Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

Opinions on Current Productions Feature reviews Symbol © denotes color; © CinemaScope; ® VistaVision; ® Technirama; © other anamorphic processes. For story synopsis on each picture, see reverse side. Captain Newman , M.D. Dr© 3 Universal ( ) 126 Minutes Rel. April ’64 A highly dramatic film with humorous interludes, this is a fine picturization of Leo Rosten’s best-selling novel N j dealing with the psychiatric ward in an Army hospital, st Ri Gregory Peck follows up his Academy Award-winning performance in “Mockingbird” with another restrained and effective portrayal, while Tony Curtis ably takes care of the film’s lighter moments. These two marquee names, aided by Angie Dickinson, who looks beautiful and supplies the comparatively minor romantic interest, and Bobby Darin and Eddie Albert, should insure strong boxoffice returns in any type of situation. Darin, in his terrifying and highly explosive scene when under the influence of truth serum, contributes the film’s high spot which may win him an Academy Award nomination. Albert is also outstanding as a career officer who cracks up, goes berserk and plunges to his death — these two scenes are truly memorable ones. Produced by Robert Arthur and well directed by David Miller, who injects humor, as well as human interest, into the film’s essentially grim hospital background. A lively Christmas party brings the film to a lively conclusion. This looks like another Universal winner. Fine photography in Eastman Color by Russell Metty, A.S.C. Gregory Peck, Tony Curtis, Angie Dickinson, Bobby Darin, Eddie Albert, James Gregory, Jane Withers. Tom tones United Artists-Lopert 131 Minutes Rel. October ’63 Without question the rowdiest, raciest period romp to and'1 ke shown on American screens, this picturization of -- Henry Fielding’s classic novel is top fare for adult audiences, particularly in the class houses, where it cannot fail to be discussed and chalk up long runs. Magnificently produced and directed in England by Tony Richardson with a cast of superb players, headed by Albert Finney, currently starring on Broadway in the acclaimed “Luther,” and including Academy Awardwinning Hugh Griffith, Dame Edith Evans and such well-known British beauties as Susannah York, Joan Greenwood and Diane Cilento, the picture is certain to be nominated for next year’s “Oscars,” which will give it a further boxoffice boost. With its coarse language, vulgarity and a lustful hero who bounces in and out of various ladies’ beds, this is not for the kiddies, although their elders will delight in all the bawdy fun. Starting with a riotous screenplay by the noted John Osborne, Richardson has directed the film at a break-neck pace. The Eastman Color photography is striking, the John Addison music is melodious — it’s a triumph for all concerned. Albert Finney, Susannah York, Hugh Griffith, Dame Edith Evans, David Tomlinson, Joan Greenwood. The Passionate Thiet “y Embassy (307) 95 Minutes Rel. Sept. ’63 Released by Titanus in Rome in 1960 as “Laughs of Joy,” this Silvio Clementelli production starring two of Italy’s top names, Anna Magnani and the veteran comic Toto, plus two familiar American players, Ben Gazzara and Fred Clark, is only now getting its first American dates — but in lesser neighborhood spots. Directed by Mario Monicelli, who scored with “Big Deal on Madonna Street,” the screenplay by the director and three other Italians is a rambling, intermittently amusing satire dealing with two movie bit players who tangle with an American crook during a wild New Year’s Eve in Rome. -* eqi Despite the name cast, the picture is ill-suited to the 1 Ch art spots, mainly because Gazzara and Clark speak English but Miss Magnani and the other Italian players are dubbed into English, often spoken in muffled fashion. Miss Magnani, decked out in a blonde wig and evening dress, gives a flamboyant portrayal which gets frequent laughs and Toto is excellent as a simple-minded buffoon. Travel-minded tourists will recognize the landmarks in Rome, including the Trevi Fountain, but much of the picture was filmed at night. This is one picture that La Magnani cannot salvage. Anna Magnani, Ben Gazzara, Toto, Fred Clark, Edi Vessel, Alberto De Amicis, Gina Rovere. The Slime People ^ Horror Hansen EnterprisesSR 60 Minutes Rel. Oct. ’63 Going out in combination package with “The Crawling Hand,” this Joseph F. Robertson attraction is handicapped by a minimal running time, the Vance Skarstedt screenplay, directed by principal player Robert Hutton, never probing deeply into characterization motif, nor projecting much beyond the initially imaginative concept of prehistoric monsters emanating from somewhere to terrorize the populace of modern-day Los Angeles until resoundingly resolute, resourceful Hutton, aided-andn abetted by a professor (Robert Burton) , comes up with pric« a dandy idea of ridding the earth of these unwelcome erme visitors. Charles Duncan, responsible for special effects, has accomplished much on what was obviously a limited budget and within the restrictive framework of an hour’s span; he and director Hutton (a remarkably youngish leading man despite the swift and sure passage of time since his major studio years) applied themselves most assiduously to the terrifying basic premise and let the yarn spew forth with the anticipatory screams and bellows. Les Tremayne, another oldtimer, has a few memorable moments as one of the remaining Los Angelenos doomed to certain death. Robert Hutton, Les Tremayne, Robert Burton, Judee Morton, Susan Hart, William Boyce. Fire in the Flesh Romantic ^Melodrama Pacemaker Pictures 80 Minutes Rel. July ’63 Erno Crisa, the personably handsome male lead of the memorable “Lady Chatterley’s Lover,” costars with the beauteous Claudine Dupuis in an Alfred Rode-directed effort geared basically for the adventure crowd that likes its action brisk-paced, its women most alluring and fetching, and the primary premise the eternal quest for riches-and-romance against the most remote reaches of the storied South Seas. The more critical-demanding audiences may find that much transpiring here has been handled with greater quality levels in attractions of the past, but the aforementioned adventure-applauding audiences won’t find much over which to quibble. The Naturecolor tones enticingly capture the cliffs and the beaches of a South Seas island on which dwells a tiny threesome, remainders of a scientific laboratory shipwreck. When Miss Dupuis’ dad, scientific expedition chieftain, conveniently expires. Miss Dupuis “weds” herself to dad’s number one helper, Crisa, and the two live amid a truly idyllic atmosphere. Matters are resolved when Capt. Robert Dupont and a swarm of international smugglers arrive, discover there’s a fortune in pearls to 1 be had and scheme to kill Crisa. Selling values should 1 < m/ be promising indeed for the Gaston Hakim production. Claudine Dupuis, Erno Crisa, Yoko Tani, Bill Marshall, Allan Lemarie, Robert Dupont. The Crawling Hand “*££“"• Hansen Enterprises-SR 89 Minutes Rel. Oct. ’63 This latest Joseph F. Robertson production, going into states-rights distribution via Hansen Enterprises, adheres most steadfastly to anticipated pattern within the realm of science-fiction coupled with horror and the less demanding patrons will find that what transpires is of reasonably entertaining content. Arline Judge and Richard Arlen, two names of some importance to the older audience, have cameo roles. Principal emoting is entrusted to Rod Lauren, cast as a college chap who happens to find, on a California beach, a dismembered arm in a spacesuit sleeve, thus opening the doors for some highly dramatic happenings, as pinpointed in the screenplay by director Herbert L. Strock and William Edelson. Sirry Steffen, provocatively billed as “The Sex Iceberg” (a designation easily to be employed by imaginative showman activity), is seen as Lauren’s girl friend, and Peter Breck and Kent Taylor dash hither and yon as U.S. men-of-science bent on seeking out the secrets of the vast regions beyond the earth galaxy, jim. Alan Hale, son of an illustrious leading man, is seen as iown't the town sheriff. The black-and-white has a sharp •ati°r reaiism about it, and the running time is sufficiently trim to prevent too much dawdling, story-wise. Peter Breck, Kent Taylor, Rod Lauren, Arline Judge, Richard Arlen, Sirry Steffen, Alan Hale. 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 stan dard 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 paid. 2776 BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: Nov. 4, 1963 2775