Boxoffice-March.1988

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HOLLYWOOD REPORT
Bill
Murray
"Scrooge" Bill Murray, the laziest
actor in Hollywood (and
we say that only because we
miss him so), returns in this
pseudo-remake of the Dickens
classic, Murray plays the heartless
producer of a televised production
of "A Christmas Carol,"
and many of the same supernatural
occurrences that haunted
old Ebenezer come to haunt
Murray when he starts losing
the Christmas spirit, Karen Allen
("Raiders of the Lost Ark"), Bob
Coldthwait, Michael I
Pollard
and David lohanson co-star in
the film, and the hot gossip at
press time was that Marlon
Brando would play Scrooge in
the show that Murray is producing.
The film is being made by
director Richard Donner ("Lethal
Weapon") in New York
and Los Angeles. Co-producing
with Donner is Art Linson, who
produced "The Untouchables "
The script is by Mitch Glazer
and Michael O'Donoghue. The
film — probably under a different
title — will be released by
Paramount at Christmas.
"Gleaming the Cube" Gladden
Entertainment is producing
this contemporary action thriller
that takes place in the bright
sunshine of Orange County,
Calif,, and in the shadows of the
mysterious and exotic Vietnamese
community which has
sprung up in its midst. Christian
Slater ("The Name of the Rose")
portrays a rebellious teenager
who sets out to avenge his
adopted Vietnamese brother's
death, and Steven Bauer ("Running
Scared") plays the street
smart detective in charge of the
case. Graeme Clifford
("Frances") directs, and 20th
Century Fox will release the film
this summer.
"Rainman" There may be a
new president in the White
House before we ever see this
film, but It's a big enough project
to announce early. Dustin
Hoffman and Tom Cruise star in
this drama about an idiot savant
(Hoffman) whose gift of total
recall is exploited by his brother
(Cruise). Many writers and directors
came and went on this
project — including Steven
Spielberg — before Sidney Pollack
("Out of Africa") signed on.
This caused some bemused
smiles among industry insiders,
because the fights between Pollack
and Hoffman on the set of
their hit "Tootsie" were the
stuff of legends. MGM/UA is
promising the film for this fall,
but that may be contingent on
how everyone gets along.
"Innocent Heroes" Oscarwinner
Ellen Burstyn stars in this
drama about Hannah Senesh, a
heroine, warrior and humanitarian
who ultimately gave her life
in her fight against fascism. Maruschka
Detmers ("The Devil in
the Flesh") co-stars as Hannah's
freedom-fighting daughter, and
Anthony Andrews ("Brideshead
Revisited"), Donald Pleasance
("Prince of Darkness"), David
Warner ("Time After Time")
and Denholm Elliott ("September")
play supporting roles. The
film IS being directed in Hungary
by Cannon Films chief Menahem
Golan ("Delta Force,"
"Over the Top"), from a script
that he wrote.
"Mr.Christmas Dinner" This
very black comedy marks the
second directorial effort of actor
Anthony Perkins, who debuted
behind the camera with
the surprisingly effective "Psycho
ill he is at the helm
of this story about a 300-pound
man (ioe Alasky) who is desperate
to fall in love and marry.
When a beautiful young girl
(Donna Dixon, recently seen in
"The Couch Trip") dumps her
boyfriend and agrees to marry
our hero, he is understandably
thrilled It isn't until he is taken to
her family's home for Christmas
dinner that he realizes that he is
going to be Christmas dinner
We warned you. The script is
by Pat Proft, writer of such simple-minded
comedies as "Police
Academy" and "Bachelor Party."
New Line Cinema intends
to release the film this September.
"Patty" One of the strangest
sagas of the '70s is brought to
the screen in this drama from
Paul Schraeder ("Light of Day").
British actress Natasha Richardson
(daughter of Vanessa
Redgrave and director Tony
Richardson) stars as Patty
Hearst, the American heiress to
the Hearst publishing empire,
who was kidnapped by radical
terrorists, transformed into a
bank-robbing urban guerilla,
captured by the FBI and put on
trial. The real Patty Hearst is acting
as a consultant on the film,
which is based on her book,
"Every Secret Thing." The script
is by Nicholas Kazan ("At Close
Range"), and the film reportedly
uses a sometimes surreal approach
in documenting the story.
Atlantic Releasing will distribute
the film this summer.
"Flying Blind" NBC Productions,
a new feature film entity
headed by NBC honcho Brandon
Tartikoff, is responsible for
this drama about the impact of
the Vietnam war on stateside
American youth. Taking place
among the coffeehouses of
Philadelphia, the film is set in
1965 and follows a young photographer
caught in the middle
of the social upheaval caused
by the war A cast of newcomers
- including Richard Panebianco,
Frank Whaley, Maura
Tierney and Emily Longstreth —
stars. The film is directed by
Vince DiPersio, an Oscarwinning
documentary filmmaker,
and is produced by actor
Charles Haid ("Hill St. Blues"). A
Columbia Pictures release.
"Woody Allen Untitled '87"
Following production of the
downbeat "September," Allen
went immediately back to work
on this film It is reportedly very
serious, dealing with the mid-life
crisis faced by star Cena Rowlands,
jane Alexander, John
Houseman, Ben Gazzara, BIythe
Danner and Martha Plimpton
co-star, with Gene Hackman
and Betty Buckley reportedly
showing up in cameos. As usual,
the film is being made within the
confines of Woody's beloved
New York, with Sven Nykvist,
Ingmar Bergman's cinematographer,
capturing the images
Orion is produ( ing the film and
will [irobdt)ly release it next winter.
Dudley Moore
"Arthur on the Rocks" Dudley
Moore revives the character
that earned him an Oscar nomination
in 1981, and will hopefully
revive a career that has been
sagging ever since. He will play,
of course, Arthur, the tipsy,
child-like millionaire who believes
that money Is only good if
you spend it extravagantly
whenever and wherever possible.
Also returning is Liza Minnelli,
who plays Arthur's working
class girlfriend, and John
Gielgud, who stole the original
film as Arthur's intolerant butler
(Gielgud's character died at the
end of "Arthur," so his presence
will now be of a supernatural
nature) Writing the script
Andy Breckman, who wrote
IS
for "Saturday Night Live" and
"Late Night With David Letterman,"
in addition to writing
"Moving," Richard Pryor's new
film Directing is Bud Yorkin,
who co-created "All in the Family"
as well as directing the film
"Twice in a Lifetime." Warner
Bros, is producing the film.
"The Wizard of Loneliness"
This World War II drama is
about a bitter 12-year-old boy
whose cynical nature is gradually
softened by the grandparents
that he has come to live with
Lucas Haas ("Witness ") stars as
the boy, with Lea Thompson
("Some Kind of Wonderful"),
John Randolph, Anne Pitoniak
and Lance Guest co-starring Director
jenny Howen is making
the film in Burlington, Vt., with
Phil Porcella and Thom Tyson
acting as co-producers The film
is being produced by Skouras
Pictures and Virgin Vision, in
association with American Playhouse
Skouras will release the
film.
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