Variety (August 1960)

Wednesday, August 31, 1960 Ws' Near-Stid Madrid, Aug. 30. A sub-plot for a time threatened the/main drama in connection With Sam Bronston’s next production, “El Cid,” due to start on location in Southern Spain around Oct. 15. Between the signing of Charlton Heston as star and Heston’s arrival in Madrid for preliminary conferences and to meet the; press, a counterclaim to the title and theme of Spain’s 11th Century hero was asserted by a Spanish' producer-director, Cesareo Gonzolez’s Aspa Films. First knowledge of this claim and its threat of delay on a. shoot¬ ing permit apparently came to the attention of the American producer here in the form of a printed announcement in a Spanish periodical. ReSultantly Heston could not be presented upon arrival and he met the press only as he was leaving Madrid. 1 By then there had been a series of intensive summit, meetings. All of the facts are still not known but the net result is that “El Cid” will proceed as a Spanish-Italiah coproduction with Aspa participating along with Dear Films (Robert HaggiagV of Rome, The financing under this; method will apparently yield a four-/ million pesetas subsidy advantage in Spain and a .16%. pf gross allowance in Italy: Anthony Mann and his production aides are already at work on “El Cid/’ The.picture will shoot over 80% on location. Local expectations are that will go to^ United Artists, George Orristein having been an enthr^iast for the project from the outset. Rev. Mai Boyilx-Show Biz: Religioso Theme Doesn’t Mean 'Religious' Film Denver, Aug. 30. ——— —— “The church and the motion pic- *p i n I 1 11 * ture industry must in common ac- 1 CM* FOIlipter iDKS tlCUIZ cord teach a decision as to what Aiming to step up activity in the constitutes the definition of a re-; .closed-circuiting of sports events. The money men behind the pic- uLUdiV S ADDI ture business are endeavoring to fc/Vlitll J formularize a non-formula busi- ------— -—-y By HY HOLLINGER production properties in i Sn- TOA Salutes Doris Day |thf" e ep S e C ^g«r o ilTo d nLmnl > n« ship to oniy the star names m- Doris Day has been picked by Hollywood to ghost town status, volyed. And they don t seem to Theatre Owners of America to re- 0 .. - , f h , . th give a hoot about other values. ceive ^ “star of the yejr“ aw d^ ^ ^ filmln / of „ Sui £ The Rim industry today, says Tlje ^ophy^ wm be., presented to rj - se a £ Campebello « the former producer Hall Bartlett, is depen- ^nt'^b^nOuet P concluding TOA’s Metro Production chief believes dent on the financiers, and Obtains more so than ever because The; TOA award was started regain its oast riorv “If and of the growing number of inde- J* ■ a .f°’ £tor ir®actress when P a ^ tv comes, there will be a pendent filmmakers who must look 0 nlv tremendous renaissance, but the [ f0 r outside u,o„ey sources, t jj:“ Bartlett offers the point that has also brought credit to the in- waffahtf perhaps 11 male and five /female dustry Miss Day a ;i over the world and indications performers lust about assure the recipient being ar <? these facilities will in- necessary financing. The producer Deborah Kerr in 1958. Other pre- cn - ase * with any .one or a combination of vio.us winners have been Jerry The most significant change ob- therii under contract has a mini- Lewis, Rock. Hudson, William served by Schary is what.he calls mum of trouble in securing his Holden; James Stewart, and Danny the “disorientation of Hollywood budget money. But without any of Kaye. as a community.’’ He pointed out these stars the producer has an -;-:—:— that it took many years for Holly- uphiil fight It has become increas- wood to gain a sense of stability in ingly difficult for him to come upon i f 1 *! J that members of the film colony the necessary coin. i PlIIYI rlTAfllirPrC regarded Hollywood as their The -producer and/or packager. ■ 1,111 1 1 WUUVtI * permanent homes He feels that as sayS Bartlett/has got ti> have thes. ... _ , _ . a resui t o£ t h e changes that hav. II wood a Transient’ Community, | But Hardly a ProdnGhost Town; Schary s Appraisal of Transition give a. hoot about other values. The film industry today, says ligious motion picture,’’ thfe Rev. TelePrompter Corp. nas . uamcu , . ■ ■ •. w ^ M , plnn Malcolm Boyd told the 17th In- W. Cl Heinz as director of sports ^has a maw problem^ Marlon ternational Conference . on .Audio* programming... . Grc"ori P«k Clafk teblT /rank Visuals in the Church, meeting Heinz, former sport columnist under the auspices of the National for the old N. Y. Sun and Council of Churches of Christ in ly a freelance writer on sports SStorto-' V-Wa, aC B0Ulder ’ Col ° - subjects. Will serve in advisory T &yand August 17-23. ; capacity as well as create and. Susan Hayward “Obviously, seif-labeled religious 1 write special programs. He wrote , there mav be a few tnattor Hnoc nnf moan thae the Flovd Patterson-Inffemar Jo- partieu says rnere may d? a lew has . named ***** .com»ted td^him or else i Nix Paul Butlers H wood P.R. Plan Hollywood, Aug. 30. as a community.’’ He pointed out that it took many years for Holly¬ wood to gain a sense of stability in that members of the film colony regarded Hollywood as their permanent homes. He feels that as a result of the changes that have taken place in the industry—the rise pf the independent producer, the . making of pictures anywhere in the world, and the production of fewer pictures—Hollywood .is again becoming a transient com¬ munity. Under present circum¬ stances, Schary contends, there is no longer a need for many people ^Obviousfiy, self-labeled .religious I write special programs:. He wrote . * f That ambitious proposed public involved in the film business to subject (hatter does not mean that * the Floyd Patterson-Ingehiar Jo- ^ i relations program to be under- live in Hollywood, a movie fs a religious one,’’..Father j hansson preTight program, “Biog- taken by the Screen Producers Although known as a staunch B6yd; former producer-writer in raphy of a Fight;” produced last I Guild forrthe purpose of creating fighter for the right to present the entertainment industry and June by TelePrompter on ABG-TV. r ^ i r 5 T p^*<f P pm£tn L hne exM a new Hollywood image under bold subjects on the screen, Schary now an Episcopal priest, told the -- - , ' , Sfhf2r »it S possible leadership of former Silid he was « a little appaUed” by now an Episcopal priest, told the delegates. “Such .films as ‘On the Beach/ ‘Room at the Top’ and ‘Streetcar- Named Desire’ must be understood as possessing more re¬ ligious, significance than tlie Holly¬ wood, . biblical extravaganzas:” Father Boyd is the author of three books which deal with the rela¬ tionship of nias media, and the Christian faith.. The books are: “Crisis in Goni- rounication” (Doubleday, 1957); “Christ and. Celebrity Gods” (Sea- Ka a 40% Buy-bi On ‘Century City c TE „ ikipp III?AHC TOA STELLINGS HEADS TOA nomiotgcomm. ceptibn-for all of the Lewis com-1 possible leadership ot former Silid he was » a little appaUed” by • . , . j- , . . ■ . ■ j i Democratic -.Party national chair— the so-called new freedom, that hav edies, which have beep released I tTI9n p..., T> llt ip r ha« Hiert a hnrn ; ■ ,? l ™ eao J± L l “ ac na * by Paramount, have done well. But i P ^ ul ® Utlei has died a - n overtakenithe^industry. He charged in the caseof others, it’s a matter, ln f h , fiv . m , n convmiUee t-wt the freedom Bril in the df nf fart that there have been some . ® : iivo-oia] 1 commiitee rC ction of sex and that he was con- losers\s well as^hV wiru^^ S ° me I named to examine a program blue- cerned tliat the all-out freedom .. . - • . . I Printed last month by a group pf ; may bring about censorship con- And yet, the f ,na nce men insist i indie producers will recommend ; tro i s from outside sources if th« UPPO those star names almost-to to the Guild’s directorate, within ; it, d uslry did not exercise a degree he exclusion of everything else, the next IQ days that the;Guild not. of self-restraint. He maintained 9 Its a. sorry state of affairs, this sponsor the project. It^ presumed that he was not worried when the formularization of the picture busir the . bQa rd will follov^Tne commit-i sex ang i es are handlld by the dis- ness. according to Bartlett. tec’s recommendajjOn. cerning .creative filmmakers, but Initial concept of program in- j le fe a red the consequences when volyed an emphasis on the indies’ interests in Washington and with tlie general public. SPG members who examined the program report¬ edly feel the project—which would ; tContinued on page 20) other movies)-“Focus-Re-thirikine -• 8 an.o commercial project io oe .edJy feel the project—wmen wouia , ■ a a I «f \a|aa the Meanin° of Our Evangelism” f on 20th-Fox’s studio acreage Ernest G. Stellings, former involve considerable e x p e n s e— vOl S IV udlvSi (Morehouse-Barlow- I960). Father 1 in ' L-bs Angeles: Alcoa, has bought president of Theatre Owners of ! would not represent all SPG mem- Bovd is now--finishing a book -which-- * 40 ° o ipterest In Webb Sc ^Knapp’s America, will be chairman of the bers. The Guild, , it was pointed f|/1 fl. ■ W>1 la? 9m P^P- 'vith W&Kv retaining nominating committee for the/ex-i out. is composed not only of indie VI' Vfnplr PI Oft Ai ea Qn P a ° e b Z the . conlfolling 60%: hibitor org’s 12th annual conven- ; producers but also of salaried pro- UU UlUvll 1 lull Official announcement of the tion in Los Angeles Sept. 13-16. i ducers, exec producers and tele- a |. a | | y , deal-made Thursday (25) by prex-. The nominating committee will 1 vision producers. ^ |f (p • f A tlanta Mlhlivnc \ ics . WilUam Ze.ckendorf of W&K coiivene before the opening of the , First session in connection with nav H VnailCIAII nilflIHfl UUUI11U5 and/Frank L. Magee of Alcoa, did convention to draw, up a. slate of program’s development by leading 1 U1 liAUullwlvll not reveal amount of money in- officers to lead TOA during I960-j indies took place July 17, during ~ * (|\ j V , volyed in the transaction. 61: Its recommendations will be i the Democratic convention in L.A.. Key source at Columbia said KilllViC KAAVIVUre New-s of it^ however, sent 20th presented for approval to TpA’s ] at the home of A1 Hart, the banker this week that the company’s in- UUllilu JLHItllUlUtO r stock to a. new ; jhigh for year of board Of directors. The nominating | and board member of Columbia' tedded sale of part of the post-1949 I 40 3 4. Deal also [was greeted en- committee will meet on Sept. 11 i Pictures:; Butief was. present, as jljn-ary to television and the pubii# If* A*. thusiastically by 20th execs who and the board will act on the fol- were such. Indie filmakers as : financing of the Screen Gems sub- a |. pi | | y , aeai. maae inursa.ay uoi py prex-. The nominating committee will vision producers; - Allanla Viiniwnc \ ics. Winiam Ze.ckendorf of W&K coiivene before the opening of the , First session in < AUdlllu vUUUl Uv and; Frank L. Magee of Alcoa, did convention to draw, up a. slate of program’s developn iiot reveal amount of money in- officers to lead TOA during I960-] indies took place * (|\ j V , volyed in the transaction. 61: Its recommendations will be i the Democratic con Vamiia |\AAtflVtfYC : Ncw;s • of it; hdwever-, sent 20th presented for approval to TpA’s j at the home of A1 F Utlllllv UUVl ylM i l fv ' Stock; to a. new-jhigh for year of board Of directors. The nominating | and board membe ^ I 40 3 4. Deal also [was greeted en- committee will meet on Sept. 11 i Pictures:; Butief w IF* /l , i £% thusiastically by. 20th execs who and the board will act on the fol- were such. Indie filmakers as-pfi nanc i n g 0 f the Screen Gems sub- Via I if 17 I anCAr (Continued on* page 52) f lowing day. (Continued on page 18) sidiary represent “an expansion of f M Vllj vClloyl • --—— ■ - • — ■■ ~ • ■ — ; ' ' • ■ ^- the present operation.” Among forei«n Ia prodMt g 'bMred Md(lt*iCl IllltOtl! BCV/llllS-Q m l(I m BClSQU& lie ottering will be’partfaN^not • Among foreign, product. barred [3 spinoff as such—with Col holding from Atalnta screens via decision By ROBERT. J. LANDRY Madrid Is currently In . revival nancing, James Covington of on to control. And the money de- of city censor Mrs. Christine Smith latter the lull of plans and con- Signal Oil (also with film con- rived from this, plus proceeds Gilliam are Academy Awardrwin- , liiaurju, AU g. ou. i fidence which followed “The Pride j tracts), arid Herb Silberberg. of from the tv divestiture, will b» ping ‘-Room at the Top” for its ar P ^9 J; ra ; e „ rt . and the Passidh.” Harold Hecht’s Security Films, longtime attorney used for more “growing up.” ^earthy dialog” and “The Case: of the lobbj'. of the Castellana. Hilton ; pveS g nce - ( 0 g et ber with his producr fpr Philip Yordam Source characterized Col as * P r Laurent” because of its sub- Hotel. j tion associate, Gilbert Kurland, to In a period of six days the Influx comDanv that’s “growing and urow- Ject matter, natural chlidbirth. Which may be the reason. Metro scout Spain for next'spring’s pc - of directors, showmen, location j n g»> and as . a re sult requires more Atlantans, however, were not i studio production chief Sol Siegel ; duction of “Teras Bulba,”' the managers, actors and film folk fi nanc ing. completely cut off from seeing, and his script supervisor, - Bernie j Gogol, yarn intended for Yugoslavia generally was almost dizzying to n „ u ... < „ ro9f£lf . “Room.” As sobn as it knocked Smith, checked in last week at the [ but now expected to switch here, the trade-conditioned Imagination. m nVrlnnrni’cnn rfin ih q h; onfizfn over Academy ; awards , it was Palace Hotel. They came .bearing! is, evidence of the quickening pace, though the average Spaniard is f 9 n h? 1 J f, booked into Cobb Theatre in nearby (a). Metro’s own work print of ! A United Artists; project, on the probably little aware of what’s 9 0l “ . an< LJ v P roauc * Marietta, a scant dozen miles from “King of Kings” arid (b) various agenda for $4,000,009, is a re- cooking: Even a partial census of Atlanta’s northern city limits. Busi- questions raised on/a previous, visit minder that UA has been an early those in residence, in transit or in a nd II 5f„ r WIU ° e reacning oul ness was so good it stayed there here. Their presence at the Palace operator here. secret huddle, underlines the clear more ana “ lore - 10 weeks. Two weeks ago it was was very milch felt in the lobby of A regular in Madrid is George message that Madrid is certain to! Col obviously has scored well booked into a pair of drive-in;thear- the Hilton. (Biid)! Ornstein, UA’s generailissmo have an active year to 18 months, tv activity. The theatrical tres outside of city’s cerisors juris- The film trade . significance of headquartered iri Barcelona but in just on present comriiittments. production division seemed to com* diction and played to good box the Hilton lobby lies in the palp- charge of production matters .as I In. addition to the names already to life only a short time ago. Idea off ice. for 14 days. This week it is able fact that it .is one of the well as distribution. Rather more given the city these last days have now 1? to go heavy on expensive set iri at. Belmont Hills theatre in busiest, not to say most intring- revealing of the new schemes and seen Robert Haggias of Dear Films theatrical, filmmaking and at the shopping center of same name in antest Hollywood-away-from-Holly- dreams hatching here have been in. Rome, who will be the Italian same time further building the Cobb County, which practically ad- woods; of. the present moment. The the recent presence among the end of the co-production setup on tv end. Joins Atlanta city : limits, to start buzz here is reminiscent of the Hilton lobbyists'Of a .number of Sam Bronston’s “El Cid”, Tony There are risks involved, pf Wednesday (24). These theatres ad- heyday of the Excelsior lobby and picture-angled attorneys, notably Mann at the Hilton, he and his as- course, but Col is confident that yertise. in Atlariia dailies arid stir . Doney sidewalk cafe in Rome some George F. Lewis Jr. (Lewis & sociate. Michael Waszyuski, al- the route to the big profits is via themselves up good crowds for years ago when the original post- MacDonald; N.Y.) who has been ready deep in the pre-production the blockbuster investment ojh (Continued on page 11) war production boom hit Italy. close to the Samuel Bronston fi- (Continued on page 11) proach. Cols TV Sales, SG Stock Plan For ’Expansion Key source at Columbia said (Continued on page 18) Madrid Milton: Bevhills-a-la-Basque By ROBERT J. LANDRY Madrid, Aug: 30.