Variety (April 1964)

te mo . . =e A . . . all "oc : 2 ole ot + ~~ S ° = . . .o > v . . . ot -? : ma te as . . a M ~~ During Sear af World’ $ Tair air a Metro is. héading into one. of. the+— 4 biggest summers. in. its recerit his-| o tory, numerically: at least. The. eom . ‘doing solid biz in its: followup 35m |-"~ ‘release, “How the West. Was. Won.” | © N | /* @alled “Flipper’s. New Adventures,’ cae and an. action pic tagged. “Rhino. i ‘months and is: projected. through | the next couple of yéars,is, making} -. for a very upbeat attitade at Metro} -..-these days. Predictions ‘are being ‘made. as to one of the. biggest years: the: company. has enjoyed. for some}: :: time. Other -indicators, such as. the} : option. recently. picked.up by: ‘NBC.~ on-apackage” of Metro. post-1948 |: pix for web: airing, ‘as. well: as. hefty. production: of tv series. in addition. to the upbeat picture on the feature. side “would .seem.: to. :indicate_ that. cheery. -erystal ball. gazing : might oe be. on the he right tracks: ” track. . | ‘8, 435 Plaster, “pany. -will..put‘-six new pix into | pee _ Yelease during: that period and will] also“ be continuing . the: circulation. _ <.-Of. another item which. has _ been} © " Included: in. this: summer. array will be the’ “Company ’s second pic of ‘the. “year. -toplay -Radio City — : Music ‘Hall. This is’ “The Unsinkaa re able Molly Brown”: which . “will at|: tempt to ‘corral : a: large. -chunk of that ‘valuable. summer ‘playtime -at | Tennessee © Williams’. -There’ Ss. ‘thrush.° Rounding. out: the. program “is a-followup ‘to. ‘the. successful. “Flipper” of last summier, a sequel “This. is:a healthy array. of. pro duct for thé “company. It ‘has been’. doing: smoothly ..in® the : first. few: months ..of -the “year. -with’: “The. Prize,” which: did oke biz. at ‘the . Music. all and is-now scoring. solid-|. “Ty. on a Gotham: “showcase” break throughout: the. “The “W heeler: ° Dealers”. and elsewhere. country. and “Sunday in New’ “York” , have also been taking ‘in coin, --: | Metro: has. already predicted ‘that its 35m dates on “West” will com-|pare favorably if ‘not. excessively | “to the. performance of “Ben. Hur,” one of the company’s all-time-hot|. items.:The film: grossed over $41,-. 000,000 world-wide ‘in. 107,roadshow dates: since -its. preem in. London in November, 1962: ‘Jt ‘is currently playing. in. over. 26 situations in its “first 35m. weeks: and . doing large biz,-in many ‘cases. running ahead: ‘of “Hur” for. comparable periods. ‘To: date “West”. has corraled. $750, -000 in. this. 35m, ‘issue, and: is. hold-,| | ing. Hotel. Locals : include: . ° 44, :-property. -‘men:. 80 grips; “165, "studio. projectionists;127, Os N. Y. Crafts Make “Viva |. . vis Presley pic}. “Loooking For. “IA Crafts ‘Mark 25th... :’ Hollywood, March 31. * Alliance. of Theatrical Stage ‘Employees will. jointly: : cele*“brate: their 25th. anniversary "— “June .6 at: ‘the: International. * craft ‘service; 728; "electricians. : . “Honorary chairmen ? of -.. event. are. George J. Flaherty,” “ Cappy.. Duval, Zeal Fairbanks, ~ Charles Boren: “and © Richard : WW." ‘Jencks, . Leo. S.. “Moore, biz . “44's biz Tep,.. will cochair. Progress; Meet ‘prospectus drawn up. ‘by’. an“ap: pointed subcommittee... which ‘has | been: ‘studying plans aimed at. the formation, of. an ‘organization. com-|: ‘prised: of reps from all: labor. groups: ‘currently. involved. in eastern. pieture . production: * “The, union. reps: ‘at ‘the. ‘meéting ‘were ‘mostly business agents. Plan. ‘which’ ‘they... “goes: to ‘the. ‘exec. ‘boards. of all the crafts: involved’ ‘for endorsement. | ‘This is. .to’ Minimize possibility -of wrangling * over points . After, ‘the | organization. is formed. , ‘Union ‘Keps. will assemble: again = on: ‘April 10 to. attempt to’ ‘put mt organization. ona. working” ‘basis: By: this ‘time it is ‘hoped | all unions.|. involved . will: havereacted.. "Any t have _ now: ‘approved gripes will be taken: up at: ‘that time. Ideally. officers. would. then ‘be.elec-}. ‘| ted ‘and the’ organization given a. . ‘title, coed In an “unusual: show. of harniony | and ‘strength; :the: unions have .all| AL ‘of this, plus~ a. ‘Yarge-scale ‘Moyed : swiftly -toward. the. -estab|" production: ‘program. : ‘which “has -been purring for the past. several lishment: ‘of the new organization. ‘| Each ‘planned ” meeting has come}. . . | off. as*Scheduled and attendarice | -: toy oungsters who. stayed. hete has usually. been. near. 100%. Such}: was ‘the case last.-Friday,: though | ‘elimactic. holidays in both the Chris-| -. .tian and’ Jewish religions... Every] -: rep that ‘was | expectéd, showed: -ex-|-:: cept. for. Jay’ ‘Rescher .of IATSE} cameramen: local. '644,. ‘who ‘was ill: In: attendance. at: the. ‘meeting | t were. John Hall of..the -makeup |. union, Milt. Felson repping assistant | ‘directors:. Tommy: O’Donnell of the |. theatrical: teamsters; JimGartland | of IA studio: mechanics local: ‘52, | Andy Clores.: of the. scenic ‘artists, {-Batbara’ Robinson . of the” script |. “| clerks, Bill Bennett of. the Wash Re Astor F ils, Hits Ey. Crosby A judgnient for: $443; 435,. ‘agains? -Everett..N; Crosby in favor. of In land. ‘Credit Corp.,. ‘was -last : week “entered in. the County. ‘Clerk’s of: | cepted. ‘This :-would, of course,.-in clude ‘the. SéreenDirectors Inter-. national’. ‘Guild. which has: already. expressed ~ itself “as-‘being -. sore .at |. fice: of the Ne Y: Supreme: Court: ‘Inland’s..: suit. against. Crosby and: other charged that: Crosby had .un-' .. conditionally guaranteed ‘:a $500. .; 000 Inland loan -to: Astor Pictures, “of which. ‘Crosby .was‘anofficer. . Action against. Franklin: F. ‘Bru “der, -who. also .. was.an officer: of _ Astor, was’ dropped. ‘Astor. last:.year filed a. Chapter 11 ‘petit ion: under. the. Bankruptcy 2 Act,” ": 7 "|fneton. ‘D.C., screen. mechanics, Har-|. Jold . “Hoffman ‘of Screen’. “Actors ‘| Guild ‘and’ Steve D'Injillo™. of : the} | East Coast ‘Motion: Picture: Council, ‘the ITA” body: ‘which ‘suggested. ‘the . | organization’ in the first place.: ‘Although ‘the. final: ‘Shape of. ‘the body : ‘will. not: be’ :known: until all the. exec’ boards approve, the ‘sup| ‘port of all the groups: involved is assumed. by. the founders. As. soon’ ‘as the organization ‘is: ‘formally ‘established, requests: for membership. from those. not. presently™ involved in-‘the -formation..talks_ willbe ac: ‘| not being ‘in on the. formation stag>+es. The .aim*-is: to. éventually’ en| compass. all. labor. groups. involved: in: eastern : filmmaking. to establish’ ‘a--united: front: in~ dealing | with. | union-producer ‘problems -and’. to encourage the Taking '< Of pix: ‘in’ ° the. east, ; 50%,” ; | Films, S:A., asked for a: receiver‘| ship: ‘of. all’ “prints” and. negatives inj ... a: Federal ‘Court suit filed’ ‘against ao -20th-Fox. Action’ also’ asked for|:. ’ declaratory’ relief ona distribution|: | agreement: between MCL and. 20th-. Fox, which is releasing pic.-:. | -attorney | Martin Gang asserted that -20th-had | — failed: to abide by terms of .a.con-{! tract with. MCL whereby. film ¢éompany. had not paidMCL—in which/. : | Miss. Taylor: is one’ of shareholders | —its . share of .monies .already -col-| | lected .. 1 “presently ‘exceeds *. |. Suit alleged that the defendant had’. -|“improperly_ managed” ‘the: Music Hail, -particularly : en-|: © ;*, for 165; -will chair: cele-.” : hanced this. yéar by the: run of]. bration ‘and | ‘Bruce ; -Colville;: the ‘New: York World’s Fair which: a is. expected. to attract.a:hefty num“ber of -out-of-towners to the City. ‘Radio’. City: is listed. atnong the top few tourist attractions .in Gotham. Another pic.of interest is “Night: of. the Iguana,” the: adaptation of |, Broadway }.. . drama. ‘which . has. received. consid|'.. ‘erable pub space -via Richard’ Bur-| '.?. “ton and related events at-the pic's | .. » |JMexican. . location: /. ‘Las Vegas,” ‘an * which:teams. the rocker with: femme | ‘:.. Gomer Ann-Margret: Also in. the] = Music . ‘groove -is “Love” which toplines pop : singer ‘Connie Francis, ‘the MGM. Records: its: Own. 5 ISHS a * Les: ‘Angeles, “March 31. . Chatging lack -of “sound business a | judgment’? in ‘distribution and ex-| . ‘Five ‘locals. of International’ _| ploitation. ‘of :the ‘niotion picture, | “| “Cleopatra,” which ‘it’s claimed: will lessen. gross receipts from: ‘film ‘by “aggregate. between 25: and |: ‘an: ‘Complaint. filed ‘°. by in.-grossreceipts.’ which _[rected: distribution “of. proceeds. for |: ing. and overhead expenses: _ = Tn: ‘attempting to offset ‘such ex| pense: burdens, ‘according. to: action, |‘ 20th-F ox in: ‘diverting: such: proceeds had . ‘done this.-‘without regard to attaining the maximum amount of ‘gross ‘receipts: aver ‘a. longer term.” Consequently; :-action : ‘ continued, gross receipts from film’ -would. be affected by: between. 25-50% figure | than. if pic were. properly ' ‘exploited |’; “pursuant. to sound: “business. judg“ment.” > 0. | . Action asked that James A.. Mul‘vey, .a“recognized expert”. in mo tion picture distribution; be therefore appointed. to act as recéiver— |}. ‘lor any: designate—for ‘the: purpose: of dis tributing. and exploiting filni “ae‘cording ‘to’. sound :business judg-}. -ment.”’ Complaint -also. asked. that ‘“Mulvey—whom: ‘it ‘stated: had’ consented ° ‘to: act .as gontrol, ‘and Possession. of all prints __{Continued: on ‘page 28) = Loyal: to Elvis. Minneapolis, March: 31. Britain’s Beatles. -or. not, this ‘area’ s teen-agers still go" ‘for Elvis Presley. This was demon -. strated “here on ‘Sunday :(22), ‘the third. Gay. of the local first_ run of... -:Presley’s s -“Kissin’:. the: biggest Sabbath ‘day gross ever. and: whilelocal : ‘boxoffice a generally: was under par. over. ‘after : the weekend — -be-ketball tournament. favorable ~ Bisa f ‘ewspaper reviews: here. Elizabeth Taylor's". MCL” $20,000,000." -and di-|. “‘séparate : corporate’ pur-| “| poses,” ” to meet: its current: operat) ~ Anew April 10) ve group * of. tinion” leaders, “pep: : ‘ping: a" cross-section: “of. eastern. filmmaking ‘labor: metin New York. last. Friday (27) ‘and approved the: ‘other: ‘the _ Seourt might receiver—be. awarded: as. ‘réceiver: athe custody, | _ -Cousiris” “(MGM), at the. loop ‘ |. Gopher: It-.gave that .theatre |. . ef ing” Latin ~ América, .: ‘Pull was: partly. ‘attributable _ _| all Seven. Arts theatrical’ and: ctv. |. activities in Latin. America. | Kusiel, who'll | ‘report. directly ‘to. . TA's foreign operations ‘veep Nor-| man Katz,. is.due. fto-make. an ex-. ‘| tended: trip. throughout Latin: _ Atnerica beginning next. week, -eause of state: high school. bas-" “Kissin’: .Cousins”’ ’ didn't: “re Re: Shorts’: Neglect. 2 Daris, | ‘March: Bl. . Believing. thatshorts © ‘get. ‘shortchanged’ in. -redistribu-" tion-in Britain, and €lsewhere. .. : in Europe, ‘British ‘film. eritic;: “writer ‘and filmmaker Derek | . [Hil has ‘set up: his own: ‘Shop, : Short Film: ‘Service: : "y ‘Hill ‘decided. to. do’ “it: after | ‘attending ‘several. short. film. . fests. and. viewing a : wealth ~ ~of.. material. thatrarely aver.” got. ‘playoff “in. ‘Britain, either: on theatres~ OF: ‘Onr Wwe Conner Raw : :, Washington, Maret 31. “Showing nospéctacular‘spurts ata With of 35m and. over positive. film’ Taw stock slumped: slightly. from $5,886,-. } 429. in: 1962 to.'$5, 492, 556 last year. | Negative.“film ‘exports. showed. al: ‘similar decline: to. $5,883,815. last:|-.$5, 922 211 in|’ year | ‘com pared | ‘to 1962. rs In. “contrast to. those taarginal . slides,” -exports of. 35m.-and ‘over picture. cameras rose to. $1,126, 486"). in-*1963 -from $978,893 in..1962.°. ‘Down. were exports of. sound. re-|: producing . equipment ‘from $680, “979 .in’ 1962 ‘to $562, 762. last: year. Showing’ gains were ‘exports. of ‘against Louis..M. Pesce, director of: motion | picture -screens ‘rising to | '-1 $2,914,339: last year over $2,223,644 | we iin 1962. tion equipment. and parts inched up | . {to $3,644,671. from: the: ‘$3,077, 914: ‘| registered: :in 1962. | -Studio -equip--ment: and. ‘parts’ exports Similarly. ; moved up to. 98 611, 761. | sic KUSIEL HEADS ~ TARTS LATIN Bu | Sig Kusiel,. formerly .a':veep. of. ‘Columbia. International -Supervis‘been -Exports .of. other projec ‘has: named. manager ‘and’ supervisor for Competing With Private Taser er. . time, says. the complaint, it was too "Red | -Wing, : Minn.,, ‘Narch31. . Jack. Wright: long-term Minne-. apolis: exhibitor, has Bone down to defeat -in‘a. séven-year legal. fight. to halt.:the -use.-of the municipal. | Auditorium in this | ‘city of.'12,000. a population... as a film . theatre. ‘in, -competition with his own. local tax: paying showhouse. * ‘Deciding: against ‘him: ‘in ‘an ‘ap: ‘peal from’ a. lower. court adverse’ “decision was. the three-judge. fed-. eral court of: appeals in..St:. ‘Louis, .. Mo.:: This suit, considered ‘his*. ‘last | resort, was an. ‘antitrust, conspiracy . action: aimed’ af. eliminating. film exhibition. from” “the: city-owned. building. Winning defendants ; ‘were. ‘Auidi torium board. members. and: James . Frazer: the | Auditorium’s: present Teassee. ‘Prior to the: appeal’s. rejec-. tion, the. editor .of the: ‘daily paper. thad...been dropped. as one. of the defendants: who. were accused: of conspiring” to. put. Wright's. ‘own: theatre out. oF business and _ckeate ‘competitive “bidding for . ‘pictures -by ‘Wright's. theatre and’ the. ‘Audi-. torium “and ‘that: increased. his. the-. atre’s operating cost. ‘And for Fi ims Jan. alleged:: illegal town exhibition’} Monopoly. .. vs | : Wright’s Josing fight started . in’ ‘February 1967: Initially, suing. ‘in|. the Minnesota state: court, he: en‘joyed. success to: the extent™that | this city . ‘was: ‘stopped | hy the state’. sipreme :court. from operating ‘the |: -Auditroium. itself as.a:moviethe| RKO Palace is set to. start April “| atre, whieh it.had. been doing. The | court ruled” that ° a municipality { May: i. proval. y ard Absorbs Taxes —+ As 20th-Fox ‘prez Darryl. F. Zanuck predicted: at his special press {conference in February, the com| : pany showed a net-profit of $9,115,-" -| 393. for’ the year ended Dec. 28,-" {1963,:Earnings are equal to $3.44. a ‘share. and: contrast with a loss of $39, 796, 094. for. 1962... -"Theatrical:. ‘film rentals in 1963 | were. ‘$74, 051, 664. an increase: of $2,476,413 -over 1962. Total income _| from: allsources was $102.940,436, a ‘the 1962. total. of ‘$96 355,+ {871 . No Federal income taxes were: _| provided for in 1963 because’ of a. _ ‘|net operating’ loss carry-forward '} from 1962. Company. says it. still { has approximately . $11,000,000 of. 4 nét~operating loss carry-forward, 4 ofwhich $7,000,000 will. be -avail | able for. use in’ 1964. Two productions, “The Longest Day”: and. “Cleopatra, "--were at tributed .by. 20th as making ‘the | greatest contribution to. the ‘1963... Stock, Gear’ income. AS. film: ‘rentals from theatrical sources were: up in 1963, so were rentals from tv, up to $22,815, 196, . ‘from $18,626,316. in 1962. or “decliies, WS: exports ‘of motion | picture film and equipment in ‘1963, ‘offered. a .mixedbatch, the: U.S. +Commerce: Dept: reported: Exports | Book: value of the stockholders’ investment ‘at the 1963 yearend is ‘figured.. ‘at $59,449,258, compared |.with $50, 333 £866 at the: 1962 year end.” ale te Film Club Club Sues Louis Pesce, ‘New York Censor Gate Film, Club; of. “New York : has. filed suit. in N.Y. Federal Court the motion picture “division of the: N.Y. Board .of Regents, charging that the state’s film licensing laws are’ unconstitutional. and: . invalid, Suit ‘seeks to enjoin Pesce and the ‘board ‘from interfering with the ‘plaintiff's rights to exhibit films at. ‘+the Gate Theatre on Second Ave‘|nue!(N.Y.C.) and-to have the action “ -/fieard by athree-judge court. Plaintiffs: James McBride: and. "| Jack. Baran, have: been. operating. ‘the. theatre. since January. Early. in’ Mareh. they advertised ' that they would .show four. pix at the Gate March 16. ‘On March 12, the complaint. charges, Pesce told the plaintiffs;. as: well. as the owners of the theatre, thatthe films. would have. ‘to’ be submitted: for license and ap“If not, they..were. warned, they. would be. criminally. prosecuted : ‘and ‘the theatre's license would ‘be ‘revoked: The. plaintites, in ‘turn, told Pesta: | that. -they..intended.to’ show the’ films. without. a °license, claiming | that: submission of the pix for ap. | Proval ‘represented..an’ invasion ‘of. ‘|their Constitutional rights. “When | ‘McBride.and Baran refused to sub| mit the films to. Pesce, ‘the owners of ‘the: theatre. refused. to aliow the Plaintiffs: to use the Gate. By that. the: advertised showing. Fix Us Palace, Cincy ‘Cincinnati. March 31. A $100,000 facelifting. for the’ 28 and be completed for scheduled 29 . premiere of “Chalk cannot. engage in the: movie: ‘busi}.Garden” (Ui, followed by “Ensign: ‘the Auditorium for a movie. theatre ‘to ‘Fraser, :who hadbeen its man-]-ager,:. at.a “$500 a ‘month.. rental. ‘Wright: then -carried -his:. battle. to the. federal courts in the effect: ta ‘knock .out’. the. competish in’ its : ‘changed: ‘form: = | During the’ scrapping there was ness. itself in ‘competition with pri{ Pulver”: (WB) and “Beckett”. (Par); ‘vate ‘enterprise. aa After this. setback. for the municsecond ° step: ‘in. the. ‘parent RKO ipality, however, the. eity leased} Theatres. key. city International .70‘program, will’ be an eye.: opener’ Phe:. improv ement,. .. approved for Cincy’s.. Core ‘Redevelopment “ plan. Present: 2,600. seating capacity of the. Palace will be: reduced ta 1,500 by -a -sealoff of. the: un per baleony. The. heart of the dawntown location :. will have a new ‘Marquee. and. be equipped for every type of screening except. Cinerama, said: J0e. Alexander, area. manager..* ' Elwood Jones is. longtime man~ ager: of the Palace...