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Colin was a dour Scot in the
Calvinistic mould. Rather than applying
his skills to the images on the screen,
he had rated the film on reports of the
off-screen antics of the stars! I am in
favour of censorship to curb excesses,
but this was a bit much!
The debacle of Cleopatra - then the
most expensive film ever made, $US49
million (estimates vary) - caused
Skouras to sell the Fox back-lot to
Kaiser Aluminium where they
constructed Century City. It also forced
his retirement when majority
shareholder Darryl F. Zanuck decided to
take personal charge of the corporation.
Zanuck appointed Seymour Poe to
head distribution. Poe visited us in
Sydney and in a difficult meeting with
Arthur, Ron, company secretary Fred
Carnel and me, insisted we dismiss fifty
staff.
To my credit I was the only one
who stood up to him. My reward was to
be told to decide who was to go, and
phone each Branch Manager with the
news - not my best week in the
business.
Hoyts boss Ernest Turnbull also got
his marching orders, and Poe appointed
his son Dale as Managing Director of
both Hoyts and Fox. Soon after, Arthur
Hill called us to a meeting to say he
had not been totally honest with Poe
over our relationship with Hoyts, and
what should he do?
I led the charge by advising Arthur
to write and remedy the matter, and the
others immediately agreed. The result
was a cable from Poe to Dale, ‘If Arthur
Hill resigning, accept’. So Arthur bit the
dust.
Production costs on Cleopatra go stratospheric. Source: Anatomy of the Movies, edited
Dale Turnbull appointed Ron Pitt as
by David Pirie (1981)
General Manager of Fox, with me as
his assistant. Zanuck saved Fox by producing the early retirement, which left me as sole
enormously successful The Longest officer of the company authorised to
Day for only $US6 million; the sign contracts.
resources of the US Navy and other I worked very long hours to fulfill
forces came at no charge. all my personal responsibilities, plus
Soon after, Seymour Poe got his run the company. My friend Andy
well-deserved reward and was fired by Anderson still ran Contracts
Zanuck in an early morning home visit. Department and I relied heavily on him
The cause was some ansky-pansky over and on Stewart McKenzie who had
a deal with Seven Arts and the become company secretary. Both have
licensing of many Fox titles. Not before now gone, but I will always remember
time - but Poe was rewarded by their support with gratitude.
becoming President of Seven Arts. Dale re-employed Bill Gray from
This was when TV started to bite Screen Gems as General Manager with
hard. Exhibitors struggled to survive me as his assistant. Eric Davis from
and we were inundated with requests New Zealand was appointed Managing
for reductions in film rentals. Ron took Director for both countries.
Ron Pitt becomes General Manager

24 2007 CINEMARECORD