Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

MORE QUALITY FILMS FOR 1963 THAN IN 1962, HYMAN PREDICTS Exhibitors to Have 16 New Films For Christmas From 11 Majors Thanks Exhibitors for Response to Orderly Release Campaign NEW YORK — With the issuance of his new interim release schedule, covering the product of 12 distributors through July, 1963, Edward L. Hyman, vice president of American Broadcasting Paramount Theatres, predicted that 1963 will see the release of more quality product than did 1962. He expressed his gratitude for the aid extended by exEdward L. Hyman ^ibitors to his campaign for orderly distribution of product throughout the year. LAUDS COMMITTEE OF 100 At a luncheon meeting on November 27 with the tradepress at AB-PT headquarters here, Hyman reviewed his six-year campaign for orderly distribution, aimed at elimination of the so-called “orphan periods” in the second and fourth quarters of each year. He said he was “deeply pleased” by the tremendous response of exhibitors to his plea that they write the distributors and ask for better distribution in April, May and June, and he paid particular tribute to the Committee of 100, exhibitors from all parts of the country and others who backed his campaign. As a result of the outpom’ing of letters, he said that on his last visit to the distributors he found them revising their planning and scheduling for better distribution of quality product in the first six months of 1963. Hyman warned exhibitors that they must cooperate with producers and distributors by advertising, publicizing and promoting the quality product made available to them, in order to prove to the distributors and producers that such product can cure any “orphan period.” ‘QUANTITY NOT SO VITAL’ In answer to a question from the press, Hyman said that “numbers of pictures in and of themselves mean nothing to our industry. As we have said over the years, one outstanding quality picture can consume ten to 15 weeks of playing time and count for more to the exhibitor in increased attendance than any number of ordinary pictures. Attendance is the key to success or failure in our business. Quality pictures and full houses are synonymous. Mere numbers of pictures will never create maximum attendance. This can only be achieved through quality pictures.” Hyman said that 3,000 copies of his interim release schedule will be distributed to exhibitors, distributors and producers. By FRANK LEYENDECKER NEW YORK — Exhibitors will have a choice of 16 new December releases for playdates during the 1962 Christmas season from the 11 major companies. In addition, there will be several films playing prerelease dates, including “Gypsy” and “The Lion,” and others playing two-a-day in key cities across the country, these including “The Longest Day,” “Mutiny on the Bounty,” “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” “The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm,” and both “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Barabbas,” which Columbia has down for December. The regular December releases are headed by such ideal family entertainment as “Billy Rose’s Jiunbo,” the MGM musical from the Rodgers and Hart Broadway hit; “In Search of the Castaways,” a Walt Disney adventure film starring Hayley Mills; “Wonderful to Be Young,” British musical starring Cliff Richard, a teenage favorite; “Gigot,” starring Jackie Gleason; “Constantine and the Cross” and “Joseph and His Brethren,” both of them costume epics, as well as the aforementioned “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Barabbas,” which will be playing reserved-seat engagements, all of these being in color. “Billy Budd,” from the famed sea classic, and “It’s Only Money,” a Jerry Lewis comedy, are in black and white. For more adult tastes, the pictures are headed by “Freud,” which is called a “special release, “'Two for the Seesaw,” from the Broadway stage hit, and “The Quare Fellow,” the latter an Astor Pictures release. Embassy Pictures is also releasing “Divorce — Italian Style,” in an Englishdubbed version in December while Continental Distributing is putting “Rebel With a Cause,” renamed for “The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner,” into general release in December. All of these are blackand-white films. Of these 15 pictures, only “Jumbo,” “Two for the Seesaw,” “Gypsy” and “It’s Only Money,” were actually produced in Holly with initial copies going to those who made special efforts in behalf of orderly distribution. With the schedule, exhibitors can plan their campaigns far in advance and take full advantage of the quality product listed, he added. As is his custom, Hyman will visit the studios early next year to screen new product, view rushes on films in production and discuss new product with heads of production, producers and directors. Subsequently, he said, he will make his Report Prom Hollywood, detailing product which will be available for the remainder of 1963, with wood. All the others were filmed in Rome, Munich, Paris or England, the latter country having five of the 15. Broken down by companies, the December releases will be: ALLIED ARTISTS— “Billy Budd," which had pre-release engagements in November, will be generally shown in December. It was produced in England by Peter Ustinov who also stars with Robert Ryan, Meivyn Douglas and Terence Stamp in the title role. AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL — "Samson and the Seven Miracles of the World," produced in Italy in color, starring Gordon Scott and Yoko Tani. BUENA VISTA — "In Search of the Castaways," produced by Walt Disney in England in color, starring Hayley Mills, Maurice Chevalier, George Sanders and Wilfrid Hyde White. COLUMBIA — "Barabbas," produced by Dino DeLaurentiis in Italy in Technicolor, starring Anthony Quinn, Jack Palance, Silvana Mangano, Arthur Kennedy, Katy Jurado, Ernest Borgnine, Vittorio Gassman and Valentina Cortesa, and "Lawrence of Arabia," produced by Sam Spiegel and David Lean in England and Europe, in color, starring Anthony Quinn, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Jose Ferrer and Peter O'Toole in the title role. CONTINENTAL — "Rebel With a Cause" {formerly "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner"), made in England, starring Michael Redgrave with Tom Courtenay. EMBASSY — "Constantine and the Cross," produced in Italy in color, starring Cornel Wilde, Christine Kaufmann and Belinda Lee, and "Divorce — Italian Style," an English-dubbed version, starring Marcello Mastroianni with Daniela Rocca. MGM — "Billy Rose's Jumbo," in color, starring Doris Day, Stephen Boyd, Jimmy Durante and Martha Roye, and "Seven Seas to Calais," produced in England with Rod Taylor and Keith Michell starred. PARAMOUNT — "Wonderful to Be Young," made in England in color, starring Cliff Richard and Robert Morley and "It's Only Money," starring Jerry Lewis with Zachary Scott and Joan O'Brien. TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX — "Gigot," produced in Paris in color, starring Jackie Gleason, and the prerelease of "The Lion," produced in Africa in color, starring William Holden, Trevor Howard and Capucine. UNITED ARTISTS — "Two for the Seesaw," starring Shirley MacLaine and Robert Mitchum, and "Court Martial," produced in Germany with Karl Boehm and Sabina Sesselman. UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL — "Freud," produced in Munich by John Huston, starring Montgomery Clift, Susan Kohner, Larry Parks and Susannah York, listed as a special release. WARNER BROS. — "Gypsy," from the Broadway hit musical, starring Rosalind Russell, Natalie Wood and Karl Malden, is playing pre-release dates in December with national release in January. Of the other companies, Astor Pictures will release “The Quare Fellow,” from Brendan Behan’s play, filmed in Ireland with Patrick McGoohan and Sylvia Syms starred. Colorama will distribute “Joseph and his Brethren,” produced in Europe in color, starring Geoffrey Horne, Robert Morley and Belinda Lee, in December. special emphasis on quality releases expected in September and October. In the question and answer period following the luncheon, Hyman expressed “high regard” for Great Bidtain’s Eady Plan and said that it is deserving of exhibitor consideration and exhaustive investigation and appraisal to determine if “it is workable and can achieve the goals of increased production.” He singled out the Eady Plan over the ACE Plan, ECA and others and said that “any plan which embraces all elements (Continued on page 7) 4 BOXOmCE December 3, 1962