Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

Columbia Sets 4 Films For Jan.-Feb.-March NEW YORK— Columbia will launch the first three months of 1963 with four major releases headed by the Sam Spiegel-David Lean production of “Lawrence of Arabia,” the SuperPanavision-70 and Technicolor picture which will have its American premiere on a reserved-seat basis at the Criterion Theatre in New York December 16. This will be followed by the west coast opening at the Stanley Warner Beverly Hills December 21 to qualify the picture for the Academy Awards and the New York Film Critics’ Awards. The national release for January will be William Castle’s “The Old Dark House,” coproduced with Hammer Films in England, starring Tom Poston, Robert Morley and Joyce Grenfell, in Eastman Color. The February release will be Jerry Bresler’s production of “Diamond Head,” filmed on location in the Hawaiian Islands in Eastman Color and Panavision, starring Charlton Heston, Yvette Mimieux, George Chakiris, France Nuyen and James Darren. Heading the March release schedule will be “The Man From the Diners’ Club,” produced by William Bloom for DenaAmpersand Productions, starring Danny Kaye, Cara Williams, Martha Hyer and Telly Savalas. Manhattan Films to Release 38 Films 1963 First Half LOS ANGELES — Robert I. Kronenberg, president of Manhattan Films International, announced that the company will have a minimum of 38 new features for exhibitors by the first of 1963, in addition to the reissue of some 27 other features. The lineup of new product will include ten films from Seven Arts, five from Atlantic Pictures, seven from Astor Pictures, one from Atlantis Films, one each from Compass Productions and President Films, six from Premier Films and four from Zenith International. Kronenberg made a ten-day trip to New York to meet with importers for additional product for the 13 western states. ACCEPTS ALLIED AWARD— Joseph E. Levine, president of Embassy Pictures, named “Producer of the Year” by the National Allied organization, accepts the commemorative silver bowl at the Allied Awards banquet in Cleveland. Above, left to right: Ben Marcus, National Allied executive; George Murphy, awards m.c.; Levine; and Marshall Fine, newly elected board chairman of the exhibitors’ group. 'Dive -In' Movies Offered Seaside Hotel Guests MIAMI BEACH — A poolside theatre complete with usherettes in bikinis has been introduced as guest entertainment by an imaginative hotelman here. The idea of a “Dive-In” is credited to Sid Raffel of the Carillon Hotel. “Moonlight splash parties have long been a staple of hotel social programs in Miami Beach,” Raffel said. “Combining them with outdoor movies seems so logical, it’s a wonder we haven’t done it before.” The Carillon Dive -In also has dry seating arrangements for guests who prefer to watch from around the pool rather than in it. Raffel is obviously on the right track. Could there be a more romantic setting for a movie? As Omar Khaygam might have put it: “A tropic zephyr, a rising moon, and thou beside me in a bathing suit.” All this, and popcorn too, says Raffel. Schulman to Handle Ad Material for Ultra NEW YORK — Ultra Pictures Corp., newly organized distribution company, has retained William Schulman’s Mayfair Graphics, creative art and copy organization, to prepare all the advertising material for its four releases, according to Budd Rogers, president. The pictures are “The Rice Girl,” “Two Nights With Cleopatra,” “Fatal Desire” and “A Day in Court,” all of which will be released early in 1963. Schulman was director of advertising and publicity for Realart Pictures for four years and also served as ad manager for industrial firms. He had also served as New England advertising representative for Universal-International. Blank-Rand will handle publicity and public relations for Ultra. Hyndman Reports 80% TV Prime Time on Film ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Donald E. Hyndman, assistant vice-president of Eastman Kodak Co. and manager of the motion picture film department, this week reported that 80 per cent of the TV prime time shows now are on motion picture film, a trend being expanded by all three major networks —ABC, CBS and NBC. Of these, he said, 50 to 55 shows are produced on 35mm film for weekly prime time showings and from five to seven are on 16mm film. Hyndman also pointed out that the use of color is increasing. NBC last year had one color show a week, in 1962 this increased to four and in 1963 will increase to seven. ABC will have three color shows each week. UCPA Award to Jayne Mansfield HOLLYWOOD — Jayne Mansfield will be honored as “Personality of the Year” by the United Cerebral Palsy Ass’n. She receives her award during a special ceremony highlighting the UCPA telethon emanating from Albany, N.Y., December 22, 23. 250,000 See 'Mutiny'; 14 More U.S. Dates NEW YORK — More than 250,000 persons have paid more than $500,000 to see “Mutiny on the Bounty” in the first three weeks of its ten U. S. and Canadian engagements since it opened at Loew’s State November 8. Since that date, the MGM picture has also opened in Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Los Angeles, Detroit, San Francisco, Washington, Montreal and Toronto. “Mutiny” is opening in an additional 14 situations in December. These dates started at the Cinerama Theatre, Honolulu, Wednesday (5). The others are at the Clairidge, Montclair, N. J., December 12, and the Martins, New Orleans; Ritz, Birmingham; Windsor, Houston; Cooper, Omaha; Strand, Erie, Pa.; Rosna, Noi'folk; Carolina, Charlotte; Five Points, Jacksonville; Syosset, Syosset, L. I.; Florida, Miami, and Palace, Tampa, all between December 20 and 22. Franklin Schaffner Forms Own Producing Company NEW YORK — Franklin Schaffner, who recently completed the direction of “A Woman in July,” a 20th Century-Fox picture to be released next April, has formed his own independent company, Gilcrist Productions, to make a motion picture, “The Healer,” based on an original by Loring Mandel. Schaffner plans to produce and direct “The Healer” in the late summer of 1963 with studio work in New York and location in rural Pennsylvania. He will confer with Kirk Douglas regarding the starring role. Gilcrist may coproduce, with Robert Fryer, Lawrence Carr and John Herman, the forthcoming Broadway presentation of “Citizen Hearst,” which he will direct, for next season. Schaffner is currently in New York rehearsing the first of four TV dramatic specials for the Directors Co. of which he is co-owner with Fielder Cook. LENSING IN FRANCE— Radley H. Metzger, right, director of Audubon Films, with Christian Marquand, French star who is currently in “The Longest Day,” on the set of “Les Grandes Chemins,” which Marquand is shooting on location in the south of France as his first directorial chore. Marquand is also the star of Audubon’s current release, “I Spit on Your Grave” and “Playtime.” BOXOFnCE December 17, 1962 17