The Exhibitor (1965)

LONDON Observations Gloomy Annual Meet Mulls Future Of Subscription TV By Jock MacGregor f AS A RULE I DO NOT WRITE ABOUT PICTURES UNTIL THEY ARE IN production. Exhibitors do not wish to hear about producers’ pipe dreams, and I have never had' any desire to provide promoters with enthusiastic clips with which to mislead illinformed financiers into believing that the film world awaits the project with bated breath. Anyway, rules are made to be broken! I am doing so now not because of a good lunch but because great enterprise was involved; the story rights and not an option have been paid for in full; and a sizeable sum has already been spent. The biggest problem facing producers everywhere is finding suitable stories. Worldwide, they*, are in short supply. Oh yes, everyone can tell you of the book that is just waiting to be filmed, but invariably research will reveal that if it is any good someone holds an option. Indeed, if anyone could ferret out the forutnes spent over the years on unfilmed properties, an astronomical total would be revealed. Some of course, are purchased solely for a title; others to protect another subject. But the producer who buys a story rejected by a major studio will have the greatest difficulty in setting it up no matter how he sees it or how imaginative his casting may be. Ivan Foxwell has long suffered from this. He fully realizes that only the strongest stories can stand up to the present day requirements of financiers, distributors, exhibitors — and stars. How to get his hands on one, even with all the money available, has been the tricky part. Through persistence and social contact, he saw the advance typescript of Adam Hall’s “Quiller Memorandum” and immediately knew that here was the story for him. Rank’s John Davis and Freddie Thomas were equally enthusiastic about the potential. Even then, the author received several bids from Hollywood and was not intrested in an option. Davis, with characteristic pugnacity, told Ivan to* buy outright without argument. Now he has one of the hottest properties in years. Following serialization in the Daily Mail it became the Book Society’s choice and started selling at the rate of 1,000 a day here. His greatest thrill is that it has been named “Book of the Month” in America. Now top stars are clamoring to be considered though the first draft script will not be ready for a few weeks. Ivan is justifiably sitting on top of the world, and I have no regrets that his enthusiasm having rubbed off a bit has caused me to skip my! rules. THE RESPLENDENT BEMEDALLED REGIMENTAL SERGEANT MAJOR ANnouncing the guests for a reception in the state rooms at the Royal Hospital, the home of the famous Chelsea Pensioners since Nell Gwyn’s days, was decidly taken back when I gave my name as Jock MacGregor. He a’hemmed, caught his breath, and bellowed with parade ground emphasis: M-I-S-T-E-R MacGregor. It was of no avail. MGM’s Mike Havas immediately turned to his co-host, Lieutenant General Sir Reginald Denning, and Re-introduced me as “Jock.” Honor was restored. The party was to announce the London premiere of Carlo Ponti’s “Operation Crossbow” in aid of service charities at the Empire on May 19. DESPITE THE EFFORTS OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF FILM Producers Associations to curb such promotions, more than 150 film festivals throughout the world, if those for science-fiction, mystery, religious, exploration, short, and what¬ not films are included, are planned this year. Only seven (and maybe eight if Venice ad¬ justs its rules and is accepted) are competitive for features. Not only is this a severe strain on finances and personnel, but it is a major problem to find suitable pictures to represent those countries which do not have state subsidies to promote artycrafty films. Incidentally, the latest “with it” cult which I recently recorded in this column is to be recognized at the San Sebastion Festival when the films in the retrospect section will be dedicated to “Horror on the Screen,” and the “first international discussion on horror films” between writers critics, sociologists, etc. will be staged. Universal-International promised full cooperation. THERE IS A TREND TO PRODUCE LIGHTHEARTED COLOR MUSICALS WITH pop stars here. Nat Cohen and Stuart Levy have unveiled two such diversions, “Three Hats for Lisa,” with Joe Brown, and “Wonderful Day,” with Billy Fury. Ingratiating, gay, and without complications, they should make many mode moviegoers very happy. Cur¬ rently, they are completing “Catch Us If You Can,” with Dave Clark, which will be a Warners release in the Western Hemisphere .... Tongue-in-cheek, cloak-and-dagger, special agent comedy adventure, punctuated with cliff -hanging thrills, gets a further airing in the Michael Ralph-Basil Dearden UA release, “Masquerade.” Starring Cliff Robertson, Jack Hawkins, and Melissa Mell, the title is most apt. Nobody is what they seem to be, and to outline the plot would be a near impossibility. Great fun, it packs sufficient suspense to give the toughest moviegoers clammy hands. . . . though Cinerama did not pressshow their new AngloHungarian picture, “The Golden head,” when it opened at the Royalty, Ron Lee sent me a neat tie and an ashtray. Cinerama has completed a $280,000 ticket agency deal to cover the first year of “Greatest Story Ever Told” ... at the Casino. . . . Recently retired Audbrey Bustin is writing his autobiography— “Bustin into Show Business.” . . . Overheard as a group of eggheads left the preview of an offbeat experi¬ mental film— “I think it is the thing to like.” Ye gawds. ... I have attended some odd premieres and watched starlets of all nations preen themselves, but the preview of Rank’s latest Look at Life, “Cool Cats,’ provided a new experience. Some of the feline stars attended, and the purrs of the cat lovers as their favorite pets prowled the screen were enough to make sensitive observers squirm. WILMINGTON, DEL. — Subscription Tele¬ vision, Inc., has “reasonable expectation” of having declared unconstitutional the Cali¬ fornia legislation outlawing paid television, Sylvester L. (Pat) Weaver, Jr., president, told a gloomy second annual meeting at the Cor¬ poration Trust Company’s offices here. S-TV’s six directors were reelected for one -year terms; the selection of Arthur An¬ derson & Co., as independent auditors was ratified; and stockholders also approved re¬ duction of the corporation’s capital by $2,500 by retiring 2,500 shares of common stock of $1 par value owned by the corporation. Weaver said the California legislation which snuffed out S-TV’s Los Angeles area business was instigated by the “movie people,” and he called this “a sordid story.” Assets of S-TV on Dec. 31 totalled about $7% million and, Weaver said, the company has major equipment in storage and hopes to put it to future use. Possibilities he mentioned include sale of tape rights held by S-TV to the television industry. Another and larger possibility mentioned would be to go into the community antenna television business. Any large scale activity, Weaver said, would require added financial support as the assets of the business will be required for its continuing legal battle. While working toward a solution of its difficulties, S-TV has been permitted by the Federal District Court in New York to remain a “debtor in posses¬ sion” under Chapter XI of the Bankruptcy Act. Among stockholders attending the meeting was John J. Gilbert. He got into a sharp alter¬ cation with the corporate secretary and coun¬ sel, John Nelson Steele, who threatened to have Gilbert ejected at one point. Technicolor Ups Kent BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.— J. Curtis Kent has been named vice-president of advertising and public relations of Technicolor Corpora¬ tion, it was announced by Melvin H. Jacobs, president. Kent joined Techni¬ color in 1961 as director of advertising and PR. From 1958-61 he served as advertising manager and sales promotion man¬ ager for the Schick Safety Razor Company, and from 1950-58 he en¬ gaged in sales manage¬ ment and sales promotion for McKesson-Robbins, Inc., major wholesale drug firm. Para. Names Managers NEW YORK — The appointments of Gerry W. Haile as Kansas City branch manager and C. Webber Howell as St. Louis branch man¬ ager were announced By Charles Boasberg, general sales manager of Paramount Film Distributing Corporation. Haile, formerly Paramount’s assistant branch manager in Dallas, succeeds Harry Hamburg, who has retired after 39 years of Service with Paramount. Howell was previously Paramount sales manager in Atlanta. He replaces Harry Haas, who also has retired following a 41-year association with Paramount. KENT 18 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR April 28, 1965