Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Exploits; Adi ines for Newspapers and Programs THE STORY: "Third of a Man" (UA) Doctor Whit Bissell, in charge of a hospital for the mentally ill, has complete sympathy for his patients and is sincerely /sattli interested in their rehabilitation. A hot-headed young towns ^oyalt’ man (the setting is a small community where the hospital is located), James Drury, has committed his older brother, Simon Oakland, to the institution, and fearing he would be ridiculed by his fellow citizens if he revealed the family "skeleton," has proceeded to forget the other's existence. Hope for the older man s future is shown, however, in the innocence and the friendship and trust extended by a small boy, Jimmy Gaines, illegitimate son of a Drury romance with local girl Jan Shepard, EXPLOITIPS; Group therapy, an important facet delineated here, can be openly discussed in a forum, either in newspaper or radioTV atmosphere Drury is starred in new NBC-TV 90-minute weekly show. The Virginian. CATCHLINES: Psycho Shockerl . . . Three Persons! One Personality! The Drama They Live! The Lives They Touch! THE STORY: "Carry On, Teacher" (Governor) Ted Roy, kind, forbearing and respected headmaster of a British grammar school, is submitting his application for another post when the school board dispatches two examiners to look into his management ability and qualifications, thus setting off a not wholly anticipated stream of idiotic misadventures involving the students and climaxing in a school performance of "Romeo and Juliet." EXPLOITIPS: lAk Get out file photos of some of the best-remembered "Carry nrplii'r On" sequences — "Carry On, Nurse," "Carry On, Constable"— for lobby display purposes. Conduct a stage "matching" competition, comparing affable ladies' girth with measurements hazarded about Hattie Jacques, the indominitable matron of "Carry On, Nurse." CATCHLINES: "Nothing But Nothing Is Funnier Than . . . 'CARRY ON, TEACHER, the Newest CARRY ON' Howl-Maker!" "Rowdy! Risque! Riotous!" . . . "The Howlingest, Blushingest Lesson in Physical Education, 1962!" THE STORY: "The Longest Day" (20lh-Fox) As D-Day dawned in 1944, the American forces planned an invasion of the Normandy beaches in France, which were f.Aprt defended by German defense works. First, paratroopers ■May' were dropped on Ste. Mere-Eglise, to the amazement of the '^of French civilians, and, while the German military might remained disbelieving that the Allies would make the landing attempt, the American forces landed. While many of them were dropped on Ste. Mere-Eglise, to the amazement of the bombed the German forces. Because Hitler was sleeping late on D-Day, his tanks could not be forced until late in the afternoon. When they finally reached the beachhead, the tanks were wiped out and the Germans were forced to surrender to the might of the American, British and French forces combined. EXPLOITIPS: The 42-star cast should be the film's biggest selling point, especially for the teenagers who thrill to Paul Anka, Fabian and Tommy Sands, as singing idols, and Richard Beymer, Jeffrey Hunter, Sal Mineo, as leading men. John Wayne, Robert Mitdhum, Henry Fonda and Robert Ryan will attract women patrons. CATCHLINES: June 6, 1944, Went Down As a Red-Letter Day To Be Remembered As Long As Men Honor Courage and Value Freedom . . . Forty-Two American, British and French Stars in the Picturization of Cornelius Ryan's Best-Selling Book. THE STORY: "Where the Truth Lies" (Para) In a small seacoast village in France, Jean-Marc Bory, young veterinarian, is called out at night to care for a sick cheetah belonging to Juliette Greco, a former African explorer who practices voodoo. Although Bory is devoted to his wife, Liselotte Pulver, he is strangely drown to Juliette and they become secret lovers. Bory even plans to return to Africa with Juliette until a series of accidents starts happening to his wife, including a near-drowning and poisoning. Bory thinks the only way to save Liselotte's life is to go away with Juliette. 'Their cor goes dead as they are half-way across the rapidly flooding causeway and Juliette drowns as she jroject attempts to rescue her suitcase. Later, Liselotte breaks 2;35-' down and confesses that it was she who had attempted suicide time and again to keep Bory from leaving her. Overcome with guilt, Bory gives himself up. EXPLOITIPS: Play up Juliette Greco as the French chanteuse who starred in "A Crack in the Mirror," "The Big Gamble" and other Darryl F. Zanuck films. Liselotte Pulver, one of Germany's top stars, starred in "A Time to Love" and, more recently, as the flighty typist in Billy Wilder's "One, Two, Three." CATCHLINES: Her Evil Spell Held Him in a Death-Like Grasp . . . Juliette Greco, France's Popular Film Star, and Liselotte Pulver, Germany's Top Film Player, in a Drama of Voodoo Spells in Today's Modern World. THE STORY: "I Spit on Your Grave" (Audubon) Christian Marquand, a Negro, is pale-skinned (because of a white grandmother) and can pass for white. His brother is lynched by an angry mob because the boy wanted to marry a white girl. The tragedy makes Marquand leave his Memphis home and go to the small town of Crestow, where he is accepted as white. He attracts the attention of the town's young girls, including heiress Antonella Lualdi, daughter of the town's wealthiest family. Antonella's fiance, Paul Guers, jealous, ferrets out Marquond's background. At a party celebrating Antonella's engagement to Guers, Marquand becomes interested in Antonella's sister (Renate Ewert) and then attempts to kill Antonella to avenge his brother's death. He realizes, however, that he loves her, and Antonella, returning the feeling, is prepared to sacrifice everything for him. Guers, meanwhile, discloses to Antonella s sister that the man to whom she has given herself, is a Negro. By spreading the idea that Marquand has carried off Antonella in order to rape her, Guers causes a manhunt and he, Marquand and Antonella ore killed. EXPLOITIPS: Recommend this strictly for the over-21 age element, incorporating the line in all newspaper advertising and outdoor promotion. “ CATCHLINES: 'The Film That Defies Every Taboo! ... He Knew What He Was — Yet He Lusted After This Girl! THE STORY: "Hot Money Girl" (UPRO) As the Nazi SS thunder at his castle's door. General Willy Witte of the German underground takes leave of American OSS man Eddie Constantine, whom he has been hiding in his cellar, promising that his 15-year-old daughter. Dawn Addams, will guide him to safety. Constantine is entrusted with delivering a package to the Mother Superior of a Czechoslovakian convent on his escape route. Witte commits suicide in the presence of aide Marius Goring. After the war. Goring approaches Eddie with a $5,000 offer to disclose whereabouts of the box. Goring and Constantine persuade Dawn to join them in an attempt to recover the box (containing the Witte family jewels) from behind the Iron Curtain. Back in West Germany, later, Constantine finds Goring dead in his apartment; the police charge Constantine with murder and also bring in Dawn on an implication charge. The interrogation, however, brings out significant factors to Constantine. He leaps on the already moving Munich Express, recovers the jewels, brings Nadine and her aides to justice. EXPLOITIPS: The West Berlin Wall continues to hold Page One prominence; get columnists to interview people who have been on the east side of Berlin. CATCHLINES: She Was Trash; She Would Do Anything for a Price! . . . Racing for Time, for Love, Behind the Iron Curtain! BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: Oct. 15, 1962