Variety (June 1959)

'VARISTY'*' LONDOM OFFICi l St. Martin's PUca, Trafalgar Square Madrid, June 9. Distribution situation in Spain was partially clarified this week . When the Motion Picture Export Assn, reached agreement on the al¬ location of 40 import licenses to U.S. companies for their 1959-60 reieasd schedules, but areas of the . distrib canvas are still clouded after, the visit here of Jack Lamont last week on behalf of U.S. inde¬ pendents and the swelling cry from local. distribsvfor Yank product. MPEA allocation gives Metro, ZOth-Fox and United Artists six licenses each;i Paramount, Colum-J bia and -Warner Bros; receive five each; Universal drew four and Al- j lied Artists three. Yariks for the moment are seeking three import parchments apiece to enter some' product immediately for pre-season dubbing and exhib contracting. Government film authorities are wrestling with an allocation prob¬ lem dwarfing anything; MPEA execs faced in evolving their seven- member breakdown. . Spanish dis¬ tribs, some 154 in huimber, are all clamoring for the balance of 40 MPEA films designated as the Spanish quota in the March 13 Spain-MPEA pact; Of the 154 distribs, 24 have na¬ tional rating, 13 are semi-nationals and the rest are regional or. one- city releasers. To cope, with mass outcry for Holly wood films, Government ruled first that semi-nationals arid : 111 small distribs must form groups of five to apply for licenses. Officials also ordered all distribs to come up with bank guarantees clipped to applications Covering stiff im¬ port fees several companies. still owe for last season. Bank guarantee, deadline of June 2, according to reliable reports, fourid ’most distribs waving bank clearances and demanding licenses. . Expected elimination of f oundering locals failed to materialize at this time. Even with enforced grouping of companies, government must still . satisfy, more than 50 applicants. Total product available for coming season includes 40 MPEA films, 15 English, 30 French, 30 Italian, 15 German and 10 Austrian films. Not all the French, German, Austrian and Italian licenses will be. op¬ tioned since the market has turned, its back on Continental pix with the re-entry last fall of MPEA- Among the 50 distrib groups, 24 : major companies alone distributed some 60 U.S, pix during the 1958- 59 season. These companies, espe¬ cially the top banners such as Di- penfa, Filmayer, As Films, Mer- curio, Chamartin, Suevia, Cea and . several others are making a tre¬ mendous effort to capture three Yank licenses per company. In addition to the scramble for quota pix, there is a backlog of 230 films, Many of these, perhaps 100, insiders say, are unfit for first-run dates, but. the remainder were in¬ die Yank films and European prod¬ uct bought by locals at fancy in¬ flationary prices during the em¬ bargo years ^ :V EUROPEAN TOUR OF PHILHARMONIC ORCH Having mollified the musicians who complained that foreign travel was more expensive than their tour allowance, the N. Y. Philhar¬ monic will present 50 concerts in 10 weeks. Of these 18 concerts will be in the Soviet. Union. Leonard Bernstein and Thomas Schippers will divide the conducting chores. This is the itinerary as currently fixed: - Athens, Greece—Aug!. 5, 6. Baalbek, Lebanon—Aug.8. 9; Istanbul. Turkey—Aug: 11, 12; . Sofia. Bulgaria—Aug. 13, .14; Salzburg, Austria—lug. 16. Warsaw—Aug. 18, 19, 20. Moscow—10 concerts between Aug. 22 . and Sept. 2. Leningrad—8 concerts between Sept.- 4 . . and Sept.- 12. Scheveningen, Holland—Sept. 13. Du.sseldorf, Germany—Sept. 15. Essen, Germany—Sept. 16. . Luxembourg—Sept.. 18. Paris—Sept, 20. Basle—Sept. 21. • Munich—Sept. 22. Belgrade,. Yugoslavia—Sept. 23, 24. . Venice—Sept. 26.- Milan—Sept;. 28, 29. Hamburg—Sept. 30. Berlin—Oct. 1. O3I0* Norway—Oct. 3. Helsinki, Finland—Oct, 4 . Abo, Finland—Oct. 5. Stockholm—Oct. 6. < Goteborg, Sweden—Oct. 8. London—Oct. 10. Few British Exhibs Request Quota Relief London, June 16. With just two weeks to go before deadline for the receipt of the appropriate .official, forms, the Board of Trade is getting; anxious about exhibitors’ applications for quota relief, in respect to the year starting Oct. 1. The BOT sent out 3,036 forms; early last month, but as of last Tuesday (9) had received only 372 applications. In 1958, at the same date, 454 applications had cpme in following the dispatch of 3,253 forms; ; ;v Berlin, June 91 ’ Greece, Indonesia, Ireland, Can¬ ada, Morocco, Uruguay and the Republic of China have joined other countries participating in the forthcoming Berlin International Film Festival, making a total of 42 nations entered. Fest starts June 26 and runs through July 7. The Soviet Uqion • will not participate in the festival. This became known last week. The Berlin festival com¬ mittee had officially Invited Rus¬ sia as the latter is a country with whi c h the Federal Republic of. West Germany holds diplomatic re¬ lations. West Germany’s official feature film entry is Helmut Kaeutner’s ‘‘The Rest Is Silence.” Pic stars Hardy Krueger. Some of the official feature film entries are U S., “Ask Any Girl” (M-G); Great. Britain, “Siege of Pinchgut”; Italy, “Un Uomo Fa-, cile”; Japan. “Hadaka No Taya”; Argentina, “La Caida”; Denmark, “Poeteri og Lillemor”; Finland* “Sven Dufva”; Greece, “Astero”; India, “Sagar Sangame”; Korea, “Chongkack”; Mexico, “Fior de Mayo”; Holland, “Dorp a : £ri de Riv- ier”; Norway, “Herren og hans Tjenere”; Austria “Panoptikum 1959’’; Sweden, “Korkalen,” and Spain, “Diez Fusiles Esperan.” Titles of invited pix will be an¬ nounced shortly, On the occasion of the film test, the local Waldbuehne, an amphi¬ theatre, will come along with its traditional outdoor event. Latter will include the German preeffi of Melodie’s “All Love Peter,” a. mu¬ sical starring Peter Kraus, coun¬ try’s rock ’n’ roll idol. Foreign stars expected to attend this year’s fete include Sophia Loren, Gary Cooper, Esther Wil¬ liams and Cary Grant, If Cooper comes, it would be the third time he has attended the Berlin festival. EUROPE'S MUSICAL TASTES Freed Explains: Why So Few U.S. Musical Pix Score 0’Seas. Paris, June 9. Arthur Freed, G-G’s vet musical film.. producer, during his visit here, opined that Yank film musicals never were really great grtissers on the Continent because of the difference in musical com¬ edy tastes, end the difficulty of adapting . . the ; : tricky American lyrics. ; : :-. Freed points out that if U.S. film musicals are fading in num¬ bers it is not because of the lack¬ lustre showings abroad but be¬ cause of the exorbitant costs these days and the generaljfailing .off of overall Yank production. With individual size and spectacle the thing as against music . numbers, and; with most top musical stars now on their own, it is extremely expensive to. assemble them for . a big musical these days. Freed says that England, Austra¬ lia, South Africa and the Continent can insure a musical good returns provided the film is good. Continental audiences generally. haVe differently conditioned musi¬ cal tastes as evidenced by a look at the French legit musical stage still in the old waltz operetta phase. Until- there is a break¬ through In conditioning European patrons to the more’ advanced Yank concepts, the U.S. tintuner Will have hard going in Europe, says Freed. PSsRIETY Bavaria Film Co, Sets 10 Munich, June 9. Hans W. Kubaschewski, former¬ ly with - Warners and now the general manager of Bavaria Film- kunst AG in Munchen-Geiselga- steig; has announced a program of 10 German pictures, produced by independents for: Bavaria which will not have any of its own pro¬ duction in this season: Dr. Wolf Schwarz, Whose resig¬ nation from Bavaria, .was accepted, will leave "June 30 on a long vaca¬ tion. But he continues as an ad¬ viser to the company. INTERXATIOm Washington, June 16. Motion picture theatre business 14 In bad shape in . Austria, U;S. Commerce Dept, hears. Trade dropped sharply there In 1958, and ; present plans for boost; in admission prices are expected to cause situation to get worse, according to a study released by. Nathan D. Golden on information provided by. the U.S. Embassy in Vienna. Yank films feel this fall off sharply because 42% .of; motion pictures exhibited in Austria are U.S. product. 1 Golden found only 47.3% occu¬ pancy of motion picture theatres in Austria last year. This com¬ pares -with 10-year average of 50.3% occupancy. Principal factors contributing to the attendance plunge down in Austria, Golden said, were ‘‘large number of mediocre films, being offered” and, the increasing com¬ petitive growth of television. An¬ other cause is steady advance of car ownership. Also* he added, Austrian theatres show fewer short subjects^ cartoons and news features than the case in other countries. Theatres, further, are generally , in poor condition With owners lacking funds to modernize them. Golden said. ; Admission price is major head¬ ache; he reported. Now among. EuropeV lowest, although films are subject to relatively high taxes and duties, ticke prices will prob¬ ably be hiked soon between 10 arid 25%. .Film sources believe this/Will cut attendance -further, Golden said. ‘Navarcne’ ia Greece . . Athens, June 9/ . Carl Foreman arrived in Athens for. meetings with Greek Authori¬ ties and local .film makers to. com¬ plete a survey of. available facili¬ ties for the shooting of his forth¬ coming “The Guns of Navarone,” based on Alistair MacLean’s best¬ seller. Foreman revealed his in¬ tentions to produce “an adult epic” in Technicolor and Todd-AO as well as in Technirama versions. “Navarone” depicts the adven¬ tures and efforts of American, Greek arid British commandos to destroy an enemy battery located on a Greek .-.Island near the Turk¬ ish, coast. Part of the .filiri; Will be shot on. Rhodes Island as well as in Cyprus'"but Foreman Will also travel to Yugoslavia to study un¬ usual offers made by the govern¬ ment of that country. ■;• Foreman with his group left for Rhodes after a few days here and then goes to Cyprus, Newsreel Cinema For Honolulu Jet Airport Honolulu, June 9. Coriipact 150-seat newsreel thea¬ tre will be. built in Honolulu’s new jet-age airport terminal building. It Will be operated on a concession basis. The Honolulu .Aeronautics Commission expects it to become one of the major convenience fea¬ tures at the airport. . Reasoning is that in-transit pas¬ sengers, stopping .over for only two or three hours while plane is being serviced, will welcome the oppor¬ tunity to relax amidst air-condi¬ tioned comfort. Mexico Show Biz Eyes on Indonesia . Mexico City, June 16- Current “hot” project in Mexi¬ co’s entertainment industry aims to capitalize on the visit. a fort¬ night ago by President Achmed Sukarno of Indonesia. . Motion picture, dance and cultural circles are planning a build-up of a re¬ ciprocal exchange of films, artists and cultural programs. President Sukarno was visibly impressed by the Mexican folklore dances he witnessed, and the private showing of “El Zarco” (The Wall-eyed One) at the Variedades Theatre. Raul de Anda, head of the Mexi¬ can Assn. of Film Producers, and Miguel Aleman Jr., both seriously attempting to open up new foreign markets: for .Mexican pictures, have pounced on the idea of a size¬ able Indonesian market despite the fantastically lew boxoffice ad¬ missions there. One of the projects outlined en¬ tails a Mexican delegation of pro¬ ducers, stars and directors, which will head towards Djokjakarta, with some - of the best Mexican films of recent years, to conquer the Indonesian market. Film per¬ sonalities, principally eye pleasing serioritas and male mariaehi sing¬ ers, in personal appearances, could give citizens of the East Indies a tuneful,, colorful show. Giving added impetus to the project is the fact that the cultural attache at the Indonesian Embassy here has revealed his country is preparing to send an artistic dele¬ gation to Mexico, with stress on Asiatic folklore. This is in keep¬ ing with a private agreement be¬ tween presidents Sukarno and Mateos. In return, Indonesia wants to see a Mexican entertainment caravan featuring the best in song and dance. Both Mexican executives had private talks with President Su- karno. And immediately after these discussions were taken up by Mexican foreign relations officials, treating with the Indonesian-. Em¬ bassy here:. Possibility of quickly establishing a film- exchange pact seems good. London,. June 16. Epoch-making communique from the: Rank h.q. concerning two stars now at work at Pine wood Studios.; delivered in a telephoned communique from the Organization at VARiEty’s London office: Pier Angeli and Eva Bartok, both starring in “SOS Pacific,” now being made at Pinewood . Studios,. “announced” today that their highly publicized domestic problems seem to be solved. An¬ geli, whose ex-husband singer Vic Damone arrived dramatically in London two days ago. with an armful of toys for his son Perry, stated that a reconciliatibn had taken place. “We have discussed the whole matter fully*” she said on the set, “and I think our problems have been sorted out. We are both very happy about it, : especially because of our son Perry. He is absolutely radiant now , that he has seen us together again.” . Vic Damone will stay in London for two or three more days and Will then fly to New York to appear fn a show. Eva Bartok: riiade this “announcement” about her relationship with Prince Shiv, who arrived In London a few days ago: “We have talked over our problems and they seem to have been sorted out. I will not be rushed into anything and I still have some things to sort out* in my mind, but things! are much clearer now. We have decided, however, that whatever happens, my career will continue. Nothing immediate is liable to happen as I have film commitments in three countries over the next four months.” 'Anger OK $10,5 London, June 9. A spell of wanner weather made a dent in first-run returns in the last stanza, affecting most situa¬ tions. Just a few pix beat the rising mercury, notably “Gigi,” which continued capacity in 17th week at the Columbia, with $10,- 000. Also sturdy was “Some Like It Hot” which was hefty $9,000 in fourth week at the London Pavi¬ lion. “Rio Bravo” opened in fine style with prospects of a great $12,000 in initial Warner round. “Diary of Anne Frank,” which opened with a charity preem at the Carlton last Wednesday (3). played at capacity for most evening per¬ formances, but matinees were dis- appointing. The first round looks to finish' at a fair $7,000. “Look Back In Anger” made a promising start at the Empire, and shapes around $10,500 in its second week. “Jack the Rinpcr” looks average in second at the Plaza. “Middle of the Night” looks fair $6,500 at Odeon, Marble Arch, for opening round. Estimates for Last Week Astoria (CM A) (1.474; $1.20- $2.15) — “Around World in 80 Days” (UA) (101st wk). . Down to $4,300. Finishes its current run July 10. It will be followed July 29 by "‘Sleeping Beauty” (Disney). Carlton (20th) (1,128; 70-$2.15)— “Diary pf Anne Frank” (20th). Be¬ low expectations at $7,000 for opening week of 10 performances, though playing capacity at most evening shows. Casino (Indiet <1,155; 70-$2.1'5)— “Seven Wonders of World” (Robin) (67th wki. Also' hit by the weath¬ er, but finished a sturdy $13,000. Columbia (Col) (740; $1.05-$2.50) —“Gigi” <M-G).U7th wk). Capac¬ ity as usual at $10,000. Dominion (CMA) *1.721; $1.05- $2.20) — “South Pacific” (20th) (59th wk). Brisk $12,800. Empire (M-G) 0,099; 55-31.70)— “Look Back In Anger” <ABP> (2d wk). Likely okay $10,500 cr near. First was $12,500, “Count Your Blessings” (M-G i opens Metro’s 35t’n birthday celebration June 11, Gaumont <CMA; (1,500; 50-$1.70) —“The Hangman” (Par! (3d wk). Moderate $3,000 or near. Theatre closes this week, site to be rede¬ veloped as an office block with a smaller theatre included. Leicester Square Theatre «CMA) (1,37(3; 50-$1.70)—“Shake Hands. With Devil” iUAi <2d wk). Neatl $6,500. First was S7.8Q0. “Say One For Me” <20th) follows June 18. London Pavilion (UA) (1.217; 50- $1.70)—“Some Like II Hot” (UA) (4th wk!. Heading for hefty £9,- 600 or over. Third was $10.700., Odeon, Leicester Scuare tCMA) (2,200; 50-$l-70)—“Pork Chop Kill” (UA) (3d wk). Solid S7.300. Second was $8,400. “Woman Obsessed” (20th) bows June 11. Odeon, Marble Arch <CMA> (2.- 200; 50-$1.70)—“Middle of Night” (Col). Fair $6,500 looms. Plaza (Par) (1,902; 70-$1.70(— “Jack the Ripper” (Regal) (2d wk). Average $S,100. First was $7,200. “Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure” (Par) opens June 19. Rialto (20thi (592; 50-SI.30— “Room At Top” (IFD) (5th wk>. Down to S3,200, but fine for 1 length of run at this house. Rite (M-G) (432; 50-$1.30»— “Doctor’s Dilemma” (M-G) »2d wk). Fair $2,500, same as previous week. “Alive and Kicking” (ABP) follows June 11. Studio One (APT) (600; 30-$1.20) —“Shaggy Dog” (Disney) (4th wk). Almost $3,000. Warner (WB) (1,785; 50-$1.70»— “Rio Bravo” (WB). Lusty $12,000. GREET YANK FILM FOLK Berlin Press Hit the Usual Cocktail Routine * Berlin, June 9. Within a week, local interview¬ ers here met Millie Perkins, Billy Wilder, Harold Mirisch, I. A. L. Diamond, Jack Lemmon, William Ferlberg and George Seaton. At the Millie Perkins press re¬ ception by 20th-FoX on the roof garden of the Hilton hotel, a sub¬ stantial publicity success, both for the actress and “The Diary of Anne Frank,” was achieved. It’s due locally at Filmbuehne Wien sometime this summer.