20 PICTURES U&RIETY Wednesday, June 16, 1965

Orders Managers to Scan All Trailers As Potential Source of Protests

Santa Fe, N.M., June 15. + Lou Avolio, city manager for

Frontier Theatres Inc. a t Albu­querque, was chosen president of the New Mexico Theatre Assn. here. Two-day sesh attracted about 125 persons, according to E. J . (Gene) Haubner, Sante Fe exhib and chair­man of this year's conclave.

Avolio succeeds Louis Gasparini of Albuquerque. Gasparini be­comes chairman of the board of di­rectors of the 150-member org.

Ed Kidwell of Roswell was re­named secretary-treasurer and B. J . McKenna of Raton vice-prez.

Keynoter for the session was M. B. Smith, ad-pub chief for Com­monwealth Theatres Inc. of Kansas City, who urged delegates to work toward merger of Theatre Owners of America and Allied States Assn.

He also touched on censorship, and said blue pencilling has no par t of the film business. He urged New Mexico exhibitors to promote the distribution of the Green Sheets, not only through mailing lists, but in libraries, schools and other places.

Considerable talk on local pres­sure groups and censorship oc­cupied many of the talks by state theatremen.

Les Dollison of Santa Fe. owner of a string of small town hardtop-pers around the state, said he is currently insisting that all his_ local managers screen all trailers in ad­vance of showing, to check on possi­ble offensive material.

Boyd Scott, Farmington (N.M.) manager, spoke on Censorship and How to Handle Local Pressure Groups. He urged more rapport with such groups, more association -with news media, giving them straight answers to questions. He suggested meeting with such pres­sure groups, and pushing the family pix.

Other sneakers included Judson Moses, MGM publicity man at Dal­las, heading a workshop on ad­vertising; Will Harrison, New Mex­ico political columnist, and George Roscoe, director of exhib rela­tions with TOA in New York.

Two-day session wrapped up with a dinner-dance Wednesday (9) eve at La Fonda Hotel.

Next year's convention has ten­tatively been set for Albuquerque.

MARNI NIXON'S CONCERTS

Soundtrack Ghost Singer At N. Y. Promenades

Marni Nixon, best known for her ghost-singing for various screen actresses (Audrey Hepburn, Deborah Kerr, Natalie Wood), will be soloist for the three N. Y. Phil­harmonic Promenade Concerts on June 29-30 and July 1.

Programs will present concert versions (in English) of three Of­fenbach operas—"Orpheus In The Underworld," "La Vie Parisienne" and "La Belle Helene," Franz Allers will conduct.

Re Raoul Levy S B S Continued from page 3 S S 5 S

ments on file in the Paris office of the Centre National Cinemato­graphic.

"(I am) at a loss to understand how Levy can give western hem­isphere distribution rights to Eliot Hyman of Seven Arts.

"Avala" has already placed dis­tribution rights with Omnia Films of Munich. Omnia has been au­thorized by Avala Films and other interested parties to negotiate both eastern and western hemis­phere deals and have already set distribution agreements in Japan, Germany and Spain. These deals have been approved by Avala and its partners in the 'Marco Polo' project, ITTAC of France and PRODI of Italy.

"(I have) the greatest respect for Eliot Hyman and his organization and (am) sorry that Hyman has been given the impression that Levy was authorized to act for the owners of the company.

"Levy not only has no right to negotiate a distribution deal, he has no right to even show the pic­ture to anyone. Even Avala is not authorized to screen the picture for distributors. This right lies exclusively with Omnia Films.

about a story on the "recommenda- "I take issue with the statement tions of the Mayor's Obscenity that the release of the picture has Committee." I D e e n n e l d UP i n Europe 'by a

What bothered Golden was the slight contretemps featuring Levy

Censorship Dangerous, Or Funny—H. Golden

Charlotte, N.C., June 15. Harry Golden, who's usually too

busy running his own Carolina Is­raelite or writing books to take is­sue with news printed in other papers, wrote to the editor of the Charlotte (N.C.) News last week

Knoxvilles Best Off-Period Bk

Knoxville, June 15. Improved product has created

" th ree times the theatre business dur ing the past six weeks," ac­cording to Charles Simpson, presi­dent of the Riviera Theatre Corp. who was joined by Hugh Rainey, vicepresident and gm of the New Riviera, a downtown first run, in commenting that May and early J u n e was the best "off-season" ex­hibition in their experience.

"Cat Ballou," a Columbia release produced by Harold Hecht, was held at the New Riviera for two weeks, then sent to the Capri Cinema for another two weeks.

Following the Hecht production was the James Bond reissue of "Dr. No" and "From Russia With Love." The New Riviera held over for a second week, then it was. taken by the Capri and is now going into its fifth week in Knox­ville. The Capri is a first-run sub­urban house.

Downtown, The New Riviera is holding over United Artists ' "Tickle Me," the Elvis Presley comedy. This film will run until June 19, or perhaps longer.

"In summary, the increase in normal 'dull-time' business is be­cause of good product; fine pic­tures ." according to Rainey. An­other factor entering this bet ter business for the exhibitor is that t he average family wants to get out at least one night a week, says Simpson.

Both exhibitor executives claim that interest in television is de-clining1 "People are just getting tired sitting at home and watching tv," Rainey said.

This has been the best summer­time start for exhibitors in the southeast in 15 years they said. The grosses back it up and the product seems to become better and mo-e acceptable to promote this back to the theatre trend.

insufficient presentation of facts by the committee and the unrealistic attitudes indicated in its recom­mendations. To a suggestion that theatres "commonly known as nudie houses be prohibited," Golden said there were no such houses in Char­lotte.

He added that the committee also failed to provide the necessary sub­sidy for the exhibitors, who pointed out that "the families lined up two abreast for 'Sex And The Single Girl' but stayed away in droves from 'The Life and Times of Norman Vincent Peale' ." iEd.— evidently, by the latter, he meant "One Man's Way.")

Recommendations for banned magazines and other publications by the committee, Golden said, carefully excluded prominently-named Playboy which made him wonder if they were trying to "get at some of those nondescript pub­lishers who are not likely to fight back."

His own recommendation, which he thought the committee over­looked, was assignment of a task-force bucket-brigade to wash or re­paint the city's public rest rooms every 24 hours, the year around. He concluded that "most attempts at censorship are dangerous. This one is laughable."

Glageft Warns , Continued rrom page 3

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-•;• New York Sound Track \\

last 40 years," and still many people in the industry continue to act as if "somebody will wave a magic wand and all our problems will disappear."

They haven't and they won't, he warned. The film industry, quick to react when "a clear-cut pocket-book threat" is involved, seems incapable, when it comes to free­dom of the screen, of "using our power and influence in construc­tive, practical ways." Clagett credited "a mere handful of people — some of them right here in this room" with having done a job that should have been shared by "a massive number of persons, angry that their industry is being used as a political football."

Latter, he said, is what has been happening in Albany. "Under the guise of fighting obscenity, bills have passed at least one House that would scarcely be believed in other years — but with hardly a peep of opposition."

In this kind of atmosphere, he warned, mivie classification pro­posals have passed the Assembly with virtually no expressed opposi­tion and are now before the Sen­ate.

Clagett ended his report that unless "we stop depending on a magic wand," N. Y. would become the first state to adopt a motion picture classification law . . . "but it won't be the last."

and the Yugoslavian government and that Levy expects Paris courts to rule in his favor to get the Yugoslavs to release footage (the giant chess board se­quence) . . .'

"These statements are ridiculous. "First, the Yugoslavian govern­

ment is not involved. Avala is not involved. The Yugoslavs cannot very well release the giant chess board sequence to Levy because the Yugoslavs don't own it. It is owned by Christian-Jaque, the director of the first 'Marco Polo' version. It has no bearing on the release of the picture for we had never intended including it.

"Also, to the best of our knowl­edge, no action has been brought in the Paris courts on this matter, nor have they been asked to make a ruling."

Drazovic's recapitulation of the events surrounding the first ver­sion of the pic, which was aban­doned, and the finally completed second version:

"The first project, which starred Alain Delon and was directed by Christian - Jaque was produced by two French companies, HAN and IENA, both owned by Levy. Levy made a deal with Avala Films to purchase production facilities for part of the produc­tion. After the completion of the chess board sequence, which com­prises eight minutes of film, Levy owed Avala Films $180,000, which remains unpaid, and Columbia, Spven Arts and other companies $800,000. At that point, the project was abandoned.

"Two years later, Avala Films decided to produce a new version of the Marco Polo story, with a new script, a new director, Denis de la Pelatt iere, and a new c ;st which included Hoist Bnobhnlz in the role of Marco Polo, Omar Sharif and Anthony Quinn. It was at that time that Avala brought Raoul Levy in as an employee to work as a production organizer and consultant on the film.

"The second 'Marco Polo' was filmed as a French-Italian copro-duction. The budget of the picture was $3,100,000. Of this total, Avala financed $2,800,000 and the re­maining $300,000 was put up by SNS, French distribution com­pany which has the right to dis­tribute picture in France, Belgium and Switzerland. Other companies involved were ITTAC, a French production company, and PRODI, an Italian company.

"The financial set-up on the project calls for Avala to recoup its entire investment before any moneys are distributed to the co-producers.

"The film is as yet untitled, as Avala and Omnia believe that the American distributor should have a hand in deciding on the final title . . . Levy has given informa­tion to the American press which has no foundation in fact."

Arnold and Lois Peysey collab-ing on screenplay of Steven Hill Productions' "Separation, Ameri­can Style."

Gene T. Cole new San Antonio city manager for Gulf State Theatres of Texas Inc. replacing Roy Moore J r . exited due to illness.

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Met coming out of the MGM elevator Friday, a 13-foot brown and white python. Creature, "affection-trained" by Ralph D. Heifer, wag curled up in an ordinary zippered suitcase, on its way to a tv appear­ance. When suitcase was unzipped for curious VARIETY reporter , python winked amiably and seemed to enjoy being petted.

George Cukor in town over the weekend for talks at 20th-Fox, for whom he'll produce and direct the screen version of Lesley Branch'* novel, "The Nine-Tiger M a n " . . . I n case you haven't noticed: producer Albert Broccoli gets precedence over coproducer Harry Saltzman in all ads on the James Bond pix here, but in Europe, the billing is reversed. It 's stipulated in their UA contract.

Munio Podhorzer, prez of Casino Films here, has been named New York rep of the Herbert Rosener Co. which operates nine theatres on the Coast . . . Recently kudosed as best actor at Cannes, Terence Stamp in town to at tend the preem of Col's "The Collector" at the Paris and Coronet Theatres tomorrow (Thurs.) night . . . Col's Italo import, "Bam-bole," the sketch pic with Gina Lollobrigida, Elkc Sommer, Monica Vitti and Virna Lisi, opens June 28 at the Baronet and Embassy. This is the pic causing the present censorship furor in R o m e . . . S t e l l a Stevens into Col's "The Silencers."

"The Winner," the English-language "transonics" version of Francois Reichenbach's "A Heart As Big As That," will open at the Fifth Avenue Cinema June 30. Pic is being presented by transonics expert Noelle Gillmor and Robert Kingsley. . .Producer-director Robert Wise off to the Orient for a final location survey for 20th's "The Sand Pebbles," set to start this fall. . . "Midnight Plus One" will be the first pic pro­duced by Berton Schneider and Robert Rafelson under their recently formed Raybert Productions banner for Columbia. . .

Federico Fellini's newest pic, "Juliet of the Spirits," will have its U.S. release in November under the auspices of Rizzoli Films. Giulietta Masini (Mrs. Fellini) s t a r s . . . A l a n Jay Lerner, who originally was to have done the book and lyrics for Arthur Jacobs' "Dr. Dolitt le" pic, has bowed out and been ™,->laced by Leslie Bricusse, now repped on Broadway by "The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell of The Crowd." Bricusse will also write the music. . . Claudia Cardinale added to the cast of Richard Brooks' Col pic, "The Professionals," which goes in the fall.

John and Faith Hubley are in France to attend the Annecy fest of short films where their "The Hat" will be shown out of competition. . . Columbia says that "Lord J im," in its first two Latin American engage­ments in Buenos Aires and Mexico City, is doing biz equivalent to its previous big money-earner, "Lawrence or Arabia" . . . Toho Inter­national and Palisades International Corp. have joined IFIDA . . . Irving Sochin, veep of Rizzoli Film Dirstributors, back from a three-week swing through Cannes, Rome and Milan.

20th-Fox, which has always been big on long titles, has changed its upcoming William Wyler production from "Venus Rising" to "How To Steal A Million Dollars and Live HaDpily Ever After" . . . Frankie Ava-lon. who's in the new Bob Hope starrer, "I'll Take Sweden," in town for a Copacabana engagement. . . Henry Fonda passed through town Friday (11) en route from filming "The Battle of The Bulge" in Spain to Holly­wood for "A Big Hand for The Little Lady". . .Also back from Europe: Jean Goldwurm, prez of Times Film, and Mrs. Goldwurm.

Gert Frobe and Irina Demick in town for the Yank preem of 20th's "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines" tonight (Wed.) a t the DeMille. . .Avala Films of Yugoslavia has hired the Rogers & Cowan p.r. firm to tub-thump for 'em in the U.S.

Boris Sagal will direct, E. Jack Neuman will write, and both men will produce "Heat Wave" for MGM. Pic starts shooting this fall. After his current Metro stint. "Made In Paris ," Sagal heads for Moscow film f e t e . . . E l s a Martinelli added to Ponti-Embassy "The Seventh Vic­tim" . . . Hy Levine named advertising business manager for Allied Ar­tists. A 10-year company veteran, he replaces Jack Schachtel, who r e ­signed. . .Sidney J. Furie to direct Filmways-MGM "Day of the Arrow" . . . L e e Bergman will be writing a Popular Library paperback based on Screen Gems tv series, "The Wackiest Ship in the Army." He'll still be working full time as film publicist, however, as he did while writing two previous novels. . . Elke Sommer into lead role of Para­mount-Embassy "The Oscar" . . . Douglas Laurence to produce a third pic for Metro, appropriately titled "Three for a Wedding." Script to be by Phil Shuken.

Following its four-week premiere showcase run, UA's "Dr. No" and "From Russia With Love" combo has been set to open in 90 theatres as its sub-break. A UA exec says they could get even more theatres, but that's all the prints they have available. . . . Richard Lester, who directed the first two Beatles' films, and whose "Knack" just took the best pic prize at Cannes, will direct producer Melvin Frank's "A Funny Thing Happened on The Way To The Forum,'.' for UA.

Richard Harris signed to costar in the Mirisch's "Hawaii," with Max Von Sydow and Julie Andrews. . . . Richard Conte back in New York after filming the indie feature, "Stay Tuned for Terror," in Buenos Aires.

Martin Ransohoff, Filmways production boss, will tour for his (and Metro's) "Sandpiper," starting June 16 in Boston. Stops include Phila­delphia, Washington and Chicago. . . . Alain Delon and George Peppard to attend the San Sebastian Film fete. . . . Robert E. B'itz named Embassy Pictures branch manager for Cleveland, Cincinnati and Indianapolis areas. He replaces Lester Zucker. . . . Larry Collins and Dominique LaPierre are making five-city tour for their book, and forthcoming Paramount-Seven Arts pic, "Is Paris Burning?"

Michael Rennie and James MacArthur joined stellar lineup of Andrew J. Fenady's "The Night of the Tiger" for Columbia Pictures release . . . Universal changed title of "Welcome, Mr. Beddoes" to "A Man Could Get Killed," and AIP's formerly-tagged "House at the End of the World" is now "Die, Monster, Die". . . Walt Disney cast Richard Haydn in "Bullwhip Griffin," with Roddy McDowall-Suzanne Pleshette-Karl Maiden . . . Julie Harris joins Paul Newman in Warner Bros." "The Moving Target." in which Lauren Bacall and Robert Wagner also appear . . . A. Ronald Lubin has skedded "The Old Man and Me," based on Elaine Dundy novel, under his Harvest Productions banner for Metro . . ."Rio Diablo" is new tab for "The Southern Blade," Harry Joe Brown-Roger Carman production for Columbia Pictures release . . . Alan Rafkin, who bowed as a director with AIP's "Ski Party," will helm Paramount release, "Easy Come, Easy Go," topbilling Jan & Dean and produced by Bobby Roberts, for second venture . . . Wendell Corey and Suzie Kaye added to cast of "Pre ­historic Planet Women," to be made by Jack Broder's Standard Club of California.

Warren Stevens and Edgar Buchanan set for featured roles in U's "Gunpoint," Audie Murphy western now shooting . . . Eastman Ko­dak's "Searching Eye," Saul Bass film shown at EK's pavilion at the World's Fair, given a Golden Eagle Award by CINE.

American International will introduce new talent Bobbi Shaw, Patt i Chandler, Mike Nader, Mary Hughes, Sue Hamilton, Aron Kincaid, Salli Sachse, Jo Collins and Ed Garner to t rade press at a luncheon July 1 at the Hemisphere Club . . . Silent screen star (and legiter) Madge Kennedy signed for one of leads in Ruth Gordon's play, "A Very Rich Woman," scheduled for B'way next fall . . . John Kneubuhl signed to write screenplay for "The Deadly Doll," suspense drama by Henry Slesar which WB have scheduled for early filming.

Robert Wagner and Arthur Hill set for WB's "The Moving Target," suspenser now shooting . . . Tommy Farrel l into WB's "Never Too Late," in production at studio . . . Paperback editions of Rumer

(Continued on page 22)