Variety (October 1963)

.. «| hibition .of -any.immioral or obscene. _— necessary: affidavit upon which. the ::°. to another.’”: -.Drive-In. and was. told: he had -to nition.” . ‘Wednesday; October'2, 1968. <= able Meanwhile ‘Sins of Mona Kent’ Still Circulates Despite) oF | -_Distrib’s Earlier ‘Promise’ + Greensboro, N. c. Oct. L “Sins of Mona Kent” played the} “Pointer: * Drive-In’ Theatre © here} ‘recently, ‘despite the. ‘complaint. ‘of |. the .New. York. radio. writer and novelist; Mona -Kent,. that ‘the title damaged. ~ cher: ‘good: name. “That -stery was” detailed | sone ‘time, ago : in. VARIETY. Sheriff is having: a. hard time. de ciding . “what is ard is ~ not-: an}. actionable. releasé.. He wishes: to}. . “pick up the ‘hint against “indecent| ~ ‘pictures” recently’ dropped «by. -County . Commissioner . William G.. _ ‘Ragsdale. North Cardliiia . ‘Statute whien | § Fins Com for the. purpose. ofgain or: other-| -wise ‘exhibit: obscene. or immoral}. _ or, if any] -. person,.firm or ‘corporation: ‘shalt. °-” ‘permit’ such .obscene ; or immoral} ‘covers. obscene -pictures,: chapter 14, section : 493, States: “Tf any :* person, firm. Or. corporation shall motion pictures. oe : exhibition. to -be conducted in any tent, booth. or other place or ‘build|. jing. “the same’ shall: be ‘guilty | of. a. “misdemeanor: and: punishable | "jn the descretion of the .court.” The statute further: states: “Ror the. .purpose © of enforcing “this _.Statue, any ‘spectator .at..the -ex ,moying’..picture-. may make the warrant for. Said” offense’ cmay” be “issued.” — ~ Theo catch, according to ‘Sheriff. : Jones,::comes. in’ the key .word— -@bscene—in | ‘the ‘statute. <The. definition’ -of ‘the. ‘word ‘ap7 pears to be’ left. to local authori-|* _ties,” “he ‘said.. “It’s all:a:matter of. '“ opinion... ‘What may -be: ‘obseene. to. one ‘person. ‘perhaps: is ‘not obscene} The: sheriff. ‘stated. ‘that motion picture theatres were ‘by no meatis the: only ‘purveyor. of . pictures |. which: are termed obscene. Jae "You can, ‘go: .across.. the~ street here, * he ‘said, pointing ‘across’ the: street. from: the county courthouse, “and .. “buy” magazines |. whieh are “much worse.: than ° anything _the _ _ Movies show.” ‘County: ‘Attorney: Durward Jones,| _ ‘who pointed’ out the statute to the]. ~“gheriff, ‘said ‘the courts had. ‘been very liberal in‘cases obscenity has-been ‘contested... .Sheriff _Jones* said. -,he talked with. the. operator. ‘of: the ‘Pointer: -show. “this ‘type. of movie’. to stay in’ business. “He ‘told me he took in only. $12-one night when another kind * of. picture was heing: shown,” he: added: a — ' (Mona: Kent. from* her home. in Northport: -L.. I... reports that her earlier communication. with ‘the _, distributorof : “Sins Of Mona Kent” . via. attorney | “had. resulted. in a promise. that. ‘the negative ‘would be. withdrawn. from” exhibition. cd) , a "PEACE FILMS’ ASFEST; SCENE: LOS ALAMOS |: Albuquerque, | -Oct...1; “Los. Alamos, ‘New Mexico; home : of the atomic. bomb, : will host’ the}... ‘first International: Peace: Film Fes-|: ‘tival..Nov.'9through’ 11;-' Festival ‘director. ‘is. Robert W. ‘Kunce, thea). | ; a treman, Kunce said t the festival’s purpose. is to encourage: worldwide ‘partic| _ipation . to: further.: the cause of: world . ‘peace. through | the. medium of the :cinema.arts, He added that a iarge part of: the. current effort. at .Los Alamos. is. towards the peac~.** ‘me. application _of atomic energy ‘ ‘ space. explora|: ‘tion,. which. ‘mak2 “Los Alamos‘. can -ideal: location tor. ‘peace: Tecog: ‘International. ‘ producers’ and dis: tributors have. been invited to en: “ter. Kurice‘thores to make the event” an. annual. affair, °°. Was. among the :32exhibitors. *” + $192,193. “Flipper” ~ | West -Huston, . | were.-“Luchini Visconti, Fellini, Orson. Welles. ‘and Robert: Bresson. “An announcement. from De: Laurentiis: in.. ‘Rome | “this: week ‘| doesn’t -mention: any:’of them; -but. “| simply. states that, Huston. has’ been signed. to “take complete. charge “of : the. direction.” ee “Ray Willie Pupil ‘Dallas, Oct. 1. Raymond Willie, v.p. and: | Me, “of Interstate: Theatres, attending. the ‘recent. “‘Cleopatra” (20th) workshop, Inter..state ‘is ‘showing the’ film: at -. Fort. Worth, San Antonio: and i: Houston: The circuit has earned: about 95% :.of its:cash guarantee for. ‘the picture: . ‘The Interstate‘re-. ‘Sport ‘was ona parwith such | -ghgagements as Atlanta, 97%. ~Boston,. 95%; Charlotte, 91%; and Winnipeg, 92%. “The film is. currently ‘in its. _ 18th -week “the Interstate houses. . For Metro In Big in company’ ’s history.. ~ Topping ©. -the . -list : --was. ‘and “Others ‘contributing. to. ‘the’3 record . gross:. were “The -Haunting,” ” “Murder at ‘the. Gallop,” “How the “Wonderful ‘World. . of “the. Brothers”. ‘Grimm” pand “Mutiny on thet Bounty. ” Was Won,” | Jo Huston Alone For Dino De Laurentiis Pic. “The Bible,” | which: Italian: film ‘maker Dino De Laurentiis -is:shapJing .as his most: ambitious. produc-: -.| tion; has -béen-placed in the solé direétorial. charge of John’ Huston. is’. now directing “Night ‘of: ‘the Iguana”. in. Mexico |: ‘City, is-té report to-the.De: Lau-|* ‘Trentiis. studio in: Rome in February: to. begin work: on. the: Christopher.) ‘Fry -sereenplay... . De Laurentiis “was” -partneted. with. ‘Columbia: ‘in’ undertaking the Biblical: ‘epic: ‘but . Col’s: financing ‘reportedly. : ‘has. hit a “snag;Pre<|viously: the producer. assigned four directors, each: to handle a .sep‘arate ‘Segmentof the picture: They: :Federtco. who” st. PAUL FLYER | 1s 1 Discovery: ‘of, or Return To, Sexy. Themes? © | “St. “Paul, Oct. 4. office and what may happen. other | wise in’ consequence’ of South: St. Paul's ‘Hollywood: theatre’ showing “a twin bill of “Erotica” (Indie).and “Chapman’ Report” " (WB). . “for -aduilts -only.”. ‘In: strongly Catliolic cormuni-. ties’ St. Paul itself and suburban: ‘| St. Paul theatreowners have been. shunning Legion: of .Deceny. con‘demned :. pictures, : ‘Sexy and. foreign releases running heyebrows:: M.. Lt =. films blatantly “ol § se eophe. Vv. I.P.s’’ at. Radio. CityMusic: ‘Hall. where ‘the | first.week’s ‘take was Double-bill combo of ».“Tarzan’s.. Three | ” Challenges” raked .in $364, 592 on| | -the sLoew’s: cireuit and. other flabe. houses. : having « J money.’ ” Highlighting The Bible’ in . this Local’ exhibs "are watching” ‘to see what-:happenedat ‘the .. box “By. ‘GERALD PRATLEY to, Swift ‘Current, “Sask:, Oct. 1. . ‘In this, dustry ‘and: dilapidated | _ | prairie ‘town: Sweltering .in an un= | expected 82-degree cheat; -all12; 000 |" residents. seem to: Ifave: turned: ‘out ‘for the “premiere of the National | 7 Film ‘Board ‘of. Canada’s. ‘first: :fea|: . ‘4 ture; 5 four. Of its the r y D: alla +: Making the point ‘perhaps ¥trongi . at es, in allas on er, this film was-one’ of two .cited|~ ar “by Sheriff Clayton: Jones: as a type ...Of indeéent feature. to. which . the |. ‘countryfolk, or those. not attending, 7 _,. objected. * Othersingled. * out. ‘for |. : -: . objeetion. was’ “Young . Love.” | : ‘Drylanders; ”. made. in Canada. by. Canadian film oS ‘Makers... ” Columbia. ‘Pictures (the distrib: = :] ator)_and -the NFB. were. wise in. ---fother ways to open the: film. in: the |. -west.. A good: deal depends upon |. .:|.the film’s reception. If it goes-over | well, it -will -be that.-much. easier | ” | for the’ Board. to. ‘start its ° second | feature. And thé Board: .draws much .of.-its.. ‘support from. ‘the | grass. -roots”” communities. Boxoffice Week’ Metro latched’ onto. a major “box: office. ‘spotlight in the New. York] area ‘last. week with eight pictures grossing $1, 087478. ‘Spokesmen. say. this: is the largest ‘one-week ‘Bross For -years ‘the Board . has been urged to: step into feature -produc| tion by. those who--wanted. to:see a Tegular : series of -features: being ‘Tiade. in-.and about Canada. Although. business: has’ ‘never ‘ been} able..to do.:it; partly: beeatise of Hollywood's domination: of the Ca: /nadianmarket, : the* ‘Board was :reluctant: to: move ‘into features: for. ‘fear of. bringing ‘criticism down on the. government : ‘and having it. ac-| ‘cused of. “interfering in free en terprise. 2 7 : Now. ‘times’: have changed, na ‘tionalism -is stronger inthe matter. :| Of “Canadian identity,” ” are: fewer in supply: and’ Hollywood: is. not the giant it. ence was. -Into |. ‘the breach steps Guy” ‘Roberge, . Conimissioner of: the: NFB: From -the. beginning. of: his term: of office, ‘Roberge ‘was: determined © to: get more Canadian. shorts into’ the‘the: | Jf ayes and to one day staré a feature |. : | film: “He has: ‘done. “this quietly: and ‘carefully, ‘Without. upsetting. Gov_ | ernment. ‘members or bringing’ the |: trite criticism: ‘upon: the. Board for] taxpayers: 4 , Under © his: encourage-~ | | ment, the: Board has now: made two. -Such’. diverge features. as “DryjJanders”. and“Pour . la: Suite. du | -and ‘his: film’ makers ‘are’ turning. : -out::'a wealth : of ‘shorts Tanging. ‘from: ‘straight-forward “news: reports to. fancy. exercise in. . “wasted. °. the © Monde;” “cinema verite.” future features’ on: a stéady Prot duction ‘basis: was: ‘discussed. . Unlike, most’ producers We are other, and. after : years : of -short film : making, we. féel: the. time .is | | right and our film makers experi-. {-enced ‘enough. ‘to: make dramas. ‘with’ actors: about: ‘Canadians: ‘in different: walks of life’. °:--An’example ‘of | Roberge’ Ss way of” working. quietly. and .without’ raising: a hue and cry over costs is: ‘seen in. the. production -of: “Dry landers. mE was filmed -in . 1961° ‘but: the | ‘work’ ‘of .finishing it -was ‘Spread over ‘three. ‘years. so.-that. the $200, 000. used could “be taken from yearly allocations and profits without. inflating: the. budget during one. year... “We work’ to‘a structure”. ‘Said | (Continued ‘a on a page BO). : Peele the. location |... ‘filming: ‘of “which was: carried out]. around: Swift Current. Dealing as|:: “Lit does: with the. hard years of the. .| depression, © this’ was. the right}: “place: to open the picture -as" the | | people | responded -warmly to va * T story that: -was -part of. their own | }lives.. They were ‘also. ‘extremely | -pleaséd’.:and.. certainly. proud | that { |the -film they ‘were..seeing was! ‘rama. houses. in. P:R: . features | | @-series of ‘small, -two-column ads of ‘Somewhat.’ whimsical ‘import, + Some typical: copy lines: “Think. In company with: Grant. MeLeati, Big! ‘his: director of production, Roberge. held:.a. press: conference at Swift |Current © -in ‘which. ‘the -matter. :of Jess; re “Two on the Nile,” ete. “who: tnake ‘significant films: but rush to. assure the. press ~ ‘that’ entertainment is. their ‘first: ‘concern, Roberge started. by saying in -his most ; disarming. way -that“we are -not*| in the entertainment business.: We |: want.to: make absorbing films, and |. yy. the ‘public’ will be'|’ entertain ‘But we are not thinking. of. ‘making musicals ‘and come|. dies... We:-don’t intend to. displace'|. "| Hollywood:.’. This: is foolish. We} “3 } only want timé on our own_screens -+ {to show : Canadian: films: | charged: ‘with the: responsibility : of ‘interpreting -’ -Canadians*' to each . markets.: Guild, “for its. annual election this. first’ veepee. | -nominations:. Charlton |: _ Other ‘Heston, : “second veepee; Walter ‘Pidgeon, third veepee; “Dwight ‘Weist,. fourth veepee; -Ann Doran,. ‘recording © secretary; Warner An-. derson; treasurer... ‘terms are. Claude ' Akins, ‘Davis, Frank Faylen, Robert. Keith, Jock | ‘Mahoney, _ Ricardo + “Art for. Theatres . Rialto. Theatre” in’ Durham; N.C., is featuring a. -front-of_ house ‘art exhibit in its lobby, : “and: it figures. to be drawing more. than the ‘usual | kind. of. ‘interest. ; For: ‘the oils ‘were “brush<= stroked: by’ no beatnik; ©: but ’ rather “by” léecal Durham: athletic wiz. Frank Creech, centre on the Duke football team:and ~~ “devoted. art: ‘student. ‘Monopoly’ Cry Vs. Cobian Group |° In Puerto Rico Charles: M. Reagan has filed. a. $1, 000,000. suit in -N.Y. . Federal.| Court against’ Commonwealth. The tribution: and” exhibition. ‘of. Cinerama. pix in Puerto. Rico.: Further, | che says the defendants ‘established an: iNegal combination. to: restrain. the --business ° of © Operating ‘Cine The. defendants; : ‘says Reagan, prevented . ‘him . ‘and: ‘other parties _| from. Competing | with -them.’ in ‘bringing Cinerama. to‘the: island} though, .as. yet; no: Cinerama the-’ atre-‘has. opened. there. According to'R : o Reagan, he was negotiating with tion. “and. “American bigotry. ° Cinerama. to. open. a theatre in P.R. Carlier | this year, when the defend-|: (ants: filed a’ $2,000,000 suitagainst him and. ‘Cinerama : to. prevent |. -Cinerama from making a contract with. him. : Subsequent Promotion of And Off Amusement Page AS. part of the “ new look” for the . “Cleopatra” wan campaign in. ‘the ‘coming’ ‘months, ° 20th-Fox.. is. | PREM GOES ALONG ON launching ‘an: _off-the-amusement |page newspaper | -ad.schedule with ‘See Cleopatra”: “Best date ever imported. from’ Egypt. Absolutely * delicious..' Cleopatra’: “My | wife. didn’t speak. to me. all eve ning .. . Cleopatra. left her speech ‘The. campaign also. is ‘beings adapted. for outdoor. and transpor-: tation: ‘posting . in. call “Cleopatra”: 2 DANA ANDREWS. FOR. PREZ Present, SAG. Chief, Chandler, Nominated : First. Veep: ‘Hollywood, Oct. 1. “Dana. Andrews ‘has | ‘been -nominated as prexy -of: Screen Actors fall. George” Chandler, current. SAG prez, has: been. nominated for ‘Nominated: for three-year board Chick Chandler; Macdonald Carey, . Bette. Kar! “Montalban, ‘Gilbert: ‘Perkins, ° ‘Roy ‘Roberts, . Roger. Smith | -and Henry Wills,. ‘and. for one-year | terms, .Marie. Windsor, ‘Raymond 1-Burr and. Lyle: Bettger. — . Independent nomination’ dead-. Aine is: Oct.’ 14. te “humor” day, atres. ‘of Puerto. Rico, its. ‘prez | Rafael Ramos ‘Cobian: and: exec | véep Victor Carrady,. charging’ con‘Spiracy and: monopoly. in: the’ -dis-: ‘Cleopatra’ Is Whimsical | preem,.and in. New ‘York. “fing and aWashineten “el Gn ete Da Seemingly That Racial Antagonism _May Not Beguile Average Folks “Gone -Are The Days”. experi {ence in its first Manhattan showing [Jast_ week, when it opened almost literally to..no. business, looked: “historic”: until the weekend when tits S:0.S. to civil libertarians and the. usual art house upsurge start-. ing Friday bailed it out. What: needs. to ‘be stressed is: “ ‘that. this film opened behind a {| very. respectable $30,000 ad bud ‘get'and uniformly favorable cri 4 tical. notices :in the Manhattan dailies: But-the combination of the and the Jack of stars { known. to the general film public “funny” is the Americar _| Negro when: he is on the receiving .. anes ; end of dynamite. bundles, Vicious: dogs, ‘eattle electric. prods: and. so. “Only 10 paid: ‘admissions came into. the theatre the day after the. reviews: ‘appéared. Attendance ‘was ‘only 70°:customers the following. ‘after’: considerable press | coverage ‘of the opening day fiasco. _ Actually, “only one person showed : up: for the’ opening performance. of the‘pic the day before the ‘critical opinions appeared but ‘several days. after the vad ‘cam-paign ‘began. . “Gone Are the Days”. is “Ossie: Davis’ film adaptation. of. his own ‘Broadway comedy .of a few seasons ‘back, “Purlie _ Victorious.’ Davis. stars in the film along ‘with his. -wife,. actress Ruby’ Dee, both of° ‘whom. ‘appeared in the stage original. ~The film’s producers, Milton: and. this development. Produced for ‘$211,000, “Days”: is ‘satirical, It ‘pokes fun at “Uncle . Tomism,” white overlords,.the Negro condi ‘general.: The effort. received the ‘endorsement of leaders in the civil. rights movement;.:some of whom, ‘after the opening day’s poor ‘show‘ing reiterated. their support in a: “| telegram sent last week to labor ‘unions, organizations and other groups in an attempt to rally. sup-. port: for the. feature. Signers -included’ A. Philip. Randolph, Roy Wilkins, James Farmer, Hobson R.. Reynold and others. -Gray devoted his WMCA, N. Y., radio: program to the picture and its predicament with Davis, Miss Dee, | (Continued on Page 8) HARD-TIX ‘CARDINAL’ Otto: Preminger’s “The Cardinal” has added another roadshow engagement. to its list of domestic ‘dates, bringing the total of such. | Showings to three.. It has been de&| cided to play the film on a hard ticket basis at the Egyptian Thea tre, Los. Angeles,. where’ it opens. Dec. 19. “Such ‘had not been the: original . *|:plan. for the presentation of the | Columbia release in Los Angeles. .| But pressure was reportedly ap* | plied from local ‘sources to switch -{to a hardticket policy. and the -|ehange was eventually made.. -Preminger is on‘ record: as being against roadshow procedure but went. along with. the hardticket “showing of “Cardinal” in Boston,. where it will haveits . world The film is also. the’ object | or several benefit: openings hosted by ~ dignitaries and the Egyptian preem has now joined: the list. A | benefit showing of ‘the pic will be jheld. there hosted by California. ; governor Pat Brown. Proceeds will go to the Rice Davis Clinie’ for Mentally Retarded Children. | Other benefits already skedded inMalden, 1 LCity mayor Robert. F. Wagner. at. cludé one sponsored by New York the DeMille © “Theatre one in. Boston. at. the -Saxon ‘theatre. _sponsored by Richard Cardinal. .Cushthenefit hosted by Attorney Geral Robert Kennedy and wife. Ethel. ‘|-were plainly against the release... A How Tom Hammer, are flabbergasted. at _ Last Monday (30) evening, Barry a 7 b 2 —. --ee * 2 ini bh bh Oee wil