , VER-IMAOINATIVE 'Captain Kidd' to
Page 47 and 48: , rim : ; jhtsler * I Marco's Manch
Page 49 and 50: ' ^^ I H"* I saw 1 saying I 1 throu
Page 51 and 52: I ample I people, 1 Durwood Jif! ar
Page 53 and 54: ' V. 'Prisoner' Bows at 120 As Chic
Page 55 and 56: BOXOFFICE December L 6, 1952 55 n*^
Page 57 and 58: BOXOmCE December 6, 1952 57 I . . -
Page 59 and 60: ! Noble I Southern ; Installation I
Page 61 and 62: Astor Chief Gets Rights To TV, Thea
Page 63 and 64: j Ozark I was I cording I Commonwea
Page 65 and 66: I, I ganlst . . Sky-Liner Memphis,
Page 67 and 68: 1 1 told 1 book." j method I I proa
Page 69 and 70: DOXOFFICE December 6. 1952 69 L EAS
Page 71 and 72: ' I 1_L Rin«,|| sii;:- »' IH: M.
Page 73 and 74: . . . CnrtlM . . . Mrs. . . . The .
Page 75 and 76: ! MINNEAPOLIS doeuvres Omaha Suburb
Page 77 and 78:
I , . . Mildred '• 'Prisoner' Bow
Page 79 and 80:
lot I . Mmncopohs, ' > tiiij. F:.;
Page 81 and 82:
, , , Tte ' _ n I NEW j net : ber I
Page 83 and 84:
I save I Lee I ' I I ! Kienlan I th
Page 85 and 86:
I opened ' I I Allen I HippocUomo j
Page 87 and 88:
Peter Wellman Honors Girard Grid Ch
Page 89 and 90:
. . Bill . . Arlene . . Carol . . H
Page 91 and 92:
I "Has ' 1 Beacon i Uetcr I Ktnmorc
Page 93 and 94:
. . Koland . . Walter . . There The
Page 95 and 96:
1. ^ I VANCOUVER , recenlly I i day
Page 97 and 98:
I Vogue, was appointed manuKer oJ t
Page 99 and 100:
• We 10 "It 'sat: I't' I Wn was -
Page 101 and 102:
: December It's Just As We Told You
Page 103 and 104:
A^
Page 105 and 106:
kL Stocker, DECEMBER 6. 1952 \\\Xr.
Page 107 and 108:
• til Sctnic wallpapers such os t
Page 109 and 110:
1 The roof of this rndicolly differ
Page 111 and 112:
Li. PREMIUM-PRICED COMFORT WITH EVE
Page 113 and 114:
j Now I round-head I REMODELING IDE
Page 115 and 116:
CARPET LUXURY and ECONOMY begin und
Page 117 and 118:
I mm tc )T ENOUGH «iiig cleanw j *
Page 119 and 120:
H_ for maximum attention. Display a
Page 121 and 122:
lL .^' Not just claims but VISIBLE
Page 123 and 124:
I 0. Will ' I A MANUAL OF PREVENTIV
Page 125 and 126:
) Jjjj NITID F0« PROGKESSIVE EXHII
Page 127 and 128:
I, U* • *_L. It pays fo give ijOQ
Page 129 and 130:
PROJEQION AND SOUND 00 Easy-To-Foli
Page 131 and 132:
kJ RlCTiFIERS l.s for you to replac
Page 133 and 134:
\ i I j j I TO : The i In ( the ! o
Page 135 and 136:
I ' ' BOXOFFICE eFuf 'fesnlKiij.. l
Page 137 and 138:
' n'pe smoking stand Is 18 Inches I
Page 139 and 140:
I U. I ; was I I HUMOR I I of I cam
Page 141 and 142:
"f : December orrfinmnrr " r*- The
Page 143 and 144:
0)(0fFICEfi]DUiiJJ]i/^l|JI)5 «M'H'
Page 145 and 146:
: Pleasant-: . n....v ;Babai [ Klil
Page 147 and 148:
' > Sm j • Stormbound I RKO . Pva
Page 149 and 150:
,li : ,||«, . REPUBLIC ! C B FEATU
Page 151 and 152:
• ! ASSORTED ' 1952-53 6-26-52 I^
Page 153 and 154:
. 'loked : of • Opinions on Curre
Page 155 and 156:
' (or ! Hon I I ' down i I i'uj M |
show all

DECEMBER

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?