Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1961)

— By IVAN SPEAR Arnold Stoltz Challenges Disney on Title Claim Walt Disney's announced plans to produce "Big Red” in Canada next month has brought forth a challenge by independent producer Arnold Stoltz, who claims that he and his partner, Arthur Silber. owned the same story which title they had registered with MPAA Registration Bureau in 1947 and with the Screen Writers Guild. According to Stoltz, two years were spent in negotiating with Disney for the purchase of the story, which Disney acquired from the estate of the author James Kjelgaard. and that Disney was not interested at that time. The independent producer stated that he and his partner had acquired the rights from Lloyd L. Lind estate and had spent in excess of $40,000 in script costs on the yarn and have ‘‘all the rights protected by all manner of registrations.” Meanwhile, Disney has set Winston Hibler to produce the filmization of the story concerning an Irish Setter and a French Canadian lad, for which Louis Pelletier has completed the screenplay. Ross Hunter and Universal Sign Coproduction Deal One of the most far-reaching pacts in cinemaville history was signed by Ross Hunter Productions, Inc. and Universal Pictures, with the new four-year coproduction deal to encompass as association in the motion picture, legitimate and music publishing fields. Included in the filmside of the HunterUniversal plans, which are in addition to the producer’s personal contract with Universal, is a deal calling for Hunter’s company to produce four multi-million dollar features annually in association with U-I, as well as providing for the acquisition and development of story properties for both films, development of new talent and acquisition and publication of musical compositions. Hunter now has “Back Street” and a sequel to “Tammy” nearing release, and is currently producing “Flower Drum Song.” In addition, the producer has eight projected films to carry him through next year. Jacques Bergerac Acquires Film Rights to 'Mermoz' Film rights to Joseph Kassel’s book, “Mermoz,” have been acquired by actor Jacques Bergerac, who will produce and star in the biographical film under the banner of his newly formed Minerva Productions. Kassel’s tome depicts the exploits of Jean Mermoz, famed French pilot who was first to fly across the south Atlantic and establish air routes from Paris to Central Africa and South America. Other story buys for the week include the purchase by director Howard Keller of “Fallen Angel,” a modern suspense drama by Howard Fast. The property is being packaged for independent production, with no release deal set as yet. Keller recently finished helming “Tammy, Tell Me True” at U-I . . . Film rights to two Broadway plays have been purchased by 20th-Fox. One is “I Must Love Someone,” by Jack Kirkland and Leyla Georgie, and the other is “Drink to Me Only,” staged on Broadway in late 1958 starring Tom Poston. Lana Turner Signs Pact For Two Col. Films Another move in Columbia Pictures’ program of multiple-picture arrangements with top stars was made with the signing of Lana Turner to a contract calling for her to star in two films for release by the Gower studio. Such deals were recently completed with Kim Novak and Doris Day. Miss Turner’s pact, which becomes effective in May of 1962, is on a non-exclusive basis. She will be seen next on the screen in “By Love Possessed.” Peter Lawford Reactivates Ken-Law Productions Actor Peter Lawford has reactivated his Ken-Law Productions and has announced a four-picture slate over the next three years. Slated to go before the cameras as the independent outfit’s initial project is “Black Mountain,” a story by Eric Hinds. Lawford first will complete his role in “Badlands,” in which he costars with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis jr. for United Artists. Lawrence Weingarten to Form New Production Company Lawrence Weingarten, who recently completed “Honeymoon Machine” and “Ada,” MULTI-MILLION DEAL— Yul Brynner signs a new contract for Harold J. Mirisch, president of the Mirisch Co., calling for three films to be made by the Mirisch Co., in association with Alciona Productions, during the next four years. All three productions, which will star Brynner, will have a total budget of $12,000,000. United Artists will release the pictures. will form a new independent company to produce Tennessee Williams’ comedy “Period of Adjustment” and Robert Louis Taylor’s tome, “Travels of Jamie McPheeters.” With the problem of casting the four leads for the projected films, Weingarten has not yet determined which property will roll first. Scripts are now being worked on for both pictures. Miscellaneous Castings, Varied Assignments Around Hollywood : George Pal has signed Yvette Mimieux and Russ Tamblyn to topline “Dancing Princess,” a sequence of his MGM-Cinerama production, “The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm” . . . Herbert Swope jr. has made a deal with United Artists to lens “The Chase,” by Richard Hubler as his first independent venture for that studio . . . Orry-Kelly has been assigned to create the wardrobes for MGM’s “Sweet Bird of Youth” . . . Scripting assignments include Horton Foote to pen the screenplay on U-I’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Sonya Roberts for “Blue Denim Baby,” which Charles Brackett will produce for 20th-Fox, and Gavin Lambert to screenplay “Term of Trial,” which Peter Glenville will direct for Warner Bros, release . . . Delbert Mann was set to direct “Touch of Mink,” Cary Grant-Doris Day starrer for U-I release . . . “Opposites Attract” is the title of a song written especially for Frankie Avalon to sing in “Sail a Crooked Ship” at Columbia . . . Jayne Mansfield has been borrowed by Allied Artists from 20th-Fox for the top femme lead opposite Ray Danton in “The George Raft Story,” slated to roll July 6. She’ll portray a glamorous movie star, which may be the ultimate in type casting to date . . . Joseph Schildkraut will be seen next in AA’s “King of the Roaring 20s” as the father of gambler Arnold Rothstein ( David Janssen) . Jane Wyman, Fred MacMurray To Costar in 'Bon Voyage' Jane Wyman and Fred MacMurray have been signed by Walt Disney to costar in his forthcoming comedy-romance, “Bon Voyage,” slated for lensing in Technicolor this summer in Paris and on the French Riviera. The two stars will play a typical American couple, who with their three children, take their first European vacation. The story is based on the novel by Marijane and Joseph Hayes. “Bon Voyage” marks MacMurray’s third film for Disney. He previously toplined “The Shaggy Dog” and the current “The Absent-Minded Professor.” Last year. Miss Wyman starred in “Pollyanna.” Hardy Kruger to Produce Own Film in Berlin Hardy Kruger will produce and star in “Two in a Million” for his own production company, through Progefa Films of Zurich, Switzerland. Viennese actress Loni Von Friedel will make her film debut playing opposite Kruger in the film, slated to roll in Berlin in June. Elite Films will handle worldwide distribution of the picture, to be recorded in both English and German. 20 BOXOFFICE :: May 22, 1961