Variety (November 1963)

-“(Rank) (14th. wk). Brisk $5,800, oS “@ 200; : 70-$1.75) — With: “Love” (UA) (3d. wk). . $31,000 likely: Previous . week. hit 7 2 eee ‘3 nwiniktye LONGON’ snore London, Oct. 99. | “with ‘only. one ‘newcomer to ihe | ‘West End.scene, it was inevitable: that. “From . Russia with. | Love” | ” again would dominate ' the ‘first|: _Yuns here ‘currently. Continuing ite! record-breaking. showing” at. the it}. oe ‘grossed. over. “$33,400: in. its second: ‘Odeon, Leicester: Square, ” frame. and is. heading. fora wow ‘Marble. Arch, ‘the same ple: pet.-al new house record, ‘with $22,300. ‘on @pening: week, ‘and: -prospects “are. “3 for more than-$20,000 in its second, ‘Sole “newcomer, “Or: ‘more ‘on. opening: frame at. the | Empire. ‘A reissue. of “Rio. Bravo". “at the. Warner was shaping to a "$16, 000 in its : “opening: week.. Return ‘engagenient . of “It. Happened: One Night” at). ‘the Columbia ‘on. first stanza looks “The: Informers”’ . is. surprisingly. big. finishing ~ “its ‘second Leicester $12,500, good... , _. Among © the ° ‘holdovers, ‘Lawrence -of Arabia” ~ its. 52d: Casino stanza. . “Estimates for. ‘Last ‘Week ~ Astoria. (CMA) $1. 75) —“West. . Side Story” (UA) (87th. wk): Solid $8,800.. Stays until Dec. 19, ‘with “The . Cardinal” (BLC) preeming™ ‘the: following. ‘day. “Carlton (20th). (1,128:-70-$1.75)— “School For. ‘Scoundrels’™(WB). and. “Carry ‘on: Nurse’’“(WB) (reissues). .Fair-$5,500‘or near. — ; Casino. (Indie). $2.15) —. ‘How: West. Was: Won” . (Robin-MGM). G2awk). Mighty $23, 000 or over. ~ “Columbia: (Col (740: $1: :04-$2.50)' —It Happened ‘One Night” (Col) Areisstie):. Likely.” “Okay. $4, 300 or near. Coliseum (MG) : “a 795;" $1 20 $2. 46)—“Brothers. ‘Grimm”. (RobinMGM). (14th: wk): Solid: $17, 500. . -Dominion(CMA) *-.(1,712: $1.45-1: $4.20) — “Cleopatra”. (20th) | (12th|" wk). Smash. ‘$27, 000: or close. : Empire (MG). (1 330: $1 70-$2. 15) —‘In Cool. .of . Day” (MGM). ‘Nice "$10,000 or near. . : Leicester. Square Theatre. (CMA) | ° (1, 375; $1 .05-$2:80) — “Informers” (Rank). (2d. wk). “Heading: for good .$12, 500. Did $13,500. opening week. ‘London Pavilion (UA) (1,217: 10= $1, 75)—"Tom.” “Jones” (WA) (17th : wk). Great $13, 000 or over..." “Metropole (CMA)... (1,394; 70 F~ ga-75) “Lawrence of “Arabia” (BLO) (37th wk). Wham. $16,000. . Odeon, Haymarket: (CMA): (600;. _ _$1:03-$2.80)—"55 Days. at Peking” Odeon, Leicester ‘Square (CMA). “From Russia another: record | here with. $33; 400. -Odeon; ‘Marble Arch (CMA) (3,-= 200; 10-$1.75)-—“From: Russia With : Love”. (UA) (2d wk)..Wow $20, 000. .@r close: Opening week was record "$22,300, “Bye -Bye. Birdie” (BLC) follows on “Nov. Te. Plaza: (Par) (1, 889; $1. 05-82. 20)— oA ‘New Kind of. ‘Love” (Par) (3d $7, 600. : “World 10: Times QV) follows. on Oct..31:: “Sky. Above” (20th) (4th. wk),..Okay-|_ $3,900. “Girl in. Headlines”. (BLO), i” opens Oct. 31. Ritz (MG) . (4305 “90-$1. 15). ‘ wy. I-P.s”(MGM) (subrun) (4th wh. : Brisk $4,000. “Love. and Larceny” (Regal) bowson: Oct. 31; . Studio “One: (Indie): (556; 50$1.20) — “Pm ‘All: Right . “Jack”: (BLC) and “Two: “Way. -Stretch” '(BLC) (reissues) _ (3d ‘wk).. ‘Stout: $5, 00, same as ‘previous. week. "Warner (3B). (1,785; 70-$1. 15) “Rio. Bravo” (WB). (reissue). Head-. “ing for sfout #16,0 000 or more. a “In Cool’ of _: Day,” Jooks infor a steady $10, 000: a few. e¢ameraman .. Floyd Crosby, lensed: “High Noon”) Noon.” : Germans Lose On Square “Theatre: ‘round © at about) . : ‘“Cle0hates patra” ‘again: leads: in 12th round |’ at the Dominion at mighty. $27;000. | “Tom Jones”. looks whopping $13; of ..~"900 or close in 17th London -Pavi~ lion’ week. “was, over $16,000 in 37th Metro-. “pole session: “How. the’ West. Was| Won" -hit.a wow. $23, 000 or over in. wy “| Ernst ‘Kruger, head of the. West | German Independent. Film. Censor (1,474; $1. 20 (aE 156; . -$1.20|. Great |. Steady $7,000. Second’. “was | Over” | | Metro’ $ ’s Foster Joins Joins Rialto. (20th) ‘529; 70-$1. :20) — |. ishon's s Israel Fim . Budgeted at $120, ooo I ~ oe Tel Aviv, Nov. 3. |]: Production of ‘a new Israel ‘film | . ‘comedy has started here, based on |}. humorist Ephraaim . Kishon’s rec-|}.0° 0° ord-running one-acter, “Ziggy and |L— ao which ~ will aid ‘wee o n iti el! 5 $31,000 in its-third. At the. Odeon, titled after its hero's. Tbe mati rected -by Kishon, ‘produced at the _ Herzliya Studio, near Tel Aviv. |... *Hayim Topol, plays the lead, Pie|. -will cost $120,000 which. pits it} ~ ‘among the more expensive produe7 tions by Israel standards. == | ‘In: order to .sécure a) technical . | level geared to the demands of the} international. market; ‘the techni-|been reinforced. by Habooba.” Pic, cal crew has: foreigners, among © them who ; “US; Consvitat fe ‘ATV: ig ane T. HARRIS . bes written on Informative: treatise’ oa. -. Frankfurt, ‘et, 29. ‘The once-powerful ‘German. industry combine “« of. UFA produc| tions, .. 128% and tow it looks. as if allthe ig UFA ‘properties may. be | \sold out shortly. UFA production |: ‘| firm suddenly declared ‘bankruptcy ta year ago, and the monopoly of | Frankfurt: Oct 29. ventures: today,-. according : to’ ship. Every German cinema which plays: a feature pic also ‘offers the} Whi aa ‘a documentary .or ‘“classi-: short, because when the documentary . has: been ‘declared “outstanding ‘by ‘the West': ‘German. Film Classification: Board,. exhibi tors. are: entitled to a ‘reduction’ in the. high entertainment ‘tax. levied. ° on. the boxoffice. -. 7 ‘Hence, the films” are "accompan: 1 ied. by ‘these shorts instead of with ‘cartoons which are not eligible for _| the. classifications.: Dr.. Krueger, the. cost of making a -short. documentary. is. now. about -$10,000.. in West Germany. If the film earns the “especially outstand| ing” citation, it is. guaranteed. .a -license-reduction. of from $3,000 to} $5,000...If ‘it. earns only the. “‘out_| standing’ tag, its. tax reductions Tun: : | from $1,000. to $2,500 ‘With the high | cost: of making med prints, it.is often not practical for a. documentary . maker. whose. film has won: -only :-the’ joutstanding™’ ‘rating to sell it; ‘and: the ‘film ‘is . | declared a loss, . t: “Last. year, ., West: German shorts 2 producers: ‘turned out -only. 230} ‘documentaries to be shown. along," \ with | ‘full-length. feature pix, less ‘than ‘half of the :mosthighly p pro-| ductive. postwar. year of 1959 when). , ‘the German -producers turned out 526 classified..shorts: So. the -Ger-| ‘mans -accounted ‘for only: 45%. of|‘the shorts that: played in German |tinemas last year. In France, noted Dr. Krueger, it’ s. Claimed. -an : average documentary | | costs $14,250 to:make‘or more than. in Germany. But. the foreign profits-are important. for French docu-|' mentary-makers ‘as. a. secondary | 7 ‘| source. of .income; henee : ‘French |.it . producers. are. cutting. prices in or-. der to :win a little outside business:. Thus, the French, Italians. and Eng‘lish, along with the astern satel lites like Poland and Czechoslovakia and. ‘Yugoslavia-—areé: offering: their films*.at’:a -price. lower. than. the. ‘one. ‘German filmmakers are able to offer, And.German documentar-|' ies ‘win little "biz. outside. of. “West: Germany. se, are ‘Saltzman-Broccoli, Unit ‘London, -Nov.~5. : me Maurice Foster, who. resigned’ his. post as general.manager of ‘Metro-. British: studios. last. ‘week,. joined. Harry ‘Saltzman. and. “Albert”. R.. | (Cubby): Broccoli. ‘yesterday (Mon.). |. His. first assignment: -will be. to} ‘produce « “The: Iperess “File,’’ :: by. . Len. Deighiton, -which is due ‘to Bo] into. ‘production. -‘riext, spring. Before joining | ‘Metro, . "Foster ‘had’ been a senior executive with. -Film: Finances and previously '¥ with, + Haling studios, . 1 Pix ‘West . German. film industryites, ‘who. once were able to secure good/ income. by. making ‘culture films and: documentaries, often ‘are coming: out on the losing. side in their. ‘But; explairied | | dorf, . Sinuated ° theatre production, reléase and}: ownership, which: was .at its peak |during ‘the Hitler. era, ‘ever was ‘| able.to ‘resume its ‘power “and in-} fluence in West Germany, ~ Now, it’s: reliably. Teported. that | Bertlesmann Publishers of'| Guetersloh are interesfed inbuy-: ing the. Universum Film. Corp.. of Dr. Berlin, either to: take over the production: centtes: ‘via a. Ment contract, or: to buyout. the. $2,500) ,000 |. “centre. the German tele, ‘In ‘addition, . for the’ German ‘tele. which price. But a: member of the board qi|| Vidfilming in. Britain || ° “ =|" the. World Market I. oicea 1, wey theatre, -20th’s | grosser, “South Pacific,” earned a “J. _.| film rental of $112,058, . "and it took W146 weeks to reach the figure _|.achieved by “Cleo” -in13. sessions. and ‘theatre | chains hit: the skids. ‘some time | e ‘Bertelsmann, ° ts also producing films for is. primarily: inter-. ‘ested in having. the studios: for. its Own use as well: as for rental ‘to others in the: tv field.; the . “Berlin” outfit ‘owns... UFA.. : Commercial Films; |‘which has been. making money recently by turning. out. commercials: It. would probably be sold. also” as ‘Part of the ‘package,. -..an _: Further, a German’ theatre: chain is interested ‘in: ‘taking. over the. UFA. Theatre Corp.: of Duessel-. ‘controls 35 houses. | ‘The. "UFA. theatres have been oper-: ating “in: the: black: and” undoubtedly .would bring. a. very. high: of the German Bank Corp.,. which: thas’ poured funds into: the. UFA combine, recently noted. -bank would like to sell. out’ its. in-. ‘terest. ta a group who would take. -over.-all the houses. Be that the ~Y viewin ~ London $403,200 So Far London, N oy, 53: “In ve ‘same. period atl this same ‘As another .. example,. “Longest Leicester sr Square. ‘Theatre, Theatre. Clo’ Clicks in Paris, Nov. 5. ‘houses, .but:optimism is indicated. ‘Opus is doing terrific biz at the ‘two houses with the dubbed versions but less-so with the subtitled Last: named house is hurt: ‘because of only two shows at _ different hours.: French ‘audiences Just | seem. incapable of coming. at. fixed: ‘hour. for: films. ©: This. :week Champs. ‘house wilk ing one after the other. Other ‘ously. easily go its 14 week route. also doing big biz in Marseille: think . Elizabeth Taylor up. to the some ended withthe note that Jt ze a Frankfurt, Oct. 20: “Latest allegedly anti-German “The Condemned of. fication’ by the. West: ‘German Film. Classification Board... much controversy . -here, because s alleged . although . “Italian. di-. rector Vittorio de Sica . followed theatre . ‘patrons :in other’ nations: “outstanding” nal pic, it was -noted . here... proval by selecting it as “best film of the: month.” A-member of the West -German Parliament and also. head ofa ‘cultural. committee. to] | vada ‘the’ ‘faltering, German film. ine wee film. to ‘have. been ‘sliced’ by. the ..| Sensitive. West: German censors, Altona” (20th),-has been. refused a classi-|. attacking the political censo | the pic. Meanwhile, a. West | ‘man federal office has objected to criticism .of. West |} Film. has: been: the: ‘subject’. of: te the: -OF. ‘Meanwhile, the Protestant. Film{ Guild’ of. West . Germany has received.much ‘criticism because -it | gave the censored version its ap-| : ‘Story,’ : -smoke, ww “All that Heaven Allows” Invisible Man.” on citation by the Protestants of such sion of an anti-German “hate” pic, Now, too, the German press is growing Germany’s -governmental bli -of “films: that might. ‘show “anti ‘the Sarte-stage play, he also: in-| several. anti-German'|. Scenes, ‘The scenes, ‘which are being ‘shown in every other. country, are being cut out: of the West German version of the pic..so. that the. | Germans -won't.. sée . themselves. ‘in ‘the. unfriendly . ‘Tight. :viewed: by ‘German tendencies.’ The Federal Office for. Trade and Industry ©: in Frankfurt, it» noted, are | opposes only those pictures which might endanger the freedom. and ‘Image of .West Germany. And in a study of ‘pictures from Russian satellites .countries offered to it ‘since: 1954, of the 2,041 films from: Now, the: German. Classification | Ri ‘Board. "has: refused to put the film Jin ‘either . the.” “| “especially -outstanding” category, | |-which would. mean~important. tax | relief. from. West. Germany's: heavily | taxed. theatre. owners. ' : Film has been. turned : ‘down by’ . the: Classification: Board. because |. the’ version approved: for Germany | -. has .no comparison-with: the origi ussian ‘and ‘the © east ‘block coun ‘tries it: refused. entry: permits 4 for ‘only. 121. . Sets: Deal f for Reissue oe -London,, ‘Nov... 5. | ‘Leslie Greenspan, managing di ‘rector of Golden Era Film Distrib| “utors® has: closed’ a deal: with F. LL: Thomas,’ ‘head of. Rank Film “Distributors, for the reissue of 26. ‘Universal-International pix. Among the subjects —in the package are. “Border. River,” “Gun and. “Abbott & Costello Meet the. _SSTERT TIONS. -previous ‘biggest. Day” (20th). had; film’ rentals of. $347,200: in its 47 weeks at the ‘Wednesday (30 | plicated by the fact that the -.. [percentage for 1964. already | | been set at. 30% but it is felt. | position is.so serious that. the ~ 3Paris! Houses one. at .a Champs-Elysees house. continue. its two shows. but com-: houses. have: three. shows continu| for it: ‘But ‘indications. ‘are it will . Tt is. If most reviewers ‘felt it. was: somewhat too long: and. did not} ‘demanding. aspects .of the role, |. was still a. spectacle that merited three films, | Hulot’s Holiday” and “My Uncle,” ‘gays it gets more difficult to make | film: into “a big. show,” “screen. ‘values. This, in turn, ‘creates ‘pro‘hibitive costs for doing.a film in Of 26 Universal Pix | “Benny -Goodman | 4 _s London, Nov. 8: 7 | |. The government is being urged .|to intervene in the present British film industry crisis: an@ Introduce emergency legislation to raise the | British film Quota from the ‘curee ie ~ Almoat one-half of the. $840,000 ae | guarantee ‘paid: by. the: Rank Or-| | ganization to 20th-Fox for “Cleo -patra” has been‘amortized in. the .| first 18 weeks of..the-run at the Dominion, : Tottenham. Court. Road. : Film rental in: that ‘period amount rent figure of 30% up to 50%. | Decision. to. seck | governmental aid was made'at an emergency meeting of the Federation of British Film Makers. last week, to which members were summoned. by telegram. The meeting also set up an action committee ta deal with a nunmiber of firm and definite proposals, hut with particular emphasis on the campaign for the ‘higher Quota. The invitations to the ‘went out a day after the BEC Ty “Panorama” program the crisis for the general ai and the closed session was held last The ederaticn members r ‘nized that the situation is . Hel di ‘of ‘Trade president should be asked to promote legislation to secure an immediate increase in Quota, without waiting for the next annual : ~|review, which would take place in “As in: ‘Tnaiy places “Cleopatra” (20th)” ‘barged: in. to. generally un-} even. reviews but excellent biz. ‘Wow is not the -word.here .as yet: as it. winds its first week at three. ‘I tion on the: need for an immediate mid-1964. . The’ problem. stems from” ‘the current backlog of British pix awaiting release, and the FBFM. emergency session focused atten short-term remédy; as a result the. discussion centered around the ‘statutory Quota, which has remained constant at 30% for the first feature films since 1950. | At that. time, however, there ‘were three major circuits, and for a time there was a fourth playing | 20th-Fox releases. Now, with only two major outlets the same statutory Quota can be. filled with far fewer films, It was emphasized at the meet 7 not only the pro“Also “Cleo”. geems to be going ing that it was ons -over big’ with the. public ‘who go] for ‘spectacle... while the more choosy set, . who “go. for. original: ducer who suffered. under present conditions. There — 4 tendency, for example, for direc-tors, writers and stars—as well as. ‘producers—to agree to a low ‘salary, with a participating interest. ‘Waiting for playing time delays a profit return and mounting interest charges eat into profits, thus making the practice of deferrment less acceptable. This, says the. Federation would be a “further blow” to producers who are. naturally anxious to avoid |the loss of any’ arrangement that. helps :to make the financing of a feature film even marginally easier. In its recommendation to the ‘Board -of Trade prexy for a 50% “Tans! on ‘Altona’ for Tax Rel | dustry, Dr. Berthold Martin, led with a strenuous objection to this Quota, the FBFM excepts such areas where the number of com-. ‘petitive theatres would make such a figure impracticable. \French Comedy Writer ‘a censored and. thus unreal ver ‘Sees Tele Making All Future Pix Big Scale Paris, Oct. 29. French film comic-writer-director Jacques Tati, who scored with “Jour De Fete,” “Mr.. personal comedies as the face of. film. changes around the world because of tele. “Tati has made nothing since “Uncle” four years ago. He is | normally a slow worker but he now ‘finds. that it is difficult to work, | his way these days. TV has made, it almost mandatory to makesez he. By. that he means color, big and more -production his manner, that is more spontane-. -ously, with many trials to get a gag. |right, and also take _one’s~ time. So he has waited: and gone to }lengths to put his future film. in good paper form. ‘before going ead. — Tati’s next pic wiil also. deal -with his Hulot character, who sets of things in this. contact with | severyday events..