Variety (May 1962)

1m 2 ae , . i: 5 “al: UB: A, Seated ciwesucs coeye” 212 BRITAIN’ ¢ . NEV "DIREC = “Ss TOR , . : _ ZZ Baie See 4 woes 7 _ a , | France: yieeeiee reese igenetee : ees wz simnamoery nine — fa vs ‘London,. he: completed. a. Richard: Todd-Rob‘the. frst 'time.It is w. logieal'n ‘move : A healthy sign is the advent of ert Morley vehicle, “The Boys.”|for a‘lensman to bring his eye for |, sharp, newish directorial talent on | Appointed exec: director of. Gala-|a picture to the ‘composition of — the immediate British film horizon. | worldfilms Productions, . Furie. ig|scenes.. In.Britain‘he has had two This mustn’t be construed that. the | regarded as an eager young beaver | successful predecessors, both Jack: = wellknown regulars are played out. | destined . to ‘help vitalize the: local Cardiff and. Guy. Green’ having. con° =. Far from it. They are mostly still industry; . | fidently moved from, camera to di-}: ; very much on the ball, as past suc-| : Two. other. ‘young. “men yet to | rector’s‘seat. Two other significant | cesses, and future plans, reveal. make their names.are Dick’ Lester | names to. make: news: in this search: 5 ee Thus, Carol Reed is readying a new fand Michael .Winner. The latter, {for fresh’ enthusiasm, gimmicks:and|. . : ‘g@ project, “Ballad of A Running{reputed to ‘be Britain's” -youngest ideas.in direction, are ‘those of Carkis 0 Man,” Val Guest is busily employed | feature ‘director, ‘also -knows the’ Foreman : and: Wendy ‘Toye... Fore-}.: in’ following up his highly ‘ssuecessdocumentary and telefilm: fields ful “Day The Earth Caught Fire,"|and has just completed his first the Boulting Brothers are busy ‘on | feature job, a musical called “Play. a new one, “Heaven’s Above” ‘and | It Cool,” with an. appropriately GeraldThomas is still up his neck | young east headed: by: pop vocalist in helming “Carry On” farces and | Billy Fury and Helen Shapiro. Lat--. _other comedies for Peter Rogers. tere thrush was the mie of Lester’ See ise Other top names. like. Frank and’ recent musical, “It's Trad. Launder & Sidney Gilliat,Lee }Dad.” Coming from ‘ty. and much Thompson; Lewis Gilbert, ‘ Léslie experience . with offbeat: comedy. Norman, Basil Dearden, Ralph shows ‘such as the Goon Shows.and. om h, {the zany ‘Fred’ shows, Lester ‘has . Baker, Mario Zampl, Atdn Annakin ‘brought a bubbling: zest..and: im-: * arid. Ronald Neame are:all-in there seination ne. this. modest, : lively ~ pitching, and wilk be. coming up|2™ He has: broken many of. the ‘with a varied array of product. — rules with his ‘camera’ angles. and cutting and has. brought ° a: hew. “But significant Hames are joining the giants. A fresh wind is blowing. dimension ‘to the kind of. pop’: singer. film that is. through the studios and old Prac-| stacked: with fair tices are being attacked as DeW | imaginative proton and soto ideas are applied.. It all helps to numbers. keep the industry on its toes. For} . Cathersman Trying. instance, after a couple of near!’ -‘ace cameraman Freddie Francis misses. “Requiem For A Nun’ and jt, shortly. to dive. into ‘the deep “The Entertainer,” . Tony Richardson struck a resounding blow for waters of tosture. film: directing for. fresh bleed with “A Taste” of} .. Honey.” Now he is tackling a-couple of other offbeat subjects, ‘The Loneliness of ‘The .Lang Distance} Runner” and “Tom. Jones,” with. ‘Albert Finney.. Richardson brings |a keen perception and loving useof 7 the camera to. his work, Actor, Scripter, Director... " Bryan Forbes, for years a competent actor and then a successful Critics Published About Films scripter is still one of. Britain's : Oe a eB highest screenplay... writers, ‘but |}. 2 het | now what might prove an évén big| By ‘BILL BELL” few Es ger career as a director. looms| _ Gibraltar, .. | awaited | hhete:: “preneh “films: are large for him. His first, “Whistle | -Down The Wind,” won acclaim 8 and now he is tackling ano ner con-| North Africa across the water, and -troversial theme with “The L+|Spain around the: corner. is: host: Shapéd Room.” Karel Reisz. first every July to .a“film -festival.”: made impact with his brilliant hanThis is one portion of a fortnight dling of “Saturday Night And Sun-| of assorted _entertainments de-. day Morhing.”. Reisz brought add-/ signed -to redeem the R .ed vitality to an already powerful ment from Its lack of ‘diversion yarn with his alert, vivid portrait] other: than. watching. overnight of a drab industrial district. Now | tourists. go ‘on. shopping ‘sprées in he is challenged by another ‘pro-/ the duty-free : British ‘colony... A vocative theme with “This Sporting casing-is dué.to open in 1963:)..: Life,” a profile of a.tough foot This. military ‘base at ‘the ‘mouth the main role. Fwo skillful documentary. debuts. .At 35, John Scheslinger] “ape” symbol .séem strange, be: it already has earned plaudits for his | explained that the: fortress is home ‘documentary, “Terminus,” a study |to lots of monkéys who.arrived. in of a. busy. London ‘railway: station. | time lost and flourished.". _ It has gained winning: nods at fes| ‘Last. year’s ‘winner: was. “Black * tivals and recently copped — the Orpheus” and in 1960.it was UA’s British Film Academy's. annual| “On the Beach.” Entries this year. “documentary award. To him. fell | include ‘the Soviet. “Ballad: of @ the task of directing a comparative. Soldier,” ‘the Italian :“Two: Wom| newcomer, Alan Bates, and.a com-j en,” Britain’s ‘Taste Of Honey,”. plete screen tyro, June Ritchie, in and ‘America’s “Judgment. af. Nua powerfully provocative film, “A: remberg” (UA); Kind of Loving.” ; Asked whether. hewould’ have: ‘out of “London. and/or’: ‘Sevilla, . preferred to have.had greater ex| Spain. and shown with. sub-titles. perience in the other side of. the} | There are four cinemas. The big: camera Scheslinger said: “No, I|-gest is ‘the Queen's, operated by preferred it that-way,. Experienced Abraham Benatar. “who owns: the: arlists might’ have overawed me | Queen’s hotel. It seats.992:.Recent| and made me scared to try. out my ly doing. well. were. “Breakfast ..at eas.” touch. on the set made on-lookers | of: Fear” (Columbia), sceptical of this ‘Self. deprecatory * Other: houses are: the. Royal:| remark. (900), the Naval Trust: (750) ‘and Case of Krish | the’ Rialto (526). All areoperated .| > The other. documentary | director | by Rafael Massias, a ‘directorfor. ‘{s fohn Krish, ‘who is.to steer Cliff } the. Bassadone ‘Bros. Development. Richard through. his next. musical, |Co. . “Summer Holiday.” ‘Krish gets: this | Rialto runs mostly Spanish films. . first break . beeause ‘Sydney Furie, |The Naval Trust is for big releases the original choice, is tied up with | per ‘“‘West Side Story," “Exodus; a9}. another film. Says Krish: ‘I’m not }and “‘South Pacific.” worried. We have a: good story and} excellent: talent. What more ‘does scaled: from 15¢eto. 40c, with: occa| a director. want?" Plenty, ‘Krish is getting a Welcome. chance | Changes are. made’ three times a to ‘prove that he. hes it.. . Furie, a young. ‘Canadian, ‘who aweek, . had a growing reputation in.his|. ‘there is’ local: censorship, exer‘native land, came to Britain“a coucised by. the Rock’s mayor, ‘Joshua ple of years ago, mdde.. two. of handling of the Cliff Riehard musiday. Morning”. ‘and’ Italy's. : ger. tothe director's hot seat. But. It is.'some time: since she was.:re-sponsible. for & full length feature. Ba she is.to direct: the. next Kenne The. ‘Navy,’’. for. Dial. return at a stage. when -fresh blood. ‘is. being: pumped into. the: onerous: -[job ‘of film. direction’. might well} pave the way for ‘other women to “normally. merely.’ as Joan Littlewood. being: Fectuited to film production. . films are riding ‘high ‘itis: well to remember. that’ they. can only: be: ‘kept that. way . with modern slants and. lively. imaginations : ey, Gibraltar Sports a Film Fest Beatie’ ‘Silver Rock, Key and ‘Ape’ ‘Every Jaly= Censorship Operates Blind, Based on What British” of the Mediterrariean Sea, with |. ‘to Hassen along. with’ reviews clipped from ‘three: respected Brit of the reviews. whether. or. not to ‘allow screening. oe, ‘gettle-| . -most Gibraltarians. see. a lot: of .films.. Business: is made. better, too, Now three years old the Gibrak: . ball, hero, with Richard Harris in] tar film fest bestows. the “Silver |. . mo . | Reck” .for the ‘best “feature | une] ‘diree‘spooled, the: “Silver Key” for the | #S0smau tors have been handed important | best documentary and the-“Silver} = -/.°°° * assignments for their. feature film{ Ape” -for the best::short.. Lest :the: a . Foreign. ‘product. ‘is ‘ail ‘booked |": Scheslinger’s ‘confident | Tiffany’s” (Paramount). and: “Taste | and} sional ‘specials. pegged at -..60c. |. week except for big ‘pics. They § run a. a ‘A: Hassen,. who ‘has. ‘held. office {° three unspectacular pix: and. ‘then. ‘since. -.1945. Recently, * he -nixed: : hit the jackpot with his fresh, gay |-Britain’s “Saturday Night and’ Sun-]: :“La fe cal, “The Young Ones.” Recently ! Dolce Vita,” which hadbeen Jong man, whose: work as produeer and} «... topleague ‘ -scriptist. -has, for’ some }-.time, been. a drivitig force in. Brit-|. ish, pix, ‘now -tackleshis first: stint: as a director. As well as. directing: he will be producing his own screenplay" with eee Victors.” ”. Miss Toye is, of course; no: straris More. comedy, “We “Joined ‘Films. ‘Her Why not? At-a time \ when British frequent targets. of his. disapproval. All programs. must ‘be submitted ish dailies.:He decides on the basis’ Since there is ‘Tite ‘else: to ‘do; ‘by. the. tourists. ‘who “don’t have |: ‘anywhere. else.-to:"go: until: that gambling ‘hall opens: in future. Poe, Dublin.‘ “mhe: U: Ss” “‘gontinues, t6.. -be ‘the | biggest ‘supplier of box office films’ o ‘the ‘Irish market, _and ‘the. big. american atin film* ‘invariably .. has": a bigger..box. office. take ‘than: ‘the: big ‘British: . pietureé.: -economic ‘estimate as:-reported -by circuit executives: here; Columbia’s:“Thé Gun’s of Navarone” ‘was ‘away. out: on top. as‘ the biggest. _money-spinnef’ of 1961." ---:‘Elvis Presley. continues’ to. lead the. way to:the teen-age coin, and} Doris. Day is.a first-class mnarquee ‘mame in: these. -parts;. among. ‘the men. the older..age ‘group is. the} ‘biggest. draw at. the ‘box. office. ‘ingly | aceepted by Irish audiences, -after’a lengthy. period: when they ‘were tough: to sell. outside: Dublin;:|: their. take.‘is better’ and: stars ‘like John ‘Mills’ are: good:‘attractions. His | daughter, Hayley . Mills,. “has probably ° ‘as big. a :drawin first run Dublin.‘situations | ‘where her : -pietures: :: have: .played..’: ‘British “women ‘stars’ make* ‘little © impact: with ‘Irish . audiences : and. given} ‘the. choice.. ‘between :: :an. American |. “and “a. British. picture the -scales ' invariably. tip “towards. the | U. S: “Seats at. all four-. houses . are} oD ‘Product. “Janguagé. soundtracks can. be. -. shown ‘free. of entertainment. : interest | “: has“two cinemas: operating a _.Continenital :art house ‘policy. _ "Average film-goer; however, is.” * still: chary and -booking for “town: ‘situations | is’ thin... That's.’ the} . British: films : are now. inéreas|. Because films “with: foreign ” | Times.man, who tends to‘be' a-law|._ | unto himself and his editor regard“tax there’ s3 a certain amount of.” * them’: in large. _ :, Centres . of population Dublin. fo “Léndon:. London: “ean: “probably match’ every shade of opinion: and. eniotion. as to ‘film: critics. ever felt: or.. expressed by ~New York. or | Hollywood: There: -is:“the . usual ‘wooing .of the breed in. the hope: of good: notices and ‘the ‘usual sulk‘ing over: bad.-ones.: Some film ex-'! ‘ecutives and. their. publicity chiefs |. pretend. to .an, aloof, dispassionate’ ‘attitude. ‘Others':.are belligerent. Others still may fairly be described. as not knowing What. they. think— until: told. But it is tacitly” agreed: that. the. ‘film critic is-here. to stay, -fulfill-; ing a “useful. function. “Whether |} they -are: writing . essays’ boosting: ‘their own. egos or. acting as “film. tasters”: for their. readers at ‘léast. ‘they ‘are doing one: good. thing. | They are helping to’ stimulate’ in-. terest in. an. entertainment form | which ‘has: . had‘ to: face ..plenty: competition, . what |. with ten pin: : | bowling, .| apathy.: ty, bingo. and . Sheer. -Films are generally shown to ‘thie. the. ‘Film’ An. ‘bonus (or hardship) for. “How can. : There has. been: a constant: niggle by: certain. Wardour: Street’. ele-: | ments. for critics to ‘view: the films: at the evéning. premieres, but.this:|’ « has ‘been strongly resisted.-by the; > Film Section of. the Critics’ Cirele. |. Most top. feature films -are'un-. | veiled to the préssfor their. ‘com| ments, . “but : teridency ‘amolig “some “Wardour Street . executives ‘to decide that | there iS a growing: such . @ picture is not ‘‘a -critics’ picture,” and: thus. not press ‘show. it. . Nevertheless, — are rarely: able: ta’ define’ what they ‘really.mean by‘“‘a critics’ picture.”: Sometimes * ‘their: decision’ to. Te main .in . Splendid ~. ‘anonymity | “is. sensible..: ‘valuable: space. and. a. big. boost ‘by. “day. “jbeing...chicken:: . ~-: ‘these | tycoons ‘Other’ times theylose | -Paramount:: for’ Some time ‘has ‘doggedly: declined to show Jerry'| ‘Lewis ‘pix to the press following |: some pretty drastic flayings. -Uni«: versal. also ©: withdrew “ from’ :the}: ‘market. for. awhile,: ‘but then: ten|: ° " ‘tatively . came ‘back .and: found ‘to |: -its delight ‘that, for instance, the. Rock‘ ‘Hudsoii-Doris. Day -comediés ‘have: earned. sweet typewriter. ‘music. .But. the: major~ pitfall | ‘that: ‘such * pick ‘and. choose ‘companies ’| have to face is: when they: “sneak”. ‘in -to.the’ West’ End ‘a film. with | major stars. The inference. that the film . must: -be..-a *floperog not ‘the’: " gone.) unnaturally. . intrigues. . sciéntious. eritic.. -: “Films are rarely reviewed: over=| ‘night: unless. they ‘have a. ‘sharp. ‘news: angle, and, it is mainly epics | ‘such. as” “Ben-Hur”. ‘that. ‘get. the]: special treatment: “For. the rest. the critics, «with. ‘the éxception ‘of the ing. ‘publication’. -date, usually. ap‘pear: on.a ‘particular: ‘day as a fea: ture. There ‘is usually some heart-. burn. among: the: -préss ‘agents’ as ‘they: survey: the: matérial available: for the ensuing “week. and’ assess ‘T their. prospects of snaffling they: “sub-titled : picturés in’ entof} af ‘Continental : ‘alias’ get” an eal ‘ead. Lo 5 hanes 0 of: being: press. ‘shown b | in:.some of: the. poptlar aie viewed © circulated nationally... ‘are frequently held and ‘sometimes tational ‘critics. attend ‘these.’ But — | fore ‘the. date: of ‘the: West. End: shofing. wu :which: zooms it into the big “time, .. ‘Sometimes... adverse: criticism. ‘can ‘filé down a‘bad film’s. take,.: ‘but, this... is ‘less common than. critics would. ; proach varies. ‘The Sunday papers, _ , ne ‘Daily. Telegraph‘: andthe. Guardian- press: on Mondays, Tuesdays and | tend to give a. better. show :to for .Wednesdays: at 10:30. a.m.” 2:30 p.m:, mainly early in the week ‘in: “which: the film is.-to: make its’ “West End how: Dates. are “usually : [selected by a Clearing ‘House, ‘con-| sisting”: of ‘membexs. of. _ Hndustry: -Publicity:Circle. : | average of four to five films 4 week: ,.|are shown and sometimes such ‘a a -.| preview is dropped into <a: regular |: . | program at a cinema. This becomes | ‘| the paying customer. The critics: | don't” much. mind either’ way, but. sternly resent the belief of: some producers that ‘they’ are ‘influenced by .audience. reaction, you..judge a comedy ‘without . an’ audience?” -they : moan. . Answer, By whether’ or: not it :is: funny, |. {and the: brayings of either a: pay-|".:. | ‘ing.. audience or’. a..papered: one ‘does not. sway : ‘the. experienced and} unbiased‘critic. and | eign . -tion “pop” paper brethren, : These such as-the Daily Mirror, the Daily.” -World ‘offer: a: briefer and breezier’ . ‘(Express,. Sunday . Express, Stane. . personal: integrity and '(b) inde’. | magazine’ and ‘trade ‘reviewers, but: . vening™ Thursday). ‘Also sheet's. legit crite: 1a I1g0. rather less’ ‘prospect’ of: getting: re. provinces... And ‘don’t: forget that . the main. British wHewspapers. are. -Magazirie : showings. . in ‘advance’. it is‘ a rule,jealously. observed, ~ that no::review should appear be-. How. teh. influence: crities have: on: films’ isa moot point: -: -.:. Often'a “sleeper” ‘is. spotied. and given: a critical’ shot in the ‘arm: like’ to’ believe.: The critics’ ap-Financial. Times;.the Times, the. films . than ‘their big. circula Sketch, the People; the ‘News of the approach: The Beaverbrook press . dard). dwell more. than. the: others on the. story line. <-°.:.: But whatever the: ‘different angle. the: ‘varied: posse. of “British “crix: share two things in common. (a. pendence of thought: and opinion:.: ‘There .are several. “influential: the national crities can’ be said to. consist .of two evenings, nitie morn mes and-dlgnt Sundays. “ ae BYENINGS “Felix “Barker: {E ‘News, feature. writer. and ‘author. . Alexander. Walker:: ‘Standard, ‘Thursday).: “MORNINGS = . Anoayzious: (Guardian, variable. ‘publication dates). 7 ley Carew: © “(Times; | anony: ous | in paper,:: Vv variable” ‘days. for’ Publication). ‘Also cricket. writer... venting: -Fergus. Cashin: (Sketch, ‘Friday),”. ‘Also sheet’s legit. critic. ‘atid’ Shows“ diz. reporter. “Quentin: crewer i (Mail, “Friday, . -Also feature writer and essayist. ‘Paul’ Dehn:. Screenplay: : "writer, ‘lyricist: ‘broadcaster: and poet, : 7 Patrick Gibbs: \Telegraph; ‘Mon. Nina Hibpera:: (Worker, “Vark able). Leotard. Mosely: (Express; vari able. ' publication). -: Also “author, ane writer .. and: feature” ter. -In short, the _present' writer... David: Robinson: (Finanelalt. ‘Times, Friday): Also feature writer; os sound and ‘tv: broadcaster, exec. of. ° British. Film: Institute, v! a Set: “SUNDAYS... Jack Bentley: Pictorial: sunday). Also’ paper's. disk" eritic: and ‘showe . biz reporter...’ Ernest. Betts:. Also. feature writer, author. Bryan Buckingham::' (News of: World: : ‘Sunday).... ‘Also editor, of sheet’s gossip feature. Alan -Dent:: (S. Telégraphi:” ‘Sun= .day). “Also: author, ‘anthology. edie tor, film critic for reviews.:. Penelope .Gilliatt:. (Observers. Sunday). Also: ‘Magazine: feature “writer: Jack Lewis. “Reynolds; ‘News, ‘ Sunday). ‘Also legit.critic and show‘biz reporter: for the paper... ~~ Dilys Powell::(S: Timés,, Seah ; “Also ‘author;. broadcaster. .: ~". Thomas Wiseman: (S. Express, *Sunday).” ‘Also author, » BIAVWEn feature weiter, a . ‘aince many. ‘non-English . ‘yisky chatice: of. being seen: in the. (Herald, Saturday). | Dick Richards: (Mirror, Friday), 2 Weople, . ‘Sunday. _ ~ tied ewe SU oe! eee eT, tye re ree . Reo eae 0+ meye et FP wm PAROS 80 OP . net . my ‘ ary oF '. ate ‘ me °C EEE wemee eve loan nee iar, ava 8 a te temeiemy gem eae ee State wrsncas on . . : . 22 tog tts at wo ad ri . too wo « _ _ coe “ Sr er rs an aty . . . , a . “a ete se a was . wah ts . = ne tat ee + Par . Pe er eg tte .t . way . sae . ORT ORE Teme ERPE \irte Maat fal wnkae Tee eee 8 Or. “Shemreocmens . sion . Papas e asco ites sine tare ras ert so a > wa ited ai D nbthincddattenco tie Sh Tf a ed on oe