Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1960)

Monday, July 11, 1960 Motion Picture Daily 3 Myers Resigns Allied Post ( Continued from page 1 ) PEOPLE Daffodils Pushing British Comedy By SAUL OSTROVE Daffodils are coming up roses these days in the film industry. So are nurses' outfits worn by theatre cashiers and usherettes, and internes' clothing jworn by ushers. All because a "natural" like "Carry On Nurse" came along. In more than 40 situations around the country daffodils are being distributed to patrons of "Nurse" as they 'leave the theatre, so as to stir further vvord-of-mouth praise for the film. "But you must see the picture to inderstand the significance of the iaffodils," Dave Emanuel, president )f Governor Films, distributor of 'Nurse," said here Friday. Costumes Are Appropriate "The daffodils are an integral part of the picture. The audience begins :o laugh again as it leaves the theatre. The nursing and internes' outfits ipeak for themselves," he said. "Nurse" is rolling up terrific grosses n all its situations. But why should i British comedy, of all things be do:ng so very well in places like Waco md San Antonio, Tex., gimmicks or hot? 1 "Down-to-earth belly laughs, pitched to the masses," explained Arthur Cerman, Governor vice-president. "Not I hat more sophisticated patrons don't rp for it, too. They see things that the others miss. But generally people nowadays want slapstick-type comi'dy." Sees Word-of-Mouth Important ; Governor did not expect "Nurse" p get by without word-of-mouth, depite the picture's stunning success in England, where it was produced by 'eter Rogers, producer and originaor of the "Carry on" series, for Angloamalgamated Film Distributors, Ltd. I To further spread the word on the jiicture, multiple sneak previews of 'Nurse" were held in most situations, fometimes three or four in each city. 1 With "Nurse" doing so well in all juarters — it is the next film due here It the Little Carnegie — Governor has cquired American distribution rights p two other pictures in the series, j! Carry on, Constable" (later this year), |nd "Carry on, Teacher" (for release lext Spring). I 'A Touch of Hell' Coming Governor also will release "A Touch f Hell" this summer. This one was roduced by Eros Films, Ltd., of Lonjon, and is described by Emanuel as je current "Peyton Place" of Great ritain. "Strictly Commercial," he dded. An Italian picture, "The Lady Dock," with Vittorio de Sica, Toto and '.bbe Lane, will be released this Fall. , Emanuel said Governor does not ihoose to release too many films a ear. The company prefers to tender wing care to each of its products, as \ has done with "Nurse." Such spe ial handling, as "Nurse" is proving, ays off. Myers said he had nothing to add to the Myrick statement. Myers previously announced his intention to retire by summer this year in December, 1959. Again, at an Allied board meeting late last March, he repeated his desire to resign. At that time a committee was named to confer with Myers in regard to his retirement and "to plan for carrying on the association thereafter." Myrick said at the weekend that the committee members, when advised of Myers' plans at Elkhart Lake, "expressed their deep regret that Allied must lose the services of the man who has been its guiding spirit for 31 years." Was Urged to Continue The committee was unanimous, Myrick added, in urging Myers to continue as general counsel and a consultant, with a Washington office, "at least during the transition from the organization as it has functioned for more than three decades to such TV, Radio, Newspapers In 'Hercules' Drive A record radio-television-newspaper advertising campaign will be unleashed throughout the Greater New York area by Embassy Pictures this week launching Wednesday's saturation opening of Joseph E. Levine's "Hercules Unchained." The campaign will open with 10-, 20 and 60-second TV spots on the ]*BC-TV. Embassy's radio advertising, on an almost 'round the clock schedule prior to the 135-theatre opening is being carried by six of New York's most powerful stations: WNBC, WCBS, WINS, WNEW, WMGM and WMCA. Ten 30 and 60-second spots are included in the radio campaign. Capping the massive pre-selling sweep is multi-sized newspaper advertisements running in afl of New York's major dailies. Full-page ads are scheduled for the Daily News, Post, the Journal-American, while the Mirror will run a center-spread doubletruck ad. The Mirror, simultaneously, is running an eight-day "Hercules Unchained" coloring contest with entrants—boys and girls— eligible for $2,000 in United States Savings Bonds. In addition to the New York newspaper campaign the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger will print a full-page, fullcolor advertisement, one of 40 newspapers throughout the United States scheduled for this type ad. 'Fugitive' Invited Tennessee Williams' "The Fugitive Kind" has been officially invited for special presentation at the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain, scheduled for July 9-19. The United Artists release will be shown on the closing night of the festival, July 19. new order as the board may establish." Myrick said he will call a board meeting sometime in August at which time the special committee will "submit concrete recommendations." At the time of his December announcement Myers said he did not want to "remain around on a consultative basis." He suggested then that Allied would do well to select a younger man and begin training him to take over the chief administrative functions of the organization. When Myers' probable retirement was rumored early in 1959, he said that he and his wife, also an attorney, had planned for some time to retire to their country home on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Myers, now 70, helped found Allied and was its first president, serving three terms from 1929 through 1931, while concurrently acting as general counsel. He became chairman of the board and general counsel of the association in 1932. Special Short Will Promote Col. 'Pepe' The trailer department of Columbia Pictures is to start production immediately on a special short subject, "Pepe Presents George Sidney," it is announced by Jonas Rosenfield, Jr., executive in charge of advertising and publicity for Columbia. The special film will launch the long-range film promotion activities for "Pepe," starring Cantinflas and 35 personalities from the world of entertainment. Marking a "first," the short is specifically designed for exhibition only among exhibitors and motion picture press. Release is being set for end of this month, five months ahead of the picture's opening. Emphasizing the global aspect of the short, producer-director George Sidney has been filmed on-camera speaking five languages — English, French, Italian, Spanish and German, with additional material of Chevalier (French), Dan Dailey (Italian), and Cantinflas (Spanish). Stratford Adds 'Sunday9 The short subject, "Village Sunday," has been added to the list of films to be shown at the first Stratford International Film Festival, July 1319, it was announced on Friday by Albert M. Pickus, festival chairman, and Val Chevron, executive director. Stewart Wilensky is producer and distributor of the film. IF A Has 2 in Stratford Two International Film Associates featurettes, both in Eastman color, have been selected by the Stratford preview committee for showing at the first Stratford International Film Festival in Stratford, Conn. The films are "The Magic Violin," a cartoon, and "Goya's Masterpiece." William H. Smith, who since 1956 has been staff assistant for planning research at Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N. Y., has been named head of the planning research and systems department of the company. He will assist in the development of new systems for use in connection with the estimating of sales, the planning of production and the distribution of Kodak photographic products. □ James Scovotti, industry publicist, has joined the newly-organized Rick Carrier Productions as publicity director. His first assignment will be "The Strangers," to be released by Carrier's own distribution unit, International Artists Releasing Corp. □ Minnie Wade, daughter of C. W. Wade, of the Wadesonian Theatre, Clanton, Ala., is getting her plane in shape to enter the Powder Puff Derby down there. Contestants in the race, as the name implies, are drawn entirely from the distaff side. □ Jack Vaughan, formerly booker for 20th Century-Fox in Atlanta, has been named booker for Georgia Theatres there. He succeeds Doug Veshsear, who has resigned. Christmas Displays Being Made by NSS National Screen Service's lineup of Christmas and New Year displays for the 1960 holiday season is now in production, it has been announced by Burton E. Robbins, vice-president in charge of sales. In making his announcement, Robbins emphasized the extensive use of bright, cheerful, appealing colors in this year's poster material. Christmas material to be made available to exhibitors will include: upright 40 x 60 and 30 x 40, flat 40 x 60, and a special Chistmas Standee Display. New Year display material will include a 40 x 60 with a greeting, and another 40 x 60 for use in advertising special New Year's Eve shows. Robbins' announcement was in response to communications from NSS branches around the country which indicated the likelihood of an unusually large volume of orders for holiday displays this year. Lazarus to Frisco HOLLYWOOD, July 10. Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., Columbia Pictures vicepresident, will leave here for San Francisco Monday after a week of meetings at the studio. In San Francisco, as a representative of the Motion Picture Association of America, he will deliver an address at the convention of the Newspaper Advertising Executives Association.