18 INTERNATIONAL P^SRWFT 'VARIETY'S ' LONDON O F F I C I 49 St. Jomes'i Stract, Piccadilly

Costa Rica Tourist Cooperation Proves Myth for Cochran Picture

Hollywood, May 22. 4 Steve Cochran has returned

from Costa Rica after his project for a feature in that country died aborning. He had planned to make "Tell Me in the Sunlight" there, using five Mexican technicians and largely a local cast. Cochran would have producer, directed and starred in pic he hoped to bring In for $130,000.

Actor, who previously produced a feature in Italy, said he reached an agreement with Ricardo Castro, head of the country's tourist bu­reau, whereby he would be given air transport from Mexico City for cast and crew, plus free accommo­dations while shooting pic. Costa Rica would benefit from the pub­licity.

When Cochran arrived on locale and started filming of back­grounds, he stated, he learned that Castro could not get agreement from other members of the tour­ist bureau, so all the "coopera­tion" he had counted on would not materialize. He also asked gov­ernment guarantee no duty would be exacted on projected film and failed to effect that. Further, a new administration went into of­fice in Costa Rica simultaneously •with his arrival there, souring him even more.

For project, actor set up a cor­poration in Panama to canopy "Sunlight." Cochran said the foundered project had cost him "around $12,000 to $14,000" to date. Terming project "merely suspended," Cochran reported he plans now to shoot it somewhere else, "but not in a Latin American country."

Picture will be angled for art-house release.

Many Yank Films I Set for Munich

Munch, May 15. King Brothers' "blockbooking"

of space at Geiselgasteig Studios has started a trend here. Latest negotiations, most of them in the signing stage, presages production of at least six American feature pix locally.

The Mirisch Company is pres­ently readying "The Great Escape" for June 4 start at Geiselgasteig. Set against a German 1942 back­ground, pic sports an all-male cast «f 30 headed by James Garner, Steve McQueen, and Charles Bron-son. John Sturges is handling directorial reins and UA has world distribution.

Beverly Hills financial man, Mar­tin Teller, acting on behalf of a yet unidentified Wall Street group, has booked space at the same studio, starting July 15, for the production of "Advance To Rear," World War psychological drama. It has $750,000 budget with 75 days scheduled for production.

Company intends to follow up "Advance" with a minimum of five more films, two of them also being shot at the Bavaria Studios within the next year.

The King Brothers have as their ftext pic here "King of the Winds" which is scheduled for summer production on the Bavaria lot.

Italo Legislators Set For Talks on Film Aid

Rome, May 22. New film aid legislation will be

discussed by an Italian parliamen­tary committee at meetings slated to begin here May 16. Newly shaped text among other clauses suggests a rebate to all producers of feature pix over 6,000 feet in length, including animated films, okayed for Italian release between next July 1 and Dec. 31, 1969. Re­bate to producer is in form of a percentage return of money ac­crued by the film within five years of its first release date, as de­termined by Society of Authors and Editors.

Old legislation expires June 30 this year. A number of projects al­ready have been shelved by local filmmakers who want to know what the aid setup will provide before going ahead with present plans.

Bowling Solid In Aussie Keys

Sydney, May 15. Tenpin bowling has caught on

solidly in this sector after a some­what slow start. Figuring here is that the current autumn season will be a boom one for this U. S. Indoor sport. Amazing angle to local show biz folk is the number of femmes the game is pulling in on weekdays and Sundays.

Indication of the current biz up­surge is seen in the profit turned in by Bowling Centres Holdings Ltd., operating in key Sydney sub­urbs, of $126,000 over a three month span. BCH will now go ahead with the erection of addi­tional alleys in as many key spots as possible. Overtures have been to independent cinema operators to throw out films and swing onto the Tenpin gravy train.

Metro, under the ' direction of Bernie Freeman, shortly will open a 13-lane alley at Bankstown, a key Sydney industrial spot, to cash in on the current craze and will also expand interests in Melbourne in the near future.

Understood that major film cir­cuits like Hoyts and Greater Union Theatres also carry strong financial interest in the tenpinners. Also that they are ready to back plays from the Inside to give opposition to Metro and other show biz-backed projects extending from here to Perth—equal to from the New York to San Francisco span.

'Judgment' Cops 'Rodil,' Denmark's Film Award

Copenhagen, May 15. One of Scandinavia's m o s t

modern cinemas, the Imperial here was the site for presentation of the annual "Bodil" (Danish Oscars) awards. Prize for best Danish film «f the year went to "Harry and the Butler" which was also nominated for a Hollywood award. Second prize went to "The Duel," first fea­ture film to be directed by a new name in pix, Knud Leif Thomsen, who also wrote the script. . The Bodil for best European film went to "Rocco and Brothers"

, (Astor). "Judgment at Nuremberg" j(iJA) won the prize as the best

non-European film. Bodils were also awarded to John Price for his performance .in "The Duel" and to

; Kenning Moritzen for ."Harry and, the Butler." , ,

Rank Organization Net For Latest Year Seen

Holding at $4,340,000 London, May 22.

In a formal offer for the capital of Murphy Radio, the Rank Organi­zation has revealed that the group's profits for the year ending June 30, 1962 will be approximately $16,800,000 compared with $18,-062,800 for the previous year, after all charges other than interest, tax and outside holders' interests.

On this forecast, the net profit would- amount to $4,340,000 and, allowing for preferred dividends, about $4,444,000 would remain available for Ordinary, "A" Ordi­nary dividends and reserves.

According to Rank report, the current fiscal year will see income from theatres dipping slightly. Lower profits from film production and distribution are also foreseen. Also off will be the groups' mann-facturing deployment which have had to contend with difficult trad­ing conditions.

But revenue from miscellaneous activities—bowling alleys, health clubs, etc.—is expected to show a marked improvement over last year although this may be insuffi­cient to offset the decline in other departments.

Rank directors intend to recom­mend a final dividend of 17Vi% on the capital, increased making 25% (against a total of 22M>% for 1960-61) for the year.

Flexible Bookings On 'Guns' Scores in Brit.

London, May 22. "Flexibility of booking" is

claimed by the Rank Organization as one of the secrets of the success of "Guns Of Navarone." The Carl Foreman pic has beaten all pre­vious boxoffice records on the Rank London release with a total of $663,673.

Release was planned to spread the film's impact from October, 1961 to April, 1962. First, six select­ed pre-release theatres played "Guns" for a total of 25 weeks starting Oct. 8. Six more took over from Dec. 31 for 24 weeks and then another four showed "Guns" for 13'/i weeks. The boxoffice "take would have been bigger but for the iact that, during the last ses­sion, the Gaumont, Lewisham, was burned out.

'Ben-Hur' Top Pk With GIs O'seas

Wiesbaden, May 15. The most popular pic cropping

up on the GI cinema screens Over­seas last year was "Ben-Hur" (MGM), according to a study just released by the Army and Air Force Motion Picture Service. List of the 10 most popular pictures playing before the GI audiences at the American-run GI theatres abroad indicated that pictures with plenty of action, either with war or western themes as well as comedies made the biggest bid for the servicemen's business.

Second biggest at the military boxoffice was Columbia's "Guns of N a v a r o n e " while Universale "Come September" ranked third. Fourth best was "The Alamo" (UA) "Absent-Minded Professor" (BV) as No. 5.

Others in order of popularity were "Magnificent Seven" (UA) Comancheros;" (20th) "Oceans 11" (WB), "Where Boys Are" (MGM) and "Bachelor in Paradise" (MGM).

For five of these films, "Ben-Hur," "Navarone," "September," "Alamo" and "Commancheros," the military upped the prices from the regular 25c tab to 40e and still, the pictures did standout business.

Some of the favorite films show up later on the listing, as compared to their releases to the public in the U.S. "Ben-Hur," for instance, was a 1960 film, but it was in 1961 that the Metro spectacular played on the GI circuit for the Army and Air Force personnel and their families overseas.

Tom O'Brien Sees Need Of Organizing Subsid

Branches of Show Biz Llandudno, Wales, May 22.

The need to organize employees In the new supplementary sides of show biz, such as tenpin bowl­ing, bingo, dancehalls, circuses and skating rinks, was stressed here by Sir Tom O'Brien, general secre­tary, at the conference of the Na­tional Assn. of Theatrical and Kine Employees.

Confab unanimously passed a resolution authorizing the national executive to consider taking steps to bring about 100% union shop throughout the entertainment in­dustry in the U.K.

"The time has . to come soon," said Sir Tom, "when, with the sup­port of our colleagues in the kin­dred unions, we have to indicate to the employers, especially the cinema exhibitors who may be anti­trade union, that, at a certain date, at a certain time, we will stop the entire entertainment industry un­less these non-union employees are members of our union.

"These non-unionists are fatten­ing on agreements which this union has negotiated. They have to be eliminated (Mice and for all from our industry."

In most sections, said the NATKE general secretary, there was 100% trade unionism—actors, variety artists, musicians and film studies. Even in tele the position was being strengthened.

But in the cinema half the staffs were not In the union, he added.

Festival of Vienna, 1962 Vienna, May 22.

Festival of Vienna for 1962 is marked by re-opening of historical Theatre an der Wien wherein many of the concerts will be in tribute to Ludwig von Beethoven who played or conducted many of his works in the old house.

Among the orchestras booked this time are: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Capella Coloiensis Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam Orchestre de la Suisse Romande , Philharmonia Orchestra of London Tonkunstler Orchestra Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Vienna Symphony Orchestra. _

$80,000,000 SPENT ON BINGO IN BRIT. IN '61

London, May 15. The bingo craze, which has swept

Britain, accounts for at least $80,000,000 of the total spent on gambling in the U.K. last year. Conservative estimate comes from the Churches' Council on Gam­bling, which says it has included only commercial clubs. Council admits that millions more are spent in private clubs.

The council has reported the need for a change in the recently introduced law which allows gam­ing clubs. Expensive chemin-de-fer clubs are referred to by the council as "more pathetic than bingo—which has usually some sort of human appeal."

Urges Italo Pix Prods. To Balance Programs,

Not Follow Trend' Fad Rome, May 15.

Too many Italian producers are still jumping on the trend band­wagon, according to Joseph Fryd, who suggests that in order to avoid a deflation of the Italo boom, Rome filmmakers should begin to bal­ance their programs for the future or face increasing sales* resistance from abroad.

Rome-based producer said that too many spectacles are made in Italy, and also that too many arty films are hurting the situation, especially if turned out by one company alone. The dictum that a good film of any kind is good for the market still holds, Fryd agrees. But the type of film is secondary in an international market which today sees Germany wanting only spectacles, Latin America none, etc.

"It's no longer possible," says Fryd, "to play one production card alone. $450,000 is too much to pay for an arty film, and even pix aimed at the U.S. market must be brought in under a reasonable figure, including the extra ex­pense of the American star."

Fryd, who has just purchased U.S., Canada, and British Com­monwealth rights to the D.D.L. (Rome) productions called "That Certain Urge" and "II Federale," currently is at the Cannes Film Fest to discuss further production plans with Metro's Red Silverstein. Fryd's latest Italo-made item, "Seven Seas to Calais," goes the MGM route, as does his upcoming "Gold for the Caesars," which the U.S. major outfit will distribute in all world areas except Italy, France and Belgium.

'DONKEY GIRL'AWARD LIFTS EYEBROWS IN B.A.

Buenos Aires, May 22. Critical eyebrows went up here

recently with the announcement that the Argentine Film Institute jury had awarded one of its cash prizes (for the 15 best domestic pix of 1961) to the Isabel Sarli epic, "Donkey Girl." Film came in 15th in the jury's«list to receive an award of 1,600,000 pesos, or approximately $16,666.

Miss Sarli, though a local box-office fave, is not known for her dramatic art. Regarded as her first "serious" pic is Leopoldo Tor-re-Nilsson's "70 Times Seven," Ar­gentina's entry at Cannes this year.

Many critics felt that it was too bad the jury had ignored more ambitious pix such as "El Ultimo Piso" (The Top Floor), about B,A.'s housing shortage, or "Los Innuda-dos," a satiric hut poignant, look at Argentine flood victims, in favor of the Sarli film which was guar­anteed eoxoffice success any way.

Shaws, Singapore, In 4 Film Fests

Singapore, May 15. Shaw Organization, largest film

producer-distributor in South-east Asia, is going full swing to partici­pate in four international film fes­tivals in Asia, Europe and Aus­tralia this year. Representation at these fests, per Publicity Director, William H. Goodwin, is proof of the increased development and quality of films produced by Shaws with Asian (mostly Chinese and Malay) players and technicians.

"We've been very successful in Asian Film Festivals for the last many years," said Goodwin, "and this time, we anticipate as good a luck as before."

The four major film fests with Shaw product:

(1) Cannes (May 7-21) where Shaws put up an Oriental-styled stall complete with Singapore-made Chinese lanterns and vases to lend charm and publicity to their entry there: "Yang Kwei Fei" (The Mag­nificent Concubine), in Eastman-color. This is one of four extrava­ganzas by Shaws based on the life stories of famous women of ancient China collectively called "Beauty of Beauties." Li Li-hua, doyen of Chinese actresses, stars in this with hubby Yen Chun.

(2) Berlin. "Empress Wu," an­other big production from Shaws' Hong Kong studios, will be at fest from June 22 to July 3. Again Li Li-hua plays the No. 1 role as Em­press Wu of bygone China.

(3) Sydney Film Festival (June 1-14) will see Shaw's "The De­formed"—winner of the "best black and white photography" and the "best scenario" awards at the last Asian Film Festival in Manila.

(4) 9th Asian Film Festival in Seoul, South Korea (May 12-16). Unspooled were Mandarin's "Love Without End" (starring Lin Dai) and "Her Sister's Keeper." Both were Hong Kong productions. From Shaws Malay Film Productions here went "Lubalang Daik" (Unex­pected Revelation) and "Seniman Bujang Lapok," the latter a slap­stick comedy with P. Ramlee, vet­eran Malay actor and multi-times Asian Golden Harvest (Oscar) award winner, in the lead.

Harlan, 'Jud Sness' Prod., In Trouble in Germany

Over His Stageshow Aachen, May 18.

Veit Harlan, maker of the noto­rious anti-Semite Third Reich film "Jud Suess," whose most recent film, "The Third Sex," was recent­ly banned in Switzerland, is also in trouble in Germany. Harlan's "Sex" pic was banned in Switzer­land after Swiss organizations and student groups picketed the film, both because of its topie and be­cause of the background of the filmmaker.

It was announced here that Har­lan was going to stage a play in the Aachen Zimmer Theatre, Strindberg's "Ein TramuspieJ," starring his wife, actress Christina Soederbaum. It now seem* that neither Harlan nor Miss Soeder­baum will appear.

Aachen City Stage general di­rector Kurt Sieder said that the Harlan - Soederbaum production had been cancelled after numerous private individuals and organiza­tions had protested to the eity au­thorities and theatre officials. The play was going to be presented in September to open the fal l season of the zimmer Theatre.1

Instead, Max Frisch's "Andorra" will It* presentedr-ian odd twist, j|n ykjw of the fact that HE concerns anti-Semitism in a «mall village.