Variety (October 1958)

fissnEf? 4 PICTURBS Wednesday, October 1, 1958 70 Permits, Any OAefsPonuses, Foreseen as Future French Position There appears a strong possibil¬ ity that, in. the next Franco-Ameri¬ can film accord, the French will re¬ fuse to issue more than 70 import licenses. The remainder will be handed out in the form of “bonus” permits, handed to American com¬ panies which have performed cer¬ tain services for the French film industry, and with no number specified. This word from Paris last week credits Jacques Flaud, head of the Centre National de la Cinematog¬ raphy, as irked by current Ameri¬ can maneuvres re the license divi¬ sion. Motion Picture Export Assn, is trying to change FlandPs mind re the distribution of 40 licenses. Under the last accord, it was agreed that for the two years end¬ ing in June, 1959, the annual total of licenses handed to the majors should be 110. However, for the second year, Flaud reserved to himself the right to allocate 40 of the 110 licenses on the basis of who had done what for the French films. To this MPEA reluctantly agreed. It Is now trying hard to get Flaud to abandon the plan. To avoid a repetition, Flaud re¬ portedly is planning to commit himself to 70 permits only for 1959-60. He has the additional ar¬ gument that neither Republic nor RKO are any longer effectively in distribution in France. Republic is out altogether, and RKO, which is not producing, is released by the Rank Organisation. In effect, the proposed French arrangement would leave in the cold only a couple of the majors—like Univer¬ sal and Paramount—who aren’t ac¬ tive in production abroad. On the other hand, it’s question¬ able that Flaud would specify how many bonus permits he’d be will¬ ing to hand out under such a deal. Flaud has felt for some time that too many American films are being flooded into Europe, and he' has been one of the vocal advocates of a European Common Market for films, which would automatically reduce the. Influx of Hollywood product. MPEA, so far, has taken the position that 110 permits is the minimum required for its member companies to keep their organiza¬ tions operating in France. Realiza¬ tion of the Flaud plan could mean a push in the direction of consoli¬ dation, which some feel is inevi¬ table in Europe anyway. National Broods On Stageshows I Standouts: 1, 2, 3 [ Hollywood, Sept. 30. Jerry Wald Productions is entering the fields of paper¬ back books, disks and sheet music via formation of three subsidiaries. Companies, named Standout ~ Books, Standout Records, Standout Music, will function in association with any films Wald might produce on solely indie basis. Skeptic Brandt Now Sees Par As Theatre-A Harry Brandt states he’s con¬ vinced that Paramount is going ahead with Its theatrical produc¬ tion at «' strong pace. And he adds an apology to the film company. The New York circuit owner ac¬ knowledged* that he suspected Par was on the verge of sluffing off the theatrical business, so interpret¬ ing its sale of the library to tele¬ vision and its apparent segue into ' home toll. (Brandt was not alone; many others in the industry had thoughts anent the possibility of Par’s abandonment of theatre service.) But Brandt now admits, having [been given chapter and verse on Par’s for-theatres production, that | this outfit is staying in the theatri¬ cal field—more so than ever. And as a result, he adds, he’s encour¬ aged to invest more in updating - his theatres and promoting the pic¬ tures he hooks. This is an aside to the 100 world¬ wide meetings which Par has (Continued on page 7) Europe to N, Y. Ludwig Bemelmans Josephine Brown Anthony Creighton Anthony Franciosa . Shari Lewis Ilya Lopert Theodore Mann * Albert Morini John Osborne Jose Quintero WiH’am St C. Low Jeremy Tarcher Renata Tebaldi Benjamin Thau John Williams Shelley Winters New York to Europe Barry Sisters Betty Bartley Larry BJyden Lonny Chapman Dan Dailey Len Doyle Andre Eglevsky Duke Ellington Rita Gam Roland Gammon Billy M. Greene Melissa Hayden Will Kuluva Paula Laurence Leon Leonidoff George Mathews Myron McCormick Scott McKay Irene Miller Arnold Moss Hildy Parks Ann Sheridan Howard Smith Susan Strasberg "William L.’ Taub Kay Thompson Bill Tqdman Franchot Tone Patricia Wilde • L. A. to N. Y. Barney Balaban William Bendix Raymond Burr Richard Carlson Hans Conreid Saul David Laraine Day Rusty Draper Oscar Dystel Philip Gerard Freeman Gosden Arthur Gregory Dennis Hopper Ross Hunter Arthur Israel Arthur Pi Jacobs Frankie Laine Martin Leeds Jack Linkletter John Mitchell Ken Murray John Raitt Hubbell Robinson Jr. Dore Schary Robert Schwartz David O. Selznick Spyros P. Skouras Walter Wanger Lawrence Weingarten Betty White Randy Wp 0 d New York to L. A. William Boyd Grace Bradley Jack Davies Derek Deglin Anne Fulchino Derek Glynne Gil Golden Abby Mann George B.. Marek Don McGannon Dick Pack Jerry Pickman Harold Sachson Mrs. Frankie Spitz . Christina Underwood George Weltner Virginia Wicks Hollywood, Sept 30. John B. Bertero, new president of National Theatres, also will con¬ tinue “for foreseeable future” his former duties as president of Fox West, Coast Theatres, National’s aubsid. New title is assumed to¬ morrow (Wed.). Under new administration, goal Is to become “a growth organiza¬ tion.” This can be accomplished, Bertero said, only by program of diversification in allied fields en¬ tertainment upon which; chain al¬ ready embarked. National is ex¬ ploring possibility of augmenting, film exhibition with stage shows, plans calling for top names to tour key houses. For “growth,” It’s essential for National to add to its earnings by going into television, which has al¬ ready started via ' acquisition of WDAF (AM-TV) of Kansas City and proposed acquisition of Na¬ tional Television Associates. Other possible buys are pending accord¬ ing to Charles L. Glett, v.p. hi charge of tv operations. Spencer Leve, new v.p. of thea¬ tre operations reports deal closed with Warner Bros, to open “Aunt¬ ie Marne” at Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, around Christmas. It will replace “Windjammer,” which in nine situations domestic and foreign, has to date grossed $2,500,000. Anthony Franciosa- and wife Shelley Winters came In on the United States yesterday (Tues.l. Had been in Rome where the actor starred with Ava Gardner in “Naked Maja,” Titanus film. National Boxoffice Survey Biz Still Uneven; ‘Cat 9 Again .Champ, 'Yankees 9 2d, 'Pacific 9 3d,.'Defiant 9 4th, 'Gigi 9 5th; Business at first-runs is holding uneven in current session around country. While the fist four big¬ gest pictures will reap more than $1,000,000 total gross, showing dip sharply after that; which means ex¬ hibitors are having their usual pre- October b.o. woes this stanza. Fresh product, too, is not measur¬ ing up well for the most part Again “Cat on Hot Tin Roof* .(M-G) is finishing in first spot, a position it has held for a whole month. “Damn Yankees” (WB), out for the most part. Again “Cat on Hot Tin Roof’ (M-G) is finishing in first spot, a position it has held for a whole month. “Damn Yankees” (WB), out for first time to any extent this ; week, is a strong second-place win¬ ner and pressing "Cat” for top laurels. “South Pacific” (20th) Is capture lng third money while “Defiant Ones” (UA) moves Up to fourth place by dint of five key city dates. 1 ' “Gigi” (M-G), high’ on the list re¬ cently, is finishing fifth. “Me and Colonel” (Col), fourth last found, is winding up sixth. “Big Country*' (UA), which was sixth a week ago, is taking seventh spot “Around World in 80 Days’ (UA) is capturing eighth place. “Windjammer” (NT) is winding up In ninth position. • marry Black and Tiger” (20th), a newie. Is finishing 10th despite considerable coin racked up oh borne 15 playdates.in keys covered by Variety. “Search For Para¬ dise” (Cinerama) fs taking ‘ 11th place while “La Parisienne” (UA) rounds out the Top 12 list “Matchmaker” (Par), “Rgw Wind in Eden” (U) and “Reluctant De¬ butante” (M-G) are the runner-up films in that order. “Wind Across Everglades” (WB) Is somewhat disappointing bn its three dates this stanza. “Camp on Blood Island” (Col), also new, looks good in two -spots. “South Seas Adventure” (Cine¬ rama) landed a great take on open¬ ing’ week in Chi. Pic continues okay in N.Y. on longrun. “Never Love Stranger” (AA), average ip K.C., Js rated smash In Detroit “Katfiy-O” (U) looms okay in St. Louis. "Dunkirk” (M-G), fairly new, shapes mild to dull currently. “God Created Woman” (Kings), good in Washington, looks nice in XjC. : “Night Heaven Fell,” also from Kingsley, is rated torrid in Boston, sock in .Denver, okay in LA. and good in Philly. - “Indtscreef’ (WB), long high bn the list, is big in Louisville, dandy in L.A. and good in Toronto. “Hunters” (20th) shapes good in Toronto, ^'Bridge ofi River Kwai” (Col) looms nice ih N.Y. and Wash¬ ington. : (Complete' Boxoffice Report* bn Pages. 8-9) ;; New York Sound Track | ♦ ♦♦»+♦++»+♦♦+♦♦ M »+ t 44++» » +4 + 44»+4++»444»+ + + 4+ V 4.+ Irony: Ida Lupino at the conclusion of the 1944 Warner Bros, film, “li Our Time,” shown -on tv last week: “Warsaw has become a sym¬ bol of the world we are trying to achieve.” . . . Burt Obrents of the Columbia Pictures international dept recently went to Iceland to scout a new deal for the Col product. Harold Lloyd plans eventually to remake “The Freshman,” one of his all-time classics which he did as a silent in the ’20s. This was dis-. closed when comedian protested use of title by J. Arthur Rank. British company notified Lloyd last week that he had dropped tag from a projected film property, and instead would use “Bachelor of Hearts.”- “Roots of Heaven” will have an intermission at its Palace Theatre, N.Y., roadshow . . . Johnston office threw a blacktie party for the British film pact negotiators in Washington yesterday (Tues.) . . . Thanks to “Peyton Place,” 20th-Fdx's distribution setup will show a profit this year for the first time in many a year . . . Joseph Materaali, head of the French Film Office in Manhattan, expects to stay on to the end of 1959 . . . MPEA’s India rep, Charles Egan, flew to Burma . . . Worth noting: The sexy 1 “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” got an A-M rating from the Roman Catholic Legion of Decency. Of course,, the two principals are married . . . Charles E. McCarthy, “publicist” (what¬ ever that implies) for the non-busy Council of Motion Picture Organ¬ izations, apparently too busy to return, info calls from the Press. Such as what? . . . Alex Harrison, 2Qth's sales chief, moved to the city and signed a Ave-year lease on an apartment, at 79th and Madison. So that 20th Coast ihovfr dpe$n*t-.sbem to be immediately in the offing. Frankie (Mrs. Leo) Spits, back from three months abroad where she wafc part-of a UN Cultural Mission to Brussels (but. couldn’t ac¬ cept an invite to Moscow), rushing to'the Coast because of the death of her housekeeper;* id years with the household . . ~ Spyros Skouras hosting an Amusement Industry for Rockefeller rally r along with Gus Eyssell and Ned Depiaet, at the Metropolitan Club tomorrow (ThursJ. Gladys Cooper has bowed out of Warner Bros.’ ‘The Miracle” due to delayed start of role .. . Rufe Davis into Alfred Hitckeoek’s “North By Northwest” at Metro . . . 'Columbia Pictures is overtiming Fred Zinnemann to direct “Andersonville,” -following decision .of George Sidney to only product. Not. within.memory have so many of the Variety homeoffice edi¬ torial staff wanted-to see—and havfe seen—a picture with as much avidity as-is currently being manifested- with “Cat On The Hot Tin Roof,” colloquially called ‘The Hot Cat” The legit bunch knows a show’s a hit when “pals” start to bother them for “house seats,” but it’s a rarity in the picture dept. Jacques Salberg, Warper Bros, director of film sales in France and North Africa, has resigned. He’s succeeded by Bernard Kopel, who has been with WB here since 1932 . . . Free chest X-rays for members of the film b£* are being made available at the Hotel Astor, N.Y., till Friday (2), -courtesy of the Will Rogers Hospital Screenbill, the forthcoming weekly for theatre distribution to fans, is being bandied in N.Y. by Russell Birdwell Associates . . . but the Bird flew in 1947 when his . Manhattan/shop was acquired by W. Ware Lynch and C. V* Armstrong, the gents concerned with the new peri¬ odical ... Clem Perry, v.p. and general manager of New York’s Rugoff & Beck¬ er Theatres, abroad on first lap of a three-week European trip to view art films. Miranda Productions Inc. has been authorized to conduct a motion picture films business in New York, with capital stock of 200 shares, no par valuel Wcinrlb & Weinrfb were filing attorneys at Albany . . . . Iberia International Films Inc. has been empowered to carry on a motion picture and selling business., in New York, with capital stock of 200 shares, no par value, and 100 shares $100 par value. Directors are: David A. Alberstadt of Philadelphia; Isadora H. Sohweidel and David Abennan of New York yia attorney Paul Miller; also newly reg¬ istered: Dun ^Productions Ike. of Hewlett Bay Park, Nassau .County, N.Y. through Manhattan attorneys Zelkin & Cohen. Hugo Fregonese bought “Nina and the Tramp,” original screen¬ play by Spanish author ..Carlo#. Blanco, for indie production in Spain next April.., Tyrone PoVtfi next after curaent “Solomon and Sheba” will head bis own Copa Productions’ untitled World War II yarn, in¬ volving a> school for assassins, to be lensed in Sweden .. . Buddy Breg¬ ma#., will compose theme'song for Jerry Wald’s “Winesburg, Ohio” . . William F.'Broidy acquired pair of Alonzo Been Coie originals, “The Experiment of Dr. Zahn” and ‘The Gypsy’s Hand,” to be pro¬ duced back'to back as horror package . . . Anthony Perkins cast by Stanley Kramer as costar in “On the Beach” joining Gregory Peck, Ava,Gardner, and Fred Astaire . “The Return of Jack the Ripper** will follow “Jail Break” for Milner Bros. Co-production deal'with British Charles Deane for pair of Guy Madison starrers, “Sea Fury’-* and “Brigand’s Gold,” called off by Helen Ainsworth due to press -of new Madison telepix series at Hal Roach ... By coincidence, Warner Bros, currently is filming Max Reialuqrdt’* . “The Miracle^” which it bought back in 1927, coincidentally with tho upcoming-Houghton Mifflin publication of Lady Diana Cooper’s mem¬ oirs* “The Rainbow Comes and Goes.” Book has already been pub¬ lished in England, has been serialized in part ih -Ladies Home Jour¬ nal. Lady Cooper played the Virgin -in the original legit production in the mid-192Qs. . - Film fan mags are pleasantly surprised at the solid sales despite the alleged downbeat of the picture business. Their analysis is that, whether on theatre or home-screen, pix are still beaueoup popular. 'HERCULES',, HITS WEST COAST! Joe Levine of .Boston Now Favors Premieres There' Boston, Sept,-30. Joseph E. Levine, prexy Embas¬ sy Pictures Corp., flew to Holly¬ wood Thursday (25) • to set the American premiere of his new Italian film* acquisition, ‘‘Her¬ cules.” Color spectacle in ana : morphiscope With all-English dia¬ logue, marks the first film the Bos¬ ton film distrib and importer has preemed on the w«st coast All his other, big exploitation- films,-*“At- tila,” “Godzilla,” ‘Wiretappers” were’ preemed. in the east.' Levine Will remain In* Hollywood for a week to set arrangements and planx-his biggest exploitation cam¬ paign for* “Hercules.” He contem¬ plates west toast proems 'on: Ms films frora T here •* - Heard on Both Coasts: Realtor Zeckendorf May Acquire Republic's Labs Rumored (but not confirmed)" in . Coast and New York (Wall Street)' circles is a possible buyout by' realtor - hotel operator William Zeckendorf of Republic’s labora¬ tories both in the east and west. Rep’s Consolidated Film Lab¬ oratories represents the film com¬ pany’s _ important money-making enterprises. It was hinted that Rep. president Herbert J. .Yates.is to bo in -New York. from- his Coast base • this week to consider the deaL 5 Further noted that Zeckendorf has an important interest, in Pathe' Labs and, thus, is no stranger to the. field. Zeckendorf bought out the late Robert H. Young’S stofck in Chesapeake Industries, Which-is k- holding company: whose prbpeftfe#'- include “Pathe. * * "