The Exhibitor (1959)

August 19, 1959 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 15 NEWS CAPSULES "Son of God" Film Planned NEW YORK — Plans for the highest cost picture of all time were announced last week by Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton, presi¬ dent of Parliament Pictures Corporation, which is the producing company undertaking “The Son Of God.” Picture rolls in Novem¬ ber with a cast of 50,000 and 150 principle parts and depicts the entire life of Jesus from the Annunciation through the Ascen¬ sion. The estimated $30,000,000 expenditure (in¬ cluding print costs and advertising) is ex¬ pected to bring $150,000,000 in revenue dur¬ ing the first three years of release, and onethird of the profits will go to charities and religious foundations, it was announced. The company’s board chairman, William Free, claims that research and development on a new third dimension process for the¬ atres without glasses or any other visual aid may be completed by Vienna scientist Charles Langberg in time to be used on the picture. By using a revolutionary automation tech¬ nique and advanced equipment for produc¬ tion, the picture is expected to be ready for a day and date world premiere in New York, London, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Jerusalem, and Hollywood by Christmas Week, 1960. ^4 BROADWAY /\ GROSSES Outstanding Films Pull Crowds NEW YORK — Led by the Roxy and Radio City Music Hall, most of the Broadway firstruns, all playing outstanding product, con¬ tinued to do satisfactory summer business last week-end. According to usually reliable sources reach¬ ing MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR, the break-down was as follows: “A PRIVATE’S AFFAIR” (20th-Fox). Par¬ amount ($39,453)* — The opening week was claimed at $26,000. “NORTH BY NORTHWEST” (MGM). Ra¬ dio City Music Hall ($147,610) — Thursday through Sunday accounted for $116,500, with the second week bound to hit $200,000. Stage show. FOR THE FIRST TIME” (MGM). Roxy ($55,405) — Friday through Sunday reached $47,000, with the opening session estimated at $75,000. Stage show. “THE LAST TRAIN FROM GUN HILL” (Paramount). Capitol ($33,350) — The third and last week dropped to $17,000. “BLUE DENIM” (20th-Fox). Victoria ($22,900) — The third week was reported as $23,000. “THE HORSE SOLDIERS” (UA). Astor ($25,630) — The eighth week was expected to reach $13,000. “ANATOMY OF A MURDER” (Col ). Cri¬ terion announced the seventh week as $26,500. “MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT” (Col ). Forum did $10,500 on the ninth week. “A HOLE IN THE HEAD” (UA). Loews State garnered $42,000 on the fifth week. “DIARY OF ANNE FRANK” (20th-Fox). RKO Palace reported $11,000 for the seventh week of continuous showings and the 22nd week of the engagement. * Figures in parentheses represent 1958 aver¬ ages as compiled hy Motion Picture Ex¬ hibitor. FORMS FOR THIS PAGE CLOSED AT 2 P.M. ON MON., AUG. 17 Penna. Lawyers Rap Pending Censor Bill PITTSBURGH — A bipartisan group of 33 leading Allegheny County lawyers have at¬ tacked the pending movie censorship bill as “unworkable and unconstitutional.” In a resolution submitted to the Pennsyl¬ vania House of Representatives, the attorneys termed Senate Bill 373 “in violation of the First Amendment” and an effort to evade recent clear-cut decisions on censorship handed down by the State and Federal Su¬ preme Courts. The bill is being vigorously supported throughout the state by the Catho¬ lic Church. “The bill misses its mark completely,” the lawyers’ resolution said. “Instead of aiming at the real purveyors of pornography (pro¬ ducers of stag movies, publishers of lewd magazines, etc.) it provides for control of a medium which is actually free from obscenity — namely, legitimately produced commercial motion pictures.” The lawyers also charged the bill, which has already passed the State Senate, with being unfair by calling for censorship of films after they have been shown in public rather than before. “This means,” the resolution continues, “that after months of effort and expense a film which has already opened may sudden¬ ly find itself censored and withdrawn from exhibition.” Industry spokesmen have pointed out the same possibilities should the legisla¬ tion become law. The attorneys made other points against the bill, including: No qualifications for members of the cen¬ sorship board are described, and the bill’s definition of obscenity is so vague that high courts will be forced to nullify the law if it is passed. Proponents argue that the bill answers all court objections and would be sustained if tested. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, among other area newspapers, ran an editorial strongly urging defeat of the censorship bill. Mean¬ while, the industry watches, waits, and hopes. Pennsylvania has been a battleground for censorship legislation ever since it was killed by the State Supreme Court. New Para. Pact For Holden HOLLYWOOD — A new seven-year con¬ tract has been signed by actor William Holden and Paramount Pictures, it is an¬ nounced by Jack Karp, Paramount vicepresident and administrative head of the studio. Simultaneously, it was announced by Karp that Holden’s first assignment under the new Paramount contract will be the starring role in the forthcoming Perlberg-Seaton produc¬ tion based on the best-selling novel, “The Counterfeit Traitor.” Shooting will begin early in 1960 on locations in Sweden, Den¬ mark, and Germany. Hirsch Heads Consolidated HOLLYWOOD — Victor M. Carter, presi¬ dent, Republic Pictures Corporation, last fortnight announced the appointment of vet¬ eran laboratory expert Ted Hirsch as general manager of Consolidated Film Laboratories in New York and Fort Lee, N.J., succeeding Douglas T. Yates, who resigned. Sidney Solow, of the Hollywood plant, will move up to the office of executive vicepresident in charge of Consolidated in its entirety. sfs FILM FAMILY '0s ALBUM Go Id Bands Audrey Louise Astrin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Neal Astrin, Brooklyn, N. Y., was mar¬ ried to M. David Tell, Westbury, Long Island, on Aug. 15. The bride’s father is a member of the playdate department of United Artists. Mr. and Mrs. Ernest A. Grecula, operator of the State, Torrington, Conn., have an¬ nounced that their daughter, Venice E., will be married to William A. Zampaglione, of Torrington, with ceremonies to be held Sept. 12. Everett M. Olson, Paramount’s Chicago publicity director, and Libby Marcase were married in Charlotte, N. C. Obituaries J. Clarence Derwent, 74, president, Amer¬ ican National Theatre and Academy, and former president of Actors Equity Associ¬ ation, died at his New York home. He was a well known actor. Robert Mochrie, MGM executive in charge of "Ben-Hur" distribution, center, recently "signed" with a verbal handshake over the phone two of the biggest theatrical contracts ever made in Atlanta and Dallas. On the left, in Dallas, Raymond Willie, Inter-State Theatres, set the south¬ west premiere for the Tower, Dallas, while on the right, in Atlanta, Jimmy Harrison, executive, Wilby-Kincey Theatres, okayed an exclusive engagement of the film for the Roxy for the only showing between Miami and Washington.