Variety (January 1964)

First. 1964 ‘release of 20th-Fox’ s . arty ‘affiliate, ‘International ‘Clas sics, will| be. the recently complet| “The Good || ed. French. :import, | Soup,” tentatively skedded.. to~ get _ prestige release this -side*in* April: Pie, | which: presents °: Giradoux, Marie Bell: and: a ‘num‘. ber..of top French ‘male™ players;. oe will actually be..the second IC: re-|| lease (the’ first: being the Brigitte}. Bardot. ‘exploitationer, “Please :Not {f“which: was. released « Jast | Now” ©. . year). “but: the ‘first one. of: Teal ~ prestige possibilities. :. Expected to follow. “Good. Soup” || -into release on’ the Ic. sked is the ~ made-in-Hong ._Kon ng. _ “The Empress. Wu,’ ‘~be of historical impact, as the first Chinese film: ‘to. get ‘general re-|[. in the U:S.: outside. the | a “hoped -that.. the ‘pie,’ ‘prodiiced’ by. nf Run. Run: Shaw; ‘will ‘stir the same] “lease; . "Chinese. _Janguage houses, * critical: interest which greeted ‘the | first Japanese’ costumers this side. |. Both -“Soup”’-and “Wu” will: play." _ Anitial: dates in subtitled ‘versions. Earl Hollander, who succeed Bill}: Shelton. as IC head early this year, will ‘supervise the launchings “OF ‘these. two’ pix as well -‘ag.the: five | or Six other Pix on. 1 the. atfiliate’s 8]: -ked. Norway Produced. By. PAL. BANG-HANSEN™ . “Oslo, ‘Dee: 30. Norway’ s ‘film year is: completed “with a‘ fifth. feature ‘production,, “Lovers”. adapted from the. novel} of. Terje: Stigen. Of the five--pro='} :. ductions. perhaps one may garner “gomeé small. rental response. ‘from, other , ‘countries. The season’s first: Ni orwegian pic “to find. release. was Reinhardt -Christensen’s:. Stompa. . The ~ most, dwrama, . . “Episode,” days on: a~-budget. . of $20,000. | . While’ it is ‘not entirely success: “fal, ‘being derivitive of the -work of Alain’ Resnais of France. (where Clemens studied. ‘film-making),. the : picture. gives. evidence of real. di rectorial. skill... If also :shows : that. professional: films. of . quality . ean} be madé here for. very little money. |: Undoubtedly the ‘best. pie of the “LOD ‘is. Arne .Skouens’. “About Tilla;” a. sort. of Norwegian. version of “David ‘and Lisa,” though. there’s. no. évidence. that: ‘Skouens had. seen. “DT -& EL”: béfore he made. his film.. . The picture, dedicated’ to. pioneer . Norwegian psychiatrist™ Nic.. Waal, tells of. the ‘treatment ‘of a. “young. ' girl” who. ‘has closed herself off: from: the world: :as ..a ‘result of traumatic” experience ; in her. early. | "iife. ‘Film is‘ honest, unsentimental: and. offers no:easy . solutions: to a ° off around next February.” capitalized . at $28; 000, was. ‘backed ‘exclusively. by: U:S.. investors, -and: producer ‘Ben |. Kamsler. is. partnered ‘in the ven-. ture . by. :George Shdanoff, who. "” eomplex problem... .. Lovers,” produced ‘by Yocal show | ‘biz tycoon: Egil. Monn-Iverson,is a. “Tugubriousty: faithful screen version: -.of the’ Stigen . novel.. -Film,’. which “was ‘directed: by:. Nils’ -R-“Muller, "was ' photographed .° in ‘color -and. the ..most’ _ expensive “Norwegian: ‘film of the year. “Though. its -star;. Ingrid :Vardund. make-:a. ‘beautiful’ semi-nude heroine, film isn’t likely: to-wind up with ‘the profits. which, were originally anticipated.” “UNCLE SAM'S: “BOOKING' “Bridgeport,. ‘Dec. 30. Robert. ‘Potenziani: come. " Loew-Poli ‘houses, -has already had to ‘give ‘up his ‘portfolio to. serve Uncle Sam. in the Army. . | Drafted -manager’ has been. Te: ° * placed with. Frances, Connors, who had been: moved from: Bridgeport . to. Waterbury. when’: Potenziani, came: in. : fai a ss ~ First on Bill of Fares : Annie}: | “sun Anniversary Number ‘color. .spec,! 7 which. should {| .“Backicks,’”. directed. by Bjorn: Breigutu,. ‘a: _ folksy contedy of. indifferent quali-. ~ ty, . which. -was.-followed © by: ..Nils-|-: second “pic > “featuring the. _Thoppet-heto, cinteresting” “Tocal production: to’ date -has: been |. young: “Rolf ‘Clemens’ . _roniantie | shot | in. 14} * See: Portrait of Marder’ ‘brought | in. from: ‘New’ Haven’: College to: -be=: Bridgeport. Manager of |: Seu oot 7 Canadian Critie. 7 ; “GERALD. PRATLEY . who has: covered. the ‘show. biisiness scene has. “writen : an Inctsive Word ‘Assassins. ie the soon-due.. Plas other futiatical an and data-filled : LS charts: ond. articles: _ ~ Playoff Pattern The: big-budget : ‘Doris Day star |.rer, which in years past. might have. 5 Films in 1963) played ‘only one. Broadway : ‘house in..New ‘York, “one ‘in Chicago’ S.. Loop: and a. ‘handful. ‘of. day-daters|:; in. -Los.: Angeles, is ‘currently. play‘+ ing.-no less. than .52 ‘firstruns in | those-:three:. keys: 17 ‘in: Gotham, eight -in . Chicago all outside. the: Loop), and 27 in L.A. “At the weekend, one: “20th exec predicted: ‘that. ‘first -week’s -thea-. ‘trical gross ‘in the: N.Y.-Chi-L.A. swing. would hit close to $1,000,000, “| whieh ‘is'a lotta -eoin to take out of three cities in-one ‘firstrun week. . pic. received |. $250,000 . as:cash: ‘advances ” ‘from, In Chicago. alone,. the. eight takers. “Lendon;. Dee.” 30... “Only one ‘previously ‘unprodticed: “play. sponsored terests in. London’s: West’ End: has |. “survived : ‘during the’ current: legit season... The: ‘sole -stayer -is: “‘Por by -Americ¢an in trait of-Murder,” ” . which Ben Kam sler “is. Presemiting: in association.) with Bob’ Swash. Among. the failures in ‘this ‘cates’ ‘gory “were . “Pocahontas,” ‘the -mu-: “sical which .ran..for:. 12. _perform-. ‘ances. at. the: “Lyric; “Life,” which folded: after four. per| ‘formances. at’ the Vaudeville, . plus several’ others. which collapsed on ‘the road. and, neyer.; Feached, the. West End. | Having’ opened: “Oct. “24: ‘at ‘the Savoy. Theatre, ‘ferred * yesterday. (Mon.) .: ‘to.’ the Vaudeville, with a.six ‘weeks’ guarantee by themanagement. On. ‘its |. present .performance: it’ should Pay: “Portrait” The : production; : staged. it, . The: weekly. ' operating. nut-is in’ ‘the region’ Of $5;600, and during. its. run. at. the’ Savoy ‘Was. averaging a weekly profit of around $1,400. Its:only unprofitable. weeks ‘were. on: itsout-of-town” -tryout, | where ‘it ‘dropped. over. $2, 200 ..in. ; | three” weeks: .. ve . The. play, by: ‘Robert: Bigomfield »f7 stars: ‘Phyllis Calvert; George. Baker |. | and Renee: ‘Asherson,. with, Jack | -Gwillim; Tenniel’ Evans and Bar‘bara’ Hicks: in featured roles. Yul. Brynner; ” Dratnatically’ ‘demonstrating the 7 ‘/ extent. to which domestic. ‘release |; ‘| patterns are changing is. the ‘cur‘rent example. of 20th-Fox’s Christ|| + mas: pic. “Move Over, Darling.”. ‘wealthy. diamond mining. operation ‘called. :.| about the. futile. attempt: of'a group: , fof ‘soldiers to fend .off: a. native "| attack,.and this Will -be made. there. ) this:summer. Also,-there .are plans. ‘| to: make ‘a tv series. in ‘the Salis-. _-Paying Off. by: February “Shout. ‘for. ‘trans q SESCURREGT _ | “There. “are ‘several Tich’ ittle | countries: around: the world which: {laregrowing ‘ested ‘in film: production. “This. is || “HL so ‘because; although they’ are rich }1 in’ their ‘own’ currency,: they’ are: ‘|| short on: outside money and: mo-|]. |, {tion pictures. are one. of the ways, | to get such dough. coming: im. * ‘one: of the mary: ‘Editorial Features” . ‘increasingly Actually, Herrick: has. been work|a | ‘ing. in.S, Africa’ for a while -now, || ——~|.in -association‘with: S.. A. Films, | .-. "| He will make a. film: called “Ringo”: . ‘with’ the. outst: in, April and: ‘has. ‘newest ‘love is: Southern ‘Rhodesia | Changed ber eS where Herrick has formed. a ‘part-.| ‘nership -:‘with..some: others. called: ‘Impala: Films; . ‘headquartering : in | Salisbury, | which. _ is. only . 50air | -minutes < from Johannesburg. and |: 8. -A. Films... Latter, backed: by Rand incidentally, “Mines, ~ in S. Africa. ‘The British governinent” main | tained a film unit:in S:. Rhodesia ‘which made. pix for ‘local consumption.” Despite : its’ purpose ~it “is: wellequipped, Herrick .reports,. with.color and b&w. labs,.:techni| cians and.such. Impala‘ is absorb-. ing. about :75%. of this.:operation’. after -the British ; ipull “out: “and | home’ rule. ¢omes in shortly. :/In connection. with. éxisting: lab: facili-|' ties, Impala. -will ‘build. ‘sound stages. Also, a partner in the project,. his” ‘place. Ainto.. dressing ° rooms, ‘sleep. over facilities and. cutting rooms. Impala: has purchased. a ‘book “The ‘White. Men’ _Sang,” ‘bury ‘location.. ‘The new stages: are expected tobe ready within the. | next. few: months..and Herrick. is. now. -in Hollywood. ‘buying -equip ‘ment for. the. project. The: Salis-. bury ° ‘studio-.will also be:a rental arrangement, . available. ‘to: ‘outside. | producers. who. want to work i in’ the | vicinity.: “Herrick feeis that. the: area: has ‘many ‘advantages for: filnimaking: | ‘For. one thing, -it is scenically. per-.|: ‘fect, for. the. ‘appropriate project or |: ‘anything :. ‘fOr © that . matter :.which |. needs ‘space and: ‘personnel, :Labor‘ers are -available ‘for ‘75c. to-$1_a day and dress extras.can: be: gotten. for $6' a. day, while native’ extras: are. there. for-‘$1 -per‘ diem. Also, there is. the .availabilityof: consid-. ‘erable: livestock: and... other ‘ifems | at.-very. low ‘rates. ‘Additionally, there. are: ‘experienced: eameramen, -soundmen’ and ‘others, he says, film units (the latter, which is’ ‘gov= ernment sponsored,: containing a very large: staff); : Round trip fare’ per person. ‘from Gotham. to: Johannesburg is $1,200, Herrick reports, but this can be’ circumvented * -by. “flying: ‘large “| groups by .charter,--which repre sents ‘considerable saving. He: says. that there have: been. several’ in-. ‘quiries made’. ‘regarding ‘film: work. there and he-feels that things. will. -§oon. begin ‘to. develop on. a fair’ | scale: “ "Seidman Frits AP distribution | “for American Inter “national ‘Pictures . for.-the . last two: years,. is ‘ankling: the company: as. soon as” a replacement: can “be; found.’“ ry ‘No. ‘explanation for.’ Se! delman’s depatture’ is given: A replacement Nis expected fo be. named shortly, 7 inter| : Religion. In Show. Biz -.Twosuch countries ‘are. South-}] | : :H ern. ‘Rhodesia. ‘and. South. Africa. |}! {| Both. are’ currently being. devel‘opéd by. outside film‘ which «are establishing production. .. -<]lunits there. This: per F. Herrick. }| Herrick, globetrotting: _fitmmaker_ ae }|.who-is presently: ‘involved: in PFoj| ects in: both countries. : wet! ‘interests | films . ‘an “ex-Milwaitkeean |. “hamed | Lawrence Hautz::who owns a large’ ‘motor court. there, will -rémodel ‘event. . Samuel. L: Seidelman,;” who’ ‘hhas | reportedly. -: “ne | been . veep: in: charge of foreign biggest: investor in the -:West “End: | production. ‘of : “Portrait'. of: Murder,” with a stake of 65%, planed + from Paris. to® Hollywood at the. o | weekend: ‘to. negotiate. a. filt production deal: It’ is understood he}. is to confer ‘with | Metro executives | «this week. 7 a S, Relighne Weer “ROLAND. GAMMON © ‘whe lectures on ‘ead. hes: “written: books about religion ond | | Hies, besides being V.P. ‘of a PR. ‘outfit, hes written about .: cos another faformative: featare:: we? in. the soon-due * ’. * . 58th | Anniversary Number a : Piss other statistical ond data-filled oa _sharts: and: articles: = (156 Made i in a =: | Hollywood Films ‘Up From 18 (62) “Hollywood? S -featute.. ‘production. ‘pace for: 1963. ‘rose by :13. films: _{over last: year’ s :-filming tempo, according to. ‘scoreboard... figures ‘maintainéd «in -conjunction . with weekly production charts. Tally. for current: year is 156; as .com|. pared with 143 pictures’ started in: ‘1962, : representing roughly: an. 8% -inerease. “Metro, with’ 27, ‘led’ the ‘field’ in‘supplanting. last. started, . ‘year's leader, United Artists. which dipped from ‘28 features in. 1962 to. 15-this year,. sharpest -decrease .fn.| town. ‘Only other studio’ to: show | a:. decline was. Universal; which fell from: 14.to 11. Most. significant ; | risé was. racked up. ‘by. 20th-Fox . with -11 features Started this year, -& gain of seven over last year’s slim |* figure: ‘that reflected ‘studio: pro‘duction. -Shutdown.” :: q. Others to register increases were Allied Artists, with seven compared to last. year’s: two; ‘American. In-:| ternational, nine compared to four; | Columbia’ Pictures, 19°. compared ‘to -16;and Disney, six as: opposed. to: four. ‘Paramount’ and:. Warner Bros.’ held: steady" with ‘12 arid 14 features,. respectively, exact’ same ‘totals as"a-year: ago. ‘Twenty-four | ‘indieproductions” kicked off. this “year, a rise of four. over: the 20 launched a year 880. CA's 12Camera “Crew, Indianapolis, May 30. “MCA Is going ‘all out. for its coverage. “of the ‘Indianapolis .-500‘Mile . Speedway ‘Race, to. be -cov‘ered on: ‘closed-circuit tv. May 30.. MCA-TV: will. assemble 12 cameras; 30. microphones. and nine. announ-.} cers t0 handle the event. and will also, in cooperation with: ‘the. Spéedway,: , Preparations. ‘are being made. to. | enable ‘viewers: to. seeevery ‘foot-| | of the. ‘two-and-a-half. ‘mile track, as. ‘well ‘as what goes on in the pits. A three-month: ‘survey. -hasbeen. completed. by Jay: ‘Michaels, “MCA; -TVsports . supervisor, “made eight ‘trips. to. Indianapolis |. ‘amd has been -huddling with .network engineers ‘and ‘closed ‘circuit’ tv pros. The special. studio will be: the. largest ever . constructed.’ for ‘Avho: ~ has | the . Coverage © of a. single. sports ‘Studio — will ‘be .in’ black and white: -Equip ment’ will: be installed Seginning. ‘April 1. and limited, tape. coverage | ‘will. begin : ‘May 1 ‘with full operation: expected: to beunderway by: May . 23: ‘No. allocatioris of franchises: have | yet: been.. made forthe: theatre. showing of.:.the event, . pending finalization’ ‘of. the just-completed. "Survey. -Initerest As reported. Mighe . 2 NN RR CL IE 9 aaa Ea ny 8 te ened Aare AE Duild."a. large, ‘permanent: ‘studio on the. grounds: to facilitate from .both the Rhodesian. and:S: A. the: ‘coverage. ° will | “comprise ‘all: ‘thie “f mecessary facilities. for: ‘full. color: _| casting: of ‘the. race. in’ subsequent. -| years, ‘although the first .showing me London, ‘Dee 30. | Tn: ‘a move. that could have sig | nificant effects on the entire film. industry in this country, the Brit| ish. Lion Film Corp.,:which now ‘is. 100%. | will. be taken. ‘over within the. next || three: weeks: by Sydney Box, “S6=. | year-old producer, -as head: of. a. “group of : independents, The pro-. ‘Government-owned, likely Jected purchase price is $4,200,000. * British Lion: had been regatded ... | as the only ‘indie film’ comipany.. © . | here: and as such. was a haven for 4ndie producers. The Government, ‘via National Film Finance Corp., || acquired. .100% ownership just two i Weeks ago, buying the 50% which. . | had béen‘held: by private interests. .. {| Government. Previously had held’ a | the other 50%: . The complete government owner: ‘| ship. had been criticized ‘in ‘some | film industry circles andthe House fot: Commons.. Fear was. ‘expressed / | that British Lion eventually would {come under: the control: of either | the “Rank ~ ‘Organization or -Associ| ated British Film. Corp., » hese: be-. duction, | ing the only two. major. distribution and exhibitio organi= pe. zations: in Britain. If this’ were to occur, -the ‘indie. producers weuld ‘be -left| stranded “and an obvious extra. product supply. would ‘be. wiped out. -Thus very. much. welcome is the development which ‘seeg the Box syndicate on the verge of acquir-" ing British ‘Lion. . Incidentally, . Columbia Pictures, of the. U.S., has an indirect. inter |est ‘in British Lion. ° Col and B-L jointly. own a company called BLC Ltd,, ‘which distributes the product. ‘and « B-L.. Victor Hoare heads. BLC.. ‘af Col Latins Well Dated, ~ Goltz to Europe Embassy. ‘Pictures is now 100%. © sold’ out in. South. America’ with its ‘current ‘product; according to” -exee vp. Leonard Lightstone. All. of the company’s. Pictures, up to the three’ Carlo -Ponti-Joseph E. Levine. coproductions ‘which re-. marts, the exec says. “Accordingly; Embassy. is. pulling’ ‘its: South. American sales super-' ‘| visor’ Joseph C. Goltz from. his — |. Mexico. City. headquarters for a |-couple of months: during which {time he will tour. European mar -ketS helping .to clean up sales Gently ~ ‘Opened in Europe, have’ |-been ‘sold. in the available latin -business there. Goltz, after a week.. of confabs with Lightstone in New York, has. offed to Europe. The Mexico City. office will not” be’ shuttered: during Goltz’sabsence, however, being manned. ‘by Embassy staffers while he’s: away: After the European sales. Sales drives going on Embassy’s next: batch of features, continuing to headquarter there. ‘The SRO South ‘American. situa-: | junket is completed, he will re-. turn: to .Mexico City and start. the. tion: ‘is. the culmination of a cole. | certed effort. by. Embassy to push its product in: that area..Goltz was. ‘only appointed’ several: months ago to: ‘head. -S.A. operations for .the: ‘distrib. Embassy has been pushing | strongly’ in :several: overseas areas ‘and Lightstone “has spent many ‘flying hours: during ‘the year now ending widening the — distrib’s foreign outlet’ ‘pattern. SPENCER TRACY ILL. Warners : last week encountered a production setback as. Spencer Tracy. was taken. ill and foreed téleave the cast. Of: ' “Cheyenne Au-' ‘tumn,” John. Ford-Bernard Smith eritry, “which started roJling last September, Edward G. Robinson . immediately. was named as the re placement for. Tracy. Film is beinz: lensed in Super Panavision.. Other players include Jamies Stewart,. Richard Widmark, Carroll. Baker, Katl -Malden and" Sal Mineo. oo. eo wn eke ere me sone ar a)