Variety (April 1961)

22 _ INTERNATIONAL Aussie Economic Downbeat No Blow | To Show Biz: Record Easter Sesh Sydn*y. March 28. Despite governmental economic pressure to curb inflation, with un TO KISS—OR NOT TO KISS eznployment growing in the auto: industry, the average Aussie has, Italo, Pakistan Co-Prod. Pact May! ample spending coin in his pocket End Film Kissing Ban after deducting living expenses. A _ lot of this money is finding its way __ Karachi. March ‘28. In Pakistan, as in India, kissing ¢ -| “Sunrise’”’ Murnau Memorial Week Berlin, March 28. ‘In memory of the late German film director F. W. Murnau the was killed in an auto accident in Santa Barbara in 1931), the new Academy of Arts staged a F. W. |Murnau Memorial Week here with nine of his films screened. Lineup included “Last Man” (1924), “Faust” (1926), “Walk Into the. Night” (1920) and his U.S. pix, (1927) and “Taboo”. (1931), The films found such a public ‘VARIETY’S' LONDON OFFICE wn 49 St. James's Street, Plecadiily ~~ {Unternational Sound Track: PARIS Film folk erying the blues here as a threatening backlog : of unreleased filits begins to weigh heavily, film-attendance: still: staying — low, and production costs looming: high . for the forthcoming Cannes Film Fest, "May 3-18, have been picked. They are actor Pedro Armendariz (Mexico), Allesandro Blasetti, director (Italy), Liselotte Pulver, actress (West Germany}, ‘Jean Giono, writerfilmmaker, (France), Claude Maurica, film critic (France), Edouard Molinaro, pic director (France), Jean. Paulhan, film producer (France), easily enough into the cinema and Jezit shows. Howtvyer, patrons pass up run-of, mill fare for the top offerings, irre-! spective of higher admissions, ! Aussie show biz executives be-' lieve this Easter will see a record intake at the boxoifice, especially. too, as the wool-and-vheat men’ will have heavy spending coin: available. regardless of any eco-! nomic pressure by the government. i Cinema marquees for Easter will! huve “Grass Is Greener” 1U»,: “Great Impostor” (U:, “Misfits” {CA, “Rat Race” (Par), “Make Mine Mink” tRank), “Millionairess” (20th), “Where Boys Are” 'M-G). *BenHur” iM-G:. now in 46th, week: “South Pacific” :20th), third year; “Can-Can” ‘20th, in 50th week; “Spartacus” :U', 16th week: ; response that most of them had to in public is not considered good manners and as such kiss-scenes | ‘are banned in films, With the latest .Sfost of the prints came from ‘the pact concluded between the gov; jernment of Pakistan and ANICA ; ;and the’ Danish h film. museum. . of Italy, the stage has been set for .the production of films on a joint! , venture basis between pakistan and . Italy. Since Pakistani players will work alongside the Italians, the question { f{ kissing scenes has become a mnatter of debate in local film industry circles. The debate was touched off when a Pakistani actress, Bahar, told newspapermen that if she were given a role in a Pakistan-Italy coproduction. she: would not mind being kissed. One , Sunday paper here plans to run, a “Readers’ Forum” feature on the ,. Raoul Ploquin, film producer 'France), Marcel Vertes, painter. (France), | ana Fred Zinneman, director (UA). The 11th man will rep Russia . Philippe Baer has taken over the government owned film production, distrib and exhib setup UGC. He says he will soft pedal praduction _Paris, | and put attention. on distrib. and exhib branches .. .President Charles ‘|}de Gaulle asked for a private screening at ‘the Elysee. his official dip be given repeat performances. Cinematheque. Francaise, _|which looks hot for a Cannes Fest invite. Fan mag Cinémonde devoting.10 pages to:a mock trial of. Brigitte Yank Product In ‘Gran Via Lead Madrid, April 4. Hollywood this year is out ahead : by far with eight entries among the ‘12. Easter Sunday premieres and ' film observers here were impressed ! ' with Yank domination of Gran Via ; showcases. Holy Week.starters for mag is a fan mag... Sam. Spiegel in to huddle with Alain Delon. who may play the lead in his “‘Lawrence of: Arabia.” Delon opens. in “his first play. this week ““Tis a Pity. She is a Whore” directed by Luchino of Visconti pix .. | comes in to make “'Gigot” here next month with Gene Kelly directing, !Ken Hyman producing. for Seven Arts and 20th-Fox . distributing. | private homes and golf ‘is not the. popular sport it is in the U.S... . | Shirley Clarke’s indie Yank pic “The Connection.” based on Jack Gelber’s off-Broadway play about junkies, invited to be. shown at lomatic home, of the historical Freneh pie ‘‘LaPrincesse De Cleves”. Bardot: with all people who know -her. commenting ‘majniy: on her. personal life and foibles and hardly on her pix. A fan inag is. a: fan Visconti. Incidentally, a group of art houses here presenting a séason. . Ernie Anderson, publicist. for Jackie.Gleason, main. ly worried about finding golf and pool partners: for him. when he: | French only play billiards: though there may be some. pool tables in. subject of kissing in films. “South Seas Adventure” ‘Cinera— mai, ninth month: and “Strange When We Meet” :Col), in 9th w ck the traditional switch in marquee titles include Hitchcock's “Psycho,”. John Wayne's “The Alamo, the Cannes Film Fest. May 3-18, in:an out: of competition slot as: am ; | invite. of the Frerich Federation of Film Authors. Also, legit shows are doing well. There’s strong coin here for ‘My Fair Lady,” “Irma La Douce,” both under the J. C. Williamson Lid. banner: “West Side Story. Garnet Caroil, and “Glass Menagerie,” Elizabeth Trust. B’dcast ‘Pirates’ Transmit Qa High Seas to Scuttle | Danish-Swed. Govt. AM Copenhagen, April 4. Jelly Roger or not. Cheeta II arc Bon Jour are sheltering pirates—and -Denmark and Sweden, are recdy to shiver their timbres. Danish pir chored aboard the Cheeta in internetional waters between the .two countries. was told earHer last. week that new laws may soon be passed to put it out of action. A day later, off the Swedish coast. Bon Jour-bound Radio Nord ewiiched on its tramsnitters. A government order banning the >hip from ever entering Sweden's harhors tor repairs or equipment didn't bother either, ' Now a couple of Danes have an| nounced they word start a pirate TV sation in the same troubled ¢ Waters in May, Next day, came word that a second TV transmitter would be turned on at sea. wath a reported $700,060 Danish backing. } Radio Nord sees no serjous in-convenience as a result of Swedish | herbor ban. Bon Jour is riding Bal| tic international waves just off the: Stockholm archipelazo. When nec-! essary, she'll probabiy aul anchor and put into a Finnish port. Manager Jack S. Kotschak has stoed tirm and cool while the station weathered many storm:, It “as supposed to begin broadeast-, jing last Aug. 1. Then delayed until! fall. Then Christmas. Then early: 1961. Storms, unsuitable’ equipment, government opposition and’ sume advertiser dropouts hung it up. On March 3, however, the Bon, Jour. converted coastal freighter, aired a test of recorded musfc on | the 495 meter band. Listeners in Stockholm reported tairly Rood reception. Radio Mercur is firmly anchored after four years of increasing pros rs| FRENCH WON'T ALLOW BIG STUDIO CLOSINGS. Paris, April 4. |. About the recent film industry | perturbation over possible razing:!‘of the Joinville and Victorine; | studios, the former outside Paris.’ and the latter in Nice, Culture! Ministry head Andre Malraux has informed the industry that the: government had an eve on things | and would not let a: disproportion | develop between studio space and actual film: production. In -other} : Words, needed space would be as-! certained. and no studio could be: tern down until replacements were: built in other spots. Thus, Joinville may go when the ° ate Radio Mercur. an-, required sound stages are replaced at the Joinville-Saint Maurice Studios. Meariwhile, production is: still high despite building. of a big backlog of pix. Foreign films are aiso occupying studio space here with the U. S. Seven Arts production of “Gigot.” with Jackie Gleason, due at the Bolozsne Studio. $4,870,000 of French Pix | Aid Coin to Producers, ’ Paris. April 4. The governmental Centre Du Cinema has revealed how the Film Aid money, collected via special : parafiscal levies on cinema: admis: , sions, will be distributed in 1961. About $4.870.000 is to be advanced i to producers on current produc; tions. via percentages on _ jucal.j (6°!) and foreign (25°F) grosses | of their last pix and around S2.700.000. for refurbishing hardtop _ theatres, will go to exhibs: The special orgs to hypo French pix abroad and internally will get: £900.000 while. $500.000 will go for film industry | technical aspects. About $680.000 will go for quality short subjects and $660.000 for government controlled newsrecls. i Armendariz Plans For. . French, Italo Co-Prods. Mexico City, March 28. When Pedro Armendariz goes to: France in: April, where he will be, a judge at the Cannes Film Fest.! he plans to complete negotiations ; leading to tripartate coproduction. Involved will be his newly created | Baker Street” and “The League of ‘that standards should. be clearly , Lor er.’ ‘in the West End but, that nine euts , were demanded w Hien it was to i be televised. ta certificate by the film censors Columbia’s “Pepe,” Par’s “The |~ Five Pennies,” and the 20th-Fox |, entry, “Stranger Than pine ’. “Please. Don't Eat The. Daisies” ‘one of the two Metro. entries while Universal opened. “Portrait in Black.” Of the remaining contenders. Britain unspooled “23 Steps to Americans In for “Some Gentlemen.” Spain’s “Cochecito.” belittled at home and acclaimed: abroad, is expected to raise Easter controversy on the main stem. Vol-! ume of new holiday film fare was completed With “Ursus.” a lowbudget spectacle ‘coproduced ‘here i with Italy. Absence of product from France. Italy and.Germany was particularly noted in film circles, ‘Asouith Urges. Confah To Iron Out Wrinkles RESENT CINEMA CLOSINGS i British Patrons, Councils Take Over. To-BeShuttered Theatres London. April 4, Cinemas may be closing down ‘ple who. are not prepared to see ‘the. houses shuttered without a | struggle. The ‘urban. council] of ! Beaconsfield, Bucks, has | gone inte 'tilm business | with ‘the aid of a | government. loan towards | 4 $75.600 purchase price for that Of TV, town's. only cinema, the Picture House. The council ‘will only -not Pix Censorship: show pix but have a stage available _ London, March 28. ‘for amateur dramatic and operatic The tLord ‘Chamberlain, the shows. British film censer and the tele: James Boothroyd,” manager companies ‘should get. together for, the 390-seater, “of ests. That's the view of Anthony ithe present staff is being retained. * Asanith, "president of the. Assn. : :The council expects to pick their’ of. Cinematograph, Allied Technicians. Television and films with the aid of. special “Re Asquith’ Says quest Weeks” from the. taxpayers. The State Cinema at Leytonstone: set down so “that one docs not. East -Loridon.. is to be saved by ihave to rush. frony.one medium to 5.000 filmgoers forming a syndicate “another to see what the other one.! to be run as.a private concern. has forbidden us to see.” Asquith went on to praise the. ager of the State, forined a Sunway that for some -time film cen-: day evening film society last year. , Sorship: had, on the whole, operated . These are the people who intend to ‘in an “enlightened and intelligent | take over the lease. Application , Way.’ " But. he went on to cite cer--: ‘tain inconsistencies which might ‘ be. ironed out by such a confab. For instance, ', why. Graham | , Greene's play, “The Cornplaisant : shad. been running. happily 3 fr iendly society. Cimex Ready for US, ‘Mexico City, March 28. He pointed out. that the film. “The Warsaw Ghetto,” was refused about ready’ to wraps, Cimex is ‘unless certain scenes. were removed. but!that these scenes were ‘ speaking areas via dubbing ‘of seseen by ‘millions of viewers on a‘lected top quality national prod; commercial tv program. -uct. It's revealed that at least a The Mark,’ Cannes Entry, table for dubbing into English, with | this probably upped to a -higher ifigure as the program develops. in Britain but there. are many peo- ‘the’ . now becomes: the’ a conference on censorship inter! town entertainments manager. and ‘Monica Slater, for two years man-. ‘has been made for registration ‘as: Other Film Markets _ Although keeping it’ well under. ‘jnitiate its drive’ to broaden its market in the U.S. and English: ‘dozen pix have been deemed suit-,’ Cimex policy is to make a strong. Alan Ladd Sounds a Waning Jolts ome Jolts When Signing. For Overseas—Customs Not Those of Hollywood ~—+ Hollywood, April A for key American * sonnel and no acfor should even “take out.a passpont fora picture ‘ abroad unless he has a signed contract and coin in escrow in an American bank. according to Alen .J.add in .a. blast at. European pic. ture-making. _Actor.. froma film assignnient yn. Rome, Where, it will be recalled, he tooka walkout on the filming of “Horatio” after 11° weeks of filming when no. salary, Was Aorthcoming, . had high praise for 1he -oft-c¢riti- _cized production ‘tacilities of: -studios. abroad, blasted. word of warning to thesps who fo ‘overseas for toreign‘produced and financed films.: “There appears. to. ‘be. na ° ‘such thing -as living.up to contrac tual | agreements. as far as TI can see," he guid. ‘‘The thing Vou settle: with a handshake in Hollywocad. are ‘things you -have to take action to -achieve, overseas.” ; Ladd; atter ankling -out with ‘a. . Ten of the 11 jury. members « There ‘is no substitute. any where | rodtction: per ‘who returned last week. “Toratie,” © returned to camplete film only = _after Lux Films of Rome: guaran teed his money. “It wasn't that alone,’ ». he noted. “Tt-was a culmination of. hundr eds . of little advantages taken. I apreed upon. a 10-hour working: day; but more often ‘than not. found myself “scheduled te work 12 to 14. hours into.:the night. : i “The complete’ Jaxityand_indif- ‘ference of film crews in production methods and procedures was ane: other thing that appalled me.-The stages are excellent; the’ equipment is modern. It’s: what they do. with the equipment and. how they make use of it that gives European stuedios. the reputation. they know. There.is no substitute anywhere for key American personnel.” | Ladd .has made four pix. in Europe on four. prior occasions—pix produced by Columbia and 20th: Fox. He has no. arguments. With them. But. as-:he explairis, that*s different: they are American firms. perity. Station moved in January producing unit with associates in Has Booking Trouble bid to open up a market through into the new ship. Cheeta II, permanently staked out in the Oresund between Sweden and Denmark, . . Commercial radio TV of course 4s prohibited in both countries. whose stations are state-owned and tax-supported. Market-minded outfits like Esso, Coca-Cola. Kelorg, Campbell! Soup, Ford, Pan Am have ewung aboard the Cheeta. Appropriate name, that. Mercur’s FM fare ix anostly mu @ic—pop. rock ‘n’ roll. a rure dash ; of classical—from 7 to 9.30 a.in., and 3:30 p.m. to midnight. Young Danes wiro announced! May inauguration of a commercial! ated by Al Zarzana and, Ray Bor yirate TV station are Ole and Jutta Georg. They have tle ‘Continucd on pare 24) usial i equipment—money, « ship’ a place! johertly. France and Italy. Prelim basis for London, April 4. collaboration has been worked out, P “The Mark, ” the Raymond Stross the actor said. with final details to/film which. stars Stuart Whitman... be ironed out during his European Maria Schell and Rod Steiger, and visi While first picture of series to Cannes Film Fest, has run into be turned out hes not been sebooking trouble. 20th-Fox.. which lected, Armendariz said he and his‘ js releasing the pic, has been un- associates will jointly provide capiable to seta deal with the two tal, talent and technicians.. The, big. circuits, Rank cand Associated tripartate partnership will) turn’ British. out three or four films annually at The circuits feel that. “its theme, the outset. .that of'a mian who has been conSEE Ivicted of kidnapping a small girl Zarzana, Boriski Expand {with intent to rape “her, may be toa Houston, Tex.. April 4. hot for. general consumption. Al-Ray Theéatre Circuit} -oper-_ the company will. be releasing the picture to independent buokers at end of Mavy.Whole, pcrix. iski, have eye on another theatre. Expect to take over the operation . the South Houston Theatre af fav orably. receWed by the which is -Britain's entry for the. ‘A 20th-Fox rep’ explained that, The film was. on the. ‘out the U.S. ‘to offset «boxoffice . declines in traditional Spanish cal or exchange | difficulties. any case. few films that have been dubbed. including “Adam and Eve” have heen: excellent income pro-J: ducers. Inside word is” that “Salvador Amelio, Cimex head responsible for the assault on thé American market, does not teel this will cause any complications or matters by reopening former denied request. by Hollywood to dub its product in Spanish idiom. through Mexican distributors ja America aud individual exhibitors, is entirely apart from -the Hollywood production end and jindustry as a whole. ranged, language markets because of ‘politi-_ ‘In:. aggravate * domestic actors, Amelio teels that decals being ar-. Among Us.” \ Gerinans ‘in ‘Watineers’ ‘Pic Filming in Rijeka Belgrade, March 28. ' The Vardar-Film, producing an company serving theRepublic of... Macedonia, is shooting the ‘Trial of Salonica. Mutineers” northern Adriatic. ‘tras, besides several (of the best have been engaged while, the leading roles: are handled hy -German. stars, | { The femme . lead is in the hands. . of German film | star Marliense Behrense. Germen: actor -+ Mook has an important. male. rqle, Actor reports next for star role. in Columbia Pictures’ “The Tiger: in Rijeka,. ‘About 300 éx-" Joachim .