Boxoffice-March.19.1962

MGM Staff Studies
Dry Print Process
HOLLYWOOD—What could represent a
major economic and time-saving advancement
in the processing of release prints
for motion pictui-es, television and related
fields
was introduced by representatives of
Metro-Kalvar, Inc., which has exclusive
rights to market the revolutionary film
products for the entire theatrical film and
TV industries.
According to Metro-Kalvar executives,
who met at the MGM studios in Culver
City, the Kalvar film eliminates chemical
development and prints can be made on
the film from any negative. Positive film
is developed instantly by the application of
heat alone.
Said to be extremely versatile, the completely
dry process not only does away
with chemicals, but does not require absolute
darkness for safe and uniform processing.
The association of MGM and the Kalvar
Corp. to adapt the process to motion pictui-e
film was made last year. Highlight
of the meetings was a demonstration of
the process as applied to motion picsture
film revealing the most cuiTent advancements.
Douglas Shearer, head of MGM reseaixh
depai-tment, and Alan Jackson, laboratory
head, and the studio staff and Kalvar engineers
will continue an aggressive research
and development program to fuither perfect
the process, it was disclosed at the
meetings.
Attending the huddles were Alfred
Moran, Kalvar president; Glen G. Magnuson,
executive vice-president: Robert H.
O'Brien, MGM executive vice-president and
treasurer: Raymond A. Klune, MGM vicepresident
and general manager; Charles
Pati, MGM international department executive,
and Jackson.
'Interns' Release Moved
From November to August
LOS ANGELES—Columbia Pictm-es has
updated the release of Robert Cohn's "The
Interns," originally set for November, to
late August. The film, first of three on
Cohn's schedule at the studio, stars Mickey
Callan, James MacArthur, Cliff Robertson,
Nick Adams and Suzy Parker. David
Swift directed.
Cohn has blueprinted his second featm-e.
"Warm Peninsula," for a late August start.
"Try, Try Again," starring Jack Lemmon
and Debbie Reynolds, is on the drawing
boards for F'ebruary.
Morton Spring Ends Tour
HOLLYWOOD—Morton Spring, president
of MGM International, returned from a
month's trip around the world on a sui-vey
and drum-beating tour for "The Four
Horsemen of the Apocalypse," "Sweet Bird
of Youth" and "King of Kings."
Lund Replaces Wilding
HOLLYWOOD—John Lund has replaced
a Man
Michael Wilding in the cast of "If
Answers," Ross Hunter production for U-I
release. No reason was given for the exit
of Wilding, who was to have portrayed
Sandra Dee's father in the film.
W-2
Chicago Censors Pass
Corman's 'Intruder'
CHICAGO — The Chicago Board of
Censors has passed Roger Corman's "The
Intruder" without any cuts, thus cleai--
ing the decks to book the Pathe-America
release eveiywhere, according to Budd
Rogers, president, who plans to give the
picture "the widest distribution to the most
exciting picture we've ever handled."
Originally denied an MPAA code seal,
"The Intnider" gained a reversal and the
seal early in March after a showing for a
special reviewing board and presenting
testimony from Negixj organizational leaders
that they found the language in this
particular pictui'e inoffensive and necessary
for the substance of the film.
New Sanborn Theatre
For Los Angeles Area
LOS ANGELES—Property in the Plaza
shopping center in West Covina has been
acquired by Sanborn Theatres for construction
of a 1,100-seat theatre. The new
hardtop, to be called the Plaza, is slated for
a fall opening, according to Art Sanborn
jr., president of the theatre chain which
operates the Eastland, El Monte and Baldwin
Park houses.
Pacific Drive-In Theatres has acquired
two hardtop theatres, giving the circuit 17
theatres in southern California. The chain
has taken over the Picwood in West Los
Angeles and the Meralta in Culver City.
The Picwood seats 1,500 and the Meralta
approximately 1,000.
Pacific also operates 45 drive-ins in the
Los Angeles metropolitan area.
'West Side Story' Opens
March 28 in Scottsdale
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — The Kachina
Theatre will open with "The West Side
Story" March 28 with an exclusive engagement
in the Valley. Seats will be on a
reserved-seat basis only. A screening of
the picture was held Thursday (8i for the
local press, disc jockeys, record dealers,
etc. According to Manager Harvey Simmons,
the Kachina expects a long and
successful run of this picture.
Tiomkin to
Get Top Salary for Scoring
HOLLYWOOD—Reportedly the highest
salary ever paid for scoring a film di'ama
will go to Dimitri Tiomkin, who will receive
$62,500 for writing the music for
"Sodom and Gomorrah," Titanus Production
to which U-I has pmxhased U. S. release
rights. Tiomkin will start work on the
production following completion of the
music score for MGM-Cinerama's "How
the West Was Won."
'Airborne' to Parade
HOLLYWOOD — "Airborne," an 85-
minute feature produced by Art Diamond,
former booker, has been optioned for release
by Parade, although Diamond says
he is seeking a major distribution deal.
The film, dealing with the 82nd Airborne
Division, was shot on a 16-day schedule at
Ft. Bragg on a $90,000 budget, and stars
Diamond's son Robert. James Landis wrote
the script.
WB, Jack Webb Test
New Production Idea
HOLLYWOOD—Announced by Jack L.
Warner, president of Wai-ner Bi-os., as "a
new concept in independent production,"
Jack Webb has established headquarters at
the Burbank studios to develop and produce
both feature motion pictures and T'V films.
Webb's operation will be completely independent
of other WB theatrical films
and video activities. His first projects will
be announced within 30 days, according to
the actor, who added that he will not appear
before the cameras but will henceforth
devote his full time to development
and production.
We'ob made three pictm-es for Warner
Bios., "Dragnet," "Pete Kelly's Blues" and
"The D. I.," which reportedly have grossed
12 '2 million dollars to date. Before consummating
the negotiations with Warners,
Webb completed liquidation of a million
and one half dollars inventory of film iwoduction
equipment. Under his new setup,
he will have access to the studio's production
facilities.
Patti Page to Star in Film
About Her Own Career
HOLLYWOOD—Patti Page will star in
the picture version of her own autobiography,
"Once Upon a Dream," to be
produced by ARGAP company headed by
the actress-singer and her managerpartner.
Jack Rael. Meanwhile, producer
Martin Ransohoff, for whom Miss Page
made "Boys' Night Out" at MGM, has begun
negotiations with Rael for a twopicture
deal with her.
Rawitch, Livingston Move
To New Industry Posts
VAN NUYS, CALIF.—Bernard Rawitch,
formerly with Statewide Theatres, has
been named managing director for the
Panorama Theatre, Panorama City.
Rawitch replaces Stan Livingston, who
has resigned to accept the position of general
manager for Holiday Theatres, the
newest circuit in Southern California. Holiday
is the property of Jack Grossman and
associates.
Henry Novak to Sales Job
With Borde Associates
LOS ANGELES—Harry Novak has been
named to handle sales in southern California
for Seymour Borde & Associates, independent
film distributors with offices
here, San Francisco and Denver. Novak at
one time was head booker for RKO Pictures
here when Borde was branch
manager.
Coronado Festival in July
HOLLYWOOD—The second annual Coronado
Film Festival will be held July 8-14.
Screen entries, which will be accepted after
June 8. will be screened at the Village Theatre.
All films must not have been in general
release in the U. S. prior to July 1,
1962. The festival, originally held last October,
will continue its policy of noncompetitive
screenings, with special recognition
given to outstanding achievements.
BOXOmCE March 19, 1962