Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

ACCEPT ‘JUMBO’ AWARD— Robert Mochrie, vice-president and general sales manager of MGM, and Joe Pasternak, right, producer of MGM’s “Billy Rose’s Jumbo,” accept a special award for the film from officials of Bridgeport’s annual Barnum Festival. The special citation was presented by Nelson Downs, left, ringmaster of the festival, and Samuel Todesco, second from left, lieutenant governor-elect and mayor of Bridgeport, in recognition of the picture’s faithful portrayal of circus life. Y oungstein-F rankenheimer To Produce 'Hiroshima' NEW YORK — Max E. Youngstein, president of Entertainment Corp. of America, and producer-director John Frankenheimer will jointly produce “The Flowers of Hiroshima,” based on the 1959 Viking Press novel by Edita Morris. Youngstein, originally one of the factors in the development of United Artists, will function as executive producer while Frankenheimer will produce and direct. Ned Young and Harold J. Smith, who won an Academy Award for their screenplay of “The Defiant Ones,” will write the screenplay for “Flowers.” Frankenheimer and Youngstein will make “Flowers of Hiroshima” as a bilingual film with a top American heading a predominantly Japanese cast. They are negotiating for Toshiro Mifune, star of “Rashomon,” for one of the chief roles. Plans call for production in Japan in 1964. Frankenheimer, who directed the current “The Manchurian Candidate,” will make the film version of “Seven Days in May” and will produce and direct “The Confessor” before starting “Flowers of Hiroshima.” Titanus Filming Comedy With 80 World Stars ROME, ITALY— “The Shortest Day,” a World War I comedy featuring some 80 international screen stars, is now in production at the Titanus-Farnesina Studios under the direction of Sergio Corbucci. The picture is being filmed in two languages, with the Italian version ready for release by the end of January and the English version at the end of February 1963. The leads are played by Franco Franchi and Ciccio Ingrassis while the cameo roles are being played by Walter Pidgeon, Annie Girardot, Gino Arvi, Claudia Cardinale, Rossano Brazzi, Vittorio De Sica, Aldo Fabrizi, Vittorio Gassman, David Niven, Gordon Scott, Robert Wagner, Steve Reeves, Paolo Stoppa and To to, among others. BETWEEN THE LINES = By AL STEEN Eady Fund Study gOMETHING should come out of the probes into the operation of the Eady Plan in England as the basis for a formula in the U. S. Three groups, working independently, are delving into the subject and should come up with their findings shortly after the first of the year. Herman Levy, counsel of Theatre Owners of America, already has started his study, after having been directed to do so at the Miami Beach convention. Allied States, at its Cleveland convention, authorized a committee to look into the matter, while the Council of Motion Picture Organizations, previously, gave approval to a study. Some attorneys have expressed the opinion, privately, that a plan patterned on the Eady Fund could work in the U. S., despite different laws and situations. • Art House Product ^HE ART HOUSE product situation apparently doesn’t look too bright for the immediate future. An executive for a group of art theatres was over in Europe recently to look over the available crop of pictures and reported, on his return, that he saw very little of merit for his circuit. “And that goes for product from Hollywood, too,” he added. Judging from this executive’s remarks, the film flow for art houses might be drying up. But that appears to be unlikely. The trouble may be that producers and distributors of pictures suitable for art theatres like to keep their inventories a secret. Maybe they’re afraid that if they advertise their wares in the tradepress, some theatres would book them faster than prints could be made available. A Chat With Corman WE HAD A CHAT with Roger Corman the other day. The American-International producer made the observation that there was a “slight” trend to return to Hollywood by some producers who had been making pictures abroad in recent years. He said he could not see a stampede back to Hollywood because it will always be advisable to make certain films abroad, but that there appeared to be a small swing back to California. Corman admitted there were some savings factors in making pictures in Rome, for example. A few years ago, foreign producers were anxious to make coproduction deals, but those same producers now drive “harder bargains,” Corman said. Labor may be less expensive, but those costs, too, have gone up and the personnel does not have the same speed and efficiency of Hollywood workers, he said. Hollywood crafts, Corman noted, had made a good record in trying to hold the line on costs even though there was some “feather-bedding.” If labor costs go up, then some producers may go back to making pictures in Europe. On the other hand, he said he felt American producers could work better in the United States because “their roots are here” and some of them never acquire the European flavor when making pictures abroad. Corman will make three pictures next year, two for AIP and one for United Artists. They will be “Masque of the Red Death” and “Haunted Village,” starting in March and April, respectively. “The Dubious Patriot” will be shot in Yugoslavia for UA. Corman’s “The Raven” will have its American premiere on January 23 on a multiple engagement formula in the RKO, Skouras and other New York circuits. His “The Terror” will be a March release, while “The Young Racers” will bow on Memorial Day. • COMPO Needs Tax Data ^HE COUNCIL of Motion Picture Organizations is asking for data on the number of theatres paying admission taxes and the amount paid out by the affected theatres. This information is of vital importance in giving facts and figures to members of Congress. The letters have gone out to the theatres. Exhibitors receiving them will be doing a big service to COMPO and, more important, to themselves, if they will fill out the forms and dispatch them to Price, Waterhouse & Co. as quickly as possible. The information insofar as individual exhibitors are concerned will be kept in the strictest confidence; not even COMPO will see it. Price, Waterhouse will assemble the data and turn the findings over to COMPO. Don’t delay, send in your report now! The 'Barabbas' Contest •pHE OFFER of Columbia Pictures to donate a week’s salary to every member of the staff of the theatre which does the best promotion job and does capacity business on “Barabbas” is gaining momentum. Arthur Manson, who ’nas been spearheading the project for Columbia, returned last week from a tour of key cities with the report that circuits, such as Interstate of Texas, are going all-out. Everybody from the janitor to the manager of the winning theatres — one in the 1,000-seat plus and one in the less than 1,000-seat categories— will pick up the bonuses. There have been numerous contests to stimulate incentives for bigger business, but this appears to be the first in which everybody in the winning brackets can benefit. BOXOFFICE :: December 24, 1962 11