The Exhibitor (1959)

10 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR August 12, 1959 10 Indie Producers Bolster U-l Schedule Vogel Reports MGM Surge Abroad; Enthusiastic Over '! Ben Hur" Plans NEW YORK — Upon his return from abroad, Joseph R. Vogel, president of Loew’s, Inc. (MGM), expressed particular enthusiasm for the long-range plans in behalf of the London premiere of “Ben-Hur” later this year. He reported that the MGM upbeat overseas is just as heartening as it is domes¬ tically, as evidenced for example in the con¬ tinuing success of “Gigi” and other MGM pictures. He was equally delighted to find, upon his return, that MGM’s latest release, “North by Northwest,” is an outstanding suc¬ cess in each of its American engagements. “Although the London engagement of ‘Ben-Hur’ will not start until possibly De¬ cember, there is intense interest and ex¬ pectancy in the British trade, just as there is among exhibitors in the states,” said Vogel. “A similar condition exists whereby, in or¬ der to book this attraction, theatres are pro¬ posing extensive alterations, on the basis of an unprecedentedly long play-off. Plans now being worked out between our London or¬ ganization and the home office for the launching of ‘Ben-Hur’ abroad are of a stat¬ ure commensurate with the size of the attrac¬ tion, and when they are ready for announce¬ ment, they will fit into the category of ‘they said it couldn’t be done’. When ‘Ben-Hur’ has its history-making world premiere at the New Loew’s State in New York late in the fall, followed by de luxe presentations in selected cities in the states and climaxed by its London bow, this giant production will have global penetration that makes it the most eagerly sought entertainment in screen history. “And how pleasurable,” concluded Vogel, “ to return to the States to find that our latest release, ‘North by Northwest,’ is such an overwhelming hit. The overall average of the picture surpasses our biggest successes of recent years and is gradually inching up to the blockbusting grosses of ‘Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.’ Another piece of good news to greet me was the sensational reception at its Coast preview of ‘It Started With A Kiss,’ which is our Labor Day picture. We may all truly say that Leo the Lion is roaring lustily again.” MGM COMPLETES DEALS FOR PRODUCTION ABROAD NEW YORK— Sol C. Siegel, Metro Goldwyn Mayer vice-president in charge of production, announced upon his return from a three-week business trip to Europe, that agreements have been finalized for the production of a num¬ ber of important pictures in England, Spain, and Germany, primarily for the continental market. Following meetings in London, Paris, and Berlin with independent foreign producers and directors, decisions were reached to start a minimum of four pictures at the MGM London Studios during the next six months. Additional productions planned include three in Germany and two in Spain. All will be filmed abroad with top international producers and directors and personalities for MGM release in the countries of their origin and possibly world wide. Joseph R. Vogel, president of Loew’s, Inc., met in Paris with Siegel; Maurice Silverstein, Loew’s International vice-president; and David Lewis, regional director for Europe, in completing plans for the program. “The Day the Bank of England Was Robbed,” to be produced by Jules Buck, was set as the first of the four British projects to start at the London Studios. These have been previously discussed with Larry Bachman, who joined MGM as production representa¬ tive for Europe several months ago, and conferred with Siegel in London where he headquarters. Siegel made a thorough survey of European productions in talks with independent Euro¬ pean producers in London, Paris, Berlin and Frankfurt. Spanish and Italian industry lead¬ ers attended the discussion in Paris. He inter¬ rupted his return trip to spend two days in New York with Vogel and complete details on overall plans for the release late this year of “Ben-Hur,” scheduled for preview in Sep¬ tember. Major 1959-60 releases also discussed were “Wreck of the Mary Deare,” “Never So Few,” and “Home from the Hill.” NEW YORK— With the setting recently of three new independent production deals, Universal-International now has a total of 10 major independent production pacts set since president Milton R. Rackmil launched the company’s new policy last summer. The new pacts included those with Mel¬ ville Productions, Inc., in which Gregory Peck and Sy Bartlett are associated, to pro¬ duce two photoplays, the first of which is to be either “The Winged Horse, an inter¬ national adventure story, or an as-yetuntitled comedy-romance. John Huston, who will produce and direct Rudyard Kipling’s classic, “The Man Who Would Be King,” will also produce and direct a second picture, “Freud,” the life story of Sigmund Freud. William Wellman will produce and direct “The S.O.B’s,” a story of an American fighter squadron in the South Pacific in World War II. Susan Hayward will star in “Elephant Hill.” Marlon Brando has been set to star in “The Ugly American,” one of the most controversial novels of recent years. Kirk Douglas’ Bryna Productions is now making the $9-million “Spartacus, stalling Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Tony Curtis, Charles Laughton, Peter Usti¬ nov, and John Gavin. Additional Bryna productions for U-I will be “Viva Gringo, starring Rock Hudson and Douglas, and “Day of the Gun.” Cary Grant’s Granart Productions has just completed “Operation Petticoat, stalling Grant and Tony Curtis. Doris Day’s Arwin Productions made the recently completed “Pillow Talk, starring Rock Hudson, Miss Day, and Tony Randall. A second picture to be made by Arwin will be “Matilda Shouted Fire,” starring Miss Day Albert Zugsmith-Fryman Productions is currently making “The Private Lives of Adam and Eve,” starring Mickey Rooney, Mamie Van Doren, Marty Milner, and Fay Spain. In addition, Universal is continuing to make its own pictures. The studio has two staff producers, Robert Arthur and Ross Hunter, under exclusive contract and has exclusive pacts with five popular stars, Rock Hudson, John Gavin, John Saxon, Sandia Dee, and Linda Cristal. Yates Kin Leave Republic HOLLYWOOD — Victor M. Carter, presi¬ dent and board chairman, Republic Pictures, last fortnight announced the resignations of Douglas T. Yates, vice-president and direc¬ tor and general manager of Consolidated Film Laboratory in Fort Lee, N. J., and New York; Walter L. Titus, sales manager of Consolidated; Richard G. Yates, eastern sales manager of Hollywood Television Service, Inc.; and Rudy Ralston, a producer at Repub¬ lic Studios. All are members of Herbert J. Yates’ immediate family. No announcement of their replacements were made. Depinet Attends Erie Reunion ERIE, PA. — Ned Depinet, ex-RKO' presi¬ dent, returned here last fortnight for the 50th reunion of the 1909 class of Erie High School. Depinet is at present head of Motion Picture Pioneers and devotes a great deal of his time to the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital, Saranac Lake, N.Y. Cary Grant, whose Granart Production "Operation Petticoat" will be released by U-l, par¬ ticipated in a recent sales executives conference; and is seen seated with Milton E. Rackmil, president, U-l, and Mrs. Rackmil, the former Vivian Blaine. Standing, left to right, are Charles Simonelli, U-I's eastern advertising and publicity manager; Henry H. Martin, U-I's general sales manager; F. J. A. McCarthy, assistant general sales manager; Jeff Living¬ ston, eastern advertising manager; and James J. Jordan, circuit sales manager.