Variety (December 1960)

P^RIEff INTERNATIONAL 13 /VARIETY'S.' -LOHDOK OFFICE 49 St. James's Strati, Piccadilly Inside Stuff-International In a recent Sunday Issue, Morgenpost, W-Berlin’s largest dally# attacked Leni Riefenstahl, creator of the famous documentary pix on Hitler’s Nuremberg Party Days. Headlined “Dirty Money/* article in¬ formed local readers that Miss Riefenstahl earned a considerable amount of money via the Swedish documentary film on Hitler, “Mein Kampf.” It was said that she discovered some of her own footage in this film and thereafter applied to the German distrib of “Kampf/* She referred to the copyright law and threatened to take the necessary steps if they wouldn’t compensate her. The distrib gave in and report¬ edly paid her a “considerable amount of money.” The article then read: “Miss Riefenstahl has seen the film ‘Mein Kampf/ She has not silently gone home and was not ashamed of herself. She recalled her glorious film hours under the Nazis and collected money. Dirty money. Since until now we haven’t heard, that Leni Riefenstahl would turn over the unexpectedly earned money to the victims of her former boss. Do you believe she would do this?” American producer-manager John Harris and another producer, Marc Frederic, have formed United American Film Production Corp. to make four pix in Europe. Pair already are at work on “Film Festival Girl,” starring German actress Barbara Valentin# which is being shot in Yugoslavia. “Festival Girl,” which will be released in the U. S. by Astor Pictures, is expected to be completed in time for dates in Berlin during that city’s upcoming film fest this summer. American actors Alex D’Arcy and Alan Djon also are involved in the project. Word from the Austrian capital is that the next, and third, version of the concert platform revue,. “Vienna on Parade” wfll traVel to the U. S. under. Luben Vichey’s National Concerts management, not Co¬ lumbia’s. It was Andre Mertens of the latter org who put ihe first two ensembles together. Meanwhile no more has been heard of the idea, circulated in 1958, that Vichey would tour the famous Spanish Horses of Vienna in the U. S. John Davis Raps Horror Pix Prods. London, Dec. 20. Makers of certain horror pix, and exhibitors who “bury their heads In the sand? over hardticket attrac¬ tions and ’ the possible advent of toll tv, came In for some tough words from John Davis, deputy chairman, at a Circuits Manage¬ ment Assn, luncheon recently. The Rank Theatre group get-to¬ gether, attended by several top execs from other companies, was to hand out prizes in the circuit’s I960 showmanship contest Running through attendance statistics, Davis came to the drop in women patrons over the past five years, reporting that 54% of married women had stopped going to the cinema altogether while only 10% went just once a week. “I wonder/’ went on Davis, “how much responsibility for this has come about through brutality and unnecessary closeups of blood as someone’s punched on the nose.” The CMA exec declared he wasn’t against the X Certificate, but this shculd be used only for making adult entertainment for adult audiences. He didn’t include, in his strictures horror films which set out to thrill, “but there are some horror-sadistic films which are keeping people nut of our cinemas.” On toll-tv, Davis asked what was the good of the industry saying it was going to fight. The government had set up an inquiry, which would decide if there would be toll or not and if the inquiry came out in favor, all exhibitors should get in and be part of the operation. Though Davis here made no ref¬ erence to the Cinematograph Ex¬ hibitors Assn., it was dear that he had in mind that group’s recent submissions to the Pilkington Com¬ mittee expressing 100% opposition to toll. Exec Changes Made By Odeon, Gaumont Chains London, Dec. 20. A series of board and executive changes in Circuits Management Assn., the division which manages the Rank Organization’s Odeon apd Gaumont theatre chains, were re¬ vealed last week. John Davis has been named deputy chairman and has therefore resigned as managing director, a post which is now to be filled by Kenneth Winckles who was formerly assistant managing dmectoiv V. P. Powell joins the board and will become general manager. George Pinches is promoted to booking Cuntrollt while Richard Hamev, who is a director of CMA and has been its booking con¬ troller for n::ir.y years, continues as director of baking. John Behr becomes circuit controller and is succeeded as publicity controller of Rank proauctions at Pinewood by Derek Coyle. L. V. Crews takes over as pubbeity controller in place of Donald Murrey, resigned. tunis wrmmE’s WONDERS' COMPANY Sousse, Tunis. Editor, Vahiety: Well, here I am In Sousse City, Tunisia, the camel capital of Africa —and I’m beginning to think that’s what they served here for dinner last night. It’s a wonderful experience and I’m quite thrilled about my assign¬ ment. Donald O’Corlnor, director Henry Levin and I have become fast friends almost out of necessity —we’re the only Americans among a group of 150 Italians, French, Tunisians and only Allah knows how many Arabs and Camels. We’ve taken over the entire market place in Kairouan, which looks amazingly like a big Holly¬ wood set with the lights, cameras and generators blaring and hum¬ ming away. Any moment I expect to see Peter .Lorre step from the shadows on some ominous mission/ The set has become a local mecca —they come from miles away to look and gape hopefully to get into the picture. They’re real ham ac¬ tors, these Arabs. You plant them in a spot and they won’t move un¬ til you threaten them with a stick — move the camera! I don’t know how to describe the smells of the market. Try to imagine the Fulton Fish Market af¬ ter a fire and you’ll have a part of it. Harvey Matofsky. International Publicity “Wonders of Aladdin.” fi,A/$ Patsy i Continued from page 11 between Italy’s “La Dolce Vita” (Guaranteed) and Metro’s “Ben- Hur.” Admissions for both pictures were even at $1.70. The big French impact was made by “Hiroshima Mon Amour,” “Les Amants,” “Les Quatre Cent Coups,” “Orfeu Negro,” “Les Cousins,” “Les Drageurs” and “Jeux Danger- eux.” Audiences displayed a decided preference for light comedies, hence the success of Universal’s “Pillow’ Talk,” which ran 12 weeks at the Broadway in May. In the same line surprising grosses were racked up by Rank’s “Carry On, Nurse/’ “The Captain’s Table,” “Bachelor of Hearts,” “Upstairs and Downstairs” and Metro*s “It Started With a Kiss,” “The Gaze¬ bo” and “Please Don’t Eat the Daisies” & Universal’s “Operation Petticoat.” Other hits were “Cinerama Holi¬ day” and “7 Wonders of the World,” “Porgy and Bess” (Colum¬ bia), “Can-Can” (Fox), “Sapphire” (Rank); Warner had “The FBI Story,” “A Nun’s Story,” “Rio Bravo.” “The Hanging Tree,” “A Summer Place’ and “The Miracle/ By contrast with 1959, United Artists w'as short on good product, but had bets in “Solomon and Sheba,” “The Apartment,”. “The Fugitive Kind,” “On the Beach,” *'The Devil’s Disciple” and “The Unlorgiven.” , Removal of Film Duty* Brings Out of Many New So. Africa Indie Cos. Capetown, Dec. 20. Formation of various Independ¬ ent film companies in South Africa has been a boon to the Independ¬ ent Cinema Owners who have had to depend on local big film distri¬ bution. During this year, with the removal of film duty, more owners are using the independent group. Film Import, which was estab¬ lished in 1959 because It was gen¬ eral knowledge that the duty would be removed# have imported more pix than any company. They have about 200 films in South Africa at the present, mostly bought with an eye for drive-in biz which is its main interest. One of the best buys was “Trials of Oscar Wilde” which proved a great draw. International Films had started operating at the beginning of the year but got into financial difficul¬ ties, and.folded Harry Jones# head of that organization got himself some new capital and started anew as Magna Film Distributors, with interests in So. Africa and. Rho¬ desia. Bp far his importations have been an example of good economi¬ cal buying in the right places. His first release was a real sleeper called, “Life in Emergency Ward 10.” Itwas a big draw everywhere. This was followed by a comedy, “And the Same To You,” which also did well. - Norman Bennett, ex-general manager of African Films, formed his own company called Galaxy Films which is now just getting its first shipment Other newcomers got into busi¬ ness by setting up Everest Films which at the moment is importing l&n reissues of pre-1950 pix. / Hollywood Film Distributors was started by Amie Soondka, an Indian. He imported about 20 films, mostly reissues. Indian cmema owners also have imported their own films from India. Over the year they brought in about 300, all of which are used in NataL . A few companies ventured on the production side, but the going is tough. One of these organiza¬ tions, the Pierre Botha Film Pro¬ ductions (Pty) Ltd was placed un¬ der final liquidation during the year. “The Bubbles Schroeder Story” was produced by this com¬ pany. MANNHEIM FILM FEST MAY BE ABANDONED Berlin, Dec. 20. It looks as though the annual Mannheim Culture and Documen¬ tary Film Week, a B Fest, has had it. In recent years, it has been held in May. Previous reports said that the 1961 Mannheim Fest would be held in October. Later reports, however, indicate that even this is uncertain. Mannheim suffered, like many festivals, from the scarcity of worthy pix. The last-junket pointed up this. One may-put the blame also on the fact that there’s just too many festivals in the world. Mannheim had to show a number of films that ran at other fests. To some degree, the Oberhausen Short Film Days, annually held in February, proved competition. Some observers felt that two festi¬ vals, both in the “B” category, are too much within such a short space of time in the same German area. Govt. Takeover of 2 Major Chains Seen Boosting Mex Film Industry ‘El CidV Handler* Madrid, Dec. 20. Samuel Bronston’s “El Cid” will be a multi-distributor film when released after comple¬ tion here. To wit: U. S.-Canada: Allied Artists Italy: Dear Films Britain: Rank Belgium: Melior Portugal: Astoria Fllmes Spain: Filmayer Other Markets: Open ‘Ben-Hur/Tsycho’ Top B.O. Qicks in Lisbon; Biz Strong Pre-Xmas Lisbon, Dec. 20. The two big bx>. successes here are “Ben-Hur” (M-G); in its sixth week at the Monumental and Par-* amount's “Psycho,” now past its third stanzas at the twin San Luiz and Alvalade cinemas. Film houses in general fare rea¬ sonably well even in these weeks preceding Christmas. Twin cine¬ mas Eden and Rama are present¬ ing “Naval Maneuvers” (U). Co¬ lumbia organized a national piano competition for a Liszt prize in connection with the Tivoli’s show¬ ing of “Life of liszt” (Song With¬ out End), which is doing well In Its third week. The Berlin Fest first prize win¬ ner, “Lazzarillo Tonnes,” Is doing well in second-run Lisbon houses. “10 Commandments” (Par) :is in for a second-tun at the Chiado un¬ til after Christmas. The importers, distributors and exhibitors of films in Portugal met recently at a round table confab with the Lisbon film censor^ Prin¬ cipal speaker was E. Gill, general manager of the Imperio Cinema. The government rep promised that some of the film people’s requests will be considered. Brit Film Producers Assn. Favors Toll TV London, Dec. 20. Britain’s two . film producer groups, the Federation of British Film Makers and the British Film Producers Assn., submitted their memoranda to the Pilkington Com¬ mittee on the future of sound and tele broadcasting last week. Though neither body is releasing details, the former haslput emphasis in its document on toll tv and a quota for British vidpix, coming out strongly in favor of both.. The recent atti¬ tude of the association suggests that it also has adopted a similarly pro attitude on these two subjects. Toll tv as previously reported, forms the sole talking point in the memo to the Pilkington probe from the U.K.’s main exhibitor body, the Cinematograph Exhibitors Assn., which aho went f.d last week. The CEA is 100% anti-tolL 84 MEX FEATURE PIX LIKELY OUTPUT IN '60 Mexico City, Dec. 20. Mexican film production for the year is pegged, at 95 films, accord¬ ing to the Mexican Assn, of Film Producers. This includes five pic¬ tures started this month which will probably run over Into 1961 before completion of the halt in activity due to Christmas holidays. Some earlybirds are already escaping the cold, flying off to balmier Acapul¬ co. Production figures above also in¬ clude four U. S. feature film ef¬ forts and two where only location shots were made heFe, as in the case of “Go Naked in the World” and “Pepe.” Actual breakdown of Mexican completed production for year is 84, based on the association figures. Plan $3,000,000 Replica Of Disneyland in BriL London. Dec. 20. Billy Smart, boss of Smart's Cir¬ cus, has offered to lay out a fhree- mile site in Blackpool in 1962 ivith , a replica of Disneyland. It is = un-! derstood the offer involves a capital! outlay of about $3,000,000. I David .Smart, one of Billy Smart’s sons, is now in America for negotiations with the Disney or¬ ganization. He will be joined in the confabs this week by his brother, Ronald. . Mexico City, Dec. 20. Now that the actual takeover of the two major film circuits, the Theatre Operating Co. and the Gold Chain, has been confirmed by the government, principal talk in Mexico’s film industry naturally concerns just what the acquisition of the $28,800,000 properties will mean both for Mex production and exhibition. While this figure is the capital worth of the two chains, the government is reputed to have obtained control at considerably below this figure. Official attitude, as expressed by the Film Bank head. Federico Heuer, is that the $40,000,000 Mexican film industry now will surge ahead. He said the buv-up of the two chains was ordered by President Adolfo L. Mateos. Un¬ derstood the government also plans to construct cinemas until the needs of the public are satisfied, especially In areas where the chronic lack of film houses is known. The two circuits obtained control a total of 329 theatres, with their actual influence extending to bet¬ ter half of the full-time 1,500 cin¬ emas in the Republic. Secretary of the Treasury £ntonio o. Mena re¬ vealed that shares of the circuits will be distributed to the Fiim Bank, producers and the three of¬ ficial distributorships. To Book Foreign Fare Yank distribs may relax some¬ what since the secretary indicated that foreign fare will continue to be shown in bouses of the two chains. Only there will be a “stricter selection of the best of foreign films” for _ programs. Ho did not amplify as to just what this means or who is to do the stricter selecting. The treasurer did stress the breaking up of an “exhibition monopoly” and the launching of a new age for Mexico’s film business. Who will head the newly ac¬ quired circuits still is in doubt though three names, including that of producer Alfonso R. Priego have been mentioned. Secretary Mena stated that un¬ necessary short subjects will be yanked from programs to give mere screen time to feature pix. And pro¬ ducers have the law laid down: they will have to produce quality product for internal screening and for foreign release. There will be no boxoffice price hike, according to Mena. In the initial industry comments on the federa* absorption of ex¬ hibition, the general consensus is that this is a good thing and that it will react to the benefit of the in¬ dustry. Raul de Anda, head oi the Assn, of Mexican Motion Picture Producers said that “dead invest¬ ments.” often exceeding $400,000 to $500,000 in canned films, now will be quickly released, im¬ proving programming, and giving producers k chance to turn out new and better pictures. He foresaw a 100% investment return on films within Mexico. Actors, film industry unions and general unions all commended the government’s move. The Mexican Federation of Labor termed the State’s full control of the Mexican industry of “prime importance” tor workers and the national economy. Hoyts Chain’s Profit $694,000 for Last Yr. Sydney, Dec. 20. i Despite tele opposition here, the ! major Hoyts’ film loop under the ' direction . of Ernest • Turnbull turned in a profit of $694,000 for year ended last June 3*0. Previous year’s profit was $740,000. Understood that the circuit in- tends reopening several shuttered j cinemas in the Melbourne nabes ; early next year as biz improves, j 20t’--Fox, is the major stockholder in the loop. l U.S. Army Group Slaps ‘Age Limit’ on ‘Gantry’ Wiesbaden. Dec. 20. The Army and Air Force Motion Picture Service Europe, which has formerly played “hands off*’ on all forms of film censorship, has just slapped a “suggested age limit” on “Elmer Gantry” (UAL This picture service “recommends that attendance be restricted to those over 16 years of age.” The Motion Picture Service of Europe has previously stated that the only “censorship" it levies ’ that back in the U-S. where films are bought for the military circuit overseas. Only those given the okay of the Legion of Decency are purchased, and that onctTOwt^eas, no further controls are levied. In several recent instances, though, the European branch has handed out its own added restrictions. When “Anatomy of a Murder” (Col i played the 01 ’ catre chain, the service urged “adults only.”