Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

Catholic Bishops Urge Classification Law WASHINGTON — Legislation for advisory film classification wherever exhibitors do not voluntarily label films as suitable for children was termed an “urgent need in our society” by five Catholic bishops making up a committee for movies, radio and TV, which pledged its support of such legislation. The statement of the committee, headed by Archbishop John J. Krol of Philadelphia, noted “marked improvement in this year’s domestic film production,” but expressed concern over “the increased screening of questionable foreign and independent films in neighborhood and family-trade theatres.” SELECTION UP TO PARENTS The committee agreed that parents have the primary right to guide children in their motion picture attendance, but charged that because of a “lack of reliable advice on the acceptability of the films playing in their local theatres, parents are frequently unable to discharge this duty.” The committee commended theatremen who have instituted voluntary advisory classification and expressed hope that the industry, particularly exhibitors, “will devise a satisfactory system” of such classification.” However, where exhibitors refuse to adopt classification voluntarily, the committee said it would lend its support to enabling legislation in the states which would authorize state or municipal education departments or other suitable agencies to publish advisory classifications of films suitable for children. THROUGH ‘COMPETENT’ GROUPS “We shall urge,” the statement said, “that the actual work of classification be entrusted to departments or agencies of proved qualification and competence, and which enjoy the respect and confidence of parents.” Other members of the committee included Bishops James V. Casey of Lincoln and Walter W. Curtis of Bridgeport, and Auxiliary Bishops John A. Donovan of Detroit and Timothy Manning of Los Angeles. Harvey Jacobson Named Filmgroup Sales Chief HOLLYWOOD — Roger Corman, president of Filmgroup, announced that the company’s executive vice-president Harvey Jacobson has been appointed general sales manager. At the same time, Jacobson announced that he will expand the distribution organization in order to accommodate these new releases: “Battle Beyond the Sun,” in color and VistaScope, January 9; “Dementia” and “Night Tide,” a suspense terror combination bill, March 6, and “The Terror,” in color and VistaScope, starring Boris Karloff, April 17. Filmgroup features are dist.ributed in association with American International Pictures. 'Checkered Flag' Ready Soon for MPI Release Kansas City — Richard Orear, treasurer of Motion Picture Investors, Inc., and president of Commonwealth Theatres, announced last Wednesday that production of “The Checkered Flag,” a sports car-racing story, produced by Guild Studios 5, Inc., was nearing completion and would be ready for screenings within a week or ten days. Filmed in Eastman Color, “The Checkered Flag” has a fast-moving story of love, intrigue and murder, in addition to an unusual racing story line, according to Orear. Its filming took place in Nassau, British West Indies, and Sebring and Miami, Fla. Starring are Joe Morrison, Charles G. Martin and Evelyn King under the production guidance of Herbert Vendig. MPI supplied the completion money for “The Checkered Flag,” and will release this picture in late January or early February with “Trigger Happy,” which was released through PatheAlpha Distributing Corp. under the title of “The Deadly Companions.” Filmed in Technicolor, this production stars Maureen O’Hara, Brian Keith, Steve Cochran and Chill Wills. MPI will package “Checkered Flag” and “Trigger Happy” for which a complete line of advertising and exploitation material is being created. Saturations by territories will be the general method of distributing these pictures. Film of First Lady's Tour To Be Distributed by UA WASHINGTON— The half-hour film of the First Lady’s tour of India and Pakistan will be released to motion picture theatres in the U.S. by United Artists, it was announced this week by Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Ass’n of America. The U.S. Information Agency agreed to grant the motion picture industry’s request for domestic distribution of the film following unanimous Senate approval of a resolution urging its release in the U.S. Generally, USIA films are not shown in the U.S. The picture, titled “Jacqueline Kennedy’s Asian Journey,” will be released starting in December. United Artists was selected as distributor through a drawing held among MPAA member companies. UA will pay all distribution costs and any profits from the showings will go to USIA to furnish additional prints to supply overseas requests for the film. TTie picture was narrated by Raymond Massey, directed by Leo Seltzer, written by Doris Ransohoff and supervised by George Stevens Jr., director of USIA Motion Picture Service. Harold Rand Named To 20th-Fox Post NEW YORK — Harold Rand has resigned as director of publicity for Joseph E. Levine’s Embassy Pictures to accept the newly created post of director of world publicity for 20th Century -Fox, according to Charles Einfeld, vice-president in charge of advertising, publicity and exploitation. He starts his new duties at 20thFox December 17. In his new 20thFox duties, Rand will supervise all phases of the company’s publicity operations, including studio and international production, domestic and foreign distribution and matters relating to subsidiarj" companies. Prior to joining Embassy a few months ago, Rand was president of Blank-Rand Associates, a New York public relations firm. Previously, he had been in promotional posts with various film companies, including 20th-Fox, where he stayed eight years, with Paramount for two years and with Walt Disney’s Buena Vista distributing company for two years before that. Entertainment Corp. Makes Film Deal With Mitchum NEW YORK — Entertainment Corp. of America has closed a deal with Robert Mitchum’s Talbot Productions for four pictures to be ready for release over a period of three years, according to Max E. Youngstein, president of the new company. Two of the pictures will star Mitchum while the other two will be made with other stars. Mitchum and Yoimgstein have been associated with many projects during the 11 years the latter was with United Artists, including the current “Two for the Seesaw” and “Not As a Stranger.” “We are at the present time examining numerous properties and the announcement of specific pictures will be made soon,” Yoimgstein said. This deal is the first for Entertainment Corp. and the company hopes to start the first picture under the agreement by the spring of 1963. Seven Companies Gain In October Dividends WASHINGTON — Seven film industry coi’porations for October declared $1,627,000 in dividends, which was a gain from the $1,353,000 paid by the same companies in that month last year. For the first ten months of 1962 the total climbed to $19,480,000, only $630,000 under the same months during the previous year. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which paid 40 cents a share in October 1961, increased to 50 cents a share on a greater number of outstanding shares in October of this year. The company paid $1,263,000 for that month, compared to $1,002,000 in October 1961. Harold Rand 8 BOXOFFICE :: December 3, 1962