Harrison's Reports (1962)

Kntered as second-class matter January 4, at ;he post offl te :V> Xcw York, New York, under the act ol March 3, 1879. Harrison's Reports Yearly Subscription Rates: Published Weekly by United States $17.00 Harrison's Reports, Inc., U. S. Insular Possessions... 19.00 Canada and Mexico 19.00 A Motion picture Reviewing Service ^00 Broadway Other Countries 19.50 New York 19, N. Y. 45c a Copy Devoted Chiefly to the Interests of the Exhibitor* COlumbus 5-4434 EttablUhed July 2, 1919 Martin Starr, Editor A REVIEWING SERVICE FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF FILM ADVERTISING Vol. XLIV SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1962 No. 7 Distribs Promise Relief Before Marshall Fine, young president of the Allied States Association of Motion Picture Exhibitors, left New York for his home base of operation, Cleveland, he told the man from Harrisons Reports that it was one of the most important series of conferences he had ever held with the sales heads of major companies where a decisive phase of exhibitor operation was at stake. Fine, covering a treadmill three-day period, sat in conference with the executives of six companies who set distribution policies, Allied Artists, United Artists, Universal, Warner Bros., M-G-M and 20th Century-Fox. They all have, or may have hard-ticket films going for them. The conferences emphasized the disadvantages to the exhibitor of over-extending the playing time of a reserved seat release. By the same token, Fine quoted instances where the policy must have proved costly to the distributor. "The blockbuster should be made available to the exhibitors much sooner than the very recent past has evidenced," Fine said he emphasized strongly. Sitting in with Allied's president, on these sessions, was Wilbur Snaper, chairman of the committee of industry relations for the exhibitor organization, and one of the most outspoken opponents of the long delayed availabilities of pictures holding to road show stands. Delayed Availabilities Bitterly Attacked This issue was one of the most bitterly attacked during the Allied States Association convention down Miami Beach last December. Resentment against the allegedly guilty distributors reached the point where some members of the board of directors of the association were for taking these reported irregularities of practice to the Justice Department for a legal ruling. Later, the government threat gave way to the resolution whereby president Fine would take up this serious situation with distribution, meeting with the sales heads in New York. It was felt that with the diplomacy of Fine and the willingness of the majors to listen to reason and desirous of considering the plight of the complaining exhibitors, more definite progress toward a give-and-take solution may be accomplished. Whether the calm, across-the-conferencetable series of talks have produced definite, pinpointed assurances of immediate relief, was not revealed. But, it was pretty clear that there was enough harmony between the opposing factors to expect some measure of relief. That there will still be some solid ground held by the distributor there can be no doubt considering how he is forced to chart his course in the handling of multi-million dollar blockbusters with (Continued on Back. Page) Hollywood Romances Tv It's been evident, for quite some time, which way the trade winds are blowing for such studios that have big investments in television production. They're going to protect these investments especially if they show the kind of profits (without evident risk) that Tv programming has been capable of. Since Tv is not a demanding medium, some major studios handle it on the old assembly-line basis of churning out tired shorts. The drastic changes that have been going on at Warner Bros., is indicative of the bigger swing toward Tv production. The studio is going to make more product for the little home screen, which may mean perhaps less films for the big screens of the theatres. But, Warners have been in Tv production now for seven years and the medium (Tv) owes them nothing. In fact, if figures (without authoritative acknowledgment) are to be brought into this piece, it can be said that the earnings for Tv over this spread of seven years have exceeded the net returns from Warners1 feature productions that went out to play the movie houses. If these be the economic half-truths that beset even (Continued on Back. Page) The Value of a Review; - $25,000 Beyond accurate measure is the value of a review in a trade weekly like this. But, the other day, one important exhibitor went on record in writing us what he thinks our review of "Pocketful of Miracles" should have meant to him. Our summary of the United Artists release cautioned exhibitors that, "-this doesn't quite reach its big picture objective" . . . "The pity is that Minneapolis had to submit a bid at a certain time." Then the letter says further, "Had your 'Harrison's Reports' review appeared a little before that, you would have saved me in excess of $25,000." This comes from successful chain operator Bennie Berger of Minnesota. ... He has been fighting the tough, fearless battle of exhibitors for a long time. As chairman of the board and national director of North Central Allied Independent Theatre Owners, Berger stands high in the esteem of his fellow showmen. . . . What should be explained from our end, is that publication date of a review is dictated by the distributor. To jump it, would be in professional violation of trade paper practice.