Variety (July 1963)

ee ee Cre en er enane Danette) San . . . . ", : : . cyte ert fend te . ‘eat ‘Herald and the ‘Boston, ‘Glo -film critic, Boston, Globe: . ‘theatres, Pilgrim, “Boston; ce Peabody; Embassy, -Waltham; four: each in the two days. “e nature of . the motion picture” industry. today /was ‘summed. Up. cbyla ~ senior officer of a major. company. ; _shave four hits.” ” “i Wise. we woulGin’t have made them.” Jungle; .. : week. ASuly | 10); titled “About. Face,” reailing: . ~ Zager PTE Weird, Taly. Yi 1968 be. film. reviewers, Said Marjory . Adams, . it isn't our lovable. Lewis. as: we. ever kriew hin: before. I would just as. soon not: know. him ‘again in this Kind} of dual role ... . I don’t know. what Lewis: has.in mind: when he. makes} his final re amarks indicating that there’s an, important’ moral. hidden | : under the zany doings of ‘The Nutty Professor.’ It has something. to do}: with yaluing-.yourself high: if. you want other people to-do so... But -.it doesn’t. mean very much ‘considering the clumsy Tanguage. in which: it is delivered. Jerry. Lewis can do better. than ‘this in. ‘making. people) -laugh.. Next. time around. I. am sure: he. will,”’ With..an | ‘entourage: of. 15,. Lewis: ‘Made Dp. a’s in’ ‘eight Boston: area -Granada; Malden; Strand, “Dorchester; ‘Oriental,’ Mattapan; ‘Paramouit, Lynn; Pararnount, : Salem;“Cinema, | “Ours ' is:.a “qe tek ‘pusiness’ ‘and “a. partnership: “business: rhs “the Earlier: thi S year, he said, “we had | four. flops in1 Succession; ‘now. we “He. added ‘there’ 'S: just no sure’ way of telling: ‘how. a film. ‘production will turn ‘ort ‘and, upon its. completion, how. to gauge ‘public. ‘acceptance. Further, said: the: ‘film official, “we. find we ‘have at ‘least one ‘partner} with: just. ‘about all of our. pictures.” —‘Exceptions are those. ‘bought’: out .Fight, suchas from foreign ‘producers. He complained that the ‘partners . including indie .producers,. stars, : writers, -etc ——“naturally ‘share. in. “vs the: profits when. we: have ‘Profits, ‘but when: there's. a loss, we» take ‘the Joss entirely.” . le Ugo: Fognazzi. Miss: Viady' ‘won the “best. actress”. award. at: ‘the -recent .Cannes. fest: for: her. ‘performance | ‘in’ thé pic, which: was .directed. by. ‘Marco Ferreri from an. original screenplay ‘he wrote ‘in collaboration |, -with Goffredo . Parise. and: Raphael. ‘Azcona. It deals with .ayoung wife| -, who. places. insatiable. demands on ‘her older hubby,. and: the: “Queen ~ Bee” handle was figured. as ‘perfect for. the ‘film -because’ of. the nature of the Insect which kills its mates. after’ being impregnated.’ “An PONS oF. “Film”. -seniinar, limited to’ 36. and: costing $90: a: “head . — (including: bed. and board), is being” held: July, 20-26 -at’. ‘Canterbury “Hills .Residential .Centre: near. Hamilton,’ Ont: Organized‘ ‘by: McMaster | ; -.U. and Canadian Federation of Film Societies, its lecturers are: James |’ Card, curator of Eastman House, Rochester; -N.Y.; Ernest -Callenbach, |. + editor of Film’ ‘Quarterly; Andrew Sarris, freelance writer . on: films; Peter Morris of: Canadian Film. Tnstitute,. who'll ‘direct the: seminar.. -A. 16mm: ‘short. will. be directed ‘ ‘by Richard Ballentyne,. “president of. Inter-Video Productions Ltd., Toronto, with. co-operation | of National Film ‘ Board: of Canada. Films shown ‘will “inelude Welles’. “Citizen: Kane,” von. ‘Stroheim’s:. “Foolish: Wives,” Joseph. Losey’s “Concrete : John Ford’s “Informer,” . a clutch: of ‘Charles Chaplins:. and: Beveral ‘from Britain, France, Italy; Sweden. and. Russia. Ralph. Nelson’ s “Lilies of: the Field, ” which recently. scored. j imprés: sively. at the. Berlin: Film. Festival . -by: ‘copping.: three awards,. is, ap‘propriately enough, playing -its premiere engagement. in the: city of “its success. .Pic: had its. world preem-.Monday “(15). in Berlin .and' will]: open four: weeks later in theatrés. throughout. West,Germany. Sidney Poitier. won the Berlin: fest’s “best actor” ‘award for his starring ‘ole in: the. pic. and itwas: also ‘awarded.:{the Catholic. film. organization prize and the Protestant’ Inter-film prize. Nelson: prodticed and directed the low-budget. effort. which . also -stars. Lilia. Sakala ‘and ’ Stanley. Adams. James Poe: .wrote the screenplay from “William E: Barrett's -novel.. In. Minneapolis . for the: ‘Tocal. opening of: his own: and: ‘prother’s ~ “Captain ‘Sindbad”.. (MGM), Herman King gave his: ‘mother ‘most of the credit for the success, of. the. King. Bros..as film producers. “Mother | is our best adviser,” King told Will Jones, ‘of Tribune. ‘She sees. more -movies. than anybody. She reads more .than: anybody. She: comes. ‘to the Office, goes. through | the scripts that. have" been: sent: to: us; takes them| _;. home ‘and: tells ‘us-:which: she. likes. “We’ ve made 40 pictures and. the ‘only. ‘two: that ever lost. money. were ‘those: that. ‘mother... ‘didn’t like, And now: we are ° pretty much guided by: her: advice.” a rs “Almost like . a -tradesheet. ‘pitch’ was the Ny: “Mirror's editorial last a Federal. district. court. in ‘New York has: siproved a > petition af wy by. National: General Corp., which owns: 225: theatres: in WT states, ‘ito produce and distribute motion ‘victures. . “Once in the .not‘so long ago, ‘this. sort of. arrangement ‘was? _ standard practice. Indeed, it: was. the skeletal. structure of : ‘the “movie. industry and logically: so.’ theatre. chains. © dustry, which had.led the world:.and earned dollars: everywhere. ~ jobs’ and” paying ‘vast -amounts . toUnele Sam ‘in taxes, began. to .. wither-on the vine—a sorry case. of. Government-created ‘economic "| . 2, blight. The°advent of :TV made the’situation all the‘ worse, with ~. “ unemployment.-mounting . as “the: major: “studios Tetrenched and. : . theatres closed.up by the hundreds. | '. “Naturally, a shortage. of new movies developed. ‘Independents. -couldn’t meet‘the demand. Exhibitors. turned to intporting ‘pictures from: Europe and Japan—a trend. still ‘going on. So -it’s.all.too apparent ‘who ‘lost:.and whobenefited . from”. the. Justice Depart ‘ment's war. with the U.S. movie: industry... : ““Thus,. the. about-face in the. court's. “approval ofthe. Nationat . “General Corp. petition is: significant. of a: revised attitude on: ‘the ~: "Subject. The Justice Department. did-not oppose the. :petition.. “If the department: has now seen thé light, it’s an. encouraging 7 ‘development. The’ tragedy: is. that the’ awakening .has. come. only... ., After incalculable, ‘irreparable damage::has. been. ‘wantonly injlicted. . . on a. great industry. ”. aa . ~ weer aod re ey Jersy ‘Lewis bared’ tv witless. ‘id’ ‘trade press , tom his ‘twé-day a ‘visit in Boston July :10-11 ..by ‘the -simple expedient. of having’ his} : press agents. calling the. aforementioned ‘writers. and telling: them not to come. m ee . ‘Burning question’ thathad the tv writers and other press’ curious ee : was: VaARIETY’S page. one, story: from. ‘Montreal in -the . July. .3issue} , oe indicating : Lewis ‘was’ in favor’ of pay tv. Educated guesses: were that] . because of this story, . Lewis decided: to duck tv ‘writers and: trades. “} Lewis’ film’ “‘Nutty -Proféssor” nabbed ‘two pans: from the’ Boston] ‘where. it. has. been daydating. with ATL. eight: pictures looked. ‘Sood at the. outset—“o other=. ae United Nations Ties For: “Conflict. over ‘film: titles. “develops: “witli. a fair: amoutit: of: ‘frequency'| and ‘one such -.¢ase: ‘recently: arose between. Embassy. “Pictures _ and| ‘Columbia. Pictures. over the ‘handle for. the former’s. ‘upcoming’ “L’Ape : Regina” which, literally translated, means’ “Queen: “Bee.” = . Seems. Embassy | won't : be: able. to ‘use -this title, ‘however; ‘Because “Columbia. has used it in. 1955 for a film of its own,’ one which is.cur-}.. rentlyplaying ‘on: tv in some places. “So Embassy has: decided to.-use | the handle under which the pic is playing in France, : “The ‘Conjugal |. Bed,”. but, the distrib. is. also. thinking of giving it a subtitle: which will ‘read “a modern. fable: of the queen bee” or something to that effect. -Film,..which ran into sonie .customs. -difficulties when entering the. . States =but which’ has” ‘since been. ‘released, stars -Marina ‘Viady ‘and Bartlett: said,’ | as‘benefits . for’ UNICEF. tye tee ee Ce tattle be BR “Showcase rae 1 “tema ‘La “ Douice, “a :United. Art: | ists’. gtrong-grossing’ ‘pic, witl be’ heading ‘onto ‘the company’s Pre|miere* ‘Showcase. spread of thea| -tres .° in: New: York, -beginning-|: around Aug.” 4.On that: date it Oy will -exit the:: DeMille: Theatre -on |.’ Broadway.-where “Great” Escape,” ‘another UA film, ‘will ‘make. its | ‘Gotham: bow, . daydating ‘with an,eastside house niot yet determined. | = ‘Billy ‘Wilder's: “Irma” will. con-{" ‘U's 5 Now, Plus 8 the. showcase.The “pic isin. its |" ‘seventh week at. the DeMille where. ‘it has: been holding : ‘to: ‘steady biz. “Escape”. ‘has. been: playing to. “strong: ‘biz ‘on: ‘the. Coast: and in| timie at the . Baronet. . Theatre, -the ‘DeMille, when. it goes’ out..on age ‘are “looked: to. by: UA. execs to. be. among. the company's. : top -Brossers for’, the. year. 20%. _Hope’s s ‘Global Affair’: *: Star. Gets.10%, of. Gross Hollywood, ‘July 16. “United ‘Nations. has D i ed ge d “would: probably be Major. ‘preem ‘of “A ffairs"”has .been ‘set: for the.-UN: buidding it-: self: in. New. -York,. with simultaneous: premieres: in. 12 ‘capitals: of the world.: ‘Metro As. aiming: for Easter | opening. Picture, ‘a “departure. for Hope, is. based ‘on. ‘the UN: Convention: (law) stating that eyery -childof the’ -UN: member: nations 112) ‘would ‘be hrought ‘up: without. want, prejudice or injustice.” It. concerns}. -question: of .a child that might be: oo Meet. at the UN building. and ‘what “would. happen. to’ it.’ Situation -has: been ° attempted. but | has” mever ‘happened. Hope” has: 10% of ‘the: ‘gross: “of “Affair, * a joint: Venture © of“ Bartlett: “Seven Arts: and’ Metro. Bartlett’s initial. deal was withSeven ‘Arts,.. -picture then becoming.. one ‘of the: company’s 20-flm, deal with: ‘Metro. -. 5 -Repping’: the ‘niternational em‘ployment: of the .UN, Bartlett. has. .cast © Barbara” Bouchet; Brenda’ Beret and Francois RugBerio, French; Inez Pedroza, ‘Spanish; Linda“Rogers, . English, and. Barbara ‘Walden, Negro, in Foles. of UN: employees. . Players. ‘join. Lilo Pulver, Jacques: ‘Bergerac, | ‘Yvonne. “DeCarlo, “John McGiver, Robert: :Sterling, .Miiko “Taka ..and Elga Anderson in the: entirely In_| ternational . ‘east, Bartlett will. ‘complete “Affair” ‘by Aug: 10.on a.$1,600,000 budget. Producer ‘is: ‘ Fecreating: UN general. : assembly. and lobby: on. stage .27. at]; Metro,. along..-with’ an original oa ‘painting by George Gibson, Jerry. “All. that changed shortly after. World War it ‘when the: Justice "| Gebr. and Harry Pepker. paralleling . Department, ina misguided. rampage of trustbusting,. ‘fought ‘and: . 3 fee UN bee Bead children Biven | ‘won’ a” bitter ‘battle. to. separate the ‘major studios from their o the y. Daz os of: Jack* Arnold ‘is ‘directing from: “The. result was: ‘disastrous for: the. US. -‘movie:pradticing. ins ‘| Screenplay ‘by. _Charles' Lederer a based: on the ‘story by. Eugene Vale. The industry, dratbing top talent here, creating. @ ‘vast array. of {Arthur Marx. and Bob “Fisher also ”, “4 did additional. -writing. ee Following © ‘completion of age fair,” ”. Bartlett. will. Zo on a. month: ‘of. personal: ‘appearances* on. behalf: ‘Jof~ “The. Caretakers,” -which -het {made for UnitedArtists: Producer‘| then. wil prep ‘A Woman ‘of Paris” | arts. ‘jon new deal now. in: negotiation. | .Bartlett,additionally, has set a. ‘ development. deal-. with CBS in ‘which. he ‘will enter... -teléevision ; }with an hour ‘filmed : series... Pro| ducer said’ he -has: been: ‘developting’ projects. with Jim Aubrey, ‘Robert’ Lewineand ‘Hunt’ Strom: |‘R | berg Jr... who-will. select: from .seva eral ideas submitted. to” them, leases, : Universal. ‘will issue eight ‘sales : ‘manager..Henry .H. “Hi” ‘| Martin. told a gathering ‘of homeJ office sales execs and. regional sales ‘| managers during: sessions in. a two‘| day sales meeting in New. York last -| week. The veep. characterized. the) Jlineup “as ‘ having ‘one... of the]. | strongest . grossing « ‘potentials “in Imany: moons for U.. “be. the Doris’ Day-James _Garner-| | Arlene Francis comedy.“‘The Thrill of It All.” The Ross Hunter-Arwin ‘production: will. have‘its “ world preem .at’ Radio City-, Music Hall! | following. the ‘current. “Come Blow! Your* Horn,” the exec: “revealed. | worldwide release. . ‘privileges in | support of ‘Hall: Bartlett’s production .of ‘A Global. Affair,” . Bob Hope. ‘starrer. currently filming for MGM. ‘While ‘the’ UN would. not} ‘waive its policy. of refusing: filming -permission : inside «the -: premises, the. world: ‘governmental body. has‘: agreed to sponsor : worldwide: premieres : of . the picture which, ' Gérman;: ‘Eagiles:” “The... Sky,” “Lamser’s Knowing Minneapolis, July. 16.. af By BRAINARD PLATT “Harold Lasser, counsel for ]+,) " ‘National General: Corp.;.. appears to have.done well in _ working out the: legalistics |. (with the. Dept:.of Justice) un— der. which this theatre circuit: will bepermitted. to-engage in production and -. distribution... Entailed. are. amendments.: to. the. antitrust: dectee.: under. “was a Justice -attorney’. who ‘helped. press the. ease which . resulted | in that. ‘same decree. In Next 9 Months Following its: five June-J uly re new -features. in’ ‘the: next nine months the company’s. y.p.-general. ‘ Company’s: “August: release will Another .U™ ‘comedy, “For Love. -of “Money,” “is: slated for October re-. Tease: but will be. given a series of |:. August key: city, pre-release open{accept their fuarantee figures for the four ‘houses in which we want ‘ings. . in ‘September, U will have: “Kigs of. the’ Vampire,” new ° Hammer: ‘chiller-diller. ” “Dark Purpose;” with: : pre-rélease openings. slated for: Thanksgiving, is. skedded for December. rélease, starring. Shirley Jones,-. Rossaho. Brazzi, ‘ George Sanders; . Micheline. -Presle’ and}. Georgia Moll. U’s Christmas : re lease will |. be: Stanley Donen’s “Charade,” . starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. This: one, incidentally, Pic. -. In. February, the company will go with: ‘another comedy, :-‘‘Man’s Favorite ‘Sport?”, ‘a Howard Hawks. production. starring: Rock .Hudson, ; Paula Prentiss and others:: The. ‘Tony Randall-Burl Ives-Barbara ‘Eden’ starrer “The. Brass Bottle’. ‘will be unveiled.in. March, fol-. lowed ‘by “Captain. Newman; M:D.,”. ‘staring Gregory. Peck, Tony: Curtis, ? Angie . Dickenson, « Bobby Darin and | ‘others. ‘Allof ‘these: pie: a1 dre. in color. In the. ‘past | month; Universal -has. -is-] ‘sued “List: of: “Adrian. Messenger,” FALLWINTER F LMS ‘ “Tammy . and the :Doctor;” “King ‘Kong vs.. Godzilla,’ “Lancelot -and ; -Guinevere” and © A” ‘Gathering | of : Of ‘the upcoming ‘releases, | “Thrill -of ItAll”. and “Charade”. are being looked to by the’ com-]: pany to turn a good biz: trick. So] far ‘this year the only. big : wine U has had is “To Kill a° bird,” with “The Birds,” “Fread” at and “Ugly American”. not:: per:: férming-up to the strength hoped: -|Ken Prickett, for at:the time of their release. As things shape ‘up now,.U execs are. figuring '“Mockingbird” and ‘Thrill” ase heir big. 1963. bread“Charade” not: ‘winners, with. figuring, natch, since it is: an: Xmas release and. most: ‘Of its loot | won't. be in. .the ‘till, until 1964. MORE PIX BOOKED FOR. to. the program: of ‘features. to. be -unspooled ‘at the firs. New York} Film Festival; scheduled. to.be held |." . ‘at. Philharmonic Hall in’ the: Lin7 eoln.. ‘Center: ‘of the’ Performing ‘Films include ~ ski (Poland): “Ee Joli. Mai,” di rected -by Chris. ‘Marker (France): : directed’ by. “Takis | Kanelopbulos (Greece), and’ “Bardirected by Glauber | ravento,” ocha . (Brazil). ‘Previously. _an ‘nounced. “was ~ “The Fiances” from _ Atal ye has already been} ‘| set: for: the Music. Hail as. its. Xmas }town. first. run film. theatres . for some time has acute this grown ysummer. Suburban drive-ins, pre-. viously second runs, have: become ‘a major factor in the competition. A for the. big’ releases. . Downtowners w ere first dis mayed last ‘year when Doris Day {and Cary Grant’s. Universal film, T-..1“Fouch of Mink,” played first. run 1 for * two. weeks ‘in four drive-ins. "Some 20° ears ago” "Lasser col. This year ‘Dayton: Theatre Assn. “~ ‘{a-chain ‘of 10. drive-in theatres, | six’ of which ate located in the |immediate area has been getting a) a number .of good‘ ones. Al. Levin, secretary, notes. the company did + $27,000 in one week with four of is. local .drive-ins on Sandre Dee in “Tammy And: the Doctor.” “He also estimates the same. sort of .a.schedule brought in about $25,000 each’ on Bob Hope's. “Call Me Bwana,” and “Dr. No.” John Wayne's, “Donovan's s Reef” ‘was: just under that figure, he points out. Moreover, four other independ 7 ents have banded together to close for. first runs.: Their. most. recent, which they pigked ‘up for two weeks, was “Spencer's Mountain” with Henry Fonda. Levin’s four houses using first ‘runs: handle a total of: 3,100 cars. ‘and. he usually. shows. the main = feature. twice and the second film once or twice. He confines his presentations to.one week, noting that the.take on. “Touch of Mink” was cut. .in half the second week.. Levin estimates. the season when his ‘drive-ins can: attract top . qualti ity first’.run films ranges | from “April. through September. “We don't bid on the films, just. ‘return. a form showing we wiil to play the pictures,” he said. _ He.does. admit the big attraction. 4s the multiple theatre deal, recog nizing that the distributors prob ably. would not be interested in Just a.single drive-in. As things now stand, Levin’ Ss company: is showing first run films tin Springfield, where it has. two: ‘houses,. but not in the single house. ‘in. Cincinnati orChicago, to. that ‘in Chicago,” he said, “but: I imagine we will be soon in Cincinnati.”. He estimates he will be running | ‘about 20 first run movies in Dayton this summer. He attributes ‘the trend to drive in. theatres'to declining fortunes of ‘downtown houses and the fact the. ‘distributors are looking ‘for’ places where they can make. money with their. produets. ‘to us because we can. guarantee : they. will Bet the viewers, ” “he said. 2 SOLD AT STATE FAIR Columbus, O., July 16. Trailers and : featurettes. plugging fall and winter film product will be shown in a booth at the Ohio State Fair -here Aug. 22-. Sept. 1 sponsored by. the Inde‘pendent: Theatre | Owners of Ohio. ITOO executive secretary, points out. that this is ‘a_ co-operative deal with the fair. -Ohio ‘theatres are asked to show ‘trailers plugging the fair. _ Trailers will be circulated to ‘theatres, Prickett. urged éxhibitors | to display them on the days listed and-then forward them to the néxt | theatre without delay. | “This is.a tradeoff that will be ONIC FEST Four more’ pix have. been ‘added mutually. beneficial,” said Prickett, “and. we hope that we. will. ‘bet 100% co-operation.” * oe j Chapel Hill; N:C., July 16. Betty Smith, Chapel ‘Hill novele_ | ist, has sold the screen rights to “Knife in. The Water; "directed. by. Roman Polan cher new novel, “Joy in the Morning,” ” to MGM. The purchase price was $100, 000 -down. and an escalator clause. on make the figure much higher. Miss Smith’s novel, “A Trea Grows in. Brogklyn,” was -made into a picture by 20th Century | Fox. eters tal lh a sll bs A nce We Ne ace Mata rae ke AE all i EP ade Nal RO! Aree clin ak Phe Cen taal + Dayton, .O., July 16. The shortage of feature product | | which. has been down =]. doubt if we will get. around » “It is just good. business on their part: ‘to make the films available: -MGM BUYS SMITH. NOVEL 1 the sales of the book,. which could ‘ SGC, \~.