Variety (October 1963)

aN TERN ATIONAL By. HAZEL ‘GUILD. Bonn; Oct. 8B. The outspoken, left-leaning So: | . elalists in the West German’ Fed| ‘eral Parliament are demanding an | investigation into. allegedly. unfair: ‘film. censorship. under the German “government. : | ” ‘The: group. (second major. politi: cal party in Germany) is. protesting about recent. films, mainly from East Germany and ‘the Commie ‘to country: of. the’ south. etry into ‘West Germany, : with | countries, that .are : not’ gaining blocking {rom various federal min-"! istries. In May 1961, the West. German’| ; set up| tG.. more |stringently. investigate all the. files. |.. from the Eastern Block lands:: at | ‘Parliament ~ ‘decided: to “rules. for. supervision” the Federal Office. for “Trade and.| Industry in Frankfurt so as to: see whether these films meet with German censorship. — Now, -it’s claimed, this office, which as no. actual: connection with. the German Film Censorship “ Board, gets the first:look at these} East films, and has the: opportun-. ity to. reject them or demand: cuts. ‘The Socialists ‘maintain this een| sorship jis. illegal and unfair. _ For instance, ast. year at the | Mannheim Documentary: Film Fest,. ‘the. Polish film, “Under the Same Heaven,” was scheduled: to be:| shown.. But: the German Ministry of the Interior. turned ‘down. the film for general: Telease, ‘urging that it not be shown ‘to. erixat Mannheim. The rejection served to | get the film withdrawn from. general release to German. cinemas.. . Similarly, ‘the: Bonn government: refused. to: allaw two. East German ‘pix: made by Commie-controlled | DEFA Film Production Company. One was a film version of. Berthold. Brecht’s “Mother Courage.” Brecht: of course, was known for his: Com-. munistic feelings, hut innumerable dramas of the: late great German -_ playwright (including... “Mother |. Courage”) have been performed. ‘int. the Jast few years ‘on. the. West | ~ German stages. _ Screened But. No Reviews. This pair of pictures..was “per mitted .to be shown at ‘Mannheim, but only with the assurance ‘that.| the crix would not be: allowed | to review theni. At « -Frankfurt’s. Week held earlier this’ year (with films from. Russia, Red ‘China, | India and -Japan), three entries. ' from:North Vietnam. were turned. down on the advice of the South | Vietnamese Cultural Attache in Bonn, it was reported. But a ‘South’ Vietnamese hate and propaganda | film was permitted to .be."shown.. |. The Bonn government demanded |. 60 many cuts in the. 25cyear-old “Alexander Nev--|: -Eisenstein film, “ski,’. that. the. final version was. |. ‘third ‘shorter, the Socialists elaimed. ‘The German: governnient. also rejected three internationally | known films, the Russian pic, ‘The Silent Don River,” plus. “Mother | Joan of the Angels” Higher Principle. ” -The Socialists are ‘demanding: and “The | that the Federal ‘Office ‘for Trade. and Industry..lose its privilege. to | pre-screen and pre-censor films, | and that the control: be given only-| to the West German Film. .Censor| ship Board. Strange Switch on ‘Altona’: Meanwhile, there's: been. a; strange switch regarding one of | the. films.-that, stirred. UP” muen of} the fuss. here. There have been riany protests | in the German press about the-un-' the “Radio. City -Theatre here |; fair censorship of the Vittoria De | Sica ‘pic; “The Condemned -of: Altona,” which 20th-Fox made. It’s objected that the West. German: Film Censorship. Board cut out all the unfriendly . reference. to: :the Germans during ‘the last:-World War and all the sting. against. the : ‘Nazis that were included ‘in, the {| : Sartre play. — But. now, the censored version | apparently meets with the ‘approval of the powerful Protestant Church. here. The Protestant Film Guild. has selected the pic as. “the best film of the month,” ‘citing it as ‘‘a’ true portrayal of the. past and bringing a solufion te the. problems closer to us.” Socialist P. Pan Protests Vs Fin Censormg by G German Trade Ofice| rate mate a oe | POOH German film industry ‘organization: _ “| here, . the SPIO; is a sad’ one: Num|’ ber of ‘cinema patrons.” in. West]: Asiatic: Film . | Seot Chain: Acquires. _ Assoc. British. House: Dundee; ‘Scotland, Oct. 8.. ‘The influential: J.B. Milne’ chain. of: theatres. is acquiring the: Palace | Cinema, in the East Scetland town |: |of Arbroath, from: . ‘the. ‘powerful -Associated British Cinemas. The Milne. circuit of | 30: houses ° already extends: from Lerwick, in. the. ‘Shetland. Islands: of the north, Galashiels, the. Mystery r Dimensional ~ Process Given Airing ; Ih Belgian Capital Brussels, : Oct.. 8.. The: big draw. as. the new.season starts. js not, in Spite of. brisk busi-" ness, “55. Days in Peking” (AA).or “The Birds” (U). Even “Cleopatra” | * (20th): evicting. the very. successful } Set Barcelona's S a new film but a ‘so-called © new |. “Longest | Day’ shadowed here “Super-Heraclorama,” (20th). is. ‘over= -currently “This: is--not process" that. seems ‘to bring. 3-D. to all-films: ~~ Its inventor. French: ‘scientist’ M. | Bourdiaux, has’ for a.number ‘of | months perfected. _something that caused .a: ‘real sensation -at its gala| preem -in-a suburb. cinema, specially: equipped — with a. giant ‘curved. screen.M; Bourdiaux ‘still. seems.a little: dazed but-is ‘keeping ‘to -himself.-the. secret . of “his pro cess.: He has brought to: the. cinema |r ‘a feeling of depth; without the use Of glasses, . or. so it seemed: to viewers here. : There. was plenty. of cheering when extracts of several: ‘films. ‘suddenly. came to: life’ within three}. dimensions. “These. included: ‘extracts of: Lamorisse’s:“Voyage en Ballon” (and ..““West Side | Story” | a (UA) ‘which . ‘currently | is. showing at: the same cinema. © M:. Bourdiaux so: far. appears: in no:-mood at-this.stage to.give away: any. secrets of -his* invention.* All that is known here. is. that’ a. | Cinemascope -lens is’ ‘used .as well as the. ‘curved. screen, made. of a variety ‘of lamellae. This screen. ‘very precisely ‘follows the shape of. the retina: establishing a symmetry rather. reminiscing. of an electronic. ‘eye.’ Projectionists :willhave to} be more careful than ever because the slightest. . ‘carelessness would create havoc or, at least, Bourdiaux. took’ pleasure. in ‘pointing’ this out.|. . ja five-week: period of..entertain-. |: ment: social, sports and. varied ac| . elaborately . programmed :| by -the. Catalan’ city: fathers: for Barcelona’ 5 ae Virgin. of Merey : still. not. divulging thread. of ‘script he’s: currently writing, | ‘but, title | | will probably be “Giulietta dei Spiriti” (Giulietta of the Spirits), and » {it should ‘get. started ‘this fall .. " |:key-eity b.o. race:. -|-Great Escape” (UA-Dear), and--“Hud”. (Par), according to early: sea~. 3 ..', But Italo-mades are. ahead _Percentage-wise, with _ some: 50%, of. market vs. only 30% for “Yank items.:. a Beaconsfield Studios Seen ‘Shuttering Soon -London, Oct. 15. Widespread. reports inthe past week or two that Beaconsfield stu redundancy notices. to many. stu dio. employees. About 100: workers | will be.losing their’ jobs: ‘within the next week or. two. . cIt-is generally. believed: that the. main Yeason for the redundancy. notices. is. the backlog. “of features ‘acting chief shop. steward ‘at: the ‘studios said. he’: believed this:-was “the end. of the: roadfor Beaconsfield.” : Athens’ Theatre Sets Deal for Cinerama _Athens,: Oct. 8. and: of. ‘his own tribution ‘company; signed a pact with the: company: Orbit. of Paris, | finalizing: an exclusive contract ‘on |; | for. Cinerama, -for all of Greece. | This is the first deal ever concluded |.to present: ‘this: screen | _ Process ‘here.. World.”. projectors. . ‘“How West Was Won.”. usual Athens: firstrun scale: of $2. meres ‘by: “Breakfast . “Flower Drie’ Song. iid ‘represented ‘with a brace of out-| ‘standing pix—“Weep fora Bandit” and “History. of the Tarantos.”. " tivities, . | US. Major Distribs Not dios is going dark were’ followed | last. weekend by.the: -issuance ‘of: Andreas..S.. “Haliotis, manager. of. Radio. City, al ,000-seater, was | ‘the only. first’ run in Athens equipped. to. present: “Around : the ‘It. will be equipped. with. ‘the: conventional : three .Cineramia | It likely will be. ready by. ‘the end of October or early in November. Preem film will -be Admission price will be twice-as much ‘of the “Ot 15 in Six Yeas I -, Wiesbaden,’ Oct. 8. Germany has: dropped 45%. in the last. ‘six ‘years, from @2-postwar high of 818;000,000 in. 1956 to only 453; 000, 000-last year. ° -In. the last three: years, houses | have -elosed.. And ‘since 1955, the ‘German film:. :produc-: “tion. has. ‘also been ‘taking: steps. | backward. — | In 1955, . there. were ; 428. Ger= man films produced, and. in 1962 |: there were only 63 (that'.was . reduction: of: 19. less. than the. year : | before). And’ of. the. “pure”. Ger|Jman films'the count: was. only. 45, | ‘| with. the other 18 being ‘¢o-pro| -ductions. with. foreign: interests. : Children’ s .films.. and... ~ fairy. | tales,.-once a “good. ‘business: here,: tare. almost. non-existent, with. only one ‘picture. made in ‘this category. . ‘last year. —. ; | The Americans, actording to the |° | SPIO. study, came ‘in with 36. 5% ‘of the. boxoffice receipts: last year, ‘with the -Germans: placing second via. their. own Productions. -! miliar.. Film Fair Fare| ‘Barcelona, Oct: 15. Barcelona’ s tion picture, television and optical industries, . has disclosed ‘its. pro-: gram of film features and. shorts. » addition’ to 21. noncompetitive: full-length pix, -the. Congress’ will ‘screen. an elaborate Charlie Chap‘lin retrospective: series: and .a less | -extensive ‘group. of. films. directed | by. Roberto Rossellini... While the 21 entries in the Week. of. Color Films. would ‘alone assem ble Congress audiences three times send. 67: entries into: competition from 18 -countries..© --With the. “exception of’ “Dono| van’s. Reef” and “Come Fly With | Me, 9p . American. features. to ~be screened during. the Week of Color Films. go’ back: to: include Nick. Ray’s ‘old "Rebel: ‘Without ‘Cause, ”. . Tiffany's” Spain: is Congress will this year-close out Fiesta, . * American’ major: film: ‘company. reps. are not unduly. alarmed. at: -the rash of nationalizations of the-: tatres. recently in ‘Algeria. However; they are ‘keeping’ an eye’ on: events since Algeria is’a key North African market: But,so: far the major. offices -there are’ ‘¢almily carrying \on ‘their: work... ~ _| The Ben Bella. government, ‘be.| sides: ‘estates “and.. French néws| papers, has taken ‘Ovér abandoned: French hardtops, and ‘also is. crack‘ling down or properties’ that: were. ‘bought by. locals just. before and |: ‘after independence.. Basis. for. this |. lis:that some of these cannot prove film dis|'theorigin’. of : the: ‘funds: used. for purchases. screen product.: company outfits taken. over by the government. It'is now. a watch-and‘wait . attitude with’ business as ‘usual as: ‘long as. the setup. remains status quo... 154 Fifth: International | Film Congress, which this year in-' corporates. a. trade fair of product. and equipment: rélated to the mo -and “les Jeux” (gambling) . A. Queen for Caesar’ has opened at four’ houses. But. it is not. making.’ ‘much headway... Opening. of ‘the. Fox’s: “Cleopatra”. is being awaited (Oct. 25). tions . day in the. new Auditorium. of: produce | ‘Giants of Fire,” which he calls a! prehistoric: science-fiction” : Nations, organizers . have this: year |.come .up: with: a: contest: for color. shorts -and::documentaries that ‘will and: ‘L sonal: returns . Very Upset by Algeria’s. Takeover of Cinemas | " Paris,” Oct. 8. =}. ‘sponsor’ s blessing: last year with “Six Pair of Red Shoes”. “Line’”:, for Rank (starring Leslie Howard’s It is* “not: excluded” that "Yanks. could. have some trouble later with their distrib. setup’ here, ‘but there: s€ems ‘no indication. of expropria‘tion -in the near future.-It is: prob-. _lably felt these offices are needed to help’ run a ‘complicated business.. The : “government : has’ indicated. it: wants its ‘theatres’ ‘open. and: needs -But. is ‘is: known. there” is. ‘a. fac‘tion: ‘that. “would: like «to see these}. -VARiETY's’ LONDON orrica49 st. James's. Street, Plecadilly “London: : A -new Brigitte Bardot film: goes on location in London; startinig next. Monday (21). It’s “Divorce—lItalian. Style,” still on West End prerelease, starts .its: general release in the. London area on. “Oct: 28. Joseph E.: Levine film is distributed in Britain: through 20th. Charles H. $chneer'startéd. filming. at Shepperton ‘last: week on : “The First: Men in the Moon,” which Nathan Juran is ‘directing. Martha. ‘Hyer, Lionel Jeffries and Edward Judd in ‘it. Ray Harryhausen is: again doing special effects and the script -isby. Nigel Kneale and Jan Read: Fox .. . 107 out.of a possible 109 Rank theatre managers were winners ‘in the incentive. showmanship contest. organized jointly. by. Rank, Columbia and BLC to launch Charles. HH. ‘Schneer’s “Jason. and the ‘Argos. nauts” ‘and. “Siege: of: the. Saxons.’ ” More than. -$2, 800. was paid ‘out: in ‘prize’ money. Paris. ‘New: posh arty firstrun house . opening. ‘in Saint-Germain-Des-Pres-. ‘district: Le. Dragon. tees off with ‘the French’ prizewinner..at the recent™ ‘Venice Film Fest, Louis Malle’s: “Le: Feu Follet” (The Will-’ o-TheWisp) ...'. Riviera town of ‘Saint-Raphael ‘covets -a studio and other. ' filmmaking facilities _as: Victorine Studios in Nice :face razing in_ near. 1 future ‘| dress. She is completely: retired and prefers strict. privacy. She.is even: | called. Jeanne. Married to a local film producer . | getting generally okay reviews: if‘ film is termed ‘stereotyped. and. fa" Calls still come to VARIETY here, for Deanha Durban’s' ad“The 'V.LP.’s”" (MG) miliar. oe Film started well at the. boxoffice : of Yank indie “David and Lisa,” _ Paul Heller, producer What’s-it-mean playwrights ‘Eugene Ionesco, Harold . “The Great Escape”: (UA): already: has over . Multiple-sketch: features now prepping are “Success,” (in love, polities, biz), “How to Get: A Girl,” (art. of seduction), “The Kiss, ” (speaks for. itself), “Chance” -. (Luck), An Italo-French’ pic called “Cleopatra, ‘Rome ‘Ingrid Bergman, here: ‘for “The “Visit”. (20th) does a ty. guest. ‘appeara | alice for RAI weekly “Cinema d’Oggi,” back this. week: after summer. | hiatus: . . Vittorio. DeSica thinking. of. ‘bringing -Flaubert’s . Nagamasa Kawakita in town for. pic negoatia-. Vi “A simple heart” to. the screen . .. Vinod Pathak setting up Devon Enterprises here in Rome to. Lex Barker, Guy. Madison, Daliah ° Lavi and. others, in “The Apache's Last Battle,” ‘lensing . in Sebenico under direction of Hugo. Fregonese .. .“Cleopatra”: Rome bow a sellout, with $15 benefit tix going for $50 on black. market, say local reports . .: . Sophia Loren started shooting |-third: episode in. “Yesterday, : “Today ‘and Tomorrow”. for Carlo Penti and Embassy: Pictures in. Bergamo, ‘near: Milan; episode; scripted -by: Cesare Zavattini and Billa Zanuso, is ‘based on Alberto Moravia. story, “Troppo. Ricca” (Too Rich). ‘Franca.Film: has cast ‘Anouk Aimee, Sandra Milo, Jacqueline. Sassard, ‘Jeanne Valerie, and Czech ‘a¢tress: Carla Kadimova for its second pic, which. P.. ¥F. ‘Campanile . and. . George Bornyek: “Le Voci Bianche” (The -White Voices), Massimo Franciosa co-direct. starting this month . signed: with Luxardo Films here for “Berenice; Queen, of the Caesars” to follow his: current “Bonanza” video -stint;. may do second pic here too ....Walter Chiari stars in “Il Giovedi" (Thursday) for. DDL-Center ‘film, ‘Rome, with Dino Risi directing. “Technicolor film-saving process has. resulted in spurt .in company bisiness: Rome plant working overtime to fill commitments, :also. handling overflow. from British Techni ‘operation, ‘an official: ‘reports. The Oct. .11.Rome opening of “Cleopatra” got: live pickup. over Italy s RAI-TV: network;, Milan opening. follows day later . . . Federico. Fellini . Three Yank pix: currently. leading’ the “How the West Was: Won’’. (Metro-C’Rama), “The Madrid ig: back. for: another. half-hour. Lufthansa telefilm: after : getting. the. . Mariella de Sarzana returned to William Morris Agency. in ‘Hollywood: after.a 15-month stint holding. down. thepercentery’s Madrid desk, but leaves * | behind her’ husband Ray Daley: to wind a major role. in “Thin Red ::. ~ Henry. Hathaway was at Barajas Airport: when: Rita Hayworth ° ‘arrived. ‘for. her starring role in Samuel. Bronston’s “Circus World”... and supplied some fancy interception. to clear his star’ through an-un. usually heavy press and fotog. gang-up %:. . Ex-Bway ‘producer . Ethel. ‘Linder Reiner made her debut film, “Bomb. on. ‘High Street,” in. London s son, Ronald). and. is: now setting. up. a-basé in Spain for at. least one, and possibly more‘ film productions . ‘Lester: Welch left. for London with associate Sam’ -Abarnanel ‘to. score ) ‘and mix his Spanish-made. Western,. “Gunfighters of Casa’ Grande.” ‘In Madrid, Welch sewed. up -an untitled: coproduction deal. with: Dimitrt ‘TiomkLin | who. may. score “Gunfighters”. if. he meets his music: deadline. -for “Fall of the. Roman Empire” we, ‘seript he. commissioned. from French playwright ‘Gabriel Arrout, ‘which. the composer ‘will: ultimately. -bring “to. Bway .as. a “musicalafter ‘it’ -gets. Banned. under-.the. ‘old: ¢ensor: regime, the © an English. -adaptation. . Alberto Sordi starrer,. wratti. a .casa,” was cleared for Telease: in an other indication (“TheDesert. Fox” .was first) that ‘politically-loaded” pix critical of, World War IL -Germans and: Italians are now getting a... ‘belated green -light.:°. ... Box. office ‘power. of -‘Spain’s “From Pink to Yellow” and‘the “Spanish-French coproduction, “Game of Truth,” -di ‘rected . by. Forque, is netting: both pix a solid-to-smash six-week show‘Case run ‘onthe. Gran’ Via . ‘rolled up the curtain with “Carmen. Jones” in Barcelona to. inaugurate: . .:Paris © ‘Circuit distrib topper Pedro Balana’ the Urgel Cinema; a 3:000-seater, now the biggest: in. Spain ate Store, ‘Galeries. ‘Lafayette, reported taking over leading. midtown Madrid: ‘hardtop. Cine ‘Callao as.a future consumer ‘mecca official film. faculty: have formed the Asociacion de Titulados. en:-Cine‘matografia (A.T.C.),. coinciding. with heavy spurt of activity. Anvolving Postgraduate: filmites interatonl Sun Track 7 “Une Ravissante Idiote,’”. in: which she costars. with: =). Anthony Perkins, with Edouard Molinaro directing’: ... Carl Foreman has lined up three royal premieres for “The Victors, ” starting ‘with |-the opening in London on Nov. 18, which. will ‘be. attended by. Prince Philip and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. King and Queen ef ‘Sweden will attend the Stockholm:launching on Dec.: 12. and ‘five days later ‘the. King. and Queen of Denmark. will. be attending their’ first ‘royal.. preem. at .Copenhagen. ‘Both. ‘the Stockholm -and° Copenhagen’ | galas-are in aid:of the Red Cross.: “in to confab with. writer James Jones. on. doing an oater script for him. Heller heads ‘back to London: where. he is. ‘prepping a. pic to be directed by “Argentine” director Leopolde * | Ferre Nilsson... . + Pinter and Samuel Beckett’ working on scripts for episode pic to. be made here next year . 200,000 admissions. in. its first-run ‘. Mel Ferrer. ‘has stepped out: of. Eurofilm’s” religious. biopic, “Price. of _ + Hope;* and. is now. concentrating on playing -the. ‘steHar role in. “El Greco,” which. he. will coproduce with Impala Films .. Ted Taylor.-. “‘Tiomkin is. also ‘expecting a legit: . co. Pees Me, “Alumni “Of: ‘the : an ; :