Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

^efiont -°1 CHRIS DUTRA ^CTOR NICK ADAMS, through his Hondo Productions, which owns screen rights to M. H. Davis’ novel “The Naked Lover,” has assigned the author to write the screenplay . . . Du-ector Lewis Milestone has finalized a deal with Abby Greshler’s Diamond Artists, Ltd., to package motion picture projects for him as well as represent him. It is reported that Milestone is preparing two major film projects with Greshler . . . Newcomer Jody Daniel has been signed for a top role in AmericanInternational’s “Bikini” (foimerly titled “The Seafighters”) , which Anthony Carras is directing at Republic Studios. Film toplines Tab Hunter, Frankie Avalon, Jody McCrea, Scott Brady and Jim Backus . . . Marvin Kaplan has been added to the cast of Melrtlle Shavelson’s production of “Samantha,” staiTing Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward . . . Bill Wellman jr. and Sandi'a Bettin have been set for top roles in Bengal International’s “A Swinging Affair.” Toplined are Arline Judge, Dick Dale and the Del Tones. Gunther Collins and Jay O. Lawrence are producing with the latter directing. HARVEY-UA CONTRACT — Laurence Harvey watches Robert S. Benjamin, United Artists board chairman, sign a contract calling for Harvey to produce, direct and star in “The Ceremony” for United Artists release. An ultra 25mm anamorphic lens has been developed by Panavision and will be used first by director Robert Wise on supernatural sequences of his current MGM production “The Haunting,” shooting in London, according to Panavision president Robert Gottschalk. The drop to 25mm gives considerably more width in the lens as the lower the millimeter the greater focal length of the lens . . . Robert Walker has been set for a costarring role in “Ceremony,” Laurence Harvey Production which United Artists wiU release. Harvey directs the film on location in Madrid . . . Ronny Howard, the “Eddie” in MGM’s “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father,” has been signed to a two-year contract by the studio, calling for one picture a year. Howard is also a regular on the Andy Griffith Television show . . . Following a brief vacation in Mexico Andrew and Virginia Stone have left for London to commence preparations on their next feature, “The Deluge,” which they plan to film behind the Iron Curtain in Poland. The Stones were in Hollywood briefly from England for meetings with MGM brass on domestic release of their latest film, “The Password Is Cburage.” John Patrick, who recently completed the screenplay for “The Main Attraction,” for Seven Arts-MGM, has been signed by that studio to write the screenplay of “A Feather in Her Hat,” which is a dramatic modern love story, being adapted from the Ethel Wilson novel, “Lilly’s Story” . . . Abby Mann embarks on a ten-city fund raising speaking tour this month in conjunction with the private screening of “A Child Is Waiting.” 'The tour proceeds will go to aid retarded children in the areas where the screenings are held . . . Because hundreds of people were turned away daily from the closed set of “McLintock!” in Old Tucson, the stars of the Batjac production appeared there on their own time for two hours on Sunday with the public invited. Stars John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Yvonne De Carlo, Patrick Wayne, Stefanie Powers, Jack Kruschen and Chill Wills signed autographs and posed for pictures. Two-time Oscar-winner Olivia de Havilland will return to Hollywood to make her first film here in over five years, to star in the suspense drama, “Lady in a Cage,” which Luther Davis will produce from his original screenplay. The feature is slated to go before the cameras on January 15 with Miss de Havilland arriving here from Paris shortly after the first of the year . . . Fairway-International Films and its exchanges throughout the country plan an all-out buildup of teenage singer-actor Arch Hall jr., now on a nationwide personal appearance tour. Hall jr. will appear in a straight dramatic role in his upcoming feature . . . The ever popular Elvis Presley has been named world’s number one male personality and number one male singer in a poll conducted by London’s Musical Express. This marks the second straight year that Presley has won both categories. MGM repoi-ts that Henry Denker has completed the screenplay for “Twilight of Honor,” which has been assigned to William Perlberg and George Seaton for production ... In Madrid, Samuel Bronston has named Ralph Wheelwright producer of “The Valley of the Fallen,” a dramatized documentary of Spain’s vast mountain monument . . . Company of Artists Productions’ topper Tom Corradine has purchased “Kroma,” an original story and screenplay by Lee Miller and Wayne Hamilton, which is described as a science-fiction thriller. A second feature set to roll on January 15 at KTTV studios here in Hollywood is “Depths of the Unknown.” Jean Yarbrough has been set to direct . . . Hanna & Barbera, Inc., has been signed by Columbia Pictures to create an introductory animation sequence for “The Man From the Diners’ Club,” which stars Danny Kaye. The animation sequence will appear before the film’s main titles. Danny Kulick, seven-year-old television “veteran,” has been signed to make his motion picture debut in Herman Cohen’s “Black Zoo” . . . Producer-director Howard Hawks has signed European actress, Maria Perschy, to make her American film debut in “Man’s Favorite Sport?” starring Rock Hudson and Paula Prentiss for Universal release . . . Jack L. Warner has assigned writer A1 Beich to develop an original story as a Bette Davis starring vehicle. Decision came hard on the heels of the phenomenal success of Miss Davis’ current boxoffice attraction, “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” The new property is tentatively titled “Dead Pigeon” . . . Harvard University’s “Street Corner Research,” a new approach to dealing with juvenile delinquency, will serve as the basis for one of Universal-International’s most important 1963 productions. The picture will be titled “Street Corner” with George Golitzin producing as his first project under his newly signed producer pact . . . August Guentler, the famous French puppeteer, has been signed by producer-director Stanley Donen to make his film debut playing himself in “Charade,” Cary Grant-Audrey Hepburn starrer currently filming in Paris . . . Actor John Fraser, known best in this coimtry for his outstanding portrayal as the young king in Samuel Bronston’s “El Cid” arrived in Hollywood today from Acapulco where he served as one of the judges in the Acapulco Film Festival. He will meet with Walter Seltzer anent the costarring role opposite Charlton Heston in “The Warriors” before flying on to New York and back to London. Actor Charles Laughton has checked out of Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, where he as been undergoing treatment for cancer, and will continue to recuperate at home. (It goes without saying, that the good wishes of all of us go along with you, Mr. Laughton) ... In a unique transaction just announced. Tommy Noonan has been named as production executive, associated with a new Madi'id company known as T-I Film Co., Ltd. Noonan will serve as the American representative headquartering at General Service Studios. The first feature set is “Promise Her Anything,” which Noonan will direct . . . Heni-y Fonda will star in the French film “Paulina 1880,” a love story, which also stars Romy Schneider . . . Pierre Kalfon will coproduce the film with an American company. Columbia Pictures has signed James Darren to a new pact, under which he was released from his exclusive contract and set for a seven-year multiple pictm-e deal calling for three films in the first 24 months and one a year for the following five years. The contract starts with “Gidget Goes to Rome,” Jerry Bresler Production, with “Beach Boy” and “Under the Yum Yum Tree” the other two pictures on the initial deal. 12 BOXOFFICE :: December 10, 1962