007 Beaten By The Trapps

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31107, 9 July 1966, Page 12

007 Beaten By The Trapps

(Specially written for "The Press" by TERRY McGOVERNEi IN the public mind of x Christchurch, James Bond, the secret agent 007 in “Thunderball,” was little match for Maria and her family of Trapps in “The Sound Of Music.”

The two films, as closely alike as chalk and cheese, have created records both for their number of screenings and the time they have shown in Christchurch.

Sixty-three weeks ago, the story of the Trapp family’s life in the alpine grandeur of Austria opened at the State Theatre. Since then, 300,000 people, including some who last went to the pictures in the 1930’5, have seen it Its screening period has easily exceeded that of the previous record-breaking “South Pacific” which ran for 36 weeks.

During the seven weeks "Thunderball” was screened, an estimated 180,000 people went to see the indestructible

Bond retrieve a cargo of atom bombs from the shark infested waters of the Caribbean. The total audience far outstripped all previous records for the Regent Theatre. To try to find out why two films of so obviously different character drew such large audiences we spoke to the managers of the two theatres concerned. Plenty Of Action The manager of the Regent (Mr D. S. Hughes) saw the visual excitement of “Thunderball” as the underlying reason for its success. It was the sort of film people liked—plenty of action without straining the faculties of thought. Mr Hughes believes people do not want to see films about things which might happen to themselves. Hence, the popularity of “the kitchen-sink variety,” like "Room at the Top” and “Saturday Night and Sunday Morning,” has diminished. The desire for action-packed films has recently been shown Great Escape,” "The Guns of

Navarone” and the previous by the popularity of “The Bond saga “Goldfinger.” Filmgoers liked to imagine themselves as heroes and this had led to the James Bond cult of clothing, the ambition of women to be as sought after as those of the secret agent's penchant “Thunderball" was screened 146 times in Christchurch during its seven weeks run which took in the May school holidays. This had accounted for the exceptional number of ‘Tull-house” matinees. The censor gave “Thunderball” a general certificate with a recommendation for adult audiences. Academy Award “The Sound of Music” got eight academy awards for the makers and a special certificate from the censor as exceptionally suitable for family audiences. The manager of the State Theatre, Mr L. G. Norman, considers the film the most rewarding he has known in 25 years association with the film industry. It has appealed

to a wider section of people “because it is clean and wholesome and makes them feel good.” That is why so many people have been back to see it again and again. Even some of the young people who had not looked the types to enjoy it had come away impressed.” When “The Sound of Music” ends in August, it will have run nearly 70 weeks. Both managers say a good film now draws bigger audiences than before. Attendances would belie the fact that there is the alternative of television entertainment in the homes of most of the people of Christchurch. Crossword Solution Following io the solution to the crossword punle printed on another page:—Across: S, Bushlight: 7. Lea; 8, Rambler-rose; 10, Rayon; 11, Choices; IS. Nipper; 14, Holest; 17. Earshot; 10. Pates; 20, Put out to sea; 22. Toe; 23, Decreased. Down: 1. Clearance; 2. Party spirit; 3, Romance; 4. Solace: 5. Largo; t. Has; 0. Orchestrate; 12, Satisfled; 15, Opposed; 18, States; 18, House; 21, use.