Variety (September 1963)

*this year .. . lunchéon last Friday (30) .. Andrew: Filson: secretary’ ‘of. ‘the Federation. of. British ‘Film: Makers; |. “eame in specially for the*opening night: of-the festivities. to see “Tom |_ Jones” launch the proceedings, winged. back to. London the next morn| “ing, but comes back later this-week to.attend ‘the International Fed-| Roland: Thornton, who reps ‘the Motion Picture] . ‘Association. in the U: K. a first-timer to Venice, also. here ‘for the. FFAP’ Nat: Cohen, managing’ ‘director ‘of: Anglo-Amalgamated :. Film Distribs,’ ‘whose “Billy: Liar’ is the official British. selection, had eration Meetings . Sessions . ‘Venice: Sept, 3. to leave the Lido. last: ‘Friday, ‘the’ day after. the. presentation, -as he ‘wasdue in London: for -.the ‘Variety’ Club: -charity race.. meeting «at. ‘Sandown Park the following. day. Julie Christie, ‘the ‘femme newcomer --who stars in the pic, and who is currently. learning her craft‘seriously: in a Nottingham | stock company, got two days leave..of ‘absence to attend the. fest: Tom Courtenay, her costar also on: the Lido, while the. Anglo: contingent ; includes ‘director John Sleschinger,: Phil. Jacobs, the company’s.export manager; and John. Troke,: publicity’-topper |.”.... |: Robert Clark, president of the British Film Producers Association and leader ‘of the British’ delegation, ‘arrived in-time.for the “‘Billy Liar” . Macgregor. Scott, managing. director of Warner-Pathe, | had the rare. ‘distinction of being the distrib of two of :the three. British ‘gala~” ae entries. Both “Billy: Liar” and. ‘The Servant” are . Peleased ’ throiigh : “W-P-in the U.K. Walter Reade: Jr.’s ‘Continental: Distribs is handling “Tiar”’ in the U-S, Warner-Pathe .. and Anglo were joint ‘hosts ata. Indie. ‘producer ‘Steven Pallos,. a festival: _:. Regular, is. also onthe: Lido; “but many familiar British faces ‘are absent , James Quinn, director: ‘of. the British Film Institute,. taking a Took .at: the first batch: of festival presentation: before. heading for the. |. ‘Summer . Johnston * award, : -before his‘ recent: death . on ‘New York Fest at Lincoln Centre this coming: weekend. -Martin Ritt expected in.Sept.’4 and Paul Newman and: Joanne Wood “due. on ‘sixth ‘for ‘Hud’: Screening ‘which: winds: conipetitive pic. -Show° “ings here. same night. ~~: -Yank activity will. ‘consist: of press. ‘conference for Ritt and Newman | -. on ‘day of. showing, cocktail for press and’ delegations. at U.S. Consulate. “in Venice (on the Grand: Canal) in late p.m.,. then .the’ gala: evening |. -gereeriing.: Afterward;, Newman: ‘and other “VIPs: will -probably attend: the ‘annual Volpi Ball in ‘Venice given. ‘by. Countess ‘Volpi. Next day,. _the.séventh,. will probably: see a. Juncheon. given. to announce: the Eric. instituted ‘by the’ late’ MPAA. topper: only’ shortly ‘Meanwhile, Paramount has ‘issued -an effec tive press book in three languages: to’ tell one. and allaboiit “Hud” and mentioning’ its achievements and.raves garnered in the U.S. and Britain. Shirley. Clarke also expected for screening: of ‘The Cool_ World,” the New -York-made™ indie. which is U.S.’s second: ‘competing’ entry, -. and one of rare times.an indie has béen in the-running ‘at Venice. : ‘Irving ‘Wallace. here for first week. of. event as observer for. Screen Writers. Guild, David ‘Rose relieving -him for the second: stanza, latter 7 “up. from. Rome and writing chores which. have: -kept. him busy through. . Martin. Melcher off.to Rome fro “Of Postumiia, near Trieste, where. his : U.S. om here. Visited the caves Yugoslav. ‘production, “The Cavern”. ‘rolls soon’ It’s a wartime: tale: of” ‘Several people ‘trapped: in. famed ‘caves. Melcher also’ mulling: ‘possible: ‘European-based pic: for’ '. .wife Doris Day ‘during his local 0.0. Most of “‘The:Cavern”. will be shot. in actual ‘cave, with remaining week or so:in Rome. Studio interiors. Bob Lawrence. here ‘scouting’ for Cinema Vproduct; Peter ‘Riethof. in from’ Paris en-route to Rome and: another. dubbing ‘effort; Jesse ..” Mogel also here; Lee Kingsley in. and Duncan and Mrs. McGregor due. -. for latter half of festival; Jack .O’COnnellto-Rome after local screening of his. “Greenwich: Village. Story”—Yank director: spent. time ‘in: Italy _ Previously -as assistant director ‘to: Federico Fellini and Michelangelo ‘Antonioni; William. Sheldon is” here: to. seekoutstanding. ‘new product for Ely Landau’s. operation, “with Carol Hellman, whose--Omnia re-. cently partnered. with the: Landau Company. for. European distribution: of certain pix; also at festival. ” . Fourteen press-conferences by 15. directors (one Ppic,, “Sentimental Attempt,” has two directors): held here during ‘first’ half: “of fest alone.. Directors were ‘Robért. Enric, Kasimir. Kutz, J.. A: Bardem, G. De Bosio, Brunello Rondi, Jiri Weiss, Riccardo. Fellini, John Schlesinger, -P. F,. Campanile, Massimo. _Franciosa, J.. . Donner, I Talankin, “Alain ; a Resnais, Luis Berlanga, -_ -| ‘Several international ‘meetings. ‘slated * for last: days ‘of: festival: at. ‘meeting. ‘of the: International. Cinema Bureau ..(B:1.C.); : FEAPF,the: International. Producers. Federation. (though. this may ‘be ealled off or postponed in deference to:Eriec Johnston’s. death); one of the European Exhib Union; ariother. of the. Italo-German, ‘coproduction: : ‘committee; and: others: Eitel Monaco, : Italy’ Ss. Anica’ ‘topper: presides over ‘BIC. ‘meet, with’ following .due in for conclave: Messrs: Lourau, .Deutschmeister;. Woil|: | : Lerne, ‘Trichet,.. Schwaller,. Fournier, Chabert, Deroubaix, Dreyfus, | Hansen, Dehollander, Ragot,."Von Hartlieb,; ‘Bosman; ‘Roem,: Gruber, |. . Waldleitner. Leo. ‘Hochstetter..and Fred Gronich will attend as: ‘oba servers for MPEA: ‘German. delegation includes 12 men... | “Report from Rome. says. the ‘incident regarding Brigitte Bardot, ‘Jean. Luc Godard, and “Ghost ‘at .Noon;’ ‘which was: originally invited by: festival, but yanked by: . producer, is over and reports that: B.B:: wants’ “her name. off cast list are. being denied by Godard, -even’ though Godard had originally favored screening: pic here. Embassy has picked UP still. another Italian.pic, ‘Fhe Arcangels.”: . Angelo Rizzoli -hosted fest party’ on ‘his yacht, ‘the. “Sereno, ” ‘which. _ he also takes to. ‘Cannes for’ same. purpose. City of: Venice: ‘host. at Isle of Torcello, for press: dinner, while other ‘affairs.were given .in mid-fest.|’ by -British delegation,.the British Film: Institute, Poland, and Louis.| -* Malle, director: of “Le Feu: Follet.’” Also Europa’ Films, Stockholm, for “its: entry: “A Sunday: inSeptember.’ an Also. ‘from..Rome:. Robert’. Aldrich -awatded. $372 damages against shipper who failed :to. properly ‘insure’ director's: Mercedes; later’ dam-* aged en. route, in. sending. it'to L.A. by boat . vet ‘Russian. director’ who’s ‘about to-“make ‘a: film about Lenin, cracks} .. Grigori ‘Alexandrov, he'll call. it. “Lenin. 814”-—cipher. referring to number: of years: ‘Lenin spent. in Switzerland. On F ‘oreign. Pic. Award Hollywood, ‘Sept, “3. “Rules -governing ‘its anhual Foreign: : Language Film. Award. have been. changed: by the: Academy. -of Motion: Picture Arts. & ‘Sciences, |to allow. a ‘greater. number of na-’ tions . sufficient time. ‘to ‘submit | entries. Board, of’ ‘Governors has eased. _ the: Tule so that ‘it now spefifies | ‘United Artists. and. DEAR. Films: hosted supper after’ local non-fest. car ‘screening of Laurence Harvey’ s; new: pic The ® Ceremony.” a . ‘Academy Eases Rules ‘that. entries must® ‘have ‘Been’: ex| hibited: in.a commercial theatre in. ‘the. country: of origin between Nov.. ‘4, -1962.and ‘Oct. 31,.:1963. ‘Previous: “Ty, the . eligibility: ‘period. was the calendar . ‘year ‘running. from Jatt. 1 to.Dec.. 31 of. each. year. Academy -prexy. Arthur ‘Freed [ explained: that . many. | foreign countries have found. it: difficult to:'meet, the Jan. 23 cutoff. date. for ‘submission of :a print.of their entry | ‘for screening. . ‘and. consideration, hence: the ‘setback. in. date. a meeting of filming. .by” By ‘HAROLD MYERS, .The‘transformation. “that” has ‘taken . place: at ‘this -year’s. Venice festival has had a startling result from.an. industry standpoint. ‘Luigi: Chiarini; the new fest: director, was. determined to: ‘have ‘a ‘new’ Jook ‘forthe évent, ‘and has: succeeded in making. it a feast for the film -buff, and a: disillusionment to: the ‘tradester. | ‘Comniercial overtones, as evi dencedat Cannes, Berlin. and ‘even. in’: ‘Moscow, are ‘virtually -frowned. upon: This. is..a: serious exposition | . for. the. motion -picture.as an art, not necessarily: : aS.an industry, and |: the few. international” tradesters. ‘onthe scene are— unhappily. bemoaning the fact that there is no’ . one around .with whom deals can} be: made. It’.would. ‘appear .that the | -key ‘buyérs from.New. York, .: the | Continent and the: Far: East must | : have-used. extra Sensory. perception | and decided to stay away. from: the |. Lido. : ‘No “Market: Place. Tf this. pattern: is . maintained ‘in ‘the: years -to come, ‘Venice..may -have ‘to. be written. off-as-a market place; and ‘be elassified as: a-cultural ‘event . with: its main ‘appeal: tothe: -highbrows who flock around ‘the film institutes: and the cinema-theques, and ‘possibly-also appealing -mainly~. ‘to journalists who |'0 write’ -for longhair sheets. columnists ‘of the popular: dailies '| are: finding it-just.as hard to ‘fill their pillars as. ‘producers : -are ‘finding: customers: ‘There has. been.’ ‘an-unusualpaucity: ‘Of. Sereen per| Sonalities ". in. the: opening: week, also: apparently in -ace ord with -Chiarini’s new:.look; though there are. brighter — prospects ‘in. the | second. and: final half. of the festi-: -‘|yall . , “Alongside this Situation; there: is. widespread comment’ and eon Siderabléunease at the . method of Selection ‘that resulted. in ‘two. countries. sharing ‘almost one ‘half | of. the total of 32 entriés:. Italy with nine ‘and -France with six’ ‘pictures :are dominating. the festi-: val,. and as ‘quite a fewof: the 15 | are’ -copraductions beiween the two ‘eountries; there. is’ natural tesent-‘ment :from’ other participants. who only | have a. modest .slicé of the. ‘melon. | Observers feel | that both France. aud Italy. would have had |: {Continued on page. 16) . | New Mexican Labor Pact Assures~5-6 Films Shoo | By: CHARLES ‘LUCAS . ‘Mexico City, Sept, 3. union members and. the producers ' Association’ setting up. . working'| | conditions: ‘for: writers, . actors and. technicians in. the Mex-. ican’ film. ‘industry for. the next two |:years.. assures astart of domestic mid-October”. ‘of this ‘year; union ‘spokesman. said: . ‘New “pact ended a ‘Inonth-long | strike: that lad. ‘been. cancelled’ by. ‘the. Mexican.. Government,. whose. | ¢abinet officers ordered both labor. and: ‘management. to. come to terms | and gét the industry . moving: again. Annouricement -of the new pact was: madé. by” union’ and manage‘ment, representatives through the |. ‘board ‘of. arbitration atthe Secre| | tary. of. ‘Labor's: office. Lacs | These :: ‘are. the major ‘points -of ~ .-. the: “new? contract: : During -each calendar: year a minimum of: 286° work:.weeks will. be guaranteed ‘by: producers to. union ‘membership. ‘This: means .an. Javerage: of: 5 to.'6. ‘pictures: shooting’ at all‘times. ‘Crew minimum. is’ reduced to. 12 -| from a. previous19. ' Featherbedding is reduced after the ‘sécond week ofshooting ..to .personnel. actually. needed to com‘plete..the job. “Prior: to: this . full “crews. were maintained through: at 4 or 5. week. schedule. ° ‘Wage: ‘increases will ‘be. ‘worked ‘homeoffice “The | ~ Ratification. early. Friday (31) by] ~ 7 ‘directors, “ ; ‘Commonwealth's . Net “Berger Back. to N. YX. erry Berger, who has been -ad‘pub director for: all. of 20th-Fox. -South. African’ operations; is ‘ being. transferred back to. New York . handle events .in ‘the’ home’ office ad-pub department. According : to” Jonas . Rosenfield Jr., Berger -: is. being. Teassigned “under” company’s . expanded exec |. training. program.” “been in’ African: post since. this spring, prior.to -which he was a 20th field: exploitation. rep. Berger has Venice Fest Has ‘Quiet First Week, Venice, Sept. 3 While festival. party. activity has beer ‘relatively quiet’, during’ the first. week, . suggesting. economies in this sector : -both -by Venice and participating ‘country and/or com‘panies, thisyear’s event has been marked. tures:on. poster displays-and: other. ‘by near-record expendioutdoors forms of. publicity. sector is: by: Columbia and -by the Samuel Bronston: organization, but others ‘are not far: behind. : Brons ton has a large and‘ideally situated |. giant -poster opposite the film palace for~“Fall’.of the Roman_ ‘Empire,’ “55 ‘Days at Peking,” and “Circus,” : 7 ‘displays “Peking”. are. while. three ducer jis. ‘partnexed, have. no pic at fest, are keyed -to| “Lawrence”: in: Italy), gel: production, ‘Columbia. has: a giant iNuminated’ ‘poster over ‘the. entrance“ to the press’ sectors and ‘visible ~ ‘to.all.. festgoers;: neatly while’. on. the beach ‘in front ~ of Hotel, a giant. red tent, is much (Continued: on. page 18): before. overtime. This “should © start ‘San: ‘Juan; ‘Sept. 3 “Commonwealth: Theatres of |:Puerto Rico: reported. sales. for the’ fiscal year ended, April 30,. 1963, rose. 0. ‘$3, 946; 953, andnet: ‘income |. | for the period was. up: ‘to. $404, 697, equal. to'81le a share. This compares to: sales of © $3, 514, 681. and: a net ‘tof: $385, 527, or Tie. a share, for the . previous year. _ “Results were. disclosed by prez. “Rafael. Ramos Cobian at company’s | annual meeting here: last Wednesday (28).. Commonwealth operates. ‘the | largest chain “of theatres. on. the’ island, and ‘in addition is en“gaged in: vending, concessions, film distribution and screen. advertising. PEA's is Mas On Japanese Billings, ~ Talks of Far Eastern Problems special ; window. entirely.” dedicated: to. on”. jhe = festival {facade itself: There is even tie-in. ‘space under ‘the Bronston’ poster devoted to: Villa Florio: the Roman hillside Hotel ‘in .which the _pro Columbia's .efforts, ‘though they: (still ‘to’ “be. : released. | “The Cardinal,” “and'|. “The. Victors.”.. For. the Sam Spie ing at All Times | ever, heavi taxed. out for those not now receiving or | y i eligible. for overtime. . * Work week® will be: five days ta studio and. ‘six‘days on ‘location. A: fund of. seven million pésos :($560,000): will -be paid: to indem“nify <retiring. workers, and / those | physically unable to. work. | When this amount: is paid; it is expected. that the. film bank. will unfreeze’ funds’ and start processing: new. ‘applications... cameras. turning 30. days. later—-or around. mid-October. ‘Motion’ Picture . Export Assn. -[|member company billings in Japan should hit $20;000,000 this. year, compared with $18, 600, 000. last year and $15,000,000 two years ago, Irv ing Maas, MPEA's Tokyowrep, pre-' dicted in New York Friday (30) before returning to his Far East. post. Exec, who earlier this year negotiated the remittance. of .the final $1,500,000 in: blocked non-resident a film. accounts in Japan,-is ncw to. turn his attention to the. $3,000,000 still held.-in Japan and repping blocked dividends (or funds”) of the MPEA: companies’ +Japanese subsidiaries. — ‘That. $3,000,000 represents profits | whieh ‘accumulated in the last six ‘| to” eight years. MPEA-J. apaneseagreement, the +U.S. companies agreed to retain | 30%..of their billings for operating jexpenses, with the amount remain| ing. after operating expenses: were .|paid being. taxed as profit and goJing into. the. “resident funds.” Plenty of Posters Under .an earlier Maas ‘is: returning to Tokyo via Karachi where. he will negotiate ‘a ‘new: film agreement with. the. -| Pakistani Government. The present ‘one-year pact expires Sept. 30, and Maas would like to get an increase in the present. ceiling of 30% on remittable earnings. Chances aré slim, . however.. MPEA. companies are getting out about. $175,000 a year (“the market hasn't. yet been ‘scratched when you. figure there are about 100,000,000 people”). The “Most . prominent: ‘efforts in: “this. 10% of MPEA ‘earnings which is withheld in Pakistan earns interest, of course, but,says Maas, “we’ re not:in the banking business.” , Viet Nam ‘Woes . The MPEA; like the US. ‘Govern‘ment, is having its troubles. in . Viet Nam at the moment, and what happens in the next. week will dictate whether or not:Maas will stop off in Saigon. on ‘his trip home. . U.S. pix there have been “only.a trickle” in the last 18 months. “We have. a fijm agreement with the -government, ‘but they. have yet to. implement it.” ‘distributing subsids of theU.S. companies. However, the govern ment has. sliced its requirement. that:the subsids be 51% Indonesianowned to. 10%. The only problem is that now the government has come up with a law saying that 4dthe subsids-cannot import thé pix. :_ | They must instead be imported by \the: U.S. companies, opening’ the | possibility of having the. pix taxed twice—on .import: and then on ac + quisition. by the locals. ‘The government of the new Ma : laysian Federation is described by Maas “as friendly and enlighténed” tewards: U.S. firms which are, how Hope to Give Venice A Permanent -Exhibit For Film Historians Venice, Sept. 3. A: plan -to ihiake the Venice Film Festival an even mofe. complete: and: useful physical .site. for.-consultation: on present and past: film ‘trends: was disclosed. here by. fest .| topper. Luigi Chiarini.“ ‘Chiarini: though indicating that ‘7 the pian was still in the “hopeful” | stage, said he felt that more ad-_ ‘| vantage: ‘should be taken. of . the.|Mostra’s vast film library, which “goes: “back to. 1932 -and includes Some. 600 features and documenta-. ries of note and. interest:. Also, the: fest has thousands of film. scripts, books, bibliographic section, but. ‘these are mostly. locked up in boxes and ‘crates in cellars. Director’s proposal is to give fest a permanent -valué by making these films. and publications avail-. able, not: only during the fest but.” also during rest of year; for students and. scholars of. film: history. Admittedly, the economics of such -an ideal setup present a major hur dle, which -Chiarini: however hopes .to liek. “resident Another continuing source of ir-. | ritation. in the. Far East is Indones-. ia,.where the government continues. to push for. local ownership of. the. and: publications ‘from -all. over the world in. ifs’