The Exhibitor (1966)

mint* lllltlllllllHIIIMIIIIIIIItHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIl^tllllllllltl^illlllllllllllllllllllllltlMllllllllllllltlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllMIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIinillllt^j LONDON Observations By Jock MacGregor DESPITE THE GOVERNMENT’S SQUEEZE, THE INIQUITOUS SELECTIVE Employment Tax working against the industry, the drying up of the National Film Finance Corporation’s loan funds, and other problems, the studios are reporting exceptionally heavy bookings and enquiries about space. This could be due to speculators gambling on Britain joining the Common Market and making this the ideal spot for international production. Not only are artistes, technicians, and facilities for top quality English-speaking pictures (which can be easily dubbed into foreign languages) available, but also it is assumed that unlimited numbers of such offerings would be able to play freely throughout member coun¬ tries without quota or other restrictions. Such a development could mean Hollywood’s eco¬ nomic eclipse. THE KINEMA RENTERS SOCIETY, TO WHICH ALL MAJOR DISTRIBUTORS belong, has agreed that the standard booking conditions should be amended to give exhibitors the right of cancellation when a film is televised concurrently with a theatre or after if the transmission is advertised before the theatre booking with features less than five years old, distributors warrant that they will not authorize such televising during the license period or within three months thereafter. Though in no way prompting this action, a recent transmis¬ sion has caused certain embarrassment. “I Deal in Danger” was televised by some regions before it opened theatrically in London. Investigation revealed the promoters had created it out of the first two episodes of the “Blue Light” tv series for international theatrical dis¬ tribution though the series had been booked by some stations. Now, no more tv sales are being completed in the U.K., and where the tv rights have been sold, the picture is not being offered theatrically unless an exhibitor specifically requests it. MAYBE SHAKESPEARE DID DECIDE THAT A “ROSE BY ANY NAME . . .,” BUT then he was not selling movies. Paramount’s Russell Hadley does and has substituted “Drop Dead, Darling” for “Arrivedecci, Baby” in this market. He is the only national chief to do so and confided to me at the lunch after the press show certain anxiety about the reception. If critics do reflect public taste, he has a, winner. They seemed completely sold and were readily congratulating director Ken Hughes and the artists present. One leaving the theatre even remarked how sorry he was that he had an appointment as he could have faced his host without reservations and eaten the meal with a clear conscience. Everyone was relaxed, and it was voted among the most pleasant, intimate, and informal gatherings. They were as enthusi¬ astic in print, and several gave it pride of place for the week over Claude Lelouch’s Cannes Grand Prix winner, “A Man and a Woman,” further questioning the value of awards at these precious festivals. Continuing on titles, among the shortest, “Lu,” has been passed by the censor for “Adults Only.” Lord knows what it means unless there is a spelling mistake. That two letter play, “Eh,” becomes “Work ... Is a Four Letter Word” as a film. Universal’s Jay Kantor, con¬ tinuing his policy of giving talent in other spheres cinematic chances, has the Royal Shake¬ speare Company’s Peter Hall as director. I MADE QUITE AN IMPRESSION ON CARMILLA SPARV AT THE RECEPTION launching “Department K,” in which she stars with Stephen Boyd. I was talking with the producers, Maurice Foster and Ben Arbeid, and director Val Guest, of this Columbia re¬ lease which will be shot entirely on location in Austria, Germany, and London, when I stepped back to let a waiter pass. I landed on her delectable foot. I was forgiven, but it was quite an introduction. While here, she also attended the “Murderers’ Row” premiere and looked every inch a star. I was sorry that Irving Allen was an absentee, but his associate producer, Euan Lloyd, was present looking particularly spruce and chirpy. Once again, I am happy to report a really well groomed audience with many delightfully turned out dollies providing fetching subjects for photographers. ASSOCIATED BRITISH’S DEPUTY CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE, Robert Clark, has appointed Brian J. B. Cope, B.Sc., Associate of the Royal College of Sci¬ ence, an administrative assistant in his office. . . . Granada’s trading surplus for the year is reported as $14,212,363, against $14,507,475 for a 53 week year, though theatre earnings were not itemised. Directors are again recommending a 35 cent dividend on the 70 cent shares. . . . The French Ambassador hosted a reception at his embassy for Anouk Aimee and Pierre Barouh, in town for the “Man and Woman” opening at the Curzon. It was good to renew acquaintances with UA’s Ashley Boone, in for a few days from New York. . . . Have often heard about the butchering of feature films on commercial tv but had not realised how extensive it was until I saw “The Naked Edge,” with which I was associated. I had to refer to the script to follow one sequence. I hate to think how the public got on. . . . Sorry I cannot accept Bill Dowds’ invitation to the Northern Ireland exhibitors’ dance in aid of the Cinema and TV Benevolent Fund at the Dunadry Inn, Co. Antrim, on Feb. 7. It was a kind thought. . . . Thought I had been stood up for that Saturday morning drink at the Portobello Market by Jean Osborne, that ace publicist who is so in demand with international companies, until I got a post card saying that she had to drop everything without time to phone around to join the Burtons on “The Comedians” MGM unit in Dahomey — I find from an atlas that this is in West Africa and understand this is the first movie to shoot there. . . . Wild horses won’t drag the name of the theatre from me for it was sheer chance that the comprehensive and painstaking campaign should reach such an old cynic as myself, but the window display at The Tripe Shop seemed to be touching a new honesty in publicity! My worst nature was also tickled in the White Elephant seeing a producer sitting at the next table to the publicist he had just fired. . . . Would all correspondents please note that because of late deliveries and postal delays, it is no longer possible to rely on letters, mailed even nearby, being received before I go out the next morning. . . . Sean Connery has grown the most brigandish of moustaches. Dallas Youth Film Forum Boosts Movies Via Radio DALLAS — The Dallas Youth Film Forum has supplemented its activities with a 45 min¬ ute radio program each month on radio station KRLD to discuss movies screened and re¬ viewed by the group. Students are selected from among the 50 participating schools in the Dallas area to talk informally about the picture on the air with moderator G. William Jones, minister of edu¬ cation for the Casa View Methodist Church and a member of the Southern Methodist Uni¬ versity faculty. The Texas Motion Picture Board of Review is sponsor of the project. Latest discussions were centered on “Funeral in Berlin” and “Hotel.” Touching on all facets of the films — from production, direction, and filming to the moral and ethical aspects — the large screening group and the radio partici¬ pants hailed both as outstanding entertain¬ ment. Specifically, Michael Caine, star of “Fu¬ neral in Berlin,” was cited as the coming favorite among young people, not only because of his many outstanding portrayals in several pictures recently but also because he appears to represent a more believable character cap¬ able of coping with screen problems success¬ fully without the superficial aids prevalent in James Bond type movies. The consensus put Caine at the top of teen-age celebrity poll for some time to come. Praising the way the multi-plot scheme was handled in “Hotel,” the student reviewers agreed unanimously that the picture was the type that prompts a viewer to urge his friends to see it because of the spellbound manner in which it holds the moviegoer’s interest. The forum also commended the unique camera work and excellent direction that made the film so successful. Featurette Sells “Hotel” “Hotel World,” a 14-minute documentary film relating dramatic episodes that have oc¬ curred in hotels, will be released by Warner Bros, to promote the all-star motion picture drama, “Hotel.” The featurettes, produced in color by Pro¬ fessional Film Services, will be made available to theatres and tv stations. Mrs. John V. Lindsay (right) and John, Jr., accept the first invitations for the unique New York dual world premiere of 20th Century-Fox's “Doctor Dolittle" from Mrs. Frederick B. Payne, vice-chairman of the New York Committee for Project HOPE, which will sponsor the Tuesday evening adult pre¬ miere (Dec. 19) and Wednesday children's matinee (Dec. 20) at a theatre to be announced. 14 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR February 1, 1967