Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1962)

UA Releasing 19 Pictures May Through December NEW YORK — “United Artists will have in release the strongest lineup of product ever offered the nation’s exhibitoi*s in the relatively short period between May and Christmas." according to Arnold M. Picker, executive vice-president. He described the company’s program of 19 major features as “a motion picture theatre owner’s dream, representing a total production cost of $51,000,000, starring 61 of the most glittering marquee names on the international scene and created by the world’s leading film-makers.” VELDE LAUDS FILM LINEUP Picker’s enthusiasm for the May through December releases was shared by James R. Velde, vice-president in charge of domestic sales, w'ho sent a letter to the nation’s exhibitors saying, “I have never come to our exhibitors vith a program of motion pictures as substantial and impressive as the program listed herein.” He pointed out that the 19 productions had such directors and producers as Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, who won the Academy Award as “best directors” for “West Side Story,” one of the pictures on the list, as well as Stanley Kramer, William Wyler, Harold Hecht, Carol Reed, Jean Negulesco, Fred Coe, Melvin Frank, Norman Panama, the Mii’isch brothers, J. Lee Thompson, Edward Small, John Frankenheimer and Stuart Millar. In addition to “West Side Story,” for its directors, three others of this year’s Academy Award winners are included in the group, “Judgment at Nuremberg,” for which Maximilian Schell won the “best actor” award, and Rita Moreno and George Chakiris, also for “West Side Story.” Both of these pictures will now be going into wider release and William Wyler’s “The Children’s Hour,” a Mirisch Co. presentation, and “Jessica,” in Panavision and Technicolor, a Jean Negulesco production, which have played key city first runs, will also go into national release. LISTS OTHER 15 PICTURES The other 15 pictures, listed alphabetically, are “Birdman of Alcatraz,” a Harold Hecht production, staiTing Burt Lancaster, Karl Malden, Thelma Ritter and Neville Brand; “Follow That Dream,” in De Luxe Color and Panavision, a Mirisch Co. presentation standing Elvis Presley; “Geronimo,” a Laven-Gardner-Levy production in De Luxe Color and Panavision, stari-ing Chuck Connors; “Hero’s Island,” in color and Panavision, a Leslie Stevens production starring James Mason, Neville Brand and Rip Torn; “Jack the Giant Killer.” in "technicolor, produced by Edward Small v. 'h Kerwin Mathews and Torin Thatcher; “Kid Galahad,” a Mirisch Co. production in Technicolor, starring Elvis Presley; ‘“The Magic Sword.” a Bert I. Gordon production in Eastman Color, starring BasU Rathbone and Estelle Winwood; ‘"The Manchurian Candidate,” an M.C. production, starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey and Janet Leigh; “The Miracle Worker,” produced by Fred Coe, Arthur B. Krim, seated, United Artists president; Arnold M. Picker, left, executive vice-president, and James R. Velde, vice-president in charge of domestic sales, examine the company’s release roster. starring Anne Bancroft, Patty Duke and Victor Jory; “Pressure Point,” a Stanley Kramer production, starring Sidney Poitier and Bobby Darin; “The Road to Hong Kong,” produced by Melvin Fi’ank, starring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Joan Collins and Dorothy Lamour; “Taras Bulba,” in color and Panavision, produced by Harold Hecht, starring Yul Brynner and Tony Curtis, and “Two for the Seesaw,” a Mirisch Co. production in association with Seven Arts, starring Shirley MacLaine and Robert Mitchum. Rounding out the program will be a reissue package of “Trapeze,” in color and Cinemascope, starring Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis and Gina Lollobrigida, and “The Vikings,” in Technicolor and Technirama, starring Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Ernest Borgnine and Janet Leigh. June 12 Date Set for UA Stockholders' Meeting NEW YORK — United Artists’ annual meeting of stockholders will be held June 12 in the Astor Theatre. The agenda calls for the election of nine directors and the ratification of the employment of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. as auditors for the 1962 fiscal year. Para. Stockholders Annual Meeting Set for June 5 NEW YORK — Annual meeting of Paramount Pictures stockholders has been called for June 5 in the homeoffice at 1501 Broadway. Except for the election of directors and the designation of Price Waterhouse & Co. as independent auditors, the only other item on the agenda is a proposal by a shareholder to regulate stock option plans, which, in part, would require an optionee to hold shares, acquired by option, for at least three years. Management is opposed to the proposal. MPI Reports Progress In Pushing Product KANSAS CITY — Substantial progress In its effort to stimulate the release of a larger volume of product to theatres was reported by Motion Picture Investors, Inc., in its fourth annual report to stockholders! Major film companies have been encouraged to bring out selected titles from their film libraries by MPTs success with “Friendly Persuasion,” “Wichita” and “The Oklahoman,” which were rereleased by Allied Artists on a contract with MPI, it was stated. From this contract MPI has realized a substantial profit. The report noted that there are indications that Allied Artists will continue to release the above titles and other films following the MPI pattern. The annual report also noted that the production of a new film, “The Deadly Companions,” resulted in part from a loan of $150,000 by MPI, later reduced to $130,000. The film is being distributed by Pathe-America Distributing Co. However, it was reported that the value of the MPI investment portfolio decreased because of the general decline in stock market prices and because of the slow boxoffice start of “The Deadly Companions.” The net MPI asset value as of March 31, 1962, was $8.82 a share, based on a total value of $348,682.91 and outstanding shares of 43,619. “It is improbable that future receipts from the distribution of ‘The Deadly Companions’ will be sufficient to recover the unpaid balance of $122,690.04 on the note held on Carousel Productions, Inc.’s production of ‘The Deadly Companions,’ ” the report stated. Accordingly the investment in the note has been written down to $65,000. Film Carriers to Diversify; Hit by Product Shortage NEW YORK — The product shortage and longer runs have deeply affected the film transit business and efforts to diversify its interests will be made by the film haulers. This was stressed here at the annual convention of National Film Carriers in the Roosevelt Hotel. The increase in shopping centem with theatres offers some ray of hope for the can-iers because additional theatres mean more shipments, it was said. The daily routes must be maintained even though the long engagements have reduced the number of cans on the tracks. For that reason, the film transit operators must eye other forms of merchandise hauling in order to stay in business. At the closing luncheon on Thursday, Ralph Hetzel, vice-president of the Motion Picture Ass’n of America, presented, on behalf of Eric Johnston, MPAA president, scrolls citing the contributions to the industry of the late M. H. Brandon, of Memphis, pioneer in the film transit business, and the late James P. Clark, president of National Film Service and founder and first president of National Film CaiTiers. The scrolls were sent to the widows of both men. Ray Ti-ampe of Milwaukee, president of National Film CaiTiers, presided. 6 BOXOFFICE May 14, 1962