Variety (September 1963)

_PICTURES. Distribs, Art house exhibitors and: inde-| — pendent importers and distributors’ |” in New York -were. hit the. past}| week with the kind of antitrust ; action which, if.successfully pur-} sued, could put atleast a couple. of them out of business. Century Theatres, one of tthe most signifi-. cant indie circuits in the N.Y. area, filed $9,000,000: Federal Court suit. against . 11 other exhibition outfits in Nassau County and ‘nine dis tributors of art pictures. ‘Similar |. instituted ~by.} Tobay Theatres Corp., which. de-:|"" proceedings . were ‘mands damages of $3,000,000. -Litigation in these fiscal dimen-. sions heretofore was unheard of in imported and art film circles. That the legal maneuver was brew-. ing is not a surprise to. insiders, Century, ‘particularly. seemed. in: the mood for a caurtroom bout. But sizeable is. the. amount of alleged grievance. If nothing else, according to” some lawyers, the dual-pronged: action indicates increasingly-growing importance of offbeat .produc-. ‘tions in the overall film business. schenie of things. Century and Tobay ‘claim that. the defendants engaged in various. combinations and conspiracies de-— signed to prevent them, the plain-. tiffs, from getting a fair crack: at the art-film availabilities. Sole major distributor ‘specifi cally named. among the defendants is Columbia. Another is Lopert | Films, which is a division of United Artists. Others are Zenith International, Embassy, Continental, Janus, Times Film, Trans-Lux and. Union Film. Exhibitor defendants Include the Skouras and B. S. Moss. circuits and. nine: other theatre companies which are unknown by corporate titles. but which operate in Nassau. “Tobay has a theatre. going in Morton Village, Nassau. © Another TWA exclusive: | movies in flight, coast to coast’ A first-run movie theatre that flies. SIX’ hundred’ thiles an hour! e | general interest. . That’s your non-stop TWA jet between: New York and Los An‘| geles or San Francisco. You've got a lightweight | headset with an .. Century Theatres Files $4.0 ce | Suit Against 1] Exk Trans lax Diny Trans-Lux Corp.: has. declared 7. regular quarterly. dividend of 15e per common. share. — Divvy is payable’. Sept. 27 ‘to’ |.” holders of. record Sept. 13. i Broadcasters Now In On ‘Mad World’. Junket; Cue Open Copy Blurbs ‘United . Artists’ junketing ideas: to bally Stanley Kramer’s..“It’s-a ‘Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad* World” get). more involved all: the time. As: has been well ‘documented, the company. is-flying 250 global: newsmen 1to Hollywood: for .a special -preem. showing of the Cinerama.: pic: in. ‘November. In the ‘meantime, UA | has also established a plan whereby it. is janketing deejays and com; mentators from all over the coun‘try.to the Coast to catch : rough: cuts.of the pic, so. that. the. broad casters: will supposedly ‘be able to give an added personal..touch. to their blurb work about the pic... .. “Unlike the’ press. jinket, the: company isn’t ‘flying.-alldeejays ‘and commentators out: for’ one. ‘screening. Various station. reps from_ ‘different: ‘markets: have ‘al-: ready seen: rough ‘screenings and | there will be others: for “proad‘casters. of: different areas. ' The idea ‘is to pick key airmen from. different” markets. (teen, women, soft. music. ete.}, and. show them the pic; so-as to get across the ra‘dio board listener ‘representation. | So far this ‘has been done’ with Gotham -broadcasters: ‘plus some from some other areas. Ultimately, broadcasters from most regions of. the. country -will have seen‘the film ‘in one form or another by the time} | the blurbs begin. in. their areas. ‘engagement -in” ‘Europe. openings: will be: ‘followed by. key. ~ Myerson ‘Testimonial | : Exhibition ® and distribution in| terests are joining: in sponsorship | -| of .atestimonial -Yancheon. for | : Bernard Myerson, | pointed’. exec vp. | Theatres. It’s. set. for ‘Sept. 26: “in Man| al hattan’ ’s Americana. Hotel. which, | --.1 by. no coincidence, is owned ‘by! | Loew's Ss. ; : Preem Dates Set For. Car dinal’ ‘ | Otto: Preminger’s “The “Cardi|; ‘nal “will make its European | debut | Dee.. 19° in: Paris. at the. Le. ‘Paris, Miramar. " “and | Moulin. ' Rouge Theatres: This, event. “will-} “be preceeded, however, by a. spe‘cial .. benefit ‘performance: ‘at. the |: Francais, . Paris Opera. for which around. 250 “‘jewsmen from‘all. over Europe will: be brought:to Paris: by .Preniinger and Columbia, which is distribut ing. the’ film, ~ -The special . showing will be for the ‘benefit: of. the French’ Legion of Honor -and’ the. Paris. -Opera. is being specially: equipped with ‘70m. projection and screening equip-| tone would. discontinue” servicing |. ment for the presentation: Fol ‘lowing the Paris opening; “Cardi-|| mal” will next. bow in. London, | ; | Dee; 20,. at . the Astoria, ‘Theatre. This: will’ be. the onlyhardticket These overseas: preems in January. Pic.-makeés its world. -preem. at New. ‘York. the following day. : These two. are the: only. domestic hardticket dates for the film, ‘which ‘will be: playing in 127 US.houses: “by. Christmas... The: film: makes: ‘its | Canadian ‘debut. in Toronto,. Dec. 20, also. ‘bowing in? Chicago. ‘and: Washington | ‘on. that. date. All of |. these domestic. bookings, incidentally,, were. made blind ‘by _exhibs.. The picture will not -be seen in: ‘the ..U.S. -by anyone ‘except. Col staffers until today (Wed.) when‘an. : exhib: ‘screening :will: be held. It: was. Seen .by some Europeans: while’ 4 being. completed in*London: — ; Meanwhile, Preminger is ‘already. : well.-along with his. plans for his: "| next. project, -a filmization ‘by Ring. ‘| Lardner Jr. of Patrick Dennis’ | “Genius.” This. pic,. which will be: made under. the producer-direc| tor's pact. ‘with -UA,. isnow. slated. {| to:roll in: Mexico the end of Jan‘wary. Following . this, will make a film version::of the} ‘| novel “Harm’s. Way”. under. his Co‘lumbia deal: This. is scheduled to. ‘begin. filming’ in Hawaii, next: sum mer. ae} = recently. -ap|. “OE: Loew S| Preminger . “Bronston’ S ‘New World’ Samuel Bronston has picked up. ; ‘| the film rights to Aldous Huxley’s: | “Brave ‘New “World.” Deal. °was. ‘made ‘with RKO General, which . had. owned’ the. property. Film adaptation. is: planned. for: ‘| early: next: year, ‘Producer ‘is negotiating with David Niven for a-starring role. Movietone t to Stress Topical Featurettes, Jo Work. With 20th TV “Phe” ‘Movietone’ News arm of. '20th-Fox, both domestic. and: foreign, is. to undergo a change of format-with:more emphasis on topical featurettes. than Spot. news cov| erage: The. change is the followup: tothe story. last week that Movietone. : ‘and. United. Press. International: were. terminating their 12-. year collaboration in the ‘production of newsfilm ‘andthat. Movie-. newsreels’ to-U.S. theatres. . The topical featurette is. the form -into which .the domestic. newsreel | ‘is evolving, according to a formal }:: statement. -by 20th prez:Darryl ‘F.| © Zanuck. “Movietone will. continue | to service newsreels for both. tv | and theatres overseas, however, and |. ‘will do so on'a stepped up program.'| the Saxoh Theatre, Boston, Dec. |. Aland opens at the DeMille in ‘Zanuck: noted that newsreels for domestic ‘theatres. -have suffered. since the advent of. tv, particularly | ‘in the coverage of spot news which |. ‘is’ handled. more : quickly by tv. |: “Zanuck cited as an example of the]. revamped Movietone approach the featurette: on the late | Pope John. XXII now in. release. ° ‘In carrying out the new. format, Movietone veep William R. Higgen-| ‘botham. will coordinate .production activities.more..closely with 20th’s} tv division: William Self is veep |. of. this production ‘operation and |~: Mike. Kellin.. | its newly: organized. documentary | division ‘is headed. by Jesse Sand‘ler and. Malvin. Wald.. ‘Two tv documentary series uti: ‘izing’ footage. from:the Movietone }‘library are in: preparation. ‘These ‘are ““Comeback;”. five-minute segs | ‘of great. personal: drama, such as}. thelate President Franklin Roose| velt’s triumph over. polio; and “Day | _to Remember,” to synthesize out| ‘standing historical events. ; ‘Movietone. currently is working ‘up. a. 60-minute documentary ..on | World War I, to be released.on-the 50th anniversary next year. ‘Quen: I tin: Reynolds will narrate. ; 1. “Ed. ‘Mannix, 12. for: years vp. -| and ‘general manager. of Metro and Tone of the top” figures in: the’ ‘mo-. | tion. picture industry, died at his. {home in Beverly Hills, :Cal., Friday |. (30) following two strokes. suffered |. wm | the previous, week, ‘He had. been in poor -health -for: the. past -eight | |-vears, | due. to ae ‘series | ‘of heart: attacks. 7 Mannix, who yetired in 956, -con-. = tinued: to maintain ‘his’ ‘office at. | the studio. asa ‘consultant, and ViS-: lited ‘the: lot: several ‘times ‘a ‘week, ‘where his advice;: particularly » ‘on. = constantly | .. | sought, He was an. expert in indus-: i trial reélations.. and both the ‘indus labor. matters” was.. = -try .andunions knew him. ‘aS a individual volume control; you can adjust the sound as you like it. Different movies are shown on eastbound and westbound flights; — you'll see another picture on your return flight. Other features of. TWA’s Royal Ambassador First Class service include cocktails, .~ fine wines, gourmet meals. For reservations. call “Trans: World. || Airlines or your travel agent. wo Nationwide Worldwide {depend. on fair.-man who advised: for the best was angry rumbling. . inicident. « Later, in some of the: union ‘halls: : when ‘there. continued ‘te: becon| _ : Advised not: ta’ venturethrough’ {the gate, “Mannix ‘told’those who | ttied to stophim, “These men: are. -} my friends,” ‘and. advanced through -... the throng. After he: talked quietly _| with “several of: the’.leaders ‘the. ‘| crowd: disperséd . and. there . ‘was no . E ddie Mannix, nD Vet Metro Topper, | [Dies In Beverly Hills After Long Ilness ‘siderable dissatisfaction over nego||: tiations, these objectors were told by their brother-unionists, -“Eddie. Mannix gave us‘ his. word, that’s}. ‘all-we need.” _ 1 ‘Typical of this ‘was: the contract * the late .Clark Gable’ had with]. Metro. “When he. returned. from service in World War II, ‘Gable |. ‘never signed the contract presented I. te him: his agreement was with “Mannix personally.. “Tr ‘shook hands | with Eddie. Mannix, what more do ‘you. want, * he ‘told. his worried ‘agent. . : “A man’s: word: is the ‘most. “im| portant. thing in life,” Mannix once told.a friend, and practiced what }. ‘hepreached.. In this. respect he = was like the late Joseph M: Schenck |: ° | after whom ‘he patterned: himself. : associated. for many: of his early. ‘years and who,. with his. brother; Nicholas; gave Mannix his first job, | ° ‘in their Palisades: Amusement: Park ; across..the river from N; Y., whe was | fierce in his loyalties. . -As firmly identified with: ‘Metro. .down:. through |: the. -years. as... the | late Louis-B. Mayer who long head=. ed ‘production, ‘Mannix’ started at. ‘the’ studio in 1925. as comptroller, {jr ‘sent to the coast by Nicholas .M.. Schenck after the: latter. stepped | into:the presidency.: Schenck. ‘also. appointed him a amember: (of. the] executive staff. ©. ” Started With Scheucks’ (Continued on: ‘page 16). “Wednesday, September: 4 1963: tists’ First Half Drop, __ Prospects Good for 2d Half-"64 + Net earnings of United “Artists Corp. .for ‘the first half. of 1963 ‘were off considerably from: ‘the - Previously, he had: hada long: '|totals.of the previous year. This, however,:‘came as’ no surprise. as the coinpany is still suffering from. the effects of 4 particularly ‘poor: first. quarter’ which: :was. naturally : expected to: carry over ‘into. the . figures for. the first’ half. . Six month net: earnings for 1963. were $802, 000,: after ‘provision ‘for -: income taxes. of $407, 000.. In. 1962 .:° {UA had net’ earnings of ‘$2,003,000 |for the: first half. This represents... | 44-per cent on the 1,803,542 shares: | outstanding ‘on’ June. 29, 1963, .~} whichcompares unfavorably with. 7 earnings of: $1.11 ° for the first half | of. 1962, after’ adjusting the: shares outstanding: then. to the. number. outstanding i in J une, 1963. Gross-income was" similarly | off during the first six months, falling. from $62, 066,000. in’ 1962: to $49-. 971,000 in '63. At the time of UA’s: | stockholders ‘ meeting ‘last. spring, board chairman Robert S. Benja-~ min-.had, by way of explanation of . the poor showing in the first: quar©. ter, said. that~several of the com©. pany’s ‘pix. had turned. in “‘disappointing” results. He’said-.at the’ time, that he didn’t “expect: busi| ness to’ rally. enough in the second. ‘quarter to overcome the red ink (Continued on Page. 18) “LA. to N.Y. Ted Apstein ©. ‘Alice Backes ‘Howard Brandy . Frederick Brisson. Bill J. Campbell .Arthur. Cantor Marge. Champion ™ Mickey Deems:— . Andy. Devine Jerry Devine «Keir Dullea. | Man: Heflin . Peggy Ann .Garner ; Lennie. Hayton | ‘Norman Herman Oscar Homolka : Allan‘ Kalmus. | “Larry Kert ‘Ed Kleban Jerry ‘Levine . ~ John :C. -Mahoriey ‘Terry. Melcher Corbett Monica Robert B. ‘Morin. Kal Ross o Zadel ' Skolovsky. Irv Townsend Mary..'Treen © Nick ‘Venet Jay Ward... Dale. Wasserman”: Bill. -Yagemann: Ty LA: George. Foster | | Sid Garfield. Don. Kirshner Pamela ‘Mason. Bud: Ornstein Jacqueline. Susann Uz. S. to Europe~ Ned Brown, Freddie Carpenter Peggy. Cass: Bette Davis _ : Russell'V. Downing” Car] Fisher ‘John. Gay::: . Henry Jaffe. “Jack Karp ‘Irving Maas * EHiot: Martin Syd. Mirkin. George Nader | *\Martin: ‘Rackin.. Manny. ‘Reiner — Fred. .Robbins © George Stevens. Jr:: _ Francis S. ‘Winikus: Europe to U: Ss: Karl Bernstein | |. Sylvie St. Clair The unions. particularly regarded. Like Schenck, with. whom ‘he’ was him. as their friend. During « the bitter. 194g studio. strike when “oc; easionally there ‘was ‘violence, a |-crowd of 3,000 men. gathered at ‘the back: gate ‘at. Metro, many arm-: ed ‘with. guns: and. knives. Several ‘Dolicemen had: been hurt, and there . John Davis | ' Charles K. Feldman” -Morton Gottlieb “Guy Halahan Robert Hérris. David: Merrick. ‘Merle Oberon _. Claude C..: Philippe Seymour Poe * _ Michael Truman ° > ATTENTION: ‘MANAGERS =. AGENT: Ly i |For Fast Prompt. Car Delivery: . & Services When ‘Yeur Cilents: .. Travel Nationwide or Overseas | INTERSTATE AUTO. SHIPPERS, INC. 205. West: 34th. St. N.Y.C. -. CH 45248: AGENTS IN PRINCIPAL CLTEES.OF U.S.A:: _— ~ : : beni . ae : . Aa