Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1961)

^efiont Texas Businessmen Form Independent Company Latest to join the ever growing list of independent filmmaking outfits is Westhall, Inc., set up by Texas businessmen James West and Judge Robert Hall to make a series of films with veteran producer Russell Hayden. Here from the Lone Star state for meetings with Hayden and to acquire properties for their company. West and Hall revealed their organization will have offices in Dallas and in Hollywood at KTTV Studios. The group is currently completing negotiations for the release of two recently completed features, “Beards and Bikinis,” Eastman Color featm-e made by Transoceanic Films, and “Eye of the Needle,” produced by Fred Gadette Productions. The company would codistribute “Beards” with Parade Releasing Organization. Also on the docket for Westhall is an upcoming Technicolor feature to star Jay North, Dennis the Menace star, in “Son of the Beachcomber,” which is planned for South Seas lensing at Bora Bora near Tahiti next spring. Hayden, who will produce all films for Westhall, will serve as executive vicepresident, with Hall as president and West as secretary-treasurer. Michael Gordon Buys Rights To 'Smile of a Woman' Director Michael Gordon, currently helming “Boys’ Night Out” for MGM, has acquired picture rights to “Smile of a Woman,” and has formed Weston Productions to make the feature independently. Phil Waxman will produce jointly with Columbia, with whom Gordon has a pact for four pictures. Gordon’s initial film under his Columbia pact will be “Try, Try Again,” slated to roll in 1962 but not under the Weston banner. “Rat Breed,” a screenplay by Richard Christian and William Colligan, has been purchased by Dwight Brooks Productions for independent film production. Harold Daniels has been set to direct on a $100,000 budget. Christian will coproduce with Brooks. Michael Dante Is Assigned Role in 'Kid Galahad' Here and there in Hollywood: Michael Dante, who made his film bow in “Somebody Up There Likes Me,” returns to the ring in “Kid Galahad,” Elvis Presley starrer. Dante will portray Presley’s first opponent who ultimately becomes his closest friend . . . David Frankham, currently starring in AIP’s “Master of the World,” has been cast in the company’s trilogy of Edgar Allan Poe stories, “Tales of Terror” . . . Sandra Gould gets the featured comedy role in “Boys’ Night Out” at MGM . . . Upon his return from location in Germany, Russ Tamblyn will reprise his role as “tom thumb” — this time for a sequence in MGM’s-Cinerama presentation of George Pal’s “Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm” . . . Israeli star Haya Harareet has been set for the role of Mado in Columbia’s “The Interns,” marking her first film since her debut in MGM’s “Ben-Hur” . . . Diane McBain, who essayed the title role in Warner Bros.’ “Claudelle Inglish,” will star in “Black Gold” for the studio. Array of TV Thespians Cast In Warner Bros. Comedy An unusual casting announcement comes from Warner Bros., which plans to put its more than a score of TV thespians in one motion picture, a comedy to be tagged “Ain’t We Got Fun.” According to present blueprints, the feature will be set in the 1920s and will have most of the following Warner video contract list included in the yarn: Efrem Zimbalist jr.. Jack Kelly, Andrew Duggan, Peggie Castle, Troy Donahue, Diane McBain, Connie Stevens, Roger Smith, Dorothy Provine, Anthony Eisley, John Russell, Peter Brown, Edd Byrnes, Clint Walker, Ty Hardin, Donald May. 'Twist Around the Clock' On Sam Katzman's Slate First producer to jump on the “Twist” bandwagon is Sam Katzman, who will employ the title of the latest dance craze in the first of four films on his Columbia pact. Tagged “Twist Around the Clock,” the upcoming feature will be rushed in front of the cameras this month as a low-budget musical for holiday release. James B. Gordon has been set to write the script. In 1957, Katzman had a big hit in “Rock Around the Clock,” also made for Columbia, which dealt with the then current rock ’n’ roll fever. Saber Productions Sets Slate of Three Films A slate of three pictures has been set for production by Saber Productions, independent outfit formed by Robert Barron, Paul Stevenson and Jack Carney and headquartered at Samuel Goldwyn Studios. The properties all have two-week shooting schedules and include “The Louder They Cry,” and “The Mine,” both budgeted in the $75,000-80,000 bracket, and “Moment of Crisis,” to be made for $100,000. Stevenson will act as executive producer, Carney will produce and Barron will direct. 'Then There Were There' For Release by Parade Distribution rights to “Then There Were Three,” produced by and starring Alex Nichol, have been secured by Parade Releasing Organization. “Three” is the story of a lost GI patrol infiltrated by an unknown Nazi spy. Riley Jackson, Parade president, has set a November release date for “Three” as the companion feature of Parade’s Technicolor war film, “I Bombed Pearl Harbor.” Stevens' 'Greatest' Set for UA Release George Stevens NEW YORK — George Stevens’ “The Greatest Story Ever Told” will be released through United Artists, according to Stevens and Arthur B. Krim, president, and Robert S. Benjamin, chairman of the board of UA. The picture originally had been scheduled to be made on the 20th Century -Fox lot and released by that company. Stevens will put the picture before the camera early in 1962 with most of the original stars who were signed to appear in the 20th-Fox release. Among them are Max von Sydow, Swedish star of Ingmar Bergman’s films, who will portray Jesus; John Wayne, who will appear as the Roman, and Sydney Poitier, who will play Simon the Cyrene. It is expected that Sir Alec Guinness will portray King Herod and his son, Herod Antipas, as previously arranged. Not certain ai’e Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor, who had been cast in the 20th-Fox picturization. The screenplay of “The Greatest Story Ever Told” has been completed by James Lee Barrett and Ivan Moffat, in collaboration with Carl Sandburg and Stevens, who will produce and direct. Stevens said: “I have long looked forward to being associated with United Artists and I am delighted that our mutual enthusiasm for ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told’ brings us together at this time. We think it an opportunity to be relating this story at the time of a great ideological struggle for men’s minds. The film’s theme — compassion and man’s humanity to man — is desirable to men of all faiths. We expect this film to live for many years.” On behalf of UA, Krim and Benjamin stated: “We are proud and honored to be associated with Mr. Stevens, one of the world’s most distinguished filmmakers. We are doubly proud to have been chosen to distribute ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told,’ a motion picture we believe will reach new heights of screen artistry and achievement.” Bugs Bunny's 25th Year Celebrated at Studio HOLLYWOOD — Bugs Bunny celebrated his 25th birthday and the occasion was marked by a 14-carat award by the Thalians to Mel Blanc, who has spoken on behalf of Bugs for all those years. At the same time, Warner Bros, entertained 30 boys and girls from the Hathaway Home for Children on the studio lot where they were given a tour of the cartoon department and viewed three Bugs Bunny cartoons. The award presentation to Blanc was made by Connie Stevens. The inscription reads: “. . . in grateful appreciation of the happy laughter and wholesome entertainment you have brought to so many children of all ages for the past 25 years as the voice of Bugs Bunny and his many playmates.” 12 BOXOFFICE :: November 13, 1961