Harrison's Reports (1962)

Hatofod as seeond-Glass matter January 4, 1921, at the post office at New York, N«w York, under the act of Marsh 3, 1879. Harrison's Reports Yearly Subscription Rates: Pobfished Weekly by United States $17.00 Harrison's Reports, Inc., U. S. Insular Possessions... 19.00 Canada and Mexico 19.00 A Mot,on Picture Revlewing Service 1«00 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 1, 1919 Martin Starr, Editor A REVIEWING SERVICE FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF FILM ADVERTISING Vol. XLIV SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1962 No. 21 Big Films; Big Problems The presidents of the major film companies, in giving their accounting to the stockholders in annual session, did not underplay or deemphasise the troubles that beset them in making the truly big multi'million dollar blockbuster-spectacles. The bigger the under' taking, the greater the risk. The costlier the investment, the more hazardous the chance of assured return. The bolder the venture, the greater the courage. These are the mathematical, economical, emotional and physical denominators by which the tri' angle squares the base and the apex equals the root. To the Zukors, Warners, Skourases, Goldwyns and some of the other Old Guard of production and company operation, this is the enduring bedrock out of which they cleaved their mighty empires now vested, to a great degree, in the hands of younger people. Some of this newer generation, to be sure, are not yet quite seasoned to the dangers of big-monied operation, gigantic productional undertakings, the seasoned blueprinting of overpowering, challenging blockbusters that can well destroy the industrial power and financial position of a whole studio if one of these big films fails to come through. The More Things Change — The more things change in the motion picture industry, the more the basic reasons for the films' existence will insist, with calculating stubborness, to remain the same. Each new generation in whose hands lie the destiny of big undertakings in this business, must learn this lesson taught by man's way of life itself. Today, for instance, the biggest of them all is expected to be "Cleopatra." Not only in investment dollars (well over twenty-million) but in productional scope, star value, entertainment investiture. It is not only to the good of the trouble-hounded film itself, but to the general welfare of the whole motion picture industry, that standing over its every film-foot of progress is that stalwart of big ones, Spyros Plato Skouras. To hear seasoned exhibitors tell it, " 'Cleopatra' can't but help be about the biggest of them all with Skouras godfathering it every inch of the way." What a tribute to the confidence of the potential buyer in the seller! "The Longest Day" has weathered the storms that are always laying in threat of a long, drawn-out production schedule. This too is one of the Goliaths on the 20th-Fox schedule. But, for all of Darryl F. Zanuck's outward glee and final sigh of happiness, speak to those associated with him on this thundercontinued on Bac\ Page) The Return of an Evil A serious problem that the exhibitor thought was removed from the trouble-zone of theatre operation, like a bad penny, has turned up again. and, that is the returning of bids on features for which prints have not been made available for screening. Or, at best, it is asserted by Marshall H. Fine, president of Allied States Association of Motion Picture Exhibitors, the theatre operator is offered a single screening at both an inconvenient time and place. This all, of course, is another way of spelling out blind bidding. Fine pointed out, in a letter to the distribution heads of all major companies, that the complaints from theatre owners have been mounting and it becomes urgent that the alleged irregularity of practice be brought to the attention of the sales heads. The young president of Allied reminded the home office executives that, "In the past you have indicated that blind bidding was not to be the policy or desire of your company in any instance." Fine is of the opinion that the companies don't seem to feel that way any more. To be sure, and for the protection of his exhibitor-members, he asked each of the boss salesmen of the companies to let him know how he feels about (Continued on Bac\ Page) "Premiere Showcase" Launched In a move to bring the red-carpeted, kleiglighted Broadway and Hollywood premiere of first-run top-quality films to Westchester, Long Island and the boroughs of New York at the same time the releases open their Broadway run, United Artists is getting ready to launch its "Premiere Showcase" on June 27 . . . Already contracted for simultaneous participation in this Broadway-to-the-community type of starstudded premiere are 13 theatres, it was announced at a press breakfast, the other day. The vehicle which will get this campaign launched is "The Road to Hong Kong." United Artists promised these theatres in outlying districts, stars of stage and screen to be in attendance . . . The popular civic, business and social leaders in their respective communities will also participate in these "Premiere Showcase" festivities. Following the Bob Hope-Bing Crosby starrer will come such UA releases as "Follow That Dream," "Bird Man of Alcatraz" and other features worthy of the red-carpeted, kleig-lighted treatment that will be given the theatres participating in this move to "showcase" the films day-and-date with Broadway.