Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1963)

Book Review THE DREAMS AND THE DREAMERS, by Hollis Alpert (Macmillan Co., New York —$4.95) This book by the well-known Saturday Review reviewer is one that those in the industry as well as movie patrons can both enjoy and approve. It does not look down on the motion picture as an inferior art form — in fact, Hollis Alpert says in his chapter discussing “Film and Theatre”: “. . . it may now be time to consider the possibility that the film, with its expandable and contractable screen, its availability of life-like and impressionistic color and its superior resources for staging, is not only a form of theatre but also — in almost all ways — by far the best form.” So it can be seen this is one book about motion pictures written by a friend. In its beginning, he tells of experiences as a reviewer and of reviewers in general. “For a long time the movies were considered as beneath the intelligent person’s respect, and they became the butt of much humorous writing . . .” Alpert states. “It became fashionable for the movie critic to become a satirist also, with movies as the butt of his venom.” Then he goes on to report something that industry leaders may feel is wishful thinking rather than true in the main: “The movie critic can no longer get by with a slapdash attack on one movie, panegyric of enthusiasm for another. More, whether he knows it or not, is demanded of him. He is expected to have more than a cursory acquaintance with the fields of literature, theatre, philosophy, science, art and music — for movies, inevitably, when they are serious, and even when they are not — touch on all these fields.” Unfortunately, such qualifications are not as true as they should be of many reviewers. Alpert believes that “the critic should respect the medium he covers” and that, since the motion picture “is a nearly universal medium of communication . . . deserves to be written about not only with respect but also with care.” The author makes a keen analysis of the motion picture industry from several angles. He reports that, despite so many changes in the last decade, movies are not on their way out but that it is the independents that have mainly kept American film-making going. He also believes the small movie house has been a significant development. And he gives a logical explanation of the so-called “runaway production” overseas. Why and how stars got into the production end of the business and chapters on certain producers and stars are interesting for the viewpoint advanced about them. One chapter, “Hollywood’s Favorite Cliches” is priceless satire. One on “The Return of the Italians” and one called, “And the French Created Women,” give his ideas about some of the foreign product. The chapter on “Art or Obscenity” is a thoughtful presentation of censorship problems aggravated by the number of “adult only” pictures now playing. It is Alpert’s contention that “The industry has a perennial guilt complex, which is why it both argues with the attempts to placate its critics.” But he points out that if films charged as immoral corrupt, then reviewers, censors in general and officials of such groups as the Legion of Decency are most likely to be corrupted! And he quotes “a gifted young producer” as saying: “The sex in many of our pictures is not sex at all; it’s titillation. Some genuine sex would be welcome . . . It’s interesting to note that genuinely gifted directors here have little or no trouble with the Code . . . The producer of taste gets more leeway, while the producer after a quick buck is watched suspiciously. For this reason — and it’s purely a strategic one — I’m not sure I want to do away with the Code.” Alpert himself concludes that chapter with the observation that development of the American film will be improved by giving up “its habit of keeping one eye on the boxoffice and the other on the censors.” — Velma West Sykes. Manny Youngerman Forms New Distribution Firm NEW YORK — Manny Youngerman has formed the MY Film Co. here for the distribution of independent motion pictures. Until recently, Youngerman was with United Artists where he concentrated on the selling of Lopert releases. He was associated with several major companies prior to that. Youngerman said a feature of his distribution plan would be intensive personal exploitation of every picture in every situation where it would play, both by himself and an exploitation team which will be associated with him. Negotiations are going on with several producers, he said, and the first will be announced shortly. He plans then to go to Europe to look at several pictures lined up for him by a European representative. Zenith Acquires Its First American-Made Picture NEW YORK — Zenith International Film Corp. has acquired its first American-made picture, “An Affair of the Skin,” which was produced and directed in New York by Ben Maddow, whose credits include “Intruder in the Dust,” “The Savage Eye” and “The Balcony.” Previously, Zenith had distributed only pictures made abroad. Daniel Frankel, Zenith president, said the film now was being edited in Los Angeles and if completed in time, it would be entered in this summer’s Venice Film Festival. The picture stars Viveca Lindfors, Kevin McCarthy, Lee Grant, Diana Sands and Herbert Berghof. Shawn International Has 4 Films on Initial Slate NEW YORK — Four pictures have been acquired for release by the recently formed Shawn International, Inc., of Great Neck, L.I. Abraham Levine is president and Jack Ellis is in charge of distribution. The program consists of “Greenwich Village Story,” filmed in New York; “The Flamboyants,” a Swedish film shot on location in Paris: “The Liars,” a French production, and “The Man Who Walked Through the Wall,” a German-made picture. CALEND ARseEVENTS JUNE S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 JULY S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 JUNE 7-16, Film Festival, San Sebastian. 7-20, Film Festival, Sydney, Australia. 13-22, International Film Festival, Kresge Auditorium, Boston. 18, 19, New Mexico Theatre Owners Ass'n annual convention, Hilton Hotel, Albuciuerque, N. M. 21-July 2, Film Festival, Berlin. 23-25, Mississippi Theatre Owners Ass'n 22nd annual convention, Broadwater Beach Hotel, Biloxi, Miss. Joint meeting with Louisiana Theatre Owners. 23-25, Maryland Theatre Owners Ass'n convention, George Washington Hotel, Ocean City, Md. 27, Joint National Ass'n of Concessionaires regional conference with Northern California Theatre Ass'n, Sir Francis Drake Hotel, San Francisco. JULY 1, Will Rogers Hospital second seminar, Saranac Lake, N.Y. 7-21, International Film Festival, Moscow. 29-Aug. 1, Allied Theatres of New York State convention, Concord Hotel, Kiamesha Lake, N. Y. AUGUST 6, 7, National Ass'n of Concessionaires regional meeting, Brown Palace Hotel, Denver. 2-11, Fourth annual Montreal International Film Festival, Montreal. 14,15, Allied Theatres of Michigan convention, Sheraton Cadillac, Detroit. 18-Sept. 1, Film Festival, Venice. SEPTEMBER 9-11, Theatre Owners of New England convention. Hotel Griswold, Groton, Conn. 13-15, Association of Women of the Motion Picture Industry convention, Dallas. 15-22, Film Festival, Cork, Ireland. OCTOBER 21-24, Allied States Ass'n of Motion Picture Exhibitors, Americana Hotel, New York. 27-31, Theatre Owners of America 16th annual convention and tradeshow with National Ass'n of Concessionaires, Theatre Equipment and Supply Manufacturers Ass'n and Theatre Equipment Dealers Ass'n, Americana Hotel, New York. NOVEMBER 12, 13, Tri-State Theatre Owners annual convention, Hotel Chisca, Memphis. 12-14, Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio convention, Deshler-Hilton Hotel, Columbus, Ohio. Mrs. Silas Seadler Dies NEW YORK — Funeral services were held Sunday and interment Tuesday (28) for Doris Seadler, wife of Silas Seadler, MGM’s eastern advertising manager, who died on May 23 in Doctors Hospital here. She was known to her many friends in the film industry as Dodo. Besides her husband, Mrs. Seadler is survived by a son, two grandchildren and a sister. Clifford E. Parker COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.— Clifford E. Parker, 57, vice-president of Alexander Film Co., died at Penrose Hospital here. His wife, Martha, and three sons survive. Pick Father's Day Film NEW YORK — Warner Bros.’ “Spencer’s Mountain” has been selected the “Father’s Day Picture of the Year” by the National Father’s Day Committee. Henry Fonda, who portrays the father of nine children in the picture, accepted the award in behalf of the film. Father’s Day will be June 16. BOXOFFICE :: June 3, 1963 11