Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1961)

Council Asks Des Moines Exhibifors To Submit Self -Censorship Plan DES MOINES — Motion picture exhibitors and distributors, “deeply concerned with the possibility of censorship in Des Moines,” have been granted their request to submit a self -regulation plan to the city council. At the October 30 council session. Mayor Reinhold Carlson asked an attorney for the local film industry to present the plan November 13. Earlier, the city governing body had ordered its legal department to draw up a proposed ordinance which would have set up a citizens’ movie inspection board and given the council power to revoke licenses of theatres showing indecent films or using objectionable film advertising. No date had been set for acting on that proposed ordinance, but it was apparent the council now would await the industry’s self -regulation plan. Sherwin J. Markman, attorney who came before the council to represent all theatremen in metropolitan Des Moines, pointed out that the city for many years has had an ordinance prohibiting “obscene, vulgar or immoral theatrical performances.” “Nobody is in favor of obscenity,” Markman said, “and should a film like this be shown, prosecution should be instituted.” The inspection board, as proposed by the council, would require citizens “to engage in censorship without the protection of the court,” he added. “Regulation by ordinance should be attempted only in the event that all else fails,” Markman told the council members. In expressing the industry’s “deep concern with the possibility of censorship,” the attorney said “Des Moines has never had anything like this and we’re concerned that it not start now.” Prior to the council meeting. Governor Norman Erbe had suggested voluntary control of films by distributors as the first step m any attempt to curb objectionable films. In a previous council discussion on films being shown in the Des Moines area, it was noted that any city regulatory measure would apply only to theatres within the corporate limits and would not reach outlying exhibitors, including several driveins. For this reason, it had been suggested that Governor Erbe and state officials be asked to cooperate in any law enforcement. Columbia Will Retain 'Five Finger' Title NEW YORK — Frederick Brisson, producer of both the Broadway play, “Five Finger Exercise” and the motion picture version, has won out in his protest over Columbia Pictures’ change of title of the film to “Five Kinds of Love.” Columbia has now decided to retain the original title, according to Paul N. Lazarus jr., vice-president, who said the company also listened to the protests of Rosalind Russell ^Mrs. Brisson), who stars in the film version; Jack Hawkins, Maximilian Schell and Richard Beymer, who are costarred, and director Daniel Mann. Columbia will also release Brisson’s next based on a Broadway stage hit, “Under the Yum-Yum Tree,” Lazarus pointed out. Embassy Sues Kas. Censors Over 'Two Women' Ban KANSAS CITY, KAS.— Embassy Pictures of New York has filed suit in Wyandotte County district court seeking to compel the Kansas board of review to grant a certificate of approval for the showing of “Two Women” in Kansas. The suit was filed by Harold H. Harding and Charles W. Lowder, local attorneys, in behalf of Embassy, the releasing organization. As an alternative to the issuance of a certificate of approval, the petition asks that the state law under which the board of review derives its powers be declared unconstitutional on the grounds of invalid prior restriction of freedom of expression. Embassy learned from Mrs. Kitty McMahon, board chairman, in a communication August 29 that the board had declined to approve the film on the basis of a scene which details the mental and physical anguish of a mother who has just witnessed the killing of her baby by soldiers. In context, the petition states, the episode is neither obscene nor immoral. The board again viewed the picture Monday, October 23, and reaffirmed its decision that the sequence in question must be deleted before a certificate of approval would be issued. The legal action followed. Nationwide Distribution Set for Catholic Films NEWARK, N.J. — An agency to distribute Catholic films throughout the United States has been set up here under patronage of Archbishop Thomas A. Boland of this city. Operation will start this month with distribution in three chain theatres in this area, of the prize-winning “St. Maria Goretti.” The National Catholic Films Production, at 300 Broadway, is an arm of the Audio-Visual Library of the Newark archdiocese. Father John A. McAdam is the library director. Michael Halm, national field director of the news agency, is training field representatives in distribution and promotion. The policy will be to show the films in regular theatres except those which present films condemned by the National Legion of Decency. “St. Maria Goretti” is to be shown in Philadelphia, New England, Chicago and Cleveland after a six-week run here, and later will be released nationally. Filmed in English in Rome, the production has won six international awards including the Vatican’s gold medal and the grand prize of the Venice Film Festival. 'Absent-Minded Professor' Sequel HOLLYWOOD— Walt Disney has set “Son of Flubber,” a sequel to “The AbsentMinded Professor,” as his next feature, slated to go before the cameras in January. Bill Walsh has been assigned producer’s chores on the projected film which will star Fred MacMurray. The director is not set. Allied Requests Members To Mail Awards Ballots DETROIT — An open and urgent invitation to all members of Allied States nationally to participate in selecting “the outstanding individuals who have contributed most to the motion picture industry during the year” was released Friday (3) by Ben Marcus, convention chairman as well as chairman of the board. The winners will be honored at the traditional Allied Awards Banquet on December 7 in the Eden Roc Hotel, Miami Beach. Marcus stressed that the ballots being sent to each Allied member with his announcement, must be returned to the National Allied office in Detroit by November 10 to be included in the formal tabulation. Ballots provide for three votes, in sequence of preference, for actors, actresses, new personalities — male and female separately, showman and industry man, and producer and director. Previous Allied awards in the past two years were received in person by, among others. Rock Hudson, Lana Turner, Tony Curtis, Maureen O’Hara, Walter Mirisch, and Otto Preminger. 'Miracles' Set for COMPO Plan in Cincinnati Area CINCINNATI — “Pocketful of Miracles” has been selected as the first picture to be merchandised in the Cincinnati exchange territory under the so-called COMPO plan, starting December 27. Jack Haynes of the Shor circuit, chairman of the Central Exhibitors’ Committee, said that a total of 83 situations in three zones were eligible to participate in the promotion of the United Artists-Frank Capra production. Among the circuits joining in the venture will be the Chakeres, Shor, Schine, Shea, Northio, Sam Isaac, Davidson, Yassenoff, Aaron and a large number of independent exhibitors. “Pocketful of Miracles” will be followed in mid-January by 20th Century-Fox’s “Bachelor Flat.” Also under consideration by the committee are MGM’s “Colossus of Rhodes” and Columbia’s “Sail a Crooked Ship.” The COMPO plan here will cover parts of Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. UA Retitles Wisdom Film NEW YORK — United Artists has changed the American release title of Norman Wisdom’s picture, “Girl on the Boat,” to “Lady for a Knight.” Wisdom, who starred in UA’s previous British release, “There Was a Crooked Man,” is supported in “Lady for a Knight” by Millicent Martin and Athene Seyler. Nathan Goldens Sail to Paris WASHINGTON— Nathan D. Golden, director, Scientific, Photographic and Business Equipment Division, U. S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C., and Mrs. Golden sailed on the Queen Elizabeth on November 1 for a vacation and to attend the International Photographic Show in Paris, November 9-20. They will return on November 29. 6 BOXOFFICE :: November 6, 1961