Variety (February 1964)

SATIRE LS 3 co eer PRT ae STUART emir tomer ay 7 a ot wl p ett feavee operators” ‘since. they were. ee granted a franchise -to participate] -.: --; dn’ the. U.K.’s . first. tollvision’ trial} + Gigs ‘scheduled: for tomorrow (Wed. J in-London.. -.. ~! : :.,' Purpose’ of the ‘nieeting: is prin-| cipally: to. set a.date and an ‘agenda:|:: _ for ..a.~ further: . = ™. aera ™ TaN " _— callie alas ie r ceirmatdinnindl bieet sail hid Deere 2 , 7 RTP AVA A WR NESE WE RETTTTAN ‘nmieenaia of _ . tee a in . . oy . . a ; . o . . . eof ‘ . non : . ‘ a . Tete we ys Oo . . SD eon i tT RON Ping 5a. TY UR AUT AEG. pera: eee aint they should. ‘form. an “"S" pendent. re the. “networking” of programs.: _sharé: programs and: private,’ -inter| arn ‘én. encompassing such. subjects as * goproduction, oe product,. : buying : of full © ‘paysee ~~ “network”. rights, ‘etc. which may. “rt be explored further at tomorrow’ B a eral Coe ln, A Post Office To To Rule Toll Test | * -¢ollvision, experiment” in -the U.K.. _ was. to: come: under ° the Inidepen-'j. . ,dent. Television | “Authority, body: ‘2. which “oversees: thé:.commeréial’ tv “network, have: been quashed by: .the Post. Office. department which * fords’ ce present. ‘responsible: for. the: tria ; OER PERLI TAY YN ETRE AR RL RTE SEIT!“ ‘during the ‘three year petiod of the: _ --»@xperiment,. the: Post Office. would | -: i. “Maintain ontrol.’. “ment is a’ success, ‘he’ adds, ‘it may *. -» be: that.a “separate: authority --will’ be ‘set-up’ to administer: the ‘paysee. TES But : at’ “this | _juricture ' . there: are. HO’ plans” on. ‘the. matter’ 7 ‘at. all. °° THE CARDINAL? BOFE. ~ IN HOME ARCHDIOCESE .. @ Joéal mark: Now in its. seventh ‘ week at the~Saxon on. roadshow, | . ‘the ° -OttoPreminger ‘film : is.. out|" ‘grossing . ‘any. ‘other ‘city -where’ itt :: sis: playing. In -six. -weeks, “Cardi-| . came Y:) aa has: averaged © better than |’ . $23:000. per. week.: “John Goldfarb, : Please SF Home!" ‘Steve | ‘Parker . ‘production |. for -20th-Fox -: ‘reke ase ‘statring ‘Shirley MacLaine.” we _, area. Version: ‘including: six nude: be shown... Chicago ‘sub-distributor | George. : Hefner's. arrest stemming: from. a . from ‘the: film.. Marie: McDonald and Noonan c | Fire] Testing Tollsters Map Stak British Showmen * Bondon,: “Feb: 4.7 4 First ‘official: meeting: of. the .five'| meeting: -Which } Ber should . ‘see. the companies. ‘getting “ i. “;down to the-real work of. mapping | cls -) > out the structure. of the trial. But | 0 /. tis ‘anticipated: by “payseeinsid|". *. eps that. one -or two. other: matters.) ” . will be ‘brought. up: at : this. in-. : os augural.. ‘meet. 7 For. instance, it. ‘is “generally | agreed: among :the:” five—Cale-|-" -., donian-TV, .Choiceview,.” Pay-TV, tre ~TelemeéterPrograms :°.and:. : Tol-| ‘Television: agenda: is: a. preliminary’ ‘discussion |. The. various ‘‘tollsters ‘have always]. acknowledged’ ~ that “they -would |: company . meetings have: been tak|. ing ‘Place | for-some time.” Ad. “hoe: “talks. have: been going F use”. of. American 2 ° London, Feb: 4.‘Rumors: ‘that ‘the: ‘ five-company. : An: “ official: spokesman Says “that TF the experi- companies, : Boston, -Feb. 4.. vet, “ Coluinbia’sThe ‘Cardinal,"1:; rh ‘which was ‘endorsed’ by Richard Cardinal . Cushing of ‘Boston: in’ its: world:preem. here, is: heading : for J. Lee “Fhompson will’ “direct | “Come. | /chere two: years -ago ‘cost. only | tendency: to use nude. scenes s snow: ... pleted. another film, “Dungeon 7 __ “association : (similar | to‘ the -Inde=|_-of-Horror, "at, Boyette’s. studio. Companies’ 1. Assn.) representative. of. all“ toll tV | ‘.. “. eompanies. It .is anticipated; (00; ge ge : that: a chairman. for’ this-body. will/ 9" 4k ‘: be’-elected’ at tomorrow’s huddle: |:{' “Also’ expected’ ‘on. the. inaugural’! | Chicago; Feb..4 ‘Chicago’ Motion Picture ‘Board of Review. hag teversed. ‘an earlier decision. upon ‘a‘second appeal: ‘by’. producer’ ‘Tommy..Noonan, to * Allow exhibition of “Promises, Promises”: in the. greater Chicago scenes “OF | Jayne ‘Mansfield. will | : Régan had been” holding splayed to. ‘dates. for the pic,. awaiting the. board’s decision: Situation there... Lo : Was. particularly: hot: in ‘view: “of: Playboy. Magazine. ‘publisher Hugh .. nude: ‘layout: ‘of: ‘Miss’ Mansfield, | FAST-BUCK aie " By ROBERT: REES ° Minneapolis, Feb. 4... Current outpouring of low ini: | at, B-Grade. -‘nudies '. has‘: -been . ‘Tinkited: mainly to shoestringers and | .. i. Noonan. yesterday. said. “Chicago. ‘green. ‘light’ also: opens up. ‘st me :*.Louis and Milwaukee: markets. Kansas: and. Cleveland: earlier had LS passed: film; Noonan: now. faces ‘censors in New. York. cos ostar ‘in: ‘Promises.’ 2. S to Share Programs Tea ‘San: ‘Antonio, Feb. C ”Russ: Harvey, star,. ‘producer: “and. ‘director. of -“No. Man’s ” 1. ‘Land”:. currently | . showing’. -at‘the . Texas “Theatre, :revealed: . that. the film” which was made. fast :buck ‘indies who have ‘been |. operating — for: years and. have | a . | constantly. ° exploited . Sexsationa {.. | ; be: a. ‘growing “inclination. on “the ‘part “of ..some. -major™. Hollywood. | producers to: hypo “better: grade |. "Danny: : Rosenthal,. “wife” :of "~ branch. manager: of 20th Century-Fox Pictures’ here. She ‘| product’. with: ‘an occasional . bare’ |'skin “ scene, “witness “Cleopatra” : (20th). and” the upcoming “Carpet “‘Baggers”. (Par): It may be’ that. these ‘producers . are: following. the |. ‘successful foreigh. | moviemakers. -who. have. never: hes7 ‘| itated: ‘at~ photographing.” actresses a "Made Feature for. 30G's "|i the: bufe, éxample ™.' of... Nude scenes in grade A pix: shave . $30,000: to ‘make..: Pat. Boyette, *:: balls, “loeal. tv newscaster’: was: assist-"..}. a the. reasons ronderlying | the. into at ont nude. scenes ‘and’. “possibilities ‘of | °: this becoming: a-trend, this Varrery | ~-ant .director.. the. film. -is. equal to. widely a "praised “low budget’. ‘costing .. “many. times: this . amount. . “ing. a. studio here.has also ¢om cand will. release. it. soon... Love. -the’. Bomb” ig brilliant and amusing, and much | norm.. that is ‘grave and. dangerous.” . : ‘ments. away. from. him.” ““* Rose. Pelswick ‘in. -the . J ournal American ° has the |: “nightmarish” ' term: (or at least. the’ head ‘over't. .her. piece: does): but. is" otherwise: unexpressive. ; Archer ° Winsten ‘Judith | "Crist © othe © “Dr. Strangelove” 7 _ Maa. Worla’s! Israel: ‘Help | ' Detroit, Feb: 4. ‘ists:. “It’s -A--Mad, Mad, Mad, “Mad | World,’” at. the Music Hall, will ‘be. A. benefit: ‘sponsored by: the Ameri ‘ean: Jewish Congress ‘on :Feb. 11.°. Proceeds: will go ‘to the Louise} Waterman. , Wise Youth Hostel in} Jerusalem. .. Some. critics ‘here ‘believe oon | that. in. some’ technical aspects ‘films. «= “ “Harvey’ s company, ow: build: of rca “Re ‘Strangelove’| stanley. Kubrick's: “production ‘of | “pr Strangelove | —-:Or How’ 1}: Learned. to Stop. ‘Worrying... and . ‘opened... .Jast. ‘Thursday : (30Y: -at New’ York’s Vie| torja and Baronet ‘Theatres and:re| ceived a rare Set. of yes and a little. bit no" Teviews -amhong: the local | pundits. -The reviewers. found. ‘it ‘| both: fun and nightmare, . but: for "| the: most’ part’ wrote :so. ‘provoca| tively about: the’ ‘picture’ as. Prob‘ably. to sell tickets. screen. an Bosley : ‘Crowther “in” “the. Times: said: “My :-reaction ‘to. it. is. quite. . | divided, because -there ig so much }‘to it ‘that it is grand, so much ‘that | ‘Wanda Hale -in. The News, piv-| ‘ing the--picture three and’ a half { stars, concluded. that “‘Eventhough. I didn’t’ like’: the, .warpéd:. humor’ provoked . by ‘men of-..our country |) who’ are’ responsible . for ‘keeping _} the -peace; I can’t -take--Kubrick’s: brilliant. ‘work’. in’. other. “gommit-" Herald: | ‘Tribune ‘and: “Alton ‘Cook. in-“the. | ‘ ‘World-Telegram. ‘& Sun are ‘rave. “Columbia sources: -relate .that | “set. opening: day records, with. a. gross. of $8, 065 at |. the. Victoria’ and’ $3:728.-at. the -Baronet, “latter: being. triple ‘the |. ‘Previous.’ opening day’s record. , “Michigan. preém ‘of United : -Art-| Focal rep: -talked. recently to’ Dr. William. Schofield, «professor. “of wy ‘psychology at the U. of Minnesota. -|. Basically: Dr.. Schofield agrees | {with Screen ‘Actors ‘Guild’ president |. |. Dana Andrews © that. the profit | motive: is the‘simple: key. Enough ..” | showmen. apparently are convinced | that bare'flesh pays off; or: at: least =. ‘has a‘special audience of: some size." ee i “Having” run. out ‘of: the: Biblical | we -epic typeof film forthe present ~ +.) at:least, having surfeited the public -”|-with the. violence. theme,” lacking ‘| mart, sophisticated.” ccomiedy .and |" : ‘ingenious niurder mysteries,.what’s ‘eft for: the’ ‘American’ producer? ‘One’: thing: remaining, apparently, is to show more‘skin' than. has ever ‘been shown: before. on: a. movie: Others’ ‘Set ‘Fashion? by. .some-”. critics. that ‘nudity in “American films ‘is: leading to de-. -terionation _of' moral * “standards. .“There' 's no evidence. of increasing ‘Nudism ‘in. -America,” ‘the. psycholo ‘gist-points out, ‘Film nudity might | be ‘described | ‘aS: a: ‘manifestation: of: |’ coming fashion in Hollywood film | making; but ‘it doesn’t: ‘indicatea ‘loosening. of moral ‘ bonds . OF: : in-. creased libertinism: : “Of .coursey the Hollywood trend. if that’s. what itis, is something of. a. departure” from: the -.accepted society, relative . disrobing. -is ac ceptable: But. we: ‘usually’ pay. more. ‘attention to fashions which: cover. rather. than: those~ ‘which uncoyer.. “Film nudity. Might >be. one re flection’.of..a. slow. deterioration. of. “American. morals. generally. But ‘as ‘such, it’s only ‘a symptom of a declining ' culture. It ‘certainly ‘isn’t the: principal. ‘contributing. factor.” | Schofield -sée:a possible link be--| tween: the: Hollywood development | and recent easing of ‘literary cen L-sorship © “throughout | -the. ..U,.. S: in. the: Post: ‘winds. up. -by saying “it is Impos| sible: to. describe how much ‘mean| ingful © entertainment has “been:} -’.| packed into: this one, “rather, short | ‘| picture.. _ “Much. of: this is pure conjecture, ‘but it ‘would seem that. U..:S. movie -makers are responding in‘part to |. what has happened in. the: field: of ‘literature. : I’m referring: © to the successful lifting in-recént. times of * ‘the.:bars on -what jhad been. con-. sidered: . “pornographic. “such: ‘as: “Tropic of Cancer” “and ‘Fanny. Hill’. It ‘may,-be ; that ‘our. filmmakers ‘are testing.the. limits: of. their. own’ ‘code. and: their. own: censorship. orn “Emphasizing ’ his | opinion: ‘that oe “nudity in films is: not.a moral issue }. -and: that -it. does not: bear déep. | psychologigalimport, ‘the psycholo| gist feels‘ that.one of: the .reasons. ‘American ‘producers are. injecting: udity: in their ‘films : is” to-.meet.|:. the:: “competish. ‘of: French, ‘Italian qd ‘and: other’ foreign producers. who .' have. reaped :a ‘harvest’ at ‘the “B.o. in.this country... 7 {Whether ‘this attempt: to. cap: (Continued ‘on: page: 15)" campaign, | " Schofield. predicts that the. bare | skin trend is -likely. to ‘continue. . ‘He. discounts: ‘the: theory: expressed.| -Love,” Squadron,’ ”. “Ror Those: Who. Think | ‘Young,”: '-“The:’ Seventh -Dawn,'"| literature’ eafeteria,. AType Blood 8.08. Cleveland, Feb. ‘4:. : Variety: ‘Elub’s Cleveland . . chapter is. ' searching | ‘for. 2a ‘to save the life of: the ‘wife. of =. . .one of. its-‘members. : : . Blood is “needed : ‘for. Mrs. will“ under-go open-heart ‘sur-. — : gery at Mt.. Sinai. Hospital. in. Cleveland. during, the week of Feb.: 24. _ ‘Blood: ‘donors’ wereasked. to. ‘call’ ‘the ° local Variety: Club. 9 Sales..drive -gambit. is" an” annual |.event -at ‘UA but-this. is ‘one. of the} largest’ seale:: such. pushes. ° “ever undertaken . ‘by the company. : In line :. with: the:.new seope: “of: the. push, : it. will. have .a ‘revised |” format: this : _year.: Discussikg the} | ‘sales. v.p.. James. R.. ‘Velde. said ‘that. there will. be cash ‘in all. _ categories ® on. a "2 |) quarterly basis’as well ‘as the-an-|. =~" .-T nual cash. ‘prizes usually awarded | -at -the -end of a° given..push. A large-scale: exploitation: program. is also being. mapped. ‘to back it. up, | prizes Velde added.”: Included. in. the campaign: are the holdover: successes “It's a Mad, “Mad; ‘Mad,. Mad. World”. and “Tom: _ Algo’ ‘featured | will be “Ceremony? * .“One. Man's“Way,” “The Pink Panther, ” “Flight From. With} Jones.’”: ‘Ashiya,”.”...“From *.* Russia. “The Best: “Man,” ™“633 |: “World: of Henry | Orient,” ” “Dubious Patriots,” “Woman. | of | Straw,” “Invitation: to: a ‘Gunfight In... our -. clothes-conscious | Dark.” ‘Tor apt" cand. ‘Shot in’ ‘the . This : is a. ‘hefty array of product. and. one. of -:the more: extensive. groupings: UA has come up. with in} ‘a while. --Veldé added. that: the. -cOMpany has: great. expectations for the year-long: campaign. {FOUR KRIM SONS TO. ~ DEBUT FANCY OZONER Detroit;: “Feb. 4, . Krim Boys, “whose late. father long ‘was a..top~ exhib here, are “back | in thefilm. ‘biz -big ‘after an. absence, of six years: Their'$700;000 entertainment centre ‘in suburban: Sterling Township ds. being readied fora ‘June’ opening. The Krims, Sol, “Mac, Hairy: and | -Eeonard,: are: building | a 1,400-car ‘drive-in equipped. for. year-round -operation,: :an “indoor . auditorium: with” a. stiack-smoking . Jounge, “at playground anda ‘dining room. Provision is ‘being made ‘for’ tater : construction |. ‘children’s * of a second. drive-in. back-to-back: In. addition, a .50-acre.shopping ’ centre is ‘scheduled ‘:to’ -be built ' ‘adjacent to the: ‘Krims’ entertain_ment. center, ee | a ‘| both film trade and Wall Street observers, ©. Paramount President Le Forl UA Staffe ers| “United: “Artists is: ‘paying: tribute to. its exec v.p.. Arnold Picker ‘with |the _ longest’ salés: drive in its ‘history, . a-53-week billing, : ‘collections’ and ‘playdate program... ‘Tun| ning: through Jan: | 2; 1965... The: “Robert. B:. ‘Lindemeyer, ‘onetime director, ‘script ‘writer, ‘and’ editor. |. with the. Towa State’U: ‘film produc-: | tion unit,-has:been appointed. direcBe ‘of technical services, for Metro4 Kalvar. Ine.” ~: Ct (hi Relentso on Undraped Promises’. ‘psvcuoLost iF ‘Par Set oak Fl uur Extimaes; ‘In a move calculated to. impress. ‘| Barney | “Balaban and exec Veep 7 George. Weltner summoned the |-press last: Friday (31) to discuss the _ | company’s plans for the next couple’ of years:’ Out of the lengthy. con= . .| ference .came the fact that Par is © _| presently. engagedin the most am‘| bitious. and potential-laden period -|inits history, with upwards of 33 ; features’ ‘already skedded into. 1966, all to be. ‘financed by: the company.” Just how’ much. coin is. involved : in’ the hefty: schedule. wasn’t re.{ vealed, Weltner ‘commenting. on | 4 this point that. it doesn’t prove any.. | thing to discuss figures. He also re< |“ cheadquarters “or | Max Mink, ». fuséd: ‘to. compare the’ output. to .taanaging director ‘of Palace © {Previous ‘years, saying that num ‘}tbeen isolated. and. to. date ‘have| .; Laroused: little indignation.from. the :| actresses’ involved, ‘exhibitors or * the: public, Butits felt. that. eriti|""""" | ¢ism: could “mount. swiftly. if. the. ; Theater; and Jeave their names ; ' bers really aren’t important. be and. telephone, numbers. = Feause the: major concern is’ “to .-}miake what has to be made.” All == | the. sameé,. the bulk looms sizeable y-:.-, in both categories. ~ 1. Balaban opened the session say-. ing. that; henceforth, “| and distribution” will be: our main . | business, ” alluding to Par’s. -drop-. | ping -of.. several. of. its diversifica| tions ‘in recent months. He. said 41 that” the company had been. in a ‘slump “but:we have made: a turn,’ and. called. the ‘upcoming product. including “production “the | best. “we! ver had, . 1955. ue “He said. that Par's goal 1s “pic. | tures which rate in the A bracket” ‘and : that. ‘‘we: look “forward ‘to. at least two: years : ‘of: smash business.”” ‘The’ prez..said' ‘that Par has ‘been getting afl kinds of product offers. lately. ‘but that’ the. company will not “dilute” “its sked with B’ pix, | coinménting : “there may. be room | for them’ in. this ‘business. but not for -us.’’. Balaban ‘added that ‘Wwe mean to. Keep | the pipelines of distribution open.” He noted that “the company is.in a very good position financialdy” and: said. that he feels it has. possibly. the lowest debt structure in the. industry. He estimated that ‘Par stock’ will hit: a new high in 1964 but: also.said that no’ extra. divvies. or: such’ were Planned. He (Continued on page 16). Dovn Goes Scale On ‘Cleopatra’ Minneapolis, Feb. 4. “With grosses on downward trend, ‘United: Paramount’s local loop Cen-. ‘tury started’ this. week to run big ‘newspaper | ads announcing “new low prices” for “Cleopatra” (20th). now in‘ thie. 32nd stanza of its eXxclusive area engagement. ” . Up to. now the lower and upper | baleony had been scaled at $3.50. and. $2.65, respectively, so that the: ‘saving in. this, instance will run as high. as $1.40. “All lower floor seats continue to be reserved and remain at: their original $2 65 and $3.50" : ‘prices. ° For the first Six: months: of the picture’s _ Century: engagement -. there’ were daily matinees, but. now ‘they’ re. only on Wednesdays, Satur days, ‘Sundays: and holidays and the original three. ‘Sunday showings have been eut to two. In. order. to land “Cleopatia,”. the ‘circuit . gave 20th-Fox a $350;000. check. in . advance, representing a’ guarantee. of the split grosses. Dur-'-. ing’ the run’s “earlier part -weekly | grosses ranged. as high as $25,000. and. more and Charlie. Winchell, the chain’s local: ‘president, said. he ‘Was:. very well. satisfied. with ‘the. takes and. considered. the engage “ment a success in.every way. The... current. pull ‘is: around: $9,000 a’ Ts week... “Previous minimum admissions ; ‘had been’ $2.10 and $2:65 for 7 _|matinees and nights, respectively, -| with all seats reserved. Price re| ductions mean that ‘all’538 balcony J'seats now are unresearved and sell. . for $1.50, which’ is 60¢ ‘Iess,.. at /matinees ‘and: $2. 10 for the evening | showing. ie 4 ee le ee a bec