Harrison's Reports (1962)

E3n««re4 as second-class matter January 4, 1921, at the post office at New York, New York, under the act of March 3, MT9. Harrison's Reports Yearly Subscription Rates: Published Weekly by United States $17.00 Harrison's Reports, Inc., U. S. Insular Possessions... 19.00 Canada mmd Mexico 19.00 A Motlon picture Reviewing Service 1«X> Broadway Other Countries 19.50 New York 19, N. Y. 45c a Copy Devoted Chiefly to the Interests of the Exhibitors COlumbus 5-4434 Established July I, 1919 Martin Starr, Editor A REVIEWING SERVICE FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF FILM ADVERTISING Vol. XLIV SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 1962 No. 14 Quarterly Release Digest On the back page of this issue, is the quarterly listings (with lettered ratings) of the product released to the theatres of the nation by the majors, independents and importers since the first of this year. Whatever the moans and groans of those who go by the book of pessimism and a lackluster approach to operation in the motion picture business, the release list reads well. In fact, as you try to dissect the product quality and diagnose its box office values you find yourself writing this kind of summary of the quarter-year gone by : Product-quality-wise, it was a good period. In many theatres, it evidenced itself by the revenues at the box office, according to reports from the exhibitors. Two-thirds of the quarter-stanza (January-February) harsh winter weather took its toll of lost revenue in spite of the better entertainment values of the product sent out in release. But, as the quarter evened out, it was a profitable one for many theatre operators. Where the "selling" was intensified, the results showed up at the box office. Which is another way of spelling out "showmanship." Of the 5 3 releases reported on (we missed a limited few unimportant ones) five begot themselves a rating of "very good." Nearly all of these almost achieved the all-around perfect picture considered "excellent." This quarter period did not produce an "excellent" film according to the severe reviewing standards of Harrison s Reports. Twenty-two of the releases were rated "good." - and, that is a pretty good indication of the near consistency of the product that paid off if the exhibitors gave it the right "selling" treatment. if unlit ii of Product Stands Up Twenty films just couldn't make the grade and came through as "fair." The remainder six films - hit the depths with a rating of "poor." That's not quite 10% of the output since early January. The independents and the majors split this rating of low film on the release pole. Nearly 25% of the releases, this past quarter period, came from the independents and importers. Most of this latter product were fodder for the art houses. At this ratio, this year, there should be the expected 170-180 releases from the majors and the bigger independents, with about 60 films coming from the importers who are gaining strength and importance with every passing season of lesser releases from the majors. The quarter-year gone by, has not been an altogether bad one as periods of productional adjustment go, and have been going this past decade, in this everchanging, ever-challenging business of ours. No matter what the pessimistic outlook of some of our former (Continued on Bac\ Page) Showmen Salute Skouras As we were going to press, the hour was at hand for the mammoth salute to Spyros P. Skouras, president of 20th Century-Fox Film Corp., by the showmen of America. Honoring this revered elder statesmen of the motion picture industry will be its leaders, pioneers, the time-tested wise-men. Other important people of the films will participate in this sincerely-felt gesture of man's testament to his faith in his fellowman. Both the Allied States Association of Motion Picture Exhibitors and the Theatre Owners of America have combined their forces in the sponsorship of this testimonial to make it one of the greatest in the history of a business that pays homage to its big men via the ancient ritual of dining, wining and speaking from the heart. To be held in the grand ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria, there is assured a turnout of several thousand. Already arriving in New York from all parts of the country are leading exhibitors who are taking valu( Continued on Bac\ Page) Foreign Talent Dominates Oscars Hollywood's cynics, and the industry's detractors got quite a setback from the way the four top talent awards went. Never before has the home-grown mainland (American) talent been left out of the final reckoning so completely as on the occasion of the 34th presentation of the coveted symbol of achievement. Reaching up to the heights of the dramaturgic art in its simplest medium of mass-understanding, - the motion picture, the award becomes more than a door-stop ... An Italian voluptuary, in native tongue (Sophia Loren) was hailed as best actress. Swiss-born Maximilian Schell, best actor; Rita Moreno, product of Puerto Rico, best supporting actress, and George Chakiris (Greek) won as best supporting actor. . . . You wonder what's happened to some of the losers in each nominating category who spent all that money in Hollywood's two trade dailies to push their candidacy. They, and the rest of the industry, know now what the 2,300 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences can't be "sold" on who has the talent by politicking, at big cost, in the trade press. It's what's up front there, on the screen, that counts when the final talent countdown asserts itself on the ballot.