Variety (September 1963)

FREON Dah ATOR met ty mye gente SE TN ae Se OTT Ta oak ° a rs Mal i: '. Te "| ee Ue bee teat . _ . vot moot Sy Saree et pee, ae pew ‘e . Wednesday, September 4, 1968 To er Sd cE oii SHELVED, OFS IT? arm—as well.‘as:the social. ‘organizatien, following the deaths: of. prexy. | Si “Fabian and Ned Depinet;. past’ presidents. of: the: “Molto Pleture Pioneers, . stopgapping the work :of the Foundation of MPP—the charity | ° Herman Robbins. and. treasurer . Bill German. ~. .. Gordon. Hitchins is: in Guinea ‘West . Africa, directing a 40-minute olor documentary “for ‘the U.S. Info Agency,. having earlier. shot ~ footage ‘for this item’ in Kenya. “Tanganyika, ‘Ethiopia,. Uganda;. Nyasa“land and Nigeria. ‘Due back-in Manhattan during. September to complete _editing; ‘goes: to. Marinheim Shorts Festival in. October. . . Columbia Pictures’: p.r. chief ‘in Great Britain; Syd: Mirkin,” back. to. “his. London. base after quickieing over because:of his father’s illness..Lat ter feeling’ better. Also. returning to London hq is. F rancis. S, Winikus | ‘after a ‘month’s. globetrot with ‘Richard Brooks :prepartory. to “Lord: Jim’ | shooting: in Japan, Hong Kong: and. Cambodia. Actual: production. starts in November. “ Bobby. Breen revealed: ‘during a ‘guest ‘appearance ‘on: NBC-TV that. ee have written..a script, ‘The. power of Professor x,” which we hope. to: do as a film in. the next few months. mo ““Carpetbaggers”. wound . filming « last” week: at! Paramount. with: ‘a scene involving Carroll Baker, who: opened: the. pic’s’ lensing with. a nudie.scene. For the ‘finale..she..was still. having. wardrobe. troubles, this. time aoing a strip atop. a: ballroom: chandelier which crashes. to e@ groun manager. Andy Devine: ‘in. Gotham for agent: confabs * John: Sturges’. ‘eThe ‘Great Escape” currently topping: UA’s recent ‘Paris. Yeleasesas: hottest in that. city... :gobbling: upspace. on the Time-Life building’s35th ‘floor, named. an ‘Honorary citizen of .Knoxville by. Mayor John ‘J. .Dundan following: his. “Fool Killer” leasing’ there. David: ‘Friedkin,’ the pic's . ‘producer. and . coauthor: As now back in New: York after’ final: cleanup, on: ‘the Knox| | “ville ‘stint: : ’ ‘Peter. Sellers. and a. “ifenry Orient”. contingent: will: be ‘filming: cat. Carnegie. Hall'.this: week .. ‘Ugo Tognazzi, Italo actor who makes his Yank debut Sept..16 in: Joe Levine’s.“‘The Conjugal:.Bed,”. ‘set to” -§tar in the. Italian. ‘comedy. “Seduced and. Abandoned,” to be directed . by Pietro Germi: who; ‘directed: Levine’s. ““Divorce—Italian Style”... Universal’s. “King | Kong’: ‘vs. Godzilla” Japan-made™ pic is: racking “up. .Strong biz, having tallied -more than: $600, 000: dn five. weeks’ of: U.S. ’ release. in: less than 2; 000° ‘engagements.. :. The TOA -convention’s Ladies. Committee, headed. by. Mrs. Edward. Lk ” Fabian, ‘is. setting : a busy round. of: activities for ‘delegates’. ‘wives in: _ cluding: a ‘champagne brunch; various tours of ‘Gotham sites,. a‘ fashion: “show -and other events . .. in-several. branch office. realigninents, ‘Em _bassy ‘Pictures. -has . assigned its. mid-central branch ‘to: -now ; haxdle: Cincinnati, : Cleveland and : Indjanapolis.: undér Lester. Zuker and ‘its under ‘Charles Zagrans, The: distrib has: also moved. its ‘southern: district: ‘branch ‘to larger: Atlanta’ quarters under James, Frew and Buford. Styles... Ulu. Grosbard_ ‘set .as. production’ manager. for ‘Heart. Is ‘a. Lonely. .. Hunter”; . Ann: Sothern. inked for UA’s “The Best. Man”:. actress: _ Claudia Cardinale got the real v.i:p: treatment: while’ posing: for photog. Addison. ‘Jerry Schatzbersg. . He had her: lunch sent’ in: from21: . . _ Richards ‘and Byron Kane into -“For: Those ‘Who Think. "Young" . . Joe Levine’s upcoming action pie. “Zulu” has a: promotion going: with: for kids which was. ‘designed by Blumienstock: and. Mike ‘Weiss, ‘former. -Paramount exploitéer. oe estaters who: joined int Warners’. junket.. to Aqueduct. last: Wednesday __(28)all ‘lost a’ few bob,: but enjoyed. Tied in -with “Wall: of “Noise,” “racetrack: film -opéening locally ‘at: the nabes. this. ‘week ‘Harris, manager : of creative services..at: Paramount, off on: a vacation swing -of. Copenhagen, Ronie, Naples; ‘Capri, the’ French Riviera : and |Janet Leigh. back west. following thatlong. ‘cross-country | i’ First. feature going out..under |: the Royal Films International banner: ‘is “Reach for. Glory. ” . Company . | Holiday: Lifts Biz: Cleo’ __ Johnston, said he’s heard ‘just about. everybody’: S: name. mentioned with. vo London. . ‘ballying | of. “Wives -, and Lovers” ’. Salis the new Columbia subsidiary. * “ Barney: Balaban, concerning «a. possible successor. to: ‘the: ate. ‘Eric ». the exception of Casey. Stengel. Fr Boris’ ‘Leven, who" copped. an’ ‘Oscar for. hisart direction | of “West Side“ Story,” “will function: in. the. same: capacity on “The | “Pawnbroker, ’ for. which. Dan Eriksen: has. also been inked. as. } production . “Far ‘as’ could be determined, ; the fourth: . Warren}... The old debate ‘about ‘whether ‘ar-not the plain; unvarnished: truth is really good. propaganda may. soft]: get a reworking. ina hassle devel oping ‘over. a -U.S. : Information|. Agency” film . about ™ the status‘ of | , |the Negro.in’ America® today. The Status of the film. itself,; as: well ‘as its title, . also are the’ ‘subject ‘of:some. doubt: Shooting. and. tentative. “editing | and | -scoring of. the. film, °-which | USIA ‘film division chief: George Stevens. Jr. calls “The American’ Negro: A Progress Report,”-were ‘completed in’ May. ..by | -writerdirector . Graeine. Ferguson for ‘Willard | Van’ Dyke’ Films of. New ‘York. USIA: had contracted for ‘the production of the film by Van Dyke -via . the. . Anti-Defamation | ‘League. of the B'nai B'rith. Contacted’ just -before his” de-| ‘parture for the Venice: film festival late. Friday (30), ‘Stevens told. | VaRIETY -:that: he grosser,. Folling. up: a hefty. $52,342 in -its first five days at four houses | quoted by the. NY, Post Jast. week . Ely..Landau, -who’s Gotham production ‘offices: are'| d: been mis-. to: the . effect that. the film: ‘was “bad’’ and. that. the entire project’ had -been “dropped.” No final .de-. cision. has been: taken : on. the: Imat ter, he’ said. Director: Ferguson, however, who|. had: been: slightly miffed by ‘the original Stevens quote, said Satur-|: day: (31) that he understood that]. the whole project: was being quiet: |" ly shelved. -The problem, : ‘he in dicated, ‘was one of differing: points of ‘view. ‘between. ‘the USIA :and ‘him. and they were’ apparently: ir-. : '|.reconcilable, ‘Stevens, reluctant’ to be drawn into: a discussion of specifics. ‘on the picture, prefaced. his remarks. by.:saying he did: not “want “to b put into. the position of appearing to. be. squelching the freedom and’ -east-central. district” to’ cover ‘Washington, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh creativity of filmmakers. “It ‘does he‘ said, ‘noting that the. out. and publicize our. problems. ” The‘purpose of. USIA, films-is to nt present the. official. American: point oF view to overseas | audiences. the: ‘Color Assn.,: which: is marketing a.hew color. tagged “Zulured” «:, of i ‘Sutiwear ‘Ine. has’ signed :Sid. Blumenstock, vet’ in film. ‘proniotion, |. . to supervise sales-promotion of: a. Blow: My. Top ‘hat,. novelty. headgear. Out: of Date? tion. the. . “extraordinary changes in -the..U.S. ‘attitude toward. the {Continued on. page: 18) = A a “Twentieth-Fqx exec ‘veep. ‘Seymour Poe: was back ‘at his: homeoffice oe * stand. yesterday: (Tues,) ‘following a series. of’ meetings with company |.. AS: he was last ‘year, Morton. Sunshine: will be exec} execs in Europe «.: ’ coordinator for. the upcoming annaul IFIDA. international ‘film awards ‘dinner. here next. J an. 21, Dan: ‘Frankel is | ‘chairman of” the: ‘dinner committee. ‘Union’ :Films’ Peter: Horner ‘was: a. ‘Jaté starter for Venice: As: was director Shirley: Clarke; whose. “The Cool: World” was given. its. ‘official . Davis:Film Distributérs of Boston has} _ acquired US... rights: to ‘the’ Rank Organization’s. “A -Pair .of Briefs,”. . Actor. Morton Taylor has gone from.a ‘supporting: . fest. screening Sunday. (1); __@ courtroom. comedy... --role-in Bob-Rossen’s just-completed “Lilith”. into the. ‘currently. shooting ” Peter: ‘Sellers’ starrer, “The ‘World of Henry Orient.” ; Current -issué: of -the’ Green Sheet.:(of: the Film: Estimate: ‘Board of “Cleopatra” a: “memorable. screen achievement. * Sheet. rates: the picture for .adults,. ‘Mature ‘young -people. National. Organizations) calls 20th’s “and: young. people. (The’ Catholic: Legion: ‘of ‘Decency: gave the ‘picture a B-rating (morally: objectionable in ‘part for: al}. . week .: * novel; iT Love. and Corrup t:” Town: Hall ‘launches its 1963-64. travel: ‘faim: series. Oct.. 3° with’ “Nell Douglas’: pic,. “England”... : Meanwhile, _ the’: New:: Yorker" Theatre started its. 10-day. festival of: horror. pix yesterday” (Tues.) with “Curse : of the Cat People” and “The: Man Who Cheated Death”... ; JayOrdan, ‘Trans-Lux ‘Theatres ad manager and. assistant to Thomas Rodgers, veep, leaves Friday (6) for a six-month tour of Army duty:.. . Marathon International’ Productions’ 22-minute ‘documentary . made. "for .Volks “wagen, “The Right Hand of. Plenty,’ ” was: awarded.aDiploma of Honor “in the annual’ commercial film: ‘competition ‘at Venice, which: ‘recedes ‘the feature film fest: ‘Young © “American producer” “Mark Goodman; “Who: headquarters" in ‘Paris,. is in. town: completing: arrangements: or : the’ financing “of: __ first: ‘feature, “Le. Sang «de. L’Agneau” -(Blood:. of :'The | Lamb),. “which : he plans to” film -later ‘this. year.-on. a $100,000. ‘budget: ‘in. Corsica, . Picture, which will be: of: French. nationality and: get government. aid |* “Hiroshima Mon Amour” ‘and. “Last Year in’ Marienbad”..’.: The: first ‘Goodman-Burch | collaboration,. the short..‘‘And. Upon ‘This. Rock,” will Bet its world: Preem at the: Lincoln Center fest Sept. 18. . «Merle Oberon -in town. briefly ‘Sunday (1), én’ ‘route from: Europe: to. San-: Francisco. . where: her’ “Of Love. and Desire” will have: its American preem this . Garrick Films has acquired: film Tights to. theJoseph Viertel, . ‘to sixth: “Caretakers” (2d wk); -alsofrom: UA; is: nabbing® seventh spot thereby, will be written and-directed. by Noel Burch, with supervision |:(Embassy) (6th. wk). ‘by ‘Alain Résnais. Cameram: h: > Whi | y ésnais anwill be Sacha: Vierny, ‘who. did -Resnais’ 7th. wk) which . “slippe d a: noteh ‘covered. by. “VaRIETY was generally than filled: the gap.-: “Cleopatra”. (20th) (1 1th wk), “ts “(U) (6th wk) again is. ‘second while“How The three..are showing: exceptional . -b.0. stamina’ for this. time of the: year. ‘ Jongrunner; .. -another:. remains (10th wk): -has..forged:-up :to. “fifth, ‘displacing “Lawrence — of Arabia” (Col) (34th: wk): which: has eased. off by dint of: fancy showings in.some -/ half-dozen keys. Last..week it. was'|'}, rated a Strong: contender... ‘Landing in eighth. ‘placeis. “Kor ‘Love. ‘or Money” (U). (4th wk). It’s closely followed by “Fellini’s 812” position is .“L-Shaped Room’ (Col) : from last. week’s: ninth. Rounding : out the Top 42° pix, ‘Seven Arts’ Bi Small World of Sammy . Lee,”. | Tony: Newley starrer.” Roman: Catholic. reviewing group | grants. the. validity ‘of the’ picture’s | theme. and ““its’ reputed artistic ‘merits.”. However, it.adds,.the au-dience “his ‘The’ film ‘in .question, ‘ ‘he’ sug: “gested, was out-of-date | because, having gone-into production a year. ago; it:did not. take into. considera “West” 3d, ‘Irma’ Ath, “Bscape’ 5 Sth. ” Biz = pattern ° ‘througtiout “kei a favorable one over. the Long: |'Labor Day weekend. Holiday, how-. -ever; had: mixed results ‘in. certain }. ‘areas.. Philadelphia’ exhibs. com: plained. that ‘the pleasant weather |" took lotsa: potential : customers: out: of town. But. in a number of other -eities the’ incoming’ tourists more | still copping : first ‘ place: ‘Taurels. 1 Thrill, of It All”. West Was “Won”. (MGM). ‘(38th“wk) ; : -continues. in. -third.. position. All. “Irma La Douce” (UA). (13th wk), | &6 99. 4 fourth ‘while’ “Great. Escape” (UA): ‘frame .as is “Lord’ of the Flies” *-+.(Cont), in <a -sécond. N.Y. ‘WORLD OF SAMMY LEE” “CETS LEGION’S CRATE The. Natiorial Legion: of Decency has ‘condemned. with a. Crating British-made “The “exposed, almost throughout. its: entire length, to ‘a: series of ‘peep. ‘show’ -acts, suggestive dialog and‘situations. which: ‘are dramatically lacking in integrity:. ‘The’ ‘intensity of -the indecericy. in ‘treatment, a3 well as |-questionable moral. ‘values, make this . story. completely. ‘unaccent| able.’ Manan Minn. Finds Od Metro Musicals Strong BO. Minneapolis, Sept: 3. Tn. -Minneapolis Metro: has been richly rewarded for not ‘giving. television a whack at.its old -musi| ‘cals like and “Brigadoon”. but: instead, for: ‘continuing: -to reissue them to. thea “The Student. Prince” tres. They: keep coming back for ‘be! one-day stands. ‘and, unfailingly. cop . hefty’ grosses, regardless, it. -seems; of how: often | they’re re-. “peated. . mt. necessarily. mean’-that a _-film| p is “inept if it’ doesn’t fit our’ situation,” USIA: is.. essentially : a propaganda organ: and isnot required: “‘to go If the poxoftice: experience locally. is: typical of ‘what’s happen ing elsewhere, filmy companies may well be influenced fo quit feeding -§0: Many of their better’ oldies to |; for ; television; .and ‘keep them ‘ultimate theatre: reissue, The foregoing -is :the: hope ‘of : Bob’ Hazleton,. general manager of -} the Ted Mann circuit. Results ob-tained’ with the’ Metro’ musicals. -and, for: that. matter, -with other | ; oldies have been extremely gratify‘ing.says Hazleton.-. What's. been |. happening . might “well. give: ‘food (Continued on ‘page 18) hi Suit Aszinst Rafael Cobian | Department. San Juan, Sept.. 3. _ The Commonwealth. Department. of Justice accused theatre magnate Rafael Ramos Cobian and his as-. -gociates of alleged “conspiracy to restrain.and monopolize the business. of theatres and. movie-houses in Puerto Rico.” In a suit filed (Aug. 30) in the San Juan Superior Court, Secretary of Justice Hiram Cancio asked the Court to break up the Cobian enterpsises -which control and operate a total of 36 ‘theatres in Puerto Rico—25 of them in. metropolitan San Juan. The Court is also.asked to pro‘hibit. Cobian from rebuilding his organization in the future and Tegaining his alleged “monopolistic” ‘control of the island movie exhibi-. tion. business. A government spokesman described the suit as the first ‘move in the. Commonweailth’s. drive to | crack down on suspected monopo lies operating in Puerto Rico. The. ° suit makes the following: accusa| tions against Cobian: 1. “The: -public in the areas dominated by “Co-. ian. enterprises” has suffered the -use and abuse of the power of " | this potent combination to control ' | admission prices to the theatres as | well as to determine at its. pleas+ ure. the quality. of service given.’ 2. Cobian enterprises have ac ‘quired enough power to get “‘privi leged treatment” from U:S., Mexi-: ‘can and other. film distributors to ‘the. detriment. of other business‘men in the trade here. 3. Cobian and: Teodulo Llamas (from whom. Cobian-leases his theatres). have entered into’. con‘tracts -and— ‘eombinations to ““‘control the exhibition of first-run. movies" in. the areas which they “dominate. ”. According.to a Justice spokesman, ‘Cobian controls all first-run movie. houses in metropolitan San Juan with the j exception of. Metro Theater in San turce. Llamas, the spokesman said, is owner of 14 houses (11 of them now .open) «all of them rented to | Cobian: « -Thé-suit: also lists ‘14 movie dis ‘tributors: operating in Puerto Rico as “coconspirators” which have participated with the defendants. in the offenses charged herein’ and have. performed acts in furtherance. of said. offenses.” The: Justice Department. asked the court: to 21] “decree that the defendants . —"} have: attempted to monopolize and ‘Still. Champ, Thrill 24, | have’ monopolized” the film exhibi-. N ational Boxoffice ‘Survey : {copy of the U. S. Sherman Act. tion business in violation of Puerto Rico’s anti-trust law, which is a ’ Ina statement last week, Cobian 91 rejected as’ “academic” the . gov ernment’s monopoly charges | against him, and blamed the Com ‘| monwealth for the lack of compe are . “Gidget. Goes: to. ‘Rome”’ (Col) (4th wk): and. “Toys | in the Attic” (UA) (5th. wk). “Come Blow. Your Horn”. “The’ Leopard” (20th): and “Sum‘mer. Magic”. (BV): Claire. Bloom ‘starrer; -Lovers” (Par), “J ohnny Cool’’ (UA) and ° “Hootenanny ‘Hoot’. (MGM). : Less. impressive among the. nhew ‘It’s. okay’ in. Concinnati and. ‘Wash‘ington, | ‘but: mild -in Indianapolis. Similarly, . “Of .Love and Desire” in St: Louis. Soldier. Schwei ” .(Lionex) .continues stout ina ‘second Gotham also:-’ stanza. “Women of: World” (Em bassy),..strong in “Los. Angeles, 4s. nifty” in. Chicagoand’. lively ina “ninth N.Y. week.. '. “Mouse. on the Moon”: (Lopert); long “in extended: runs, is sharp in Affair’ (MGM) is. ‘sock in Washing ‘ton, but.‘moderate -in: N-Y. ‘Copping 10th}. Note: The number of: weeks. out in: release for. bigger and. longrun pix are designated.in such .cases. (Complete. Boxoffice Renora on. Pages: ad 10). ' Showing lotsa: b. O.. potential: in. their: debuts last. week..were “The Haunting” (MGM), a Julie Harris-. ‘“Wives: and. comers: is “Wall of Noise”: (WB). (20th) is. weak. in T Toronto but good) ae sé 7 On’ the. art: house front “Good ‘made in the suit-and said it was. ‘main in business. manne here,” \tition in the local exhibition in dustry. Cobian said, his lease con Runnerups are tract with the 14-theatre Llamas (Par),. chain—one: of the chief points in the. government’s charges—expires next Oct. 31. Cobian indicated that the lease would not be. continued because it “proves too costly for his Commonwealth Theatres.” The contract, by which Cobian ‘took over the Circuito Teatral ‘Llamas, ‘has been in effect for 10 years. |] Teodulo. Liamias will renew local. operations Noy. 1, under the name of “Teatros. Llamas, " The circuit. consists of 14 theatres, of which the principal ones are the Midtown Music Hall, the Matienzo and New . Broadway.. aa Cobian flatly” denied accusations based on lack of knowledge of this particular business. “‘The..government itself is tu blame. for the lack of new theaters,” he declared.. “They impose so. many requirements. that the project becomes too | costly. ” “To open a new theatre. in” mid-town San Juan,” Cobian jadded, “would cost $1 million.” Cincy, | ‘brisk in ‘Washington, lofty | in Pitt and fair in L:A. “A Ticklish He. also ° strongly. eriticized the 20% admission tax, which ‘he said. has‘ been abolished in the main land: to help theatre owners: re-. “It has been Cobian commented,” but inspite of that, local. movie prices are lower than in the } States. ° .