Variety (November 1957)

MCTV7BKS MBU E Tr Wedneacbrf, November 6, 1957 NO LONGER HABIT, GOTTA BE AN EVENT: Chaplin Peevishly Bans Yank Press SELZNICK SLANT ON FILMS’ FUTURE By ALBERT SCHARPER ■» -Sta* «^hS;ri; 5 ; 0 |Mnette MacDonald Sings, an ns Z^ alrit ’ {t ' s m tobt made Spencer Tracy Eulogizes eve of the release of the first film At Louis B. Mayer Rites he's made in eight years, sums up Hollywood. Nov. 5, his cure for the woes of exhibition. Louis B. Mayer’s “giant” con- The phrase also Is about the kind- t r ibutions to the motion picture est remark Selzniek directs toward industry were eulogized by. Spen- : the operation of U. S. theatres, cer at Wilshire Temple into which next month he'll send the 20th-Fox release of “A Fare¬ well to Arms,” Jennifer Jones- Q ct 2 9 at the age of 72 of leu- Hock Hudson-Vittorio De Sica starrer. “The ■ average exhibitor has silentlv on the sidewalks outside, j brought his economic woes upon Jeanette MacDonald, one of the himself. His attitude through the man y stars Mayer developed a fat years was *the public be the studio> opened the Reform damned.’ He was more interested j ewish ^tes singing “Ah, Sweet , in selling popcorn than pictures, ]yiystery of Life” from the organ I and now the day of reckoning is at tow€n she was followed by Spen- ba “d* - itt u Tir cer Tracy, white-haired and wear- „ Iathe since World Wm- jng glasses, who delivered a .W inoving tribute to his longtime ,, J.U 1 v.uinudovuuc, uiiu even men __- ^ he frequently wouldn’t add stereo- Mayer s passing marked phonic sound. In the last decade °* an era * ^ is the end o packaging in America has become un ^« not ? ! n f R’nai HViHi a commercial art-look at the Developing his giant tnesis,; of B nai B nth. changing motor car models, even the television sets. Yet the aver¬ age exhibitor is still packaging pictures In an antique theatre. Let him look at how all the other mer¬ chants on his block have updated their establishments for greater patron convenience while he has doted all his attention on enlarg¬ ing his popcorn stand.” In marketing “Farewell.” Selz¬ niek and 20th’s sales chief Alex Harrison two weeks ago settled on a multiple-theatre “roadshow” policy which will teeoff here Dec. 19 in an eight-house spread, en¬ compassing a 30-mile area. Some of the Fox West Coast houses are nominally nabes; others are first- run showcases, like the Chinese, Hollywood; Academy, Pasadena; West Coast, Long Beach. The “roadshows” will be on a semi- grind basis—four or five screen¬ ings daily with definite breaks in between, at a $2 top. Staggered Starts The real angle is that the ad campaign will stress starting times at the various theatres,, all ealcu- latingly staggered. Selzniek; hail¬ ing today’s “population on wheels,” feels filmgoers will consult the starting times and drive to which¬ ever theatre best suits their time— L iJJLlfill 1 V/l l 1 ILilllJ 1 U 1 VlUi Paris DividedonKingr In New York’—Says -—---r——-vj-i-——■———r-- - ■. U. S. Producers Say Worse About U. S. eanette MacDonald Sings, Kay Campbell GENE MOSKOWITZ Paris ,. Nov . 5 . n . ir ■ u 1 t . Ctiarles Chaplin, according to his'distribution outlet here. Cinedis, oVClk&r lracy EiUI0§lZ6S *** *°* e « ***** •* gave orders that no American news or-wiremen, or other nationalities * 1.1 • i> n IV. t» 1 o repping Yank papers or services, would be invited to. his press con- At LOUIS D. Mayer liltcs rOlm Springs ference and the opening of his new feature “The King In New York” tr n j xt , c Cl,D,v Po/ti at the immense Gaumont-Palace. His dictate was enforced and is an- ■d Hollywood, Nov. 5, SflOW tflZ txejUge, other blackeye for Chaplin. It gives plausibility to the impression itarttaJ to th/motfon“picture ;: Not Hideaway “"w^g*** on “ Kin * v ’ .!>*“*»•» “ d P*« ness in '“**"» to ^^ e Tt e w°Swre b TempS^^^ * * * : fte * om * ****** Thursday 131) at services for the another Editorial Foattiro Paris’ own-film critics and public did not find the bitterness and in- ^ P1 ° nee f 72 of leu ** “P*** 1 ** vective attributed the the feature by Anglo, Yank and Italo scribes. ■mia More 6 than 2200 persons' 52d Anniversary Number ** fa ? ta most „ “ » was about . America compared with such “Hf* j ■ Amencan-made features as "A Face in the Crowd” (WB) and “Will terflowed the ^emple a d • of Success Spoil Rock Hunter?” (20th). General critical reaction of the lently on theT^dewalfe outside.; _ , French was tepid . over 3,000 people cammed into the house anv n 51re M MSSr^develoDed a PfaRIESrY and audience applauded continuously, especially at lines pinpointing any certain Yank traits and above all at the King’s remark that only civfi- --- feed countries drank wine. Curiosity and some favorable critiques' '^rv of Life^ from the organ N Y DpfavILlHnn 1 give fiJm ' a {air engagement here. France is one country where y hv cnm * 1 /CIoIMUOB LCo^IIc S Chaplin pix are constantly playing, and he is known to all generations. r Tr«v wh?teha?rd and wea?I I —«-.- JUSU **** reissue! of “ Clty “* hts ’ " The Bush -” and " UoieIa J jL^kasses X defivered . LUneMOB lUllS BrUMlt Times” were solid even in firstnm situations. itag tritat? to • his lingtfml Substantial film industry atterv ^ eritics regret the old silent Chaplin tramp and feei ,ss. Rabbi Edgar Magnin con- tion in New York was focused on ttiat dialog is a lesser Chaplin art. He was best in irnme. rcted the services and himself circuit operator and trade organ- Figaro called film deceiving because it was a Chaplm pic, which ‘livered a eulogy of the man ization leader Harry Brandt Mon- Jb^rged a minor political pamphlet. Critic Louis -Chauvet opined that bo was his “close friend for r day (4) at a testimonial luncheon at there was no reason to .oppose the showing of this pic m the U.S. anv years ” the Sheraton-Astor Hotel under suice Arthur Miller and Eha Kazan go much further in their violent Rabbi Magnin declared that the aegis of the Joint Defense Ap- condemnations. Chaplin either did not dare or lacked the inspiration, ayer's passing marked “ he end peal. This is the fund-raising arm Andre Bazin thought A IQng In New York had lost a great deal an era!” It is the end of a vol- of the American Jewish Committee its timehness and many of the gags seemed familiar and rote. Yet ne not a chapter” and the Anti-Defamation League he f C“ that Chaplins genius was still evident in the film. Only Chap- Developing his “giant” thesis, of B’nai B’rith. lin . after demolishing Hitler in “The Great Dictator,” would take on ™ mm- Cnceinn nun. V„ TTwif.J AmerfCa itself. kemia. More than 2,200 persons overflowed the temple and stood Kay Campbell Ji«ft doae • Mar eking placa on Paint Springs Show Biz Refuge, Not Hideaway uotktr Editorial Foattiro ia tb* upcoailng 52(1 Anniversary Number of PfittiEfr N.Y. Defamalion League’s Luncheon Hails Brandt Substantial film industry atten- h ™kme yours since World »« I while all other forms of mer- moving tribute to * his longtime Substantial film industry atten- ehandismg modernized the aver- bQSs ^ Rabbi Edgar Magnin con- tion in. New York' was focused on age exhibitor stood still—offering ducted the services and himself circuit operator and trade organ- patrons the same old seat, same tde i ivered a eulogy of the man ization leader Harry Brandt Mon¬ screen, same decor, same popconi f ^ was his “close friend for. day (4) at a testimonial luncheon at and hamburger odors He almost years” the Sheraton-Astor Hotel under had to be dragooned into gearing ...-«■ ^ for Cinemascope, and even then Tracy went on: “He was a man of contrasts —part sentiment .and ideal¬ ism, part pure practicality. At times his temper would rise, in indignation when he would discover that someone he loved and trusted had taken such lave and ’rust lightly. It was not so much because of any harm done to him, but more because of the shock to his own faith in that individual. That was the idealist side of him. “But soon the practical side would come to his rescue. He , would say, ‘You must never be too surprised when you discover a weakness in some¬ one you respect. This Is earth not heaven,’ he’d say, ‘and all the religions on earth are only human, you know.’ people of earthly faults more worthy of. heaven. People are only human, you know.” “That was the practicaRman. ‘Besides,’ he'd add, ‘most of the people of this coun ry must be decent and honorable ‘ or there would be no United States of America as we know it/” Following the services at the Artiste°biMd S ^tei V m Bob2t'I. *° P ev “ i ? g i? aper ' felt , that “ th ® pia not '«“*! Beniamin was a oainte tn BranHf come lt: bad sorae admirable moments, was droll and above all had : for his “outstanding leadership in Chaplin. Le Monde found that in spite of a slight deception at the end advancing thecause of human of P lc ’ “ lts P olltlcal ^ s P ect » 1116 be g mnmg was exceUent and release rights,” and in symbol of this he well worth seeing. was awarded JDA's third annual Communistic LTIumanite did a rave saying that anybody who valued Human Rights Award & presented buman dignity and liberty would love the film and that one would laugh by N. Y. Mayor Robert F. Wagner. ones . elf $i)ly at “this satire on a country where informing is 'called In turn, Brandt presented a cita- P atriot *sm. _-_ : _^____ . ___ tion to Boris MorrOs, former Para- mount producer who was charao- A fn N. Y- IT HT *1: P Jack Benny f IlOW WntCTS 1^11 espionage in behalf of the United Ernest Borgnine States Government. Steve Bosustow *|f I IIT r .l ¥ I > Make With Jobs, Per Bob Blees regardless of whether it is the temple, private interment services nearest. were held at Home of Peace Ceme- On Dec. 31, Farewell will tery, attended only by Mayer’s sur- segue into 15 more tlieatres in vivors; widow, Lorena Danker Southern California. Whether the M his daughters‘Irene . lior- ’* merly Mrs. David O. Selzniek) -and th Hmv^ S r ha < 5 Aiinr?t e ^Q Se aH«»m ; »nf Edith (Mrs. William Goetz) and However, Selzniek is adamant ■,_ ter Mrs _ Tda Cnmmines. amon; N. Y. to L. A. Kenneth W. Bilby Red Buttons Vic Dampne are only human, you know.’ L fV L ' n ^^ iaa Hollywood, Nov, 5. S 0 of e te h ^" U p“pS ; Joseph H. llazen J«to ■.fc old stuff* Call- wonny or. neavert. reopie Robert E. Kintner Jack Lord forma, but in the new rush to find ar ^hat y wa«?hP Robert F. Lewine Dinah Shore gold in the entertainment industry, ‘BeTides ^ he'd^ Sd 'SSt rf *oub.n Mamoulian Akim Tamlroft a new alomeat has been added. the D?oDle of this coun rv Jimmy McHugh Richard Zanuck Now, its the writers who are dig- the people ot tms counry Ellis. Moore ging for pay dirt—trying to find must be decent and honorable Merrill Eurone to N V propertie* that will create work, or there would be no United Dorn Morrow fcurope to rt. T. be profitable' and perhaps Jiit them states of America as we know o^eeie 1 Sydney Into the ranks of producers. Following the services at the ^ue Ua O Parsons John Davis [ The general idea, according to nplc, private interment services ' w 0 ^ 11 Mildred Dilling ^ ec . Sl there are no •re held at Home o£ Peace Ceme- ( t »t‘ art w -S 8 ™ 00 Billy Eckstine wanted” columns where ry, attended only by Mayer's sur- Wdliam K. Zmsser ; Einfeld writers can find work., And to i?ors: his widow, Lorena Danker ay v Douglas Fairbanks maintain employment Jand also ayer, his daughters Irene. ( for- N. Y. ta Europe Harry Green help provide product), the writers erly Mrs. David O. Selzniek) -and Trio. Bassi Graham Greene ”° W * ave do ^ be ^ r digging lith (Mrs. William Goetz) and Constance Carpenter ■ Dennis Hoey [ fD ^ Properties that can be de- iter Mrs. Ida Cummings, among Rene Fraday Jack Hylton velopea. her relatives. Norman Granz. Frank King There are. no hard and fast rules — ; - Pierre Louis-Guerin Maurice King for finding: a mother lode, Blees Sidney Pettier signed to portray Raoul Levy- E. R. (Ted) Lewis believes. It’s a matter of looking, e role of Porgy in Samuel Gold- Lilo Nathan Milstein He recently completed “Scream- jfn’s production of “Porgy and Julie London. John Patrick ing Mimf,” based on a book he had ;ss.” Poiter reports to the Coast Otto Preminger ; Peter Riethof read some time ago and remem- ter he completes “Our Virgin Is- Audrey Russell Joseph Schaeffer tbered when he was looking for a ad,” now in production in the Marquis Guy de la Passadierre Jgor Stravinsky property. Now, he’s working on r^t Indies for Countryman Films Bobby Troup John Van Kesteren “The Texas J. Foster Story/* based d. Ell Wallaeh « Helen Walpole f on the exploits of a Houston uo- -- : —---—:---;--— -—-- liceman cited by the Federal Bu- jtt j 1\T ~X7~ Tt t XT’ T”M~ T /TTf*~ J M reau of Narcotics for breaking up bach /V. i. Boro to Have Hard-licket h^kfL m,^, B1 «, _ notes, “are the obvious sources of 0 7 A. TT7 J A t fyy 3 material. But there are stories to Subsequent rlaydates on len Cs Paramount is about set to make |where admissions will-be scaled to rthis can be made up for at another , rnther break from the traditional 1511.85. which is a new hieb. At each time. f * -^mcaUy, there s a gold mine L. A. to N. Y. Jack Benny Ernest Borgnine Steve Bosustow Hans Conreid Joan Crawford Alfred E. Daff Jim Damon Jose Ferrer Michael Kidd Lisa Kirk Robert L. Jacks Jack Lord Dinah Shore Akim Tamiroff Richard Zanuck agatet as ^acticed ia ^ Cummings, amom ail metropolitan areas. He now other relatlYes -_ believes that the impact of a big ad campaign dies if a film is not constantly available from the onset * be , roIe °^Eorgy in Samuel Gold- nf tho (•‘immiffn unti nnpnmir Vtyn S production .of Porgy and ouiie iauiiuwii. joilu jratriCJC iujS.iw.kuu, uu <t uwiJt mc u«u of a film in anv "iven local arS Bess.” Poiter reports to the Coast Otta Preminger ; Peter Riethof read some time ago and remem- Thus “Farewell” 0 will strive tn :*ftc r he completes “Our Virgin Is- Audrey Russell Joseph Schaeffer tbered; when he was looking for a nhvc itcpif out nnrp it pets pninp land,” now in production in the Marquis Guy de la Passadierre Jgor Stravinsky property. Now, he’s working on P fn setting this nolicv 1-er^ West Indies for Countryman Films Bobby Troup John Van Kesteren “The Texas J. Foster Story/* based the $4J 00.000 remake of the , Ltd - j Ell Wallaeh ___ - Helen Walpole f on the exploits of a Houston no- Ernest Hemingway novel, Selzniek , ' ~ , . ' lCema ? by ^. be Federal Bu- has received great cooperation T~1 J TV 7 * T/~ D A TJT . _ UF Jl 7 A reau of Narcotics for breaking up from National Theatres’ general. §1 jfJ f* f\ f /sCk7*F\ t,(h ti a dope ring, manager Frank Ricketson Jr. and JUXAlstl 1 J • A • AJ%Jt IS -MAJ IxtH/O AAXArl It ± [. “Books and magazines” Blees Fox West Coast film buyer Bert : _ notes, “are the obvious sources of Pirosh. As vet, 20th and Selzniek-: 0 7 A . T _ A^~ tfAf t 5 3 material. But there are stories to have not barged into other areas. .N/ 071, / 071 f , C be found in the newspapers too, Selzniek, however, has been cup- ^^ ^ V 1 X t IStA lU/i O ^ ; stales with timeliness and appeal ping an ear to recent exhib com- _ . j ■ • • •in. „ that can be developed.” ;:-?aints and has his pitch—his Paramount is about set to make where admissmBs wiH^be scaled to this can be made up for at another t TrtmicaUv there’s a eold mine “challext^c *’ as he terms it— ' another break from the traditional ; ^1.85, which is a new high. At each time. .. poised. distribution pattern with “Ten location one performance of “Com- Exhib reaction to the scheme ■ ndf/J ba? a cfSkSp of Pre-Popcorn Commandments,” this time in mandments” will be given.nightly ought to be interesting. The plan S i U e? Aware that grind-operation ex- New York. Following the run of plus either one or two during each doubtless won’t sit well with some for one hibs in most kiy citi« are grow- the Cecil B. DeMille production at day. .. # _ sub-runs which have been clamor- ; Meres ing increasingly bitter against two- the Criterion, on Times Square, Par is figuring on a run of eight mg for top product an<J protesting rf 5^ £S1 Jn- a-day hard ticket pix, Selzniek wiU film company intends to sliift to .to nine weeks at the dozen houses, their late availabilities. In con- mmSfies emphasize “Farewell” is available 12 subsequent houses around the After this, the picture will be taken ; trast with this, however, is the at- ^5^2* *1 into on multiple bookings, that “the [five boroughs with each engage- out of release for a couple of titudfe of certain top circuit op- Jn^ ran « developed .into average exhibitor can have his own ment to be on a hard-ticket basis: months, and then brought back for erators who feel that many impor- gooa 1>rap€rnes ' / ; roadshow attraction—if he’ll prop- This will mark the first , time that another wave of about the same tant pictures are given such'a quick" "And,” he adds, “the entire field erly treat it as a roadshow-^-and a major picture hasn’t gone from number of simultaneous Tuns. :playoff that a good portion of the rttoSkes needs examination, not die on the vine while ‘80 Davs/ first-run to the normal nabe play- [ This modus operand!, which is public doesn’t have the chance to There are many good pictures of Cinerama and' ‘Ten Command- off. t strictly without precedent; will be see them. - former years which can either be ments’ go on and on without the Criterion engagement winds up j followed throughout the city over ——.— -- re-made or. Used as a basis for a average exhibitor getting a whack its first year tomorrow (Thurs.) ;an obviously protracted time new property. The iihportant at them—although they are siphon- with a. spectacular gross of over period. Par wants “Command-; Larry Morris, v.p. and general tiling is to develop stories that ing off plenty of the business that $2,500,000. Date of departure ments” in a state of on-and-off 'manager of B. S. Moss theatre wiR make good pictures and give exhibitor used to have before he isn’t set yet hut likely will be in availability to the public in such . * - ■ Hollywood a stronger weapon became obsessed with popcorn.” December or January., fashion that if one period brings , ’ 0 s ™ eatr ^ es against the material abundantly His present contention that films Shortly after the picture goes to generally sluggish boxoffice (due, m Orlando, Gainesville and Ocala, available to the public on tele- <Continued on page 18) the 12 as yet unspecified situations‘perhaps, to an infhieoza epidemic) Florida. vision/* \ Sidney Pettier signed to portray! now In production in the) N. Y. ta Europe Trio. Bassi Constance Carpenter Rene Fraday Norman Granz Pierre LouisrGuerin Raoul Levy- Lilo Julie London. Otta Preminger Audrey Russell Marquis Guy de la Passadierre Bobby Troup Eli ’Wallaeh Europe to N. Y. Sydney Box Claudette Colbert John Davis Mildred Dilling Billy Eckstine Charles Einfeld Douglas Fairbanks Harry Green Graham Greene Dennis Hoey Jack Hylton Frank King Maurice King E. R. (Ted) Lewis Nathan Milstein John Patrick Peter Riethof Joseph Schaeffer Jgor Stravinsky John Van Kesteren Helen Walpole Each N. Y. Boro to Have Hard-Ticket Subsequent Playdates on Hen C*s [ another break from the traditional ; $1.85, which is a new high. At each, time. I distribution pattern with “Ten location one performance of “Com- Exhib reaction to the scheme , gp?ng to waste right in Hollywood. Every studio has a. stockpile of