Harrison's Reports (1962)

Entered as second-class matter January i, 1021, al the post iff! :e at >Tew Tork, New York, under the act of 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 esmada and Mexico 19.00 A Motlon picture Reviewing Service 1600 Broadway Other Countries 19.50 New York 19, N. Y. 45c a Copy DeroUd Chiefly to the Interests of the Exhibitor* COlumbus 5-4434 Established Julf 1, 1919 Martin Starr, Editor A REVIEWING SERVICE FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF FILM ADVERTISING Vol. XLIV SATURDAY, MAY 5, 1962 No. 17 Letter to Lancaster: What you did, a few nights ago by walking out on that nocturnal Tv interview wingding, will be applauded by most of us in the industry for a long time to come. Especially do those of us, like the man from Harrisons Reports who's had a close association with both Tv and radio, appreciate that you did the right and professional thing. We wonder why more of the acting folk long ago didn't do the same on either this or so many of the other so'called interview shows where the high-priced Hollywood interviewee, guest' ing for nothing, came off a beaten-up second best. The reason why these interviewers have been able to feed fat on your gratuitous appearances, is that you, the high priced names of Hollywood have been the victims of bad public relations advice. The Burt Lancasters are too valuable a property to be "thrown1'' willy-nilly at these Tv operators merely because in return you may be able to get a plug for your latest release. At that time of the night, and at the prevailing rates for such late-hour airing you could have bought the whole Tv show to use how you pleased if you pro-rated your dollar-and-cents value to the program by the gauge of your name-appeal to the listeners. Perhaps your walking out on the Tv show may have started something. Something like re-evaluating your worth and that of the other big names to these chatter stanzas that are commercial springboards for a mass of interlaced announcements running from detergents to dirt-chasers, to skin creams, to kitchen soaps, to hair sprays, etc. If the interview is a long one reaching heights of "sensationalism" as you said, there may well be 15 of these participating sponsors who'll cut in on you. Film Stars innocent Shitla In short, without the Burt Lancasters on these shows, most of the sponsors would not be on them. You, and your brother stars, are the lucrative meal tickets of these interviewers. You are the bait for the listener. You become the victim of pointed, "« unkind, cutting, unfair, unreasonable, sensational, scurrilous-tempoed, little man" questioning, to use your reaction. For what? A possible rapidly-delivered, brush-off type of mention of your latest release. In your case, it's "Birdman of Alcatraz." It's not worth it, Burt Lancaster! By the time you're ready for the tape job, you've already got two strikes against you. You can't possibly come out ahead, though you're the high-priced guest. The Tv interviewer knows all the questions he's going to throw at you like sharp curves. But, you don't ( Continued on Bac\ Page) Attack on Sex in Films There is a strong, vindictive cry, these days, against too much bold sex in films. It is heard throughout the land in the loud tones of important people, organizations, civic groups who are in a position to do something about their plaint. It would hardly take the profundity of a sage to appreciate that that "something" can be another way of spelling out censorship. Listen to some of these complainants, - the clergy, educators, Legion of Decency, the Daughters of the American Revolution, politicos, etc., and you realize that as individual forces they mean business, this time. When these separate forces succeed in combining their agitation, as they will some day soon according to the blueprint of indignation, then it can be a mighty sad day indeed for the whole motion picture industry. Nor should we forget the provocation of Congressional committees. Yet, is motion picture production so much to blame for the story trend that has developed these days in the realm of the stage play, the novel, television and the other arts? From these sources the motion picture has been deriving much of its story content for production. Producers, with any regard for their huge (Continued on Bac\ Page) Maryland Allied Salutes Douglas Because Kirk Douglas voiced a "courageous exaltation of the motion picture industry" the Allied Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Maryland, through its executive secretary, James L. Whittle, expressed their sincere apprecation in a letter to the actor. . . . The exhibitors were motivated to salute Douglas because of a recent television appearance. The expression of gratitude said in part: "It is seldom, nowadays, that you find the top echelon performers of the screen having the courage and gratitude to extol the industry." The Maryland (Allied) theatre owners were deeply impressed with the Douglas stand. It brought forth their profound wishes for the continued success of the actor. Considering the "biting-the-hand" attitude of some of the big names in films, the Maryland salute to Douglas should have its impact on those who think that the exhibitor is not without his sense of deep appreciation when a good deed is done for the good of the industry, especially by the acting profession.