Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1960)

day, August 12, 1960 Motion Picture Daily 3 PEOPLE 0-Page Portfolio for en-Hur' Promotion Ready A 170-page promotion portfolio just been published by MetroIdwyn-Mayer for "Ben-Hur." It is ided into six sections. The adverng, publicity, and exploitation secis contain sixteen pages each, ■d with the techniques and tools "Ben-Hur" showmanship. Others lude reviews, accessories, and up sales. LS. Wage Bill (Continued from page 1 ) isure could be expected to last, whether there was any chance : it might be ended on Saturday, s equivocal answers he received, >n by observers to be a clear re Estimate Fox Films Gross ( Continued business both here and abroad, he said, giving as one example "Sons and Lovers," which he called the largest grossing attraction ever to play Egypt, receipts far outstripping those of any other 20th Century-Fox attraction in the past. Norris also said that "From the Terrace," in release less than a month, has already exceeded the million-anda-half mark with theatres throughout the country reporting grosses substantially ahead of "The Young Lions" and in many instances matching "Peyton Place." "The Lost World," Norris continued, "is well over the million dollar mark and is outgrossing 'Journey to the Center of the Earth' in virtually every playdate." The 20th sales manager also pointed to the record-breaking business be from page 1 ) ing done by "Sons and Lovers" in New York and London. "Never before has Twentieth Century-Fox had such a back-to-back concentration of commercial pictures," Norris said, "and looking toward the immediate future, we expect 'Let's Make Love' to outperform the blockbusters now in release." He added that "High Time," "North to Alaska," "Desire in the Dust," "Circle of Deception," "Wizard of Baghdad," "Flaming Heart" and "Esther and the King" constitute the "strongest September, October, November and December schedule of releases in the history of Twentieth Century-Fox." "Again I reiterate, there is no shortage of good boxoffice pictures at Twentieth— and that we will continue to devote all of our efforts to supply top budget attractions every month." Cantor Sold HJ. & T. Shares in June-July ' to the nominee by some memi of his own party, quickly led to rulation that a Republican-Southcoalition might be forming to try alk the wage bill to death. Dirksen to File Measure enate minority leader Dirksen 111.) stated that he plans to inluce a corrected version of the lse-passed wage bill as a subite for the Kennedy measure. This ild raise the pay floor to $1.15 rly and extend coverage to cercategories of retail chain store iloyees. he debate was begun by a ;thy speech by Sen. Barry Colder (R., Ariz.), a strong opponent any change in the present law. said that the Kennedy bill would iden the concept of interstate merce most dangerously. ■ ;al Estate Unit Reports 352,000 Saw Its Film From THE DAILY Bureau VASHINGTON, Aug. 11. More i 3,352,000 persons had seen s House Hunters," a film prosd for the National Association teal Estate Boards by the end of 5, according to the organization, he total— which omits those who the production at screenings spond by real estate men or organtons— is made up of theatrical, vision, and service club audiences. At Theatres and Clubs AREB estimates that 1,250,402 ons saw the film in 653 commertheatres in May and June. Some 652 were at service club screen n audience of 1,736,694 is at ited to the film's 95 telecasts. . Irisch Press Meet Set \ OLLYWOOD, Aug. ll.-A press | erence Monday morning at Bevi Hills, hosted by the Mirisch hers, Harold, Walter and Mar| will mark the third anniversary • "he company, which releases its lluct through United Artists. B. Gerald Cantor, chairman of National Theatres & Television, with associated interests, disposed of large blocks of N.T.&T. stock in June and July, according to a New York Stock Exchange report of changes in stockholdings of officers of listed companies. Cantor reported sale of 8,059 shares and a gift of 20 shares, reducing direct holdings to 100,000; the sale of all of 8,000 shares held by Cantor, Fitzgerald & Co., and sale of 2,400 shares held by Cantor & Son, Inc., reducing that holding to 2,600. Eugene V. Klein, an N. T. & T. director, sold 7,500 shares, reducing holdings to 52,323. Also reported was the acquisition by Benj. Kalmenson, Warner Bros, executive vice-president, of 20,000 shares under a stock option, constituting his entire holding. The American Stock Exchange reported the purchase by Nicolas Reisini, chairman and president of Cinerama, Inc., of 3,850 shares, increasing his current holdings to 361,150. 'Cleopatra' for Road In Early June Next Year "Cleopatra," which will begin filming in the Todd-AO process on Sept. 15, will be available for roadshow release in early June of 1961. This was disclosed yesterday after an executive board meeting at the 20th Century-Fox home offices chaired by president Spyros P. Skouras. The film, which is being produced by Walter Wanger and directed by Rouben Mamoulian in various parts of the world, will begin in London, moving then to the Holy Land. Much important filming will be done in Egypt itself and in sections of the Middle East. Elizabeth Taylor is starred. SPG Representation In AMPP Invited From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 11. The Screen Producers Guild has received an invitation from Eric Johnston to have two or three of its representatives actively represent the guild in the Association of Motion Picture Producers since "independent producers are part of management and are paying dues to AMPP," Johnston pointed out at an SPG board meeting Monday night in the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Stooges Stay Against Columbia Dissolved From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 11. The temporary restraining order placed against Columbia Pictures on the distribution of "Stop, Look and Laugh," filed by The Three Stooges on the claim that the film was not new but a compilation of their old two-reelers, was dissolved yesterday by Superior Court Judge Ellsworth Meyer. Preminger Sets 'Advise9 WASHINGTON, Aug. 11. Otto Preminger has informed Allen Drury, author of "Advise and Consent" that he will start shooting the film version in September 1961, probably here. Script-writer Wendell Mayes is expected here in the near future to familiarize himself with the Senate, where much of the book takes place. Disney Dividend Set HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 11. The board of directors of Walt Disney Productions at its regular meeting today, declared a quarterly dividend of 10 cents per share on the company's common capital stock, payable Oct. 1, 1960, to stockholders of record on Sept. 16, 1960. Charles C. Cassinelli, of the Wyoming Theatre Co., Mullens, West Va., has enrolled his Pineville Drive-in Theatre, of that community, in Theatre Owners of America, it was disclosed yesterday by Albert M. Pickus, president of TOA. □ Johanna Grant, publicist, has been retained by Columbia Pictures to do special national promotion on Hall Bartlett's "All the Young Men," which will have its world premiere at the Roosevelt Theatre in Chicago on Aug. 18. □ William M. McCormick has been named president of the Yankee Network division of RKO General, Inc. Most recently he was vice-president and director of sales for WOR-Radio here. In his new post he succeeds Norman Knight, who has resigned in order to give all his time to his private business interests. □ Gary Dartnall, formerly on the sales staff of Associated British Pathe, has been named overseas sales representative for Lion International, London. He will leave shortly for the Middle East on his first trip for the company. EMI Takes Over Rank Record Companies From THE DAILY Bureau LONDON, Aug. 9 (By Air Mail). —The Rank Organisation, Ltd., and Electric and Musical Industries, Ltd., have announced that in future the popular Top Rank Label of Rank Records, Ltd., will be handled in the U.K. by E.M.I. The Rank American companies, Rank Records of America, Inc., and Rank Records International, Inc., are to continue in full operation and the U.S. recordings of their catalogues will continue to be released under the Top Rank Label but by E.M.I. Records, Ltd. The statement added, "It is felt that the extensive facilities available through E.M.I, will make possible a more effective distribution." Rank Records has thus fallen a casualty in the disc war after only 18 months of operation. The Rank Organisation had made elaborate plans to capture a huge slice of the rich "pop" disc market by selling at cheaper prices than those customarily obtaining through its Gaumont and Odeon theatres. Operations in the first year are believed to have resulted in a heavy loss. The name "Top Rank" is to be kept for the time being in view of existing commitments. Sir Joseph Lockwood, E.M.I, chairman, said today: "No money is involved in the present deal. We are simply taking over the Rank Record assets and liabilities."