Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1960)

Motion Picture Daily Hollywood Studios Have 35 in Work From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 1. With four new pictures started this week, the total number of productions currently shooting remains at 35. Three were completed. Started were: "Gidget Goes Hawaiian," Jerry Bresler production for Columbia Pictures release: "The Ladies Man," Jerry Lewis Production for Paramount; "By Love Possessed," Mirisch Company in association with Seven Arts Productions, for United Artists release, and "Cause of Death," an independent film being produced by Arlington Productions, Inc. Trio Finished Completed were: "The Greengage Summer," a P.K.L. Picture for Columbia Pictures release; "The Right Approach" and "Sniper's Edge," for 20th Century-Fox. Changes Reported on Detroit's Film Row Special to THE DAILY DETROIT, Dec. 1. Following the elevation of Carl Bruss to advertising and publicity manager for M-G-M here, he was replaced as salesman by Jack McMahon, who left the United Artists exchange where he was similarly employed, to accept the post. John Dembek, for many years buyer and booker for Cooperative Theatres of Michigan, left there to take McMahon's place. Henry Zapp Pinch-Hitting Earl England, buyer and booker for Cooperative Theatres, was hospitalized, and his place is being taken by Henry Zapp, formerly with Co-Op, but who left a short time ago to engage in another line of business. 'Ben-Hur' in Ohio CLEVELAND, Dec. 1. "BenHur" in Northern Ohio: 44th week in Loew's Ohio gross soars to second best week of entire run. Opening in Madison Theatre, Mansfield, "terrific." Moves from Robbins Theatre to Daniel in Warren because big business warranted it. It opens Dec. 22 in the State Theatre, Cuyahoga Falls (Akron) with a big tie-up with die "Akron-Beacon Journal's" charities. There will be a press, radio, tv-preview invitational and proceeds will go to the newspaper's charities. REVIEW: Marriage-GoRound 20th-Fox — CinemaScope Leslie Stevens who wrote and produced this bright, lively and unusual comedy first as a successful Broadway stage play and now as this tinkling screenplay of marriage morality, here approaches from an entirely different and oblique angle the same subject he treated in "Private Lives —sex in marriage. This time out, it is for pure comedy, it is the husband whose marital fidelity is tempted, and the seduction is undertaken not by a pair of psychotic and criminal rapists but by a gorgeous embodiment of all the Delilahs of history who almost succeeds because of the surprise element m her attack a combination of superbly attractive physical charm and an intellectual flattery designed to break down the sophistication of her mtended victim. The gossamer thin plot is kept generating laughs through the presence and personalities of the principals-James Mason and Susan Hayward, the couple whose marriage is threatened, Julie Newmar whose luscious physique is the temptation, and by the taut direction of Walter Lang whose experienced hand keeps the dialogue snapping and the action from dragging. rr 6 Mason is a professor of cultural anthropology and his wife, Miss Hayward, is dean of women at an ultra-modem college in Florida. Miss Newmar is the daughter of a Swedish academic friend of theirs whom they have not seen for some years. Thev remember her as a precocious child m pigtails. She arrives for a visit and Mason especially is taken aback at her maturity. He is even more aghast when, alone with him she informs him that she has come to America to have a baby by him since she has arrived at the frank and straightforward conclusion that with her beauty and his brams such a child will be eugenicallv perfect. Further, Miss Newmar does not mind informing Miss Havward that she wants to borrow ner husband. The developments, as Mason's surprise turns to attraction and his defenses are broken down in spite of his wife's valiant efforts, make the meat of the story. The seduction fails but whether through accident cowardice or virtue is left to the viewer's imagination. The settings, photography in color by DeLuxe, and production values along with the marquee names, make this a top attraction. The frank approach to sex withm and outside of marriage, limits it to adults Running time, 98 minutes. January release date. James D. I vers Friday, December 2, M Miss Winston Te Of Her U.K. Pla By SAMUEL D. BERNS HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 1. J Winston, producer of Colurrfl "Hand in Hand," which is exp,| to go into release in January f return to England early next ye-, produce T. E. B. Clarke's aril screenplay, "Strawberry Leaves.' young, attractive newcomer to production ranks told the pres: an interview luncheon hosted by lumbia in the Hollywood Brown ' by today, she will make the pic under the Eady Plan, and wai negotiation with Columbia for if lease. Will Produce for BBC Miss Winston, enjoying dual zenship as a Canadian and Ameri said she will also produce four s taculars in London for BBC year, importing names like Mort Ernie Kovacs and Shelley Berman their debut to British television diences. Pine-Thomas Deal (Continued from page 1 ) Paso," "Mandhandled," "Captain China," "The Eagle and the Hawk," "The Lawless," "Tripoli," "The Last Outpost," "Passage West," "Crosswinds," "Hong Kong," and "The Blazing Forest." Also, "Caribbean," "Tropic Zone," "The Vanquished," "Jamaica Run," "Sangaree," "Those Redheads from Seattle," "Jivaro," "Hell's Island," ''Run for Cover," "Far Horizons" and "Lucy Gallant." Mailings on 'AssisV Some 400 Catholic publications, virtually all in the U. S. and Canada, are now receiving daily mailings from 20th Century-Fox of stills and production material from the Assisi location of Plato Skouras' "Francis of Assisi," which stars Bradford Dillman and Dolores Hart. Sent directly in many cases from Italy, the material has the "on-the-spot" news quality of events as they are happening. 'Scandal' Bows Dec. 23 "A Breath of Scandal," Paramount Technicolor release, starring Sophia Loren, Maurice Chevalier and John Gavin, will have its New York premiere Dec. 23 at the Trans-Lux 85th St. Theatre. Blowitz-Maskel Engaged Continental Distributing, Inc., has engaged the public relations firm of Blowitz-Maskel Co. to handle publicity and promotion for the American engagements of "The Long and the Short and the Tall" and "The Mark " Martin Davis Named {Continued from page 1) by the promotion of Pickman. Davis will maintain close liaison with Pickman and George Weltner on Paramount sales and merchandising programs. "The realignment represents a powerful amalgamation of production, sales and promotional activities that will be unchallenged in the industry," he said. Davis joined Paramount in 1958 as executive assistant to Pickman. Previously, he had been Eastern advertising-publicity director for Allied Artists since 1948, and was assistant national director of advertising and publicity for Samuel Goldwyn Productions in New York for two years after leaving the Army in 1946. Reopen Oregon Theatre MOUNT ANGEL, Ore., Dec. X.Mr, and Mrs. Wilbert Pierce are reopening their Mt. Angel Theatre here and say they will play only those pictures approved by the National Legion of Decency. The couple also operate the theatre at Estacada, Ore. CEA Backs Officers (Continued from page 1 ) ed to act for them. In addition officers will be given "complete demnity" in the suit, the CEA gen counsel said here today. Woolf is taking legal action agai Ellis Pinkney, general secretary CEA, and others, over the oolla of Woolf's negotiations with War Brothers to make a film. Woolf charged that Pinkney wrote J; Warner, president of Warner Brothi last May telling him that CEA me bers will not book films with whi the Woolf family is concerned. Jo Woolf, brother of James, is under tx cott by CEA because of the sale : feature films to tv by Romulus. In other action today regarding continuing fight against sales to CEA circulated a reminder to its mei bers that all pictures of produx David O. Selznick are also under be cott. Selznick's "Rebecca" has be, advertised for reissue in a trade pap ad here. ABC Representatives ( Continued from page 1 ) chael J. Foster, ABC vice-preside in charge of press information. The Awards ceremony will broadcast exclusively over the AB television and radio networks ne, April 17. The coordinating committee headed by Jack Diamond and Joh Flinn, public relations branch repn sentatives of the Academy board governors Other members of die committc previously announced, include Dan '. Baer and Archie A. Lee, Harshe-Ro man, Inc., public relations couns_ for the Academy, and Clarke Wales director of public relations for tl Association of Motion Picture Pr ducers. :