Variety (March 1964)

| * Wednesday, Marchi 4] 4 oa eo ae ee se Rite . : Oa ee ae om 9s Wer reese ~ Vaulties Continue i in Negotiation Television: deals. Involving feature -Jibraries‘continue: to ‘perk: “ Paramount; ‘which: recently. set a -pact with. NBC ‘for the ‘leasing ‘of 30 pix-now’ with options for 30:mor¢@ in each of the next two: years,’ is reportedly ‘now. dickering: another-lease agreement: with a-web for part’ or: all ofthe: Temainder of. ifs. 200-pic . ‘Post50" ubrary,.. . “numbering . some -110 ‘pix. i . Talks: are .in progress: with. Both. ‘NBO ‘and’ ABC.” ‘Latter: ‘Jost: ae out on .thefirst. package, which -wentto. NBC for an average. of: $300,000 per: pic... NBC“ hasbeen doing. a lot of featurewheeling :Jately, having also just exercised an option with Metro “and leased | a, 27. post-’48features for about. $8,000,000 ..Metro made ‘its. first : deal. with. the ‘web: last. year, ‘when: it. ‘leased 30 -pix with, options. 4 for the’same amount for the next two. years.. , Actually, the. way the ‘Metro deal works, NBC: took options ‘On: "37 -pix:a-year for :three years, of which it ‘could:select no more: .than 30 per term if it chose. to. exercise its option, as it*has just ‘The Par deal..works :the satie::way. roughly, with the ‘web_ -: petting its: choice of 90 out 100: features over. a. three-year. period a Be sit it decides topick ‘up: its, options. . oo ° ...° How-Paramount ‘is’ dickering: its. remaining package: isn’t re-" vealed but.some. deal.on:all or part ‘of the remainder -is expected — shortly. .ABC is. very: much in. the: market fora: film “package, .NBC: having gotten such a firm “hold : on: ‘pix ‘product through its But NBC is: also. reported making a strong .. done. Par. and’ other deals. -: bid, ” a “another sytidicator: we Galaed Vagueness nly Note As Labor. N — Fall Apart! "| various. stages of _production in| E Ttaly.: “Among them: are Federico | ‘Fellini's ‘upcoming “‘Giuletta of the-| ae: Hollywood, ‘March 3. Blaming ‘the producers’: associa-| ‘tion ‘for a “sudden ‘and inadequate-| ly explained” policy shift, the. Hol-| -lywoodAmerican: ‘Federation. of | “Eabor -has: told. 'U:S.. Secretary: of: _ Labor W.. Willard. Wirtz -‘of.: its | : withdrawal from, and: the dissolu|: ‘tion: ‘of the: J oint. _Labor-Manage “ drive ‘aimed. -at’. curbing: so-called .“punaway”” production. | ‘Producers’ association. here: had ..a. terse: £n0. comment”: “to: the: eouneil accuga. ; Relative Pall 1. -the committee :had ‘been waging. a --tions. 'Formed just two. years ago“under © sponsorship of: the. council. and the ” Assn. of. Motion. Picture Producers, “pix-point: ‘program to.yestore pro :. duction. to Hollywood. by. Stopping. "othe. flow of: runaways. . CouneilCommunique. sent “the Labor ‘Secretary by Pat Somerset, } ‘former co-chairman of ‘the Labor-| -Mariagement committee, with. COp ieS* to. AFL-CIO: prexy : ‘George |. _ Meany: ‘and the ‘office of the Presi-dent’s. ‘Special. rep for trade. nego‘tiations, ‘Christian A.. Herter, sai ‘the: breakup was’ precipitated . by ‘Producers’. ‘being. ‘no longer will|. ... ing to-cooperate in:seeking eliminationorreduction: -of foreign. film ‘ subsidies through. OECD..and. other. “international: channels.” This policy (Continued on page’ 22). “Ul A Brings ‘Misfits’ Back Jo Market: on ‘Strength. . Of Ex-Mrs: Arthur Miller | “Gnited: Artists: is reviving. “The ” Misfits” in New. York, prompted by the continuance in. Lincoln: ‘Centre Repertory of Arthur. ‘Miller's: play: : “After the. Fall,” which the. playoWright wrote about ‘Marilyn. “Mon-{: Miller. ‘as. a: Starring pic: vehicle for. his: then-wife, : Plan isto’ ‘open. the: film_ at ‘an. roe and. his.. life with ‘her. . & also. “wrote “Misfits” “eastside ‘artie. in the near. future. A> campaign: is. presently being “ mapped’ for: the revival of. the film. “which -was not a successful . opus in: Company 181 events: and: the. ‘Shipstads-Johnson |: “Tee. Follies” that annually attracts’ ‘big. biz ‘during® its ‘three, to. four | weeks engagements.” . Big league ‘Twin ‘Cities’. ‘home its: originalrelease.’ figuring that there: will be. renewed -. interest in. the..film: following . all ‘the ‘comment about Miller's “Fall.” ‘The late Clark Gable Js. also starred |" in. “Misfits.” =: More ‘by.coincidence than ‘any“thing. else, UA is.also re-releasing Monroe . pic currently. . “Some Like -ItHot, ”.in which she another starred: with. Jack’: ‘Lemmon and .. Tony. Curtis,. began a‘run on.a bill ‘with another Wilder. Dic;: " pélease’ by: contrast to the. “Misfits” “Tocal-only plan. on In any event; Par. will handle the ‘dispersal. of the pix ‘itself, Sate At ‘having: been firmly’ established not: ‘to. lease. OF sell. ‘them® ‘to 7 ‘sons. ‘fact, -sucécessful . Billy “Trma: La “Douce,” at * the = Brooklyn” Fox. “Theatre: last -, week. . This dualer will. get: natiqnal: Manager Now Judge ‘Knoxville, March. 3... Wilfred . ‘Gillenwater, : man-.ager of. the Paramount, Bristol, -.Tenn., has-been. appointed city o _ judge: ‘with juvenile authority and. mayor of: the. . ‘Tennessee- “ment Committee on Foreign Film|" Virginia city. "Production ‘of the: U:S. film ‘indus-|:try, Thus. ended::the joint. effort: on ‘the’ part of. unions;. ‘guilds. and|.. “management. ‘to cooperate’ in a} Jjudge.. His term will expire-on |: ~. June 8, 1965..A new: manager i will . be. appointed for: the. _ Paramount. | on 3 Films Rank Thi " Minneapolis, March 3. sota: Twins American. Leagtie -base-That’s what’ was disclosed -by the | ‘However, .. Students. In the ‘aggregate. they’ re: better. liked‘.,than.. big: Jeague ‘Pro football Bates. here. “Sereen “runs. ahead “of ‘touring the. local. annual _Aquatennial © celebration company; summer .. baseball has drawn more’ than. 1, 000,000 each of its first three sea“The. Twins’ last season;. :in| Jed: the. entire American: League in. home | _attendance, . even.|. . outdrawing New York and. Chicago. ‘Which finished higher in. the standings. ‘They’ re credited with. luring ‘many: more. transients: to. the. Twin. ‘Cities . than. ‘any ‘other. ‘entertain-. ment, * Pbusinesses. ° wee “thus. ‘helping. some.” _ottier by:the board: ofcommissioners ‘| . :Gillenwater’ had served since” .. Fan... 30,1962 -asacting city: :: Grade, Robin Fox To” | Coast. for: Confabs { ~London, : “March. Bo ‘Lesila ‘Grade. ‘and ..one of. . his: | associates,” Robin’ :Fox, ‘plane .to'} = California. ‘on Sunday @) for top. _When visiting : in the ‘Minneapolis. level ‘discussions: ‘at’ studios ‘and area’ it’s not films that Minnesotans | df patronize the ‘most. ‘It’s the: Minna-' ball games, ‘Screen fare-runs third,. close behind thesecond place an-'| ‘nual: ‘Minnesota State’ Fair: which every year pulls: ‘More than’.1,000 im: 000° through | its gates in. 10 days, / switch. was a “gnilaterial change: of | Minneapolis. Tribute’ newspaper {.| pou; taking in. adult.. members. ‘of | | both, sexes—a. Survey. that. extended |’ }toall portions * of: the state. . feopyrighted. )«: (it's films outdistance’ in| all: other. amusement. They. beat |. out ‘U.: of’ Minnesota’ football that { . : draws in excéss’ of 60,000: .per con | test at $4.50 -for all seats,. excepting ‘those for faculty members and legit. ‘although -“How to Succeed: in ‘Business: Without ‘Trying’: recently. hit a second-week. ‘gross of just under. $91, 000 after a .nearly $69, 000.) initial: stanza.’ Other. also-rans_are|the | Tyrone Guthrie’ Theatre: repertory. (i EDIFICE ~TNMANHATTIN : | “Ttalian: producer-publisher Angelo ; | Rizzoli © ‘is..making ‘plans to’ enter. | directly; ‘inte. film: distribution in. |-the: U: .S.. market. the ‘first time that:.anItalo film. | producer. has attempted: to. dis|: 4 tribute.-:his © “product . here . under -Lhis-own auspices since the collapse “Pot. | went out-of biz about. eight years fee ‘ago. 4 at “Rizzoil, whose film production and. “ ~ distribution . activities. in ‘Italy: are |. subsidiary enterprises’. to” his ‘vast:] ~~ ‘| book..and magazine ‘interests, . has. ' purchased ‘the five-story building ‘at 712. Fifth. Ave.:in New York to’ “house. his: expanded. ‘film ‘and. pub| lishing ‘activities in. the U: S.(First-|“| floor will be: ‘occupied: by a foreign |. _ language ‘book: store.) ‘It's: expected | ; | that “the: film operations will -get | |under. way. inSeptember, with .an‘| | American film exec in: charge.. Get-.|. ting things started: now is “Augusto-| ‘Marcell. -who, . for “the. ‘last ‘three.| years, has repped. Rizzoli’s-: _pub lishing. interests in the U, S.: ‘Rizzoli’ will launch. his Spirits,’. Michelangelo Antonioni’s “I Red Desert,” Gualtiero. J acopetti’ Ss 1 “Farewell, ‘Africa’ and. ‘Francesco = Rosi’s “Spain.”. Pos Rizzoli's. already. extensive pub-. ‘ishing: interests. ‘in: ‘Ttaly « will. be further. -augmented.. in ‘September | } with. the: ‘launching of :a. new daily’ ‘Newspaper. with editions: in both: ‘Rome. and Milan, * bP RL Depending on |. ‘the size. and. | eventual-success. ‘of the ‘Rizzoli film. . | distribution operation this. ‘side, “it ‘|.might well be: anticipated that he'll. | get the product: of other: Italo--pro-’ /ldacers, some::of whom. have’ not _ | been. toohappy with their dealings “| with: Yank Aistribs. oe Amusements Finds| ‘with producérs. ‘They’ plan . three ‘days in. Hollywood before: ‘gander “| viees in: pictures who. main titles ‘producedby ‘Arthur Freed.’ That’s « ‘very high tribute; ‘particularly. -today:Too many. people. in -ing local talént. in Las Vegas. . Grade and ‘Fox. then ‘go-to: NLY: for * March.‘ 16.: preem. of. “The | Miles starrer... “This. will. mark | | Yaak |-, \ operation: with Six’ features now in Jones”. : his * | -Say Servant,” their: Dirk Bogarde-Sarah | “Exhibs. Unity Move : Kansas City, March. 3: . "Here -for ‘Show-A-Rama, the: a] “respective: chiefs . -of: the. ‘two -! . ~ of. America’ set ‘up ‘committee. the I.F.E. .:-Releasing Corp., |.°. oan | quasi-government. operation;, which ‘of : four. from. . each’! group. _Purpose:. to explore.a merger.’: |: “-." Another: objective. ‘of the”: " ‘eight men is :toprotest. blind ts : ae [a How-to-do-it. convention. Today's’ | program : gives ‘a _p Seale. view . of. the. industry with. | ‘| speakers. including: -John Rowley, . -l TOA; Marshall: Fine, Allied; Mar-. | garet Twyman, MPAA; Curtis Kent, :.| Teehnicolor;. Phil Harling. Stanley _.| Warner, on pay: tv; G, I. Moyer, ‘Small Business _ Adniinistration; | Robert. .Selig, National General ~ _ Extolled by SPC). | with-showmanship ‘awards to Jesse ‘L. Marlowe, Martin Theatres, Nash. ville; ‘Eddie Forester, Frontier Thea bidding. practices. Pan Downbeat Critics’ Tread By THOMAS. M: PRYOR. -. Hollywood: March. 3. Pan already « ‘designated the. ‘British Best. television _. “program : award |: ‘went. to “Fhe Defenders”. ‘on CBS. | f°. Present at. the: Sunday: (1) night! ; ceremonies ‘at. ‘the. Bevililton. Jack] L.. Warner, rapped “downbeat ing less. than “ridivulous. ” Said ‘thie ‘studio chief, “Te ‘iS. high: ‘time. we: in “the ’ film: industry.” fight® ‘bark. ‘and “just don’t take it.’ *. . . Speech: . lauding. ‘Arthur’ Freed| | (Milestone Award Winner) and ‘_pro-. 7 -ducers ‘by: Saniuel : Goldwyn. who: | drew. bead on use of “gimmicks.” ” Goldwyn : noted Freed already : has. ‘Thalberg ‘Award ‘and . ‘is * current. Academy ‘prexy. “bit. “one, part: of character’ I .adiire: most. is. every picture he “has. made “has. ‘been in best taste. You: will not find | ‘catclipenny: tricks or. fastbuck de (Continued: on ‘Page: 16) “No WarmHearted Comedies, His Stanley. Shapiro ‘Scorn. Those: Coverup Adjectives— “wwhen. they. start. “abeling -eomedy — : ‘offerings ‘as: ‘warme. heéarted,’. ‘sophisticated,’ . ’ ‘unusual’. -andsuch, its.a coverup for. the. fact that: ‘they’ re usually not. funny. The | prime requisite of. comedy: is to be funny. and:when they’ Start labeling ‘it, ‘they’re “just : -eopping ‘a plea.” Suehisthe’ attitude. of. “Stanley'|. Shapiro, ‘author: of: successful film. ‘comedies: .000;000.. to’ make “:butthey -have ‘prossed around $70, 900,000 to dafe,: ‘which. isn’t: too ‘bad a return: on an || investment..'‘The writer. is‘ about to. begin. working on. his. next .one, -‘to | -be called “The Favor,” ‘and to. star’ ‘Rock. ‘Hudson, ‘Charles: Boyer “and an as-yet-ungetermined: femme. He. also. produces. via: his ‘Lankersham indie: “company. .. . ‘a. loud. -and. .unprintableéexpletive. “As. far as: duplication . T | cerned, you could saythat Chaplin ae m duplicated. with h his Second. picture.’ ‘His “latest is “Bedtime: Story. ad ‘which: Universal is“releasing. as it-{ has with ‘the‘six others. :Theseven: pix: have ‘cost the studio about ’$17, “To. the’ charge’ ‘that: ‘there, is: a ‘sameness. ‘to -Many of: his . films, such as “Pillow: Talk,” “Touch of: ‘Mink” andothers, Shapiro. ‘emitted: Reacts to Charge His Own Works s "Repeat Format’. ‘There. is. a. great ‘difference: beSay,: “Operation: ‘Petticoat’ |. and ‘Pillow’ :andthis is true: down the. line.” The one area’ of sameness ‘that-: might be. ‘present, : he: acknowledged, is: casting. ‘which, he feels, is one of. the major prob tween, lems. jin. Hollywood: today.’ : ““As to: ‘casting; what: do. you": “ao after . Cary ‘Grant, : Rock Hudson, “| Gregory © Peck, ‘Burt | Lancaster; “Tony Curtis,. ‘Panl ‘Newman. and Marlon..“Brando ‘aniong . the ‘men. -and : Doris Day, -Audréy : Hepburn, -Elizabeth| Taylor, Shirley: MacLaine. ‘and. possibly: ° Leslie’: Caron. and ‘Natalie Wood: among: the: women?” ‘The big -problem is..that there is no placé -to. school -talent’ today.“The old’ baséballfarm system approach is finished, You have to bat in the: big leagues ‘from .the ‘start teday,. .Tv~ may.’ be. the proving. ‘ground but there. is a-chance of. ‘| overexposure if ‘an: actor ‘does 40. shows .a-yearfor, say, four years. and he’s seen for nothing all that that ‘time. The’ big. .question: is. ‘whether the. public. will ‘pay -to see ‘him later, ‘The. answer may be -fo. handle: it likes James Garner ‘who. took ‘a couple years. hiatus before. making the transition,” “ “ Stieen” Producers. Guild. ‘Bes : critics of: ‘Hellywood: ” ‘He: singled | (28) “in out. Bosley ‘Crowther: of the N.Y.| " Times: and called the: CBS telecast. -|Show-A-Rama Skil Practice Oh Onsessve ea Ticket Sales: “By JOHN W. OHN W. QUINN Kansas City, March:3. -ShoweAsRaee VII kicking -off its seventh annual three-day session at. | the Hotel Continental today (Tues.) . Hational ‘exhibitors ' bodies, Al. of .. lied States and ‘Theatre: owners: indicates it will tread familiar paths Jonce’ again—to probably greater -: impact. The emphasis remains on j film: ‘theatre business-building. 7 Thus; from. the opening: keynote oe today’s” by: “George. Murphy: at’. luncheon, this will be ‘pretty: much. : a somewhat : broad Corp. ‘on “Keep. Home tv Free.” The .-business of ‘ticket selling. comes into. full play Wednesday . (Continued. onpage. 22) Half of Bronstonians ‘made -United Artists release “Tom]. ‘as... best: Picture » ‘of 1963. Bit Manhattan Office On Return From Lunch Approximately half‘ of | ‘Samuel Bronston Productions’ 40-man New York staff were pink-slipped Friday a ‘sudden. belt-tightening . move performed, according to. letters written. employees by Bron-: _ston;:“‘at.the request of our banks.” ; Employees, who got no more. than “1a couple.of hours. notice, received . their ‘week's ‘paycheck without. ad ditional severance -pay.. (See: sepa Fate. story for late’ developments:. Jon trusteeship of Bronston’ Pro ductions.) . According’: to. exe veep Paul. ‘Lazarus ‘Jr., who says he. is not. leaving “as. of this moment,”. the: cut. in’ overhead was dictated. ‘by the fact. that Bronston presently : has ‘two high-budget pix completed ‘and unreleased. (“Fall of The: Ro-:: mah Empire” and.“Cireus World”, both of which Paramount ‘will. release here), with no new picture skedded: to. -go' in’ work before “Night Runners of Bengal” .starts: in late June or July. Thus, said ‘Lazarus, Bronston, who has been. ‘here. for the Tast week. from his: Madrid h:q.,. was: advised “by. his “financial people,” ‘to. Pare unneca essary. overhead. Also; ‘said. Lazarus, Bronston’s * = ‘fairly elaborate N.Y. office came into being when Bronston ‘was with out a continuing distribution alli ‘Lance. and when Allied Artists was [handling the: domestic. release ‘of. | “EL Cid” and “55. Days at Peking.” |-With both “Empire” and “World” ‘| going. out. via. Paramount, which. {has a completely: equipped ad-pub land distribution «staff; Bronston | presently needs. only. “supervisory” -personnel in: N.Y. ‘It’s ‘expected. that the. belt-tight: ‘ening here also will be reflected .in more cuts in staff in the Bronston: organization ‘inSpain, but to what extent. could not be immediately | Jearned i in N ew York.. The Bronston. ‘company last year. toyed with the idea of going’ into ‘active. domestic distribution with his. high-budget. films, but. dropped. those. plans. when: ‘the: deals for “Empire”. and “World” were made |with Par. The producer did ‘form ‘Bronston. Distributions Ine: which | late Jast year released the French © ‘comedy’ ‘import, “The War of The Buttons,” . but. without. conspicuous financial success, ©.” ' Among. those dismissed .in New: ‘York ‘were: Joe de Luise, advertis‘ing cost comptroller: Arnold Le-: ‘land, assistant to worldwide ad. .coj ordinator’ Howard Kohn; Lars Mc-Sorley;.-New. York publicity. rep; Tony. Silver, ad~department,. and © virtually. all secretaries. McSorley yesterday (Tues.) moved over to an. Assignnient at United Artists. -Sil-~ ver is joining Mort Fallick of Cine Metric Inc. . charge ‘Of . the theatrical trailer “| | division.. ‘where. he'll be in