Variety (November 1957)

PICTURES Wednesday, November 13, 1957 PSBSBBTt I J+ *■ The Cup-and-L|p-Slip-Bil Warner*’ Elaborately Fanfared Foreign D6al On Cinerama Hat Been (Quietly Dropped 4 - „ -- Decides Hard Tickets the Hard Way ; ‘Raintree’ To Hit Continuous Run - ; -,- :-► The deal for Warner Bros, to dis¬ tribute Cinerama'pictures abroad has never been consummated. Sev¬ eral months ago WB prexy Jack L. Warner, who was in Europe at that time, announced with considerable fanfare that an agreement had been reached with Stanley Warner Cinerama for WB to oversee the opening of additional Cinerama in¬ stallations abroad and to distribute the. three-strip pictures. However, it was reliably learned this week, that a final agreement had never •been signed and that negotiations between WB and Stanley' have ceased completely. This is the second time that an ‘announced” WB deal involving participation in Cinerama has failed to be executed. r Several years ago, with equal fanfare, WB revealed that it had signed an agreement with Stanley Warner to filip “Lewis and Clark” and other pictures in the Cinerama process. This deal, similar to the subse¬ quent releasing agreement, was quietly forgotten. SW lias been trying for some' time to get a epmpany to take over foreign rights to Cinerama. Technicolor was on the-verge of closing a deal with the theatre cir¬ cuit, but backed out Vhen agree¬ ment on mutually satisfactory terms could not be reached. Robin International, an import-export, firm, has the overseas* exhibition right* to Cinerama in seyeral for¬ eign cities." Allied Artists Allied Artists is moving toward a policy, patterned after the United Artis 4 * type of operation—that is, tielng up with independent produ¬ cers. AA is to provide 4he neces¬ sary bank guarantees and take dis¬ tribution rights- Expectation is that AA will cease production itself and in the future Will look to the indies as the sole source of product. Deals have been set with 11 fllm-m&kets who are to deliver 20 productions to AA. These are in addition to 12 films picked up from outsiders since last August. Among the more recent pacts en¬ tered is one with Bruce Newbery, who is to make six pictures with¬ in the next 18 months. A British outfit, G.L. Production?, is to turn out two horror plx for AA, these being “The Human Beast” and “Night of the GhouL” Other indies now on the AA roster in the .new modus operand! include Bomson-Broidy Produc-; tions, . David Diamond, Edward Nassour, Roger Corman, Herbert Ebensiein, Jack L. Copeland, Jos¬ eph Justman and Caryri Produc¬ tions. NEW CLIENT; 'FRANKENSTEIN' Charles Moses Exits Publicity To Screenplay The Monster Hollywood, Nov. 12. Charles A, Moses,. Publicity-Ad¬ vertising Director for Bel-Alr Pro¬ ductions and Lakeside Pictures, has resigned from that post effec¬ tive January 1. Moses, who was United Artists* European pub-rep prior to joining the Edwin. F. Za- bel, Aubrey Scfaenek, Howard W. . Koch organization, has been signed I by latter group -to screenplay “Frankenstein’s Castle,” slated to go before the cameras early next year; - .Moses-joined the indie company in Jam, 1950. - - > .- ; New Tollvision Dept. Commencing this week, Toll- vision will occupy a special department, between Pictures and Radio-Television. All news—unless on Page 1 pertaining to feevee, whether cable-theatres or any of the over-the-air syitems^-will thus be departmentalized for reaejy intra-trade reference. Importers Resist Hoare Fmds Out Independent distributors in the U. S. are beginning to rebel against the high advance guarantees they’re being asked to pay by over¬ seas producers. While the resistance resentment against the high advances has ex¬ isted from the start, . it’s lately come to a head during the visit here of Victor Hoare of Lion In¬ ternational, foreign distribution arm of British Lion.. It’s thought that Hoare ran into a wall of re¬ jection on the prices he was asking for the upcoming B-L Product. Helping the situation along was the performance of some recent British releases, particularly “Broth ers-in-Law” for which Wal¬ ter- Reade’s Continental Distribut¬ ing paid $129,OOQ. Distributors Corp. of America paid a reported $75,000 for another B-L release, “Baby and the Battleship.” Indies admit.that the market for imports is widening gradually, but they maintain that the prices being asked for run-of-thermill product are way out of lint end Impose on the distributors an undue risk. • It’s estimated that soma 300 the¬ atres throughout the country play imports as a steady diet. Another 500 to 000 houses will play foreign lingualers occasionally. With the British pictures, of course* the po¬ tential is much larger, though many don’t go much beyond 1,000 bookings anyway. Indies complain that a lot Of publicity is being giv¬ en to the hits and little to the average foreign film that must struggle to- show a profit. Some maintain that the current- booBng range of the (non-dubbed) imports is about normal, and that any great expansion might actually cost the distribs money. David J. Greene Sells 140,000 Shares Back To -RIO Theatres (New List) David J. Greene, List Industries^ (RKG Theatres) board member and onetime leader of an anti¬ management proxy fight (prior to; Albert A. List’s acquisition of coa- .trol) on Monday (11) sold approx¬ imately 140,000 shares of the com¬ pany’s stock, which he and asso¬ ciates' had held, back to the com¬ pany., H. Hentz handled the or¬ der. Purchase-price presunfbbly was $9 per share, or a total of $1,260,- 000. Whether Greene will remain on the directorate was njt stated. ’ Meanwhile, the corporation has reported a substantial jump in earnings for the nine months end- l ed Sept. 30. Consolidated profit for the period, including a gain of $598,929 on the sale, of properties, was listed at $1,670,000, or 38c per : common share. * Earnings for the same period last year, which had no special gains, amounted to $439,045, or 14c per share. Income from operations climbed from $3,809,330 for the first nine months of 1956 to $4,910,026 for the i95? period. By GENE AKNEEL . The American film industry’s elaborately-drawn and multi-facet¬ ed ,plans for stimulating public interest in motion pictures on an institutional basis appear *ready for abandonment in substantial part, if not completely. After volumes of written and spoken words over the past year on how to win new friends and in¬ fluence more ticket sales, the so- called business building program that had been given initial en¬ dorsement by various segments of the trade seem? to be blowing away* under a mighty wind of disinterest.- As previously reported here, the projected tour of various key cities by a group of up to 20 screen per¬ sonalities was called off for the reason that important “name” per¬ formers simply wouldn’t string along, with the idea. Also scuttled was the plan to repeat the Audi¬ ence Awards "gimmick, whereby the public was asked to vote on favorite pictures and players. Sweep Sweepstakes The awards approach was dropped on the - plea that -all at¬ tention be concentrated on the Academy Awards Sweepstakes, a guessing ‘game .in which those who selected the Oscar winners in ad¬ vance cop prizes via exhibitors. Project was started last year under the aegis of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations and Was due j (Continued on page 78) V* Hollywood PubRxht PETE SMITH sow at work as Ms Memoirs relives A Day in the Life of an Aspiring Author * •* ■ * asa of »fca stosy Editorial F aat sr e s is Met ■ p cam i af 52d Anniversary Number of Colder weather, more new and stronger product will give biz a solid lift in many key cities cov¬ ered by Variety this session. Cur- j rent stanza is making the best showing since tlie flu began its in¬ vasion of larger cities more than a month ago. Many keys reported the biggest array of strong fare in ' more than a month. Veterans’ Day < 11) also helped some. “Around World in 30 Days” (UA) still is pacing the field at wickets although some newcomers currently are seriously threatening its fabulous showing, “Pal Joey” (Col), one of these newies, is fin; ishing a great second while “Les Girls” (M-G), also a blockbuster, is placing third despite fact that it is playing in only six -cities. “Jailhouse Rock,” also from Metro add which showed a big promise last stanza. Is copping fourth place. “Hunchback of Notie Dame” fAA) is taking fifth money although not big In every location. “Seven Wonders of World” (Ciner- ;ama)' is winding tip sixth. It was fourth a week ago. “Operation Mad Ball’* {Col), third for two weeks running, is finishing in seventh place. “10 Commandments” (Par), now show¬ ing mostly on multiple-run play- dates, is winding up eighth. “Time Limit” (UA), second last session, is capturing ninth position. “Stopover Tokyo” (20th), just Say*? Buy Loew’s Shares ok Loew’s Inc., now selling “at the bargain base-, ment price of 1U6,” are rated an excellent speculative stock “for risk-taking accounts,” according to the periodic in¬ vestment report issued by the Wall Street firm of Arthur Wiesenberger & Co. In addition, the report indi¬ cates that present holders of the film company’s stock “might now consider averag¬ ing half of their present po¬ sitions” by “retaining funds for additional buying on any further weakness.” How Writers Make Out, Cues Crosby Okay; 7 Offers Hollywood, Nov. 12. Bingv Crosby is weighing offers to Star in seven motion picture properties, hut the star said he .won’t make any decisions < until he sees fully developed scripts on the various projects. Crosby is sought -to star >in- two 20th-Fox . vehicles, ‘‘Holiday for Lovers,” and “Rally ’Roun,d the Flag Boys,” both in the process of development; by Metro for “The Girl That Nearly Got Away,” from a Cosmos yam.. Gene* Kelly wants to • discuss. a project tagged “The Bachelor” with Crosby, and the newly-mar¬ ried singer chuckled over that title, quippjtog “he must have sub¬ mitted that before I got married.” . Crosby was recently wed to Kathy Grant. In addition. Paramount is inter¬ ested in Crosby starring in “Papa’s Delichte Condition,” biopic of Cor- rine Griffith's father. Also sub¬ mitted the star are “Expense Ac¬ count” and “Venus Rising,” latter from SatEvePost stories by George Bradshaw. starting this week, is winding in 10th place. “Search for Paradise” (Cinerama) Is taking 11th spot while “Peril” (BV) rounds out the Golden Dozen. . “Kiss~Them For Me” (20th), a newcomer, is good in N. Y. and Frisco. “Slaughter on 10th Ave.” (U), okay in‘Frisco, is rated-big in Boston and N. Y. “Zero Hour” (Par), also new, is fast in Boston, okay hr Seattle and modest in Prov¬ idence and Cincy. “My Man Godfrey” (U), good in Pitt and L. A*, looms fair in Philly. “Story of Mankind” (WB), good in Denver and N. Y., is only so-so in Buffalo. 1 “Raintree County” (M-G), fair¬ ish in Chi, shapes light in L. A. and good in Boston. "Graf Spee” (Rank) is fine in Frisco. “Jet Pilot” U) looks good in Toronto. “Doctor At Large” (U), good in I Pitt, is fine in Chi and Balio. ‘In¬ visible Boy” M-G), mild in To¬ ronto, Is rated dull in Providence. “Story of Esther postello” (Col) looms fancy In N. Y. “Joker Is Wild” (Par), which has played its first-run dates in bigger key' cities, is stout in Buffalo and good in both Philly andJDenver. “Devil’s Hairpin” (Par)., okay in Chi, shapes mild In Indianapolis. “Bombers" B-52” WB) is rated fair in K. C. (Complete bopjyffice repots ^ pages S and 9.) Metro has abandoned its hard- ticket, two-a-day policy on “Rain¬ tree County.” Beginning with dates ; in December, the film company will make the picture available on a continuous run policy “judged best suited to regular theatre show¬ ings.” For its continuous showings, tha picture will he cut to two hours and 48 minutes. The roadshow version runs three hours and five minutes. Under the new policy, the picture will be booked in 15 to 20 key cities during the Christmas- New Year’s period. After opening with a “large” premiere in Louisville, Ky., “Rain¬ tree” was booked into four addi¬ tional situations on a two-a-day basis.' It’s no secret, however, that the picture has not been received with the critical acclaim that had been anticipated and that b.o. re¬ sults did not meet expectations. In addition, M-G faced some diffi¬ culty in obtaining theatres for hard-ticket runs because of the crit¬ ical reception. According to Charles M. Reagan, Metro’s sales v.p., the decision was made after careful consideration by the company and “at the re¬ quest of many showmen.” Reagan added that Metro felt that “more of the great boxoffice potential can be realized through continuous presentation than through an ex¬ tension of the reserved-seat pol¬ icy.” Under the new policy, Reagan stated* , Metro can accept more dates than would be available un¬ der the reserved-seat system and thus bring the picture “to larger audiences while its publicity still is gaining momentum.” Scripts Galore, Hecht-Lancaster Folds NX Dept Hecht-Hill-Lancaster had drop¬ ped its eastern story and talent department, headed by Sherlee Lantz. Latter goes on a consult¬ ant basis. Reason for the move is the abundance of story material which H-H-L has on hand, said to* in¬ volve investments totalling near¬ ly $3,000,000. In light of this kind of writing backlog, the company felt no need to continue with the New York division. Properties owned by H-H-L in¬ clude: “Lucy Crown,” by Irwin Shaw; “Ballad of Cat Ballou,” Ray Chansolor; “The Unforgiven,” Alan Le May; “Way West," A. B. Guthrie; “Tell It on the Drums,” Robert W. Krepps; “And the Rock Cried Out,” Ray Bradbury; “Rab¬ bit Trap,” J. P. Miller; “Take a Giant Step,” Louis Peterson; Ber¬ nard Shaw’s “Devil Disciple” and “Run Silent, Run Deep.” , H-H-L also holds the rights to “Summer of the 17th Doll,” now on the London stage and to be presented in New York by the Theatre Guild. Deal was projected some time ago for H-H-L to tie up with Metro, latter eying certain of the story properties and also wanting Burt Lancaster for “Ben Hur.” Troubled affairs at M-G prevented the arrangement from going through. Sokolore Goes Solo Hollywood, Nov. 12. Producer Richard Sokolove has ankled his telepix assignment with Revue Productions, to form his own feature film-vidpix production out¬ fit. Previously, Sokolove was with both RKO and Columbia. First project is picturization of “Forbidden Valley,” Thomas Thompson novel which appeared in SatEvePost, which is expected to roll sometime next spring. f Thompson is cmr^ptly .propping the screenplay. PfiitiETr National Boxoffice Survey Cold Weather Up* Biz; ‘SO Day*’ 1st, ‘Joey’ 2d, ‘Girl*' 3d, ‘Jailhouse/ ‘Hunchback' Next