Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1962)

Production Code Excels Censorship, Shurlock Tells Military Chaplains NEW YORK — The Production Code will be 32 years old next month and proof of its practicality lies in the fact that of the 12,000 features processed by the Production Code Administration, only two have played without a Code seal. That information was imparted Monday (12) by Geoffrey M. Shurlock. PCA director, in an address before the New York chapter of the Order of Military Chaplains in the Masonic Club. Shurlock said the Code was a reasonable document and that in dealing with stories of man's frailty and sin, it did not demand that the sinner be painted so black that the viewer ceased to be entertained. In fact, he said, it was the contrary because “it states quite clearly that we may sympathize with the sinner though condemning his sin.” ON SELF-REGULATION BASIS The PCA director said the Code was a set of self -regulations based on sound morals common to all peoples and all religions. To put it simply, he said the Code “lays down the thesis that the screen should never be used to make what is basically wrong appear to be right. It assumes that the Ten Commandments are as applicable in the field of imagination as they are in real life.” Shurlock said the Code operation had one immeasurable advantage over such other forms of control as prerelease censorship. He said the latter could only delete material from an already finished film and that by its very nature it could only act privately and hence negatively. “The Code, on the contrary, gets its licks in while the project is still in the script stage,” he said. “And its approach is basically constructive instead of privative. We are much happier when, instead of watering down a story, we direct our efforts towards adding something positive by way of moral emphasis and elucidation — what we call ‘compensating moral values.’ By insisting that all stories be told within a proper moral frame of reference, the Code can help films take on added dimensions, explore deeper phases of life and achieve genuine maturity. No man and no art can claim to be mature without an acute moral sense. This should be, and is, the Code’s primary contribution to picture-making.” RIGHT TO FILE APPEAL When readers are assigned to a script, they keep the following in mind: Does the basic story conform to the basic requirements of the Code? Even if so, floes any section of it violate the Code in any detail? Shurlock said that sometimes a producer may disagree with the Code opinion on some phase of the script. He said the producer could shoot his picture as he sees fit, though there usually was an agreement to shoot the disputed scenes two ways. When the finished picture is submitted for review by the staff and if the Code judgment is still negative, the producer can take it to an appeals board consisting of the presidents of the major distributing companies, six exhibitors, four representatives of independent production and the president of the Motion Picture Ass’n. Shurlock said their* decision and judgment were final. Shurlock stressed that the Code was not aimed at the censorship of ideas, nor did it undertake to tell producers what material to choose for their films. “All it undertakes is to outline how that material should be treated, in conformity with fundamental standards of morality and within the generally accepted limits of good taste,” he said. In conclusion, Shurlock said: “I submit that on their record, Hollywood film producers have proved themselves skillful and trustworthy enough to take outstanding, if sensational, material and, applying the Code machinery, throw away the excess emphasis on obscenity or brutality, develop its inherent drama and engrossing character delineations and come up with entertainment that is mature, morally acceptable and of worldwide appeal.” B. S. Moss, Shelton Form New Distribution Firm NEW YORK — The B. S. Moss Entei’prises and William Shelton, independent distributor, have formed Cameo International Pictures Corp. to open branches and distribution offices in key cities in the U.S., Canada and Europe. The company also plans to make coproduction deals for theatrical and TV features. Cameo will launch its theatrical program with several exploitation pictures, including “Temptation,” starring Rossana Podesta, Dawn Addams and Christian Marquand; “Horror Chambers of Dr. Faustus,” with Pierre Brasseur and Alida Valli, and “The Monster,” with Peter Dynelly and Jany Hylton. Later will come “Three Faces of Sin,” starring Michele Morgan and JeanClaude Brialy, and “The Magnificent Tramp,” starring Jean Gabin. Shelton has been named president of the new firm with Charles B. Moss, chairman of the board and Larry Morris as vicepresident. B. S. Moss Enterprises operates the Criterion, Forum and 55th Street Playhouse in New York City and other theatres in New Jersey, Long Island and Florida. Berkeley Films to Produce New 'Peter Pan' Version NEW YORK — The newly formed Berkeley Films, Inc., has acquired the rights to Sir James Barrie’s “Peter Pan” for motion picture production, according to Leonard Key, president. Audrey Hepburn has given a conditional commitment to play the title role, he said. Her decision is subject to her reading of the screenplay currently being prepared by R. C. Sheriff, British screenwriter. Key said negotiations had been completed with Peter Sellers and Hayley Mills to enact the roles of Captain Hook and Wendy. The picture will be ready for release at Easter, 1963. The story previously had been made in 1925 by Paramount and in 1953 by RKO Radio. TelePrompTer Will Offer Media for Meetings by TV NEW YORK — TelePrompTer Corp. has been engaged by Holiday Inns of America, Inc., to install a network of communications centers to provide large screen television, slide and motion picture projection for conventions and conferences. Holiday Inns has more than 200 affiliates across the nation and has announced that it intends to become the first hotel or motel chain to offer communications facilities for conventions as part of its service. TelePrompTer currently is preparing installations at 100 key locations. Irving B. Kahn, its president, placed the cost at approximately $1,000,000. TelePrompTer, also, will represent the motel chain in packaging and selling national and regional conventions for the communications center network. The centers are being designed either for permanent installation or for different meeting rooms within the motel. All projection facilities are rear-screen except for the portable television pxojector, which is designed for independent use as desired in restaurant or lounge areas, or even poolside. According to Kemmons Wilson, chairman of the board of Holiday Inns, the systems would make possible (1) mxxlti-city closed circuit telecasts; (2) large screen, off-the-air pickup of televised sports, entertainment and special events; (3) circulation of preplanned or “canned” material — the traveled presentation — with complete peace of mind concerning proper local conditions, and (4) fingex*tip command of cooi'dinated slide, film, television and speech aids for local meetings. Two of 15 Green Sheet Reviews Get 'F' Rating NEW YORK — Of 15 pictures reviewed in the Febi-uai-y issue of The Green Sheet, two wei*e given F or family ratings, six were labelled A or adult films, one was tagged for adults and mature young people (AMY ) and six were classed for adults-mature young people — young people (A-MY-Y). The family pictures, as rated by the Film Estimate Board of National Organizations, wex-e Pathe-America’s “Whistle Down the Wind” and Columbia’s “Underwater City.” Given adult classifications were Allied Artists’ “The Geox-ge Raft Stoi-y,” Universal’s “Lover Come Back,” Warner Bros.* “Roman Spring of Mx-s. Stone,” 20th Century-Fox’s “Tender Is the Night,” Columbia’s “Walk on the Wild Side” and United Artists’ “Something Wild.” The single A-MY entry was “The Singer Not the Song,” Wax-ner Bros. Slugged A-MY-Y wex*e Univex-sal’s “Desex-t Patrol” and “The Outsider,” Paramount’s “My Geisha” and “Hey, Let’s Twist!” Allied Artists’ “El Cid” and Columbia’s “Twist Around the Clock.” Jules B. Weill to Europe NEW YORK — Jules B. Weill, president of Colorama Featui-es, Inc., has left for Rome, Paris and London. In Rome he will complete negotiations for worldwide distribution with the exception of Europe of a new production to be announced later. In London he will confer with executives of Border Productions regarding stoi'ies, scripts and casts on their fox*thcoming 12 featxme coproductions that will be released theatiically in the U. S. by Colorama. 12 BOXOFFICE February 19, 1962