Variety (November 1961)

PICTURES 19 Wednesday, Novetnber 1, 1961 . Tnside StuffPictures Dubbing. the French version. of the Josh Logan production of, Marcel |’ Pagnol's. Marius trilogy “Fanny” presented a problem not usually met in English-into-foreign Janguage films‘in that:.both Maurice Chevalier: and Charles Boyer, who star, are native Parisians. The French dubbing industry has specialists who regularly. do voices of American. stars. The case of “Maurice. de Monilmontant” (Mont‘martre) is something else again. Any.attempt to dub. him would: be “arranged and So. the. French will. get “pure Chevalier” in: the role of Panisse. ~ When it came to Boyer in the role: of .Cesar; that was something: else'|. “again. The actor insisted that. it had been so Jong since he Had appeared. on a French stage that’ nobody would know the difference and that he: actually preferr ed a.dubbed voice. He ‘is reported to havye said, “I'll get panned anyway since..the part of. Cesar. belongs. perpetually to the. memory ‘of RaimuSo ‘set anybody. you want for my voice.” If -it’s a Biblical. OF historical film. the “proposed” Columbus, Ohio ordinance banning minors from: seeing certainthings on film: in Columbus doesn’t “apply, under a.clause in. the measure sponsored | by Councilman Ronald. DeVore. This bill, to -be submitted to a vote soon, forbids minors from: seeing films’ “which are. in’ whole or in. part. un-chaste, immoral, indecent, vulgar or profane” or: use “immoral, indecent, vulgar or: ‘profane language.” Further,-it would. ban minors from seeing : “any ‘picture ‘which deals in whole or part With. prostitution,or adultery.” Banned ‘also are films. whieh’ incest, rape, homosexualty, “expose “private parts, buttocks: or mammae” or. “indecent or. lewd dress,” and films “depicting acts of: unusual. cruelty or, of. miass: ar. extreme brutality; advocating: acts involving moral: turpitude. ‘or Which are provocative of corrupt -morals,-.crime or juvenile delinquency. ” ‘Biblical: or historical: films wauld. be. éxempt from those provisions. ° If the bill is “passed, ° ‘managers, ‘ticket-sellers, and eyen parents might be liable to. ‘criminal Prosecution for: permitting. minors to see the: forbidden’ films. Metro. has the option of exhibiting its two Cinetama productions, “How the. West Was. Won” In such countries, films may be shown in. 70m, Cinemascope or 35m. Where Cinerama .hasits ‘own facilities. abroad and after. the triple-| ‘screen exhibition: is. completed. ‘Metro will distribute pix ‘in smallersized Versions: * Provisions of the Metro-Cinerama pact. stipulate that: Cineraimia | : must have 60. S. and. a0 overseas: theatres ‘set when “West” completes production. a ‘Passing ‘up Pentagon efforts: ‘to Jet ‘him ‘save some’ face, it took’ a directive “from. Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara to make NATO commander’Gen Lauris Norstad whack 450 GI's’ from the '700-man. . contingent originally slafed to help-film Darryl Zanuck’s “Longest Day.” ‘Pentagon sent Norstad ‘ ‘suggestions” that fewer U. S. infantrymen .be ‘deployed from’ Germany. to France for the filming. This. left ‘the door “open for Norstad. {0 take. the.action:“voluntarily.’. However, the NATO chief: declined “for. reasons: unknown, to go along with the Pentagon gesture, and when news: broke that only 250 troops would be used: by _ Zanuck, it Ww as. disclosed the cut. Was. taken by McNaimara's order. 7 Henry’ “KE Neer, enter t story editor of 20th-Fox.. is the author. of & paperback ovizsinal whodunit, “Wanton ‘For Murder.” which Pocket| church: Since -the church auditoBooks has just issued. As previously.forecast: here it: introduces. an. “Israeli ‘detective, . Lieut. Shomri. Shomar, * coniplete | with goatee, -He’s: explained as ‘on loan ‘to the New. York. police: via international talent. exchange. For a first try at plotting murder. fiction, ‘Klinger’ has done. well and with added: -sureness she’s already ‘working on ‘his fourth | “book ‘Shomar: will undoubtedly be’ even more: exciting. “Ceiling of. the Nola. 300-seat: house in New Orleans caved ia, ‘kining a 65-year-old woman usher, Mrs: Bertrand Odinet, and injuring ‘at: ‘least ‘60 persons; A number of patrons -were trapped ‘under. the network of wire Jathing: and: heavy plaster: that: crashed ‘down.:on them ‘about: 6:35: p.m. during ‘the. screening. of “Homicidal,” Police: firemen and volunteers worked: ‘to pull patrons,’ ‘Many of them hyster ical. children, ‘from’ the rubble, | legal action. against. thé-papers. The Capri, which is currently running skinpic on:a double. bill, is: advertising the second: feature only in} the two papers. The co-owned Chicago Tribune and Chicago’ s American ". are taking ads for both films. . : : Some . 1.000.delegates to: Diocesan Council. of. Catholic ‘Women ‘of -.-Ohio® passed a resolution: at Columbus declaring that . parents. were’ morally responsible for. making sure their children: see only “suitable” . films, .and. Breed: tiem fo. -Supbort wholesome: entertainment, not pass:|. the buck..: Indiana’s Allied Unit May Go TOA! ; Frisco Fest’ $ Coin Up , |. British. ‘Honey’ -Yanked; San Franciseo, -Oet. 31.° ABPT Nine Months Net roared off by the French, especially since Radio-Diffusion-Francaise, | ‘¥French-TV, has done an‘extremely lengthy: serialization. of. his. life. Fitting -his heavy schedule into’the. WB dubbing--program was" finally |. ; and ‘“The-Brothers Grimm," in a variety of different: processes’ in: those foreign countries where -the Cinerama ‘people don't have. a theatre, “under terms. of its deal with the tri-panel . oo company. (Swedish), -Dec. 4, 5, 6: ‘NeverLet Go’: As: Sub Topping agenda of next month’s . confab of. Allied Theatre .Owners, of Indiatia, which broke away. from. . National. Allied org, is. whether’ to accept ‘bid. to align with Theatre, ‘The Hoosier. Owners. of ‘America. powwow is down for Nov. 13-14 at the Marott Hotel, Indianapolis... _seem_.as if the Indiana-TOA union]. was a: ‘foregone conclusion, but im pression in some .-exhib circles. is that ‘the.. decision is far from settled.. + ‘leans, and. did so‘ via board. :chair-|. “man: Trueman .Rembusch' and prexy Dick. Lochry.. From ‘high |, ‘TOA -souréés. present. at-:the con-. ‘vention, it's understood the Indi-. fine. came ‘to. no decision at. the me Both Rembuschand Lochry: have maintained‘silence as-to .recom .Mendation they. will _make: to ‘the. : "Sellers, “ Indiana. meeting. At. TOA’ssuggestion, “the ‘Hoosiers were invited to ‘observe: ‘recent: TOA parley | in New. Or ‘British entry Ravana ticket revenues for fifth ‘annual’ San: Francisco Film Festistand. ‘Wednesday {1) night, is more than val,’ opening. two-week double: 1960,‘ with $16,000 already in boxoffice, Advance. breaks down this -way:. $9, 750 . ‘in “ single-seat |. | sales, $3; 000. in group sales, $3,250. . Previous Teports ‘have made at for final night :awards. Though: advance ‘is up, festival’ st. budget ‘is-also higher, with director |. Irving M. Levin figuring he'll need between’ $55,000' and $60;000 cash] ™ intake to‘ break ev en.. point: in. former yeat's_ ranged be‘tween $20,000 and $30,000. : Boxoffice-supported. ‘fest . charges $2.50 a head -at 1,000-seat Metro. “A ‘Taste of Honey,” scheduled. as English entry for second. night, | has. been withdrawn because -pro-| ducer’s contract: includes clause giving legit. play. of same title clearance over film in: U.S.. ‘Substituted |. ig.“ Never ‘Let. Go,”’; drama with Richard Todd. and. Peter Glass Cage,” Breakeven | La Dolce Vita ’ Blazes Subtitled Paths; May Mislead Showmen Back In Italy Estivated $7,580,000; _ Slight Shade on Last Yr. : Nine-month iricome of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres. edged up'to a révord level, reflect ing, strength in both the broadcast-: ing and. theatre divisions. Estimated net overating frofit.for the | period hit-$7,580.000. or $1.78 per | fal share, ‘compared | with ‘$7,522,000 or $1.76 a share for the like ’60 period. ‘Net profits, including capital gains, rose to $13.758.000 or $3.24 a share: ‘from -$8.873, 000. or $2.08 ‘per share last year. Third quarter. figures alone also. brought cheer. Estimated net operating. profits were $1, 886, 000 or -44c a ‘share. compared with $1,869,000 or 43¢ ‘a share last year. Net profits, including capital gains, ‘were $1, 915.000 .or 45c a share versus $1.892,000 or 44c a share for the like period last year. Prexy Leonard. Goldenson. told holders that theatre’ revenue -for {the nine-month ran ahead: of last. year, although third quarter: in come was below that of ’60. This, ‘he said, reflects. fewer blockbuster ' pix available during the quarter. The: broadéasting division, how[ ever, surpassed’ itself in the latest quarter reported. Subscription Cinema 77 Starting in Des. Moines ' Des Moines, Oct. 31.° A commercial art ‘theater here has been tried many times without success. but asubscription ap ‘proach shows possibilities at this ‘time. A. subscription. membership -of more than 100 is said to be in the making, Sixteen .members of what is called “Cinema 77” (for no reason whatever in the name,. ac cording.to Joan Walther, wife of a Drake U. professor, who heads’ ‘the subscription drive) got. under way. ‘last..year in. showing the art and foreign films at the Unitarian rium had capacity for only 200 it was necessary to find a larger place. this year and: the. Varsity theater (adjacent to Drake U. cam pus) willshow the films on one night only two shows). for. “Cine “lima 77's" 1961-62 season. Subscription ‘members. pay. $6. for eight films ‘in. the .season: and general admiésion is $1. The first picture, | “The. 400 Blows” at the Varsity this week. had 450 admissions. Pictures ‘advertised as: scheduled for the season: at-the Varsity are : ‘| “The. Captain ‘from: Koepentick,” In a. recent VaRIErY x story on ‘the. crackdowti on ads ‘for ‘nudist films by the Chicago ‘Sun-Times and Chicago Daily News it was incorrectly | inferred that. Tom. Dowd; owner of the Capri Theatre,.was considering. “Dreams” “Ordet” “Nights. of: Ca Feb. qT: “Apara ‘(German) Nov.. 8; (Danish) | Jan. 10; birta” (Italian). jito” (Indian) Mar. 7; “The Cru cible’” (French) Apr. 4; “We Are Ae “Murderers” (French) May 2. ‘San ‘Franel.co, Oct. a. -From 19 nations are entered 22 features: in fifth anhual.San Fran|-elsco Film: Festival which starts ‘tomorrow (Wed.) and. runs through ‘Nov. 14 af. the 1,000-seat Metro Theatre. Soviet Russia has two en tries, “The. Clear Sky” and “Peace to. Him Who. Enters,” while U.S. “has: -three | entriés, “The Exiles,” “Of Stars. and Men”. and .“The ‘all independent productions. No other netion has more than’ one entry. Frisco Fest’s Jury. ‘San. Francisco. Oct. 31. Panel of ‘jurors for fifth. annual San Francisco Film. Festival,: starting tomorrow {1) at. 1,000-seat Metro Thea, has been: expanded ‘to five with in-. “clusion. of British filmmaker ‘John ‘Halas and Russian film critic Kira Paramanova. _ __ Other. jurors are American importer Arthur Mayer, direc-. tor Josef: von’ Sternberg: and Indian director Tapan Sinha. | Total of 22 feature ° films . from. 19 tations will be shown at. fest; which ‘Tuns: through ‘Nov. 14. |NEW ORLEANS HARDTOP, chain ‘Bunuel. ‘Kent Mackenzie: FIRST THERE IN DECADE New Orleans, Oct. 31. Local backers have taken on a4 site for anunderground specialty film theatre, first of its kind-in the U..S. and: first new four-waller | (above or below terra. firma) in this city in a decade. It's.to seat aor: with debut expected by next “Disclosure; by an ‘outfit calied University Cinema, appeared ‘timed. as a.good-cheer note for the TOA. assemblage here last week. Promoter is a local citizens group listing Robert Rowen as president. He'll: also manage the house. New. .deluxer, which plans a policy of firstrun imports.and special audience domestic product, aims for. strong trade from the Tulane and Loyola University enrollments. . Theatre will be within walking distance of both campuses. Virtually the entire lot above \the theatre will be used for auto parking. Only the entrance and a brief outline of the auditorium /will project above. ground. ‘Art Product Spreading Into Ohio Provinces Cleveland; Oct. 31. ‘European. art films are invading ; Ohio’s small towns, creating a new : i circuit for L; & L. Film Classics } Co. recently organized. by three Cleveland theatre operators. Firm was founded by Lewis Hor witz of the local Washington chain .of houses, Samuel Leavitt, long ‘with the same company, and Louis | Sher, co-owner of Art. Theatre Guild which operates the Heights, Continental and Westwood art thea-. tres here. | New combine of distributors atfirst is. specializing in college town for one-night showings in campus auditoriums or best theatres available.-“Art Nights” priced at $1 for adults and 75c for college students are being promoted strongly on the basis that they will boost grosses. on. off-nights. that usually draw slim attendances. -“Horse’s Mouth” recently kicked off L. & L. group showings of 10 | importations with initial date in | Alliance, O. Sponsors of regular so-called cultural series in colleges have been revealing “great co {operation and willingness to drop their 16-mm. set-ups in favor of 35-mm. projection and superior | sound in -commercial theatres,” reports: Lewis Horwitz. L. &-L. Film Classics Co. is’ sending. ‘out advanceman with | newspaper and radio-TV publicity to each city on its hinterlands Admission to fest, sponsored ‘by | | Frisco Art. Commission, is $2.50 a! ‘person for first showings, while re peat screenings at 6 p.m. day fol-j lowing. ‘first showing will cost $2 at boxoffice. Schedule of initial ‘sereenings and. pictures" directors: Nov. 1—"*White Dove,”. Czechoslovakia, England, Nov. 3—“Summer Skin.” Argentina, Leopoldo Torre Nilsson. 1 Nov. -4—-"The Clear Sky.” Grigory Tchukhray. . Nov. 5 (matinee\—‘*The Golden Truming. Luis | ‘Frantisek. ‘Viacil. __ Nov: 2—“‘A Taste of Honey.” Tony Richardson. .. Russia, ‘pet, China (ormosa), Dog Chi Nov...’ 5—"Viridiana,” Spain, Nov. .€—Peace to Him Who Enters,” Russia, .A.Alov. ‘Nov. —**Square of Violence,” Yugo slavia, L. | Bereovici. and “Alba Regia,”. ‘Hungary, Mihaly Szemes. Nov. 8—“Devi.” India, Satyjit Ray. Nov. 9—“Ghosts in Rome,” Italy, A. Pietrangeli. Nov. 10—“Girl with Golden Eyes,” France, J. Albicocco. Nov. 11 (matinee)\—“The Exiles,” U. S.» “Of Stars and Men, US., John Hubley, and “The Glass Cage.” | US. Antonio Santellan Nov. 11——"Sampson,”” ‘Poland, Andrej Wajda, and “Description of the Struggle,” ‘| Israel, C. Marker. Nov. 12 (matinee)—“Animas Trujano,” Alone,”’ Gder Mexico,. Ismael Rodriguez. | Nov. 13—“Happiness of Us |. Japan, Z. Matsuyama. Nov. 14 hast of Mrs. Cheney.” . } many, F. SI, W. +. In addition to giving. overseas producers an exaggerated idea of what their own features ean do in the U. S. market, “La Dolce Vita,’ Astor Pictures’ successful Italo import, may also be breaking down U. S. exhibitor resistance to subtitles in many important areas. (The Roman Catholic Legion of ‘Decency “separately classified’’ the film with the understanding that this qualified approval would only be applicable to the subtitled version. Presumably, a dubbed version of the film would have been condemned. Other recent pix separately classified by the Legion: “Suddenly last Summer,” and “King of Kings.”) Because it is proving to be a picture of wide boxoffice appeal, “Vita” is now getting dates in theatres which have never before played a subtitled feature, according to Astor's sales veep Georze Josephs. Exec wouldn't go so far as to predict these theatres will] henceforth embrace ali subtitled pix, but he. feels that his experience with Astor's follow-up Italo import, “Roceo and His Brothers.” indicates that more and more theatres are now willing to go for the subtitled, rather than dubbed, foreign film. Astor has “R available for booking: the original subtitled version, tle full-length dubbed version, and an “edited”. dubbed version. from which ahout 30 minutes have been ‘lopped off the original 175-minute running time. Accordinz to Josephs, a “surprising number” of exhibs are choosing the orizinal subtitled version in preference to the dubbed versions. He acknow|ledges its difficult to pinpoint the reason for this unusual preference, but he thinks the success of “Vita” has had something to do with it. As with Joe E. Levine's Italo import, “Two Women,” it’s expected that the great bulk of “Rocco” dates will be in dubbid versions. Nevertheless, any sizable increase in ihe number of theatres willing to play titled imports would be significant to the smaller importers for whom dubbing fees (circa $15.000 per pic: are always a. risky burden. Film. Technicians In US-USSR Swap Washington, Oct. 31 United States and the Soviet ‘ Union have agreed te an exchange ‘of film specialists hefore the end of the year. A Russian group is expected to come here during the last week of November, and a U.S. delegation goes there after the ‘Soviets return home. Agreement was one of the few three versions of | substantive deals made during a : fwo-week meeting here of the U.S. | Majors Still Snub Frisco Fest | USSR standing committee on cine‘matography cooperation. Another agreement will see both | parties hurrying selection and acceptance of 15 documentary filins from each side before the year's end. The committee, with the U.S. represented by MPAA president Eric Johnston and USIA’s Turner Shelton, pushed slightly ahead on plans for co-production of films by U.S. and Russian producers. “Specific negotiations” are now called for, although the idea of co-operative ventures has had only vague reception in the past. Both the U.S. and Soviet representatives agreed to press for Maximum distribution and exhibit‘on of films, with periodic reports on progress. ] . Acad’s Bard Retrospective Hollywood, Oct. 31. “Shakespeare on Film” will be a new series of films to be screened for its membership by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, to follow the _ earlier “Charles Dickens on Film" and “Tribute to Ernest Hemingway.” New program will encompass three pix based on the Bard’s works, launching with Metro’s. 1936.“Romeo and Juliet’,.on Nov. 5. Follow-ups will be J. Arthur Rank’s “Henry V,” Nov. 19, and Rank’s “Hamict, ” Dee. 3.