Variety (June 1957)

Wednesday, June 12, 1957 PfotlEff FICVURKS O’SEAS THEATRES NIX VIDPIX ‘BlacHisting’ Report Still Reverberates Cogley’* Return to Stand Postponed—Author Asks: ‘How Long Poes This Go On?’ By GENE ARNEEL The House Committee on Un- American Activities has postponed indefinitely the previously-sched¬ uled second appearance of John Cogley. Cogley came into national prominence last summer as author of ‘‘Report on Blacklisting'’ under commission of thq Fund for the ■Republic. Reached in Washington - this Week, ReR. Francis E. Walter con¬ firmed the postponement of the second Cogley hearing, explaining he and his confreres have other business in San- Francisco (unre¬ lated t# show business). He said * he expects another Cogley hearing will take place but doesn't know when. Cogley is now a fulltime employe of the Fund for the Republic and weekly contributor to Common¬ weal, opinion weekly edited . by Catholic laymen of which publica¬ tion he was once exec editor. In the issue, of June 7, Cogley did a reprise of what happened last summer when he was called to testify. -The report itself, he states, had been “enthusiastically aoplauded and roundly de¬ nounced.” The press gave his report a big play and “the treat¬ ment on the whole was eminently fair and commendable.” But the Congressional hearings, Cogley says, gave him a better knowledge of “the thought-police trials in Red China and elsewhere in the Communist world.” The - journalist offers one example of - the turns the hearings took. “Mr. Godfrey Schmidt, president of Aware Ipc., was testifying. He was reading from Report on Black¬ listing and quoted: ‘Blacklisting, (Continued on page 24) Columbia’s Import Stirs U.S. Majors Columbia Pictures* activity with foreign films in the U: S. is be-! « ginning to attract the attention of other companies, particularly as they are stepping up their over¬ seas production programs. While all of the companies have occasionally handled imports, only Col has set up a special foreign films unit. Current success of ..“Torero,” cleaning up at the Fine Arts Theatre, N. Y., has spotlighted the importance of the operation which, while in comparison to American releases it doesn’t con¬ tribute a great deal of money, nev¬ ertheless has paid rich divvies in terms of prestige values. Such films as “The Prisoner” and “The Silent World” have added to Col’s standing both here and abroad. Many company executives argue that, considering the time and effort that goes into the see¬ ing of imports, it simply doesn’t pay to handle them, since the re¬ turns are comparatively small. Yet, the question of majors re¬ leasing foreign-made productions looms larger as the companies go in for filming- in Europe. United Artists is' making many financing deals, and Paramount is just going into them. Metro also is interested, (Continued on page 23) Western Pacific Agents For ‘80 Days’ Tickets San Francisco, June 11. j United California Theatres is closing a deal to sell 10,000 tickets for “Around the World in 80 Days” to the Western Pacific Railroad. Todd-AO film has been playing the chain’s neighborhood Coronet here for'six months. Deal provides for one special morning showing a-week over a 10- week period starting in September. Western Pacific will sell tickets all over Northern California, bring patrons into Frisco. Freeman’s Setback . Hollywood, June 11. Y. Frank Freeman, Para¬ mount v.p. in charge of studio operations, suffered a relapse and returned to Good Samari¬ tan hospital here for further observation and treatment. He had just left the same hospital after a stay of a few weeks and had intended a vacation of . four to jgix Wfeeks. Freeman, who is 66, is suf¬ fering from a gastric disturb- Go-Slow Feeling Re Appeals For Code Violators Attempt to sell iti television films to theatres abtogd has been more or less abandoned by 20th- Fox. Company has released some of the films in Britain and some other territories, but the response has been lukewarm. 20th. found that, in most areas, the one-hour length of the vidpix was an awkward one for the the¬ atres. It's become obvious that, if —in the future—a theatrical for¬ eign market is to be found for this type product, the pictures will have to be shot in normal hour-and»haIf feature length to be acceptable. It had Originally been figured at the 20th homeoffice that the tele¬ vision series would be additional money earners theatrically abroad; Allen Silverbach is in charge of this particular activity. In addition to the problem of selling, it was found that the stu¬ dio had to pay additional fees to original union directors and play¬ ers to cover the theatrical distribu¬ tion. These licenses would have (Continued on page 86) | Gotta-Spend-To-Rate-Big-Take: H That’s Kramer-Schaefer Credo; ■as Detail Tride & Passion’ Pitch Pal Puppet* for MG? Metro Is near closing a deal with George Pal to produce a feature-length musiqal pup¬ pet film. Pal, long-time specialist in the production of puppet pic¬ tures, has not been represent¬ ed on the screen for some time. Foresee Tighter 20th Sales Rein At Home Office The board of the Motion Pic¬ ture Assn, of America, meeting in Manhattan last week, failed to ap¬ prove the recommendations of its Code committee for an expanded Code appeals board taking in ex¬ hibitors ahd independent produ¬ cers. Another meeting of the board has been skedded for tomorrow (Thurs). While the reason for the post¬ ponement was attributed to lack of time for a thorough discussion of all the pros and cons of a larger appeals unit, the underlying con¬ cern was with the principle of Code changes per se. When the Code was amended last December, and—in the view of some—liberalized, the criticism o'f the changes from some quarters fell on sensitive ears within the in¬ dustry. Critics argued that, if the Code was made too loose, it would lose its basic value, l.e., to serve as a hullwark against a variety of ever-active pressure groups. With the appeals hoard revision coming virtually on the level of J the changes in the Code text, some on the board now are concerned lest this compound the impression that the industry was hacking a much weaker, and therefore value¬ less, Code. There was, at one time, flat opposition on the part of some board members to any changes in the operational structure of the Code, which has long been criti¬ cized as being controlled by too few. Some of the independents whose films have been refused a seal have argued that their competitors, l.e., the major companies, were in a position, to restrict the circulation of the independent product. The Code has - been referred to as a (Continued on page 26) Oscar Morgan Becomes Reissue WJiqiper-Inner, New Paramount Post Paramount is set to give new at¬ tention to the reissue market with establishment of a new homeoffice department specifically for that purpose, Company has it figured that many of its backlog pictures are capable of taking in $250,000 to .$1,000,000 in domestic gross business, this on the basis of re¬ cent rerun experience. “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” now making the rounds again, actually is outdis¬ tancing several of the 'company’s new pictures at the hoxoffice. Head of 'the new department is Oscar A. ^Morgan, who heretofore was in charge of block ticket pur¬ chases for ‘The Teh Command¬ ments.” Previous to this he was short subjects sales chief. Morgan’s new job is to super¬ vise the reissue sales under v.p.’s Hugh Owen and Sidney Deneau and in the course of so doing he’ll, be in close contact with exchange heads and exhibitors to keep him¬ self aware of market trends. 1 41 Nations Set Films for Berlin Berlin, June 11. Canada, Morocco and Siam now have joined the countries partici¬ pating in the forthcoming Seventh Berlin International Film Festival, bringing to a total of 41 the nations that will be repped at the event. Fest starts June 21 and runs through July 2. Even as the three countries joined, two others—Chile and Lux¬ embourg—withdrew for what were described as “technical” reasons. Apart from the CCC feature pic, “The Last Ones Shall Be First,” West Germany will be represented at the fest by still another film, J'Aut der Goetter” (Call of the f Gods). Latter is a full-length docu- i mentary in Cinemascope and dedi¬ cates itself to religious life in In-1 dia. Dietrich Wawrzyn and Klaus I Schumann made this one. In addi- j (Continued on page 26) I Change in 20th-Fox field sales supervisory setup appears to be in the offing, with the accent to be on greater control at the home- office. When Herman Wobber, 20th’s vet western division manager, re¬ tires in, July, he won’t be replaced. Same procedure will be followed when Harry Ballance, the com¬ pany’s division topper in the south, retires this fall. This -leaves only two division managers, both of whom headquar¬ ter currently at the homeoffice— Glenn Norris, in charge of the midwest and Canada, and Martin Moskowitz, the Eastern division manager. With neither Wobber nor Ballance due to be replaced, it’s figured logically that sales top¬ per Alex Harrison is planning a re-distribution of duties. There’s some speculation that Harrison may have in mind a thor¬ ough overhaul of 20th’s setup, but no confirmation cart be obtained at the homeoffice. It appears rea¬ sonably sure that, whatever changes are made, they’ll be at the supervisory rather than the actual sales level 'and that 20th has no plans to close any brandies at this time, when it’s handling more product than it has in quite a few years. National Boxoffice Survey Pott-Holiday OK; ‘Corral’ Again First, ‘80 Days’ 2d, ‘Wonders’ 3d, ‘10 CV 4th, ‘Desk’ 5th While it Is a post-holiday session and many theatres are playing holdovers, most key cities covered by Variety report favorable re¬ sults at first-runs. Even some of the weaker new ^productions are managing to last'' through second stanzas. Warmer weather has hurt in some localities but the fact that moderate temperatures have con¬ tinued this late in the spring has been a plus factor. “Gunfight at O.K. Corral” (Par), champ last week, is holding onto No. 1 position though threatened by “Around World in 80 Days” (UA). “Corral” is playing in some 23 keys, a majority of them in sec¬ ond sessions. “80 Days” still is great, and with some additional playdates adding to its coin take is easily landing second spot. “Seven Wonders of World” (Cinerama) is pushing up to third position by dint of some new open¬ ings as well as continued strength of many longruns. “10 Command¬ ments” (Par) is taking fourth mon¬ ey, an improvement over last week. “Desk Set” (20th) is managing to finish fifth although a bit spotty. “Wayward Bus,” another from 20th- Fox ahd only out in second round, is taking sixth position. “The D. I.” (WB), newie, will capture seventh place though only out in four key cities. “Little Hut” , (M-G) is winding in eighth slot j while "Bachelor Party” (UA) J rounds out the Top Nine list. 1 “Face in Crowd” (WB) and “Joe Butterfly’.’ (U) are the two runner- up films this stanza, this being the latter’s first time out in release to any extent. “Something of Value” (M-G) shapes as‘one of the outstanding newcomers as a result of Its fine showing in first L. A. week, .It still is big in fifth N. Y. round. “Lonely Man” (Par) okay in Seat¬ tle, is bright in Chi, “Kronos” (20th), torrid in Bos¬ ton, shapes good in St. Louis and fine in Cleveland. ‘Tattered Dress” »U) looks smooth in Toronto. “Un¬ tamed Youth” (WB) is rated okay in Providence. “For Whom the Bell Tolls” (Par) (reissue), good in N, Y. and Provi¬ dence, looms big in Toronto. “De¬ signing Woman” (M-G) is okay in N. Y. and Philly. “Deadly Mantis” (U) looks hotsy in Chi. “Garment Jungle” (Col), good in Washington and Frisco, is fair in Portland. “Green Man” (DCA) looms brisk in Balto. “Oklahoman” (AA) average in Detroit, looks big in Boston and slow in .L. A. “Dragstrip Girl” (Indie) shapes nice in Chi. “Could Be Night” (M-G) fair In Chi, is hefty in Louisville and slow in Providence. - “Calypso Joe” (AA) is fair in Frisco. (Complete Boxoffice Reports on Pages 8-9J, i h £he present world market means a potential gross of $30,000,000 to $40,000,000 “if the picture has It.” This is the Stanley Kramer theory and one that figured prominently in his blueprinting of “Pride and the Passion.” “If the picture turns out to be a ‘must see,’ it will approximate the gross we are looking for,” said the producer-director. He adds though he’s not looking for the highest gross and lowest net. Latter comment was In reference to the type of playoff intended for “P & P,” patterned, somewhat after the “80 Days Around the World” plan. This obtains in the foreign market where modified roadshows have been mapped. Bookings already are set for 14 German cities. On the domestic front, George Schaefer made it clear that upped admission scales are being angled for. Schaefer, who is Kramer’s eastern distribution rep, and United Artists, which financed and is releasing the picture, have sent out invitations to exhibitors in cities of JOO.OOO and over to send in offers of deals. “Theatremen who don’t advance their prices would be suckers,” Schaefer remarked, adding that if the .right kind of deals are not got¬ ten he’ll undertake to lease thea¬ tres on four-wall bases. Intention it (Continued on page 26) ‘Mass-Slanted’ Is New M-G Mark Indications are that Metro Is shifting its production policy to concentrate more fully on so-called mass appeal pictures. Evidence of this change is emphasized by the type of indie producers M-G is at¬ tracting to the studio. The signing of long-term contracts with Aaron Rosenberg and Albert Zugsmith, both former Universal contract producers, seems to point up the fact that Metro is planning to fol¬ low the Universal formula at least to some degree. Since it dropped its policy .of -attempting to make prestige and arty films. Universal, has been one of the most successful of the Holly¬ wood studios. Its program consists of action pictures spiced with sex, popular musical biographies, sci¬ ence fiction and horror films, slick suspense stories, and soap opera love yams. All the .pictures are technically well-made. The smaller pictures are usually budgeted a lit¬ tle below $1,000,000 and the larger entries rarely run over $1,500,000. The majority of them pay off at the boxoffice although most of them are recieved lukewarmly critically. “Written on the Wind,” for exainple, which was produced (Continued on page 24) Jerry lewis’ Many-Angled Swing of 18 Situations About two years ago Jerry Lewis announced plans for an ex¬ tensive tour he and partner Dean Martin were to undertake in be¬ half of a feature picture. Nothing came of it; Martin had no barn¬ storming ambitions. Now, though, Lewis has a picture on his own, “Delicate Delinquent,” and has tied himself to a fulltime bally schedule. Film was made in association with Paramount. Comic is to tour 18 cities begin¬ ning early in July, doing a 15- minute stage stand in one house (coinciding with the pic’s opening) in each town three times a day. He’s also skedded for a swing of theatres In five Northern New Jersey cities in connection with a homecoming celebration. Par has arranged a full quota of (Continued on oage 74)