Boxoffice-December.17.1962

. . . Sam
. . Independent
. . . And
. . Two
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QARL FOREMAN'S "The Guns of Navarone"
was the most successful boxof fice
picture shown throughout Great Britain
during the year, reported the magazine
"Films and Filming" last week. The estimate
was based on a cross-section of exhibitors'
opinion organized by the magazine
editor, Peter Baker. Its domestic
gross has already earned over £800.000 and
to this must be added a further £450.000 in
Eady money. Meanwhile. Foreman's latest
film. "The 'Victors." which is now being
made at Shepperton Studios, is going ahead
well under budget. Writer, director and
producer Foreman still finds time to meet
the press and to discuss some of the problems
and excitements of making this
kitchen-sink film with the background of
war. Like the shrewd showman he is. Poreman
has been getting plenty of space in
the press as each of his top Continental
and American stars fly into London to prepare
for work on this picture, which looks
as if it will cause a fui-ore with its strong
antiwar theme.
Unlike "Navarone." "The 'Victors" will
not be liable for Eady funds. This is not
such a terrible blow to Foreman who argues
that, with such distinguished and popular
European stars as Rosanna Schiaffino.
Jeanne Moreau. Romy Schneider. Melina
Mercourl, Elke Sommer and Senta Berger,
there is an added preselling value to the
picture throughout Europe. Moreover, as
"The 'Victors" called for a predominantly
European cast because of its story and foreign
locations, it would have suffered accordingly,
if these artists had been replaced
by English-born thespians. Thus,
by being "realistic" about "The 'Victors,"
Foreman stands every chance of earning
more money with the picture in Europe
By ANTHONY GRUNER
than any U, S. producer has done since
the war. Meanwhile, with such U. S. stars
as Eli 'Wallach, George Hamilton, George
Peppard, 'Vincent Edwards, Peter Fonda
and Jim Mitchum also in leading roles, he
has the ingredients for a first rate boxoffice
picture in both parts of the hemisphere.
The Federation of British Film Makers
has taken the unilateral step of calling for
a 40 per cent British film quota without
consulting other sections of the industry.
The news came as a complete surprise to
the trade last week when it was announced
by Andrew Filson, general secretary of
the PBPM. The present quota is 35 per
cent, and while the major groups of exhibitors
have found little difficulty in fulfilling—and,
in the case of ABC and Rank
reaching an average of over 40 per cent,
the shortage of good first features had
made most industry leaders somewhat
chary of fixing a new and higher statutory
quota.
A recognition that some exhibitors cannot
get hold of sufficient British product
is admitted by the Federation, which, in
pressing the case for 40 per cent, adds, "on
the understanding that appropriate quota
relief should be given to cinemas which,
on account of their competitive situation,
have not got adequate access to British
films released through the ABC and Rank
circuits."
The recommendation will now go before
the Cinematograph Film Council early
next year. By then, perhaps the Unions
may give Federation their support, but it
is doubtful whether the British Film Pro-
AT HELM OF GREAT BRITAIN'S VARIETY CLUB—The Variety
Club of
Great Britain's chief barker and crew for 1963 are shown in the above photo.
Seated, center, is Rex North, the chief barker elect. On his right is C. J. Latta, international
executive, and to his left, Leslie A. Macdonnell, the 1962 chief barker.
Standing, left to right: Billy Manning, press guy David Jones, Trevor Chinn, second
assistant chief barker-elect Clifford Jeapes, dough guy-elect David Kingsley,
Kenneth Rive, Bernard Myers, property master-elect C. "Dickie" Pearl, first assistant
chief barker-elect Jack Klein and Bernard Delfont.
ducers Ass'n or the Cinematograph Exhibitors
Ass'n will have anything to do
with the proposal. Said Filson last week:
"Curiously enough, there is a buyers' market
in British films and this might help
to establish a sellers' market in British
films." 'When it was pointed out to him
that the circuits had been achieving a 40
per cent quota and more, Filson replied
that there was no guarantee that it could
last. The increase proposed by the Federation
would give a sense of security to independent
British production. And so the
matter rests.
Mike Frankovich. first vice-president of
Columbia, was officially made a Commendatore
of the Italian Republic last
week when the award was presented to him
by the Italian Ambassador in London,
Pietro Quaronl. The honor is considered
one of Italy's most important awards to
persons of distinction in various fields.
Frankovich. who has worked and lived in
Italy as an independent producer, was one
of the first people in this country to recognize
the growing importance of Italian
films. Through his influence, Columbia
was one of the first companies to enter
into several highly successful production
deals with some of Europe's most influential
filmmakers, including Italy's Dino De
Laurentiis.
News in brief: There was a spate of
name changing in the industry last week.
Danny Angel's "The Furnished Room,"
which he is making for Associated British,
is having its title changed to "'West 11," an
allusion to the Netting Hill district of London
where the film will be shot. This leaves,
so far, only one feature wilth "room" in its
title, "The L-Shaped Room," starring Leslie
Caron and Tom Bell, which is doing
fine business for Columbia on its prerelease
runs . Artists have
also changed the name of their feature,
starring Janet Munro, from "Twenty
Thousand Streets Under the Sky" to "Bitter
Harvest " Hammer is changing
the title of its new psychological drama
from "Nightmare" to "Here's the Knife,
Dear, Now Use It." Producer is Jimmy
Sangster, who also wrote the script. Freddie
Francis directs . . . The Ken Hughes production,
"The Small Sad W^orld of Sammy
Lee," which stars Anthony Newley, is now
titled "The Small 'World of Sammy Lee"
Spiegel's company. Horizon, is to
make a comedy about big business entitled
"Dangerous Silence" early next year at
Shepperton Studios. Spiegel will not produce,
although he will be executive producer.
The chore will be handled by Norman
Spencer, while Robert Parrish will
direct. Two of the stars mentioned in the
leading roles
Sellers . . . Jack Hanbury. who was associate
producer of "A Kind of Loving" and
the producer of the successful Regal film,
"Live Now—Pay Later," has joined Peter
Rogers as his production associate and will
assist him in the production of an expanded
program of pictures for 1963-64 . of
are Jack Lemmon and Peter
ABC's most important London cinemas,
the ABC Fulham Road, and the ABC Harrow
Road, are to become prerelease theatres
. . . and may I take this opportunity
of wishing all readers of Boxoffice and
this column the Greetings of the Season
and every success for 1963.
E-4 BOXOFFICE December 17. 1962