The Exhibitor (1966)

Col. Gears For Heaviest Overseas Production Schedule In History Boston Showcase Method Meets With Poor Response BOSTON — The three-theatre method of showcasing, in which a first run picture is played in one downtown Boston first run house, and two neighborhood theatres, or two drive-in theatres, or one of each, may shortly be aban¬ doned by film companies because of recent poor results, it was indicated here recently. Reports were that at least one major has already ended its three-theatre method. The showcase program has been in effect in the Boston territory for over a year, and was said to have originated from saturation and multi¬ ple run methods in which a large number of film theatres were signed to play the same film at the same time. However, where saturation and multiple run programs worked on certain situations, the appeal of showcase for class pictures was thought to be a selling factor in which one downtown house played the film together with three, sometimes more neighborhood or drive-in theatres, all sharing in the promotion and advertising. In a recent situation, it was reported that one first run film was found to have grossed more downtown alone than in nearly all of the outside locations. In another, the film closed after two weeks in the down¬ town spot with a loss to the film company in the showcase locations. Another case reported was one in which the outside locations grossed more than the downtown Boston house in the first week; while in the second week grosses dropped to half of the first week in all the spots. Another theory advanced is that the show¬ ing of showcase films outside of the city of Boston (in the suburbs) detracts from the downtown house in attendance, and thereby cuts film rental to film companies. While ma¬ jor film companies had no comment on the situation, it appeared that this type of show¬ casing is now problematical in Boston. Venice Award For “Miguel” NEW YORK — Universal’s Robert B. Radnitz production, “And Now Miguel,” was awarded the Minerva medal by the children’s section of the Venice film festival. The picture was cited “for the human values propounded, representing a family environ¬ ment in which a boy learns to become a man; and for the beautiful scenery in which the story takes place; a film technically and per¬ fectly adapted to the subject.” This is the third Radnitz production to win awards at the Venice Festival. His “Island Of the Blue Dolphins” and “A Dog Of Flanders” both were awarded gold lions. NEW YORK — Columbia Pictures have re¬ vealed the most extensive British and Euro¬ pean production program in its history, fol¬ lowing a series of high-level meetings at the company’s London headquarters. Announcement of the impressive schedule of current and future productions was made following sessions attended by executive vicepresident Leo Jaffe; Mike Frankovich from Hollywood; Mo Rothman, Stanley Schneider and Robert S. Ferguson from New York; Max¬ well Setton, Pat Williamson, Ken Maidment and John Van Eyssen from London; Victor Hoare and Jack Wiener from Paris and Jerry Tokofsky from Hollywood. The Columbia executives discussed the com¬ pany’s master production plan for Britain and the Continent for the 1966-67 season, as well as productions now scheduled for the coming year. The majority of pictures completed or scheduled will be in color. Heading the agenda were several films which were seen in various stages of comple¬ tion while the group was in London. These were Sam Spiegel’s “The Night of the Gen¬ erals”; Charles K. Feldman’s “Casino Royale”; Fred Zinnemann’s “A Man For All Seasons”; James Clavell’s “To Sir, With Love”; Dino De Laurentiis’ “Kiss the Girls and Make them Die”; “Georgy Girl,” produced by Otto Plaschkes and Robert Goldston; and Walter Shenson’s “30 is a Dangerous Age, Cynthia.” Also under discussion was John Le Carre’s “The Deadly Affair,” now in its editing stage. Also in production at the present time for Columbia release are Gianni Hecht-Lucari’s “The Queens” and Franco Cristaldi’s “Kill Me Quick . . . I’m Cold!” Both are being made in Italy. Scheduled for production in the coming months under the aegis of the U.K. -European production headquarters will be John Woolf's film version of the Lionel Bart musical smash HOLLYWOOD — A special election has been called by the Academy of Motion Pic¬ ture Arts and Sciences to enable its adminis¬ trators branch to select a new board of gov¬ ernors member. The election was made necessary by the death Aug. 6 of Edmond L. DePartie, who was elected an Academy governor last spring. The Academy by-laws provide that in such an event “. . . The names remaining on the ballot after the previous election from that hit, “Oliver”; Carl Foreman’s “McKenna’s Gold”; “Fragment of Fear”; “A Dandy In Aspic”; Ned Sherrin’s “Goldilocks or Who’s Been Sleeping in My Bed”; Dino De Lauren¬ tiis’ “Anzio”; John Heymans “The Interroga¬ tors”; “Department K”; Martin Manulis’ “Avec Avec”; Jerry Bresler’s “The Long White Night”; Herman Cohen’s “A Circus of Blood”; and “Old Firehand.” Other European-made productions com¬ pleted and awaiting Columbia release are “La Congiuntura”; “Every Day Is A Holi¬ day”; “A Virgin for the Prince”; “Made in Italy”; “A Rose for Everyone”; “La Bourse et la Vie”; “Masculin Feminin”; and “La Mujer Perdida.” Columbia has also acquired distribution rights to such important European-made films as Roger Vadim’s “La Curee”; “Les Bons Vivants”; “Seven Guns for the McGregors”; and “Seven Wives for the McGregors.” The Columbia executives reviewed the en¬ tire world production program. The U.K.European schedule supplements an imposing array of films from the Hollywood studios. Forthcoming American-based films either in production or editing are — “Rage,” “Dead Heat on a Merry-go-Round,” “Alvarez Kelly,” “The Professionals,” Dean Martin as Matt Helm in “Murderers’ Row,” “The Tiger,” Sam Spiegel’s “It’s What’s Happening!,” “The Long Ride Home,” “Divorce AMERICAN Style,” Sam Spiegel’s “The Swimmer,” “Enter Laughing,” “Who’s Minding the Mint?,” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the George Balanchine ballet. Now in preparation for production in the near future are: “Funny Girl,” “Band of Gold,” “Luv,” “In Cold Blood,” “Cactus Flower,” “Castle Keep,” “Of Good and Evil,” “Guess Who Came To Dinner,” a new Jerry Lewis comedy and “Ghosts Around the World.” branch shall be sent to said branch. Members of that branch will then select from that list by majority vote a representative to fill said vacancy . . .” Nominees include J. J. Cohn, Stanley E. Kramer and Robert M. Weitman. Votes also may be cast for write-in candidates. The other administrator branch member of the board is Steve Broidy. Ballots must be received by Prince Waterhouse & Co., auditors, by noon Thursday, Sept. 1, when voting closes. Academy Calls Election The cameramen are always busy when motion picture industry men convene. Seen at the recent dual convention of New York and New Jersey Allied Theatre Owners at Kiamesha Lake, N.Y., at the Concord Hotel were, left to right, Louis Nizer, MPAA counsel, and Morris Lefko, MGM vice-president and general sales manager, who was named "Man of the Year"; Sam Rosen, executive treasurer. Will Rogers Hospital, presenting a special Allied award to Richard F. Walsh, president, IATSE, as New York Allied head Sidney J. Cohen looks on; Rosen, Lefko, Cohen, and Joe Sugar; Jack Armstrong, John Wilhelm, Cohen, Marshall Fine, Herbert Slotnick, Ronald Hoelcle, John Martina, and Morris Slotnick. 1 1 August 31, 1966 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR