Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1962)

P-A to Release Two More Forbes Films NEW YORK — PatheAmerica's association with Allied Film Makers of England will be continued with two more features filming or planned later in 1962. according to Bryan Forbes, the coproducer and director of "Whistle Down the Wind,” which P-A is releasing in the U. S. in March. Pathe-America also is distributing Allied Film Makers’ "Victim,” which went into release in February. Forbes said his company, composed of himself, actors Jack Hawkins and Richard Attenborough, director Michael Relph, producer Basil Dearden and Guy Green, is endeavoring to produce British pictures with a more serious, off-beat content which will appeal to American moviegoers. He believes that stars are not as important today as the story. This thinking has paid off with “Victim,” which was a big success in England and is now playing profitably in two New York theatres, and with "Whistle Down the Wind,” which was “in Bryan Forbes iR) with Budd Rogers. profit” in only six weeks playing time in England and has been a success in its first dates in a multiple-run booking in Texas late in February. The two new Allied pictures which Pathe-America is now negotiating with Forbes for American release are: “Life for Ruth,” now being completed in London with Michael Craig starred, which is the story of a girl whose parents refuse her a blood transfusion because their religion doesn’t permit it, and “Seance on a Wet Afternoon, ” which will be made later this spring with Simone Signoret starred. Budd Rogers, president of PatheAmerica, reminded the tradepress at a luncheon to honor Forbes at Sardi’s Restaurant that it was just one month previous that he held a luncheon for Michael Relph, producer of “Victim,” and only four months ago that he had announced PatheAmerica’s acquisition of the two British pictures and his faith in “These outstanding quality pictures,” has been justified by their success in Texas and in New York. Also attending the luncheon were John Mills, actor-fa her of Hayley Mills, star of “Whistle Dowr the Wind,” who is starring on the New Yo. x stage in “Ross,” his wife, playwright Man/ Hayley Bell, and Nannette Newman, a l ■ -ess-wife of Forbes, as well as Paul V. Connelly, Pathe-America treasurer, and Harold Rand of BlankRand Associates, w 10 is publicizing the Pathe-America product. Cormans' 'The Intruders' Granted a Code Seal Hollywood — Reversing a previous decision to refuse a Code seal to “The Intruder,” the Motion Picture Production Code seal has now been granted the Pathe-America release, according to producers Gene and Roger Corman. A month ago, the Cormans disclosed that a Code seal had been refused their film, primarily because its screenplay used such racial terms as “nigger.” Maintaining that use of the words was essential to the authenticity of their story, based on Charles Beaumont’s novel dealing with a rabble-rousing white man in the Deep South, the producers appealed the refusal. Ultimately, a special Code administration screening committee in New York reconsidered the case and decided to grant a seal, without any cuts. According to the Cormans, the Code administration has not only approved their film, but has offered to help in local censorship situations. “The Intruder” was independently produced and directed by Roger Corman, with Gene Corman as executive producer. The cast is headed by William Shatner in the title role. PatheAmerica plans an early spring release. MPA's $50,000 to Hospital In Name of Montague NEW YORK — The Motion Picture Ass’n of America, which, from time to time, has made donations to the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital in Saranac Lake, N. Y., this year made its bequest in the name of the late A. Montague, president of the hospital and executive vice-president of Columbia Pictures. Montague died on February 13 in Stuart, Fla. The amount was $50,000. The MPAA board also passed a resolution at its March 2 meeting, citing Montague for his services to the industry. The resolution read : “Be it resolved that the board inscribes on the records of the Motion Picture Ass’n of America its deep sorrow at the passing of Abe Montague, for many years a member of this board and one of our most beloved and respected associates. The board takes great pride in Abe Montague’s record of achievement, his single-hearted and unstinting devotion to the humane needs of motion picture people, high and low. It recognizes his constant devotion, to the welfare of the motion picture industry as an industry in the broadest sense. It expresses thanks for many years of constant, stimulating association with him, marked by a flow of new ideas and generous thinking. It wishes to express to Mrs. Montague and to his associates at Columbia Pictures Corp. its heartfelt sympathy in their loss.” To Reissue 'Passionate Plumber' LOS ANGELES — “The Passionate Plumber,” Buster Keaton starrer made by MGM in 1932, will be reissued by the studio. Keaton also produced the film which Ed Sedgewick directed. Starred with Keaton were Jimmy Durante, Gilbert Roland, Polly Moran and Irene Purcell. Nearly 1,000 Theatres Order Oscar Ad Kits NEW YORK — Almost 1,000 theatres have ordered the advertising-promotion-exploitation kits to help build interest in the telecast of the Academy Awards on April 9, according to the MPAA and TOA, which are coproducing the project. Running far ahead of last year’s volume at the comparable time, orders were said to be flooding the New York office of TOA from all parts of the country. Among the theatres and circuits that have ordered the kits are: The AB-PT Buffalo Paramount theatres in Scranton, Pa., and Buffalo, N. V.; Schine Theatres in New York, Ohio, Kentucky, Delaware and Maryland; the Gronada in Brooklyn, N. Y.; Wantaugh in Wantaucjh, L. I.; Utopia in Flushing, L. I., N. Y.; Nassau in Roosevelt, L. I., N. Y.; New Dykman in New York City; W'ilby-Kincey Theatres in the Carolinas; Stanley Warner Theatres in Wisconsin; Storty Theatres, Bernheimer Theatres, District Theatres, Wiineland Theatres, K-B Theatres, Loew's Theatres, Trans-Lux Theatres, all of Washington, D. C. and Lust Theatres of Washington, D. C., and Maryland; Roth Theatres of Washington and Virginia; Stanley Warner Theatres, RKO Theatres and Broumas Theatres of Washington, D. C. and Maryland; Georgia Theatre Co. of Georgia; Ritz Theatre of Belleview, III.; Parkway Theatre of Mt. Vernon, N. Y.; Square Theatre of Bronx, N. Y.; Pix Theatre of Jersey City, N. J.; Tri-State AB-PT Theatres of Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska. Allied Theatres of California; Film Booking Service Theatres of California; Appleman Theatres of California; Fox Intermountain Theatres of Colorado; Gilbert Stuart Theatre of Riverside, R. I.; Hudson of Hudson, Mass.; Hiwoy of Stratford, Conn.; Palace of New Britain, Conn.; Bradley of Putnam, Conn.; Orpheum of Danielson, Conn.; Madison of Madison, Qonn.; Saybrook of Saybrook, Conn.; Palace of Rockfille, Conn.; Stratford of Stratford, Conn.; Costle of New Castle, Ind.; Midwest of Oklahoma City, Okla.; Norwich-New London Drive-In of Uncassville, Conn. Fox Midwest Circuit theatres of Kansas and Missouri; Monroeville Drive-In of Pittsburgh, Pa.; SheaJomestown Amusement CO. of New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Ohio; Capitol of Erwin, Tenn.; Post of Spokane, Wash.; Parkway of McKees Park, Pa.; Crofton of Crofton, Pa.; Capital of Braddock, Pa. Roxian of McKees Rook, Pa.; Carolina of Hickory, N. C.; Wolf berg Theatres of Denver, Col.; Comet of St. Louis, Mo.; the Florida States AB-PT Circuit Theatres; Mart of Calhoun City, Miss.; Princess of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Kerasotes Theatres of Illinois; State of Nanticoke, Pa.; Capitol of Ghambersburg, Pa.; The West Side-Valley Theatres of northern California; the Walter Reode Theatres of New York and New Jersey. Also; Fabian Theatres of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia; Town Hall of Newton, Conn.; Wilkinson of Wallingford, Conn.; American Theatres Circuit of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maine; State of Ithaca, N. Y., the Kallet Theatres of upstate New York. Norelco 70mm Projectors Installed in 2 Theatres NEW YORK — The motion picture equipment division of the North American Philips Co. is installing Norelco 70/35 projectors in the 4-Star Theatre, Los Angeles, and the Century Theatre, Minneapolis, according to Niels Tuxen, general manager. This makes a total of 130 film theatres in the U.S. to be equipped with Norelco 70/35 projectors. The 4 -Star Theatre will have the new equipment ready for the engagement of Magna’s “Black Tights” while the Century, a Cinerama showcase for many years, will again be operated by the Minnesota Amusement Co. 'Longest Day' Is Completed NEW YORK — Principal photography on Darryl F. Zanuck’s “The Longest Day” has been completed following ten months of filming on location in western France, according to word received at the 20th Century-Fox home office. A total of 32 star’s appear in the picturization of Cornelius Ryan’s novel. 10 BOXOFFICE :: March 12, 1962