Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

Opinions on Current Productions Feature reviews Symbol Q denotes color; Clnen-ioScope; ® Visto Vision; |D Superscope; 0 Ponovision; ^ Regolscope; (X Techniromo. For story synopsis on each picture, see reverse sioo. fIRh A Gill Named Tamiko ails scons Ratio: Drama 2.35-1 ® © Paramount (6210) 110 Minutes Rel. Feb. '63 Hal Wallis' production of a romantic drama laid in modernday Japan is absorbing fare, splendidly acted, especially by Laurence Harvey and Martha Hyer, against some of the most magnificent backgrounds ever captured by the Technicolor cameras. It compares favorably with both "Sayonara" and "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing," which were top boxoffice hits in 1957 and 1955, respectively. Director John Sturges has guided Harvey to give his finest performance since "Room at the Top" while Miss Hyer has never before approached this many-faceted portrayal with its sexy overtones. It's a role which should put her in the top bracket. Also fine are France Nuyen, in the title role of a cultured Japanese girl, and Miyoshi Umeki, who speaks quaint pidgin-English as a friendly "B" girl, two vividly constrasting performances. Michael Wilding and Gary Merrill also make strong impressions in lesser ports and Lee Patrick contributes a few acid comedy touches. The screenplay by Edward Anhalt, based on a novel by Ronald Kirkbride, deals with a handsome half-breed Oriental and the three women who love him — a sure-fire subject to attract women fans — and Sturges maintains interest throughout. The haunting theme music by Elmer Bernstein is another asset. Laurence Harvey, France Nuyen, Martha Hyer, Gary Merrill, Miyoshi Umeki, Michael Wilding, Lee Patrick. Tower of London Ratio: Horror 1.85-1 Drama United Artists (6234) 79 Minutes Rel. Nov. '62 Moviegoers of all ages, and in all countries where the Vincent Price name has gone hand-in-hand with out-and-out horror entertainment, can look to this Gorman Brothers (Roger and Gene) attraction for reasonably satisfying moments, although the sticklers for logic in dramatic denouement are likely to poke no little scorn or ridicule at events transpiring in an admittedly grisly chapter of British court history. Price is a veritable bastion of dramatic impact, bringing realism to the difficult delineation of a jealously insane court attache bent on ruling all of Britain despite sizable opposition in the persons of several ranking individuals. Price manages to surmount inadequacies in plotting (script is by Leo V. Gordon, Amos Powell and James B. Gordon) and there's rousing support indeed from Joan Camden, as his doomed wife, and Michael Pate, a chap not given to observance of scruples, the latter two aiding and abetting the mad Price scheme right up to the time when even the youngest sprout in the viewing audience can readily surmise that all's lost ini the Price-campaignfor-thethrone. Roger Gorman, the director, and Gene Gorman, the producer, have worked admirably enough in modest expenditures and they're to be congratulated anew. Vincent Price, Michael Pate, Joan Freeman, Robert Brown, Richard McCauly, Joan Camden. Nude Odyssey Ratio: Adventure Drama 2.35-1 Totalscope © Davis-Royal 97 Minutes Rel. Oct. '62 Scenically magnificent but dramatically rambling and episodic, this romantic adventure filmed in Tahiti by Produzione Cinemotografiche Mediterronee and CineritzFrancinex is the first release of Davis-Royal, Columbia's subsidiary for special and foreign films. Filmed in Italian, the picture has now been dubbed and supplied with English narration to make it suitable for general showings. But, with no familiar cast names, it is better suited to downtown exploitation houses, which could stress the title and the scantily clad island maidens. In this respect, it's a minor league "Mutiny on the Bounty." Actually, there's no real nudity and the plot is rather tame. But, as a come-on for tourist travel to Tahiti, the Eastman Color photography by Allesandro D'Eve lingers on island vistas with white beaches, gorgeous sunsets, native rites and dancing, drinking and love-making with seemingly insatiable native girls. The story deals with a jaded Italian trying to escape his unhappy romantic past in Polynesia but the spectator will be far more interested in the scenic backgrounds. The Tahitian scenery is the picture's real star. Directed by Franco Rossi, who collaborated on the screenplay. Enrico Maria Salerno, Patricia Donlon, Venontino Venantini, Elisabeth Logue. Ratio: 1.85-1 Prison Drama 20 ( >023 The Quare Fellow Astor Pictures 8-5 Minutes Rel. Dec. '62 A powerful study of life in an Irish penal institution, this Anthony Havelock-Allan production is outstanding art house fare which is certain to build on critical acclaim and favorable word-of-mouth. The first of Brendan Behan's plays to be filmed, it is the unpredictable author whose name will attract class patrons, although Sylvia Syms is known through "The World of Suzie Wong" and the recent 'Victim." Made on location in Ireland, the picture has great realism, as regards the prison routine, the atmosphere in the pubs and the salty language, as well as dramatic force and suspense. Well directed by Arthur Dreifuss, who did the screenplay and adaptation of Behan's play (the title is Irish slang for a man condemned to be hanged), the film is grim fore with some lighter touches and is best suited to adult audiences. For the chief feminine character, the wife of the condemned man who killed because of her infidelity, wins audience sympathy despite her misdeeds and Miss Syms' portrayal is unquestionably her finest to date. Patrick McGoohan, a finelooking, rugged actor who has been seen in the "Danger Man" TV series, makes a strong impression as a young prison warder, as does Walter Macken, playing a veteran warder. This film rcttes extra selling. Patrick McGoohan, Sylvia Syms, Walter Macken, Harry Brogan, Marie Kean, Dermot Kelly, Hilton Edwards. Maxime Si Interworld Film Dist. 93 Minutes Rel. Nov. '62 The Gharles Boyer of aplomb, impeccable manner cmd suave, soothing conversation is with us anew, as charming as ever, as convincing and appealing as in the old days, and the sizable adult market that's w'otched this international thespian's stature enhanced with the inevitable passage of time should look to the latest Gallic import for considerable quantities of enjoyment and entertainment. It has been wisely dubbed for America, the Henri Vemeuil direction deftly handling the adaptation by Albert Valentin, Henri Jeanson and himself from the Henri Duvernois novel, lowbi Michele Morgan, a thespion of equally international reator? known and respect, provides a stirring delineation as the woman, worldly and wise, torn between compassion for an aging man-obout-Poris (M. Boyer) and the wealthy, boorish Felix Marten. But it's essentially M. Boyer's picture — in the time-honored Boyer tradition, a tradition that has brought the adult crowds flocking to theatres in towns big and small for so many years. The yarn's bittersweet ending — the younger woman pairs off with the young man — adheres to the accepted Gallic atmosphere of living life for today and nary a core for the morrow, and M. Verneuil's direction has poignantly, perceptively captured the manner and mold of that particular genre. Sell this for the over-21 element. Charles Boyer, Michele Morgan, Felix Marten, Arletty. 'rNT Lovers on a Tight Rope Interworld Film Dist. 83 Minutes Rel. Dec. '62 Taut in the fondly remembered "Diabolique" and "Rififi" tradition, this Gallic creation, dubbed for the North American market, provides resounding adventure certain to satisfy the action crowd in the larger markets of the U.S. and Ganada. The small town audience may find what transpires a bit too sophisticated for their taste. The Panda Film Production, ably produced by Robert Giriez Daubigny and competently directed by Jean-Ghorles Dudrumet, is based on the Michel Lebrun novel, "The Tight Rope," and no small credit is due the suspenseful adaptation by Roland Laudenbach and M. Dudrumet. Principal roles in this love triangle expanded to intrigue are assigned to Annie Girardot, a firstrate thespian best remembered from Astor's Italian import, "Rocco and His Brothers," and Francois Perier, as the husband who realizes at the 11th hour that his wife has deceived him with the brother of his business partner. Pierre Gueguen was responsible for some strikingly effective photography, particularly in the closing sequences, when the wronged husband is on the rapid move after wife and heretofore unidentified charmer. As the man who plays footsies with the wife, Gerard Buhr is properly suave, smooth-talking, changing to a hand-wringing doomed tragedian. Annie Girardot, Francois Perier, Gerard Buhr, Georges Descrieres, Henri Cremieug, Genevieve Brunet. The reviews on these pages may be filed for future reference in any of the following ways: (1) in any standard three-ring loose-leaf binder; (2) Individually, by company. In any standard 3x5 card index file; or (3) in the BOXOFFICE PICTURE GUIDE three-ring, pocket-size binder. The latter, including a year's supply of booking and daily business record sheets, may be obtained from Associated Publications, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 24, Mo., for $1.00, postage ^id. 2688 BOXOFFICE BookinGuide Dec. 3, 1962 2S87