Variety (February 1961)

'VARUTY'S' LONDON OPP'ri 4f ft. Jinurt ttr—»/ PI«wcH»y ^ PfotiEtfr INTBRSAnONAl 23 Vest End Big; ‘Johnnie’ Record 17G, ‘Star’ Bright $8,500; 'Scandal' Loud 10G, Dolce Big 15G, ‘Spartacus’ llG London, Feb. 14. " “No Love For Johnnie,” one of the major new entries, currently is heading for a house record of $17,- OOO or over at the Leicester Square Theatre where it grossed a great $8,400 in its first three days. Also smash is “Flaming Star” at the Rialto with $8,500 or near in its initial frame. “Breath of Scandal” is shaping to get a neat $10,000 in second week at the Plaza. “The Sun¬ downers” is heading for a great $15,000 or close in its fifth frame at the Warner. “Never On Sunday” continues firm at the London Pavilion with a strong $9,000 for its 12th sesh, and “La Dolce Vita” in concurrent en¬ gagements at the Columbia and Curzon finished ninth stanzas with big $8,000 and sock $7,000 respec¬ tively. “Spartacus” is rated sturdy $11,- 000 in 12th week in two houses. “Ben-Hur’”1s in lead for longruns with $19,600 in 60th week at the Empire. “South Pacific” shapes over $15,500 in 148th round at the Dominion. “South Seas Adventure” with $11,800 in 67th frame at the Casino and “The Alamo” with $10.- 000 in 16th week at the Astoria, also are holding well. Estimates for Last Week Astoria (CMA) (l,474r $1.20-$1.75) “Alamo” (UA) (16th wk). Hefty $ 10 , 000 . Carlton (20th) (1,128; 70-SI.75)— *“The Mark” (20th) (3d wk). Okay $7,000. Second was $7,900. “The Canadians” (20th) follows Feb. 23. Casino (Indie) (1,155; $1.20-$2.10> -—“South Seas Adventure” (Rdbin) (68th wk). Hefty $11,800. “Search for Paradise” (Robin) follows on March 8. Columbia (Col) (740; $1.05-$2 50) —“La Dolce Vita” (Col) (9th wk). Big $8,000. “Pepe” (Col) preems Feb. 27. Curaon (GCT) (500; 70-$1.70)— “La Dolce Vita” (Col) (9th wk). Sock $7,000. Dominion (CMA) (1.712; $1.05. $2.20) — “South Pacific” (20th) (148th wk). Fancy $15,500. Empire (M-G) (1,700; $1.05-$2 r .80) —“Ben-Hur” (M-G) (60th wk). Great $19,600. Leicester Square Theatre (CMA) (1,375; 50-$1.75)—“No Love for Johnnie” (Rank). Heading for rec¬ ord $17,000 or more after great $8,400 in opening three days. London Pavilion (UA) (1,217; 70- $1.75)—“Never On Sunday” (UA) (12th wk). Still strong at $9,000. • Metropole - Victoria (CMA) (1,410; $1.05->$2.20) — “Spartacus” (Rank-U) Ulth week). Stout $ 11 , 000 . Odeon Leicester Square (CMA) (2.200; 70-$1.75)—“Singer Not The Song” (Rank) (6th wk). Sturdy $8,500. Fifth was $8,900. Odeon Marble Arch (CMA) (2,200; 70-$1.75)—“Take Giant Step” (UA) and “Dr; Blood’s Coffin” (UA) (2d wk>. Steady $6,700. First was $8,900. Plaza (Par) (1,902; 70-$2.10)— “Breath of Scandal” (Par) and * “Blueprint for Robbery” (Par) (2d wk). Neat $10,000. Opener was $11,200. “Long, the Short and Tall” (WP) preems Feb. 16. Rialto (20th) (592; 70-$1.20i— “Flaming Star” (20th), Heading for Smash $8,500. Ritx (M-G) (430; 70-$1.75)— “Where Hot Wind Blows” (M-G) (2d wk). Fine $4,500. First was $5,300. Studio One (Indie) (556; 50-$1.20) —“Swiss Family Robinson” (Dis¬ ney (7th wk). Stout $5,500. Warner (WB) (1,785; 70-$1.75)— “Sundowners” (WB) (5th wk). Great $15,500, same as last week. “Crowning Experience” (Indie) is set to follow. Nat’l Screen Taking Over British Lion Ads London, Feb. 14. National Screen Service is to take over the ad sales operation for British Lion starting March 1, following an agreement signed be¬ tween the two companies last week. British exhibitors will be serv¬ iced directly by NSS and theatre owners in Eire by their agents in Dublin. May Rotate Locale Of Mex Film Festival In Future; Durango Next? Mexico City, Feb. 14. With other Mexican states bid¬ ding for chance at mounting the Fourth World Review of Film Festivals, this event may be ro¬ tated to diversified areas in future years. At least Jorge Ferretis, head of the Film Bureau and on the organizing committee, is giv¬ ing this idea serious considera¬ tion. The switch of festival sites appears to be the main change which may be Initiated this year. Likely sites include Durango, where many Hollywood oaters have been made in ihe past, Maz- atlan, Vera Cruz and Guanajuato. However, the change from the Acapulco-Mexico City sites of the past few years must get the offi¬ cial okay of Secretary of State Gustavo Diaz Ordaz, Ferretis said. With Ferretis preparing the official project for organization of this year’s festival, he is subject to attack by the Mexican Assn, of Producers which seeks his resigna¬ tion on the grounds that allegedly in the last three years Mexican films have been a negative factor at festivals because of the cold Film Bureau attitude. Ferretis, of course, denies this, pointing up fact that each fest has had Mexi¬ can material exhibited. Producers want to take over or¬ ganization of the Mex Fest on their own, and are organizing a com¬ mittee to investigate all angles. Opposition elements feel the fes¬ tival should remain government- sponsored. Another argument ad¬ vanced is that the association has enough headache to resolve with¬ out taking on the blockbuster headache of festival organization. U.S. Pix Again Grossed Less in Japan Last Yr. Tokyo, Feb. 14. Distribution receipts for 1960 re¬ veal that the slide of U.S, pictures in Japan continued through that annum for the fifth straight year. Statistics for the American majors here (all figures are appropriate) show a decrease of $1,141,000 from the previous year’s take of $14,- 232.337. Comparative figures by distribu¬ tor, with the 1960 statistic first, fol¬ low: Metro, $2,197,000-$2,033,000; U.A., $1,915,000-$2,122,000; Par, $l,907,000-$2,692,000; WB, $1,742,- 000-$2,201.000; 20th-Fox, $1,538,- 000-$1,836,000; RKO (including Disney), $1,347,000-$614,000; Uni¬ versal, $1,112,000-$1,253,000; Co¬ lumbia, $875,000-$1,026,000; and Allied Artists, $492,OOQ-$458,000. Santa Maria Pirating As West German Film Frankfurt, Feb. 14. The Portuguese luxury liner, Santa Maria, which was kid¬ napped by pirates recently, is go¬ ing to wind up as a motion picture. Neue Film Distributors of West Germany has just registered the title with the West German Film Censorship Board. The pic will be ready for release by the end of this year, according to Neue Film chief Herbert O. Horh, Set Isaac Stern, Ballet For 4th Osaka Festival Tokyo, Feb. 14. Britain’s Royal Ballet and violin¬ ist Isaac Stern and the Jiiiliard String quartet from the U. S. have been added to the roster of attrac¬ tion? for the Fourth Osaka Inter¬ national Festival, to be held April 13; through May 6. Previously an¬ nounced, for the Fest were Ger¬ many’s Leipzig Gewandhaus or¬ chestra, the Montreal Bach Choir, Italy’s Chigiano Quintet, U. S. opera singer Blanche Thefoom and Belgium violinist Arthur Grumi- aux. As in previous years, traditional Jananese theatricals will also be Inti Film Producers Group Still Sez It Wants to Reduce Number Of Fests But '61 List Bigger’n Ever — -——+ ‘Ben-Hnr’ to $1,058,000 | In Japan Mid-January Tokyo, Feb. 14. ] “Ben-Hur” (M=-G) receipts through mid-January, from incom- pleted roadshow dates in 18 loca¬ tions throughout Japan, totaled $1,058,000 since the Metro block¬ buster bowed here last spring. During February and March, 11 additional roadshows are slated to open. Total earnings are expected to exceed $1,400,000 before Easter. Republic Moves Marcus to N.Y. Tokyo, Feb. 14. Morey Marcus, one of pioneer American pix men in the Orient, leaves Japan sometime this month in a transfer of his duties as veepee of Republic Pictures International Corp., Far East division, to that company’s N.Y. office. His transfer is in line with a general centraliza¬ tion of Republic’s theatrical and tv film global sales. Republic’s theatrical pix will be distributed, here through UA of Japan, in accordance with a merg¬ er of those two companies last March, when UA of Japan ab¬ sorbed Republic’s five import licenses. Marcus is now negotiat¬ ing for a Japap agent to handle Republic's tv sales. He disclosed that Republic soon will put on the Japan tv market, its re-edited Roy Rogers and Gene Autry features. Marcus, who came to the Far East in 1922 as Metro’s manager for Dutch East Indies (now Indo¬ nesia) and later repped Metro in China and Japan, before joining Paramount as Southeast Asia su¬ pervisor, has spent his last nine years in Japan as Republic’s rep. In 1951 Marcus was named by Re¬ public Int’l. to re-establish its Japan operations with the resump¬ tion of normal film trade here. After two years as Republic’s gen¬ eral manager in Japan, Marcus was appointed to his present post. JAPAN MAY LIBERALIZE FOREIGN FILM IMPORTS Tokyo, Feb. 14. It’s still a guessing game as to when the Finance Ministry will liberalize foreign film imports, ex¬ pected here in line with the gov¬ ernment’s general relaxed trade policies. Speculation is that no earlier than October of this year and no later than April, 1962, will be the date for launching free film trade. The ministry is acting with cau¬ tion in discussing its plans in order to avoid any confusion In film circles. The subject will be dis¬ cussed further the middle qf this month at a meeting of the Foreign M.P. Liaison Council’s Import Committee. A possibility exists that annual quotas will be in¬ creased from April, beginning of next fiscal year, as a stepping stone to a lifting of the lid- Mex Actors Assn. Gives Awards to Vet Players Mexico City, Feb. 14. The National Assn, of Actors has awarded diplomas and medal3 to 13 members who have completed a quarter of a century or longer as performers. Emilio “Indio” Fer¬ nandez was lauded for his contribu¬ tion for the benefit of the Mexican film Industry. Actor Tito Junco received an ovation from his confreres for his excellent acting job In “Shadow of the Leader,” controversial film having exhibition difficulties be¬ cause it treads fm toes of too many living politicos! Sara Garcia| because of ill health, could npt be present and her Virginia Fabregas medal was received by Eri^festo Finance, who read a telegraph of gratitude sent by “the Grandma of Mexican films.” a Others who , received Virginia Fabregas (for Vy^qmen) and Ed¬ uardo Arozamenaanedals included Adalberto “Resortes” Martinez, singer Luis G. Roldan, Wfldebaldo Mirambntes (oldest member hav¬ ing completed 50 years as an enter¬ tainer), Eufrosina Garcia, Mario “Harapos” Garcia, Pepe Hernan¬ dez, Jose Chavez, Salvador Lozano, Manuel Sanchez Nova nr o, Arturo Castro and.Hernaq Vera, Japan Looks for 40 1 Cinemas With 70m Tokyo, Feb. 14. Theatres in Japan with 70m equipment now number 21, with a total of about 40 expected by the end of the year. This equipment Is mainly domes¬ tic products of the Nihon Onkyo Sikl Co. which has orders for 20 projectors for installation this year. 133 Out of 5,785 Film Houses in France Give 24% Annual Pix Gross Paris, Feb. 14. According to Centre Du Cinema statistics, 133 of the 5,785 regular hardtop cinemas supply 24% or the overall yearly pic gross and 65 of these are located in Paris. The others are spread among the key cities and the suburban Paris re¬ gion. This shows that the bulk of French local film income comes from a limited number of cities and betrays a weak-depth income. The breakdown reveals that 2,029 theatres hit an annual gross of $12,000 and that they accounted for 20% of the attendance ^ and 14% of the gross. There were 2,186 houses which grossed $12,000 to $120,000 for 64% of all patron¬ age and 61% of the gross total. Then came the aforementioned 133 houses showing more than $120,000 takes for 14% of the attendance and 24% of the total take. In a breakdown of the big gross¬ ing 133 cinemas, it appears tpat four Paris theatres topped $600,- 000 in take and 14 had a $400,000 income, also in this city. And 19% of the 342 Parisian houses were over the $120,000 mark while in the provinces only 10 theatres hit this big time mark in receipts. Hence, France obviously needs a decentralization in its exhibition and attendance to make the film setup a smoother entity, and avoid disasters when there Is a filmgoing decline in Paris or in key cities. But this is not easy. The govern¬ ment is trying to help by traveling pix culture shows which give lec¬ tures and screenings to hinterland folk for nothing in an effort to cul¬ tivate better film tastes. France still has the lowest pei capita attendance in Europe though the French trying to over¬ come it but it’s slow progress. It is Paris which makes or .breaks a film usually, and this may go on for some time. That is why Yanks have trouble when they are blocked In getting good playdates in Paris. This has been happening even as France produces more pix. How^ ever, Yanks have a goodly share of these precious Parisian first-runs even though they could always use more. Only Par owns its own house, the Paramount. Other majors usually make deals with cinemas seDarately or in tandem for their Pix. Two Awards to O.S. Pix Execs in Germany Frankfurt, Feb. 14. Toppers of two American film companies In Germany were re¬ cently given outstanding citations. Erich Steinberg, general manager for Metro in Germany, was awarded the “Comendador” rank from the government of Peru for his special services dating back to the postwar period when he spent five years as RKO chief in South America. The award was made to him at the Peruvian Embassy in Bonn. Ilr. Boris Jankalovics, who has just stepped out of his position as chief of Paramount films in Ger¬ many, was awarded the rank of Chevalier of the Order of the Crown of Belgium. Dr. Jankolovics was also cited by the French with the ribbon of the Legion of Honor for his work with the underground in World War IL Paris, Feb. 21. Though the Federation of In¬ ternational Film Producers Assn, has repeatedly said it will try to cut down film festivals this year, the coming crop of -announced fests looks as large as ever. Novr the FIFPA has to pass on them but most of them will probably receive recognition as usual. The Oberhausen Short Film Fest just finished its week Fel?. 11 in West Germany, with the second International Pix Fest jus! ended in Columbia, South America, Mon¬ day (20). There are important pix conferences in Belgium and Great Britain with the Common Mart film people meeting in Brus¬ sels and a groun of non-commercial distribs in London. The 17th Sport Film Fast runs in Cortina D’Ampezzo Italy, Feb. 28 to March 6. Next month also has a Short Film Fest in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, from March 1-6, a Versailles Film - Fest In France from March 1-7, and another film and tv meeting of Common Mart members in Rome March 6-8.. In April Pavie (Italy* has a meeting of medical filmmakers and film showings April 5-11, Soain has the sixth Religious Film Fest at Valladolid April 9-16. the U.S. has its third Educational Film Fest, (American Film Fest) in N.Y. April 19-22, and there is a meeting of religioso pixmakers In Utrecht, Holland. April 20-23. May tees off with one of the top international competitive fests, the Cannes Film Fest, May 3-16; The Asian Film Fest is set for the Philippines and the Dfelbourne Fest unspools in Australia May 22- June 12. O June is topped by the 11th Ber¬ lin Film Fest, June 23-JuI.v 4. July has the ninth San Sebastian Fest in Spain, July 8-17 and the second Mdscow.-Film Fest, July 9-23. The Locarno Film Fest in Switzerland runs from July 19 to July 30. The big one in August is the Venice Film Fest funning from late Au¬ gust through early September. So festivals will be much in evidence again this year with the San Francisco Film Fest also due next October. New Aussie Film Prod. Oufft Shooting Buie Of Burke, Wills Trek Melbourne. Feb. 14. Hoping to hitch onto “The Sun¬ downers” bandwagon is “Return Journey” which could be the first of Aussie brand of “new wave” films emerging from formation of new company here. Albatross Films. Shooting on “Journey” started , late this month. Company Is the baby of Aussie John Sher¬ man who has long show biz career behind him, including some film roles in early 1950’s, star of Lon¬ don tele dramas and production¬ acting-writing stints here and Overseas. In England, he was as¬ sociated with Douglas Fairbanks Productions, Warwick Films and the Rank Organization. “Journey” is the true-life story of the last expedition of explorers Burke and Wills which took place Down Under a century ago. In Aussie, these two are national heroes. Both men kept diaries of their last days which will figure prominently in film. Film is being shot in South Aus¬ tralia and will cover thousands of miles of rugged but picturesque country which was authentic back¬ ground to the original expedition. Film is to be in color. Director is William Sterling who is a top Aussie tele director: Till* | is Sterling’s first feature film. Four Aussie actors have been engaged to play white explorers. Burke will be portrayed by Peter Carver, who also played In “Sun¬ downers”; Wills by Edward Bray- shav. r , and two other memners of the expedition by Syd Conabere and David Mitchell. The'.e actors will be supplemented by many l aborigines.