Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1960)

Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, November 9, ]m 'U's Billings (Continued from page 1) said most of it had been made possible by the box office success of three pictures-'Pillow Talk," "Operation Petticoat" and "Portrait in Black." In 53 weeks of release "Pillow Talk" has grossed $7,157,000; "Operation Petticoat," $8,700,000 in 45 weeks, and "Portrait in Black," $3,100,000 in 17 weeks, Martin reported. In the 1958-'59 fiscal year, Universal released only 19 pictures. In the year just beginning, it will release 22-24, Martin said, including at least two reissues, "To Hell and Back" in March, 1961, and "The Lawless Breed" in April. He noted that the company's "basic schedule" for the ensuing 12 months is already completed and the studio now is working on the following year's lineup, "a position Universal hasn't been in for a long time." 'Midnight Lace' Leading "Midnight Lace," which is starting off the company's new fiscal year releases, will have 455 consecutive playdates starting this week and continuing through Thanksgiving. In its 20 engagements to date it is outgrossing "Portrait in Black" and compares with "Operation Petticoat" grosses. However, Martin declined to forecast a final gross for the picture, saying that no realistic figure could be arrived at until the picture has been in release at least 20 weeks. "Midnight Lace" will be followed by "The Grass Is Greener," which will open at the Astor and Trans-Lux here Dec. 14, and other pre-release dates onJDec. 23. Also set for December is "The Private Lives of Adam and Eve," to be followed by "The Great Impostor" and "The Shakedown" in February; "Bomanoff and Juliet" in March, "The Secret Ways," "Wings of Chance" and "The Tomboy and the Champ" in April; "Pharoah's Woman," "Posse from Hell" and "Trouble in the Sky" for May; "The Curse of the Werewolf" and "Shadow of the Cat" for June, and "The Day of the Gun" for July. 'Back Street' in Work In addition, "Back Street" is in production, "The Sixth Man" is set to start and "Tammy Tell Me True" is preparing. Martin reported that "Spartacus" is now playing in six cities and is "doing well." It will have an additional 10 openings for Christmas. Philip Gerard, Universal's Eastern advertising-publicity director, said the company's policy of individualized merchandising campaigns for its product will be continued and will be coordinated with the sales activities on every picture. This system is part of the planned distribution program which Universal began in 1958 with "Perfect Furlough." In this connection, Gerard noted that the campaign for "The Grass Is Greener" has been in work for months, as have those for other upcoming releases. REVIEW: Swiss Family Robinson Walt Disney — Buena Vista Allied's Boar The classic juvenile adventure story by Johann Wyss of the adventures of a shipwrecked family on a deserted island has been altered somewhat in this Walt Disney version which has been lavishly produced by Bill Anderson. In the Wyss novel, originally filmed by RKO-Radio in 1940, the only villain was natural catastrophe in the form of the elements and the wild animals on the island. Here, deviations from the original work include the interjection of a group of pirates menacingly headed by Sessue Hayakawa, and romance in the person of Janet Munro as a pirate captive rescued by two of the Robinson boys. Also, the four sons in the original version, have been reduced to three in this one. John Mills and Dorothy McGuire are fine as the parents of the marooned family of three sons, ably portrayed by James MacArthur, the eldest; Tommy Kirk, next in line, and Kevin Corcoran as the mischevious youngster of the trio. Ken Annakin has directed the tale with full design on the young trade, but adults should find little trouble in falling in tune with this pure escapist entertainment. It is all wool and a yard wide, and should be accepted as such. Fleeing the aggressions of Napoleon, the Swiss familv is en route to New Guinea when pirates chase their ship into a storm and the crew deserts. With the aid of movie technicians, which is considerable, the energetic family erects a dream split-level domicile in the tree tops. Thev endure several suspenceful and comedic encounters with typical Walt Disney wild life which infest the area. On a scouting trip around the island, MacArthur and Kirk come upon Cecil Parker, a ship owner, and his granddaughter, Miss Munro, held captive by the pirates. They succeed in releasing the girl, dressed as a cabin boy to foil the villains, while Parker is held for ransom. The first friction in the togetherness of the family occurs when the boys vie for the attentions of M iss Munro, who discards her boy's attire for some of Miss McGuire 's city dresses. The youngters should have a ball at the comic-opera battle which has the small group of defenders hold off a pirate attack with home-made hand grenades, propelled logs and arrows, and protective ditches. They are rescued in the nick of time by the appearance of Parker and his fighting ship. While the family now can leave the island, only Kirk decides to go. Miss Munro, in love with MacArthur, also decides to remain on the pleasant island with the rest of the family. The Technicolor photography is of exceptional merit, capturing the full flavor of the deserted island. All cast members perform their roles competently under the fine guidance of director Annakin. Running time, 126 minutes. Release, Christmas 1960. Sidney Rechetnik Allied Artists 'Holders NT in 'King9 Contest Meet at Studio Today From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 8. The annual meeting of Allied Artists Pictures Corp. stockholders will be held at 11 A.M. Wednesday at the studio, with company president Steve Broidy presiding. A meeting of company's board of directors is scheduled to follow the stockholders' meeting. National Theatres has joined in the continental "Esther and the King" beauty contest sponsored by 20th Century-Fox. M. Spencer Leve, president of the theatre chain, which has 250 houses across the country, said his circuit will see to it that the "search for Esther" contest extends through the sub-runs of the film. 'Cinerama* Sell-Out "This Is Cinerama" is expected to gross $16,460 in the first week of its engagement at the RKO Grand Theatre in Columbus, Ohio, it was jointly announced here by BKO Theatres and Cinerama, Inc. They said the film was a sell-out over the weekend. The first week ends today. 'Seven' to Circuits United Artists' "The Magnificent Seven" will have its circuit booking at some 70 theatres throughout the New York area, starting Wednesday, Nov. 23. Compan ion feature will be "The Boy and the Pirates." Theatre circuits playing the UA releases will include Loew's, RKO, Randforce, Century, Rugoff and Becker, Brandt, Skouras Fabian and Prudential. ( Continued from page 1 ) P yesterday and was scheduled for 1 h'on on the floor of the conven:! tomorrow. The board also: Recommended da tinuing action against the growl number of 70mm roadshow engel ments, blaming these in part for I product shortage; Renewed Allied's membership I COMPO and paid tribute to I triumvirate at its head, particukl Charles E. McCarthy; Set plans for a membership di| including renewed efforts to brjj New England Allied back into l| tional Allied; took no action on white paper campaign. Decries 'Sick Pictures' Discussing the "sick pictures" issj Ben Marcus, chairman of the boa] and Al Myrick, retiring president, clared that the emphasis on sex violence is "driving people awl from theatres and rapidly eliminate I the great potential audience of fal ily movie-goers." Myrick added that in his opimj most of these pictures would ha done just as well at the box offS without the objectionable scenes a I further declared that many exhibit* are placed in the unfortunate positiJ of having to play them because 1 the lack of any other kind of produ In praising the accomplishments COMPO, Marcus urged all Alhl members to pay their COMPO diil promptly because of that orgarml tion's importance to the entire indil try. The fight on the minimum wa| bill was particularly lauded. The second week of Novembo 1961, was set as the tentative da for the next annual convention in L] Vegas. Hyman Schedule ( Continued from page 1 ) would highlight the importance of a ! vertising, publicity, and promotkl for the attractions to be released the first six months of 1961 with pai ticular emphasis on the April-MVl June period. Plans are being formulated for drive during April, May, and June ?.i this drive will be kicked off at meeting of AB-PT affiliates to be hell at the Concord Hotel, Kiamesha Lai ] New York, on Thursday and Fridai! Dec. 15 and 16, at which time til new schedule will be distributed. man also intends to follow his pa J custom of distributing the schedul to the exhibitors in the United State! and Canada who have endorsed oil derly distribution after a trade presl luncheon to be held at AB-PT heac| quarters. EAST COAST MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION, EDITORIAL and TECHNICAL SERVICES B FOR BETTER FILMS CREATIVE EDITING AND COMPLETE PERSONAL SUPERVISION JOSEPH JOSEPHSON 45 West 45th St. Circle 6-2146 New York 36