During a reception in his honor, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, the president of the Screen Director’s Guild, violently denounces the current policy of “blacklisting”, as well as Cecil B. DeMille’s demand that members of the Screen Directors’ Guild swear an oath of loyalty.
Both Gene Autry and Groucho Marx have signed to do television series.
RKO has yielded to the U.S. Department of Justice and formed a separate company to manage its cinemas.
The U.S. now has 11,300 traditional movie theaters, and 4,700 drive–in movie theaters.
According to a poll of exhibitors by Quigley Publications, Betty Grable is the top female box–office star, and John Wayne is the top male star.
Significant Films:
Paramount releases Billy Wilder’s “Sunset Boulevard”. Starring Gloria Swanson and William Holden, the film wins three Academy Awards and revives the film career of Silent Film star Gloria Swanson.
RKO releases Walt Disney’s “Treasure Island” starring Robert Newton and Bobby Driscoll. This is the Disney studio’s first all–live action feature.
20th Century–Fox releases “All About Eve”, starring Bette Davis and George Sanders. The film is nominated for 14 Academy Awards, the most for any film up to that time, and wins six including the Oscar for “Best Motion Picture”.