Boxoffice barometer (1963)

United Artists (October, 1961 through September, 1962) BIRD MAN OF ALCATRAZ. .6230 (143) Aug. Biographical Drama. Based on the true story of Robert Stroud, convicted life-term murderer who has been in prison since 1909, where he has become a world-renowned authority on bird diseases, has writ- ten a book on the subject, and is still fighting to win a parole. Burt Lancaster, Karl Malden, Thelma Ritter, Neville Brand, Edmond O'Brien, Betty Field, Telly Savalas. Producers: Stuart Millar, Guy Trosper. Di- rector: John Frankenheimer. Norma Production and a Harold Hecht Presentation. BOY WHO CAUGHT A CROOK. 6127 . (72).. Oct. '61 Melodrama. Police pursue a criminal who throws a briefcase containing stolen money into a vacant lot, intending to retrieve it later. A newsboy and his hobo friend find it and are threatened by the criminal if the loot is not returned. To save the boy, the hobo falsely confesses the theft, but police arrive and save the day. Wanda Hendrix, Don Beddoe, Roger Mobley, Richard Crane, John Seven. Producer: Robert E. Kent. Director: Edward L. Cahn. Harvard Film Presentation. CHILDREN'S HOUR, THE. 6211 . .(107) Mar. Drama. Screen version of Lillian Heilman's Broad- way play of the same title, which deals with the effect on the lives of two headmistresses of an ex- clusive girls' school who are falsely accused of an "unnatural" relationship by a malicious child. Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, James Garner, Fay Bain- ter, Miriam Hopkins, Karen Balkin. Producer-Director: William Wyler. Mirisch Co. Presentation. CLOWN AND THE KID, THE 6207 (65) Mar. Comedy Drama. An escaped convict assumes a dead clown's identity, becomes involved with the latter's young son and falls in love with an amusement park owner. John Lupton, Mike McGreevy, Don Keefer, Mary Webster, Mary Adams, Peggy Stewart. Producer: Robert E. Kent. Director: Edward L. Cahn. Harvard Film Presentation. DEAD TO THE WORLD . 6202.. (87) Apr. Mystery Melodrama. Based on a novel, "State De- partment Murders," by Edward Ronns, dealing with political intrigue, violence and romance in the na- tion's capital. The film follows a security officer in the State Department, falsely accused of treason and murder, who has 72 hours to track down a mystery man who holds the key to both trumped-up charges. Opening narration by Drew Pearson. Reedy Talton, Jana Pearce, Ford Rainey, Casey Peyson, Joel Thomas. Producer: F. William Hart. Director: Nicholas Webster. National Film Studios Presentation. DEADLY DUO. .6212. (69) Feb. Drama. Set in Acapulco, and is the story of identical twins, one good, one evil, and a young lawyer who is hired by a wealthy woman to "buy" her grand- son from her dead son's widow. This leads to a dou- ble-identity double cross and a murder attempt before the situation is happily resolved. Craig Hill, Marcia Henderson, Robert Lowery, Dayton Lummis, Irene Ted- row. Producer: Robert E. Kent. Director: Reginald LeBorg. Harvard Film Presentation. EXPLOSIVE GENERATION, THE. . 6134 . (89). . Oct. '61 Drama. A crisis develops when a high school teacher draws the wrath of his superiors and the PTA when he circulates a sex questionnaire in his classroom, and is dismissed when he refuses to show the parents and school principal the papers. The whole thing proves harmless and the instructor is reinstated. Wil- liam Shatner, Patty McCormack, Lee Kinsolving, Billy Gray. Producer: Stanley I. Colbert. Director: Buzz Kulik. Vega Production. FLIGHT THAT DISAPPEARED .. 6129 .. (72). Oct. '61 Science-Fiction Drama. A plane is in flight to Wash- ington when mysterious forces take over the con- trols and all passengers except three scientists aboard lose consciousness. The trio is then tried by a Tribunal of the Future and sentenced to remain suspended for all time unless they destroy the plans they are carrying for a super bomb capable of devastating the entire earth. Craig Hill, Paula Raymond, Dayton Lummis. Producer: Robert E. Kent. Director: Reginald LeBorg. Harvard Film Presentation. ©FOLLOW THAT DREAM. .6216. .(110) May Comedy With Music. Based on Richard Powell's novel, "Pioneer, Go Flome!" this tells the story of a southern family that tries to homestead a piece of unclaimed land alongside a busy Florida highway, and runs into hilarious complications when gangsters with floating dice games move in on the area. Elvis Presley, Arthur O'Connell, Anne Helm, Joanna Moore, Jack Kruschen Producer: David Weisbart. Director: Gordon Douglas. Mirisch Co. Presentation. (Panavision) ©GERONIMO. 6221 . (101) May Western Drama. Filmed in Mexico. Story of the great Apache warrior chief, his capture, escape and last ditch fight against U.S. and Mexican forces, climaxed by his voluntary surrender along with his follower after Congress investigates the injustices imposed upo- i the Indians and takes steps to recognize their tri e rights. Chuck Connors, Kamala Devi, Pat Conwc /, Adam West, Armando Silvestre, Lawrence Dobk n. Producer-Director: Arnold Laven. Laven-Gardner-Levy Presentation. (Panavision) GUN STREET. .6136. .(67) Nov. '61 Western. The home town of a convict is thrown into panic when news of his escape is flashed, the towns- folk fearing he will seek revenge against those re- sponsible for his imprisonment. Unable to capture the unseen outlaw, a posse is organized to track him down in the desert, which leads to a surprise climax. James Brown, Jean Willes, John Clarke. Producer: Robert E. Kent. Director: Edward L. Cahn. Harvard Film Presentation. HAPPY THIEVES, THE 6209 (88) Jan. Comedy Drama. Filmed in Spain. Based on Richard Condon's novel, "The Oldest Confession." The story of a gentleman thief who moves in high society, his reluctant feminine partner, and an unscrupulous art- ist who blackmails the criminal into attempting the bold theft of a Goya painting from the famous Prado Museum in Madrid. Rita Hayworth, Rex Har- rison, Joseph Wiseman, Gregoire Aslan, Alida Valli, Virgilio Texera. Director: George Marshall. Hillworth Productions Presentation. INCIDENT IN AN ALLEY 6218 (83) May Melodrama. A police officer accidentally kills a 14- year-old boy in the line of duty. Depicts the mental anguish he suffers with his own conscience, plus hav- ing to face newspaper accusations and suspension from the force pending his trial for manslaughter. Chris Warfield, Erin O'Donnell, Harp McGuire. Pro- ducer: Robert E. Kent. Director: Edward L. Cahn. Harvard Film Presentation. ©JACK THE GIANT KILLER..6222 .. (94) July Adventure Fantasy. Based on the children's fable ret in ancient England about the adventures of a peas- ant boy who slays a 20-foot giant, fights demons, monsters, witches and breaks an evil sorcerer's spell to rescue the king's daughter. Kerwin Mathews, Judi Meredith, Torin Thatcher, Don Beddoe. Producer: Edward Small. Director: Nathan Juran. Edward Small Production. (Fantascope) ©JESSICA. 6219 (109) Apr. Comedy Drama. Filmed in Italy. Based on the novel. "The Midwife of Pont Clery," by Flora Sandstrom, and concerns a recently widowed midwife, whose youth and beauty upset the peace and harmony of a Sicilian village, resulting in a "sex strike" by the wives of the town. Maurice Chevalier, Angie Dick- inson, Noel-Noel, Agnes Moorehead, Marcel Dalio, Gabriele Ferzetti, Sylva Koscina, Danielle De Metz. Producer-Director: Jean Negulesco. (Panavision) JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG. 6206 (190) Aug. Drama. (Pre-released as a special Dec. '61) Filmed in Germany. The inner conflicts and problems of an American judge selected by the War Department to preside at the Nuremberg trial of Nazi judges, who were being tried as war criminals in post-World War II. Various witnesses and victims of Nazi terrorism appear in court to testify. Spencer Tracy, Burt Lan- caster, Richard Widmark, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland, Maximilian Schell, Montgomery Clift. Pro- ducer-Director: Stanley Kramer. Stanley Kramer Pro- duction. !©KID GALAHAD 6231 . . (95) Sept. Drama With Music. An ex-GI with a knockout punch is accidentally pressed into the fight ring and be- comes a reluctant boxer. He refuses to throw the big fight for gangsters, scores a final knockout and aives up the fight game to run an auto repair shop. Elvis Presley, Gig Young. Lola Albright, Charles Bronson, Joan Blackman. Producer: David Weisbart. Director: Phil Karlson. Mirisch Co. Presentation. ©MAGIC SWORD, THE 6214 (80) Apr. Adventure Fantasy. The exploits of St. George who has to overcome seven horrible curses to reach the imprisoned princess he loves and rescue her from the clutches of an evil sorcerer. With the help of a magic sword, he survives all the dangers and rescues his beloved. Basil Rathbone, Estelle Winwood, Gary Lockwood. Anne Helm. Producer-Director: Bert I. Gordon. Bert I. Gordon Production. MARY HAD A LITTLE 6203 (79) Jan. Comedy British-made. A down-on-his-luck theatrical producer, to win a bet, plots with a French actress to pose as both married and pregnant, to fool a Dsychiatrist who boasts he can produce throuqh hypnotism the most perfect baby in the world. Hi- larious mix-ups and misunderstandings follow for all concerned. Agnes Laurent, Hazel Court, Jack Watling, John Bentlev. Producer: George Fowler. Di- rector: Edward Buzzell. Caralan Production. ©MIGHTY URSUS .6220 (92) Apr. Adventure Spectacle. (Italo-Spanish made; English- dubbed.) The plot revolves around the mighty war- rior, Ursus, who returns from the wars and under- takes a dangerous trek to find his fiancee, only to learn that she is under the evil influence of a pagan high priest. Ed Fury, Cristina Gajoni, Moira Orfei, Mario Scaccia, Luis Prendes. Director: Carlo Campo- aalliani. Cine Italia Film S.P.A. (Rome) and Atenea Films S.L. (Madrid) Co-production. MIRACLE WORKER, THE. 6225 (107) July Drama. Adapted from William Gibson's Broadway play of the same title, this is the true story of Annie Sullivan's dedicated efforts to help the young Helen Keller emerge from a sightless and soundless world. Anne Bancroft, Patty Duke, Victor Jory, Inga Swenson, Andrew Prine. Producer: Fred Coe. Director: Arthur Penn. Playfilms' Production. NUN AND THE SERGEANT, THE .6215 (73) Aug. War Drama. During the Korean conflict in 1951, a group of American soldiers in the brig are picked by a tough Marine sergeant to assist him on a critical mission with only a slim chance of survival. En route, the patrol leads a nun and a group of terrified Korean schoolgirls to safety. Robert Webber, Anna Sten, Leo Gordon, Hari Rhodes, Robert Easton, Dale Ishimoto, Linda Ho. Assoc. Producer: Harold N. Even. Director: Franklin Adreon. Springfield Produc- tion. ONE, TWO, THREE. 6208 (108) Jan. Comedy. Filmed in Germany. A Coca-Cola executive in Berlin, aiming for a promotion to the top London post, sees his plans go awry when his American boss's visiting daughter becomes involved with an East Berlin beatnik. James Cagney, Horst Buchholz, Pamela Tiffin, Arlene Francis, Howard St. John, Hanns Lothar, Lilo Pulver. Producer-Director: Billy Wilder. Mirisch Co. Presentation in association with Pyramid Productions, A.G. (Panavision) PARIS BLUES 6131 . (98) Nov. '61 Drama With Music. Filmed in Paris. From Harold Flender's novel, dealing with two American jazzmen in Paris, one white, one colored, who play with a band at a Left Bank cave, which is a favorite of jazz devotees and tourists. They meet two girl vaca- tioners from the States, and a double romance de- velops, but ends when the girls leave. Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Sidney Poitier, Louis Armstrong, Diahann Carroll, Serge Reggiani. Producer: Sam Shaw. Director: Martin Ritt. Pennebaker-Diane Pro- duction. ©POCKETFUL OF MIRACLES 6204 .(136) Dec. '61 Comedy Melodrama. Based on Damon Runyon's short story, "Madame La Gimp," and is a remake of "Lady For a Day," from the same Runyon story which Capra directed for Columbia in 1933. Story concerns Apple Annie and her lovable, low-brow friends who help her impress her daughter arriving from Spain with the noble Spanish family into which she is marrying. Glenn Ford, Bette Davis, Hope Lange, Arthur O'Connell, Peter Falk. Thomas Mitchell, Edward Everett Horton, Mickey Shaughnessy. Pro- ducer-Director: Frank Capra. (Panavision) ROAD TO HONG KONG, THE 6227 .. (91) June Comedy With Music. Filmed in England. Two zany vaudeville hoofers become involved in international intrigue in Hong Kong and are pursued by foreign powers seeking a secret formula for space navigation. They get trapped inside a rocket about to be launched to the moon, and the special effects department then steps in with a surprise ending. Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Joan Collins, Dorothy Lamour, Robert Morley. Producer: Melvin Frank. Director: Norman Panama. Melnor Films, Ltd. Production. SAINTLY SINNERS . . 6205 (78) Feb. Comedy Drama. A kindly parish priest is bilked by a pair of small-time crooks who let him take the rap when stolen bank money is found hidden in his car, then ashamed of the trouble they have caused, confess to the crime. Don Beddoe, Ellen Corby, Stanley Clements, Paul Bryar, Addison Richards, Ron Ha- qerthy. Producer: Robert E. Kent. Director: Jean Yar- brough. Harvard Film Presentation. SEASON OF PASSION .6133. (93) Oct. '61 Drama. Filmed in Australia. Formerly "The Summer of the 17th Doll." Story of two migratory cane work- ers who for 16 years have gone to Australia during their layoff months to visit illicitly with two women. During the fateful 17th summer, the once-happy auartet begins to disintegrate. Ernest Borgnine, Anne Baxter, John Mills, Angela Lansbury, Vincent Ball. Producer-Director: Leslie Norman. SECRET OF DEEP HARBOR .. 6130 .. (70).... Oct. '61 Melodrama. Based on Max Miller's novel, "I Cover the Waterfront." A tough newspaper reporter, cover- ing a waterfront beat terrorized bv underworld hood- lums and smugglers, is on the lookout for a bigtime gangster and ultimately succeeds in smashing a big crime syndicate after the gangster's body turns up at the bottom of the sea. Ron Foster, Merry Anders, Barry Kelley, Norman Alden. James Seay. Producer: Robert E. Kent. Director: Edward L. Cahn. Harvard Film Presentation. ©SERGEANTS 3 .6213 .(112) Feb. Comedy Western. Set in Indian territory in 1870, this is the story of three brawling, U. S. Army sergeants who are inseoarable and a bugle-playing ex-slave who attaches himself to the trio as they track down Indians. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis ir., Peter Lawford, Joey Bishoo, Henry Silva, Ruta Lee. Producer: Frank Sinatra. Director: John Sturges. E-C Production. (Panavision) SOMETHING WILD. .6210. . (112) Jan. Drama. From Alex Karmel's novel, "Mary Ann," deal- ing with the psychological impact on a young girl who is raped while returning home from choir prac- tice. Shattered by the experience, she runs away from home, and after several disheartening ordeals, finds true love and is reunited with her mother. Carroll Baker, Ralph Meeker, Mildred Dunnock, Jean Staoleton, Martin Kosleck, Charles Watts. Pro- ducer: George Justin. Director: Jack Garfein. Pro- metheus Enterprises Presentation. ©SWORD OF THE CONQUEROR . 6232. . (95) Sept. Drama. (Italian-made; largely English-dubbed, partly English-spoken.) Set in 450 A.D. and concerns war and intrigue at the time of the establishment of the Byzantine Empire. Althouah the Lombard king offers peace to the defeated Gepidae, treachery prevents its fulfillment and leads to a series of battles be- fore peace is restored. Jack Palance, Guy Madison, Eleonora Rossi Drago, Carlo D'Angelo. Producer: Gil- berto Carbone. Director: Carlo Campogalliani. Titanus Production. (CinemaScope) THIRD OF A MAN. .6226. (80) May Melodrama. The story of a doomed man in a mental institution, placed there by a younger brother who then proceeded to forget him. The friendship of a small boy and the kindlv doctor who heads the hospital, reveals hope for the man's future rehabilita- tion. James Drurv, Jan Sheoard, Whit Bissell, Jimmy Gaines, Simon Oakland. Producers: Robert Lewin, William Redlin. Director: Robert Lewin. Phoenix Films Production. TOWN WITHOUT PITY. 6135 . . (105) Oct. '61 Drama. Filmed in Europe. Based on a novel, "The BOXOFFICE 115