Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1961)

FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Exploitips; Adlines for Newspaper and Programs THE STORY: "Two Loves" (MGM) American-born Shirley MacLaine is a kindergarten teacher in a primitive section of New Zealand. She is an irreverent non-conformist, insisting upon teaching her wards — part white and part native — in her own way, resorting to love, k ^ companionship and understanding instead of established 'ma-7 rules. Everyone, especially her children, adore her. In charge of a more advanced class is Laurence Harvey, a confused and often-drunken young man. He tries his best to seduce virginal Miss MacLaine. Though tempted, she denies him. He is killed in a motorcycle accident — possibly suicidal — and it is subsequently established that he was responsible for the pregnancy of a 15-year-old native girl. Shirley then falls in love with and plans to marry Jack Hawkins, many years her senior, and a bigwig in the school system. EXPLOITIPS: Tout Shirley MacLaine, Oscar nominee for "The Apartment,' and Laurence Harvey, nominee last year for "Room at the Top." Invite teachers to a special screening. Ask local grade school students to write an essay about their favorite teacher, the winner to receive a prize and a pair of tickets for the winning teacher. CATCHLINES: See Shirley MacLaine and Laurence Harvey in a Glowing Story of Love and Intrigue ... In CinemaScope and MetroColor. THE STORY: "Ferry to Hong Kong" (20th-Fox) Curt Jurgens, a seedy, drunken derelict and exile from his native Austria, receives an expulsion order from Hong Kong authorities following a nightclub brawl. The police put him s' / on the ferry boat between Hong Kong and Macao to the (p .D disgust of the boat's pompous captain, Orson Welles. The Portuguese authorities in Macao refuse to accept Jurgens so he is forced to travel back and forth between the two ports with the furious Welles unable to prevent it. Sylvia Syms, a sympathetic schoolteacher on board, helps Jurgens get food and drink. With Sylvia and her charges on a weekend trip to Macao, the ship hits a typhoon and Jurgens demonstrates his ability to handle the situation when Welles injures his back. With the ferry in calm waters away from Hong Kong, pirates board the ship to terrorize the wealthier passengers. Again Jurgens saves the day even if he is unable to save the ferry, which finally goes down in Hong Kong harbor. Even Welles finally admires Jurgens, who regains his self-respect. EXPLOITIPS: Dress the theatre staff in Oriental costumes and make a tieup with a local Chinese restaurant. Also decorate the lobby with Chinese lanterns. CATCHLINES: Ride the Ferry of 1,000 Sins That Takes You to the Port of Pleasure . . . From Hong Kong to Macao on the Sea of Excitement. THE STORY: "Master of the World" (AIP) An inventor (Vincent Price) builds a giant, self-sustaining airship, the Albatross, capable of circling the globe in ten days. His mission is to bring lasting peace to the world, even though it is necessary to kill thousands of war mongers en route to his goal. Before taking off the inventor finds it necessary to shoot down, rescue and partially imprison a party of balloonists comprising a munitions-manufacturer (Henry Hull), his daughter (Mary Webster) and her fiance (David Frankham), who is Hull's business associate; and a government investigator (Charles Bronson). They ultimately win freedom by igniting the craft's supply of explosives, causing it to plunge into the sea in oblivion. Price's mad dream of conquering the world, however, is destroyed when ! f1] pl" the Albatross is no more. tJS’ EXPLOITIPS: Request bookstores and libraries to display the Jules Verne stories, "Masters of the World" and "Robur the Conqueror," along with stills from the picture and proper theatre information. Ask moviegoers to bring any air ship models to theatre, judging one most like the Albatross, with free ducats for winner. CATCHLINES: JJe Was a Mad Scientist — and Would-Be-Master of the World! . . . An Important Motion Picture in the Best Jules Verne Tradition. THE STORY: "The Right Approach" (20th-Fox) Car-hop Juliet Prowse is out for money and lots of it. She finds her opportunity to marry it in wealthy Robert Casper and sets out to make him propose, aided and abetted by Frankie Vaughan, a young actor who intends to make it big in Hollywood any way he can and figures Juliet will pay him for his efforts when she lands Casper. Meanwhile, Juliet and Frankie carry on a love affair on the side until he discovers Martha Hyer. magazine editor, and through lovemaking gets her to do a cover story on him. The story has the desired effect, all studios are after him and he's on his way to the big-time. Only hitches being that he's really fallen for Martha, who spurns him, and Juliet, ultimately spurned / by Casper, arrives on the scene in time to announce about V. to-be-star Frankie as the father of her expected child. EXPLOITIPS: Get cooperation of disc jockeys and music stores on film's tunes, recorded by the Kirby Stone Four. Use life-size cutouts of Juliet Prowse and Frankie Vaughan. Tout Gary Crosby, Vaughan, Prowse and Hyer in all ads. CATCHLINES: See and Hear Frankie Vaughan, Britain's Answer to Elvis Presley! . . . Four New Hit Songs, Sung by Gary Crosby and Frankie Vaughan. THE STORY: "The Steel Claw" (WB) Marine Captain George Montgomery is discharged from the hospital, having lost a hand in a drunken adventure. He goes aboard a Navy ship to visit a pal and accompanies him on a mission to rescue a supposed general being held for ransom by a band of guerrilla outlaws. The expedition is turned back by the Jcrps, whereupon Montgomery undertakes to single-handedly effect the rescue. He successfully contacts Mario Barri, oily leader of the hill fighters, and at the same time meets and falls in love with Charito Luno, a native gal of shady background. The general proves to be a phoney, Barri throws his weight to the freedom fighters, the gal is wounded, but after much adventure they battle through to victory and glory. EXPLOITIPS: Tout star George Montgomery in advertising and on marquee. Decorate theatre with flags of the Philippines and U. S. Advertise in newspapers for any Filipinos who fought with freedom fighters and invite them to special screening. CATCHLINES: (ano In Blazing Technicolor, an Exciting Tale of Adventure and Warfare . . . George Montgomery Stars in This Drama of World War II . . . They Fought for Right and Freedom! THE STORY: "Beyond All Limits" (Omat) Five years ago Jack Palance and Maria Felix surrendered to one moment of ecstacy, while Pedro Armendariz, her husband, was in prison for illegal fishing. Now as Palance sails into anchorage in the bay of Topolobambo, Mexico, memories of seductive Maria stand before him. Armendariz, meanwhile, becomes a wealthy shrimp fisherman. He idolizes his wife and Johnny Muzquiz, their son. In order to meet clandestinely with Maria, Palance proposes an illegal shrimp smuggling partnership to her husband; one of their ventures runs afoul of the Coast Guard and they are hauled into court, where Armendariz overhears a suggestive remark pointing to a liaison of sorts between Palance and Maria. He turns increasingly away from the little boy, after discovering he is not his son. The lovers plan to sneak away, taking the boy with them, but before this can happen, the youth's tender reverence of Armendariz makes the latter change his outlook on life. Palance also changes, raises anchor, sails away alone. EXPLOITIPS: Sell this to the action-adventure crowd. Tie up with travel agencies and the like for lobby and counter displays. , f There is a TV slide for 10-second and 20-second spots. t ■ C. CATCHLINES: A Startling Story of One Moment of Burning Ecstacy! . . . Meet Me on the Beach — Tonight! . . . My Husband Knows About Us! BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: May 15, 1961