Variety (October 1961)

*VARIETY'® | LONDON orrica | 7m. Jeren’s. Street,” Preonditty. INTERNATIONAL & 15 Rome, Oct, 3... ANICA, -the. Italian Industry. Association, ‘has ‘raised.its -mini > mum membership requirement |.” ‘to. a $50,000. capitalization by prospective joiners. : Move is part . ef long-predicted attempt tothin ranks of fly-by-night. producers | ‘eurrently inflating’: ANICA ranks.” Decision ‘also anticipates a similar. legislative .move., to be included. in future Italo film. laws to guar antee a certain production . Jevel for _ companies. ‘competing .” . for Italian film aid: ‘benefits. ANICA, at the same recent meeting, also re-instituted _ the. title registration office. abolished some: time. ago, effective ‘Nov. 183.: Also. contemplated) were some’ suggested ‘changes. in. ‘the current’ structure of ‘the. Venice Film. Fest, -designed to obviate. recent ‘friction ‘caused by fest’s ‘selection system:.as. well .as:-by. its 14-. Pic. competitive Mmitation: ‘Elaborating on. the Venice. con-. a ‘troversy, Monaco said’ that ‘while ie. was} all-in favor of the events. main| taining its artista -imprint,. hel: “ANICA. topper would:: prefer the competitive. ranks to be widened to inelude| ‘pix: currently . relegated to “In| formation Section,” confining. future Info: Sections ‘merely to. films which had ‘received prizes ‘at other film events. Monaco also felt that" each ‘country or . each © country’s . film organization .should personally assume .the. responsibilty -of. .se“lecting films’ apt’ for Venice. screenings: Venice would then be. entitled to veto’such films. “openly contrasting with ‘that. ‘Festival's ; objectives. ”. ; _ “EE these concessions are “ grant=. ““ed,”. Monaco concluded, “ANICA will fight within, the International ‘Producers Federation for a reduction in the total number of film fsstivals,‘and a just recogni“tion for. Venice. and. Cannes. ” tal Press Hopped Up «Ban Not Kill inert Rome, Oct. 10. © ‘Italian press | is up in arms | against: reported French threats to} ‘stop the importation into Italy of “Thou Shalt Not Kill” (Col), Bic produced in Yugoslavia by | Italo filmmaker ‘Moris. Ergas.. and “directed. by Claude . Autant-Lara, Filnt, which deals with the conscientious’ objector theme, apparently -is displeasing to the. French: authorities, and to Culture. Minis-ter Andre Malraux in particular. It received a. mixed but. generally | lively, favorable reaction at the. re cent ‘Venice Film Fest: ‘Local protests,. which: ‘have. ‘al-{ ready reached parliamentary ‘inter} -Togation level, stem from. the slow down in -the concession of an import permit for the film: as: well as from a recent article in Paris’ Le Canard: Enchaine, in: ‘which ‘it's stated that Malraux, apparently not satisfied with having . kept. “Kil” from winning the Gold Lion. at. Venice (French originally’ had. threatened to boycott fest: if pic “was shown), Rome again, “If the film is ‘shown in Italy,” ‘says’ the article, “the French-Italian coproduction.. pact will not be renewed.” — Local: sources, including: ‘Rome’s. influential: indie -daily “Messag‘gero, are particularly worried by indications: that. the Italian authori-. ties are’ seemingly. bowing to the Gallie threats. The local sheet sports proof -that the. local distributor of pic: first applied for import permit for “Thow Shalt Not Kill” on Aug. 7. The Foreign Commerce ‘commission, which acts on such matters, falied:to take a ~ decision in meetings held Aug. 24 and Sept. 4, while waiting. for an okay from ‘the Ministry of Entertainment. This was granted Sept. 14 via.a cable stgned by Entertain‘ment Undersecretary Renzo Helfer. Yet. t6this day, despite meeting | held Sept. 27, the long premised. go-ahead ‘has not been accorded by. the Commerce people. Messaggero ‘suggests this unusual delay. is due te pressure from Paris, _at -Assisi..-ceived.the OCIC kudo at this year’s Eitel | had. now ‘threatened.[ : presentations, . -erama,’ 0 Fin Biz Assn. Ups Fee For | Joining; Blow To Fly-by“Night Prods. | of an-upcoming film with the Brit"lish Film -Producers. Association. ‘Question 7”. ‘Awarded “61 Catholic Prize. Rome, . Oct.10: “Question ° “Seven” (DeRochemont) was awarded. the 1961 Catholic. Film Office (OCIC) Grand Prix at. ceremonies held this week ‘Pic had previously re Berlin Film Fest.:. American: pic |. won out over ‘nine other finalists. Jury members gathered. at Assisi |’: ‘|. included reps..from. Italy, Luxem|. burg, France, Egypt, ; ; Belgium, Germany and. Canada. 7 Assisi was also the site this:week|| | of the official. unveiling of ‘Francis of . Assisi” -(20th),. Saint, a ‘national’ t national holiday. FIDO Will Not. “.London, Oct. .10. ~ Because FIDO (Film. Industry | Defense. Organization) has declined. ‘to. match an offer of $1,000,000, . a -parcel.of .70° feature films: ds likely to. be bought ‘within the: next few days by Associated TeleVision. . Phil Hyams, former Eros boss, . told FIDO that. he had. received an. offer of more than $1,000,000: from 2. commerical tele company, but would refuse to sell-if FIDO ‘would pay his company,. ‘Stratford Films,, an equivalent amount.: The FIDO. board decided it would not pay. -an the films, os The. ‘Hyams. brotheré—Phil and sid. — were founder investors Independent : Television Pro gramme: Company, : forerunner .. of.’ -] Associated: .TeleVision, and it. is: believed they still: retain a sub-| stantial holding in that commerical : ty. ‘company. | -If. this package goes to ‘ATY, it. could. be the second major films: for ‘ty deal: within -a few weeks. It is ‘understood that George Min -ter, whose Renown Pictures. Corp. -}went into | voluntary. | liquidation earlier-in the year,’ is making ‘«. deal. with Associated Rediffusion. tial: amounts. to ‘producers and distributors as | compensation. for |. keeping oldies . oft the. air “Waves. Marc Spiegel & Imer’s Varieties, In Brussels, “Amsterdam, Oct. 10.Mare Spiegel and ‘Herman Timer, “who have jointly. operated the ‘Cinerama Theatre . in, Rotterdam, with outstanding success, ' have been awarded’. the . contract’: to. supervise .. the. Cinerama presenta tion at the Varietes Theatre, Brus-. ‘sels, “contract for the latter deal was ‘confirmed by Bernard G. Kranze, | from next. December. The vicepresident of -Cinerama, Ine. ‘The. Spiegel-Ilmer operation inRotterdam in now funning. its ‘third: triplescreen ‘program, “Cinerama Holiday,”. ‘which opened ‘earlier last. month. theatre. in Holland showing the | Cinerama process. The. two initial “Seven Wonders of: the World” and “This Is Cin-. ‘ran for a total of 61 weeks and grossed upwards of $510,000; an unparalleled: sum for such a ‘small country. ~ ‘The project has. now received increasing support. from -travel bureaus—122..are linked now as’ against 41 _previously—and audi-° ences are -brought ‘into the city by cars: and. buses at the rate of 1,000 a: day. For the current at traction,’ a “holiday tie-in has been | Set with Swiss Air, which is offering vacations ° in Switzerland as” prizes. ‘The; Cinerama. Theatre in Rot| -terdam. bas. been the most success ful operation in Europe, other than |; ‘the..Casino, London, which has. been featuring the. triplescreen 4 process for some seven years. — held before a: gala gathering on the day com‘memorating. the’ Italian patron: Match Big TV Bid! ‘| lease. probably. will not get a distribution. “exa erated” | rice for Agee P J ed,.since ‘the ‘pic was forbidden in .The sale.of these two packages |. could: ‘represent a major. setback |: for. FIDO, which .was set up..a’ few: years: ago to halt. the sale of ‘feature pix to the nétwork.. Since. | its: formation, it: has. paid substan| --C’rama: Holland Click It is. the only’ Triple Threat London, Oct. 8. Warfield Productions, the outfit headed by Albert KR. (Cubby) Broccoli, has played it safe in reg| istering ‘three variations of 2 title The project. is Hsted in. the BFPA’s current. titles register list | as “Psychorama,” “Psycho-rama, ” and “Phych-orama . Distrib Fate OF Viridia Paris, Oct: 10. ‘The. commercial: fate abroad of the Spanish film, ‘which won the ‘Grand Prix at the Cannes: Film’ Fest and was then accused of blasphemy by the Vatican which led to a shakeup in the Hispano. governmental film ranks and a complete ban ‘on the pic, is ‘not yet clear. It’s reported that not ‘only are diplomatic pressures on to i keep the subject from being shown | in other countries, but the co-producers are at odds -over who has foreign sales rights. A lavender | ‘copy ‘has been here since Cannes. Sales deals have been handled by. local. film salesman ‘Francois Gergely.. Film is ‘still listed as opening | here at two theatres, the Biarritz and Ursulines, as an Ursulines re‘Insiders maintain that it visa or. censorship nod, but this-is : not confirmed so far, . Meanwhile, the. coproducers, Unici-Films 59 of Madrid and Gus-. tavo Alatriste of Mexico City, are purportedly on the point of court. actions: Alatriste claims that Uni Spain, ‘handed over foreign rights to. him’ under his Mexican tag. But now -Unici claims Alatriste does not have its” permission and wants to Stop the film’s sales. * Gergely. recently advertised: that | will ‘only he had Western European and | Western. Hemisphere sales rights. Film also has been reported sold for the U. S. to Ed. gsley. It | still-has a slated opening ‘date here | for: Oct. 13. Since there is a film accord between France and Spain, there could be no repercussions here but it looks unlikely to affect the U. S, release. Brit ritish Film Producers _ Ask Union to Keep Pix “* London, Oct. 10. ; An fmplied invitation to’ the -Assn. British film producers. Last week they put on record:a statement of principle which declared: “No member of the industry who is a film -producer or a producer-direc tor — or production executive, and | is therefore functioning as an em ployer, : should ‘be: a ‘member of ACTT while functioning in that capacity. ” The question, which has caused considerable controversy in recent years, is the subject of an. impending lawsuit. It was brought to 4 thead by the ACTT overtime. ban Which was slapped on the British Studios by the union. during the summer. One. acute ~ case which ‘has subsequentally come to light,: ‘concerns aproducer member of ACTT who was prohibited from viewing rushes. of the. ‘day's. work in the studio -theatre after. the stipulated time for work to: stop. ‘There’ has been strong feeling among filmmakers that producers. with: the right to hire and fire Should be-ineligible for full union | membership and should not be {subjected ‘to union conditions of employment.. The upcoming. law‘suit, which was the subject of an interim: action for contempt of ‘court. against the union’s ‘secretary, George Elvin, a: year or so ago, is being brought by Roy and John Boulting. It is possible that this’ action may be heard before the end of ‘the year, but no date for. a. hearing has. been. ‘Bet. “Viridiana,” | Makers Out of ACTT: _of Cine and Television: {Technicians to amend its membership rules has been made by ‘| Midlands on Nov. 18, Shepperton To Leave Brit. Film Prods. Assn. London, Oet. 10. Shepperton: Studios has given notice of resignation to the British 1 Film Producers Assn. and has been accepted into membership of the Federation of British Film Makers. ‘| Ag a result, there are now two ma jor. studios in each camp. -Shepperton and the Metro-British studios at Elstree are now members of the FEFM while Pinewood and Assoclafed British Els ‘|tree are within the British Film ‘| Producers Assn, ~ The switch in membership by Shepperton is the first major change to have taken place since the federation was formed some years back. Lauder and Gillfatt left the BFPA to join the FBFM in the early days and Paul Soskin | subsequently transferred. 4th Milan Film, WV Fair r Opens , Oct. 8. The Fourth wee and TV-Film Fair (MIFED). gets going here next Monday (9), and runs through Oct. 20. According to the MIFED ! organizers, large numbers of buy ers and producers have already notified their participation at the twice-yearly affair. Last one was held in April Milan toppers note a sharp rise in. attendance by Far. East film men, with all five major Japanese companies (Nikkatsu, Daiel, Toei, Toho, and Shochiku) being repped for the first time, together with a large delegation from India. Africa, Latin. America, Philippines, Ceylon, ‘Singapore and Hong Kong will also be represented, as well as industry representatives from other areas. As preyiously detailed in Variety, the fourth MIFED also will feature a “summit meeting” of video and. motion picture officials to discuss the future technical widpractical. applications in botb felds of magnetic tape. Fifteer = 3 1960-61 French Cinema Trade Below Last Year But Big Pix Still Click Paris, Oct. 10. Resultz are in for the 1960-61 film fiscal season, and, if the overall take was under other years, it wag primarily in the general film category because the big name pix and blockbusters got as much or even more patronage than heretofore. It’s taken to mean that patrons are choosing their screen fare, and it is mainly the star or exploitation product that now draws money with others doing only fair to below standard takes. “Ben-Hur” (M-G) led the U. S. product, about 700,000 attending and an extended first-run still in store.. It was followed by “Goodbye Again” (UA) with 302.569 customers while also in a _ second first-run status. Other big grossers were “Psycho” (Par), “Exodus” (UA), “Alamo” (UA), “Let's Make Love” (20th), “Magnificent Seven”: ‘UA), “North to Alaska” (20th), “The Unforgiven” (UA!}, “World of Suzie Wong” (Par), “Don’t Give Up Ship” (Par), “The Apartment” (UA) and “Midnight Lace” 'U:. . French product was Ied by Brigitte Bardot in “The Truth” followed by a sketch item, “The French Woman and Love”; two war pix with “good German” “Rhine Crossing” and “Tax for Tobruk.” There were also some comedies, costumers and the inevitable Eddie Constantine pictures. Ingmar Bergman's “The Virgin Spring” showed bis as did “Mein Kampf,” “Saturday Night, Sunday Morning,” “The Teutonic Knights” and the British “Blind Date.” There was also a big rise in Italo and French-Italian coproduction take, led by “Rocca and His Brothers,” “The Night,” “L'’Avven-— tura,’ and “Two Women.” U. S. and French pix about held to their usual level, wh le Italian pix forged ahead. British and West German entries fell. No Russian films showed well at all this past year. O’Brien, Film Producers Clash Verbally After 1-Day Elstree Strike London, Oct. 10. A one-day strike last week in the | wientists from 10 countries will Metro-British studios at Elstree, | attend the symposium as well. Also slated to be held in Milan | during the Fair are the now-traditional high-level film industry , gatherings in various sectors and {onan international level. Disney Org Tries Out Area Blanket: Booking On Trap’ in Britain London, Oct. 3. A unique departure from conventionin film booking {s currently -being tried out in Britain by the ‘Disney Organization in connection with “Parent Trap.” It is a two-‘ pronged innovation affecting both ; London and the rest of the country. In the London area, the film will start a conventional threeway London release on Oct. on the Rank circuit playing the ; “northwestern area, the northeastern area and the South London districts in turn. Three weeks: later, it will follow a similar pattern on the National circuit in London, thus becoming the first picture to play two main outlets in fast succession. Meantime, lease. is to be on the blocked territorial principle, . starting off this week (2) in the South Coast, ' Wales and the West of England, ; and subsequently playing the Mid| lands, Lancashire and Yorkshir Scotiand, ete. Main advantage of this form ‘of booking is that the Disney outfit will be able to make maximum use of tele and newspaper adver| tising on a regional basis, instead of dissipating a large measure . the provincial re-j; rand an overtime ban which was i page, was followed by a warning |to 3 producers by. Sir Tom O’Brien, jgeneral secretary of the National Assn. of Theatrical and Kine EmPloyers, and a counterblast from producers. Lord Archibald. head jof the Federation of British Film : Makers, declared: “If vou can ine terpret the statement, I will comment on it.” Sir Tom declared that redundanley dismissals had led to the strike and the overtime ban, and he felt ‘there was scope for. producers to do more than send telegrams protesting that agreements were being broken. He added: “It fs with 9. great’ reluctance ‘that I say that ‘the agreements will centinue to be broken and in a more serious form, unless employers devote less time ‘to the trivialities of the industry and show more concern to the human problems of those they employ.” Lord Archibald stated that 117 employees at Metro had been declared redundant, but that was a Seasonal hazard, and warning had ibeen given at a labor relation® meeting with the unions, without ’. provoking comment. He said he 'would prefer a stable labor force, rather than recruiting temporary workers during the peak months, | particularly as the temporartes, ‘who lacked a studio background of the campaign in ares where {and often were a source of con the film is not scheduled to open for some weeks. For example, when “Parent Trap” opens in the there will be a concentrated campaign on j. the Midlands commercial tv outlet | a8 well as in local daily and weekly newspapers, stant trouble to the regular staff. At the moment, there waz a basie. labor strength of around 4,000 iw British studios, recruited from the three main unioijs, but there are peak seasonal-rushes that demand the employment of the short-term additional workers. | restricted to the day of the stop