Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1961)

INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTORS UP PRODUCT OUTPUT IN '61 Between 75-100 Features For General Exhibition To Be Available NEW YORK — Exhibitors looking for additional feature product in 1961, other than that released by the major film companies, will have a wider choice of independently distributed pictures than ever before. There should be between 75 and 100 features suitable for general exhibition in U. S. theatres channeled by more than 40 distributors who either sell direct from N. Y. or west coast offices or through independent regional distributors in exchange cities. NEW COMPANIES DUE A number of the companies who will be making product available for the first time in 1961 are recently established organizations which will not get their first releases into circulation until the spring or summer months — but once such new companies as Pathe-Alpha, Beaver-Champion and Omat Corp. get rolling they are expected to materially increase the output of suitable films. An indication of how the supply of independent product is increasing is shown in the annual index to feature reviews published in this issue of Boxoffice. The index shows that 88 pictures released through independent distributors were reviewed in 1960. A year ago, only 31 such features were available for review. The shortage of U.S. -produced pictures has stimulated activity among independent distributors, and the perfection of dubbing techniques has made many more foreignmade films palatable to American moviegoers. The big problem, however, is obtaining suitable distribution facilities, and getting the word to theatremen that product is available. Many of the smaller operators pick up good foreign pictures, but apparently don’t have the wherewithal to merchandise them widely enough to make exhibitors aware that their films are available. DISTRIBUTION PROBLEMS The large number of small operators, picking up a picture here and there, also presents a problem to exhibitors. Theatremen read a trade review giving the name of one company, which may be the importer, and then can’t locate the independent distributor who is handling the picture. And tradepaper advertising is virtually nonexistent for most of the smaller companies — those having one or two pictures to sell — so exhibitors find themselves unable to locate addresses to inquire about playdates. Even independent regional distributors often find themselves lacking information on pictures they have contracted to handle. What appears to be a great need is better channeling of information between the independent distributor nationally and the List of Independent Film Distributors Following is a partial list of national independent motion picture distributors whose release charts offer U.S. -produced feature and/or foreign product dubbed in English. A few distribute direct from New York offices, but most of them are represented in exchange cities by independent distributors. Astor Pictures Atlantis Films Bagnall & Associates BCG Films Beaver-Champion Bentley Films Brenner & Associates Joseph Burstyn, Inc. Cavalcade Pictures Cinema Associates Citation Films Continental Distributing Ellis Films Embassy Pictures Excelsior Films Fanfare Filmgroup Films-Around-the-World Governor Films Howco Inter-Continent Janus Films KBA Attractions Kingsley Inti Lopert Pictures Louis deRochemont K. Gordon Murray Major Productions Medallion Pictures William Mishkin Omat Corp. Pacemaker Pictures Pathe-Alpha President Films RCIP Royal Distributing Co. Show Corp. of America Sterling Times Film Corp. Trans-Lux Union Film Valiant Films Woolner Zenith Inti independent distributor regionally and then on to the exhibitor. Following is a listing of some of the more active independent distributors and their product plans for the new year: Astor: A tentative lineup of ten features has been announced, six to be provided by Crosby Productions, which is headed by Everett Crosby, brother of Bing. Early in the year, the company will release “Sunlovers’ Holiday,” a Brazilian picture in Cinemascope; “Broadway Girl,” a New York-made film starring Sandra Donat; and “The Woman in Room 13,” with Brian Donlevy and Andrea Bayard. Beaver-Champion: First release of this recently established distribution company will come in March, “David and Goliath,” an Italian spectacle starring Orson Welles. This will be followed by “Rasputin,” starring John Drew Barrymore and Edmond Purdom; “Constantine the Great,” starring Cornel Wilde and Belinda Lee; and “Uncle Was a Vampire.” James Mulvey, former president of Samuel Goldwyn Productions, is president of the company. Atlantis Films: The first offering in 1961 will be a double bill consisting of “The Amazing Mr. Callaghan,” a British picture starring Tony Wright, and “Prisoners of the Congo,” shot in Eastman Color in Africa. In 1960, the company released “Girl in the Bikini” with Brigitte Bardot and “Sin and Desire,” a French drama dubbed for U. S. theatres. Continental: A schedule of 12 features has been announced, led by the January release, “Make Mine Mink,” aJ3ritish comedy starring Terry-Thomas. “Hippodrome,” a German circus spectacle in color, dubbed into English, will follow in February. “General della Rovere,” Italian film made by Roberto Rossellini with Vittorio De Sica starred, (English-dubbed) will be available in March followed by "The Long and the Short and the Tall,” British film starring Laurence Harvey and Richard Todd, to be released in April, and “Saturday Night and Sunday Morning,” “The Mark,” “The Hands of Orlac,” all in English, and “Modigliani of Montparnasse” and other French-language features, for later releases. 12-PICTURE SCHEDULE Filmgroup: Roger Corman and his organization have announced a 12 -picture program for the year, an indication it intends to maintain its schedule established during the past year. The company promised 12 pictures and delivered 14. Currently, the company is readying release of “Atlas,” its first million-dollar production. Corman who produced the successful “House of Usher” will produce another Edgar Allan Poe story, “The Pit and the Pendulum,” early this year. Governor Films: With “Carry On, Nurse,” British comedy in current release, the company will launch “Carry On, Constable” in February and "The Lady Doctor,” Italian-made starring Vittorio De Sica, Abbe Lane and Toto; “A Touch of Hell,” British film starring Anthony Quayle and Sarah Churchill, and “Carry On, Teacher” later in 1961. Kingsley International : This firm, known more widely for its foreign-language imports, also is releasing a number of English-language pictures. On the lineup to date are “The League of Gentlemen,” starring Jack Hawkins, Nigel Patrick, Richard Attenborough and Roger Livesay, due in February; and the prizewinning Russian film, "Ballad of a Soldier,” which will be available in a dubbed version later in the year. Kingsley product is released through Union Film Distributors, Inc., of New York. ADDITIONAL PRODUCT Lopert Films: For January release, following December pre-release, will be “Tunes of Glory,” British-made in color, starring Alec Guinness, John Mills, Kay Walsh and Dennis Price, and “Never on Sunday,” made in Greece by Jules Dassin with mostly English dialog and a few titles for the Greek dialog, starring Dassin and Melina Mercouri. Later in 1961, Lopert will release an English -dubbed version of the Ponti-DeLaurentiis production, “The Great War,” starring Silvana Mangano and Alberto Sordi. Major Productions: Samuel Schneider, former Warner Bros, executive, heads this company which is engaged in acquiring independent product for U. S. release, but so far has been channeling its features through major outlets. “Caltiki” is a current release on the Allied Artists lineup. Now dated for 1961 are “Maciste the Giant,” an Italian-made spectacle in Eastman Color and Totalscope, starring Mark Forrest and Chela Alonzo, and “Joseph and His Brethren, a Biblical spectacle starring Belinda Lee and Geoffrey Horne, now in production in Italy. Motion Picture Investors, Inc.: The 6 BOXOFFICE :: January 2, 1961