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University Daily Kansan
Tuesday, Jan. 5. 1954
'Good' Movies Help More Than 3-D
Motion pictures got a shot in the arm during 1953, but not from the highly popular three-dimensional technique.
The hypo came in the form of several of the most distinguished and entertaining offerings the film producers have brought forth in years.
If there was a stimulus toward good movies, it probably was television. But something provided the stimulus, and audiences got some wonderful entertainment.
Best of the lot was the exciting "From Here to Eternity," made from a book that seemed completely unadaptable to film fare. Not only has the picture received high praise, it also has been a money-maker, just winding up its 19th week in one of New York City's biggest theaters and doing great business elsewhere.
Close on the heels of that picture was "Julius Caesar," Hollywood's best try at Shakespeare. Other notable movies: "Stalag 17," best comedy; "Shane," best west end; "Boris," best film; "Lili," best musical; "Fanfan the Tulip," best foreign language movie.
Though the Academy awards in March may not agree with this conclusion, the best acting was that of William Holden in "Stalag 17," closely followed by Leslie Caron in "Farewell Fete." Eternal praise for the direction of Fred Zinnemann, who was last year's top director with "High Noon."
Advancements of both 3-D and CinemaScope cannot be written off, because the future of the motion picture certainly will be colored by what came about in 1953. The technical contribution of "The Robe," while not as significant as
many claim, has led to what opponents of CinemaScope might call the "retreat into big screen movies."
For 1954, big screen promises remakes of stirring epics of the past—"The Ten Commandments," *Ben Hur*,"The Covered Wagon." Biblical epics, huge western panoramas are in the offing. Escapism is likely to keynote the new year's pictures, with a spectacular run,
big films that don't have too much to say. But they're bound to be entertaining.
AUDREY HEPBJRN
As for 3-D, the prophets were ready to sign its execution papers. Then came "Kiss Me Kate" and "Hondo," both making a lot of money and pleasing film fans. CinemaScope, however, is likely to be the big thing, with some pictures still to be made in 3-D.
There'll be fewer pictures. All major studios except Universal-International have cut production. Some big studios are down to four or five big name personalities. U-I will continue to appeal to owners of small theaters—Ma and Pa Kettle, Donald O'Connor and Francis, and Abbott and Costello are still well liked and they don't have to be seen in three dimensions. CinemaScope, incidentally, poses many problems for theaters in small towns. Routine program tures will remain the chief
poses many problems for theaters in small towns. Routine program pictures will remain the chief fare in such localities.
The year was marked by the recurring fight against censorship, with independent producers Otto Preminger and F. Hugh Herbert releasing "The Moon Is Blue" without benefit of the big theater chains or a seal of Hollywood's Production Code. The film has done well—but many communities and some states (including Kansas)—have been forbidden to see the innocent little comedy.
Here, for what it may be the worth, is a list of the pictures, as released, that look to be those most likely to make an imprint on movie history:
"The Importance of Being Earnest" -Oscar Wilde's ancient comedy excellently handled by a British cast.
"The Bad and the Beautiful]"—a superficial but striking tale of filmland.
"The Little World of Don Camillo"—a Catholic priest and a Communist mayor in a lively Italian comedy.
"The White Line"—another Italian film, more in the realistic mood of post-World War II Italian pictures.
"Call Me Madam"-Ethel Merman bouncing back on the screen in a top musical.
"Lil!"—the year's surprise hit, a girl, a puppetette, a charming girl.
"Shane"—Alan Ladd rides into help the homeesteaders fight the big ranchers in a western that's sure to be a film classic.
"Man on a Tightrope"-Elia Kazan's movie about a circus that
escapes from the Iron Curtain
"Fanfan the Tulip"-the French having a laugh at the "Three Musketeers" type of romantic adventure
"Stalag 17"-GI prisoners conducting their private war on the Nazis in a German prison compound.
WILLIAM HOLDEN
"Young Bess"-a stylish Coronation-pegged costume drama about an earlier Elizabeth.
"Julius Caesar"—Marlon Brando.
James Mason, John Gielgud sounding off the memorable Shakespearean lines.
"The Moon Is Blue"—a young girl's successful attempts to ward off two Broadway wolves.
"The Band Wagon"—Fred Astaire showing he's still one of the greatest.
"From Here to Eternity"—a soldier's attempt to preserve his individuality in the days before Pearl Harbor.
"The Cruel Sea"—action in the North Atlantic; very British and very good.
"Martin Luther"—a religious documentary so good it found its way into regular motion picture houses.
"The Beggar's Opera"—Olivier leaves Shakespeare and tries his hand at John Gay's celebrated early-day musical comedy.
"Roman Holiday"一a trite situation about a princess and a newspaperman that recalled the days of "It Happened One Night" and "Mr. Deeds."
"The Robe"—Romans vs. Christians in CinemaScope.
"The Captain's Paradise"—Alec Guinness a bigamist this time, and seemingly unabashed about his sin.
"Little Fugitive"—an independently produced shoe-stringer about a small boy's romp around Coney Island.
"Gilbert and Sullivan"-the famous operetras, Robert Morley and Maurice Evans, and Britian's best musical film.
"Cease Fire!" and on-the-spot semi-documentary, filmed with real soldiers in Korea.
"The Conquest of Everest"—Technicolor films of the year's greatest mountain climbing feat.
'Santa Baby' Terry, You're OK with Us
"And it made me look just like a little Santa Claus."
Yes, Terry Moore, it (a tight, white ermine "swimming suit") did make you look just like a little Santa Claus, and we're sure that any warm-blooded American male would have liked to see you climb down his chimney to deliver packages.
But, enticing, voluptuous beauty that you are, would a rise in temperature of a few degrees have been the right Christmas gift for America's fighting men who were unlucky enough to have been in Korea during the holidays?
Don't get us wrong. Terry. We might have even given up our college education to get to see you in that ermine "swimming suit"—might have, that is, if we had been given enough time to make the decision.
Honestly though, gal, we are not condemning you—as a matter of fact, we are not even holding you responsible for the criticism which has come your way. We're even willing to hold the newspapers responsible for the way in which you have been criticized.
After all, anyone can see that the "costume" which you were wearing was not Bikini, as it was described in every newspaper account we saw. We do not think that a one-piece "swim-suit" can be classified as being Bikini.
Perhaps, Terry, the strip act which was to come before you finally got down to the Santa Claus suit could be classified as "obnoxious" by certain censoring groups in the United States, but the suit itself was not obnoxious, at least to our point of view.
After all, you have been seen many times before in the same or lesser amounts of clothing on the screen, and no comment was raised. But when you try to appear in the flesh, so to speak, the carpet is rolled out and you are called upon it.
Terry, we are behind you. We like the suit and the intended effect, as red-blooded American men can only feel about it, but we will have to agree with the censors on the strip act. But the suit—we would like to see more of it.-Ed Howard.
Curfews Return To Medieval Times
Curfew is still a live issue. As problems of juvenile delinquency mount, civic authorities from coast to coast are dusting off long unenforced regulations and considering new ones.
A Washington, D.C., commissioner has suggested a law that would keep children under 12 off the capital streets at night. Under an old curfew ordinance, a Los Angeles judge fined the parents of eight boys who had ambushed and attacked a small group of adults.
Curfew restrictions go back at least to medieval times, says the National Geographic society. The word itself is from the French "couve-feu" (cover fire), an expression introduced into England with the Norman invasion. But the practice was already old when William the Conqueror came. Anglo-Saxon towns in the reign of Alfred the Great rang a nightly bell, warning inhabitants to close their doors and cover their fires.
Curfew was a life-and-death matter in the Middle Ages, when most houses were built of wood, and a live ember could start a conflagration that would destroy a city.
It also served as a protection against the footpads and robbers who swarmed the highways and the dark, unpoliced streets. The tolling of the bell, or in some cases the blowing of a horn, at 7 or 8 o'clock, announced that all honest men should be at home, and that anyone wandering abroad was liable to severe punishment.
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Bibler
"—Then on the other hand I never was sensitive about anyone seeing my term grades."
Daily Hansan
University of Kansas Student Newspaper News Room KU 251 Ad Room KU 376
Member of the Kansas Press Assn., National Editorial Assn., Inland Daily Press Assn., and University Press Assn. Represented by the National Advertising Service, 420 Madison Avenue, N.Y. City. Mail Subscription rates: $s a month (if in Lawrence). Published in Lawrence, Kan.; every afternoon during the University School Week; annually for university holidays and examination periods. Entered second class matter Sept. 17, 1910; at Lawrence, Kan.; Post Office under act
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editorial Editor Clarke Keys
Assistants Jane Trevor Marcelok
SIN COMES IN ONLY TWO SIZES ...
PLAIN OR CHONKITCH
WHO EVER HEAR
TELL OF CHONK-
LIT FLAVORED
KIND? ANY
FOOL KNOW
IT ONLY COMES
FANCY!