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P I C T U R E S Wednesday, May 12 , 1 9 6 5
Legion of Decency's Hesitation But Finally 'CY 'Pawnbroker'
Although the National Legion of Decency reviewed "The Pawnbroker" in plenty of time to have issued a classification prior to its opening—and although it implied Its intention to condemn the Landau picture weeks ago— it waited until yesterday (Tues.) to formalize its condemnation. In addition, the text of the Legion's objection is perhaps the mildest ever offered for a condemned film.
"An acceptable classification is denied this film for the sole reason that nudity has been used in its treatment," the Legion said. "Although nudity is not in itself obscenity and it might even have an artistic function in a film of quality, it is never a necessary or indispensable means to achieve dramatic effect. The present film is no exception because the director could have accomplished his artistic objectives by the less literal r i d m i r e demanding met icd of indirection.
"The good of the motion picture industry as well as of the national community requires that a marked effort on the part of some producers to introduce nudity into film treatment be discouraged, for such treatment is open to the gravest of abuse."
Reason for delay was at first described as a "personal" one by Msgr. Thomas F. Little, Legion's Executive Secretary, but later he said that "high-level discussions" had been necessary before proper wording of condemnation could be arrived at. He said that there were undoubtedly some people within the Legion itself who were opposed to condemning "The Pawnbroker," but that as far as he was concerned rating had never been in doubt.
Additional reason for delay was given as desire to see "What the critics' reaction would be." This Is most unusual position for the Legion, which has often objected in the past to not having opportunity to rate pictures well in ad
vance of their openings. Speculation from a source close to the Legion is that it was not anxious to be mentioned unfavorably in what were expected to be entirely favorable reviews.
Several weeks ago, Msgr. Little had predicted that ad campaign for "Pawnbroker" would contradict honesty and integrity of production, but this has not occurred, largely as a result of informal pledge given by Landau to Motion Picture Association when film was granted an "exception" to Production Code. This was that ads would always be in "good taste." Msgr. predicted this week that campaign would change when pic is offered to wider market than art houses, and Paul Lazarus, Landau partner, admitted that it would. He insisted, however, that good taste pledge would be followed. Question at that time might be: "What constitutes good tas te?"
Also condemned, in rating issued last week, was Reade-Sterling's "The Magnificent Cuckold." Lesion objected to "a treatment which sometimes approaches outright obscenity." Classed as "morally objectionable in part for all" were two Paramount films, "The Amorous, Adventures of Moll Flanders" and "The Naked Prey." First was called "weak as a satire" and "noticeably suggestive in costuming, dialogue and situations." Second was sai dto "concentrate upon excessive brutality."
'Mirage' on 300 Horizons Universal's "Mirage," suspenser
with Gregory and Diane Baker, will open in 300 key situations nationally starting May 26 for the Memorial Day weekend, including 28 theatres in the New York metropolitan area.
Gotham booking is first under Universal's new "Premiere Theat r e" first-run exhibition pattern. National release for the film is June .
Next time you travel... take in a good show
First-run movies* on TWA jets! The best from Hollywood and Europe are on TWA's wide screen. In color, if that's how they were madel TWA shows movies the way you see them in your neighborhood theater, but we show them on selected flights within the U. S., coast-to-coast non-stops and transatlantic and Polar Route jets to Europe. Next time you take a trip, take in a good movie. Call TWA for a reserved seat. Or call your travel agent.
*An Inflight Motion Pictures presentation.
This Was Inevitable London, May 11.
Alexander Walker, London Evening Standard film critic, has been commissioned by publishers Michael Joseph to write a book on "The Sex Urge In The Cinema," manuscript to be delivered by the fall.
It will be Walker's first hardcover publication.
Kranze, Nathanson To Expanded Exec Cadre
Of Landau Organization Landau Releasing Organization,
new distribution arm of The Landau Company, acquired two vice presidents within the past week. They are Bernard G. Kranze, who will be in charge of distribution, and Mort Nathanson, who will head up public relations.
Kranze, who held same post for Cinerama, is slated to function as "principal liaison" with Allied Artists, which is handling sales for Landau pics. Erwin Lesser, LRO sales veep. continues in his present job. Kranze will still be associated with Cinerama, as a "consultant."
Nathanson, who was United Artists ' publicity chief for ten years, has most recently been heading up his own p.r. firm. He dissolved this company to take Landau job.
According to Paul Lazarus, partner, both Kranze and Nathanson will "have a share in what develops in this company, though there are no formal profit-participation agreements." Present partners are Landau, Lazarus and Herbert Steinmann.
"What we are trying to do," Lazarus said, "is to develop a small cadre of specialists, all of them hard-hitting top-quality executives. We expect that in line with our arrangement with Allied Artists, that these men will be able to do the entire job alone—we don't want to build up staffs."
Lazarus emphasized that exec beefup for releasing arm was not a forecast of Landau-AA split. Four new pictures, he said, will be handled for Landau by AA, in addition to 10 announced when deal was made.
Nationwide Worldwide
depend on' TWA *
Europe to U.S. Harold Boodson Sir Billy Butlin Tom Courtenay Kenneth S. Giniger Gunter Grass Anatole de Grunwald Anthony Hinds Peter Jennings David Jones Tony Lazzarino Walter Pfister J r . Frederick L. Thomas
L.A. to N.Y. Diane Baker Edward Bondy Fred Brogger Kathleen Cordell Bobby Darin Laurence Feldman Bob Fisher Fred Freidberger Milton Geiger Carol Lawrence Arthur Marx Mary Ann Mobley Stu Phillips Tim Scott
N.Y. to L.A. Karl Bernstein Stan Freberg Rube Jackter Leo Jaffe Paul Keyes Jack H. Levin Kal Ross Murray Schisgal Ray Stark
U.S. to Europe Neal Adtrin J o e ' Bigelow L. S. Slade Brown Maurice Chevalier Sandra Dee Wilfrid E. Dodd Samantha Eggar Leonard S. Field Connie Francis Beatrice Furdaux Leonard Gruenberg Robert J. Gurney Michael Haddad Sol Jacobson David Lawlor Paul N. Lazarus J r . Martin Lee Luigi G. Luraschl Kevin McCarthy Eric R. Pleskow
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;; New York Sound Track :: Alan Badel, George Coulouris signed for key roles in Stanley Donen's
"Arabesque," shooting in London. Pic will be Universal's Christmas release . . . Robert Coote set for UniversaFs "Welcome, Mr. Beddoes," which starts filming in Lisbon on May 20 . . . Earl Bellamy will direct Audie Murphy western, "Gunpoint," for Universal release, which starts June 2 . . . Peter Robbins and Emma Tyson added to cast of "And Now Miguel," on location at Abiquiu, N.M. Robert Radnitz production will be released by Universal.
Rolf Bayer, film producer-director-writer who has been in the Orient for past 15 years, signed as associate producer on Randall Hood's "The Touching And The Not Touching," to be filmed in Philippines . . . Timothy Hutton, son of actor J im Hutton, film debuting with father in WB's "Never Too Late" . . . Elizabeth Hartman to report to WB for two pix, after winding role in Sidney Lumet 's "The Group." Mimsy Fanner signed to a term contract by the Burbank studio . . . The Dead End Kids get the "Whatever Happened To . . . ?" treatment on Richard Lamparski's program of like name on May 18-19 with interview of Huntz Hall, one of originals.
AIP division sales manager Ed Heiber in from Pittsburgh exhibitor conferences . . . Kevin McCarthy to Europe for visit with sister, novelist Mary McCarthy, in Paris, to Portugal for confab with Jules Dassin, to London for confab with Jonathan Miller on B'way legit project, back to Gotham for son's h.s. graduation June 3 . . . Fireman's Fund American Insurance Cos. screening public service film, "Bay of Gold," at Johnny Victor Theatre tomorrow (Thurs;). Documentary about Frisco will be made available to schools and civic-social groups . . . Gallery of Modern Art 's Film Centre showing "One Melody-Four Pa in ters" through Sat. (15), followed by four films of Man Ray, May 18-22, and first program of UPA Cartoon Festival, May 25-29 . . . C a s t and production crew of WB's "Never Too Late" from Hollywood to Boston next Mon. (17) for two weeks location.
Life magazine has two film articles in current issue. Six-page closeup on John Wayne, centered on his recovery from cancer surgery, is mostly photos of "Sons of Katie Elder" location shooting. Other item, three pages on the rival "Harlows" has one sentence that sums up ' "Neither Baker (Carroll) nor Lynley (Carol) will ever generate as much excitement as the real Harlow." Article's description of the two producers calls Joe E. Levine "aggressive," whereas Electrono-vision'g Bill Sargent is termed "flamboyant."
Oops! A highly indignant local publicist, Toni Villi, says VARIETY erred a couple of weeks ago in reporting that Gerald Pictures International's "Stay Tuned For Terror," now shooting in Argentina with Richard Conti starred, would cost $150,000. It 's not a cheapie says Miss Villi. It will cost $350,000, which in Argentine terms is big money. So, for that matter, is $150,000. Now everybody can relax except, perhaps, the producer.
Sigma III prez Len Gruenberg off to London, Munich and Cannes. Sigma's newest release, the British "An Evening With The Royal Ballet," opens here at the Cinema II next month . . . The UA home-office boys threw a lunch at Vesuvio's Friday (7) for departing ad director Mort Hoch, who started his new duties at Par Monday (10) . . . Jay Cipes and Ed Palmer, feature film packagers who have been operating for the past year under an exclusive contract with Four Star Distributing, are resuming independent activity June 1 . . . Add exploitation features in the Cambist Films sked: "Mr. Stagg Really" and "Forbidden Sights."
Ellen Fischl, secretary to UA New York division manager John Turner, has been elected prez of WOMPI. Past prez Hilda Frishman, also of UA, was named convention cochairman . . . Bellevue Hospital psychiatrists asked Col for a print of "Synanon" to screen for its staff but could not be accommodated. No 16m print available yet . . . John Gay will script and David Miller will produce and direct "Lydia" for the Mirisches and UA . . . Producer-director Stanley Kramer and players Vivien Leigh, Simone Signoret, Oskar Werner, George Segal and Heinz Ruehmann were among those who attended a special London showing of their (and Col's) "Ship of Fools" last week . . . Meanwhile, 20th held a sneak of its newest roadshower, "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines," Thursday (6) night here at the DeMille, where it opens June 16.
Columbia ad-pub veep Robert S. Ferguson back at his desk after overseeing the "Cat Ballou" hoopla in Denver . . . Lawrence Turman will produce "The Ballad of The Flim-Fla-m Man" for 20th next year . . . Marion Billings now handling publicity for MPO Pictures . . . Stanley Kubrick was on hand Friday (7) night to accept the New York Newspaper Guild's Page One Award to his "Dr. Strangelove" as the most outstanding picture of 1964.
Columbia reportedly is on the inside track to acquire screen rights to Truman Capote's new book, based on the events surrounding a series of murders in the midwest several years ago by a teenage bov on a spree. The New Yorker Magazine will first publish the book in four installments . . . Publicists Guy McElwaine, J im Fitzgerald and Renee Left have joined forces under the tag, Guy McElwaine and Associates . . . L. Douglas Netter J r . has been named veepee of Irving Allen's Meadway Productions and, as such, will act as producer's rep for Allen on Col's "Genghis Khan". . . Add to UA's Hawaii cast: Broadway child actor Wayne Stain and British players George Rose and Elizabeth Cole.
Amos Vogel, director of the New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center, left yesterday (Tues.) to attend the Cannes Fest. Also at Cannes will be program director Richard Roud, who doubles in t he same capacity for the London Fest . . . Producer Julian Laustein has signed Basil Dearden to direct "Khar toum" for UA release . . . Col exec veepee Leo Jaffe on the Coast for studio conferences . . . Mike Connors will play the gambler in 20th's "Stagecoach" remake, which rolls in July . . . Producer-director Ernie Pintoff will teach a course on films next year at the School of Visual Arts . . . Christopher Jones, recently signed to play the title role in 20th-Fox Television's new series, "The Legend of Jesse James," will also make two features for parent 20th.
United Artists new Cinerama roadshower, "The Hallelujah Trail ," will have its local preem at Loew's Capitol June 30 . . . Meanwhile, Maxwell Hamilton, publicity coordinator on the pic, has been elected to a three-year term on the Board of Education in his home town of Manhasset.
Terry Southern has done another of those blow-by-blow sagas of filmmaking, "The Production Log of 'The Loved O n e , ' " Tony Richardson's film version of Evelyn Waugh's novel, which Southern and Christopher Isherwood screenplayed, It 's profusely illustrated and Random House will publish in September. Another film package is Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood," story-of a murder, which is a New Yorker-Book of the Month-New American Library (paperback)-Co-lumbia Pictures parlay. — *-
Jules Power Pavel Roman Eva Romanova Mo Rot'hman Victor Samrock Irvin Shapiro Hubert R. Steinmann Amos Vogel J o h n Williams
On a good day we only make 12 mistakes
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