Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

BOASBERG AND DAVIS EXPRESS OPTIMISM $80 Million Will Be Spent On 26 Paramount Films Edward Morey Presides At Allied Artists Meet NEW YORK — Edward Morey, vicepresident of Allied Artists, presided at a special meeting of the company’s executives at the home office Monday, Nov. 26, to introduce the newly appointed general sales manager, Ernest Sands, to key personnel stationed in other parts of the coimtry and to confer on current and forthcoming product. Current pictures discussed included Samuel Bronston’s “El Cid’’ and “Billy Budd,” which Peter Ustinov produced, as well as the recently announced “55 Days at Peking,” the Bronston picture which will be the keystone of AA product for 1963; Philip Yordan’s “Day of the Triffids,” completed, and his forthcoming “The Thin Red Line”: Blake Edwards’ “Soldier in the Rain” and “The Great Gunfighters,” the latter to star Audie Murphy, and Herman Cohen’s “The Black Zoo,” currently filming in Hollywood. Those who attended the New York meet ing included: Harold Wirthwein, western division manager: L. E. Goldhammer, eastern division manager: Nat Nathanson, Chicago, James Hobbs, Atlanta: John Dervin of the home office: Nat Furst, New York branch manager: Robert Sherman, AA special representative for “El Cid,” and Roy Brewer, administrative sales assistant. Harold Roth, director of sales, western hemisphere, for Bronston’s “El Cid” and the forthcoming “55 Days at Peking,” discussed the sales policies for these two AA releases on November 26, while the second day of the meeting was devoted to individual conferences among the sales executives. Sands made two AA appointments : James Hobbs of Atlanta, as supervisor of the Charlotte and Jacksonville branches, and Nat Nathanson of Chicago, supervisor of the Milwaukee and Indianapolis branch offices, both to increase efficiency and coordination in sales operation. Colpix Names Lawrence National Sales Head NETW YORK — Ray Lawrence has been named national sales manager of Colpix Records, a subsidiary of Columbia Pictures, according to Jerry Raker, general manager of Colpix. Lawrence has been with Colpix for the past month on the sales staff and, prior to joining the record company, he served as branch manager of Cosnat Distributors in Los Angeles, having helped launch Cosnat’s west coast operations and moving up to the post of branch manager from sales manager. NEW YORK — The forthcoming release of 26 Paramount Pictures productions, now either completed, filming or in active production and representing an investment of $80,000,000, was viewed enthusiastically at a home office meeting here Friday (23) by Charles Boasberg, vice-president and general sales manager, and Martin Davis, director of advertising and publicity. Addressing a special joint meeting of the world sales and advertising-publicity departments, Boasberg predicted that Paramount is on the threshold of one of the most successful business periods in its history, adding that “in all my years in the motion picture industry, I have never been associated with such an array of outstanding product. The high quality of these pictures and their high costs of production give us a great responsibility in their handling.” “ALL IN ‘TOP A’ CATEGORY” Boasberg said that he was pleased that “we have not diluted our programs with a lot of in-between pictures. Everyone of them is in a top ‘A’ category, and I know that we have the manpower to fully realize their potential.” He said that the enthusiasm for the pictures, both at Paramount and among exhibitors, would “help us to accomplish what we have to accomplish — the most consistent string of ‘money’ pictures ever released by Paramount.” Referring to the joint special meeting of sales, advertising and publicity departments, Boasberg said that it showed “a new spirit at work” in the company in which “we can no longer think in terms of divisions of sales, advertising, publicity and production. A cooperative effort, linking all segments of our company in New York, Hollywood, the field and abroad, is the only way to achieve our goals.” Also attending the meeting were Barney Balaban, president of Paramount Pictures, and Paul Raibourn, senior vicepresident. BIG DEALS UNDER WAY Boasberg noted that both he and Davis “came away thrilled” from recent visits to the studio where they saw many of the forthcoming releases in complete or rough form. He said that a number of important deals will be announced under the accelerated production program ordered by Balaban, George Weltner, executive vice-president, and Jack Karp, studio vice-president. Announced for release in the first six months of 1963 were; “Who’s Got the Action?” January; “A Girl Named Tamiko,” February; “Papa’s Delicate Condition,” March pre-release, Easter saturations; “War and Peace,” (reissue), March; “My Six Loves,” April (Easter) ; “The Man Who Knew Too Much,” (reissue), and “The Trouble With Harry,” (reissue). May; “Hud” May (Decoration Day) ; “Gun Charles Boasberg Martin Davis fight at the O. K. Corral,” (reissue), June. Tentatively set for summer are “Paris When It Sizzles,” “'The Nutty Professor,” “Come Blow Your Horn” and “Donovan’s Reef.” Figuring prominently in Paramount’s future release schedule are: “All the Way Home,” “ First Wife,” “Holiday in Acapulco,” “Samantha,” “Becket,” “Every Wednesday Night,” “Port Fury,” an untitled Jerry Lewis comedy, “The Carpetbaggers,” “Circus” and “Dear and Glorious Physician.” The company executives pointed out that Paramount will continue indefinitely with its program of re-releases backed by all new merchandising campaigns. Gross Percentage Fee Opposed by Pasternak NEW YORK — Producer Joe Pasternak is not opposed to a performer receiving a high fee on a percentage basis for starring in a picture, but the fee should come from the net and not the gross. Pasternak, currently on tour in the interest of his Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production of “BiUy Rose’s Jumbo,” said that it was unfair for a star to take money from capital. While defending some high fees paid to players, Pasternak said it was all right for an actor to receive a million dollars, if the picture earned it, but to accept a fee from the gross was unfair to the company and to the stockholders. Actually, Pasternak said, a star is not paid for his perfonnance but for his drawing power. If a picture is good without a star, then an exhibitor should get out and work and build interest, the producer said. He pointed out that his “Where the Boys Are” had no top stars and yet had grossed more than $4,000,000 in the domestic market alone. He cited several pictures with big stars that did not gross half of what “Boys” had grossed. Pasternak is on a tour of 24 cities for “Jumbo.” He said the picture would open in 400 cities during the Christmas holidays, including Berlin, Hamburg and London. The producer’s next picture will be “Moon Walk,” after which he has five more films to make for MGM under his present agreement. Edward Morey Ernest Sands BOXOFFICE December 3, 1962 9