Boxoffice-June.15.1959

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Husband to Produce
MacLaine Starrer
HOLLYWOOD — The Paramount studio
has completed a deal for Shirley MacLaine
to star in a picture to be produced by her
husband Steve Parker and written by
Norman Krasna. The yet untitled production
is to be a joint venture for Paramount
and Sachiko Pioductions. a Japanese company,
and will be filmed in Technicolor
on major Japanese locations, with interiors
to be shot in Hollywood, probably on the
Paramount lot.
JuUe London mil star in "Riverfront
Blues" to be lensed by her own Stalls Productions.
Tlie actress plans to present several
famous musicians in the pictm-e which
Joe Calvelli wrote as a modern drama set
in New Orleans.
Ban-y Atwater has been cast opposite
Mamie Van Doren. Brad Dexter and Richard
Coogan in Imperial Pictures' "Women
Confidential." which is being filmed at
Paramount-Sunset for United Ai-tists release,
with Edward L. Cahn directing for
producer Robert E. Kent.
SUvana Pampanini has been signed by
Jack Eisenbach for the starring role in
"The Left Finger," which is to be produced
at Mexico City's Churubusco Studios.
To be shot in English, with Spanish dialog
versions, and in Cinemascope and color,
the picture is to begin filming under
Belfast Chano's du-ection next week. The
releasing will be through Eisenbach's Independent
Pi-oducers Film Exchange.
William Gould returns to motion piclui-es
after an absence of eight yeare to
play the role of Dr. Evans in "Guns of the
Timberland," Jaguar Production for Warner
Bros. Gould left in 1951 to become a
supervisor in the missiles division of Lockheed
Aircraft Coi-p.
Patricia MaiTnont has been given a leading
role in Sam Spiegel's Columbia production,
"Suddenly. Last Summer."
Producer Charles Schneer has scheduled
his next two Morningside productions for
Columbia, "Gulliver's Travels" and "I Aim
at the Stars," the latter a story of Werner
Von Braun. "Gulliver" will roll July 8 in
Dynamation and color in Spain, to be directed
by Jack Sher from a screenplay by
Arthur Ross and Sher. "Stars" will start
October 5 at the Bavaria studios in Munich
with Curt Jurgens starring as Von Braun.
Jay Dratler wrote the script.
Joseph Productions will start "Canary,"
an original story by Joseph Morhaim and
Daniel Stem, following the filming of two
other properties—"The Ward" and "The
Life and Times of Al Jennings." "Canary
will be filmed on location in Chicago, probably
in October.
Henry Hathaway will direct 20th-Pox's
"The Seven Thieves." a Sidney Boehm
screenplay based on the Max Catto novel,
"Lions at the Kill."
"The Dark at the Top of the Stairs" and
"The Crowded Sky " have been assigned to
W-2
CHILD STARS WIN—Annette Funicello
and Kevin Corcoran, young stars
of Wait Disney's Buena Vista release,
"The Shaggy Dog," display their BOX-
OFFICE Blue Ribbon Awards in recognition
of the picture's selection for this
honor for the month of April. Both of
the youngsters, who have been under
contract to Disney Studios for some
time, received notable critical acclaim
in the picture, which has drawn highly
favorable distribution results wherever
it has been shown,
Mike Garrison, recently given full producer
status at Warner Bros. The producer already
has the Erskine Caldwell novel,
"Claudelle Inglish," on his slate at the
Buibaiik studio.
Irving Ravetch and Harriet Frank jr. are
scripting "Stairs" from the play by William
Inge, while "Sky" has an already finished
screenplay by Charles Schnee. It is based
on Michael Frost's novel. The screenplay
of the Caldwell novel is cui-rently being
written by Mel Dinelli.
WB Is Reissuing Dog Film
As 'Boy and Laughing Dog'
LOS ANGELES—Warner Bros, will reissue
its Batjac production. "Goodbye. My
Lady," under a new title, "The Boy and
the Laughing Dog." Like the current Disney
success, "The Shaggy Dog," the reissue
also is a story of a boy and a dog.
Besides this reason, one of the smaller
roles in the film was played by Sidney
Poitier, whose skyrocketing career gives
him enlarged billing in the redistribution
of the property.
The reissue 'will be tried out in Los Angeles,
and then placed in first run houses
throughout the country if it is well accepted.
Walter Brennan and Phil Harris have
the starring roles, with Brandon DeWilde
playing the boy. William Wellman directed.
UA-Knightsbridge Deal
LOS ANGELES — United Artists
completed
a production and releasing deal
with Knightsbridge Films of Britain. Several
big budget films and a television series
are planned, with Ronald Neame as
director, John Bryan as producer and Norman
Wisdom as a star.
Dick Maibaum Stays
HOLLYWOOD— Richard Maibaum's option
as head of MGM television production
has been picked up by the studio.
Bob Lippert Theatres
To New Electro Setup
LOS ANGELES—Robert L. Uppert, secretary
and a major stockholder in Electrovision
Corp., will sell his personally owned
or controlled chain of 29 theatres to Electro
at a reported price of $2,800,000. The
chain runs from Medford, Ore., to Indio.
Cahf.
Electrovision was foraied by Edwin Zabel.
Ben Smith and Lippert when they acquired
the controlling stock in the bankrupt
Scott Radio Corp. and then changed
its name. The investment pulled the firm
out of bankruptcy and the three now own
the controlling stock, with the remainder
owned by some 6.000 minor stockholders.
Electrovision has also closed a deal for
the purchase of the Southside circuit of
houses operated by Fanchon & Marco. For
the,se 11 theatres, a total price of $2,500,-
000 was reportedly paid.
The move will consolidate Lippert's exhibition
operations. He still has holdings
in some six theatres, most of them in Oregon,
in which he is a minor stockholder
and the principals did not wish to sell.
AA Buys Seattle Office;
23 Now Company Owned
LOS ANGELES—Allied Artists has acquired
the Seattle exchange, making a
total of 23 wholly owned branches in the
U. S. The Seattle franchise was owned by
Allied Artists Productions of California,
headed by Mel Hulling of San Francisco.
This firm also owns the franchise in Los
Angeles and San Francisco. There is one
other franchise-owned exchange, in Cleveland,
operated by Allied Artists Film Distributors.
Nate Schultz is president.
Karl Macdonald Marks
33 Years With Warners
HOLLYWOOD — A third of a century
with Warner Bros, was celebrated by Karl
G. Macdonald. international vice-president,
at a surprise luncheon on the Bm-bank
lot.
Cables and messages reporting record
billing figures for the previous week, which
was dedicated to Macdonald by the Latin
American offices he supervises, were read.
Playhouse Honors Two
HOLLYWOOI>—The Pasadena Playhouse
College of Theatre Arts has awarded special
honors to actors Lee J. Cobb and Victor
Jory. Cobb was named recipient of the
Gilmor Brown award for outstandiiig work
in a specialized theatrical field and Jory
given an honorary master's degree at Playhouse
commencement exercises for 96
graduates on Sunday iTK
Atomic Sub Film to AA
LOS ANGELES—Allied Artists will release
"Atomic Submarine," which Alex
Gordon has slated to roll this week. Spencer
G. Bennet is directing. Henry Schrage
is coproducer.
David Rich will cUrect Columbia's "Have
Rocket, Will Travel" from Raphael Hayes'
screenplay,
BOXOFFICE :: June 15, 1959