Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Exploits; Adlines for Newspapers and Programs THE STORY: "40 Pounds of Trouble" (U-I) Tony Curtis, who manages a gambling house at Lake Tahoe, Nev., refuses to pay alimony to his ex-wife, Mary Murphy, who keeps detectives trailing him in case he goes to ^ California. One day, two women change Curtis' life — a new singer Suzanne Pleshette arrives at his club and six-year-old Claire Wilcox is left behind after her father loses a huge sum to Curtis. Feeling responsible for Claire, Curtis takes charge of her activities and even promises to take her to Disneyland — in California. When word comes that the absent father has been killed in a cor crash, Curtis and Suzanne decide to make the child happy with a trip to the amusement pork. But, Mary learns about the plan and, despite Curtis’ disguises and attempts to escape detection in Disneyland's many rides and attractions, the law catches up with him. The judge becomes sympathetic toward Curtis because of his handling of the child, but he refuses his request to adopt her. Suzanne then comes forward and agrees to marry him and they go on a honeymoon with Claire — to Disneyland. EXPLOITIPS: Stress that Tony Curtis is back in the comedy vein, like "Operation Petticoat," after several recent serious roles. CATCHLINES: A Little Child Led Him — Into a Merry Mixup . . . The Handsome Gambler Had Two Girl Friends — But One of Them Was a Six-Year-Old Tot. THE STORY: "Billy Rose's Jumbo" (MGM) At the turn-of-the-century, Jimmy Duronte’s traveling circus is often in financial difficulties due to his bad luck at cords. His daughter, Doris Day, is forced to placate the unpaid perL..Ma formers and feed suppliers. When Stephen Boyd asks for a * job, she hires him and he soon develops into a fine wirewalker as Doris finds herself falling in love wih him. But Steve is actually the son of Dean Jogger, owner of a rival circus, who has been turned down on his offer to buy Durante's big attraction, the talented elephant Jumbo. Boyd has been secretly paying Durante's bills and Jogger eventually arrives to take over Jumbo and the circus. Jimmy and Doris, with the former's long-time fiancee, Martha Raye, take to the road as a small-time carnival. Although heartbroken about Boyd's apparent duplicity, Doris forgives him when he returns and brings with him the beloved Jumbo. With their big attraction intact Durante and Boyd con now rebuild a major traveling circus and marry Martha and Doris. EXPLOITIPS: The Rodgers and Hart score, with its outstanding melodies like "My Romance" and "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World," rates radio plugs and music shop displays of the record album, as well as other albums made by Doris Day. CATCHLINES: The Brassiest, Sassiest, Laughingest Circus Musical of All Time . . . With Rodgers and Hart's Finest Score . . . Here's a Jumbo-Sized Package of Fun-Filled Entertainment. THE STORY: "Strong Room" (Bryanston) Three young men, in a desperate effort to get rich quick, carefully scheme to rob the strong room of a bonk in a medium-sized city in the British midlands, at start of a holiday weekend, thinking the timing will enable them to flee the country before authorities are alerted. Because of lastminute change of plans by bank manager Darren Nesbitt, who has decided to stay behind and attend to correspondence with secretary Ann Lynn, the three are forced to tie up Nesbitt and Miss Lynn in the strong room, and then flee into the waning afternoon. One of the young men, however, is killed in an auto accident, the action eventually setting off police alert (keys to the strong room were found among his effects), amorpi His two pals, in an 11th hour awareness of the dire straits in which they left Nesbitt and the girl, race to the bank to give them oxygen. Police ctrrive to arrest them, Nesbitt is found alive, but the girl is dead. The murder charge will stick. EXPLOITIPS: Get police authorities to comment on their toughest cases in newspaper, radio-TV interviews. Send a truck appropriately bannered through town. CATCHLINES: Minutes to Live! . . . Daring! Different! Melodrama With Impact! ... A Story That Could Happen to YOU! THE STORY: "Taras Bulba" (UA) In the 1500s, after centuries of fighting by Aryans, Tartars and Turks over the Ukraine, the Cossacks overwhelm a Polish army and drive the Turks over a sheer cliff. Leading the Cossacks to victory is Yul Brynner, who is invited to a feast by Guy Rolfe, the Polish leader, but the latter is maimed by Brynner, w'ho then escapes across the Steppes with his men. While Poland keeps the Cossacks leashed, Brynner raises two sons, the elder named Toros (Tony Curtis), and sends them to Kiev University. There Taras falls in love with Christine Kaufmann, a noble Polish girl, but her defenders drive him back to his homeland. Later, Brynner and his two sons, both pt.. on white chargers, lead the Cossacks to victory against the (*• 2.i Poles, who are entrapped in the city of Dubno. Still enamored / I ■ ■ ■ ^ of Christine, Taras tries to rescue her. Although the Cossacks | are victorious, Brynner is forced to kill his son os a traitor. EXPLOITIPS: Capitalize on United Artists' tremendous publicity campaign during the long filming in Argentina, which resulted in breaks in the magazines and newspapers. Use blowups of stills of Curtis and Brynner in their fierce Cossack regalia. CATCHLINES: Tony Curtis and Yul Brynner As the Cossack Leaders Who Fought Tyranny for Their Freedom on the Steppes of Russia . . . Based on the Nikolai Gogol Classic of the Cossack Rebellion in the 1500s . . . Tempest and Fury As the Hordes of Horsemen Swarm Over Russian Territory. THE STORY: "Seven Daring Girls" (Manson) Seven nevr graduates of an exclusive Swiss girls school — Dorothy Glocklen, Ann Smyrner, Beatrix Norden, Nina Semona, Dora Corras, Hertha Riedle and Korin Heske — decide to celebrate by cruising aboard an old Dutch cargo-boat. Adrian Hoven, suntanned young man, strikes up a friendship with Ann in a dance place ashore, invites the girls to visit the meteorological station on an uninhabited island where he lives. Hoven's father, meanwhile, finds the wreckage of a missing plane v/hich carried a cargo of gold ingots. Hoven returns to the mainland to inform the authorities and is overheard by shady character, Jan Hendriks, who, accompanied by pals including Dimitri Bitenc, schemes to take the gold. On the island, the girls ore imprisoned until jealousy breaks out betvreen Hendriks and Bitenc, Hendriks eventually shooting his accomplice. Mainland authorities, alerted by silence of the island's radio apparatus, come by to assist and the remaining criminals are rounded up. Hoven pairs off with Ann. EXPLOITIPS: Set _up a beauty competition on stage opening night, awarding merchant-promoted prizes. Send models, appropriately garbed and carrying signs. ^ Wi'd CATCHLINES: V SP' Seven Adventurous Girls on a Vacation That Turns Into a Nightmare! . . . Yesterday — Innocent School Girlsl Today — Victims of Lust and Savage Fury! THE STORY: "Court Martial" (UA) Only three survivors of a crew of 1,400 German sailors drowned and killed Vhen their ship had been sunk by the British in World War II are rescued by a German submarine and returned to Germany, where they ore hailed os heroes. A high naval official orders a top secret investigation, however, after noting several discrepancies in individual recounts. The three ore arrested and charged with desertion and imprisoned. Court martial evidence is introduced, proving that the sea battle lasted until daybreak, some three hours after the men had been floating around in a life raft. The defense counsel makes a fervent plea, but the court discharges him for attacking naval tradition and then orders the death penalty for the three men. EXPLOITIPS: Promote military life-saving equipment, including a raft similar to one used in film from an Army-Navy surplus store. Have throwaways printed reading, "You ore hereby summoned to appear as a witness at the Theatre to attend 'Court Martial.' " fruRl CATCHLINES: ( | Out of the Turmoil of Battle . . . the Terror of a Court Martial . . . Perhaps War's Most Shocking Story of Military "Justice!" BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: Dec. 10, 1962