Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

Mirisch Corp. to Produce Six at $17 ,000,000 NEW YORK — The Mirisch Corp. this month is beginning its seventh year of operations and will start production on six major pictures within a six-month period on a budget estimated at more than $1 7,0 0 0,0 0 0, Harold Mirisch, president, reported here last week. In addition to these six films, there are seven other important pictures in preproduction preparation, which will start late in 1964 or early 1965. Four pictures now are being edited and scored. Currently in release through United Artists are Mirisch's “Irma La Douce,” “The Great Escape” and “Toys in the Attic.” Scheduled for filming in the next six months, starting in November, are “A Shot in the Dark,” starring Sophia Loren, Peter Sellers and Walter Matthau; “The Satan Bug,” John Sturges production; “Bandoola,” starring Yul Brynner; “The Confessor,” with Tony Curtis and Henry Fonda; “The Dazzling Hour,” Billy Wilder comedy, starring Dean Martin and Peter Sellers, and “Return From the Ashes,” to be directed by J. Lee Thompson. In preparation are “The Hallelujah Train” and “The Law and Tombstone,” both to be produced and directed by John Sturges; “What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?” to be produced and directed by Blake Edwards; “The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes,” a Billy Wilder production, starring Peter Sellers; “A Rage to Live” and “A Garden of Cucumbers,” both to be produced by Walter Mirisch; and “Hawaii,” based on the best-selling novel by James A. Michener, which Fred Zinnemann will produce and direct. The four films which have completed principal photography and are awaiting release are “Stolen Hours,” starring Susan Hayward; “Kings of the Sun,” starring Yul Brynner, George Chakiris and Shirley Anne Field; “The Pink Panther,” starring David Niven, Peter Sellers, Robert Wagner, Capucine and Claudia Cardinale, and “633 Squadron,” starring Cliff Robertson and George Chakiris. The Mirisch Corp. was founded in September 1957 and in its first six years turned out 23 pictures at a cost of $55,000,000, winning 16 Academy Awards and 35 nominations. Think Young' for UA Release HOLLYWOOD — United Artists’ “For Those Who Think Young,” which was carried on the production charts during filming as an Essex Production, will be released by UA as a Schenck-Koch production. The switch was necessitated by the dissolving of Essex, due to its merger with Warners. Confirm Paramount Deal For 'Roman Empire' New York — The listing of “Fall of the Roman Empire” under the Paramount schedule in Edward Hyman’s orderly release book was the first official indication that the Samuel Bronston picture would be released by Paramount. The rumors that a deal had been made for the picture have been in circulation for several months, but neither Paramount nor Bronston had confirmed it. Consent Decree Report By FTC Due June WASHINGTON — The Federal Trade Commission study of film industry consent decrees probably will be completed and turned over to the Justice Department by mid-1964, it was indicated this week in FTC testimony before a House Appropriations Subcommittee. Field investigations have been completed in 21 industries involving consent decrees, an FTC spokesman told the subcommittee, with costs at about $1,000,000. Twelve cases were returned to the Justice Department with findings and recommendations, and action by the Attorney General was recommended in four cases. All except two of the cases being checked were referred to FTC field offices, the spokesman said, with 12 to 15 cases to be completed in the current fiscal year, by June 30, 1964. The film industry case was assigned to the New York office of FTC. Jesse Chinich Is Named Magna Sales Manager NEW YORK — Jesse Chinich, western sales manager for Buena Vista for the past eight years, has been named general sales manager for Magna Pictures Corp. by George P. Skouras, president. He replaces Clayton Pantages, who resigned late in September. Chinich, a veteran in the film industry, served six and onehalf years as film buyer for United Paramount Theatres and its various subsidiaries, after which he worked for two and one-half years for the Rugoff & Becker chain, as film buyer and district manager, before taking the Buena Vista post. Schwartz in New Col. Post As Senior V-P NEW YORK — Sol A. Schwartz has been elected to the post of senior vice-president of Columbia Pictures to work on all the company’s worldwide operations, Abe Schneider, president, announced. A successor to Schwartz as head of Columbia’s studio will be announced later. Leo Jaffe, execut i v e vice-president, said that Schwartz in his new capacity will join Schneider, M. J. Frankovich, first vice-president, and himself in supervising the activities of the company throughout the world. While based in New York, Schwartz’ over-all responsibilities will take him to Europe, Hollywood and other parts of the world where Columbia has its far-flung operations. Schneider commented that Columbia had need for a top executive to help coordinate the activities of all departments, both domestic and foreign, and felt that the wealth of knowledge gained by Schwartz in the production end of the business, added to his vast experience in exhibition, distribution and other industry activities, would prove invaluable in his new global post. Schwartz became chief of Columbia’s studio early in 1961 after many years as head of RKO Theatres. Photoplay 'Cover Award' To Universal Pictures NEW YORK — The executive vice-president and associate publisher of the Macfadden-Bartell Corp. told the Universal sales convention that the American motion picture industry was going backwards, but he meant it as a compliment and not as an insult. Frederick A. Klein, in presenting his company’s Photoplay “Cover Award” to Universal at a luncheon prior to the adjournment of the meetings, in the Hotel Waldorf-Astoria, said the industry was going backwards to reach an important goal, “to reconstruct and strengthen, with today’s creative techniques, the foundation that made yesterday’s Hollywood the entertainment capital of the world.” The “Front Cover Award,” which was accepted by Milton R. Rackmil, Universal president, was worded as follows: “Presented on behalf of the American movie -going-public to Universal Pictures for outstanding success in establishing the pre-eminence of motion pictures from Hollywood, for consistent presentation of product and personalities which spell boxoffice because of their excellence and ‘universal’ appeal; for being a pacesetter in the American motion picture industry.” Record Gross for 'Holiday' BOSTON — “Passion Holiday” is scoring 250 per cent of average business at the Pilgrim Theatre here, following a recordbreaking first four days, according to Mel Davis of Davis Film Distributors, Inc. Harold Mirisch Jesse Chinich Sol A. Schwartz 6 BOXOFFICE :: October 14, 1963