Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1960)

6 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, October 13, 1961 15 Bookings for 'Spartacus' Abroad "Spartacus" will move into roadshow release abroad in time for Christmas, with bookings set in 15 of the world's key cities, UniversalInternational Films vice-president and foreign general manager Americo Aboaf announced yesterday. Each of the openings will be preceded by elaborate advance campaigns, which are already in full swing, and by gala premieres, attended by celebrities. Many of the premieres have been scheduled so that Kirk Douglas, top-billed of the seven stars in the Bryna Production, which will be released by U-I, can either be present at the opening or be available for advance publicity activities. The first overseas roadshow date for "Spartacus"— and one which is expected to set the tone for the entire overseas campaign— is to take place in London, on Dec. 7, at the showcase Metropole Theatre. Plans are being drawn up for premierenight ceremonies, with intensive television, radio and press coverage. Douglas, along with a host of top figures in the entertainment, governmental and society world, will be present. Milton R. Rackmil, president of Universal Pictures, and Aboaf will also attend. Rome, Milan Included European roadshow openings in Rome, at the Supercinema, and Milan, at the Odeon, will follow on Dec. 9; in Frankfurt, at the Filmpalast on Dec. 16, and in Dusseldorf, at the Savoy, on Dec. 17. Barcelona roadshow opening is at the Coliseum on Dec. 15; and, in Brussels, the film will open at the Varieties on Dec. 8. "Spartacus" will inaugurate the opening of the new 1800-seat showcase, the Gartenbau, in Vienna on Christmas Day. In the Far East, "Spartacus" roadshow engagements have been set for the Yuraku-Za, top Tokyo showcase, on Dec. 15; in Osaka, shortly afterwards; and, in Manila, at the Universal Theatre, on Dec. 25. In Australia, "Spartacus" has December premiere dates at the Forum in Sydney and at the Chelsea in Melbourne. Two Latin-American roadshow openings are also scheduled— at the Olimpo in Caracas, Venezuela, and at the Metropolitan in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Dec. 15. All showings will be in 70mm. Henderson Cleveland Para. Branch Manager Harold Henderson has been appointed Cleveland branch manager of Paramount Film Distributing Corporation, it was announced by Hugh Owen, vice-president. Henderson, whose appointment is effective immediately, replaces Gordon Bugie, resigned. He was formerly a Paramount salesman in Pittsburgh. Briton Favors Classification ( Continued mutual problems. He will tell Hollywood producers what they should avoid if they want to be certain their films get an "A" classification from the British censor. That classification, he explained, has a definite financial advantage since it means films so classified can play to the largest legal audience. "We can both be saved a lot of trouble," he observed. He noted that violence is a problem in American pictures when shown in England, more than sex, and that scenes of brutality often are shot in such a way that cutting is difficult if not impossible. He said he would not go so far as to suggest a scene be shot one way for American audiences and another for British, but that alternate methods of shooting could be employed to make the censor's and producers' problems less serious. It is these he plans to discuss during a 12-day stay in Hollywood starting tomorrow. Trevelyan reported that Hollywood is turning out more "borderline" films, from page 1 ) films that do not fall clearly or easily into any of the British classifications, but denied that this decided him on making his trip. He praised MPAA's Green Sheet, adding he wished Britain had its equivalent. "We have nothing that gives as much information on films to parents." Trevelyan said he thought the British film, "Never Take Candy from a Stranger," which was refused a Production Code seal here, was a "good picture." It deals with child molestation and Columbia Pictures abandoned its American distribution when the Code appeal board upheld the PCA on the seal refusal. He said it was passed with an adult rating in Britain and cited this as an advantage of the classification system. "It was recommended to parents by British women's clubs," he said. While on the Coast, Trevelyan will meet with Eric Johnston, president of the MPAA, who will be in Los Angeles to address the World Newspaper Forum. Stulberg Is Named Columbia Vice President From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 12.-Gordon Stulberg was named a vice-president of Columbia Pictures by the board of directors here today. Stulberg, who will headquarter on the West Coast, has been serving as executive assistant to the late B. B. Kahane, and as an aide to Samuel J. Briskin, vice-president in charge of West Coast activities. A former general counsel of the Writers Guild of America, West, Stulberg was named assistant secretary of Columbia in 1957. NAB Reaffirms ( Continued from page 1 ) cations Commission for NAB to participate in the forthcoming Hartford pay-tv hearing. The hearing has been called by the FCC, beginning Oct. 24, to consider the application of Hartford Phonevision Co. for authority to conduct trial subscription tv operations over its Station WHCT (Channel 18) in Hartford, Conn. In other action, the television board: Voted to continue NAB support of legislation designed to regulate community antenna systems, and it told the NAB staff to continue support of FCC jurisdiction over the location of tall antenna towers. The Federal Aviation Agency also claims this authority. 'Apartment9 $754,854 Billy Wilder's "The Apartment" has rolled up a record-setting $754,854 for its dual New York engagement at the Astor and Plaza Theatres over the past 17 weeks, it was announced by William J. Heineman, vice president of United Artists. Wald Urges ( Continued from page 1 ) the lowest common multiple. Rather than pander to the lowest tastes he will cater to the highest, if only because of the vast psychological difference between seeking the highest and seeking the lowest. 'Let's make pictures that intelligent people will not think too stupid,' is a better and more profitable theory than 'let's make a picture that the least intelligent member of any conceivable audience will not think above their heads." Commenting on censorship, Wald stated "the argument against the Motion Picture Code is not that it clamps down on semi-nudity, which is relatively unimportant, but that it sometimes seems geared to conceptions of life so naive and un-adult that Hollywood's best brains are employed in circumventing it. This is also regrettable, since it means that the Hollywood approach to problems of modern life is apt to be devious and gingerly, rather than free-minded and forthright. "Hollywood must change these things if it is to keep pace with rival film capitals. To make films bland, inoffensive and mild would result in a strangulation of creation and ultimately in the diminishing of our audience. If we are disturbed by the possibility that some censor might ban our production, we are doomed." Louis LaBine, 66 HARTFORD, Oct. 12. Louis U. LaBine, 66, manager of the then Warner Bros. Embassy Theatre, New Britain, Conn., prior to World War II, and more recently executive director of the West Hartford Housing Authority, died at his West Hartford home. Fox Names Wilhelm Albany Branch Head John G. Wilhelm has been appoint ed manager of the 20th Century-Fo, Albany branch office, succeeding Clayton G. Pantages, recently ele! vated to the new "sales cabinet," gen' eral sales manager Glenn Norris an| nounced yesterday. Wilhelm, who begins immediately in his new post, has been with th<j company since 1943. He began as aij assistant shipper in the Buff alt branch. On Aug. 2, 1954, Wilheln was promoted to sales manager, thi position he has held until his officia* promotion to branch manager. 'Midnight' Bows Today After Big Campaign "Midnight Lace," Universal-Inter national release has its world premier at Radio City Music Hall today cli maxing one of the most intensive pro motional campaigns ever developed for a Music Hall opening according t^ Philip Gerard, Universal' s advertisin; and publicity director. The picture i\ scheduled to open in key cities fron coast to coast starting Nov. 2. The use of personalities for advanc promotional activity has been com bined with a series of promotions high lighting "woman appeal" to augmenj the large newspaper advertising cam paign in New York. MPA Stresses ( Continued from page 1 ) political parties, involves a double envelope system which protect everyone participating in the drive. "There is practically a hundred per cent assurance," Johnston saidl "that neither the name of any conj tributor, nor his party affiliation o| the amount of his contribution wili be known to anyone except the mem bers of his designated party wh< finally open the double envelopes." The method Johnston referred t<) consists of a system developed a' MPAA. In the collection of funds, the donor places his donation within thi contribution envelope marked on thi outside only with instructions as tt how to proceed. The contribute] checks the party to which he want: his contribution to go. The only placi his name appears in on a receipt, i he desires one, that is sealed insid^ this initial envelope with his dona tion. To further the security of the individual's identity, he is provided with a second and larger envelope in: to which the fund envelope easih fits. Both sealed envelopes will be turned over to the respective partie.' for counting and distribution of fund WB Records Plays Host Warner Brothers Records, Inc. played host here tonight at a pres^ party in the Crescendo in honor o{ Bob Newhart, young comedian whe previewed material from his new WBK album, "The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back." The comedian will be-j gin an engagement at the Crescendo tomorrow.