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^ TRIBUTE TO BEN SHLYEN, publisher
of BoxoFFicE, for his consistent role in
promoting British films throughout the
U. S., was made by Earl St. John, executive
producer of Pinewood Studios, at a ceremony
held last week to present the May
Blue Ribbon Awards to producers, directors
and stars of the Rank film, "Conspiracy of
Hearts." Earl St. John was speaking in
the board room of Pinewood Studios,
and on behalf of Shlyen, made the presentation
to producer Betty Box, director
Ralph Thomas and two of the stars, Albert
Lieven and Peter Arne. The three leading
actresses, Lilli Palmer, Yvonne Mitchell and
Sylvia Syms. were all out of the country,
but Miss Box promised to send the awards
to them personally. Telegrams were received
from the stars regretting their
absence on the occasion and thanking
Shlyen and the National Screen Council
for the honor of being presented with the
Blue Ribbon Award.
"Conspiracy of Hearts," a wartime drama
dealing with a group of nuns who saved
Jewish children from Nazi troops, was released
over here early this year. It has
done standout business in every situation.
Richard Patterson. Paramount's executivein-charge
of production, saw the film and,
on his advice, it was bought by the company
for distribution in the U. S. A.
Said Earl St. John: "Today it is a pleasure
to read the American tradepress and see
the large number of British pictui'es being
shown throughout the States. There has
never been such an interest in British production.
The Rank Organization now have
many other excellent featm-es completed
and in production which will shortly be
presented to U. S. exhibitors. I, therefore,
welcome all the efforts being made by
BoxoFFicE and Ben Shlyen to enable our
potential customers to get a full picture of
the British industry, and I hope that our
films will win more Blue Ribbon Awards in
the future."
Also present on the occasion were Bernard
Charman, managing editor of the
Daily Cinema, and William Edwards, studio
correspondent of the Kine Weekly, representing
the editor, William Altria. Speaking
on behalf of Shlyen, Boxoffice's London
correspondent, Anthony Gruner,
thanked the Rank Organization and Earl
St. John, in particular, for the encom-agement
they had given to his journal, and for
the arrangements he had made for the
presentation. He also added his tribute to
"Conspiracy of Hearts," to Miss Box and
Ralph Thomas, and to the stars who were
there. A final word of thanks was given to
studio publicity director Derek Coyt. who
had organized all the details including a
lunch which followed the ceremony at
which Earl St. John was host.
An important meeting which may have
big repercussions on the production code
in the States is expected to follow the visit
of John Trevelyan, secretary of the British
Board of Film Censors. He is going to
Hollywood in October at the invitation of
By ANTHONY GRUNER
the Motion Picture Ass'n of America, to
discuss censorship problems with Geoffrey
Shurlock, director of the Production Code
Administration.
The aim of Trevelyan's visit will be to
discuss the BBFC's conception of censorship
with top executives at the studio and
home offices, and help create a better
understanding of the British approach as
well as study at first hand the U. S. system
of assessing domestic and imported pictures.
Said Trevelyan last week: "I am
sure that my visit will be mutually beneficial
to both industries. There are. of
course, substantial differences in the conditions
under which our respective forms
of censorship operate, as we both appreciate;
nevertheless, we can each learn from
the other."
When Michael Bromhead, Lion International's
representative in the U. S. A., returns
to London in a few weeks time for
business talks with Victor Hoare and British
Lion executives, one of the first pictures
he will view will be the Boulting Brothers'
comedy, "A French Mistress." This is
based on a very successful West End stage
play and stars James Robertson Justice.
Cecil Parker and a new young French
actress. Agnes Laurent.
Already the grapevine suggests that the
Boultings have made another boxoffice
comedy hit to follow their recent "I'm All
Right, Jack," which is doing extremely
good business in the U. S. romhead will
also visit Blackpool for a special presentation
of the British Lion/Michael Powell
production. "Honeymoon," starring Antonio,
and featuring a considerable amount
of Spanish dancing. The film will be presented
through the use of the Arc 120
widescreen process. Bromhead, who has
done a first-rate job for Lion International
in the States, can expect a very warm welcome
from his directors and friends when
he arrives in London.
Edward J. and Harry Lee Danziger have
now commenced production on "The Tell-
Tale Heart" at their New Elstree Studios.
This version of the macabre story by Edgar
Allan Poe stars Adrienne Corri, Laurence
Payne and Dermot Walsh. Ernest Morris
directs, with Brian Taylor as production
supervisor. Final shooting is now taking
place on two feature war films, "The
Middle Course," starring Vincent Ball and
Lisa Daniely, directed by Montgomery
Tully, and "Forbidden," starring Eric
Flynn and Petra Davies, directed by Max
Varnel.
A new film by Mario Zampi started production
last week. "Five Golden Hours," a
comedy with Ernie Kovacs and Cyd
Charisse, George Sanders and Christopher
Lee. It will be made on location in
Balzano. Northern Italy. This is an Anglo-
Italian coproduction which Zampi is directing
and producing. The unit retui-ns
to MGM Boreham Wood Studios for interiors
later next month.
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BOXOFFICE August 29, 1960
E-5