Harrison's Reports (1961)

Entered as second-class matter January 4, 1921, at the post office at New York, New Tori:, under the act of March 3, 1879. Harrison's Reports Yearly Subscription Rates: 1270 SIXTH AVENUE Published Weekly by tt ^ o» ik nn Harrison's Reports, Inc., United States $15.00 New York 20, N. Y. Publisher U. S. Insular Possessions. 17.00 p g HARRISON Canada and Mexico 17.00 A Motion Picture Reviewing Service Founder Great Britain, South Devoted Chiefly to the Interests of the Exhibitors WTNN LOEWBNTHA-L, America, Australia, Editor New Zealand, India, Europe, Asia 17.50 Tts Editorial Policy: No Problem Too Big for Its Editorial Established July 1, 1919 35c a Copy Columns, if It is to Benefit the Exhibitor. Circle 7-4G22 A REVIEWING SERVICE FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF FILM^ ADVERTISING Vol. XLIII SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 1961 No. 1 EXHIBITORS STUDY THE 1960 FAVORITES OF THE CRITICS The Committee on Exceptional Films of the National Board of Reviaw of Motion Pictures and the New York Film Critics are but two of various groups who recently announced their opinions of 1960s cinematic offerings. The National Board's Committee selected "Sons and Lovers" (Twentieth Century-Fox) as the best motion picture of 1960. The board also chose "The World of Apu" (Edward Harrison) as the best for' eign film shown here during the past year and voted Jack Cardiff the best director, for "Sons and Lovers." Greer Garson was named the best actress of the year for "Sunrise at Campobello" (Warner Bros.), while Robert Mitchum was voted the best actor, for "The Sundowners" (Warner Bros.) and "Home From the Hill" (M-G-M). Runners up in the 10 best picture voting were "The Alamo" (United Artists), "The Sundowners," "Inherit the Wind," (United Artists), "Sunrise at Campobello," "Elmer Gantry" (UA), "Home From the Hill," "The Apartment" (UA), "Wild River" (20th-Fox), and "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs" (WB) . Runners'up among foreign films were "General della Rovere" (Continental ;reviewed in this issue); "The Angry Silence" (Valiant); "Em All Right Jack" (Columbia), and "Hiroshima, Mon Amour" (Zenith). The New York Film Critics, comprising 16 critics, representing eight daily metropolitan newspapers, gave a tie decision in both the best English-language picture and the best director of the year categories, with "The Apartment" and "Sons and Lovers" and the respective directors of these features, Billy Wilder and Jack Cardiff, capturing top honors. The voting between these two films was carried into the screenwriting competition with the original script by Mr. Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond for "The Aparment" winning over the adaptation by Gavin Lambert and T.E.B. Clarke of D. H. Lawrence's classic novel, "Sons and Lovers," on the sixth ballot. The by-laws of the critic organisation's constitution calls for a two-thirds majority in order to win on any of the first five ballots. A simple plurality is needed on the sixth and last poll. The French -Japanese romantic drama, "Hiroshima, Mon Amour" won an easy vitcory (third ballot) over the Italian drama, "General della Rovere" and the Indian-made "The World of Apu." The other awards were sharply contested and required the maximum number of canvasses. Deborah Kerr captured the best-actress award for her portrayal of the sheepherder's wife in "The Sundowners." Burt Lancaster was named best-actor for his role as the revival preacher, "Elmer Gantry." On the first best-picture ballot, "Elmer Gantry" re ceived two votes and "Sunrise at Campobello," "Exo(Continued on Bac\ Page) JACK KIRSCH The motion picture industry suffered a great loss on December 30 when Jack Kirsch died after an operation for a critical illness. Exhibition and especially Allied States Association of Motion Picture Exhibitors, whose presidency he was forced to relinquish only a few weeks ago, will feel the absence of a dynamic leader who felt compelled two monthes ago to defy the wishes of his wife and physician and to accept the helm of the national exhibitor's organisation, a position he had held in 1946 and 1947. Mr. Kirsch, who was 58, was serving his 23rd year as president of Allied Theatre Owners of Illinois, a group whose current importance among the National Allied units is a tribute to his efforts. Born in New York City on Nov. 30, 1902, Mr. Kirsch was in the haberdashery business following his graduation from high school. In 1930 he entered motion pictures as an exhibitor in Chicago. Eight years later he was named president of Allied of Illinois, largely due to his successful efforts at organizing theatre owners. Afterwards he also became head of the Allied Buying and Booking organization. He became a highly respected and forceful leader throughout Illinois, then the Midwest and at his death was one of this nation's best known exhibitor chiefs. On being advised of Mr. Kirsch's death, Mr. Abram F. Myers, former National Allied Board chairman and general counsel, and now consultant to the association, issued the following statment : "Jack Kirsch was an unforgettable personality whose ability to express himself forcibly but in good humor enabled him to exercise great influence in the business without causing rancor. He was a true or' ganization man, shunning cliques and factions and insisting that all issues be resolved in the open. His untimely death is a loss to the entire motion picture industry and a stunning blow to National Allied. I was privileged to work with Jack for 25 years and losing close contact with him and a few others made retirement difficult." Harrison Reports extends its sympathy to Jack Kirsch's family, his business associates and to Allied, national and state.