Variety (April 1964)

= , piimiant: : Rises . and More. Features | in: Wotks-—Yank’ + Share-of Swedish-Sereen. Ta me.. _Diminishes Gs Young’ ‘Generation ‘Loses lts Admiiration. for. Unele. Sam As... ee World War. IL Winner and: Democracy Exponent “Stockholm: ern’. ‘Europe. The. reason. is the ‘Harry.’ Schein. plan, disveussed: at some length. in VARIETY’ Ss International, Film. Edi“tion: for 1963. It: went into. effeet :on: July: 1, : '1963...The .Schein ‘plan proposed reducing the entertainment tax. on > theatre tickets from. 25%to. 10%.. Maaining-10% -was to -be used to stimulate the: industry to make-quality ‘films and. pay: for: the. ‘education .and train-. — — ‘Ing’ ‘of «young. talent. and support numerous measures to . ... stimulate the interest ™ quality films ‘in, Sweden: and: ‘Swedish films. abroad. -. Swedish Films Institute. whose. first: president ‘is “Schein “himself though. he is rumored : wanting to give. up. ‘the. ” “position. As. in. previous. ‘eases, Schein: ‘specializes. in set-~ ting up “projects ‘but onee. ‘going. he’ prefers: turning the: "Job: of: ‘administration to others.. The Schein “plan and: the. Swedish’ Filin: Institute “has.” injected the film industry and. ‘its, -talentwith: Breater. en .-thusiasm and: confidence ‘than: at: any time. sinee the’ end:. * of. World. War II. The-‘diréct result. is that companies are -“daring ‘to. makemore, vexperiment more ‘and -pive opportu-~ _ “nities to. newcomers, ‘In. fact the . film . industry’ is SiMe: . _.cerely: -searching ‘for.’ ‘talent.: ‘The audience, however, has. continued.t to. shrink. Ticket. . sales. in: the: Kingdom. ‘of. Sweden” dropped. by mere ‘than... “* 10%,. in many areas. Audierices’ ‘have’ become > increasingly. divided. into -two | ‘separate ‘groups: oe ge (1) -Straight commercial | ‘Product ’ oa "(2)" Offbeat: or art: stuff _.... his, of course,: ‘parallels: the. ‘developments j ingach » widely, scattered. ‘Jands:-as ‘the United States ‘and. AUS. “tralia, though the: “New. Wave” of some years. ago. in.” «. . France has. .receded. : Italy, “of-.course,-has “always | been? | aggressively. ‘commercial: ‘alongside: its avant-garde. efforts. are See’ ‘Drop. Ending « “Officials: here. believe, -however, that’ ‘the: arop’ ‘dttends ance will: ‘probablysoon reach: its..loww. point: and: possibly -~ “even rise slightly. The: initial explanation was,’ naturally, “television, “here, too,’ the great: ‘enemy... Swedish. ‘showmen.: .. ae pre-ho longér trying: to. battle. vidéo. ‘but are trying-to co7p Wegian: Parliament : ‘has: passed an: act. providing greater -~ "operate, to. adapt. the film industry: to. conditions : -ereated® © ” <by. ‘tv and’ move’ into fields that-are. Jess: Suited to tv.. . Film: goers’ are. Jargely. between 15. and 25 years. old. 7 They durn to ‘the cinema because. they do. not-have-a home ‘of their. “own Or, -do’ .and.want :to_get away from it or be with: a@ girl w -ithout having” ‘family ‘dround. * Own: “Festival : an ae Another: government ‘subsidized ° Jneasure’ to. ‘stimulate: ’ “ ‘terest in’ quality. films’ willbe started in the” autumn: : ‘The Film. Institute . will ‘select’ sevén films that will: form a” so-called.‘festival’’: thatwill‘play a week in’ some: 30.._.:.. Swedish’ cities... ‘Theatie-. owners: will, be “guaranteed: a... ° /. (eértain. ‘income. if ticket sales are: “insufficient: ‘The.-idea -:As'-to provide people. ‘with -.an ‘opportunity. to see films . -.:-Denmark, “Finland, .and’ Norway“handle. ‘the Norwégign part-spring... His Script. is written, . that: ‘would . tot: normally ‘be -availablé.to them.: “One_of the film industry's greatest, ‘competitors in, avs "“reeent years: has: been live: plays “actedby’ -Swedish : -:. S ‘aetors and actresses that. wer»re. transmitted ‘about once: ' : | oo “a. week: ‘AS the Swédish: Theatrical. Union: went’ on. -. ae cstrike: on Nov...30, 1963, ‘dramatic’ performers. have e. os not-appedred ‘on. tv: since ‘that. date.’ _ Sweden’s most discussed: and: ‘most seen films have been a “phe. “Swedish film “industry. 4 is the. envy. of all-in ‘north=: ” ing.” 1,500,000’ -tiekets. to. Sweden's 7,500,000. population“. “within: two. months, :491". was first. banned ‘by. the cen: ~ ‘sors. Debated™ almost daily in néwspapers. throughout ‘the “of film.:(38 meters) were: rémoved. . Bergman’s ‘next. film “AllThese Wornen’ is! scheduled: to: open during: the-. Stockholm. Festival in June: During ~:. -the -summer’ Bergmani. is. “planning. to. shoot oneof: the 10 episodes ‘in.-“Stimulantia.” ~:~ ‘Furthermore, the re. “comedy by this’ company: ‘about how. three. men: robbed 50 000 bottles. of liquor. whe se “Marengo,” tells. ‘of a: refugee . who: secures. citizenship. “in a new country. It. ‘was made in Italy. and: Norway;with.. -” ‘the..Hungarian born actor Tom Felleghiin. the Jead. Nils. “Ry Muller directed, : . . Active Arne Skouén made “Father Takes Gold, a ‘another “Of. only. siative’ interest.‘Svensk Filmundustri . plans: ‘ta “make ™ an. Inter-Nordie | | -and: autumn: as seen by four young directors from. Sweden, Rolf Clemens, 26, will” / By: FREDERIC. FLEISHER “Ingmar ‘Bergman 5. “The “Silence” and. Vilgot. Sjoman’s : “491... Lurid: publicityplayed an important part: ‘in sell. country it was released. after one. minute. and: 24 seconds Another. anthology : planned : by . Svensk Filmindustsi is” woe taking: ‘shape under -the: title of “4x4.” .The. subject.is | the: four seasons of the. year;: each’ of: them. will be. made ~. by. a. film’: maker: from. one ofthe “Nordice countries.:. Rolf: Clemens, a Norwegian ‘and. formerly. an assistant to .. AlainResniais, ‘will Handle “spring. ‘Summer. will. be han..: dled: bythe: Danish “Weekend’”. team’ PalleKjaerulff‘Schmidt: and Klaus Rifbjerg, The ‘yoting Swede Jan Troell. -.. will. ‘portray. ‘autumn’ in’ an: episode. that will -star Max” “yon Sydow, while w inter a ilk sbe described by. Maunu Kurkvaard, ‘the: talented Finn, : ao ne Other: Projects: The ‘coming: ‘year’ will. -also. mark “the return” “of Alf. : _ Sjoberg. and:Arne Sucksderff; The latter received $20,000 ...: ‘from the. ‘Swedish Film Institute’ to help him: and.Svensk: Filmindustri. pay. for ‘the -rest of “his ‘film: that: is -set in. Rio : de’ Janeiro. ‘Ingmar. Bergman’sfilm plans, are the. short: episode: in “Stimulantia”’ arid writing: a script: that, me he will ‘shoot ‘next :summer, 7) " * Mai Zetterling. is .directing . a: feature ‘about women for Sandrews. the “women jntlude Gunel: Lindblom, “Harriet, _ NORWAY “PRODUCTION we By! PAL: BANG-HANSEN “Oslo. -Support to the. Tocal. film. industry, and’ prospects: for Nor-"" “ -Wegian-Danish-Sw edish_ ‘coproductions: are. good. °! , “Up ‘to now we have ‘seen’ one Norw égian. film this: year, -.“Opérasjon Sjosproyt,’. " a, Traval, comedy: in color, of Jocal., “interest. only. _ 3 . Andre’ Bjerke. the’ poet. ‘erate: “Bells in. the ‘Moonlight, wee * When. Swedish film ‘industryites: Speak . of ‘cooperation. 7 ¢ a thriller: now: shooting -by the: halfofficiat ‘company Norsk:. . with Swedish: ‘tv: ‘they “mean that ‘they ‘allow. ‘short se=, -quences of films: to “be. shown. on Special. tv programs..that 7 “discuss new. ‘films. The. ty programs that deal’ with: -Cur= °° < yent. films-place a‘strong’ empliasis on jgaality: films: from": rae “any: nation. and quality Swedish productions. ; eer : Film... Karé ‘Bergstrom, direets.: Cameraman: is Hans ‘Nord: Contact. Film ‘has ‘finished : “What a: Robbery!’ tenth. ‘Qivind -Vennerod directed tale" the: ‘director;’.a leading. actor. -or actress or the photog aoe ‘rapher' is-a-Swedish ‘citizen. Rulings. in the other Nordic. countries ‘are ‘not: quite: as clear. film: ‘4x4;". an~ episode ‘concerning. Winter, spring, summer, by televisioni’s Sten Rune ‘Sterner... ‘Other’ ‘film. ‘comedies: are. ‘planned : by ‘Informasjonsfilm-: assy ‘Team-film a/s, and ESS-film: ‘a/s. ‘The film year in Norway looks. ‘promising. Doubtful, how ever, if more than: one. .or”:-two Projects . ‘Wilk have: ‘some | “interest, outside = ‘Scandinavia. Sy wa oes soe PE “Norweigan: ‘pieduceis ‘nade. six. ‘features. Jast. year... It’s : “likely: ‘more .will.:go: under lensing ‘this -year.° The Nor-' Andersson, J Anita : Bjork. “Eva Dahibeck and Britta Pétters-. “gohn. Jorn Donner, whose. ‘first. feature “A Sunday in. September” ‘was. -honored .in’ Venice but .did poorly at ‘Swedish boxoffice, has si gene d a.two year contract with. -Sandrews: ‘His next film ‘stars Harriet. Andersson and .Zbigniew Cybulski, ‘the well-known Polish actor. from 7 “Ashes | and Diamonds”. and numerous. other. Polish: fea tures. Ake’ ‘Falck. is: directing a “filmization. of a novel by Stig Dagerman: for Minerva. Bo. Widerberg, whose second fea-: ture’ “The Block Raven” ‘was acclaimed: by most: Swedish -crities, -will write and: shoot’ a. third: film. Yours sincerely found: “The ‘Block -Raven” ; rather. boring and too. exclu-. -sively . Swedish. “It | -skillfully* conveys'some moods. from. “ Sweden. at ‘the time’ of the Berlin Olympics. The struc ~ ture of the-film is similar. to “The Baby Carriage.” Rather. away: from her: home. environment, Widerberg chose a. boy in this predicament. From: an: artistic. .and . technical’ ‘point of view: Vilgot Sioman improved: considerably:.in “491” as compared. ‘to: “The Mistress:”. Nature-lovers “also received. an oppor.. 7 funity: to ‘seeJan. Lindblad’s first’ fiill-length color. alsent: "aspects. of nature; ‘mostespecially * birds. ! . ‘Decline. of Yanks: Five years: ‘ago. American : films : accounted for about * 50%. of all the new films shown in Sweden. During 1963 Ameriéan. films accounted for’ 38% of the total. Without. . question: one. of the reasons for: the. decrease is the less ening of interest in.the United States. During the early “, postwar years the: United. States and: aspects of. American dife; which ‘also: included: films. were models. svmbols of freedom and. democracy. This admiration for. things Amer. j@an has” disappeared. -almost entirely. Like any . craze, there: was. a. reaction. “Member's “of the postwar generation often felt. "they, ‘hiad more: ties with the United. States than with. Europe. The yoiinger generation feels. at: home in . reconstructed. ‘Europe. and is‘ now relatively “indifferent ‘to the United States. It..séems. unavoidable that the figures: for Ameri-" Can’ “prodiictions | ‘shown! in. Sweden‘ during a single year are ° going: ‘to. become proportionally ‘smaller: ‘The: basie. -atmosphere in’ the ‘Swedish film: industry: ‘is confidence. There are. some hopes of creating. a Nordic ‘market. As Kentie Fant,. the. president of Svensk .Filmindustri; Says the Nordic. countries. have a: population ‘of. --16million. people and if: this ‘market can be united. for. _., Nordic. :films,. the’. Nordic’ film. industry would: obtain | a strong. position. : ‘Svensk. Filmindustri ‘is. ‘making “gy 4" largely to test the. market. and. the different countries -rulings.on how “the film: will be ‘taxed. A ‘film: ean. get aH the Swedish advantages if..25° percent” of, the. capital is. Swedish and ‘For the.autumn Kenne: Fant -is planning. a couple” of: .'éo-productians but, SO. ‘far;. they, still have not! taken‘final -form. A (few important changes. among ‘the. executives ° “in 7 clude Rune Waldecrantz, ofSandrews. is going to become. the: -principal of: the newly “established: “film college” we critic Bengt: Idéstam-Almquist, known as “Robin Hood,” ».-, Nas Film. Institute, . Bertil’. Lauritzen . has left Svensk: Film been’ appointed’ curator. of ‘the archives. at the’ new: industri for. the: Film’ Institute,” Bengt Forsiund, the. edi "tor: of ‘egghead film: mag “Chaplin?” has. succeeded Lau‘ritzen asthe head of the ‘shorts: ‘department of. Svensk Filmindustri, photographer Goran. Strindberg has been: “appointed to head the. photographers at Swedish TV, Gunnar. Oldin left Europa: Film ‘to ‘return to’ free-lance _ writing and. oceasional tv. programs ‘about films. Sig he Marks Amel “By J.R:-KEITH. KELLER. Copenhagen * i oe Copenha: f en, Smart P Press Average: monthly: take-home’. ‘pay. an { Tey: Kramer: ‘and. George. Chakiris , . --and. had them: ‘or television, too: . 4 Columbia is way ahead-inall. pub. | ‘licity with | smoothly: handled ‘Roy-. i alty and. Nobility. | command per| = 7 . -formadnces attended . “by.-such film z | Lo "personalities: _ Carl” Foréman, . ‘| George ‘Hamiton, “Senta © ‘Berger, "Omar ° Sharif, ‘Harold; ‘Lloyd. ‘and. “Leshe ‘Caron.. Pa “Penny ‘I Tas ax; Loonie: Large in ‘Village: Theatre -Dperation Austria s Film Industry ‘Supports? “¥E. the. ‘turnover. at: Danish’ film® gli ite ‘pox: ‘offices: ‘fall: “alittle «iv short of.'the hopes.: generated by Sop vam extraordinary output of good ' foreign: “picturés ‘during .the™ -1963 .., "64.-winter. season, “part .of -the. a blame <:lies. oe .. Yetamped -American, fingers: holding 1 the . “publicity. ‘purse-strings. | -is -always' | squarely .-:... “The.” Danish “press m ready to cooperate with. good pub “ ~ Jieity. ideas but by. the same‘token. tno :)#hé Danish press is: practically. im-oe possible : ‘to bamboozle. with the . ‘,eHeap.and phoney: -kind ‘of -come-on ! 2: that still, passes. : countries. ere Ha Furthermore, a ” personal ... proach. with good: ideas is demand:. .ed..by*amusement’.editors. Every’ ‘paper. wants ‘its own’: version . of _ even such routine ‘stories _as’ a. a Monday’ Ss new B-picturé. release, oe erating in’ the. American film. com-. 2 panies": -Danish offices.’ General ex-: ‘-planiation:: they: aré underpaid: At’| _.the same. time; even “the ‘best. ‘of the: filmfouters here get very. little. “in. the way: of help: from. the. come . Panies" head offices, : a with . the in: many’ other . Some of.thepublicity. women -have to double : ‘as secretaries’ for . éx-:, change. ‘managers.:: Word “public: -6°C. of Firstrun: ‘ture’“is given . extraordinary . pub|. ‘a: sweat: -because ‘they “don’t . -know . whether: they will’-be’ allowed : the account.” Paramount; .Metro,. for a publicity. man .(or “womiany. |-F . ofthorough training: is. about 1650. Kroner, This” compares’, ‘to’ a. cub. + reporter: on. a°.minor -ewSpaper, ity’’ embraces: posters: and. all. kinds. 3 Of | advertising ~ as: well.: | : Average promotion ‘budget’ on.a, picture’ ‘released. -in : Denmark ‘is: 6% “of the-net: take from .the’ pre-. ‘miere ‘theatre... AS -soon as .a@ ‘pie: . gave the: drink: a Tocal: ‘flavor. ae . At. Columbia, ‘press: chief. ‘Inge:} licity: treatment. ‘such’... aS “a~ Visit. | | bor zg. Keller .. from one: of: its leading. perforin-. _-| ers, the publicity . ‘people’ aré.-in‘ap. extra. “money . needed::.to pay: for. ‘the: visitor’s’ hotel: ‘eté.. Often; the. “|-exchange. manager has to: step in j With, money. from his own. “expense, fee “This.” requires ‘skilled: publicity: personel. Only a very. few ‘are. op|; | portant: and the only. ‘sure-fire. Spacegrabbers. in ‘the Danish:‘press.. ‘Warner ..and -20th-Fox have: ‘riot. hada. single: ‘American, . star: ‘here. during | this’ j Past season:. > “United Artists brought in ‘Stan: U . Visits byperforiners are ‘all: im: | “At. the Uiiited ‘Artists: publiity ‘Office < efficient work .is’-done. by ‘Nils Oligaard | in: ‘getting. attention. without:..using:too, much — ‘money. |. He -has had: Danish. priests recom-|:°' mend. their. flocks ‘from the pulpit: : to. ‘go. see “Lilies of*-the : Field.” For. the “Pink: Panther” ’ preem,. ‘| he invited 200. Danish . bartenders } ‘}to come ‘up. with ‘an: ‘original : Dan‘ish “Pink ‘Panther’ eocktail and dis: pense it among the. other. guests. Adding a dash ofSherry. Heering | (no Felative).. ‘shies away: ~ ’ from.:. Showing. her. -own blonde. hhandsomenéss around,’ but. ‘she is’ fully journalistic in her. ap proach | tothe -press fails in’ getting the: publicity she 1 wants ‘for. her broduet: Street “ballyhoo: ‘fs: ‘rarely’ ‘seen | ‘in! Denmark,. although . a. ‘Margaret ‘Rutherford. efligy was ‘seen riding: a black horse down -Copenhageén’s -Inain’*-stem™ ‘recently.. hormally: ‘are’ “stingy. avith permis-. ‘sions -to stage: ‘any: “kind ‘of. ‘pub-. Jicity : parades:. ‘But “not © nearly as panies 8 where'd Mt come. to budget. . om tenn y “ture? The: -police | Vienna. Britain, Russia, ‘France and ‘Amer= ied © divorced ‘Austria -. from ° the. + Germany ~into: “which “Hitler «had: | faced ‘a: theatrical | shambles. ‘first... decision | was to help”. ‘Legitimate Plays" Ln By EMIL MAASS _ argue that. this special tax, a bit ‘When. ‘the victorious: alliance of; more than one American: cent, is ; unbearable. The average. price of 1a ‘seat is close to. 40c.. Exhibitors. i even. voted to hold a protest strike, ‘closing’ for. one or two days. ‘| absorbed : it, : this.:revived republic: ‘Though the favoring majority was: A; 75Ce, it: never, came to the. strike “cul-t and the situation teday. is, that the : by -imposing -aspecial tax: ‘cultural penny remains for one {upon film. theatres, not considered ' ‘more. year.. Several new plans are. culture. ‘Ever. since, tie “Kultur ’ being’ “discussed, among them . to: Groschen, ‘or ¢ultural * ‘penny: ‘tax; i has. . “been collected from ‘one. for the support. of. another. popular ° amusement, the ‘legitimate theatre. : “The. tax isa nuisance partly. be| . Teause smalland ‘ cashiers typically round .it off in'-calculation to: the nearest 50. ‘Tiny: coins ‘still circu| late .in’ Austria . but” are increas-: ingly’ scarce, |. co ‘popular. amusement, the ciriema, ; ° make. ‘television’ the. supporter. Of legit: oe Though © ‘the: average. filmgoer. does” not understand, that. the. cne :cent, caleulated| anyway... ‘the ‘admission ticket, could ‘hurt the. j house owner so much, that he. can not.make a‘living out of his-énter_prize, officials of Rank .and. MGM ‘Vienna ‘office explained : the con--' ” j tradictory cand: complicated situa ‘With. the ‘number of. houses: in | tion, There are points in. this “tax “all Austria dropping from’-1,288' to; battle,” -that: this” eultural ‘penny 1,188 Vienna ‘has. lost’ only one after ‘all. plays an important role | tiny’: ‘situation... ‘However, . | stingy’. asthe: American: film ‘com: iance: is off 11° ‘while ‘prices “are | Jupped: W% Showmen. ‘seriously © _attend| in the. industry. The. penny. tax is significant. ‘in * (Continued. on page 130