Harrison's Reports (1962)

In Two Sections • • • Section One Entered as seeond-class matter January -i, lazi, ui Uie post orfice at New York, New York, under the act of March S, 1*79. Harrison's Reports Yearly Subscription Rates: Published Weekly by United States $17.00 Harrison's Reports, Inc., U. S. Insular Possessions... 19.00 Canada and Mexico 19.00 A Motion picture Reviewing Service 127° Sixth Avenue Other Countries 19.50 New York 20, N. Y. 45c a Copy Devoted Chiefly to the Interests of the Exhibitors Circle 7-4622 Established July 1, 1919 Martin Starr, Editor A REVIEWING SERVICE FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF FILM ADVERTISING Vol. XLIV SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1962 No. 2 Production Issue Summary With this regular weekly issue of Harrison's Re ports, goes the semi-annual "pink" supplement, as we call this production number. It carries an index of the films already in release; the blueprint of things to come, releasewise, for the next few months; and an idea of the short subjects that are still an important part of theatre operation. When we began compiling the material for this additional issue dealing with the features (and a few specials) to come, the productional setup looked "good" on paper. Which can be a prophetic reminder of how some of the films that failed to click at the box office, in the year gone by, also looked good on paper. Success in production today, is the guarantee that on the morrow, you'll be riding again the merry-go' round of fate, and getting another chance at the brass ring. Every time a new picture gets under way, every body connected with it is in high hope that it will be a bellringer at the box office. They dedicate themselves to that principle of professional operation. - and yet, far from all efforts reach out to that golden boundary of success, - meaning profit. For, that (profit) is the necessary gauge of nearly all operation in the picture business. Production Blueprint Encouraging, inspiring The production setup this year, is encouraging and inspiring. From our studios there will be about 190 films, an increase of more than twenty releases, as compared to last year. The imports will continue to gain both in number and in popularity. We say popularity, because pandering to the prurient tastes pays off. And, the greater majority of the imports of the year gone by made it away from the art houses (former exclusive port of call for the cinematic ships from the other side laden with their cargo of sex.) For, the alchemy (sex) is something that is not altogether lost on the adult movie goer. Our talks with the leading importers bring the number to about 60 of the foreign features due this year on the screens of our theatres. If so many of the filthy, stench-laden, sex-ridden entries from the other side get their increased playing time at theatres (away from the arties) the theme itself is not without concern to Hollywood producers. The vise-like "thou shalt not" imposed on Hollywood film-makers by our production code has lost some of its moral grip on producers. A big, broad interpretation has been given the matter and studios have a little wider freedom of operation. American film makers were told by the Eric Johnston office, if you must lean on a little off-beat sex, a smidgen of perversion, (Continued on Bac\ Page) More Saturday Tv Films The American Broadcasting Company, in April, begins making a strong bid for the Saturday night movie-going audience. With a buy of 1 5 releases from United Artists, most of them strong vehicles of en' tertainment, and all of them 'way past '48, the network is set (via repeats) for 24 Saturdays. With NBC already entrenched in its Saturday night movie groove, CBS has been mulling over a 9:00-11:00 P.M., film stanz;a on that big going-outto-a-movie night. To be sure, CBS has an early evening and late evening show of films on Saturday. For a while this Tv invasion of the theatre box office (Saturday night, especially) seemed threatening to revenues. Soon, the affected box offices jumped back to near' normal receipts. When the first Tv fright was over, exhibitors agreed that if you've got the product, -new, recent, well-exploited, you'll get the business. ABC, in all likelihood will crash through with a powerful campaign to whet the Tv appetites of the movie'goer and induce him to stay at home. This shouldn't cause too much concern to the theatre owner. He too can put to use the powers of publicity, exploitation and advertising. He too, can do a strong sell on the many advantages of people getting so very (Continued on Bac\ Page) Fine Salutes Skouras on 20th Drive With the first announcement of the 20th anniversary celebration and the inter-corporate drive in honor of Spyros P. Skouras, came a flood of congratulations from exhibitors throughout the nation. That the gigantic event should have been so well received by the theatre operators, is no surprise. The celebration was inspired by the exhibitors, was the assurance of C. Glenn Norris, general sales manager of 20th Century-Fox. . . Said Marshall H. Fine, president of Allied States Association to Skouras: "Rest assured that Allied States Association will do everything in its power to publicize and aid in the success of this most worthy effort. Again, sincere congratulations" . . . The popularity of Skouras was attested at the recent Allied States convention in Miami Beach. When Fine introduced him, the exhibitors gave the boss-man of 20th Century-Fox an ovation that lasted several minutes.