Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1962)

Skouras Confirms Release Of 17 Films in 7962 Paramount Schedules 8 Films for Lensing HOLLYWOOD — Paramount announced the starting dates for eight features to go before the cameras between now and summer, with stars and production plans already set, according to studio head Jack Karp. The initial picture on Paramount’s new schedule, to augment the currently shooting “Who’s Got the Action?’’ starring Dean Martin and Lana Turner, is “It’s Only Money,” toplining Jerry Lewis, with Paul Jones producing and Frank Tashlin directing, starting March 6; “My Six Loves,” Debbie Reynolds starrer, set to go around March 12, with Gower Champion directing and Gant Gaither producing; Hal Wallis’ Elvis Presley feature, “Jumbo Ya-Ya,” slated for an April 1 start, with Norman Taurog at the helm; “Wildest of the Thousand,” greenlighted for a May start, starring Paul Newman, with Martin Ritt directing and coproducing, with Irving Ravetch and Harriett Frank jr. A William Holden-Audrey Hepburn starrer, “Together in Paris,” has been scheduled for June 1, with George Axelrod producing and Richard Quine directing, while in July production will begin on three Paramount releases, Hal Wallis’ “Decision at Delphi,” from Helen Maclnnes’ novel, an untitled John Ford production to star John Wayne, based on material by James Michener, with screenplay by James Edward Grant; and an un titled circus epic to be produced around the world on a mammoth scale by Philip Yordan and Nicholas Ray, who will direct. Winding up a summer schedule and blueprinted for a September 2 start will be the film version of the Broadway hit comedy by Neil Zimon, “Come Blow Your Horn,” starring Frank Sinatra, with Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear producing. Yorkin will direct from a script by Lear. Technicolor 1961 Earnings Way Over Previous Year HOLLYWOOD — Earnings of Technicolor, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiaries for the year 1961 totaled $1,744,962.63, compared to $345,943 shown in the 1960 annual report, Patrick J. Frawley jr., chairman of the board and chief officer, announced. Included in the 1961 earnings is $1,479,647.68 from operations and $265,314.95 or 10 cents a share of non-recurring income after taxes. Sales for the year were in excess of $55,000,000 as compared to 1960 sales of $28,458,945, Frawley reported. If 1960 sales had included sales of those companies acquired in 1961, the 1960 sales would have equaled $44,872,525. These sales do not include the sales of foreign subsidiaries which have not been consolidated, Frawley said. Earnings for 1961 equaled 67 cents a share on 2,623,218 shares a,s compared to 16 cents a share earned in 1960 on 2,211,679 shares then outstanding. Lombardo Heads Union ROME — Goffredo Lombardo, president of Titanus Film, has been elected president of Italy’s Union of Film Producers for a two-year term. Lombardo served as president on two previous occasions, from 1954 to 1957. Gordon White on Tour On Film Ad Survey NEW YORK — Although complaints regarding motion picture advertisements in newspapers have dropped off in the last year, the Motion Picture Ass’n of America will seek to ascertain newspaper attitudes and get a first-hand picture of the situation around the country. Gordon S. White, director of the Advertising Code Administration, has been dispatched on a nationwide tour to survey advertising practices and review the industry’s press relations. In his absence, which will be approximately six weeks, Michael Linden, director of research for the MPAA, will be in charge of White’s department with the title of associate director. White will confer first with key exhibitors in each area before calling on the editors, publishers and advertising chiefs. He will evaluate newspaper advertising problems and, later, report back to Eric Johnston, MPAA president, and the Advertising Advisory Council which consists of the advertising directors of the major companies. A year ago, there were many complaints regarding the text and art of film advertising. In some instances, the ads were refused by the newspapers. During the last year, however, the companies have been supplying a greater variety of ad material to exhibitors, so that if one ad was refused, there was a substitute copy which could be used. This flexibility has eased the exhibitor’s problem with the newspapers. White will probe into the question of how the new ads are being received by the press and it is expected there will be a general exchange of ideas and suggestions. He will cover the southern states initially, then move into the midwest and northwest. Intense Promotion Drive Sparks 'Sinbad' in Texas HOLLYWOOD — Sparked by intense local and area exploitation, test engagement of the Filmgroup’s “Magic Voyage of Sinbad,” grossed 210 per cent of regular business in first run at the Texas Theatre, San Angelo, it is reported by Margaret Urevich, director of exchange operations. The Texas Theatre run was followed immediately with moveover to Parkway Theatre, second first-run house. Boxoffice success of “Magic Voyage of Sinbad” followed two-week comprehensive promotional campaign by two advance men sent to San Angelo by the Filmgroup. Successful pattern of heavy blanketing of engagement areas will be followed in subsequent openings for “Magic Voyage of Sinbad.” lames Mauceri loins Embassy NEW YORK — James Mauceri has resigned as news editor of Film Daily to join the publicity staff of Embassy Pictures. NEW YORK — Spyros P. Skouras, president of 20th Century-Fox, returned from Hollywood Tuesday (27) to confirm the announcement made by Peter G. Levathes, vice president in charge of production, that the company and its independent producers would film 17 pictures during 1962. Fifteen of these will be released in 1963 while the other two are scheduled for release late this year, Skouras said. He was accompanied by Joseph H. Moskowitz, vice-president and New York studio representative, saw the first rough cuts of three important 1962 pictures, Charles Brackett’s “State Fair,” from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, and two Jerry Wald productions, “Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man” and “Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation.” “These three new pictures will give renewed impetus to our company’s releases,” Skouras said. He also predicted that Richard Beymer, star of “Young Man,” will be one of the important star names in the industry after the picture is released. Skouras had received a cable from Darryl F. Zanuck that the filming of Cornelius Ryan’s “The Longest Day” has been completed and the picture will be ready for special release late this summer and he had a report from Joseph L. Mankiewicz that “Cleopatra” filming is proceeding at an accelerated pace. Also in production are “Nine Hours to Rama,” filming in England by producer-director Mark Robson, who is completing the editing of “The Inspector.” In London, producer Samuel G. Engel is currently editing “The Lion,” which stars William Holden. All these are for 1962 release. The 17 pictures to be put into production in 1962 are: two Darryl F. Zanuck productions, Mark Robson’s “Gideon Goes to War,” “Something’s Got to Give,” starring Marilyn Monroe, directed by George Cukor, to be released in 1962; “First Love,” to star Ingrid Bergman; “The Enemy Within,” a Jerry Wald production based on Attorney General Robert Kennedy’s best-seller; “Celebration,” based on the William Inge play; James Joyce’s “Ulysses,” “The Story of General Patton,” “The Jungle,” from James Michener’s novel; “Take Her, She’s Mine,” from the current Broadway stage hit; “The Battle of Leyte Gulf,” “Happily Ever After,” “Drink to Me Only,” “Evil Come, Evil Go,” “ Love in a Cool Climate” and “Five Weeks in a Balloon,” now being filmed by Irwin Allen, also to be released in 1962. Trans-Lux Votes Dividend NEW YORK — A quarterly dividend of 10 cents a share on Trans-Lux Corp.’s common stock has been declared by the board of directors, payable April 2 to stockholders of record on March 9. Spyros P. Skouras BOXOFFICE ;: March 5, 1962 9