Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1960)

Inesday, July 27, 1960 Motion Picture Daily 3 nfluence of Stevens raised by Sandburg By SAMUEL D. BERNS (OLLYWOOD, July 26. -George ens' creative genius was the imant factor that drew Carl Sand; to Hollywood for his first deve work for the screen, the genarian poet, author and hisn, told members of the press at 20th Century-Fox studios in his interview regarding production The Greatest Story Ever Told." oducer-director Stevens said it "a great joy and stimulation to /orking with Sandburg," who will We credit as his creative asso:; and that they are currently cing on an enormous amount of trch and examination of Amer:o evolve a story line, [evens announced Ivan Moffitt as writer of the screenplay; and Sandburg would be working ;ly with Moffitt on the script, in tion to his contributions regardall other aspects of the produc including influence on the muoore. ie film which will embrace the e life of Jesus is expected to early in 1961 and will be made s entirety in this country. H. Ezzes Named ! (Continued from page 1) at once, comes to UAA from vision Industries, Inc., of which vas vice-president and director. ield the same post, as well as that iles chief, with Television Indussubsidiary, C & C Films, Inc. latter was the original distribu:o TV of the RKO feature li 7. his new post with UAA Ezzes be in charge of distribution to }f a library of feature films and ions which includes the United ts post-'48 features already in se, plus a new package soon to renounced, and the Warner Bios. RKO libraries. . '.zes has held a series of top ex! ve positions in the motion pic(and television industries. In 1952 joined Flamingo Films as viceildent in charge of sales. This nization later became Motion ires for Television, Inc. Before lag C & C Films in 1956, he lid for a year as vice-president karge of sales of Guild Films, jttau's promotion to senior viceident follows eleven years of [be with UAA and its predecessor laany, Associated Artists Produc«■'. He has had 25 years of topJ banking and business experii in Europe and the U.S. During ^ European career, Mr. Zittau if d as associate managing director he Bohemian Union Bank in jue, and as managing director of | Czechoslovak Bank Verein in 9 II. iim also announced the resignaJifrom UAA of Robert Rich, vice< dent in charge of sales, and Don i; ber, national and station sales s'iger. PEOPLE Glenn Norris, 20th-Fox general sales manager, and Martin Moscowitz, assistant general sales manager, at the trade press luncheon yesterday. Fox to Have 50 Ready for '61 ( Continued from page 1 ) would fall slightly behind the 1959 figures. He added, however, that total gross this year is ahead of the 1959 figure, simply because the companv has released more films to date. In answer to a question, Norris admitted that Fox still has not come up with the "blockbuster" picture it feels it needs before the year ends. But "Let's Make Love," the Marilyn Monroe-Yves Montand film scheduled for release on Aug. 26, should become that elusive top grosser, the executive said. Praises 'Terrace' In the meantime, he said, Fox must look to "From the Terrace," now playing in a dozen situations, for many of its dollars. "Terrace" presently is running almost as successfully as "Peyton Place." Fox, through Norris, feels that "Can-Can" is money in the bank. That picture is expected to reach $6,000,000 in domestic film rentals by Jan. 1. In 51 houses equipped with 70mm now, "Can-Can" will be in 20 or 30 more by the end of the year. Norris said the company does not plan to release "Can-Can" to 35mm theatres before next year. Three more Todd-AO pictures are on Fox's list. First will be "Cleopatra," next the new production of "State Fair," then George Stevens' "The Greatest Story Ever Told," which began preliminary work a year ago. 'Ruth' Widely Popular Norris said the Samuel G. Engel production, "The Story of Ruth," is following a pattern established several years ago by another picture with a religious theme, "A Man Called Peter," which grossed $4,500,000. "Ruth," too, is provoking most of its interest in smaller towns and cities, according to Norris, and there is no anxiety about the picture's making money. In answer to another question, Norris said he agreed with a plan advanced by Ben Marcus, Wisconsin circuit exhibitor, who favors reduction of availability time from 28 days between first and subsequent runs for most pictures. "Of course it wouldn't work 100 per cent of the time," Norris added. He elaborated on Fox's policy of branch office "autonomy," which has been in effect for 18 months, and successfully so. "The branch manager has been his own boss, making his own decisions. The exhibitor knows he's dealing with someone who has authority to make deals," Norris said. He called his three-man personal representative teams which visits all branches in the U.S. and Canada "cheer leaders," and said he would try to alternate these teams. One team reported to the home office here last week after it had completed a threeweek trip to 38 branches. "Autonomy has speeded up business and made better use of individual branch staffs. Any kind of formal executive supervision, developed in layers, has a tendency to become too rigid," he said, in support of "autonomy." Emphasizes 'Personal Touch' Norris said Fox still finds it more economical to handle shipping, inspection and the like through its own branch offices, rather than pooling the "back office" work as was tried in New Haven. Fox's policy also lends itself to the personal touch, he said. Norris was accompanied to the luncheon by Martin Moscowitz, assistant general sales manager. Bogarde Honored Here For 'Song Without End' Dirk Bogarde, who portrays Franz Liszt in William Goetz's "Song Without End," was honored yesterday at a cocktail reception sponsored by Columbia Pictures at the Mon Plaisir here. Representatives of all press media were on hand to welcome one of Great Britain's leading stars, who makes his American film debut in the CinemaScope and color production. It is the next attraction at the Radio City Music Hall. 'ZJ9 Duo Here Today The new twin bill from UniversalInternational, "The Brides of Dracula" and "The Leech Woman," will have its local premiere at Loew's Metropolitan Theatre here today. Frank Murphy, Loew's Theatres division manager, has been named Northern Ohio exhibitor chairman for the Will Rogers Memorial Fund drive. Ray Schmertz, 20th Century-Fox branch manager in Cleveland, is distributor chairman. □ George Caron has been named manager of the Waterford (Conn.) Drive-in Theatre, succeeding Reginald Pelletier, resigned. □ Ralph Ripps, new M-G-M branch manager in Albany, N. Y., has been added to the committee arranging a farewell dinner at the Sheraton-Ten Eyck Hotel, Albany, on Aug. 15, for his predecessor, Edward R. Susse, now in charge of the Detroit exchange. □ Abe Levitow, producer and director for the past 20 years, has been appointed associate producer and supervising director for UPA Pictures, Inc., Chicago, producers of both, theatrical and television films. Norma Production Unit Starts Greek Filming Special to THE DAILY HARTFORD, July 26. Producer James Paris and writer director George Tzavellas have started filming in Greece of Norma Film Productions' initial project, a Tzavellas adaptation of the Greek classic, "Antigone," with an all-Greek cast. Sperie Perakos, executive producer of Norma Film Productions, Inc., and general manager of Perakos Theatre Associates, independent Connecticut circuit, anticipates a late fall American premiere of "Antigone" at the Perakos deluxe Elm Theatre, West Hartford. In all, seven motion pictures are to be backed by Norma, the financing provided by the Sperie Perakos family, and U.S. distribution handled through Perakos Theatre Associates. 'Pepe' Talks Begin Today in Hollywood Special to THE DAILY HOLLYWOOD, July 26.-Columbia Pictures begins its two-day "summit meeting" of top company executives here tomorrow with the first screening of "Pepe," the multi-million dollar George Sidney InternationalPosa Films Internacional production. Global sales and promotional policy for the CinemaScope and color production will be planned. Columbia president A. Schneider and Samuel J. Briskin, vice-president in charge of West Coast activities, will attend the meeting. Cantinflas, star of "Pepe," and Jacques Gelman, the film's associate producer, also will be on hand.