PICTURES P4Lizij&rt Wednesday, March 21, 1962 J • ••••^•^••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••> Two Story-Line Cineramas Set to Go; • > 3i New York Sound Track \\ -••••••••••••••••••••••••••»•••••••••••••••••••••••* MastermindWhich Oughta Go Out First Members of Congress, the Cabinet and other Capitol Hill figures, Hollywood, March 20. many of them anxious about ine who's who of "Advise and Consent," Faced with two Cinerama biggies turned out for a special showing of the Otto Preminger feature at In color being canned within a few Form Roth-Kershner NYU Prof Checks, Finds D. C.'s Trans-Lux Theatre last night (Tues.). •weeks of each other in July, MGM Hollywood, March 20. Hope Lange and Robert Jiras, her brother-in-law, bought film right* and triple-screen toppers will con­ Leon Roth, who resigned as clave in Gotham before the week Screenplay Most Vital to Vinnie Williams' novel, "Walk Egypt," for indie production as United Artists Coast ad-pub Js out to resolve the double- actress' outside commitment on her 20th-Fox pact . . . Connie Francis head four years ago to swing pronged problem. Two factors to Element of 'Navarone' will star in Metro's "Follow the Boys". . . Paramount assigned Alex­ over to The Mirisch Co. as vee- be weighed are: Robert Gessner, professor of mo­ ander Ramati scripting chores on "Red Pawn," based on original story (1) Should $12,000,000 "How the pee, checks out of latter out­ tion picture and television studies West Was Won" be released inter­ fit April 15 to form Roth- at New York U., has found that by Ayn Rand studio has owned for several years . . . Rory Calhoun nationally first and followed by $6,- Kershner Productions with exhibitors believe the screenplay stars in "I Cried in the Storm," Joe Behm indie to be lensed in Aca- 000,000 "Brothers Grimm"? Or director Irvin Kershner. New Is the most important element be­ pulco under his Gothic Pictures banner. vice versa? hind the success, of an outstanding outfit will develop a program Joe E. Levine, wife Rosalie and the two kids cruising the Caribbean i2) Should "West" be made avail­ boxoffice picture, while aesthetic able to foreign countries, "Grimm" of features in associations with students rate the pacing of the for a fortnight aboard the S.S. Mauretania . . . Al Tamarin exited as in U.S., both playing simultane­ Mirisch unit for UA release. same production as the biggest topkick of the "El Cid" promotion unit . . . Four short films are to ously? As "West" completes en­ Intent of new company, ac­ contributing factor. be screened at tonight's (Wed.) Screen Directors International Guild gagements abroad "Grimm" would cording to Roth, is to "create Gessner queried theatremen and forum in the Donnell 'Library Center auditorium. Program is titled follow, and vice versa in U.S. a program of films whose ap­ NYU scholars as to the most sig­ "Films and Their Directors". . . Ben Gazzara back home from the peal arises out of emphasis on Favored in some quarters is nificant elements in "Guns of Coast after winding his star stint in Allied Artists' "Reprieve". . . But second as solution. That is pro­ content." Navarone." This Carl Foreman Eli Wallach goes west — to Arizona — for a Metro-Cinerama seg of vided dubbing of numerous stars' production was chosen for the sur­ voices doesn't present any barriers vey because it led the list of 1961 "How the West Was Won." in setting prints out on time. b.o. hits in VARIETY'S annual round­ Director J. Lee Thompson in for "Cape Fear" (U) promotion. Pio It's figured by first preeming up. Grant for the poll came from preems in Miami April 6 at the Olympic . . . Cesar Romero signed for "West" in foreign countries, deal­ Columbia Retains Columbia Pictures, "Navarone" Ross Hunter's "If a Man Answers," and Alice Ghostley, the come­ ing as it does with western and distributor. dienne-singer, goes straight in "To Kill a Mockingbird," tooth via U northwestern Americana, film will . . . Allied Artists brought in its division sales managers last week for garner mucho moral support from Gessner sent out his question­ an h.o. powwow on new product. And in another exec huddle, Stanley U.S. Information Agency headed by Stakes in 'Dolce' naires to 282 exhibs internationally, Warner brass and zone managers made with a study of theatre opera­ Edward R. Murrow. Distribution rights to "La Dolce got replies from 32% domestic tions . . . Budd Rogers and Paul V. Connelly back at their Pathe- and 12.5% foreign. They thought Some execs feel pic, while in no Vita," turned out in Italy by Riz- America roost after Coast meetings on "Victim" and "Whistle Down zoli Films and a major grosser, acting performances and star the Wind". . . Sophia Loren skedded for the Time mag cover a week sense a travelogue on U.S., prob­ names were about equal following ably represents best American continue to be held by Columbia in before the Oscars are passed out. She's a nominee for the "best actress" various global territories, states a the screenplay in terms of b.o. im­ accolade. image on screen(s) to date. Five portance following the screenplay. different episodes in various states Col man in New York. Col, he said, Apropos the Screen Actors Guild admonishment-that thesps should remains as the releasing agency Production values were fourth and reputedly will give new perspective pacing fifth. Music was last. "give a full day's work for a full day's pay," Bob Thomas, AP's to Europeans, etc., moreso than any in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, H'wood man, cites examples to the contrary. Such as the star, angry of previous Cineramas lensed by Puerto Rico, Bolivia, India, Aus­ As for the students, they voted, with the studio over a script, who spitefully played a scene expression­ Lowell Thomas group, pre-Nick tralia, New Zealand and England. after pace, star names, perform­ less. Over and over. Or the expensive actress whose wilful and per­ Resini. Last week's news story, on Astor ances, screenplay and production sistent tardiness and "banker's hours" were figured to have wiped Also it's felt that exhibiting Pictures buying the picture from values equally. out any chance the production had for profit. Also, the young actress, "Grimm" in summer when fairy­ Rizzoli led to some thought that playing only her third pic, but sufficiently arrogant to stage a sit-down tale fanciers are more amenable Astor had also acquired all dis­ —on the set—until she got the script revisions she demanded. Such to being herded to theatres would tribution contracts. Col spokesman tantrums are, of course, ho-hum to vet observers of the backlot; and fill U.S. bill. The Walt Disney pat­ clarifies that Astor bought owner­ COLUMBIA'S SIX MONTHS if anything the SAG rap was deemed extremely tardy. tern of releasing Buena Vista big ship of the negative but the releas­ At Waikiki in Honolulu annex recently have been either on business ones when school's out (summer ing pacts remain the same. DOUBLES LIKE PERIOD or vacation Joan Crawford, Lloyd Bridges, Gertrude Berg, Dennis vacation, Easter and Xmas-New Columbia Pictures for the six Morgan, Dennis James, "Captain Kangaroo" (Bob Keechan) and Ed Years) has proved a bo. bonanza. months ended Dec. 30 nearly Begley. Busy on nearby Kauai Island is "Diamond Head" James Darren. Dave Brubeck Quartet also present. (Continued on page 21) Los Angeles, March 20. for the new period amounted to Charles A. Smakwitz, Stanley Warner zone manager, at dinner show Battery suit for $100,000 against $2,050,000, or $1.30 per share, com­ of the Legislative Correspondents Assn., in Sheraton-Ten Eyck Hotel, OKAYFAYETTEVIUE BUY Frank Sinatra, pending nearly two pared with $1,095,000, or 66c per Albany, Saturday (17). Municipal Court Justice Fred G. Moritt, former years, has been settled out of court share. State Senator from a Brooklyn district, and one-time professional for an undisclosed sum. Plaintiff singer and songwriter, made the trip to Albany with Smakwitz. Judge Gives Paramount Chain Tax loss provision for previous N. C. Ozoner Situation was Edward Moran, 22, working at At the contemplative age of 12 days, the son of Eric Pleskow, United time of incident, May 14, 1960, as years helped the new period but still there was a tax provision of Artists manager for Europe and the Near East, received his very own parking attendant at Moulin passport. Among the vital statistics, height: 1', 8". Father returned to Federal judee Edmund L. Pal- Rouge, who charged Sinatra at­ $253,000. No tax for the earlier mieri of New York has authorized period. Paris Saturday (17). Mrs. Pleskow and the kids will follow in a couple American Broadcasting-Paramount tacked him. Latter, however, of weeks . . . British documentary film producer John Grierson, long Theatres' acquision of the Boule­ claimed he merely put out his Actually, Col in the 1960 six absent from the U.S., returns next month to address the Carolina vard Drive-in, Fayetteville, N. C. hand to ward off an expected months had an operational loss of Symposium of the U. of North Carolina in Chapel Hill... David Home, blow. $522,000 but listed a profit of who has been a veep of Titra Sound for last seven years, has been Certain restrictions were laid $1,617,000 via sale of studio prop­ promoted to exec veep and named a member of the board under a down pertaining to the Boulevard's Earlier, John Hopkins, an em­ ployee of Sammy Davis Jr., served erties. Similar item in 1961 new three-year contract. He's also acquired a large block of Titra playing of firstrun product in com­ amounted to $413,000. stock. petition with other area theatres. 10 days on battery charges con­ nected with incident, following a Per-share earnings are based on Astor Pictures sends out a release reporting prexy George Foley benefit show at nitespot. 1,497,650 shares outstanding. to be visiting Beirut, Cairo and Athens as a member of an economic L. A. to N. Y. development mission. Just whose mission is not revealed . . . The Steve Allen pocketbook version of Ian Fleming's "Dr. No," basis of the upcoming Emery Austin UA pic, will get a big play both here and in England, with 1.000.000 William Castle copies set for distribution by Pan Books in England, and 5,000,000 by Marty Connelly Henry Lomkoso on Spear & Sandals New American Library in the States. Morton Da Costa Jack Donahue Now it's to be The Cinema of The Absurd. New Yorker Stephen O. Harry E. Gould Italo Cheapie Spectacles Ran Course—but Always Browne says an outfit styled Vorrex will produce a program of absurd Maxwell Hamilton featurettes over the next two years, with first, still untitled, to be Ben Kalmenson Good Market for Well-Produced 'Antiques' seen this fall . . . Norwegian exhibs picked Stanley Kramer's "Inherit Buzz Kulik the Wind" as best foreign film of 1961 ... Ed R. Svigals, Trans-Lux Abe Lastfogel Distributing veep, back in New York after a biz trip to London, Paris Francis S. Levien Although he believes that both Credited by Lombroso for mak­ and Rome . . . Dave Emanuel, prexy of Governor Films, off to London. Lori March the European and U.S. markets ing the Italians conscious of the Joining the New York group headed for the Mar Del Plata (Arg.) James Mason have had their fill of Italo spec- b.o. potential of offbeat imports film fest this week: Orestes Trucco, local rep of Argentine Film En­ were such Globe releases as "The terprises, and Meyer Ackerman, partner in Ackerman and Furman Cynthia Pepper type pix, distributor-producer Hen­ Milton R. Rackmil Lovers," "Hiroshima, Mon Amour" Theatres. Both Trucco and Ackerman also are members of the recently Budd Rogers ry Lombroso of Globe Films of and "A Condemned- Man Has Es­ formed Angel Productions, which is set to handle U.S. release of the Maximilian Schell Rome is mapping the early start of caped," all from France. Globe pix of Argentine film director, Leopolde Torre-Nilsson . . . Jean Gold­ two such films, "Semiramis" and has managed to hit the mass and wurm, prexy of Times Film, and Mrs. Goldwurm are' back in New York class markets simultaneously with after a two-month buying- trip to the Continent. Wililam Self "Ninive Versus Babylon." Leo Steiner a number of these pix, plus a cou­ Two early experimental films, "Autumn Fire" and "The Artist," by Dan Terrell Lombroso, however, doesn't think ple of Japanese imports (Globe is Herman G. Weinberg," film historian and subtitlist, were on the bif" J. Lee Thompson he's contradicting himself. He says European agent for Nikkatsu of at the Charles Theatre last Friday and Saturday (16-17) . . . Roman Oliver H. Treyz that the run-of-the-mill specs—real Tokyo). On its upcoming release Catholic Legion of Decency has given an A-l rating to Paramount's Meredith Willson cheapies that lack notable story, sked for Italy is Luis Bunuel's "Vir- "Hatari" with an added recommendation of the film for the entire star or production values—are now idiana," co-winner of the Cannes family as "superior, wholesome entertainment." grand prize last year: U. S. to Europe a drug on the market. He plans American- actor John Frederick was reported to be the only rep of Harriet Cr>he> that both "Semiramis" and "Ni­ In one important respect, Lom­ the entertainment industry at the U.S. ambassador's reception for Tad Danielewski nive" will be worthwhile in all de­ broso pointed out, Italo distribs of Mrs. John F. Kennedy during her two-day Roman holiday . . . Director David Emanuel partments, with budgets topping art pix have an advantage over Elia Kazan is scouting locations in Greece and Turkey for his upcoming. Garson Kanin the million dollar mark. "Semira­ similar distribs in the States. Cost "The Anatolian Smile," to be produced in association with Seven Arts Elia Kazan mis" will get extensive location of dubbing in Italy, he says, is ap­ this summer . .,. Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg will write a special Frank Launder shooting in Egypt and starts at the proximately the same as the cost number for Judy Garland's "The Lonely Stage." Paul N. Lazarus Jr. end of April. "Ninive" goes in May. for subtitling, so all imports, both Richard Beymer with Ingrid Bergman in 20th' "The Promise of Janet Munro Lombroso, whose Globe Films mass and class, get the local lan­ Gerard Oestreicher Dawn," formerly tabbed "First Love," to be produced in Paris next had its genesis in 1957 as a dis­ guage treatment. September". . .' Ted Richmond, prepping "The Inside Man" for his Joy Parker tribution org to succeed the de­ He notes, however, that the Ital­ Donald P Pleasance Metro production slate, is aiming project as a Dean Martin starrer . . . funct Republic Pictures, was in ian artie market is just as difficult wait Disney bought Geoffrey Wilkinson's story, "The Monkeys," and Clinton Wilder New York last week for talks with to predict as it is in the States. He Darryl F. Zanuck assigned scripting chores to Maurice Tombragel, who also wrote pro­ potential U.S. production partners, reported that Louis Malle's wacky ducer's "Moon Pilot". . . Audie Murphy to star in "The Iron Collar" Europe to U. S. including Jim Nicholson and Sam French comedy, "Zazie," had been for Gordon Kay's U production ... Vittorio DeSica will direct "The Arkoff of American International, preemed in Rome to generally poor Children of Sanchez," which Elliot Kastner will produce in Mexico, Brad Ashton whose pix Globe handles in Italy. Jean Goldwurm reviews and comparable business. from Abby Mann script . . . Robert Sterling purchased film rights to Philip Miles Although Globe is generally re­ Then for the Milan opening, Globe "Park Avenue," novel 15y Q. Bryson Watts, for indie production . . . Mo Rothman garded with having pioneered in brought Malle to Italy as the focus Anthony Franciosa snagged star role in Metro's "Period of Adjust­ Ed R. Svigals the distribution of art pix in Italy,, of a highpowered campaign. Pic ment," Chubby Checker and Bobby Rydell in Sam Katzman's "Do the company has in recent years opened to fine reviews and busi­ You Take This Prince?" at Columbia Pictures ... On Coast George, N. Y. to L. A. been turning to exploitation films ness, and Lombroso now expects Stevens Productions has moved from 20th-Fox to Desilu-Culver lot Staats Cotsworth to supplement its income: "Man the film to make more money in to launch preparations on "Greatest Story Ever Told". . . Robert Enders Martin Davis can't live on art alone." One of its Italy than In France. "Zazie" did will produce Metro's "A Crack in the Steeple". . . Laurence Harvey's James B. Harris biggest moneymakers recently was okay in its Paris firstrun but fell Harmon Productions bought "The Moor of Venice," to be produced Joseph Lebworth . AlP'g "Pit and The Pendulum." off sharptly after that with Fermac Films and Marvin Schwartz.