Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

^cfront •By CHRIS DUTRA international multiple -picture deal has been finalized between Steve BarclayHarvey Hayutin and the Italian producing firm. Galatea, one of Italy’s largest producing-distributing companies — calling for the latter to provide the major portion of financing for a schedule of films to be made in association with other producing companies both in Europe and the United States. The deal marks the first time an Italian company has entered into the financing and producing of a motion picture aimed at the American market. The first film under the new deal will be “Dark Purpose,” which will be produced by Barclay and stars Shirley Jones and Rossano Brazzi which Universal-International will cofinance in return for the American and Canadian distribution rights. The film is budgeted at $1,700,000 in color with principal photography slated for February 11 in Italy with George Marshall directing. The film will be the first of Marshall’s twopicture deal with the newly formed organization. Producer Barclay revealed that he is currently researching a film which will be shot in the U. S surrounding the early explorer Cadillac, who founded the city of Detroit. f Columbia Pictures will spend a reported $25,000 for an exploitation short, “AnnMargret’s Scrapbook,” to be made in connection with promotion of “Bye Bye Birdie.” George Sidney will produce and direct the eight-minute compilation of clips from the actress’ career. Sidney said footage will be used for both theatrical distribution and as a television trailer. Jack Atlas and Joe Anson are scripting with release scheduled prior to the April release of “Bye Bye Birdie” . . . Brett Halsey heads to Rome in December to start his stellar role in Adelphia Productions “The Naked Blade,” an 18th Century drama. He is currently before the cameras here costarring with Vincent Price in “The Corpse Makers” which United Artists will release . . . Tony Randall and Bm-1 Ives have been set for starring roles in “The Brass Bottle,” for producer Robert Arthur at Universal International . . . George Chakiris will costar with Yul Brynner in “The Mound Builders,” rolling early next year for the Mirisch Co. J. Lee Thompson directs for producer Lewis Rachmil. United Artists will release. 1^ Leon Fromkess, veteran production executive in motion pictures and television, has clo.sed a deal with Steve Broidy to make five features for Allied Artists in 1963. The first will be “The Long Corridor,” a suspense shocker to be produced and directed by Samuel Fuller, who also penned the original screenplay. The film is slated to roll in Hollywood in January . . . Tuesday Weld has terminated her term contract with 20th Century-Fox Studios. The actress was originally signed in 1958 . . . Claire Huffaker has signed with Maxwell Arnow of GAC for representation as writer-producer and packager for Huffaker’s Lucifer Productions, with the first package to be “Whisper of Thunder,” coproduction be tween Lucifer and Producers Studio president Fred Jordan ... A film version of “Flying Saucerama,” book by Dr. Frank E. Stranges, will be written-directed-produced by John K. McCarthy, president of Sonic Productions, rolling in January with a budget of about $200,000. !!S" Van Heflin has been signed to play the role of Bar Amand in George Stevens’ production of “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” for United Artists, now shooting on location near Page, Ariz. Heflin joins the stellar cast headed by Max von Sydow, Charlton Heston, John Wayne, Sidney Poitier, Roddy McDowall and Michael Anderson jr . . . Actor Chuck Connors has been signed to an exclusive Universal contract which will become effective following completion of his starring role in MGM’s “Flipper.” Connors just completed production of the fifth season of his teleseries, “Rifleman,” which he leaves to take the new pact . . . Bud Townsend has been added as a director on the staff of Filmways of California, Inc., it was announced by Will Cowan, vice-president in charge of production. Townsend’s contract, effective immediately, is on a non-exclusive basis, permitting him to obtain leaves of absence to direct theatrical features or television programs. “Who Is My Love?” a suspense-love story, scheduled for production in February, 1963, under Richard Widmark’s Heath Productions banner, has been postponed until early fall. Author John Paxton has just completed the final script which Widmark will begin filming immediately following completion of his starring role in Columbia’s “The Long Ships,” rolling February 18 in Yugoslavia for director Jack Cardiff and producer Irving Allen. Widmark has just returned from Japanese location filming of “Flight Fi'om Ashiya” via Hong Kong, Bangkok, New Delhi and Beirut, where he scouted locations for his future productions before stopping for a week’s conference with Columbia executives in London . . . Peter Sellers has arrived in Rome to replace Peter Ustinov in ‘"The Pink Panther,” Blake Edwards Production for the Mirisch Company and United Artists release. He joins the star-studded cast headed by David Niven, Capucine, Robert Wagner and Claudia Cardinale. Martin Jurow is producer. ff' Following up on the current hunt to find a new “Gidget” to play the title role in Jerry Bresler’s forthcoming “Gidget Goes to Rome” for Columbia Pictures, Billy Gordon, Columbia executive in charge of talent, has written to 86 American colleges and universities, spreading the talent hunt to campuses in all 50 states. School officials are asked to send photographs, tape recordings and, where possible, 16mm color films of students who could qualify in the “Gidget” search. The film is scheduled to begin production on location in Rome early next spring. Challenges Exhibitors To Meet Film Effort MIAMI BEACH — Declaring that his company would go all out to bring top attractions to exhibition. Rube J a c k t e r, Columbia Pictures vice-president and general sales manager, challenged exhibitors to meet this effort with equivalent merchandising and showmanship efforts of their own. Jackter referred to scenes from four upcoming Columbia films, which were Rube Jackter shown to exhibitors at the Theatre Owners of America convention, and added, “We are prepared to shoot the works in Hollywood as well as all over the globe.” He listed 16 productions slated by Columbia and he pointed out that “each picture is a project of its own. Each is produced individually and must be merchandised individually.” He said Columbia is prepared to meet the challenge of the future and asked exhibitors to cooperate with proper merchandising. “Meeting the challenge,” he concluded, “is as much in your hands as it is in ours; you have the answer. What will your answer be?” AIP Has Six Films Ready For Release Jan. to June NEW YORK — American International, which will have 12 features for release in 1962, ending with “Samson and the Seven Miracles of the World,” starring Gordon Scott and Yoko Tani, for release December 19, already has six features completed for release during the first six months of 1963. They are “The Raven,” from the Edgar Allan Poe classic, in Panavision and color, starring Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff, for January release; “The Pit,” a British pictm-e starring Dirk Bogarde and Mary Ure, for release in February; “The Seafighters,” a submarine picture starring Tab Hunter, Frankie Avalon and Scott Brady, ready for March release; “Schizo,” starring John Saxon and Leticia Roman, for April release; “The Young Racers,” in color, starring Mark Damon and Bill Campbell, to be released in May, and “Haunted Village,” in Panavision and color, starring Ray Milland and Debra Paget, to be released in June 1963. Of these six pictures, five were made in the U.S., in contrast to 1962 which had only “Panic in the Year Zero,” “Tales of Terror,” “Twist All Night” and “The Brain That Wouldn’t Die” made in the U.S. out of the 12 AIP releases. WB Retitles Rose Picture NEW YORK — “The Incredible Mr. Limpet” will be the release title of Warner Bros.’ live-action and animation feature formerly called “Be Careful How You Wish.” The Technicolor picture was produced by John Rose and directed by Arthur Lubin with Don Knotts, Carole Cook and Andrew Duggan featured. 12 BOXOFFICE :: November 19, 1962