Variety (January 1964)

"Rey cities: “covered by. “VARIETY this session are: enjoying. the usual year-end ‘holiday “upbeat, «with -biz. . booming » -in . all spots. Many new '-/pix,. Jaunched. to ‘take advantage ‘of Christmas ‘week ly are helping to boost.tradé. -“Charade” (U) (ist wk) is new -" boxoffice: champ by. a wide margin: :Present indications. are. ‘that it will go well. above. the. $550,000 Mark just in ‘Aeys. -which VARIETY -covers.. It js-establishing new records in .at,|: Jeast three. keys and is uniformly. ._ pie to mighty.. “It’s a Mad. World” : (UA). (6th | wk), ‘Is: pushing “up: to. ”-gecond ‘position... for ~ highest coin. : total so far for. this ‘pic.. “Sword -in Stone”: (BV)’ (ist wk) fg “finishing «third with | ‘some ’.:15 (Con! | |in:Hub and: great in. ‘Chi.“Comedy Of. Terrors” (AD): is.rated big. in De‘troit on preem date... . . “Ladies Who: Do” (Cont). ig ‘start-[. .| ing out like a -winner, being: forrid. playdates:: “The Cardinal’* (3d wk) :will take fourth "position.. “(Move Oyer Darling”. (20th). (ist wk) © is: capturing fifth spot. and likely. will be. heard from. addition. ally. “Four For Texas” (WB) (ad wk) “4g taking. sixth ‘money,. playing “in .80me 16 key cities: “Kings -of Sun” CUA) “(2d wk) will ‘take. .seventh, : _ place. “Cleopatra” (20th) (27th wk). is. winding up. eighth, . feeling the stern © competition from” 50. many, pix. are designated in such cases.:. .€ Complete. Bozoffice Reports « on ". “nhewcomers..: “ “The Prize”. (MGM): ‘(st wk): Is _anding | in ninth’ spot, “How. West United Artists | s Special v7 United ‘Artists, “has tors sometime [ expressed: partisanship, to television | ‘for’. advertising’..and. publicity. -It]. = Will. presently. expand the pub. de-. partment. to include a. special. ty "arm, . with a: staff of ‘its own,: will sooh be: “spending as. much, if not ‘more: effort: in this area ‘as ithas. inthe’ past ‘on’ preparing |[] ‘still, photo “material . and«. related: Copy. . for. “Newspapers. and’ _mnaga-| zines * UA tas fora. while: now” been i ws National Boxoffice a | rR oT a p _Kinas Week ‘Trade ‘Soars; ‘Charade’ First, “W: ont | foo 2d; “Sword? 3d, ‘Cardinal; ’. Darling’. Next: oe Was Won” (MGM. 63d wk): will ‘bel: ‘10th, it’ too féeling. the. apposition | , of 50 Many ‘strong, newcomers. | ‘Minding the: Store” |: : (Par) (2d wk). still ‘take’ 11€k posi‘tion. “Lord of Flies” (Cont) ‘(7th ‘wk).rounds‘out:the Top 12 grossers.. “ “Love :“With-“Proper™ Stranger” (Par) is. shaping «as ‘a’. potentially: big: newcomer, beitig sockeroo hoth “The Victors” (Col) is rated boffola in L...A.:and |. “(some sessions. ‘taking. in New Year’s Eve) natural-| tial. Pitt. “Hub. © eC ally: Television | | Company 8 Setting Up Sub-Department to Plan And -, Administer Tv Plugs ; Who’ r in N.Y. and L: A: N: ¥5 to fiint great future poten-| “Dr, : “Newman” (): |.and hot in Hub.:. “Who's.” Sleeping. ‘in’ My ® Bed” (Par): looms: asa ‘future. bet at the: wickets, being: bofé. in’ N. “Y, hep in Hub, neat in. Minneapolis; big in St. “Louis and -Frisco:.and nice in “Conjugal “Bed” (Embassy), hep in: Denver, ds. okay. in Chi: and “Note: The. number of weeks out ini reléase for bigger. and. Jongrun pages 89:10): PRICKETT: BACK ‘at. ‘DESK: Columbus, 0. Dec: 30. Kei. Prickett, ‘executive gecre tary: of: the Independent . ‘Theatre’ . Owtiers of . -Ohio,, has returned to ‘The idea. ie to ‘Specailize;. ‘spend , more:time and money-in the -prep|. -aration: and ‘planting © of” publicity:| + film -footage.on ‘tv. .United-“ Artists | his desk.” He * underwent. “treatment for emphysema sat. Hospital-— ‘exercising more and more. concen-|#| © tration: on “ty ‘in the plugging of. at have. _-its-pix and has obtained : been: termed... “excellent”. results. Most’. recently, company and’ this has payed. off -Stanley .Kramer’s | It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, -Mad World” 1iland then. “McLintock” weré .given | a -heavy. tv ad-pub_ push by :the _ substantially, UA? pub ‘execs feel. | i}. ea .True, the “Mad” premiere was pre[ ‘ceeded: by..a highpowered national |} : exploitation :: -drive geared . to. fhe it . . press, : plus a giant, junket, “Phis' tv scheme is not. merely: the: ‘increasing . of . budgets | for’ tv: ad vertising. It ‘will be. ‘geared. to get-} ting -considerably . more ‘ free: tv" e space via. the: publicity ‘and news | .. route.. This’ was..done with “Mad-} “World”. with substantial success a< round .the country. and: ‘this. case | was the-final confirmation of.a long-. Standing: idea within the UA pub: brass that tv is: being underused -in | selling pix:to. the public, while the |i] . “print media enjoy. ‘an. exaggerated a -prominance. . ‘This: has: ‘been. the’ thinking . of | a “UA: pub chiefs’ for some time .now | a8 regards. advertising. ‘The ‘spread: ‘to “free” publicity is an-extention . of. this ‘thinking and -will. ‘shortly: ‘give birth to the new pub arm. :-Number: of ‘new. staffers and theif: ~ man’ who'll: head .the. branch are |#]-— . still being: decided and some: word.|H © on this. should* ‘be. .forthcoming. -in } othe. near future..Tv has.been a pet / 3}: * project :of.. certain pub’ bosses: .at | 91" UA: and this..new. project ‘will be | ~ ‘getting considerable attention as s it] a Sets. under. “Way. _ _f : John kL Fagan; -owtier. “of ‘the | | re ” Bunavista Drive-In at Borger, Tex., | ~ guffered ‘ ‘@ heart attack and. was taken. to ‘Dallas where he’. is. Te. { a & Te -govering: in. n hospital. “ig tated. smash on initial playdate. in-L. A. 19 Bed’ or Not To:Bed” (Cont), “alsonew, shapés: socko in Nu. YY. a aa ‘| Chicago | | property erosion and” television: steadily. continue to chop: away at _| the. number. of. existing. theatres ‘| and “no new houses. are ‘being. built. ||. Four ‘nabe. houses were axed this| ‘year, and it has: not been untypical: of recent years; The. flight of the “middle class tothe. suburbs: has |. | left. mostly. the poor in the: neigh-| ' borhoods: despite the’ stated . in-} Will, Rogers beset of the City: Father to [By MORY. ROTH" * -Chicago;. “Dee. 30. as” ‘a measuring mark. There were 10° firstrun howsés \in..Chi when “Video was: in. its. diapers in. 1945 |. and now ‘there are .17in operation |/ with “immediate. prospects for two. |-more. -ArtWirtz. has -asserted that ‘he will’ reopen ‘the. Palace if he can get the ‘roadshow engagement. of “My™ Fair‘Lady”. and: Michael Todd..Jr.’ says he expects: ‘to. find the... right ‘film’ -for ‘the. relighting’ | of. the . Cinestage. within weeks, If. those‘figures: are. not. impressive: enough, then. add: the: possi-:}. ‘bility ‘of approximately. six:of the ea new ‘and. deluxe ‘shopping’ centre |hardtops ringing ‘the city. entering |. ‘intoat least a‘day-and date re| lationship. “with :the -‘mainstemmers | | ‘in ‘the next. year or ‘so, Theré has. -been. much jockeying between. ‘the: distributors-and'the owners. of the ‘outlying deluxers. in recent months: and’ a “general feeling ‘ of: ferment | as regards this: situation. The: Paradox” “neighborhoods, “where " (Continued: on: Bage 14). _BIFNO ne y Ah a: 1:year ‘period,.the ‘number’ Pastor ¥ Fore Te ‘Counoll’s ‘ot-Chicago: firstrun houses -has’ almost: doubled. On the. face: of. it; .. one ‘could. assume “that ‘television | ‘was ‘the. best thing . that. ever. hap-. ‘pened to deluxer. biz in ‘the Windy ‘City. Take the last. week. in December | Supervision fi for Dally: :: “quired ... “NEW EXEC DIRECTOR " Commission -_ “Rev. Wiliam 4 Fore: has. been | named | -exec.. director ..of. theNational. Council “of: | Churches’ : Broadcasting . ‘and Film “Commis: | sion. In the-new post, effective Feb.. -1,-. Fore : will) have résponsibility for. religious’ radio-tv. ahd film pro duction.‘and distribution on: behalf: -of ‘the 31. communions cooperating: in’ the. NCC." Fore, -wihio: ‘reps! Tthe _Methodist! “Board ‘of. Missions, ‘participated’ in the. BFC’s ‘program . in the ‘pastas a member of its film committee -and as ‘chairman. of. ‘its: audio-visual committee ogi: “‘mission‘ary education. _ . has: ‘actively. aT 's for New Horizons ~: Hollywood, Dec. 30... a January: filming. ‘start: has .béen set ‘by. Pennebaker ine.: ‘heads: ‘Marlon “Brando Sr. and. Walter | Seltzer for’. “Daffy,” their ON ew Horizon”. “joint ‘venturewith Uni {1 = | versal. The: indie: company: ‘toppers, . phe quéstion: which -asserts it -| ele in the face. of the. facts of the: fall-off in‘ customers. and increase. _ jin -first-run theatres was .articu‘| Jatéd by. one. Film, ‘Rower as-“‘So [: where. ‘did we -gain all the loss?” » The. answer. to. that” query lies.in|:-. who will jointly supervise “Daffy” -as-exee producers, also have. ac‘an original, ‘| screenplay ‘by. Stephen. Kandel, .for-. ‘filming next. summer but ‘have not as-yet a: distribution ‘deal. : .“‘Arabella,”. Al: Ruddy; . ‘who ‘will froduce “Daffy” also will function similar-. ‘ly on -“Arabella,’’ comedy with. a southern European ‘setting, Pennebaker, ‘in ‘association: ‘with Robert. Mitchum’ s-Talbot_ Inc:, re-. cently. completed. ‘Middle’ for -20th-Fox -release.: Los. Angeles: premiere of. ‘pic prodtced : ‘by .Seltzer and‘ starring Mitchum, Frances. Nuyén; Barry Sullivan, -Trevor Howard. arid Keenan Wynn |. will be. held late next month. _ . | expressed its: | talks had. collapsed. ° aera a this. side of the story to the Coun ~adventure|" “Man in -the ire Coast 1 as. the continuation of | tween the. Screen Directors Inter--. | national Guild. of Gotham. and the | ‘er Larry. Moyer, indie filmmaker ‘who incurred the wrath of the East {Coast Motion Picture Council by making a‘ non-union film. called ‘The . Moving Finger,”. will ‘bring ‘cil at_ a special meeting Jan. 3. . _At that. time Moyer will attempt +r iron out the differences which . have put-the. Council into a tizy which has resulted in. Moyer’s possible expulsion from International Alliance: of Theatrical Stage Employees: editors local 771 and: action’ by’ the “City: Dept: Investiga tions... The ‘Council has. also re quested. action. bythe City Dept.:of Commerce, which issues street shooting: ‘permits.: Moyer, -an editor: who made his: first .film: with “Finger,” figures. ‘that he faces his biggest. battle with 771. He has learned that formal.:‘charges are being drawn up a 7 _ | by the local, according to the Coun= '|-eil’s recommendations, but he still doesn’t know what they will be. So. ..,far as he knows: he hasn any union bylaws or .any other “1 rules and considers. the. action un| precidented. ~ Scheme at Universal |, Moyer _ did. edit. his non-union ‘film, however, and .perhaps-therein | will lie. the. ‘charges. He has two other projects on his schedule and. had: planned to. edit. both of these — himself as ‘well. If he is expelled this won't be. possible, however, ifthe films. aré. made according to | union. scales:and regulations as is his: plan. One-of. the pix, called. “Hail to the Chief,” is three-quar fers. scripted by Moyer and Charles. R.-Allen Jr., dealing with Madison ‘Ave.’s merchandising of a US. ‘president into office. It will be bud‘getted at $300,000 with Moyer also -| producing-directing. He plans to set ‘up a limited. partnership to finance. Lit, with, _ Shooting to begin ‘this ~ ‘Spring. His . other: project is a ‘Revolu-. tionary” War opus called “1796, | which is: still a way off. He has no™ ‘distrib lined. up for these or “Mov-. ing Finger,” for which he won an ‘award at. ‘the San Francisco Fiim Festival. ‘It.is being screened for US. _distribs presently and. will open. in. London at the Academy ‘Theatre’ ‘in. mid-February. Sd Directors Pact? All apparantly. is not lost as. far talks “be-. ‘Directors: Guild .of America aimed at.merging the two units. Although .. negotiations have been broken. off jon the West Coast, the SDIG is ‘going to its membership Jan. 25 to discuss the. collapse and possibly. work. up new proposals to get talks. | Zoing again... _The late.-J anuary meeting will be | held at. the. Henry. Hudson Hotel. : During the session a. report will be’ Ja|-made to the membership. about the i |-talks,. which had proceeded for. nearly . five . months before break ‘ing down. A digest of the terms |for.merger will. be. presented, along ‘with explanation of SDIG’s inter-_ ‘pretation of the differences which { separate: the east and west. directors groups,. ~The membership will be polled: to check its feeling. as‘to further. | merger dialogues. The SDIG is rep‘resented as interested in amalzga mation despite George Sidney, DGA. |.prez, charge that he felt Machia ‘vellian motivation working against it in N.Y. Subsequently, the SDIG. “regret”..that the The issues which have dampened i things: so far ‘are primarily . some. | technical. points concerning mem bership rules and. legal representaj tion: But there are many things | involved.in this merger attempt be-: yond the mere amalgamation itself.” 'Hollywooders. have wanted to: get {ij.a piece of.the lucrative commercial | film. action, now: controlled: largely. in, east. ‘t broken : _