Variety (January 1964)

‘8 “ * Store”, might be. distribute --.. Gontributing. to the: fortnight. of. : : bulging: theatre. coffers was an: ar-|: na _: Fay. of heavyweight. holiday. ‘preems| . "that accounted for $602,000 in.:17|: ' < downtown firstrun’ houses, .anda me 12-theatre nabe firstrun: “showcase’ ,-.@ MARY i AGRON | _ FROM SAN i | By MORRY ROTH. “Chicago, Jan. 14. into focus.new .hopes for-Chi film biz, new ‘squabbles, . and some radi cally new directions sin whieh: films ere.| “Move: Over’ Darling’. dg . starrer’. played “only one week at’ some of. the theatres, arid the. take for: the: ‘Pic -has. as ‘yet not. .. to rack ‘up: adaptation | ‘World War IT naval novel, “Harm’s. Way.” Preminger. chad originally |. this’ ‘Artists distribution .deal. . ah been tallied. -: What's: most. pleasing: ‘ta. ‘distribs ... and: owners -is ‘the cash register *” .‘yeminderthat there is that. much “total. ticket. money to bé taken in. “As “a. matter ‘of fact, the. over-all gross could ‘have ‘been: higher. if the. ” ‘Charade’. a ‘Leader. ‘period. -It’s the tradesters. opinion (which . seems. to be born out-by the: boffo}-. _*. tales)that: the’ film houses’ will “.. pick up. their-share of the “spend: frenzy” that takes over the popu-. ". lace. at. Yuletime,. ‘and. they” are _stirprised that’ .no. one. hadheld Spor advanced a ‘blockbuster : to ‘siphon off a bigger .share. : It’s-‘the .° first year.in many | that. there hasn’t been a Picture: around ‘big enough 7 $60, 000.or -better -for} :” @.-week~ that. included” ‘Christmas | . a Day. and New Year’s: Eve: : “Most precedental showing for -the. ‘ “+ period: -was ‘Move :Qver ‘Darling”,. 20th-Fox’'s. first: major . Chi: venture, (Continued: on bage 18) | od Par Makes 3 ‘Hollywood, Jan. 14; | : Otto Preminger now has: produc-" : : --flon-distribution: ‘ties’ with .three |: -.-majors as. result’!of deal com-| .: pleted. on Friday’ with: Paramount: |: : “The. new. agreement. calis: for. three. first. of. which © will be |: featiires, . “of James .Bassett’s planned direct-produce’ . story. -for . Columbiz release, but. “by anamicable agreement” . ar-. ranged to transfer the ‘Project to. Paramount... “Harm's | “Way” will” be Premin| : ger's. “next. undertaking: Story is _ set: in “period following: the -Japa-. ” .ftese’ attack on Pearl Harbor. It. is: “at present the . only. story he has _.definitely: decided on «in relation. to the Paramount affiliation:” .Preminger, :whose. “The Cardi: ‘. nal” recently” was put into release |. “by: Columbia; has..two more: pic-. tures to.do.under agreement with‘the. studio. ‘He also has two com mitments remaining on. his: “United There is no time limit for: com a pletion . of any of. the three com: | pany “obligations, Preminger ex plained. “That’s .one. of. the.advan ‘tages. we independents have,” “he: (Continued on Page: 18). -cricket;. Specifically, he: ‘pinned20th:Fox’s N.Y.’ ads for’ its: Doris Day-James |] oy which’ . contributed $407,000 to. the over-all total. Another. big’ chunk ‘came. from: la 45-theatre. -firstrun saturation. .<pooking: of: “Who's ‘Minding ‘The “generally. in “tandem with. “Wheeler Dealers”. The Jerry Lew-| ing” “Why didn’t | within, bounds :‘ of ‘good taste. -: -Trend. towards injecting ' sexof | “Big Zulw’ Whoop” -Hollywood,: Jan. 14,. + “Bxploitation budget. of $1,: 2 “ooo; 000 ‘has been ‘set: for Emi-::. | “a second pic with Cy. Endfield. “and. Stanley Baker; copro-* : ‘slated to: ‘start in September, with: Baker. to star:.as well as -coproducewith. ‘Endfield, who i will direct. : or Rose ant’ Tnansed By. | 20th $ Doris: Day Copy-. Recalling Her Earlier! : ” Hollywood, J ‘an... 14." “‘Downgriding another . Studio’ S|: -product to: ‘bathe" your own: “in a} | more: favorable light: is. “just: not contends .Ross-: Hunter: Garner. -starrer,. “Move. Over. Darl-: parisons: “More” ‘Pillows ‘ipalk’ ”.. “Than -‘pitlow |: “More-‘ Love -Than ‘Lover Come: Back’ ”; . and . “More ‘Touches. Than -. ‘That . ‘Touch. of |: ‘Mink’; All. films’ used in ploy. are Doris: Day ‘starrers for Universal, “Thrills” ‘and “Pillows” . “Hunter| ‘Melchér . productions, ‘others ‘made. under, ‘Shapiro-Melcher-Arthur. ban “mer. -. first holiday. week’. had “not .‘been|. * ‘nicked’ by .a string of. days. ‘of sub ZEro | weather. .. a oe saw. “the: ‘picture,’ ‘a9 a “great dishonesty”: he. is :actually’ going: to see.. ‘however, flipped a bouquet to Uni| vérsal-ad-pub veepee David Lipton ‘who, he maintains, “never: gilds the. ily”. ‘and is ‘able. ‘to whet .the -pub lic’s interest and’ ‘yet: always ‘stay | “questionable”. taste in Hollywood} itm in :the b.o. sucéess of: “Thrill”, “he { maintains, it. was handled.in ood ad | ‘taste’ having been. sealpeled . out |". of script: prior. to: ‘filming... taste’’,. anything: smacking of ‘ “ He expresses: puzzlement ” Over |. to-wife line. in. “Thrill” which ran 1“ love you and. I can’t. wait to get you home”. but wonders. how -Code -:Leould: nix it and. approve... either. premisé or jhandling: ‘of -UA’s ‘Irma | La. Douce.”’ Hunter. is presently producing | Terq” Rath. Be: Rich” : on’ the: Uni ~ For Preninge versal lot on a budget. of $1,600,000. ‘which he maintains is. ‘rock-bottom | for. production and. cast values pic | will Sport = FIRST. BUILT § SINCE 1929, Knowle ‘Opens New. Riviera. on ete ‘Jan. a2 Se a Knoxville, Sain: 14 . The first. theatre ‘tobe: ‘construct‘ed ‘since 1929 on _Gay: Street, the main: ‘artery of Knoxville,--will have its grand opening..on Jan.: ‘21.7 ‘It’s -The “New Riviera, oh. site of the _. Costing $325,000, the -house ‘will: ager’ of-:local Simpson.. theatres: : larged. concession ‘areas;: ‘lobby and_| ultra-modern. construction: —_ Mayor. John Duncan ‘and’ other: ‘dignitaries will bépresent at ‘the. evening: performance to cut a-rib ‘bon. opening ‘the theatre, Opener | isUniversal's: “Charade.” ‘passy ‘Pictures’ “Zulu,” ”according-to° Joseph. E. Levine, here’. | for company’s “Zulu” caravan, °. involving Screening. of film for... ', Some. 150. distribs . and. exhibs: | _. , Levine’ also: disclosed -that.:a: "| : : -” deal. is: about to ‘be closed’ for | Tt ig the: almost-unianimous: opin-| ; fon ‘of. Film -Rowers that the total. "+ take for all.motionpicture theatres} jm. the Chicago: area’: during. the : i: two week holiday: period just: end'* .ed was the: largest 14-day : gross, _tally“ in ‘the. history -of ‘Windy City ‘exhibition. And; like a family that |: -» has . inherited .a ‘sizeable: fortune,| “the. “bonanza . period has:. brought ..ducers. of “Zulu,” Filming: is. “| the I meéeting.. .~ ' _ | -When.all thie. Mirisch Corp. re-.| :| ports -began circulating’ in the. film |. trade. several weeks. ago to. the! . -effect. that. the . prolific’ producers | </l might be plotting..to leave UA }:. which. “features.” these’. com: | ! “More Thrills ‘Than. ‘Thrill | of it: “AID. "5 > muses|: ‘Hiuinter,”. and: I didn’t see: a ‘single / | pillow.” . 2. phe: most frequently-asked aie "Producer. charges that’ there’ is| guides who room together: No. cast: . "tion ‘on ‘Film Row. is: "somebody -have a ‘Gypsy’. ready for |‘the holidays?” That.. one: grossed. _.-. $62,000 ‘in its: ‘first frame. at Christ" mastime a year. ago at the Chicago n Theatre. ‘The --highest™ grosser’ this "year was’ “Charade” at. $48,000 at: ‘the. same ‘house. and. ‘with. New: Year's -Eve™ included in’ the: tally. pix. and‘ their. ‘exploitation. is* “self-|defeating -and-‘in ‘the “Jong* run |. “keeps people out of the theatres”. opines. Hunter... While -acknowledging. that sex was a ‘basic. ingredient} | seeming: contradictions: ef the way]. ‘in ‘which the MPAA Production} ©. Code™ is . applied. He.. agrees: that} ~ ‘Code -was:. right. in’ excising a _manhas: ‘a. mumber of Broadway -play Pretzel. Factory,” that the: film rights ‘will go to: 20th.. | sie” and “Goodbye; . Charlie.’ as | “Pretzel. Factory” is a . ‘comedy al dealing with three young men who old one destroyed by: fire last year, |: be operated and leased by “Simp|. ‘son Operating. Co. of Atlanta.: Hugh ‘Rainey. is’ vice-president and .man|: -“Betty Smith has’ sold. MGM. the ‘Seating capacity :is 850. with. en _In -recent. months’ Wilby-Kincey.| et et Uh ~ Post Miris isches|. |. United “Artists has. been hotting:|. .| UD: several -new:* production deals. | |'These: are designed to bolster: the| | Van johnson, Facing 2. _ Stockholders I. :]. company’s -. product. position,. over the: ‘next six” months, heading into big Spring... /-when their: contract: is wp. in.1967 “Tor: maybe -everi before; emphasis fell” upon’ UA's . product. Position sans: Mirisch. . Actually, -the. “com-. | pany has much product. o€. its own: ‘without the: Mirisch. -Bros: but the hew: deals;. when.‘ disclosed... will | “it is. felt . at UA, . a ksubstantial' “product: ‘schedule for. demonstrate, the’ future.. Not all: have: worked for. UA: in the | ‘past. ‘UA won't. ‘hint. ‘First’ inthe | series: is: now “revealed,. however. | This involves ‘the. Pan. Arts: Co.,| hélmed: ‘b’. ‘producer. Jerry. Hellneverfelt in. better: health and I've man. and director George Roy: Hill who have “made. their: first effort, “The. World. of. Henry. Orient,” for | UA... ‘Pan. ‘Arts -has ‘signed screen‘writer Arnold “Schulman, .‘ who’lt |. -produce and. write two. original ; ‘screenplays. “Schulman. is: resehtly: working on. the. first + script,’ -as-yet-. untitled. : story: about™: : trio’ of ‘young . United”: Nations: femme in much: of | ‘or director is-set yet and Hill isn’t |’ film, advertising. which-.often tends | ‘being mentioned ‘to: lense the} to. ‘mislead the filmgoer. ‘anent: what -project.. Location : work, ‘naturally, “He; will be done ‘in. New ‘York. Itis. undecided... ‘whether studio ‘work will. be done in, Gotham. or~ Holly ~ “Orient”. ‘has: Jensed. < Myerberg. wrot:. Michael. : Teast... -What:: ‘the presently. responsible: ‘for -Para ‘mount’s other PIX, a8. and tv, . 20TH’s INVESTMENT nN. ‘Twentieth-Fox, “which . ‘already adaptations. on. tap, has made “a Substantial -investment’”’ inthe up| Live Over | A: thus. . insuring | coming ~‘ “Never Play, by -Jerry. Devine, ‘is to open ‘in New York March :25. with Den‘nis. “O’Keefe starring. under ps > aul: Vroom, Buff Cobb. “and: Albert | ‘production: auspiees .. of «. Marre. a -.20th’s Broadway ‘adaptations: jr '. “| elude “its . ‘current : Felease; . ‘(Her She’s Mine,” “Fake : the : finished: but ‘unreleased. “The Visit” still-to-be-shot: “The Sound of Mu -start to: make. a small art ‘film but then become. involved: ‘with. an -al| |coholic screen ~ star : who ‘induces |. . | them. to expand the. modest budget | Calgary “Mayor's. Script’ wil “Roll 4 ‘Metro’: 'S: Betty. Smith: Novel \. With 25c on Extra Sales |" to: epic. ‘proportions. Greensboro, NGS ‘Jan. 14.°. rights to. her ‘latest : novel: “Joy. In: The Morning” which’. will have’ ‘| the Doctor. Kildaire of: television. Richard: Chamberlain, and. -ElizaJ °: beth: Ashley, of the Broadway hit; “Barefoot in the: Park” in. ‘the Jeads. | MGM. has. “also. ‘promised. the: novelist 25c. for every .book’ that’s Believed. pending _ are: saveral “name” ‘producers: and : directors. : strub’s ‘Lake Tahoe. ‘Studios = “ont | Long Island,“ but... Hellman’ didn’t}: |-enjoy ‘the “experience, : to: say. the} second " Schiilman:’ project will be isn't ready yet. He’s: ““Love...With ‘the.. Proper j: ‘Stranger,” which he wrote but -did. not. produce.‘He: has also" written. well, as: “for . Jesit: _ JERRY DEVINE PLAY | ‘and...the: ‘gon. was last int, Montreal. 25: years | : “;ago” ‘when he. appeared in‘ a-song-and-dance turn called “Eight. Men |: ‘of Manhattan” -at ‘the -old Normandie Roof. in the Mount Royal] Hotel. : Oo the Gotham exchange area follow a firéf-run theatre.. ; Theatres has made’ ayailable~ the. sold over: the 50;000 . ‘mark: Miss. ‘main. street. Bijou ‘Theatre: forthe |Smith doesn’t anticipate any: prob‘Simpson. concern. This house. will |lems.. here ‘because. the ‘book. is|-~ ‘he returned. ‘to the owners on Jan. | selling.at-the rate of 1. 000. copies 15; The. Bijou is also a main: ‘street a@ week now. plus 20 foreign publtOE, cations contracted.” a Company. is headed‘by John. Teal.’ “Yale Ne 0 0 Handicap Gerald’ “Ayres, . ‘who... joined Columbia in. 1960 as assistant story. editor in New: York, has. been appointed: assistant‘ :to * “Mike J, Frankovich, ° ” produe| ‘tion head: A. graduate. of Yale, where | he: -majored.in drama and..: English, . Ayres. was. a‘ free-™ im Joining’ Col. . Cancer Op; Prefers Talk Montreal, Jan. 14.“van J ohnson,. concluding a solid ‘run at-the. Queen’ Elizabeth: Hotel’s Salle. ‘Bonaventure, is ‘acting. ‘like .it. was. someone else going into the Gotham Memorial -. Hospital ..’ this. ee. for cancer Surgery: :on: his g. Except when you ‘get hira to talk about | his. ‘tough, personal health ‘problem,.. when ‘he isn’t. virtually. ‘bubbling: to” tell ‘his: showbiz. col-leagues.-about ‘theproblems: and challenges: facing a long-run filma ‘actor, in ‘switching. to. wates.. 7 “On the. cancer: thing:.. Teg: funny: -thing, put Tve never’. ‘been -: -in. -better condition: ‘They: did surgery on. me for cancer before, ‘anid now: Tye Bot to: 80 back. . “This has “been a. very.’ Happy meé’.at-“the ¢ancer .hospital,;: ant.” interview, for’ ‘Hal Wallis. * ture.” “My. first and ‘Wald orf. “Lyn: Duddy. ‘and. Je erry. “Bresler: his produ¢ers‘and writers who. also ‘turn out the stuff for such:as Judy | :| Garland,. Carol Lawrence, the: Mac| Raes, Arthur Godfrey, etc:,, worked |. on him for two years. until he took. . Loew's Par nt the. plunge. : Since ‘then, ‘approximately $15,|: ‘000. has. been: invested. in. the. act: ‘which, «says J ohnson, is . out’. ‘of : rehearsal. ”‘There was 12 ‘solid days of. night-| anid-day. : rehearsal before. he}. opened and, he: says, “you ‘have to.}:: ‘be . prepared .. ‘to: : give. up:some. friendships, when : you: try. a. new .4 case exhibition: plan which is ‘to thing like that.””. Actually. it’s’ not that new: Fohn lance writer. and. reader ‘before: a oo, ‘porting cities covered in this pub-| lication’s “weekly: ‘boxoffice “| Mmatés’ indicates: that the recent ~ | holiday ‘period: was’ very noel-noel, especially after New. Year. Sale of OF His New. Cafe: Act time for. me,. this: cafe exposure— new faces, new: experiences,.a new: -careeradventure.. But ‘every. now: ‘and: ‘then I. think of what's: facing ‘when: ‘Tm ‘alone particularly,: and :* get |. that: funny feeling.” ‘It's not pleas. weeks, I hove,’ *he said: ‘during ‘an’ ‘after. that. ‘it’s Bliuan: Boston. and Harrah’s: in:|.. .And .don’t . forget. | n {.T’ve-. still. got five pictures to do. “never. | HEC SES. “py ‘be. hospitalized tor. two | So.. you: ‘can “see; |: my. main: thoughts are. on the fur { On ‘the. ‘specific: problems: he faced. in: switching from: films’ to. the live cafes with live’ audiences. -Johnson. confided: biggest .: ‘problem;” : he : said, . “Was: 7 ‘and: is: staying. awake for. ‘that ‘gec| : ond: show, after years. of. an. earlyto-bed routine. to be: on. ‘the. ‘Set early.’ Fae . | . His cafe. act. ‘began’ to take’ form: ‘| when he: took: a: bow. at the Gordon. -}and‘Sheilah MacRae’ show at. ‘the: ~ OUI COMMON “By MIKE WEAR a judicious ‘perusal. of the re tickets soared. to three-year highs,. {creating a sanguine reaction among theatremen and: distribiitors alike, The fine takes came, in ‘some: areas;. in the teeth of. blowing snow. _ : United Artists, Paramount, 20thCentury, Univers al, Columbia, Buena. Vista. ard sother companies all had occasion to break with the wreaths in:the form of smiles: The hanpy daze at. UA related not: -alone. tothe biz’ done by its. Cinerama.: comedy, “Mad World” but.to the powerhouse form shown by the British-made “Tom Jones” which copped. the year-end ac‘o'ades. of the National Board. of | Review; .-the .N.Y. Film. Critics Circles; the IFIDA “Best Foreign Film’ and. numerous citations by _ amuserient editors .around the” country: .which habitually sift. favorite. releases. . Mo . Columbia ‘had “The Cardinal” from ‘Otto. Preminger as its big: one over the holidays.. Carl Foreman’s. ‘The Victors”. was only just. into: reiease.-.when' Santa Claus’s reindeer were heard -jingling in the -background. «: .How: has ‘been boxoffice in Texas since the Dallas: assas_sinationof © President John F. Kennedy?. There are ne ‘hard * facts, as usu}, since Texas cir|. quits and’ theatres, by leng— “ tradition, ° hold ‘te the pelicy ‘that their business is nobody's’ business, Boxoffice. receipts. _ in’Texas film houses may be “the film trade's. best-kept se. ‘crets. It is heard in New York, and | ' eredited, that there has been ‘.a falling off in ticket purchase ‘and that Texas did net reflect -the good business reported feldowing New Year’s Day in “nearly..all sectors of the unjon. The term “remerse”. ig ~wsed as respects. Texans, Bigg, st ‘total _régistered a single picture. was: for “Charaye.”” -which Universal: opened in some 200 situations on Dec. 25. Pic: came ‘in with. nearly. $3, 000,000 gross. for i ‘| the two weeks, ended. last Jan: 7; according item, of course, _was: the $233,825 to’ Universal. Major |. "(Continued on page 1. Metro ‘Showcase’ Two theatres inthe ‘Loew's metropolitan New York chain have been set to participate in the show be adapted by Metro.with “Wheeler: Dealers’” ‘on. Jan. 22. But. only two—thé other 16. all are indepen. dents. 2 The situations firmly are set—18 in all—for MGM to-go showcase in. ing. the pattern established by. "CANADIAN NEGRO HERO. As Feature | -. Calgary. Alta’; Jan: 14 Victoria Productions ‘of “Canada J. 6. | is. to produce ‘afull-length color motion picture. based: on. the’ book, “John Ware’s.Cow:Country,” writ|. ‘ten by: J. W. Grant MacEwan, now. ‘mayor of Calgary. ; “The: book is: a ‘biography ‘about a ‘Negro, John Ware, who was ‘born tinto.. slavery in-: North Carolina. ‘After .the:: ‘Civil War. he moved te ‘Western. ‘Canada and. eventually |. $1 owned: his ‘own. -ranch in Alberta: “He was killed: in. 1905 when. a horse fell. on “him... * ‘Sereenplay is: now being written. ward Lee and & H.. Rose: of Mont 7 United Artists and.then adhered to somewhat: by 20th-F ‘OX... “Joining ‘the field:in the case of _ | MGMs: “Dealers”. are Loew’s. met: xopolitan, Brooklyn,. and. Loew's: Jersey City Theatre: ‘Heretofore, ‘Loew’s, ‘as the RKO circuit in N.Y.,. eschewed any kind. -of ‘showcase participation. Hint. around: town” (Manhattan) has it that. Loew’s will. go more. {and more for: showcase, and provid ing -.its top houses in¢luding the. Broadway firstrun Loew's: State, [once certain problems _ _ can: be: solved. : Nature. of. the problems has been explained. But ‘it’s more or less an. established fact that: if all the dis : | tributors, or: ‘at “least. the majority. of them, insist wpon going for the Ed| blanket firstruns oftheir pictures, then Loew's will have to go along,