The Exhibitor (1959)

LONDON Observations by Jock MacGregor i ONE COULD NOT BUT FEEL a little sad at the glittering premiere of “North West Frontier.” Producer Marcel Heilman was absent through being hospitalized. There is no sweeter person in the industry than this kindly, worrying, and deeply conscientious man, and this is his greatest triumph in every sense of the word. Starring Lauren Bacall and Kenneth More, this rip roar¬ ing adventure of India in rebellion at the turn of the century packs a terrific punch. The picture, shot in CinemaScope and color, is also a triumph for J. Lee Thompson who caps thrill with thrill. This puts him into the top class. In the past he has directed more intimate subjects like “Woman in the Dressing Gown” and “Tiger Bay” with imagination and distinction. Now he handles crowds of thousands as raiding tribesmen attack, using the vast wide screen to its fullest potentials, building the suspense and excitement to near breaking point. By the end I was positively limp. Not for a long time have I had such sweaty hands at a movie. CONGRATULATIONS to W. Cartlidge, general manager of Associated British Cinemas, on his promotion to assistant managing director. Bill has a thorough knowledge of all sides of showmanship and management, having worked his way up in the company, and is a theatreman through and through. This appointment will so increase his activities in all spheres of ABC’s extensive operations that he has asked to be relieved of his duties with ABC TV. ... It was with no thought of a hot news story that I accepted Fred Thomas’ invitation to lunch in the country and a look at Rank Film Distributors’ newly extended film dispatch centre at Denham. Probably the biggest in the country, it handled, serviced, checked, and in some cases repaired in the first six months of this year 33,528 features, 22,139 shorts, and 15,042 ad flashes. Every Saturday, 400 cross-overs are made. In addition to Rank, U-I, British Lion, and RKO use the service and with rationalization the key word here, Fred is frankly after extra business. He claims he can do the job cheaper than any¬ one else and stresses that he knows nothing about his clients’ business beyond to whom they send films. . . . Bursting with delight, Nat Cohen tells me that “Carry On, Nurse” is doing so well in Canada that Rank distributors have cabled for the negative to be air freighted so that more prints can be struck to cover the holdovers. And to think some thought this British comedy would only be phenomenal in the home market! MISSING from trade shows these days is Mick Shipman, who was one of the few exhibi¬ tors who invariably saw before he booked. He has resigned from the Shipman and King circuit to be managing director of Eros Films. . . . Irrespective of political views, everyone in the industry was sorry when ex-Chief Barker Sir Tom O’Brien was defeated at the general election after being a socialist MP for 20 years. Associated British’s Dr. Eric Fletcher re¬ tained his seat, but Cinema Exhibitors Association president Douglas Richards again had his political aspirations shattered. ... In town, and in every way a businessman, Cary Grant has been raring to go to help publicize “North by North West,” in which he has a stake. . . . The Variety Club received a unique tribute. The exclusive Jockey Club which controls Brit¬ ish flat racing was so impressed with the charity race meeting that it invited the Tent to hold its next race meeting at its celebrated Newmarket headquarters. The offer was declined as Sandown had already been booked for Aug. 27 when Irving Allen hopes to stage the biggest international race ever held in this country. Benjamin To Be Honored NEW YORK — Robert S. Benjamin, chair¬ man of the board of United Artists, has been named a recipient of the Louis Marshall Award of The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, one of the highest awards ac¬ corded to laymen by the Seminary. He will receive the award at the dinner of the Seminary’s National Patrons Society, Nov. 1, at the Waldorf-Astoria. The Louis Marshall Awards are given in memory of Louis Marshall, famed constitu¬ tional lawyer, who was chairman of The Jewish Theological Seminary's board of di¬ rectors from 1904 until his death in 1929. He was widely known for his civic and phil¬ anthropic achievements. Wise. Allied Backs Conciliation MILWAUKEE — Edward E. Johnson, presi¬ dent, Allied Theatre Owners of Wisconsin, last fortnight drew up and forwarded to members a memorandum on how to initiate conciliation proceedings, and is urging ex¬ hibitors to use the method. Johnson said that National Allied’s White Paper campaign is not a dead issue, but told the exhibitors they had nothing to lose by resorting to conciliation and that they may gain considerably from its use. Ovens Joins UA Records NEW YORK — Don Ovens has been ap¬ pointed national promotion manager for United Artists Records, it was announced by David V. Picker, executive vice-president of the company. He comes to UA from Capitol Records. Barney Balaban, president. Paramount Pictures, and Mrs. Balaban, left, are seen at the recent gala invitational premiere of Hal Wallis' "Career," Loew's State, New York City, with Julius Joelson, president, J. J. Theatre Circuit, end his wife. Dismissal Sought In Hialand Law Suit WILMINGTON, DEL.— Motion picture the¬ atres in Hawaii are involved in a Federal Dis¬ trict Court case pending here. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Caleb M. Wright has fixed Nov. 10 for a hearing on a motion by 800 Corporation of Scranton, Pa., to dismiss its suit on behalf of itself and sim¬ ilarly situated shareholders of Theatre Pro¬ ceeds Corporation, formerly Consolidated Amusement Company, Limited, a Hawaiian corporation, against Theatre Proceeds and against Hialand Development Corporation, a Delaware corporation. According to the notice Theatre Proceeds is sending its stockholders, no agreement has been made by the defendents and no payments are being made to or for the benefit of the plaintiff in connection with the proposed dis¬ missal. The complaint alleges that Theatre Proceeds stockholders were misled by its directors into approving a sale of all or substantially all of its assets to Hialand for $8-million pursuant to a contract dated Sept. 26, 1958, and that Hialand participated in or knew that Theatre Proceeds directors had misled stockholders in obtaining such approval. The allegations were made “on information and belief.” Hialand through affidavits sworn to on per¬ sonal knowledge by its officers, Arthur L. Wood, president, and Kenneth E. McAfee, sec¬ retary, affirmatively stated that the negotia¬ tions between Hialand and Consolidated were at arm’s length and openly and fairly con¬ ducted. After Judge Wright notified attorneys that he would grant the motion of both defendants to transfer the case to the Hawaii Federal Dis¬ trict Court, re-argument of the transfer de¬ cision was sought by attorneys for 800 Corp., who suggested that such transfer might sub¬ ject 800 Corp. and its principal officer, Harry Weinberg, to service of process of a suit in Hawaii by W. E. Harber, an Oklahoma resi¬ dent, seeking damages of $2-million. Judge Wright denied the reconsideration motion but has entered no order on the trans¬ fer motion itself. British Exhibs Rap Selznick LONDON — Following David O. Selznick's sale of 22 pictures to BBC TV, all British exhibitors, both circuit and independents, have been recommended not to book any film in which Selznick is interested. The executive committee of the Cinema Exhibitors Association resolved: “The CEA, believing that expeditious and firm action on the part of exhibitors is called for as a result of David Selznick making available to TV in the U.K. cinema films under his control . . . recommends all members not to book any film or films in which Selznick is concerned.” The press statement also warned: “. . . the CEA will continue to take action in cases of cinema films being made available to TV, and in this connection will always regard the protection of the interests of its members as of the utmost importance.” At present, the only film that may be affected by this decision is “Farewell to Arms.” Moss Joins COMPO Staff NEW YORK — Alec Moss, veteran exploita¬ tion man, has joined COMPO staff to handle a special assignment, it was announced by Charles E. McCarthy, COMPO information director. 20 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR October 21, 1959