Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1963)

^(wcCok By ANTHONY GRUNER The Great Escape' Chosen For Moscow Film Festival NEW YORK— “The Great Escape,” the John Sturges production for the Mirisch Co., released through United Artists, has been named the official U.S. feature film entry in the third international film festival to be held in Moscow July 7-21. This marks the first time an American feature has been selected to be entered in competition in the Russian festival. Producer-director Sturges will attend the Moscow festival. The selection of “Escape” was made by the Hollywood Guilds Festival Committee, with George Stevens jr„ chairman of the American delegation, also scheduled to attend. Stanley Kramer, producer for United Artists, was recently chosen as the American juror of the international judging committee. Shelton Representing Landau in Int'l Sales NEW YORK — William Shelton, who recently resigned from his executive post handling foreign releases for 20th CenturyFox, will represent the Landau Co. in the area of international distribution and sales, according to Ely Landau, president. Shelton left for Europe the end of May for a two-month stay in Europe, where he will visit France, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Denmark and also attend the Berlin Film Festival in Germany. Shelton handled the Cinemiracle release, “Windjammer” and served as vice-president of Times Film Corp. before joining 20th-Fox. Duke of Edinburgh Plans To Attend 'Tom Jones' LONDON — The Duke of Edinburgh will attend the world premiere of “Tom Jones,” which was produced and directed by Tony Richardson in Eastman Color in London and the West Country, to be held at the London Pavilion June 26. The performance will be in aid of the Duke’s Award Scheme and the Women Zionist Organization Youth Clubs for Boys and Girls in Israel. “Tom Jones,” which stars Albert Finney, Susannah York, Joan Greenwood and Dame Edith Evans, is a United Artists release. BOOK REVIEW KINE & TV YEAR BOOK 1963 530 Pages. Published by Kinematograph Weekly, London. Once again Kinematograph Weekly has brought out an informative volume covering the motion picture and television industries, an invaluable service for the British film and television people and highly useful for Americans needing data. As in the past, the book lists trade organizations, major corporations, biographical sketches of important industry persons, distributors, film releases of the previous year, studios, circuits, theatres and equipment dealers, among many other categories. Convenient tabs identify the various sections of the book, allowing for easy and quick finding of a required department. One section is devoted „o catering and refreshment items. The book should be a must on every industry desk in the United Kingdom. AL STEEN ^HE LARGEST independent group of theatres in Great Britain, the Granada circuit, last week reported to the industry that its biggest money-making pictures during the last six months were made primarily for and received enthusiastically by family audiences. Victor Chapman, managing director of Granada, in listing the films that had done so well during the period under review declared, “The family factor is very significant.” Chapman went on to say that while the circuit might take “some very quick money” on a “Baby Jane” or a special film deliberately advertised in that manner, the really big money had always been with a family plan. Out of the top ten pictures exhibited by the circuit, seven were British. “Summer Holiday,” the Cliff Richard picture, was the top of the list; next came the Norman Wisdom comedy, “On the Beat,” and this was followed by “Dr. No.” In fifth place came “The L-Shaped Room,” followed by the Joan Littlewood comedy, “Sparrows Can’t Sing.” A reissue, “The Bridge on the River Kwai,” a record-breaker when it was shown throughout Granada in 1958, came seventh. “In Search of the Castaways” was eighth. “Spartacus,” “Sodom and Gomorrah” and “South Pacific” were the three other Hollywood productions in the best boxoffice ten. * * * Lou Lewis, managing director of Warner-Pathe, has resigned to take up other duties with Arthur Abeles for Warner Bros, in Great Britain and overseas. He has been replaced by Macgregor Scott, who until now has been managing director of Associated British-Pathe. The news caused quite a flutter of excitement throughout Wardour Street, but Lewis appeared to be quite happy over the change in position. As former secretary of Warner Bros., he stated that he would be going to New York to learn about plans for the new job, and expected to spend a greater part of his time on the continent. For Scott, the change brings him back to a closer association with British exhibitors, as in the past he had been general sales manager of A.B.-Pathe, the releasing company for Associated British Picture Corp., before the company merged with Warners. In one sense, of course, it will bring A.B.P.C. in closer control of the distributing side of the new company’s business. • • • The flimsy basis, on which the British film production industry is able to keep its major feature film studios in operation, was revealed last week as a result of a decision by the postmaster general to increase taxation on commercial television. It soon transpired that the government would not only be slicing the hefty profits of the television companies, its actions would have a big effect on employment prospects in at least three studios. They were Associated British Elstree, Shepperton, and Beaconsfield — who had all, at one time or another, been landlords to producers of TV film series. With the real threat of the TV companies closing down on TV film projects like “Robin Hood,” “The Four Just Men,” etc., the British Film Producers Ass’n and the Federation of British Film Makers rolled into action to defend the studios from the possibility of imminent closure. With feature production already dragging its feet during the first six months of the year, the loss of TV film business was considered in some quarters an industry calamity. A studio can earn up to $280,000 from a TV project consisting of 39 halfhour film episodes. There are few feature studios today making sufficient money from cinema films to ignore this extra bread-and-butter earnings. The film unions, too, are alarmed at the possibility of largescale sackings if the government persists in taxing the TV companies out of the film business. * * • A new company, Sir Nigel Films, has been formed in London to present features and television programs based on the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The men behind this venture are American producer Henry E. Lester and Adrian Conan Doyle, trustee of his late father’s estate. The first feature to be coproduced with C.C.C. Films (London) is entitled “Fog.” It will be made in color from a script by Lee Vance. Two other pictures are in preparation: the first a production in Cinerama based on “The White Company” with a script by Howard Clewes, and the second to be shot in Paris with Films Raoul Ploquin from the “Brigadier Gerard” stories. * * * News in brief: Vaughan N. Dean has retired as studio general manager at Associated British Elstree Studios. He is succeeded by A. H. Goatman, who has been assistant general manager for the last 14 years. Dean leaves Elstree on September 1 . . . Following the news that Margaret Rutherford has been put on a long-term contract by MGM for her roles in the Agatha Christie films, a new British star, Susan Hampshire, has been signed to a five picture, three -year contract by MGM British studios. Her first film under this new contract is “Night Must Fall,” in which she will star opposite Albert Finney. Karel Reisz will direct . . . ABC will open a new $900,000 theatre in Blackpool, a seaside resort in the north of England, later this month. The ABC Blackpool will present stage shows, as well as films, and opens a 16 -week summer season with Cliff Richard and some of the stars from “Summer Holiday” . . . Harold Bairn is to start production on the second of his modem versions of Gilbert and Sullivan operas — the first being “The Cool Mikado,” which has so far received a somewhat frigid boxoffice reception on prerelease. Bairn’s second attempt, “HMS Pinafore,” will be shot in Portsmouth during Navy Week. The new arrangements of Sullivan’s music will be handled by Martin Slavin . . . “The Winston Affair.” based on Howard Fast’s best seller, starring Robert Mitchum, goes into production at Associated British Elstree Studios next month. The schedule includes two weeks’ location in the UK and one week in India. “The Winston Affair” will be produced by Walter Saltzer and directed by Guy Hamilton from the script by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall. BOXOFFICE :: May 27, 1963 13