Boxoffice-November.1988

e business magazine of the motion picture industry November 1988. $3.95
U2: The Movie

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EDITOR AND ASSOCIATE
PUBLISHER
Harley W Lond
The business magazine of the motion picture industry
MANAGING EDITOR
Tom Matthews
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Jim Kozak
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Jotin Allen
Bruce Austin
David H Chadderdon
Tony Francis
Karen Kreps
Lesa Sawatiata
Mori Wax
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NOVEMBER, 1988 VOL. 124, NO. 11
when a man assumes a public triLsi. he should consider himself as public properly "
— Thomas Jefferson
FEATURES
8 Cover Story: U2—The Movie
"U2 Rattle and Hum is the highly acclaimed rock band's first
documentary / concert film.
10 Theatre Profile: Hooray for Hollywood
Pacific Theatres pays tribute to the movie capital with a colorful and
elaborately rebuilt theatre
12 Theatre Profile: The Temple of Dome
Pacific Theatres' Cinerama Dome celebrates its 25th anniversary
MODERN THEATRE
14 Merchandising: What's Hot (& What's Not) At The Snack Bar
Ice cream, sausage on a stick, nachos, big. big candy and more
are making inroads at the concession stand
18 Marketing: The Popcorn Report
The spirit of the newsreels of old is rekindled by this entertaining
collection of sponsored shorts
REVIEWS— Following page 23
Gorillas in the Mist, Things Change. The Beast. Betrayed, Moon Over Parador;
Bat 21: A Nightmare on Elm Street 4 The Dream Master, Young Guns.
Madame Sousatzka. Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam. Mac and Me:
Miles From Home. The Prince of Pennsylvania: The Deceivers: Far North: Border
Radio, Hero and the Terror.
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HOLLYWOOD REPORT
Kevin Costner
"Shoeless Joe" Kevin
Costner stars in the most offbeat
baseball movie yet. He
plays an Iowa farmer who
follows a strange voice in his
head that tells him to build a
baseball stadium in his com
field, with the promise that
the legendary "Shoeless" Joe
Jackson will reappear to play
in the park once its done.
Burt Lancaster, James Earl
Jones, Amy Madigan and Ray
Liotta also star in the film,
which is written and directed
by Phil Alden Robinson ("All
of Me," "In the Mood"). The
movie is being shot in Boston
and Dubuque; Universal will
distribute.
"Cousins" The French hit
"Cousin, Cousine" is Americanized
in this comedy that
stars Ted Danson and Isabella
Rossellini. They play cousins
by marriage who can't
fight the feelings that are
pulling them together. William
L. Petersen ("To Live
and Die in L.A."), Sean
Young ("No Way Out"), Norma
Aleandro ("Gaby: A True
Story") and Lloyd Bridges
("Tucker") also star. Joel
Schumacher ("The Lost
Boys") directs. A Paramount
release.
"The Abyss" Writer-director
James Cameron, who put
audiences through the ringer
with "Aliens" and "The Terminator,"
is back in business,
this time with a thriller that
takes place inside an isolated
oil rig. Ed Harris and Mary
Elizabeth Mastrantonio
("The Color of Money") star,
with Cameron's wife and
partner. Gale Anne Hurd,
producing. The film is being
shot in underwater tanks at
the studios of B-movie king
Eari Owensby. A 20th Century
Fox release.
"Sea of Love" With films
like "Author! Author!,"
"Cruising," "Revolution" and
"Bobby Deerfield" to his
post-"Godfather 11" credit, Al
Pacino desperately needs to
reestablish himself as one of
America's leading actors.
Now he is starring in this
erotic thriller about a New
York detective who falls in
love with a suspect, while
investigating the serial murders
of men who respond to
personal ads. Ellen Barkin
("The Big Easy") co-stars.
The script is by Richard Price
("The Color of Money"); the
director is Harold Becker
("The Onion Field," "Taps").
The film is being shot in New
York and Toronto, with Universal
set to distribute.
"Limit Up" Nancy Allen
("Robocop") stars in this
comedy about a strong-willed
trader on the Chicago Board
of Trade who sells her soul to
the devil in order to comer
the world market in soybeans.
Former "Saturday
Night Live" regular Danitra
Vance plays Lucifer, with
Ray Charles (yes, that Ray
Charles) playing God. An
MCEG release.
"Return of the Muslieteers"
Director Richard Lester
found surprising success
in the '70s with "The Three
Musketeers" and "The Four
Musketeers," so he — along
with much of his original cast
— is at it again. Michael
York, Oliver Reed, Frank Finlay,
Geraldine Chaplin,
Christopher Lee and Richard
Chamberlain are once again
engaged in light-hearted derring-do,
which is being filmed
throughout Spain. A Universal
release.
"Scenes From the Class
Struggle in Beverly Hills"
A large ensemble cast is featured
in this black comedy
from director Paul Bartel
("Eating Raoul"). The story
is about several Beverly Hills
families who are forced to
live together when their
homes are fumigated, leading
to hijinx of a predominantly
sexual nature. Jacqueline Bisset,
Wallace Shawn, Ed Begley
Jr, Ray Sharkey and director
Paul Mazursky are
among the cast. A Cinecom
release.
"Batman" Michael Keaton,
whose long string of bad
comedies was halted by a
surprisingly dramatic performance
in "Clean and Sober,"
takes another sharp
tum in his career by tackling
the role of this legendary'
crime fighter. This is said to
be a dark and serious Batman,
which should be interesting.
The film's director is
Tim Burton, who directed
Keaton in "Beetlejuice." In
the casting coup of the year.
Jack Nicholson will play the
Joker, the Caped Crusader's
arch nemesis. Wamer Bros,
may release the film on Memorial
Day weekend.
"Men Don't Leave" Writer-director
Paul Brickman,
who all but disappeared following
the success of "Risky
Business" in 1983, finally returns
with this comedy-drama
about a woman who tries
to bounce back following the
untimely death of her husband.
Jessica Lange tackles
the lead role. The script is
written by Brickman and Barbara
Benedek, who co-wrote
"The Big Chill." Wamer Bros,
will distribute the film.
"Far Out Man!" Tommy
Chong, ex-partner of "Bom
in East L.A.'s" Cheech Marin,
writes, directs and stars in
this comedy about a holdout
hippy from the '60s who finds
success when he opens his
own version of Disneyland:
Hippyland. Chong's wife and
children — including Rae
Dawn — co-star, as does Rae
Dawn's current boyfriend, C.
Thomas Howell. A CineTe!
release this fall.
"Breaking In" Director
Bill Forsyth ("Gregory's
Girl," "Local Hero") has
made the interesting choice
of Burt Reynolds to star in
the Scottish filmmaker's first
movie to be made on American
soil. This is the stoiT of a
young boy who learns about
burglary from a seasoned veteran,
and about love from a
prostitute. Casey Siemaszko
("Young Guns") plays opposite
Reynolds. The script is
written by John Sayles, and
Forsyth is currently shooting
the film in Portland. A Samuel
Goldwyn release.
Billy Crystal
"Harry, This is Sally"
Rob Reiner is directing this
romantic comedy about two
old friends who find themselves
falling in love. The
stars are Billy Crystal and
Meg Ryan, with Carrie Fisher
and Bnmo Kirby adding support.
The script is written by
Nora Ephron, who hopefully
has added more spark than
she did in the disappointing
"Hearibum." Reiner's production
company. Castle
Rock, is producing the film in
New York and Los Angeles,
and Columbia will be distributing.
"Paint It Black" Rick
Rossovich, the sweet-butdumb
fireman in "Roxanne,"
stars in this Hitchcock-like
thriller about a famous sculptor
who finds himself implicated
in the bnUal murder of
his agent. Sally Kirkland
("Anna") plays the agent,
with Doug Savant and Julie
Carmen also co-starring. The
film was shot entirely on location
in Santa Barbara by
director Tim Hunter ("River's
Edge") from a script by
Tim Harris and Herschel
Weingrod ("Trading
Places"). A Vestron release.
"The Punisher" Dolph
Lundgren, still fighting to be
the next Stallone/Schwarzenegger,
stars in this action
fantasy based on the Marvel
Comics character He plays a
highly trained police officer
who disappears following the
murder of his wife and children,
and resurfaces as a selfproclaimed
enemy of crime.
Louis Gossctt Jr. and Jerocn
Krabbe ("Crossing Delancey")
co-star. Mark Goldblatt
("Dead Heat") directs. A
New World release, tentatively
in April.
4 BOXOFFICE

"
TRAILERS
November Releases
Clara's Heart
On the heels of "Jumpin' Jack Flash."
"Burglar," "Fatal Beauty" and "The Telephone,"
one can't help wondering just
how many Whoopi Goldberg fans are left
out there. This new film sounds like a
more conventional vehicle for the actress,
as she plays a Jamaican housekeeper who
helps a young boy get through his parents'
divorce. Co-starring in the film are Michael
Ontkean, Kathleen Quinlan, Spalding
Gray ("Swimming to Cambodia") and
Beverly Todd. Robert Mulligan ("To Kill a
Mockingbird") directs from a script by
Mark Medoff ("Children of a Lesser
God"). A Warner Bros, release.
If you count
Oliver &' Co.
— and of course you should — Walt
"Who Framed Roger Rabbit"
Disney Studios will be releasing two original
animated movies this year, a feat
which was rarely accomplished even in
the studio's animation heyday. "Oliver &
Co." is a musical reworking of Charles
Dickens's "Oliver Twist," which is now
populated with dogs and alley cats. The
voices for this G-rated romp are provided
by such luminaries as Bette Midler, Billy
Joel, Cheech Marin, Dom DeLuise and
Robert Loggia If this is as good as "The
Great Mouse Detective," Disney's last
feature-lengthed cartoon, we're in for a
treat. A Buena Vista release.
Scrooged
by Mitch Glazer and Michael O'Donoghue,
two intimates of the early days of
"Saturday Night Live." A Paramount release
Ernest Saves Christmas
Ernest went to camp in "Ernest Goes
To Camp." and it made for one of the
most preposterous hits of 1987. Now the
nibber-faced goon is presented with an
even bigger challenge: Santa Claus has
decided to step down and pass on his
mantle to a successor, with Ernest being
assigned the task of finding a suitable
candidate. Jim Vamey stars, along with a
no-name cast (what with what Disney
probably spent on "Oliver & Co.," they
have to cut costs somewhere). A Buena
Vista release.
Vengeance: The Demon
Films produced during DEG's doomed
existence are finally floating to the surface,
courtesy of other releasing company.
This thriller — originally titled
"Pumpkinhead" — is about a father's revenge
against the drunken city boys who
caused his son's death. By summoning up
a murderous beast from the mists, the
father gets even. Lance Ilenriksen, the
gaunt character actor who was so good in
"Aliens" and "Near Dark," stars. An
MGM/UA release
A Cry in the Dark
Meryl Streep stars in this drama (formerly
known as both "Evil Angels" and
"Guilty By Suspicion") that is set in Australia.
She plays a woman who is accused
of killing her own baby, but who in.sists
Gleaminjj the Cube
christian Bale, who had a major role in
the little-seen "The Name of the Rose"
and a small role in "Tucker," stars in this
drama about a boy in Southiim California
who single-handedly tries to find the killers
of his Vietnamese half-brother Steven
Bauer, who played the villain in "Running
Scared," co-stars as the cop who tries
to keep an eye on the boy. Graeme Clifford
("Frances") directs. A 20th Century
Fox release.
Land Before Time
Don Bluth, who directed the animated
hit "An American Tail," is responsible for
this prehistoric cartoon that features a
high quotient of dinosaurs (dinosaurrelated
toys, if you haven't noticed, are
currently a hot item with toddlers, making
for obvious marketing opportunities).
The film is "presented by" George Lucas
and Steven Spielberg, meaning that a high
degree of quality should be guaranteed It
will be interesting, however, to see how
this animated feature fares against "Oliver
& Co." A Universal release.
Haunted Summer
Bill Murray returns after a four-and-ahalf
year hiatus to star in this pseudoremake
of Dickens's "A Christmas Carol
He plays the ruthless producer of a televised
production of the holiday classic,
and when he pushes his minions too far,
he finds himself visited by the Ghosts of
Christmas Past, Present and Future ,Ioining
Murray are Karen Allen ("Raiders of
the Lost Ark"), Bob Goldthwait, Michael
I Pollard and Carol Kane, with Richard
Donner ("Lethal Weapon ") directing C;oproducing
with Donner is Art Linson
("The Untouchables"), and the script is
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High Spirits
Steve Guttenberg, who makes either
disasters ("The Man Who Wasn't There,"
"Can't Stop the Music"), or hits ("Cocoon,"
"Three Men and a Baby"), or both
("Pohce Academy"), stars in this fantasycomedy
that is set in an Irish castle. The
story has the owner of the castle (Peter
O'Toole) forcing his employees to pose as
ghosts in a desperate attempt to lure in
American tourists. But the ruse angers the
real spooks in the mansion, one of whom
— played by Daryl Hannah — falls for
Guttenberg. Neil Jordan, who wrote and
directed Bob Hoskins's "Mona Lisa," performs
the same duties here. A Tri-Star
release.
Also in November
"The Link" Set in Africa over one million
years ago, this drama depicts the last
few days in the life of the final ape-man, a
genuine creature who once lived on earth
with our primitive ancestors. David & Carl
Hughes directs. A Universal release.
"The Watchers" Corey Haim, having
survived this summer's "License to
Drive," stars in this thriller about a boy
who stumbles into a top secret lab and
encounters two genetically-altered lifeforms:
a golden retriever with human
intelligence, and a brutally violent creature.
A Universal release.
"Manifesto" Eric Stoltz, who also
appears in "Haunted Summer" this
month, stars in this black comedy about a
secret policeman who comes to an outof-the-way
village to protect a king, and
finds himself entangled with political and
sexual affairs. Also starring are Camilla
Soeberg, Alfred Molina ("Prick Up Your
Ears") and Lindsay Duncan. A Cannon
release (New York only, so far).
"At the Close of the Night" Based on
a true story, this Russian film is about a
Soviet crew who rescues a stranded German
ship during World War II, with neither
side knowing that fascist Germany had
just attacked Russia. The film is directed
by Rodion Nakhapetov. An International
Film Exchange Release.
"We the Living" This film was made in
1942 in fascist Italy, without the knowledge
of Ayn Rand, on whose novel the
film was based. Only recently was the
film rediscovered and, with Rand's participation,
it has been re-edited and restored
for this release. It tells the story of the
love affair between a strong-willed student
and a fugitive from the secret police
in post revolutionary Russia. An Angelika
Films release.
"Sand and Blood" The bizarre relationship
between a toreador and a man
who is obsessed with bullfighting is studied
in this psychological drama. A New
Yorker Films release.
"Soigne Ta Droit (Keep Up Your
Right)" Jean-Luc Godard continues his
meditation on the convergence of life and
cinema, this time using sounds to create
his
message. A Galaxy International release.
"Les Annes Sandwiches" An aging
junk merchant takes in a bitter young boy
in this bittersweet comedy that takes
place in post-war France. Vojtek Pszoniak
and Thomas Langmann star. A Galaxy
International release.
"L'ete en Ponte Douce" Gerard
Krawczyk, who directed "I Hate Actors,"
is responsible for this melodrama that is
set in a small French town and concerns a
bom loser, his promiscuous girlfriend and
his slightly mentally disabled brother. A
Galaxy International release.
"Drowning by Numbers" Peter
Greenaway directs this darkly humorous
story about three generations of women
who dispose of their husbands by drowning
them. A Galaxy release.
"Prime Evil" A 14th century sect of
monks continues to wreak havoc in modem
day New York, thanks to human sacrifice.
William Beckwith, Christine Moore
and Tim Gail star. A Crown release.
KODAK BOX OFFICE BUILDERS: You say your
xenon bulb died before its time and you v^ant to
know why'' Maybe you didn't rotate it resularly or
ventilate the lamphouse And did you keep your
finsers off the bulb'' Find out how to maximize
bulb life and minimize bulb mistakes in
'Cj Editman Kodak Company, 1988
Reel People, an industry periodical from Kodak, For
a free subscription, call (213) 464-6131. You can
also schedule the Kodak seminar, "Its Your Image,"
designed to help you make every perfor-
,
mance a quality ^ *-«»
presentation.
CASllTldf^
Motion Picture Films
Motion Picture and Audiovisual Pfoducts Division
Response No 6
6 BOXOFFICE

Dirty
'
PRODUCTION NOTES
Director Emil Ardolino, who rose to
'
prominence uith Dancing," has
signed a first-look, non-exclusive deal
with Columbia Pictures. Ardolino, who
recently completed "Chances Are" for
Tri-Star, says that the deal would not preclude
him from helming the tentative
"Dirty Dancing 11" for Vestron.
Morgan Creek Prods., which produced
"Young Guns" and the upcoming
"Dead Ringers," has announced an ambitious
three-year, 15-film production slate,
to be financed by a reported $124 million
production budget Films already in production
and set for release between January
and July of 1989 are "Skin Deep," a
Blake Edwards sex comedy starring John
Ritter (a 20th Century Fox release); "Major
League," another baseball comedy
starring Charlie Sheen and Tom Berenger
(a Paramount release); and "Lakota," a
comedy-adventure starring "Young
Guns" co-stars Kiefer Sutherland and Lou
Diamond Phillips (a Universal release).
Maverick producer Da\Hid Wolper, best
known for his TV productions of "Roots
and the 1984 Summer Olympics, has
signed a new seven-year contract with
Warner Bros. Pictures. Future titles
planned by the producer, who made
"Imagine: John Lennon " for Warners, include
"Picasso," a theatrical feature
about the artist, and "Swept Away," a
new version of the Lina Wertmuller film
Oscar-winner Cher has moved her Isis
Prods, to Columbia Pictures. The move,
which comes only seven months after the
singer-actress set up shop at Paramount,
means that Cher will have a first-look
production and development deal with
the studio, and will be working with production
head Dawn Steel, an admitted
Cher fan.
The long-term distribution deal between
Tri-Star Pictures and Hemdale
has reportedly been severely reduced in
scope The original deal, signed in September
of last year, covered three years or
15 Hemdale films, whichever came first
To date, Tri-Star has had no national
releases of Hemdale product, although
there have been some regional breaks
Tri-Star currently plans to release Hemdale's
"Criminal Law" onto 800-900
screens in November, but all other Hemdale
films have been dropped from their
schedule
The deal between Atlantic Entertainment
and home video supplier Prism
Entertainment has also fallen through
As officially announced in May of this
year. Prism was to have provided up to
S60 million in production financing for
Atlantic in exchange for video rights
Reportedly, however, Atlantic unexpectedly
came up with additional financial
requirements, including the stipulation
that Pnsm co-sign a .$2 S million hank
loan to help finance a new Atlantic feature.
The five-member Prism board
balked at the new demand, leading to the
cnimbling of the original deal.
PERSONNEL
William Soady, president of distribution
for Universal Pictures, announced
his resignation in September, having held
that post for the past 15 years. His
replacement is Fred Mound, who was
promoted from the position of senior vice
president and general sales manager to
the position of executive vice president of
distribution
In anticipation ot the October release
of "Halloween 4 The Return of Michael
Myers," Galaxy International Releasing
has made some additions lo its sales
and marketing staff James Goldschlager
leaves his post as director of the Pacific
Northwest region for Columbia Pictures to
become Galaxy's eastern division sales
manager, while Nick Pcrrot comes
aboard as western division sales manager.
Additionally, Anne Amesbury has been
made director of print services.
Luis Benavides has been named vice
president of marketing and distribution
for International Film Marketing. Benavides,
who has held marketing positions
with Cannon Films, 20th Century Fox and
American Cinema Releasing, will supervise
the release of all IFM product
Cineplex Odeon Corporation has announced
the following changes and promotions
within its ranks: Jerald Banks,
currently senior executive vice president,
has also been made president of the distribution
and post production group, and
will supervise all day-to-day activities of
c;ineplex Odeon Films, the Film House
Group, and Cineplex Odeon Television
Joel B. Michaels, formerly senior vice
president of Cineplex Odeon Films, U.S.,
has been promoted to president of that
division, overseeing the day-to-day activities
of the US film distribution division.
Bahman Farmanara has been named
executive vice president in charge of
acquisitions and world-wide marketing.
ACQUISITIONS
Cinec;om Entcrtainrnj-nt: "Salaam
Bombay," winner of the Camera d'Or
award (best first feature I
at this year's
c;annes Film Festival Filmed entirely in
the back alleys of Bombay and featuring a
cast of local street children, it tells .i survival
story about the downtrodden
youths
New Line Cinema: "Tougher Than
Leather," a fi< tioii.il .k ( mini of the rise
to prominence bv the r.ip group Run
DMC The film, which stars the (no, is
scheduled to open with up to 1 50 print.s on
Sept 16. with a second wave scheduled
for Oct 7
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COVER STORY
U3:
The
Movie
The band; Larry Mullen, Jr., Adam Clayton, The Edge and Bono.
DURING
By Tom Matthews
Managing Editor
THEIR LAST world tour, the
Irish rock group U2 began a ritual
which eventually became one of
the most emotional moments in their
perpetually sold-out shows. Bono, the
band's mercurial frontman, would select
an audience member at random,
bring him up on stage, and strap a guitar
on him. Having been quickly taught the
simple chord progression of a song
(usually Bob Dylan's "Knocking on
Heaven's Door"), the awestruck fan
would suddenly find himself standing
shoulder-to-shoulder with arguably the
world's greatest band, playing his heart
out. The intent, one gathered, was to
break down the wall between the audience
and the band, and to make the
point that rock and roll, in its purest
form, is something that anyone can
play.
The band's music, which is an acclaimed
blend of strident, socially-conscious
lyrics, and fierce, genuinely
unique rock and roll, provides one of the
most stirring concert experiences ever
(their 1987 U.S. tour grossed $35.1 million,
the highest of any tour that year).
So when the decision was made for U2
to make "U2 Rattle and Hum," a feature-lengthed
concert documentary
about themselves and their music, the
band, in a sense, selected someone out
of the audience to direct it.
After having heard proposals from
several major filmmakers, and on the
night before they were scheduled to
return to their native Dublin, Ireland,
the band agreed to meet with 26-yearold
PhO Joanou, who had paid his own
way from Los Angeles to Hartford,
Conn, to make his pitch. An up-andcoming
filmmaker and a fierce U2 fan,
he was determined to get his name
included for consideration.
"A friend of mine in the music industry
called Paul McGuinness, the band's
manager, to set up the meeting, and the
next morning I flew to Hartford. I didn't
get there until about quarter to eight
that night, I went straight from the airport
to the arena where they were playing,
and then afterward I went backstage
to meet them," Joanou recalls.
"We really hit it off. The first question
they asked me was 'What kind of movie
would you make if you were to make a
movie with U2?.' And I said, 'What kind
of movie do you want to make?'
"That really kicked things off. Their
eyes lit up because they realized that I
was interested in making a movie with
them, and not for them. We ended up
talking until about 5;30 that morning,
and then I left on a 6:30 flight back to
L.A. Two days later, they asked me to
come to Dublin to talk some more. I was
supposed to be in Ireland for just the
weekend, but I stayed for five days, and
we ended up coming up with the concept
for the film."
Before one gets the impression that
Phil Joanou is one of the luckiest and
most persuasive young men in the
world, it should be pointed out that he is
not just any ambitious young filmmaker.
At 26, in fact, he is thought to be one
Hollywood's hottest properties. Handplucked
by Steven Spielberg from DSC's
prestigious film school, Joanou was
hired in 1987 to direct two acclaimed
episodes of Spielberg's disappointing
"Amazing Stories" series, and then was
assigned to direct the feature "Three
O'clock High" for Universal. Like Spielberg
himself, the Hollj-wood press paid
special attention to Joanou's youthfulness,
presenting him as the next boy
genius in the movie industry.
And yet, as the filmmaker freely
admits, there was nothing in his background
that qualified him to be the
director of a documentary concert film.
Sitting in his office at Amblin' Entertainment,
the state-of-the-art filmmaking
compound that Universal Studios
custom built for Spielberg and his colleagues,
the enthusiastic and personable
movie-maker cheerfully concedes that
he had never had any hands-on experience
with the job he was seeking.
"I had never made a documentary, I
had never made a music video, and I
had never made a concert film," he
says. "And I think U2 liked that. I think
they loved the idea that I was coming
into the project fresh and excited, unlike
a more experienced director who
might say, 'Hey, don't worry about it.
Back when I made my documentary on
Nicaragua, we did this, this and this. So
that's what we'll do here.'
"I had such enthusiasm and such a
sense of adventure that I just dived right
in."
But with more than sheer eagerness,
.loanou was able to speak as a dedicated
tan and convince the band that he
understood the music. U2, a group of
musicians who are far more serious
about their craft than the average rock
and roll band, seemed to be more concerned
about having their work represent(;d
accurately than they were in the
t(u;lmical experience of their director.
8 BOXOFFICE

As Bono says in the film's press notes:
"We weren't necessarily looking for an
award-winning filmmaker or a darling
of the alternative film circles. But we
were looking for someone with soul who
could glean what we and our music are
about."
"! told them about the look that I
wanted: the color, the intensity, the
shifts, the tones, the moods," Joanou
says, recalling that long night in Hartford.
"I talked about specific songs and
how I would light and shoot those songs,
so that they would look like something
that has never been done before. After
about six hours of talking their cars off,
they seemed to say, 'Wow, he understands
dnematically the mood and the
tone of the songs when we wrote and
recorded them.'"
Eighteen months after getting the job,
the director remains astonished that
they put their tnist in him "They took
an incredible risk," Joanou says. "They
wouldn't see the finished film until seven
months after I had finished shooting;
how did they know it was wasn't going
to be a disaster? I don't know, but they
just had faith in me and they believed
what I had to say."
The band may have accepted Joanou
into their ranks, but they were not
always comfortable with his ever-present
cameras. The concert shoots,
which caught the group in its natural
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T
cATRE PROFILE
Hooray for HoUyn^ood
Pacific Theatres pays tribute to the movie capital fvith
a colorful and elaborately rebuilt theatre.
JOE
By Tom Matthews
Managing Editor
MusiL WORKS on the Imagineering
staff of the Walt Disney Company,
where he usually designs rides
and attractions for the company's
theme parks. But as a kid growing up in
Southern California, he earned his living
in the now-extinct Rivoli and Fox West
Coast theatres in Long Beach. These
majestic movie houses, which helped to
define Hollj'wood's theatrical presence
on the West Coast, made a lasting
impression on the young man.
Years later, when he was approached
by Pacific Theatres in Los Angeles and
offered the opportunity to completely
redesign the Crest Theatre in the highrent
Westwood district, his immediate
idea was to pay homage to those movie
houses of long ago. But when he first
toured the Crest — then known as the
Metro — Musil knew that he had been
presented with quite a challenge.
"The theatre looked like a porno
house; it was so plain," he says, recalling
his first impressions when he began
working on the theatre in September of
last 3'ear. "There was literally no architecture;
it was just a plain box with a
marquee. There was about three watts
of neon on the marquee, and the name
didn't even light up — it
was just plastic
letters.
"The entire lobby was painted gray,
and on the two side walls there were
two 15 watt florescent lights to illuminate
it. The auditorium was draped in
had a very small
gray and green, and it
movie screen. It was the biggest, most
monotonous place I had ever seen.
"So here was a chance to take this
theatre, which was really a clean slate,
and create a whole new theatre, from
the back wall to the front wall to the top
of the marquee."
For Pacific, the decision to completely
redo the 49-year-old theatre demonstrated
the West Coast chain's desire to
upgrade its standing in upscale Westwood.
The Crest is the circuit's only
theatre in that prosperous movie hub,
and according to executive vice president
and general manager Art Gordon,
the importance of this neighborhood —
both in terms of commerce and status
— made it necessary to do something
extra special.
"Most people who build theatres
these days tend to make stereotypical
theatres. We have felt for a long time
that theatres should be more than that,"
Gordon says. "My own feeling is that a
theatre should reflect the movie industry,
or an era, or the neighborhood in
which the theatre is situated. I think
that we are very fortunate because with
the Crest, I think we've captured all
three."
The redesign, which involved several
creative specialists all working imder
Musil's overall command, was accomplished
in two phases. During the first
phase, which ran from September to
late November of 1987, Musil completely
redid the front of the theatre. Striving
for an art deco look, he crafted a plaster
facade which has the rich, permanent
look of concrete. He designed an art
deco tower which rises above the sidewalk,
and beneath that he installed a
remarkable^ eye-popping marquee of
green and orange neon. Perhaps a tad
gaudy to architectural snobs, the illuminated
display of twdnkling, zig-zagged
lights stands out like a beacon in the
trendy neighborhood. This being Los
Angeles, it is perfect.
"It was a thrill to be able to design my
own marquee. I could revive those
magic elements of neon and architecture
that 1 remember from th(^ theatres
of my past," Musil says fondly. "Those
10 BOXOFFICE

theatres had tliat tla^h and tliat tlaic.
and that's what I was remenihering |as I
designed the marquee |."
During the first phase of construction,
Musil also oversaw the installation
of a 40 by 20 foot screen and the THX
sound wall (the Crest became the first
in the Pacific chain to offer the revolutionan,'
sound technology,') He, together
with his Disney colleagues, did a temporary
redesign of the lobby, and they
decorated it with Christmas-tinged decorations.
Then Musil and his crew
moved out, while the theatre played
host to the holiday hit "Three Men and
a Baby." As a promise of the surprises
yet to come, Musil designed a 25-foot
cutout of the three male leads and their
infant charge, and he installed it above
the new marquee.
By April, Musil was able to close douTi
the theatre again and finish the job. He
redid the lobby in shades of gold and
deep magenta, and then he had Bill
Anderson, a highly regarded Disney artist,
paint life-sized cutouts based on
Coca-Cola ads from the '30s (one is of a
classic soda jerk, the other is of an
Astaire and Rogers-like dancing duo).
On either side of the lobby, display
cases hold custom-made, animated
standees that promote films playing at
other Pacific Theatres.
The biggest challenge, however, was
the redesign of the auditorium itself His
i; I () use the. side and rear walls as
.1 II IN on which Anderson would
paint a J70-degrce panoramic view of
Hollywood and the surrounding area,
circa 19.39 This is the year often cited as
the finest in the industry's history —
"Gone With the Wind," "The Wizard of
Oz" and "Gunga Din" were just three of
the legendary movies released during
that 12 month period — and it also
offered the kind of architecture that
Musil wanted to celebrate.
Incredibly detailed, the 250-foot
painting offers the Crest audience views
of legendary Hollywood landmarks —
like the Brown Derby, the Hollywood
Roosevelt and Giro's — as well as movie
palaces of the day, complete with full
marquees (the Warner Hollywood advertises
"Wuthering Heights," together
with the live acts that were common in
that day).
Using remarkably intense florescent
paints which glow brilliantly under
black lights, Anderson highlights the
whole cityscape. with simulated neon
lighting, while twinkling lights in the
ceiling simulate stars. Art deco plasterwork
in shades of white and gold, which
was created by Dusty Dillion and his
Whatever Works company in Berkeley,
Calif, frames the mural and the stage.
( Dillion was also instmmental in the
refurbishment of San Francisco's Alhambra
Theatre, featured in the October
issue of BoxoFFiCE.)
The end result is a fond and breathtaking
recreation of classic Hollywood,
which is almost worth the price of
admission alone.
"The important thing is that I was
able to not just decorati; a space," Joe
Musil says. "That's what most people do
today. They hire decorators and designers
and they do very nice work, but they
just decorate They don't create an attnosphere
through the decorations that
lit(!rally sets the mood or excites the
mood for the patron. Other theatres
don't pleasantly disorient the patron so
that he can forget about everything else
that is bothering him and really get into
enjoying the film"
To cap off the auditorium, Musil and
Anderson created elaborate double
stage curtains for the screen. The first
depicts the coast of California and the
Pacific ocean, as a salute to Pacific
Theatres. At show time — after the
audience has been able to listen to the
collection of Gershwin overtures which
Musil himself selected — the house
lights dim, and a single shooting star
sails across the "sky" thanks to a trick
that Disney first used in its "Captain
Eo" theatres. Then, the first curtain
rises majestically to reveal a second curtain,
this one decorated with art deco
flowers and leaves. The black lights
remain on during the trailers — allowing
the florescent paints to glow even
more brightly — and then the feature
starts. If the audience hasn't been impressed
bv this point, thev never will
be.
The second phase of reconstruction
took two months, and the Crest was
reopened in June, in time for the summer
rush. Throughout, Musil says Pacific's
commitment was absolute.
"They put in new air conditioning,
new heating, new gas lines. They gutted
the lobby and the restrooms, and they
put in all new plumbing," he says.
"They redid the projection booth, so
now it's set up as a 35 70mm platter
system They put in the right lenses, the
right lamphouses, the THX and Dolby
sound systems. It's a class job; nothing
was glossed over."
{Siting the fact that Pacific is a publicly-held
company, Art Gordon declines
to r(-v(Ml the cost of the reconstniction
Bui h

THEATRE PROFILE
Pacific Theatres and
The Temple of Dome
Hollywood's newest theatre celebrates 25 years.
To
By Jim Kozak
Associate Editor
CALL IT a Hollywood landmark is
to drive home the obvious. Cast
among the boxey banks and stucco
storefronts dotting the intersection ot
Sunset and Vine, it is instantly recognizable
for miles around, and for good reason:
Pacific's Cinerama Theatre, or the
Dome, as it is known to those of us who
live in its tenifying shadow, resembles
nothing so much as a
700-ton impressionist
golfball half-buri(!d in the hot
black tar that serves as its parking lot.
It is even now difficult tint to look at.
The building, let's face it, is very much a
product of its era. By now its design is
almost retro-futuristic, like something
out of an alternate- universe Tomorrowland,
or a 1956 film set in the year
1992.
Even in ]963, the project niusi h,i\'(!
sounded slightly p(u:uliar: Pacific
Theatres founder Jerome Foreman decided
not only to build a facility specifically
designed to scnum films using the
then-revolutionaiy wide-screen Cinerama
process, he wanted to house it in the
first geodesic dome built entirely of concrete
(to insure the venue's acoustic
integrity). That's right: hundreds of hexagonal
2.5-ton slabs of concrete, some as
large as 12 feet in UMigth, stispended
over the heads of a paying audience. In
the heart of eaithquake-prone Los An-
1 2 BOXOFFICE

and
geles, no less.
"They had buih geodesies before, but
never out of concrete," notes Mih Moritz,
Pacific's vice president of sales and
public relations. "But it's not dangerous;
it's probably the safest building you'll
find, because all those concrete blocks
are interlocked with each other. The
whole thing was scaffolded until the
builders put in that last blot;k, .ind th

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video Cassettes!
Jack Clark, who ou-ns the Old Post
Office Theatre in Pullman, Wash
,
is getting
customers coming and going Clark's
second-mn house only has 236 seats, and,
says he, "I sell out quite often, so the
tum-aways wind up renting videos at my
video store next door."
While many less hale exhibitors once
greeted video with only the blighted
loathing one normally reserves for tiny
vermin, Clark embraced the VHS trade
with both arms "The thing that I've
found that I really appreciate," says
Clark, "is the fact that there's a lot more
film available now because of the video
market Video makes it easier for a filmmaker
to make money, and our lifeblood
is the constant flow of films coming
through There's enough product out
there that the independent exhibitors can
survive Everybody thought that video
meant doom, but I think video is the most
positive change I've seen since I got into
exhibition We do about equal business in
the theatre and in the video store.
Same; Only Bigger...
"We tested and (hen lommittcd ourselves
to putting in larger sizes in both
popcorn and soft drink," says Tom Moyer
Luxury concession director Robert Perkins
"We're running a 170-ounce popcorn
and a 44-ounce Coke now What seems to
be really interesting is that the convenience
store seems to have educated
people toward the larger sizes; thev merchandize
and promote them quite a bit.
Every lime you go into a convenience
store, you'll see that more and more
people are buying the 32-
and 44-ounce
drinks The public's been pre-sold We
went to the larger sizes, but we also valuepriced
them, and it's worked out really
well " (ciintmur.d p 16)
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MERCHANDIZING (continued)
Big; Big Candy!
Cookies!
"We've also experimented with cookies,"
says Dickinson's Manichia. "Sales
were pretty mediocre."
"Well, the 'Bambi' cookies sold really
well for us," counters Luxur\''s Perkins.
"The other thing we do particularly
well with is large candy items," notes
Manichia. "People, as I say, think theatres
overprice their food items. If they see a
candy item of a size they can get in a
convenience store, they will not buy it in
a theatre. But, if you offer that same exact
item in a four-ounce bar instead of a oneounce
bar, it sells, because they don't see
that in a convenience store.
"It astounds me. Small candy bars will
absolutely die on my shelf, but when I
bring in a four-ounce bar and mark it up
three times what the one-ounce was, I
• can sell a million of them. It's just been
proven time and time and time again. Our
cost nms about 50 to 70 cents, and we can
sell them for $1.25 each."
Coke
That's right, Coca-Cola! A few years
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circuit was so proud that its theatres were
switching from Coke to Pepsi that they
took out full page newspaper ads proclaiming
the change. But only a few
months ago, Santikos began serving Coke
again. Why the flip-flop?
"The decision was made based on
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Santikos director of purchasing Joanne
Mayfield. "It wasn't any one thing that
made the decision, it was a combination."
"I was involved in it as far as purchasing,"
adds Mayfield, "but the promotions
department was involved, our operations
department was involved, [chain president]
Scott Wallace was involved, so it
was a group decision."
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Combos!
"You know what sells?" asks an excited
Ted Manichia, Dickinson Theatres's director
of concession operations and fouryear
veteran of the concession wars "A
discounted soft drink popcorn combo.
People perceive, and quite correctly, that
our industry is overpriced in the tood
area. So when they see on counter cards
and menu boards that we offer a drink
popcorn combination at a considerable
discount, they go for it, because price is
the number-one resistance point from
their vantage point. So we discount a large
popcorn and large drink by something
like 60 cents. I think the regular price is
34.25, and we sell the combo at S3. 65, and
we sell lots of it The discount — that's
the key " Yuppie Food!
At the leviathan Cineplex Odeon 18-
plex in Universal City, Calif, cappuccino
and espresso are outselling even regular
coffee in the venue's special cafes. The
other big seller, according to assistant
manager in charge of concessions Silvia
Estrada, are the various cheesecakes that
sit among the chocolates and croissants
on the pastry shelves. Angelika Corp.'s
under-constniction Cable Building sixplex
in Manhattan is planning a similar
menu

MARKETING
The Popcorn Report
The spirit of the neivsreels of old is revived
by an entertaining collection of sponsored shorts.
ASK
By Tom Matthews
Managing Editor
ANY OLDER moviegoer what
they remember most fondly
about attending the movies in the
deacdes before TV and they just might
say it was watching the newsreels that
used to accompany most every feature
film Those globe-trotting compOations
of major news stories, which were always
introduced by authoritative, thunder-voiced
announcers, were staples of
a night at the theatre. They were also a
very informative headline service for
audiences as yet unaccustomed to the
kind of live, round-the-clock news
sources that we now take for granted on
cable television.
The newsreel is long gone, along with
serials and dish night, but a kind of '80s
equivalent is now available. West Glen
Communications, a New York-based
company which produces and distributes
video news releases and public service
announcements to cable television,
has come up with The Popcorn Report,
a kind of newsreel which brings together
four sponsored, news-oriented
shorts into a package assembled exclusively
for theatres. Running about nine
minutes. The Popcorn Report is offered
free of charge to exhibitors by West
Glen and, so far, it has been a success in
the markets in which the first of the
series was booked.
For those who may have missed them
on TV, video news releases are photographed
and edited as if they were the
human interest stories we see on local
TV newscasts. The reports are, in fact,
sponsored by an advertiser which —
usually quite discretely — wants to promote
itself Rather than being blatant
sales pitches as seen on commercial
television, they are instead public relations
or goodwill pieces which offer the
viewer entertainment or infomiation,
while gently introducing the name of
the company responsible for the material.
The first Popcorn Report, for example,
featured four segments: one about a
balloon artist who creates massive balloon
sculptures, which was sponsored
18 BOXOFUCE
by Best Foods; one about the growing
fad of see-through, plastic electronics
gadgets, one of which happened to be a
Polaroid camera; one about a huge Texas
chili cook-off, which was produced
by the makers of Galvescon antacid;
and the fourth was about the making of
those carpet commercials starring Don
Rickles, which are sponsored by Allied
Fibers. Each short is leisurely paced and
rather light in content, but they are also
very conscientious about not hyping the
product to the distraction of the ticketbuyer.
According to Sy Perry, president
of distribution for West Glen, this is a
top priority when deciding which segments
are included on the reel.
"[The sponsors] come to us and we
look at what they have, but we cannot
make The Popcorn Report too commercial,"
he says. "We are not going to
become a television distributor, because
then the theatres would hate us."
The Popcorn Report, which is shot on
video and then transferred to 35mm
film, starts with scenes of activity at a
classic movie palace. Then the voice of
Jackson Beck, a veteran radio announcer
from the '40s, welcomes the viewer
and introduces each of the four segments.
Links and original music tie the
pieces together, making for a cohesive
package which, the company claims,
both exhibitors and audiences are responding
favorably to. West Glen even
goes so far as to boast that the short has
boosted concession sales, perhaps because
of the images of fresh popped
popcorn which lead off each short.
The first Popcorn Report was sent out
in February, and went on to play in 132
movie theatres to an estimated audience
of 1.2 million (the company
made 50 prints and kept them moving
among their subscribers). By the time
the first edition of the short had nm its
course, it had achieved 543 bookings in
cities such as New York, San Francisco,
Chicago and Baltimore, beating West
Glen's initial goal of .500, The threemonth
nm saw the film playing in 17
states, with the Guild Theatre in New
York, for example, playing it for a continuous
17 weeks.
As stated. The Popcorn Report is distributed
free of charge to theatres. West
Glen gets its revenue from the sponsors,
who are charged $25.00 per week for a
guaranteed .500 theatre weeks, or a total J
of S12,500. The comp.my hopes to put 1
out a new edition every two to three
months, with a third Popcorn Report
having gone out to theatres in August.

And
($19
"
"
The Biggest Summer Ever
Four Hit Comedies Pace Season Boxoffice
The summer season wrapped up with over
$17 billion in movie ticket sales this year, surpassing
the 1987 seasonal record ot $1.59
billion and making this summer the most successful
in history In addition, national boxoffice
receipts lor the mid-summer five-week
period )uly 6-Aug 10 set a new record in
1988, taking in some $602 million, the highest
amount accrued in any five-week period in
exhibition history
was a summer propelled by comedy and
It
surprising developments A feature populated
mostly with cartoon characters, for
instance, emerged as the year's top film (see
Summer's $100 million club
Running out of gas: Orion's "Bull Durham
($48 4 million), Warners "The Dead Pool"
($37 8 million), Buena Vistas "Bambi" ($37 2
million), and MGM/UA's "Willow" ($55.5 million).
Out for the count by mid-September; Tri-
Star's "Short Circuit 2" ($20 3 million), Warner's
"Caddyshack 11" ($1 12 million) and "Arthur
2 ($14 9 million), Paramount's "Big Top
Pee-wee" ($15 million), Orion's "Monkey
Shines" ($5,2 million), Columbia's "Vibes'
($14 million). Fox's "License to Drive" ($20 1
million), and Universal's "The Great Outdoors"
($38 2 million)
AMC To Sell 605 Screens
To TPI Enterprises
American Multi-Cinema announced in late
August that It was selling a whopping 605 of
Its 1,549 US screens to TPI Enterprises, a
New York-based concern that owns and
operates restaurant chains TPI reportedly
paid some $200 million dollars to debt-ridden
AMC for the 605 screens, which operate in
17 states and the District of Columbia The
sale drops AMC, once the nation's largest
exhibitor, from second to fourth place among
US exhibition chains, and has TPI debuting as
the nation's seventh largest exhibitor
The sale will not constitute the cleanest of
breaks
AMC, which already owns a 20 4 percent
interest in TPI, will continue to manage
and book the screens for TPI, and AMC will
have the right of first refusal should TPI
decide to sell any of its new theatres The
purchase is currently subject to execution of
definitive agreements
Verdict On Warner G + W
Exhibition Partnership Nears
Warner Communications and Gulf -t- Western
may be close to getting justice Dept
approval for its proposed joint Cinamerica
chain Fred Haynes, assistant chief of the
motion picture antitrust division of the justice
Dept , said Aug 8 that his new brief on the
proposed 470-screen chain (to be composed
of Gulf -(-Western's current Mann and Trans-
Lux circuits) should be filed with judge
Edward Palmieri in US District Court, New
York, by Sept. 1 The filing, which Haynes
says does not object to the merger, would
clear the way for the court's decision on the
new chain
'I
chart) After 20 years with a rabidly devoted
cult following, English comedian )ohn Cleese,
with "A Fish Called Wanda," emerged as a
major American boxoffice draw World-class
TV wiseacre Bruce Willis took on Rambo, Dirty
Harry and Arnold Schwarzenegger and
beat them silly as the year's top action hero in
"
"Die Hard all of August's continued
strong performers featured a liberal dose of
humor, including "Cocktail," "Big, and
"
"Coming to America
Meanwhile, the month's strongest openers
included New Line's "Nightmare on Elm
Street 4" ($41 3 million in 31 days). Fox's
"Young Guns " ($34 7 million in 38), MGM/
"
UAs "Betrayed 6 million in 24), and, in
limited release, Universal's "The Last Temptation
of Christ" ($5.4 million in 38 at about 100
screens).
Strong openers with weak legs Warner's
"Clean & Sober " ($8 6 million in 24), Paramount's
"Tucker" ($16 9 million in 38), and
Tri-Star's "The Blob " ($7 9 million in 3 1)
Weak openers included Warner's "Stealing
Home" ($7 3 million in 24) and "Hot to Trot "
($6 3 million in 24), Orion's "Married to the
"
Mob ($ 16 2 million in 3 1) and Mac and Me"
($6 1 million). Cannons "Hero and the Terror"
($4 9 million in 17), Columbia's "The Big
Blue " ($2 8 million in 10) and Buena Vista's
"
"The Rescue ($5 5 million in 52)
The top 25 films of 1988 (figures in millions,
as of Sept 18)
1 Who Framed Roger Rabbit (BV) $ 1 35.9
2 Good Morning, Vietnam' (BV) 123.5
3. Coming to America (Par) 1207
4 "Crocodile Dundee " II (Par) 108
5 Big (Fox) 1012
6 Three Men and a Baby* (BV) 96.9
7 Moonstruck* (MGM/UA) 79.3
8 Beetleiuice (WB) 73
9 Die Hard (Fox) 65 3
10 Cocktail (BV) 63
11, Willow (MGM/UA) 55.5
12 Rambo III (Tri) 53,5
13 Bull Durham (On) 48 4
14 Colors (On) 46 1
15 A Fish Called Wanda (MGM/UA) 45 1
16 Biloxi Blues (Uni) 42 3
17 Nightmare on Elm St 4 (NL) 413
18 Broadcast News* (Fox) 40 2
19 The Last Emperor* (Col) 39.4
20 Big Business (BV) 39.1
21 The Great Outdoors (Uni) 38.2
22 The Dead Pool (WB) 37 8
23 Bamt>i(BV) 37 2
24 Midnight Run (Uni) 36 3
25 Red Heat (Tn) 34 9
•Released in 1987 Figures .ipiKoxim.ilc earnings
in 1^*88 only
Cineplex To Sell Off 152
Canadian Screens
Toronto-based Cineplex Odeon, the second-largest
exhibition chain in North America,
disclosed Aug 1 1 that it would be selling off
57 of its Canadian theatres, representing 152
screens, to affiliates and clients of Carena
Bancorp Inc of Toronto for about $42 5 million
Cineplex's current booking reach of
1,750 screens will not be diminished as the
chain will continue to manage and operate
the Bancorp screens Similar deals are said to
be under consideration for small-market Cineplex
screens in the U S Cineplex chairman
Garth Drabinsky says the chain s plan is to
maximize its effectiveness in the lop 20
markets in North America
NA's Countersuit Against
Kerasotes Reinstated
In the l.ilfsi I h.iptcr in a long-running series
of litigatory pttorls over lilm lM)oking in Flint,
Mich , the Sixth Circuit Court ol Appeals in
New York reinslatetl National •\muspmpnls
counterclaim against korasotes Theatres Aug
24, reversing a Michigan Federal Court ruling
Each side charges itie other ol using its pxhit>ition
clout in other markets to obtain prcKJuct
for their Flint venues
No»»mbrr. I

)
and
)
"
mt
NATIONAL NEWS
Loews Grows To 800
Screens; Now #5 in U.S.
Loews Theatre Management, which began
the year with 310 screens nationwide, announced
in September that it had completed
two new acquisitions that would give the
chain a total of approximately 800 U.S.
screens, a figure that has Loews replacing the
Columbus, Ca -based Carmike circuit as the
fifth largest in the nation. Loews, the exhibition
arm of Columbia Pictures Entertainment,
said that it had acquired both the 70-screen
Chicago-based M&R circuit and the 66-
screen Baltimore-based |F circuit.
In lanuary, Loews announced it had acquired
the 317-screen Boston-based USA circuit,
a move that jumped the circuit from
12th to sixth place nationwide. In August, the
chain said it would be acquiring 48 screens
from the Washington, DC -based Roth
Theatres circuit.
Loews parent CPE also announced in August
that it would be entering a partnership
with the 64-screen Grand Rapids-based Loeks
chain to oversee 16 existing screens in the
Detroit area. Loeks-Star Partners, the new
joint entity, also plans construction of additional
theatres in the area to create a 42-
screen circuit.
New Circuit To Meld
Landmark and 7 Gables
Heritage Entertainment, a Los Angelesbased
film and television distribution company,
revealed Sept. 8 that it had signed letters
of intent to buy both the 39-screen Los
Angeles-based Landmark circuit and the 34-
screen Seattle-based Seven Cables circuit.
Should the deal close. Landmark management
would take over operation of the Seven
Gables circuit. Heritage also plans to expand
the new 73-screen Landmark/Seven Cables
circuit to over 100 screens by 1990.
DEG Files For Bankruptcy;
Parretti May Acquire
Crippled by a slate of bad pictures and bad
investments, the De Laurentiis Entertainment
Group declared bankruptcy under Chapter
11 federal bankruptcy laws Aug. 16. The
move comes after several unsuccessful attempts
at debt restructuring. Giancarlo Parretti,
the new owner of the Cannon Group,
confirmed in September that he is among
those interested in a possible post-bankruptcy
takeover of DEG.
New Century Becomes
Post-Merger New Visions
New Century Entertainment, parent company
of Taylor Hackford's New Visions Pictures,
changed its name to New Visions Entertainment
Aug. 8, a move to emphasize the
importance of the New Century/fvlew Visions
merger consummated earlier this year. The
same date saw Toronto-based Cineplex Odeon
Corp. close a $50 million deal with New
Century to finance 25 New Visions pictures
over a period of five years.
Oscar Night Moves To
Wednesday In 1989
Due to the chronological proximity of Easter
Sunday and a NABET strike deadline, the
61st Academy Awards ceremony will be held
on a Wednesday, Mar 29, 1989, marking the
first time in 13 years that the event will not be
held on a Monday Easter Sunday falls on
Mar, 26 of next year, making rehearsal scheduling
difficult for a Mar. 27 showdate. The
National Association of Broadcast Employees
and Technicians' contract runs out on Apr. 1,
and Academy organizers proved reluctant to
schedule the show during a possible strike.
Nominations for the event will be announced
Feb. 15, followed by the annual nominee luncheon
on Mar. 21.
"Temptation" Proves Big
Earner Despite Protests
An estimated 25,000 Christian protesters
picked MCA Headquarters in Universal City,
Calif., Aug. 11, but that didn't stop Universal's
"The Last Temptation of Christ" from opening
to record-breaking business across the
country Aug 12 Riding the support of the
Directors and Writers guilds ancj Motion Picture
Association of America head jack Valente,
Martin Scorsese's $10 million epic was
rushed into release over a month ahead of
schedule at nine Cineplex Odeon venues to
garner generally positive reviews and over
$400,000 in its first three days. Universal
announced soon after that the film's unusually
strong performance had convinced
them to put it into wide release.
Christian evangelists, the U.S. Catholic
Conference and even the Dallas city council
the premiere that they would exhibit it.
have denounced the film. While third-ranked
exhibition chain General Cinema announced
earlier that it would not exhibit the controversial
film, first-ranked United Artists Communications,
second-ranked American Multi-Cinema,
fifth-ranked Loews Theatre Management
Corp. and ninth-ranked National Amusements
(in addition to, of course, fourthranked
Cineplex) all announced soon after
Overseas,
the Italian courts okayed the film's
scheduled screening Sept 7 at the Venice
Film Festival (it is the subject of a lawsuit
there), and "Temptation" was passed uncut
and cleared of blasphemy by the British Board
of Film Classification in time for its scheduled
Sept. 9 London premiere.
BV Summer's Top Dog;
Fox Jumps To Third Place
Paramount scored enormous early- and
mid-summer hits with "Crocodile Dundee H"
and "Coming to America," respectively, but
stumbled in late summer with "Big-Top Peewee"
and "Tucker," leaving Buena Vista to
take the summer boxoffice lead with such
mid- to late-summer hits as "Who Framed
Roger Rabbit," "Cocktail," "Big Business,"
and "Bambi." Fox, with the high-performance
trio of "Big," "Die Hard," and "Young Guns,"
jumped ahead of both Warners and MCM/
UA to finish third for both the summer and
first eight months of 1988. The pecking order
otherwise changed little in this, the market
share chart for those first eight months:
1. Buena Vista ( -I-
22.1%
2. Paramount (-) 14.7%
3. 20th Century Fox (-(-) 11.3%
4. Warner Bros. (-) 10.9%
5. MGM/UA(-f) 9.6%
6. Tri-Star(-) 7.9%
7. Universal (-) 7.5%
8. Orion(-) 7.1%
9. Columbia (-) 3.3%
10. New Line ( -I-
1.8%
(
-
) indicates a decreasing share;
(-I-) indicates an increasing share.
New World Gets
$198.5 Million Boost
New World Entertainment announced
Aug. 11 that it had closed its $198,5 million
debt-exchange offer, a move that will lift a
huge fiscal burden from the financially troubled
firm. Had the offer fail to close. New
World would have been required to pay out
over $15 million in interest on old notes Sept.
15
The relief comes after a troubled year for
NWE. which was trying to ease the burden of
Its $31.4 million annual "|unk bond" interest
payment as rumors about the company's solvency
were flying In late April the firm
agreed to sell for $5 million the Lions Gate
post-production facility it purchased for $3.25
million in 1986 The "Company insiders" told
The Hollywood Reporter June 2 that about 40
employees had been let go in a second wave
of layoffs. New World executives acknowledged
a wave of lay-offs, but would not say
how many had lost their jobs. Among those
dismissed: Steve White, president of New
World's motion picture production arm.
Some 70 other New World staffers had
already been pink-slipped in late March Less
than twenty months after purchasing the
Marvel Entertainment Group, NWE announced
in early July that the publishing
licensing merchandising television entity was
for sale, NWE reported sharp losses for both
its second quarter ($29 million) and first half
($24,7 million) ,Aug, 15, NWEs motion picture
arm, New World Pictures, has meanwhile
been releasing a steady slate of poor theatrical
performers since the start of the year,
"
including "The Telephone, "Sister, Sister,"
"Apprentice to Murder," " 18 Again," "Dead
"
Heat, " "Freeway "The Wrong Guys
20 Boxoffice

and
EASTERN NEWS
New York City
Manhatlan s Embassy 72nd Street twin has
been scheduled for Fall demolition, along
with the two-story building that houses it The
venue's operator. Guild Enterprises, says it
will not build another theatre on the site due
to high construction costs and strict
regulations
governing new theatres
Pacific Theatres' Manhattan-based subsidiary
City Cinemas is now booking the borough's
Sutton and Murray Hill theatres, taking
the chore over from Cineplex Odeon The
switchover occurred Aug 16 Californiabased
Sutton-Hill Associates (headed by Pacific
executives) owns the two East Side
venues.
Warner Communications and the New
York City Parks and Recreation Department
sponsored the Gotham debut of the Floating
Cinema, which brought free screenings of
nine pictures to six waterfront sites in Manhattan,
Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx
New York filmmaker )ohn Rubin's barge, with
its 30-ft diagonal screen, has been showing
films in the nation's harbors for eight years
Boston
The fourth annual Boston Film Festival,
which ran Sept 15-22 at the Copley Place,
included early screenings of Gary Sinise's
"
"Miles From Home (starring Richard Gere),
Nicolas Roegs "Track 29" (Theresa Russell),
"
loan Micklin Silver's Crossing Delancy (Amy
Irving), Susan Makavejic's 'Manifesto " (Eric
Sloltz), Ken Russel's last of the White
Worm," Errol Morris's "The Thin Blue Line,"
David Cronenberg's "Dead Ringers (Jeremy
"
Irons) and Dean Parisofs "Appointments Of
Dennis Jennings" (comedian Stephen Wright)
"
Sam Shepard's "Far North opened the festival
with a special benefit screening
The number of adult film houses in Boston's
notorious "combat zone" has been
reduced from six to one by, in part. Mayor
Ray Flynn's administration's efforts to clean
up the area According to Diane Modica,
commissioner of consumer affairs and licensing
for the city, pressures for pornographers
to move out of the area come from three
sources; the city; real estate developers who
want porno shop property convenient to
downtown neighborhoods; and porno shop
owners who realize they can make more
money by selling their property than by running
a business on it
Brookline, Mass.
Theatre owner Martin Freed, citing dwindling
grosses, has announced plans to close
the Coolidge Corner Moviehouse twin by the
end of summer 1989 Freed indicated that he
received no favorable responses from the circuits
he approached about continuing the
twin as a motion picture outlet
Plainview, Conn.
The ('•",;•., owned Plainville Drive-ln has
seen its l.isi ^.iinrner Shuttered this past season.
Its land will be developed into a shopping
mall by Wilmorite Inc of Rochester,
NY
Washington, D.C.
American Multi-Cinema has announced
that It IS opening 17 Washington-area screens
Nov 18, boosting the circuit's area screen
count from 54 to 71 The 2,000-seat Union
Station nine-plex will open on Washington's
Metro Concourse, while the 1,900-seat
Courthouse eight-plex will occupy three levels
of an office complex in downtown Arlington,
Va
Philadelphia
Philadelphia s Theatre of the Living Arts,
after an unsuccessful attempt to operate as
an off-Broadway-type legitimate stage playhouse,
has once again returned as a moviehouse
The venue's mainstay is now weekend
screenings of rock and roll films and its
continuing post-midnight screenings of "The
Rocky Horror Picture Show"
The Philadelphia Orchestra, in collaboration
with AT&T, produced the East Coast premiere
of the film-with-orchestra version of
Sergei Eisenstein's "Alexander Nevsky" on
the stage of the Mann Music Theatre The
1938 Russian classic, for which Sergei Prokofiev
wrote the musical score, never received
a proper release, first because of World War
II, then because of aging film stock and
soundtrack problems The film's original voice
and sound effect tracks were maintained on
the newly-stuck print, but new English subtitles
were added.
Baltimore
Loews Theatre Management, after acquiring
in quick succession the Washington, D C -
based Roth and Chicago-based M&R circuit,
announced Sept 9 that they had also acquired
the 66-screen Baltimore-based IF circuit,
bringing the Columbia Pictures Entertainment-owned
chain's screen count to over
800 )F purchased 15 screens from the Baltimore-based
Durkee circuit luly 1
Maryland-based R/C Theatres has announced
wide-ranging expansion plans for
the mid-Atlantic circuit May 1988 saw the
completion of The Movies eight-plex at the
new River Valley Mall. The chain is also
expanding its single-screen Staunton Mall
Theatre in Staunton, Va , into a six-plex The
chain's Hagar Twin, in Hagerstown, Md., will
soon en)oy construction that will convert it
into a ten-plex. Three other complexes have
been scheduled for completion in 1989 the
R/C Route 3 ten-plex in Fredricksburg, Va
;
the Aquia Town Center ten-plex in Stafford,
Va
;
the Dorchester Square Center in
Cambridge, Md R/C, which currently operates
over 100 area screens, says it also plans
to extend its expansion beyond 1989, and
hopes to add some 40 screens to the circuit in
each subsequent year
Festival and Event Calendar
MIDWEST NEWS
Chicago
Loews Theatre Management confirmed
Sept 6 that it would be moving into the Chicago
market by purchasing the 70-screen
M&R theatre circuit Loews will become the
second-largest exhibitor in the Chicago
market, after Cineplex Odeon With the
recent additional acquisitions of the Washington,
DC -based Roth and Baltimore-based )F
circuits, Loews will operate over 800 screens
and replace the Georgia-based Carmike circuit
as the fifth largest chain in the US
Indianapolis
Loews Theatre Management has announced
that it will expand two of its Indianapolis
theatres, the College Park and Cherry
Tree six-plexes, into ten-plexes by Christmas
The chain will also expand its Lafayette
Square four-plex to eight screens The new
screens, when completed, will bring Loews's
Indianapolis screen count to 38
Seventy members of the Variety Club of
Indiana, which donated $270,000 to lameson
Camp for underprivileged children, were to
be honored by the camps board of directors
with a special 7 p m screening of "Casablanca"
at the Irving theatre.
Grand Rapids
Loews Theatre Management parent company
Columbia Pictures Entertainment announced
Aug 30 that it was entering a partnership
with the 64-screen Grand Rapidsbased
Loeks chain to oversee 16 existing
screens in the Detroit area Loeks-Star Partners,
the new joint entity, also plans construction
of addition screens in the area to create a
42-screen circuit.
Milwaukee
The opulent Oriental Landmark Theatre on
Milwaukee's east side was finally re-opened
this summer after extensive remodelling converted
It into a tri-plex The new theatres
were built )ust below the mam theatres balcony
Milwaukee-based Marcus Theatres has expanded
a number of its existing theatres The
circuit's Crossroads Cinemas in Wausau has
been converted from three to four screens
The Stadium Cinemas in Green Bay has also
gone from three to four screens, while the
Marcus Eastgate in Madison has ballooned
from SIX to ten screens The circuit now operates
140 screens altogether
I

while
which
The
WESTERN NEWS
Dallas
The Dallas city council voted unanimously
Aug 24 to refer a resolution — which condemned
Universal's "The Last Temptation of
Christ" for its "degrading, anti-religious content"
- to the Dallas motion picture classification
board for a decision and customary
review of the film The city-funded board
reviews and classifies all films with ratings of
PC, PC-13 or R and adds its own rating to
The film
movie newspaper advertisements.
opened on schedule Aug, 31 at the city's
AMC Prestonwood five-plex.
San Antonio
The San Antonio Conservation Society says
it IS negotiating to purchase the historic
downtown Aztec-3 Theatre and the adjoining
six-story Aztec Building, located at North
St, Marys and East Commerce streets from
owner Maurice Braha. According to society
president Liz Davies, the organization has no
concrete plans for the theatre, but "it is possible
that the theatre might be leased back to
Mr Braha. Our future goal is to restore the
theatre and make it part of a performing arts
district, along with the Majestic and Empire
theatres,"
Dominant San Antonio exhibitor A-3/Santikos
announced Aug, 30 that it would exhibit
"The Last Temptation of Christ" despite protests
by local religious leaders and the opposition
of the circuit's former owner. Letters
have reportedly been pouring into the circuit's
office requesting that it not show Universal's
controversial "Temptation," Rev.
John Hagee, of the Corner Stone Church, said
he mailed letters voicing strong opposition to
the film to officials at A-3 and former chain
owner/operator John Santikos. John Santikos
replied to Hagee's letter, stating that he
"would use any influence that he might
have" to urge A-3 not to show the film, Santikos
sold the circuit to A-3 in 1986, Hagee said
that he would urge a boycott of A-3 should
the circuit decide to exhibit "Temptation,"
Toby Summers, president of Coca-Cola
Bottling of the Southwest, said later that
"Coca Cola will maintain its policy of noninterference
in the normal business practices
of its vendors despite the controversy and
threats of a possible boycott against A-3/Santikos
possible screening of 'The Last Temptation
of Christ,'"
Edmond, Okla.
Construction of a 1,548-seat six-plex is
underway at the Kickingbird Square shopping
center in Northeast Edmond, LIpon completion
in November, the $1,4 million complex
will mark the South Carolina-based Litchfield
Corp's entry into Oklahoma exhibition
Tulsa, Okla.
United Tfieatre Owners of Oklahoma director
John McConnel was severely injured
recently when a train demolished the vehicle
he was driving at an in-town < rossing. He has
since returned to operating his Cine Theatre
in Henryetta, Okla.
Austin
General Cinema has earmarked 26 new
screens for completion in the Austin area by
1989, including a ten-plex that will be Austin's
largest theatre. The Highland Pavillion tenplex
is due for completion this fall at 1-35 and
Middle Fiskville Rd , a pair of eightplexes,
the Wells Branch and the Great Hills,
are slated to bow in 1989. The three complexes
will bring CCC's Austin screen count
to 37.
Phoenix
Arizona's oldest exhibition chain, Harkins
Theatres, broke ground on the new Harkins
Tower eight-plex in Phoenix this summer,
launching an expansion program that will
expand the 15-screen chain's size to 39
screens by Christmas 1989. Harkins plans a
late 1989 opening for what should be Arizona's
largest theatre, a 14-plex in North
Scottsdale. The chain will also expand its
Camelview Plaza Cinema in Scottsdale from a
tri-plex to a five-plex this coming spring.
Los Angeles
Following in the footsteps of Cineplex Odeon's
area venues, Mann Theatres, General
Cinema and Pacific Theatres quietly raised the
top admission prices in their key Los Angeles
theatres this summer from $6 to $6.50. American
Multi-Cinema's Century City 14-plex remains
the only major chain in the city to hold
top admission down to $6, with numerous
discount admissions as low as $2.95.
Sacramento
National Association of Theatre Owners
officials were hopeful this Autumn that California
exhibitors would receive permission to
keep employees on the job beyond an eighthour
workday without paying overtime as
long as the employee's work week does not
exceed 40 hours per week. Approval of the
12-hour, no-overtime workday is awaiting
the decision of two State Industrial Welfare
Commission hearing, one in Sacramento and
one in Los Angeles
Hollywood
The free tours of Hollywood's historic
Cinerama Dome have turned into a hit,
with
an average of 100 visitors taking the hourlong
tour each Tuesday at 10 am through
November. Pacific Theatres, which owns the
Dome, has added to the tour a walk-though
of the venue's projection booth.
Santa Barbara
Traditionally a three- or four-day festival,
the next annual Santa Barbara International
Film Festival (its fourth) will stretch over 12
days. Mar 3-12, 1989 The decision to add
extra days, according to festival director Janet
Doran-Veevers, was made to make the event
more convenient for festival goers.
Seattle
General Cinema began demolition of its
20-year-old Renton Village triplex in Seattle
Aug. 22 and will build in its place the 2,300-
seat Renton Village Cinema eight-plex. CCC
says the new theatre complex, scheduled for
com[)leti()n Aug 11, will bring GCC's regional
streen count to 47.
SOUTHERN NEWS
Orlando, Fla.
American Multi-Cinema's Pleasure Island
ten-plex is currently scheduled for a Dec. 9
debut at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena
Vista, Fla. The multiplex will be the first attraction
to go into operation at Disney World's
new Pleasure Island wing, and has been
designed by Disney's Imagineering team to
meld with the wing's waterfront motif. The
complex will screen product from both Buena
Vista and other distributors. To facilitate supplementary
use of the auditoriums during
conventions, the theatres will be equipped
with stages, drapes and Audio-Video capabilities.
North Lauderdale, Fla.
Atlanta-based Value Cinemas has announced
plans to build a new sub-run six-plex
at the Tam O'Shanter Plaza in North Lauderdale
The multiplex, tentatively scheduled for
a Thanksgiving opening, will feature a $1
admission price and at least four self-serve
stations in the lobby to dispense popcorn and
soft drinks
Weston, Fla.
Miami-based Wometco Theatres is building
the first theatre ever in nearby Weston, a
city with a population of 20,000 families The
Wometco eight-plex is slated for an Oct. 7
debut at the Indian Trace Shopping Center at
S.W. 14th St and Dykes Road
Charlotte, N.C.
Charlotte's first movie house built exclusively
to show dollar flicks has gone full-price.
The Queen Park Cinema on South Blvd.
began showing first-run movies at first-run
prices in August. Theatre officials said declining
attendance and longer waits between
first- and second-runs prompted the switch
from $1.50 admissions Adults now pay $4.75
for evening screenings, or $3 before 6 p.m
"There are so many first-run theatres in town,
it made it almost impossible for us to get second-runs,"
said Robert Schrader, advertising
director for Charlotte-based Multi-Cinema
Ltd , owns the Queen Park "By the
time the movies get to our screens, the videos
are already out theatre originally
"
opened in December 1982.
Charlottesville, Va.
Directors Robert Altman, Norman Mailer
and Lynn Littman, actors lohn .Amos and
Ossie Davis, producers George Stevens |r
and Sam Goldwyn Jr , and writers .Ann Beattie
("Chilly Scenes of Winter and ") William Kennedy
("Ironweed") are all scheduled to take
part in panel discussions at the first Virginia
Festival of American Film, slated to run Oct.
27-30. The festival, dedicated exclusively to
U.S. cinema, will include dicussions on creative
producing, screenplay adaptation, the
black experience in film, women in film, documentaries,
acting, and in-depth looks at the
making of "Cross Creek" and "The Conflict."
22 BoXOfTICE

died
from
ON THE MOVE
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
OBITUARIES
Anthony Williams, an independent producer
with a background with the Rank exhililtlon
circuit, has been named to head Cineplex
Odeon's operations in the United Kingdom
The chain plans to develop 1 10 screens in the
UK bv the end ot the decade
A-J Theatres has named Robert I
Lenihan
as vice president and head film buyer lor the
Texas exhibition chain Lenihan, a film buyer
with Mann Theatres since 1S83, will book
product for both A-3's Santikos circuit in San
Antonio and its Presidio circuit in Austin
The Loews Theatre Management Corp
announced a number of promotions: Robert
Renaker has been promoted from assistant
manager of the College Park six-plex in Indianapolis
to manager of the city's Lafayette
Quad Anthony Fazio, who has been acting
as relief manager to three of Loews Cleveland
theatres, has been named manager of
the Richmond tri-plex Carl Levine now manages
the 84th Street six-plex His predecessor,
)ohn Hebert, has been named division manager
for USA Cinemas Connecticut cinemas
lohn Pellegnno, former assistant manager of
the Oriental tri-plex in Brooklyn, is the new
manager of that borough's Georgetown
Twin Raymond Martinez has been promoted
from assistant manager to manager of the
Bronx's Paradise four-plex lames Lyons has
gone from assistant manager to manager of
Loew's Wayne, N ) six-plex His predecessor,
Vincent Abatemarco, now manages the
Meadows eight-plex in Secaucus, N.).
A. Steven Marrs, formerly of American
Multi-Cinema, has joined the Allied Advertising
Agency's Philadelphia office Marrs was
managing director of Cinemedia Network, a
marketing division of AMC Theatres.
)o-ann Serge has joined Allied Advertising
in Syracuse, where she now co-ordinates
account services with several major film studios
She will be handling publicity and promotional
activities in Albany, Rochester, Buffalo
and Syracuse.
Clyde McKinney, Lucasfilm, Ltd 's technical
director of theatre operations and the THX
program, has resigned to pin the Austinbased
theatre consulting firm CINExcel He
will head the firm's new San Francisco-area
office
Karl Fasick, former manager of the old
Loews Fenway Theatre, joined the Hoyt
organization July 1 to handle advertising and
public relations for the Australian firm's US.
theatre operations Fasick closed his own
agency after a 20-year run
New officers of the United Theatre Owners
of Oklahoma have been elected, it was
announced Apr 27 Those to serve the 1988-
1989 term include chairman of the board
Dennis Collier, president Terry Cales, first
vice president Margaret lones, second vice
president Mark Smyth, secretary Marsh Powell,
and treasurer Jack Stewart
lOHANNESBURG - Following the South
African government's confiscation of 30
"
pnnts of "Cry Freedom this summer. Universal
says it is investigating a legal challenge to
that country Meanwhile, some 350-500 pirated
videocassettes of the film were reportedly
circulating in the households of Johannesburg
Meanwhile, another film dealing
with the question of apartheid in South Africa,
Atlantic Releasing's ",^ World Apart," has
been banned by South African censors.
Corp
,
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - Hoyt's
the Australia-based exhibition concern
that controls the lOlh largest circuit in the
United States, is poised to purchase New
Zealand's 63-year-old Amalgamated Theatres
circuit Hoyts bought a 50 percent share of
Amalgamated late last year.
SINCE 1898
William B Zoeliner, a 41-year veteran
MCM sales manager whose territories included
the East, Southeast, and Southwest,
died recently at his home near Oklahoma
City He is survived by his wife, Treva, two
nephews, a grand-niece and two grandnephews
Robert Brown Busch, a retired theatre
manager, died recently in Oklahoma City He
is survived by his wife, Helen, and a foster
grandson, Michael McDonald
Normand H Surprenant, former owner an
operator of the Village Theatre in Mystic,
Conn , and the Movie House in Middletown,
Conn ,
in Middletown He was 65
Ruth W Otto, who operated with her husband
Merwin the Geneva Theatre in Lake
Geneva, Wis , 1961 to 1976, is dead
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—
Reviews
geance, and Bryan Brown contributes much in the way of
comic charm as the National Geographic photographer who
falls for Fossey — even as he makes her famous. All the
performances under Michael Apted's sure direction are, in
fact, first rate, with special mention to John Omirah Miluwi, a
native Kenyan and first-time thespian whose quiet charisma
and beguiling good nature make his portrayal of Fossey's longtime
tracker unusually compelling.
GORILLAS IN THE MIST
Starring Sigoumey Weaver, Bryan Brown and Julie Harris
Produced by Arnold Glimeher and Terence Clegg. Directed by
Michael Apted. Written by Anna Hamilton Phelan.
A Warner Bros /Universal Pictures release Drama, rated PG-
13 Running time: 130 min Screening date: 9/14/88
Well-rendered and absorbing for most of its two-hour-plus
running time, "Gorillas in the Mist" is the true story of ape
chronicler Dian Fossey's struggles to protect an entire species
from extinction. Her story is equal parts "Never Cry Wolf,"
"Out of Africa," and "Altered States," and exceeds the sum of
its components.
The Oscar race begins in earnest with this enthralling,
beautifully crafted docudratna. It's a shade long and it
glosses over its heroine's more abrasive qualities, but it
should be a critical hit.
The film begins in 1966, when the relatively inexperienced
American physical therapist Fossey (Sigoumey Weaver) convinces
famed anthropologist Louis Leakey (Iain Cuthbertson)
to let her study the endangered mountain gorilla of Central
Africa. Leakey believed the habits and characteristics of the
rare and dwindling gorillas held important clues to the lives of
early man, and decided, against his better judgement, to send
Fossey to study them (before the species disappeared entirely).
Fossey ushers to mind the young scientist played by Charles
Martin Smith in "Never Cry Wolf" as she overcomes nature,
inadequate facilities, the brutal local militia and other unscrupulous
humans to study the huge, terrifying creatures. Her
early attempts are fearsomely absorbing. She disregards Dr.
Leakey's advice to keep her distance from the hulking primates
and, after a few terrifyingly close calls, actually infiltrates
their ranks by cleverly mimicking their grunts and body
language. Her risks pay off handsomely, as she is able to
become more intimate with and collect more data on the apes
than any other human before her. She quickly becomes a
cause celebre in National Geographic circles.
So similar to mankind are these leviathan herbivores that
Fossey comes to regard them as her family. So personally does
she take their plight that she twice forsakes her romantic
interests to remain in the jungles with them When poachers
and entrepreneurs (and other humans who regard the gorillas
only as game) seek to destroy or otherwise exploit her new
kin, Fossey inevitably hits the warpath, and it becomes frightfully
obvious why Weaver was cast in the role. Her efforts to
put the gorillas' interests before those of certain humans
make her many enemies, and she is murdered mysteriously
shortly after C;hristmas 1985.
Weaver is again a perfect blend of compassion and ven-
While the narrative doesn't run out ot gas as quickly as
"Never Cry Wolfs" did, there is still a perceivable lethargy to
the film's final thirty minutes, which details Fossey's life just
prior to her murder. At this point, the romantic subplot has
been resolved and eliminated, and Fossey's increasingly strident
efforts to protect the gorillas makes her somewhat less
sympathetic.
Even so, the movie has elements strong and divergent
enough to compensate for its weaknesses, and audiences will
doubtlessly take much of the story's remarkable poignancy to
heart.
Rated PG-13 for sexual situations, violence, gore and language.
Jim Kozak
THINGS CHANGE
Staning Don Ameche. Joe Mantegna, Robert Prosky, Ricky Jay
and Mike Nussbaum
Produced by Michael Hausman Directed by David Mamet
Wntten by David Mamet and Shel Silverstein
A Columbia Pictures release Comedy, rated PC Running time:
105 mm Review date: 9/29/88
"Things Change" is a charming, modem day fairy tale set
alternately in Chicago's mean streets and Tahoe's glittering
casinos. "The story is delightfully improbable: Gino (played
radiantly by Don Ameche) is an old shoeshine man who just
happens to be a dead ringer for a Mafia chieftain who has
Review Index
Bat 21 R-94
Beast, The R-93
Betrayed R-93
Border Radio R-99
Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam R-96
Deceivers, The R-98
Far North R-99
Gorillas in the Mist R-92
Hero and the Terror
RlOO
Mac and Me R-97
Madame Sousatzka R-96
Miles From Home R-97
Moon Over Parador R-94
Nightmare on Elm Street 4, A R-95
Prince of Pennsylvania R-98
Things Change R-92
Young Guns R-95
R-92 BOXOFFICE

—
•
committed a messy murder. Gino is persuaded to take the rap
for the murder, in exchange for a big sum of money.
Enter Jerry (Joe Mantegna), a contumacious, low-level loser
who is "on probation" with his mobster employers His last
chance to redeem himself is to i', all
liquid eyes and adolescent iinpaticnce, decid
find his "Khan," or clan leader, has been reduced to a reddish
stain in the sand by Dakal's tank treads, he assumes the role ol
clan leader and swears vengeance, Taj's far more mercenary
cousin provides the means by which it can be exacted
Then, unexpectedly, the focus switches to the tank, and wr
arc introduced to the infra-structure of a Soviet military crew
Like the dust-plastered sedan that whipped around the dusiv
plains of South Texas in "Fandango," the "Beast" carries ,1
diverse crew of five Besides Dakal, there is the naive gunloader
Golikov (Stephen Baldwin); the Soviet-educated Afghani
guide translator (Erick Avari); the boisterous, amoral
brake fluid-guzzling gunner Cominsky (Don Harvey); and
best of all, the highly-competent, moralistic intellectual Constantine
Koverchenko (Jason Patric, looking much like lohn
Lcnnon in "How I Won The War "), who comes to doubt both
the moral intent of the war and Dakal's sanity.
Dakal, who regards the Afghanis with the same contempt
with which he combated Nazis during World War II. shoots his
own Afghani guide, instinctively certain that the man was a
traitor When Constantine protests, Dakal orders him tied to a
slab of rock, booby-trapped with a hand grenade, and left foi
dead in the desert Constantine is eventually rescued by Taj
and the two exact their vengeance against Dakal together
While all the Afghanis in the film speak in a subtitled Pushtu
dialect, the film's Russians speak American English, anil
their state-of-the-art soldiering and strained camaraderie
evoke the rowdy, doomed marines of "Aliens" The Americanization
of the Soviets ( they have regional accents and even us

vvo
,m't
nect\ .-> elements to be a strong, moving and involving
:
movie stars who seem to be maturing into watchable,
inteic.:'T'.ng actors; some beautiful camerawork; and director
Costa-Gavras, Add to all this the highly-charged issues of
racism, survivalism and the loss of the family farm — alltoo-familiar
spectres of Reaganomics — and audiences should
be storming the aisles. But the film never really gets up any
steam, and the viewer simply sits mired in the muddled storyline.
An explosive subject is given a cliched and often silly
treatment, wasting an opportunity to malte a serious
point. But the Elm still found an audience, earning an
okay $19.6 million in three weeks.
At the outset of the story, a loudmouthed radio talk-show
host (played briefly — and well — by Richard Libertini) is
brutally shot by a group of masked men, who spray paint the
initials ZOG (Zionist Occupation GovemmentJ across his
bloody remains.
We cut to a field of wheat in the Midwest, where FBI agent
Cathy Weaver (Debra Winger) has been sent to work undercover
on the fann of Gary Simmons (Tom Berenger), one of
the prime suspects in the shootmg. Posing as a "combine girl,"
Cathy is impressed by Gary's decency: a widower with two
small children, he is handsome, hardworking, and gets tears in
his eyes when he has to shoot one of his horses. He also
happens to be an ail-American hunk, from his baseball cap
and bulging biceps to his blue jeans. Cathy begins to fall for
him.
MOON OVER PARADOR
Starring Richard Dreyfuss. Raul Julia and Soma Braga
Produced and directed by Paul Mazursky Written by Paul
Mazursky and Leon Capetanos.
A Universal Pictures release. Comedy, rated PG-13 Running
time: 104 min Screening date: 8/31/88
"Moon Over Parador" is a one-joke, no-laughs farce which
may mark a new low in writer-producer-director Paul Mazursky's
up-and-down career. Richard Dreyfuss stars as Jack
Noah, a struggling New York actor who is making a movie in
the fictitious country of Parador when its dictator dies Noah
bears a strong resemblance to the fallen leader of this small
Caribbean nation, so the dictator's chief aid (Raul Julia)
strong-arms the actor into posing as the dead president so as
to maintain national stability. Noah reluctantly plays along,
with the help of the dictator's mistress (Sonia Braga).
"Down and Out in Beverly Hills" was such a near-perfect
movie that it was easy to forget that almost all of Mazursky's
If laughs were oxygen, audiences would've suffocated
watching this mone. This laughless romp was in Brst
place for its opening weekend. The next week business
was down 33 percent.
previous films featured great casts, expert filmmaking, and a
pleasant story that usually went absolutely nowhere. Keeping
in that tradition, "Moon Over Parador" offers this rich and
very promising premise, and then Mazursky does absolutely
nothing with it. The things that could have happened are
myriad: The opposition rebels could have kidnapped the false
leader; the CIA agent played by Jonathan Winters could have
threatened to expose the charade; the mistress could have
resisted the plan instead of playing along with it so easily.
Anything would have been better than the movie they
released, which is uninspired, boring and utterly laughless. It
feels like one of those great scripts that is beaten senseless by
a bad director, but of course Mazursky co-wrote the screenplay
himself. It's hard to find someone else to blame when
you're the writer-producer-director.
In meetings witli lu i imaii, liureaucratic boss and ex-lover,
Michael (John Heard, who looks puffy and red-eyed and
dreadfulj, Cathy insists upon Gary's innocence, but she soon
discovers his true nature. He takes her "huntin'," and the prey
turns out to be a young black man, chased through the woods
by a group of heavily-armed "hunters." Gary's angel-faced
daughter spouts awful things about people of color and nasty
"rabbis," and when the family goes camping, it is to a place
full of burning crosses, Nazi uniforms, and arms salesmen.
Even worse, Cathy finds that she has become an important
part of Gary's plot to assassinate a right-wing presidential
candidate.
"Betrayed" does have visually stunning scenes, like a
Fourth of July picnic, shot with a sort of Rockwellian, redwhite-and-blue
euphoria. The film also contains some truly
frightening elements, like an "American Liberation Network,"
which is a survivalist/white supremacist newsline, accessible
to anyone with a personal computer. Overthrowing the government,
it seems, is as close as a visit to Radio Shack.
What "Betrayal" lacks is the pacing that it so desperately
needs. The silly ending, with Winger wandering around like
someone out of Agnes Varda's "Vagabond," is very slow going,
a cinematic non sequitur. Indeed, this type of film has been
done much better, and by Costa-Gavras himself. One need
only rent "Missing" to see what's, er, missing from "Betrayed."
Rated R for language, violence and sexual siiu.ilions.— Ltsa
Sawahata
DicN'tuss is, as always, easy to w.iic li, Imi r\i'ii he i nsr
above this sparkless story. He spends most ot the him in costume
and brown-tinged skin, speaking in silly voices and running
the risk of slipping into one of those self-amused performances
that he was mired in before Mazursky rescued him
in "Down and Out in Beverly Hills." Perhaps Dreyfuss was
returning the favor by starring in "Moon Over Parador"; if so
his loyalty and gratitude have been more than proven. For the
sake of his career, we would suggest that the actor simply
send a generous gift next time he wants to prove his friendship
to a director bearing a bad script.
Rated PG-13 for language, violence and sexual situations.—
Tom Matthews
BAT 21
Starring Gene Hackman, Danny Glover and Jerry Reed.
Produced hy David Fisher, Gary Neill and Michael Balson
Directed by Peter Markle Written by William C Anderson and
George Gordon
A Tri-Star release War Drama, rated R Running time 104
min. Screening date: 8/18/88.
Those disappointed with the mindless blood and bombast of
"Rambo III" should revel in "Bat 2\," ,i suspenscful and
R-94 BoxoiriCE

actually
—
—
engrossing action tale set among the battle-scarred rice patties
of Vietnam One can only hope that the him will not be
confused with I983's far inferior "Uncommon Valor," which
shares with "21" a rescue plot, the Southeast Asian locale, and
a fatigue-clad Gene Hackman
Hackman portrays Air Force Lt. Col Iceal E. Mambleton, a
valuable war strategist, missile suppression expert and golfing
enthusiast who gets shot down on an ill-fated reconnaissance
mission near the enemy-infested DMZ in 1972 Trapped and
alone near key Communist supply routes, Mambleton must
scramble to survive on the groimd with the help of airborne
"spotter" Capt. Dennis Clark (Danny Glover), who maintains
radio contact with Hambleton while circling him in a lowflying
light aircraft.
Glover, a black man who spends most the him with a microphone
in his hand forging a friendship with a white man he
has never met amid crisis conditions, is eerily reminiscent of
the black cop who talked Bruce Willis out of the terroristinfested
skyscraper in "Die Hard " This is not to say that the
relationship is as engaging; "21" scenarists William C. Anderson
and George Gordon don't have Steven E. DeSouza's sense
of humor, and the bonding is somewhat less winning, especially
in light of the duo's familiar "when we get out of this"
rhetoric.
Hackman, who has never given a bad film performance, is
excellent as a matter of course as the 53-year-old USAF lifer
forced for the first time to confront the nasty realities of
ground combat His grunt's-eye-view of the airstrikes and
napalm bombings he has spent his life precipitating suddenly
comes to leave a bad taste in his mouth.
The politics are neutral, the enemy faceless, but Hambleton's
earthbound-everyman exploits are riveting, and it's
especially engaging to watch the consummate strategist adapt
to the jungle To arrange a rescue rendezvous, Hambleton
cleverly conveys his whereabouts by improvising a code that
uses golf terms and course green specifications to convey
direction and distances.
The final escape sequence is pretty tired stuff (though not
nearly as tired as, say. the final escape sequence in "The
Rescue") but one has to credit director Peter Markle for milking
a surprising amount of tension from it Markle's pacing
throughout the film is, in fact, nearly flawless, and, had the
central Hambleton Clark relationship stnick a more resonate
chord, this could have had the makings of a very popular
"
movie. What "Bat 21 is is just a very well-made,
well-performed actioner.
Rated R for violence, gore and language Jim Kozak
A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 4:
THE DREAM MASTER
Starring Robert Engluiul. Lisa Wilcox, Danny Hassel. Rodney
Eastman, Toy Newkirk and Tuesday Knight
Produced hy Robert Shayne and Rachel Talalay Directed by
Renny Harlin Written hy Bnan Helgeland and Scott Pierce
A New Line release Horror, rated R Runnint; time 91 min
Screening date 8/16/88
America's favorite child molcstfr/murdrrer just keeps
cutting 'rm up, rjrninf; j uhoppinf; $41.4 milliiyn in fivr
weeks. Future genrrjtions will no iliiubt ni.irvi-l ,it iiur
sense of entertiMinment.
Ah, the paradox of Freddy Krueger. In all four of the "Nightmare
on Elm Street" entries, the stated goal has been to
destroy Krueger, to send that child-murdering mutant from
Hell back to the muck and slime from which his putrid soul
sprang But the Krueger character is also a certain him company's
gravy train; the "Elm Street" series, of which Knieg

ack when he was still called William Bonney.
At rhe beginning of the storv', Bonney is saved from hanging
by John Tunstall (Terence Stamp), who enlists Bonney into
Tunstall's group of hired hands, whom he calls his "Regulators."
The Regulators (Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou
Diamond Phillips, Durmot Mulroney and Casey Siemaszko)
have been hand-picked — from the bottom of the barrel — to
defend Tunstall's burgeoning cattle business from his ruthless
opponent, cattle baron L.G. Murphy (Jack Palance).
—
Stamp, Palance and Brian Keith (who plays bounty hunter
Buckshot Roberts) are reduced to near-cameo roles.
Siemaszko, as "pugilist" Charlie Bowdre, rfoes display a subtle
comic timing and personality that indicate an incipient
character actor, and there is one hilarious ensemble scene in
which the Regulators take a peyote trip. However, the good
bits are like oases in one long, bleak (dull) desert. The dialogue
actually includes expressions like "He's a geek" and "Yeah,
I'm sure." This — together with the awful, synthesized rock 'n
roll-ish score — makes the viewer wonder if he's really in the
Wild West. ..or just the big Valley.
Rated R for violence and language.
—
Lesa Sawahata
Murphy, who not only owns the local cattle industry but
most of the town, and who has intimidated local lawmen into
utter passivity, has his own hired hands kill Tunstall on the
way home from a rowdy New Year's Eve party in town. The
Regulators are hastily deputized so that they may arrest these
bad guy assassins, with the group nominally led by the incredibly
uptight Dick Brewer (Sheen, who speaks painfully, as
though he suffers from arthritic lips).
Brewer soon goes head-to-head with the trigger-happy Bonney,
who asserts his personality by regularly shooting those
who he's been commissioned to arrest. It's bad business, and
the Regulators soon find themselves summarily un-deputized
and pursued by both the legitimate law, and the bounty hunters
that Murphy has hired to kill them. It all leads up to The
Big Shootout at the end.
"Young Guns" remains predictable, improbable and uninvolving
from its silly, grainy opening credits to its tasteless
shootout climax (which is full of bloody, slow motion footage
of Gatlin guns ripping the "Young Guns" to shreds). The film
has the look and sound of a made-for-TV movie, with the
actors (who are thoroughly under-used) having the thankless
task of trying to convincingly deliver dialogue that seems to
have been written a half-hour before each scene was filmed.
There's a silly romantic subplot, in which Doc Scurlock
(Sutherland) falls for Murphy's beautiful Chinese mistress,
Yen Sun (Alice Carter); the wisdom of choosing Sutherland to
play the "romantic" gunslinger (he writes poetry!) became
apparent when the young women in the audience "ooh'd" and
"aah'd" each time he appeared on the screen. Try as he might,
Phillips (who deserves better) can't transcend the triteness of
his obligatory Noble Red Man speech, while veteran actors
MADAME SOUSATZKA
Starring Shirley MacLaine, Navin Chowdhry and Shabana
Azmi.
Produced by Robin Dalton. Directed by John Schlesinger
Written
by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and John Schlesinger.
A Universal Pictures release. Drama, rated PG-13 Runni>ig
time: 122 min Screening date. 9/1/88.
"Madame Sousatzka" offers Shirley MacLaine as the title
character, an overbearing, inflexible and always-correct instructor
of classical piano. She works in an aging English
boarding house, and her latest student is Manek (Navin
Chowdhry), a gifted 15-year-old boy of Indian descent. Madame
Sousatzka sees great things in Manek and she drills him
mercilessly, as this typically free-spirited teenaged boy grudgingly
comes to respect her.
Manek's mother (Shabana Azmi), a playful middle-class
woman who ekes out a living catering Indian food, appreciates
her son's remarkable talent, but she can't help being eager for
him to get to the point where he can perform concerts for
money. Madame despises public performances and the corrupting
influence of money, however, and she refuses to continue
to work with Manek if he "goes commercial." Through
some ill-conceived flashbacks, we see that Madame once
froze up at a public performance, incurring the wrath of her
domineering mother. Her rehictance to let Manek play for an
audience is based on her own insecurities, and it's only after
Manek leaves her to work with another teacher that she realizes
that she must not allow her fears to stand in his way.
Featuring Shirley MacLaine as a strong-willed and haughty
woman isn't exactly inspired casting. Flamboyant to some and
grating to others, the actress's headstrong personality won her
a well-deserved Oscar for her last screen performance in
"Terms of Endearment," and the success of "Madame Sousatzka"
will hang on how many of her fans will follow her to
this rather stuffy film. Although overflowing with expertlyperformed
concertos — some presented in their entirety —
the film is at heart a highbrow affair with an overly familiar
story.
Director and co-writer John Schlesinger tries to add light
comedy to the proceedings by focusing on the quirky residents
of Madame Sousatzka's boarding house (don't all English
boarding houses contain quirky residents?), but the bnmt of
the film requires us to be trapped in a room with MacLaine as
she puffs herself up and berates her student. Again, some find
this kind of performance to be impressive. We, as you may
have deterinined, did not.
As stated, the music is gorgeous in "Madame Sousatzka,"
and MacLaine is the kind of actress who always receives good
notices regardless of what she's performing in. The combination
of these two elements will probably guarantee the film a
prominent send-off, and sophisticated audiences could find
this to be the ideal entertainment for a chilly autumn Sunday
afternoon.
Rated PG-K? for language. Tom Matthews
DEAR AMERICA: LETTERS HOME
FROM VIETNAM
Produced by Bill Couturie and Thomas Bird Directed by Hill
Couturic Written by Richard Dewhiirst and Bill Couturie
A Corsair Pictures release Documentary, rateil PG13 Running
time: 90 min Screening date: 8/30/88
Anyone at all interested in the human impact of the Vietnam
war must see "Dear America: Letters Home From Viet-
R-96 BOXOFFICE

must
nam." A sobering and ultimately heartbreaking piece of work
featuring the actual written words of frontline soldiers, this is
Vietnam without politics and without philosophizing. It
is by
far the tniest cinematic document yet issued on the subject,
and it guarantees knowledge to anyone sturdy enough to
endure this sometimes overwhelming movie.
The framework is simple; Actual NBC news footage — both
from Vietnam and from stateside — is presented on the
screen, while actors such as Michael J. Fox, Robert De Niro
and Sean Penn read the letters that were written to friends
and family during breaks in the war The inadvertently ironic
correspondence reflects boyish enthusiasm, confusion and
raw fear, as each writer — some of whom were killitl slioitly
after mailing their letter — reports the war from their "privileged"
point of view Tying all of this together is a brilliant use
of pertinent rock and roll music, the rights for which (like the
ser\'ices of the actors) were donated free of charge
Watching this film put us in mind of that classic 'Twilight
Zone" episode, in which a commander was shaken to find that
he could look into the faces of his troops and tell which man
was about to die Seeing these real soldiers on the screen in
"Dear America," one becomes quickly aware that he is spying
on the last days or weeks in the lives of some doomed young
men The film doesn't identify most of the faces, and only in
specific instances does it reveal who was killed and who
wasn't But a viewer would have to have a very hard heart to
look at these kids and not wonder which ones didn't make it
out, and which ones made it home, only to continue to suffer
the effects of what they saw and did. The final letter, written
by a mother addressing her dead son, attempts to give a finish
to a story that seemingly will never end, but it only serves to
remind the audience of the severe wounds that still remain.
No fictional account of the war will ever cut as deeply as this
final letter.
The film was originally conceived and aired as an HBO
special, which normally would disqualify it for a theatrical
release. But Corsair Pictures acquired the rights to the movie
and chose to release it in a few major markets, with all profits
going to the New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial f;ommission
and the Vietnam Veterans Ensemble Theatre. There may
someday be a movie that more successfully addresses the "big
picture" that made up the war ("Platoon" wasn't it). But in its
simplicity, its reluctance to sermonize, and its determination
to remain true to the soldiers who wrote the "script" for this
project, "Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam" is the
most essential Vietnam film yet made.
Rated PG-l.'i for language and violence— Tom Matthews
MAC AND ME
Starring Jade Category, Chnstine Eber.so/c eincl lanalhim
Ward
Produced hy R } l/tuin Directed hy Stewart Raffitl Written hy
Stewart Raffill and Steve Feke
An Orion Pictures release Fantasy, rated PG Running time 91
mm Screening dale S/in/H8
If you can get past the fact that "Mac and Me" is a flagrant
rip-off of "ET ," and the fact that it is surely the gro.ssest
example yet of the merging between advertising and moviemaking,
this harmless kiddie flick isn ' ''"i' li I'l I u.ssy, grown-
—
up movie reviewers ensured its short life in the theatres, but
the little kids that we saw it with seemed to be having a fintime
Exhibitors who offer children's matinees might want in
remember this good-natured and often funny romp.
Hctwrrn its blatant thicvrn Imm "I " . I . .mk/ ii-. gii»>
prodiu t plugs, this little piflli- iil .1 hliii ri-.ilh tirru Ihr
iff ill film I ritit s. I ixr iicr-A-. i-.irnrti .1 sAi/)l/>t ih. I
rn ill inn.
In a note-for-note recreation of Spielberg's classic, a father
less boy in an anonymous suburb befriends a stranded alien
and attempts to reunite it with its family while trying to ke
care about this thievery? Like we said, the pint-sized payiii.-
crowd that we saw the movie with seemed to get very cauglr
up in it The creature is fairly compelling, and some of it
antics almost reach a cartoonish, Joe Dante-like level Tlv
bald-faced plugs for McDonald's and Coca-Cola are offensivi
and we certainly don't want to go on record as being the onl-.
source that called "Mac and Me" a great movie But we need
films for verv small children, and this is infinitelv better than
"The New Adventures of Pippi Longstoc king." which w.is
only other new film offered exclusively 10 little kids this sun.
mer. It just seemed to us that adult critics, for whom thi
movie was not made, ganged up on it a little too aggressiveh
and perhaps for reasons that had nothing to do with whethi t
kids would be entertained by it.
Rated PG for language. Tom Matthews
MILES FROM HOME
Starring Richard Gere, Kevin Anderson, John Malkovich a>.
Penelope Ann Miller
Produced hy Frederick /.olio and Paul Kurta Directed hy Ga>
Sinise Written hy Chris Gerolmo
A Cinecom release Drama, rated R Running time IN mr
Screening dale 9/7/88
llttu 'rr y.i giinn.i kfi'/) 'iiii iloitn nil ihr l.irni, 11 h

—
Thf movie opens in 1959, with black and white "news"
footage of Nikita Khrushchev's PR. visit to a blue ribbonwinning
Iowa farm owned by Frank Roberts, Sr. (Brian Dennehy).
Then we cut to the present, where Robert's sons, Frank
Jr. (Richard Gere) and Terry (Kevin Anderson) are burdened
by the enormous expense of running an American farm in the
1980s. They are facing what their nasty banker Tommy Malin
(Francis Guinan) describes as "fiscal failure," which is his
reason for foreclosing on their farm. Frustrated and angry,
Frank decides that rather than relinquish the farm, they must
bum it to the ground.
The results of this impetuous act should be obvious to anyone
(with the apparent exception of the Roberts's): They are
forced into a life on the run, replete with stolen cars, stolen
kisses, and close calls with the cops. The media seizes upon
the story, and the brothers get their 15 minutes of faine. They
become the latest fashion in folk heroes, particularly after a
smarmy and trendy journalist named Barry Maxwell (John
Malkovich) sells their story to Rolling Stone, complete with a
cover picture that portrays them as black-hatted outlaws.
Frank, who has a terrible inferiority complex because he'll
never be the farmer his father was, relishes the attention, and
also enjoys stealing cars, drinking too much Jack Daniels, and
performing acts of violence designed to attract further attention
from the law. Terry, on the other hand, hankers after
stability and a happy future — preferably with his girlfriend,
Sally (Penelope Ann Miller, who simpers endlessly and is
cloyingly sincere).
Clearly, the relationship between the brothers begins to suffer.
The conflict culminates in a bloody fistfight, after which
Frank admits that he's "a loser" — no revelation for the
audience, who knew it all along.
In fact, "Miles From Home" is a loser of a movie, with all
the animation of a wooden dummy. The acting is mostly lifeless,
the film is a series of cut-out characters in pretty, pop-up
scenery. During most of the film, Gere grunts and grimaces,
Anderson keeps a stiff upper lip, and the audience longs for
some relief from Frank's endless self-pity and Terry's stolid
stoicism. Aside from some fine cameo performances by Malkovich,
Judith Ivey and Laurie Metcalf, "Miles From Home" is
all sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Rated R for violence and sexual situations.
Lesa Sawaliata
THE PRINCE OF PENNSYLVANIA
Statrmg Kcanu Reeves, Amy Madigan, Bonuw Bcdelia and
Fred Ward
Produeed by Joan Fishnian Written and directed by Ron Nyswaner
A New Line Cinema release Drama, rated R Running time: 87
min Screening date: 9/8/88
This is the kind of movie you change your mind about six
times before you decide that it really doesn't add up. Keanu
Reeves ("River's Edge") plays Rupert Marshetta, an amiable
but unambitious 20-year-old who can't figure out what to do

Luanna
i
murderous robbers — and Savage is determined to stop
them.
He paints his skin so that he resembles an Indian, puts on a
beard and moustache (which are perpetually on the verge of
tailing off), and he joins the ranks of the thieves in order to
expose them. But he inadvertently ingests a magical drug (the
Thuggees are steeped in mystical religious tradition) and he
slowly turns into a killer himself
Brosnan, who was surprisingly intense as the Russian agent
in "The Fourth Protocol," is a dullard here. Looking for all the
world like just another TV actor trying to make it in the
movies, he is two-dmiensional, drab, and not mtercstmgat al
(Richard Chamberlain kept leaping to mind). But this is not
entirely his fault, as director Nicholas Meyer, who has done
such good work with films like "Time After Time," "Star Trek
11" and TV's "The Day After," smothers everything with a
surprisingly deadened treatment The exotic locales, the
strange rituals of the Thuggees and the violent nature of their
deeds are all lost in this monotonous affair It's hard to imagine
anything beyond a smattering of audience interest for this
lifeless adventure.
Rated PG-I3 violence and sexual situations. — Tom Matthews
FAR NORTH
Starnm; /fssuri l.ange, Charles Duming, Tess Harper and Donald
Moffat
Produced hy Carolyn Pfeiffer and Malcolm Harding Written
and directed by Sam Shepard
An Alive Pictures release Comedy, rating unauailahle Running
time 88 mm Screening date: 8/4/88
task of killing the horse for him. The execution of the beast r
such an obsession for the old man that Kate reluctantly agrei
to carr\' out the deed, despite ihe far. I that her sister, Rit.i
(Tess Harper), is
loudly opposed to it
The quarrel between Kate and Rita over the horse delays i'
extermination, so Berirum finally breaks out of the hospital t.
lake care of ii hims(;lt He escapes along with Dane (Don.ihl
Moflat), his dnmken brother-in-law, and the two spend mo
of the movie bickering as they make the long walk from lli'
hospital to Berirum's farm The sisters squabble and the mi'
squabble, to no end whatsoever.
It is curious hoiv meaningless "Far North" is No ironies af
exposed, no catharses are reached, no statements are mad>
None of the things that one would expect from a writer ••
Shepard's stature are even attempted, leaving nothing bui .i
silly little comedy This isn't necessarily bad — Shepard
weightier works, like "Fool for Love," haven't fared any bctn r
on the screen — but the burden is still on him to say sitmcthm
This movie is so trivial that anyone who hadn't been exposi
:
10 the writer's other work would be hard-pressed to figure dl
what the fuss is all about
The movie is reminiscent of "Crimes of the Heart," whii
was also written by a playwright, and which featured Shepar.;
I^nge and Harper in acting roles. But it has none of that film
heart and insight, nor its mad sense of black humor Up.scal'
tUidiences will certainly be inclined to check out "Far North
lor its cast and Shepard's name, but the turnout will be mini
mal and short-lived.
The film contains mild language. Tom Matthews
BORDER RADIO
;
Anders, Chris Shearer, John D'
and Dave Alvm
Produced hy Marcus Dc Leon Written and directed by Allisi"
Anders. Dean Lent and Kurt Voss
An Inlnrnational Film Marketing release Comedy/Dram,,
rated R Running lime 8S min Screening date 8/30/88
Filmed on an unlikely S82,000, "Border Radio" is an evil
stepchild to a legacy of cheapo, minimalist cinema Written
and directed in grainy black and white by a trio of kids fresh
out of UCLA film school, it features a cast of real-life Lo^
Angeles-based punk rockers who manage to make the playei
of "Return of the Secaucus Seven" look like master thespian
All members of the cast (including ,Iohn Doe and Dave Alvp
of X) are credited with providing "additional dialogue," an :
the film does, in fact, seem composed mainly of large doses •
banal, compulsive, and largely inept ad-libbing It plays as i'
"Spinal Tap" were somehow re-filmed with real, meah
minded musicians making up their lines in lieu of talenicl
comedians.
The plot, similarly, will put one in the mind of "The Las-
Movie,'" or any other forcefully addled Dennis Hopper at ui
flashback; though "Border" itself was allegedly three years in
the making, its storyline was most likely fleshed out in som'
body's unmowed backyard during a single beer-drenched Sui
day afternoon Balding cult rock anist .leff Bailey (Chris D
menaced by thugs, decides on a whim to abandon his wil.
voung daughter (Luanna and Devon Anders) and record con
panv lo hide out in the Mexican desert It is up lo Luanna i
plumb her husband's greasy business associates for inform.
non as lo why she was deserted It is eventually delrniiim
,S(«rriiii; (,7in.s D .
—
that ,Ieff and two equally weak-minded b.indm.iles I Doe an
Chris Shearer) robbed a rock venue of tunds they fell lh<
were owed The < lub owners want the money back
Following in David Mamet's footprints, at claimed plavwright
Sam Shepard has now decided that he is (|ualihi:d lo
not onlv write feature films, but lo diref I lh

ning, ;extural camerawork is certainly the best reason many
wii! riiirik of to recommend this grating, ungelled opus. We've
;tor. much worse, but Alex Cox need feel no threat to his
all
titic as leading purveyor of punk sensibilities.
Rated R for language, violence, and sexual situations
Kozak
HERO AND THE TERROR
Stamng Chuck Noitis, Brynn Tliayer, Steve James and Jack
O'Halloran
Produced by Raymond Wagner Directed by WiUiam Tannen
Written by Dennis Shryack and Michael Blodgett
A Cannon Films release. Action, rated R Running time: 96 mm
Screening date: 8/30/88.
—
—
Jim
REVIEW DIGEST
story type key: (Ac) Action; (Ad) Adventure: (An) Animated: (B)
Biography: (C) Comedy: (Cr) Crime: (D) Drama: (DM) Drama with
Music: (Doc) Documentary: (F) Fantasy: (l-l) Horror: (M) Musical;
(My) Mystery: (OD) Outdoor; (Pol) Political: (R) Romantic: (SF)
Science Fiction; (Sus) Suspense: ( W) Western
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Chuck Norris is now a sensitive guy, who can still crush
your larynx with one suift kick. Just the guy to bring
home to mother, provided she doesn't make him mad.
Three weeks earned a silly $5 million.
No longer content to be just an awesome dynamo of human
strength,"chuck Norris suddenly wants to be a Yuppie, too
(maybe they should've called this movie "killingsomething").
In "Hero and the Terror," he plays O'Brien, an L.A. cop who
labors under the unwanted nickname of "Hero." Years earlier,
he had captured a mountainous serial killer known, conveniently
enough, as "The Terror," and since then his fellow cops
just can't help calling him "Hero." Apparently, no one else on
the force has ever caught a dangerous killer before, so they're
all pretty impressed with O'Brien.
But wait!
The Terror has escaped from prison and disappeared
into the bowels of a large movie theatre, so Hero —
who has a dumb habit of foregoing assistance and taking on
crazed killers all by himself — goes in after him. Punches are
thrown, boards are broken over heads, and before you know it.
The Terror has become "The Corpse."
Sounds like just another cardboard Cannon movie, right? Au
contraire! For you see, O'Brien — oops, Hero — is revealed to
be a sensitive, everyday guy. Nearly 50 percent of the movie is
given over to a co-plot about the relationship problems of Hero
and his pregnant girlfriend (whom we like to call "The Girlfriend").
He wants to marry her, she's too busy with her
career, and it's all a fellow can do to keep his mind on his
crime-busting chores when the sparks start flying between
these two! If you thought Chuck Norris was lethal when he
threw a kick, wait until you see him attempt banter.
Hardcore action fans will be supremely cheesed off when
they see the sweater-wearing Norris trying to be Alan Alda,
and fans of topical romantic comedy should seek mental help
if they even consider going to see this thing. ConseqtK^ntly,
"Hero and the Terror" is a movie which will appeal to practically
no one, which of course is the hallmark of any decent
Cannon production.
Rated R for language and violence. Tom Matthews

A
The following films are tentatively scheduled
for release during the months of lanuary and
February The studios, however, cannot
stress strongly enough that these dates and
titles are subject to change
THE EXPERTS
)ohn Travolta returns in this comedy about
an expert on American pop culture who is
tricked into opening a disco in Siberia, which
turns out to be a spy training camp Dave
Thomas, an SCTV alum, directs A holdover
from Paramounts fall release schedule.
WARLOCK
Richard Grant, Julian Sands and Lori Singer
star in this thriller about a powerful warlock
who seeks to re-create the world in the
devils image by doing battle with a strongwilled
witch hunter During their struggle,
they are catapulted from the 1600s into the
present, where an innocent woman is ensnared
in their fight Steve Miner ("Soul Man")
directs A New World Pictures release
THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY II
One of the unlikeliest arthouse hits has
spawned a sequel, as NIXau, the African
bushman, continues to try and make sense of
the modern world, this time with the help of a
high-powered lady lawyer from New York
Filmmaker lamie Uys returns as writer, producer,
director and editor. A Weintraub
Entertainment Group release
THE IRON TRIANGLE
The Vietnam story is told from the Viet
Cong's point of view this time, with newcomer
Liem Whatley starring as a young Viet
Conn gufrilld and Beau lirirlges co-stdrnng as
the •\mprican that he (aptures Oscar-winner
Haing S Ngor and lohnny Hallyday also star
A Scotti Bros release
WINTER PEOPLE
Kelly McGillis stars in this l')30s period
piece about a young out-of-wedlock mother
who must choose between her son and her
lover, who is played by Kurt Russell Ted Kotcheff
("Switching Channels," "First Blood")
directs. Columbia Pictures has this set for a
late December/early January release.
DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL
TVs Tony Dan/a ("Taxi," "Who's the
Boss") stars in this comedy about a single
father who is thrown for a loop when his
wallflower teenage daughter is suddenly
transformed into date bait Catherine Hicks
("Child's Play") co-stars in the film, which is
directed by Stan Dragoti ("Mr Mom," "Love
at First Bite") A Weintraub Entertainment
Group release
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Formerly titled "Smoke" and set for a summer
release, this is the crime drama that stars
Burt Reynolds as a down-and-out ex-cop
who finds himself accused in the murder of a
former adversary. Theresa Russell co-stars as
the unlikely public defender who is assigned
to get him off Michael Crichton, the director
"
of such films as "Westworld and "The Great
Train Robbery," directs from a script by Bill
Phillips A Columbia Pictures release.
ROAD HOUSE
Patrick Swayze, in his first major role since
"Dirty Dancing, " stars in this action-drama
about a man who becomes a bouncer in a
seedy bar in a corrupt Midwestern town, and
tries to clean up the criminal element Sam
Elliot ("Shakedown
") and Ben Gazzara costar,
under the direction of Rowdy Herrington
(
'lack's Back "). Action producer )oel Silver
"
('Lethal Weapon, "Die Hard") produces An
MGM/UA release.
TRUE BELIEVERS
lames Woods, still looking lor a leading
man role that can successfully employ his fiery,
sometimes abrasive intensity, stars in this
legal drama about an intense 'W)s lawyer who
returns to form - and earns the respect of .1
young law student - while handling a (ontroversial
case Robert Downey, |r ,
who
seemingly stars in every other film made
these days, (o-stars, along with Margaret Colin
(Three Men and a Baby") and Kurlwood
Smith (the villain in Rolxxop") loseph Rub-
") directs A Columbia
en (The Stepfather
Pictures release
FOR QUEEN AND COUNTRY
Denzel Washington, "St Elsewhere" survivor
and Oscar nominee for "Cry Freedom,'
stars in this explosive drama about a decorated
black Marine who served valiantly in
the Falklands War, but who faces a bitter
homecoming in racially prejudiced Great Bniain
The film is wntten by Martin Stellman and
Trix Worrell, and is directed by Stellman An
Atlantic Entertainment release.
MY MOM'S A WEREWOLF
A lonely housewife stuck with a workaholic
husband and a date-crazy daughter, is
preyed upon by an amorous and mystenous
pet shop owner. After a semi-illicit encounter
the mom finds herself sprouting fur anrl
fangs Actress/model Susan Blakely stars
along with lohn Saxon as the pet shop owner
and lohn Schuck as the husband The movie i-.
directed by European director Michael Fischa
whose past work includes the legendar\
"
Death Spa Crown International release
PARIS BY NIGHT
This IS a thriller about a Bntish member 01
the European Parliament
who goes to Paris
for a few days in order to attend a political
conference While there, she encounters a
figure from her past who confuses her into
behaving in a highly dangerous fashion The
film stars Charlotte Rampling and Michael
Cambon, and it is written and directed bs
David Hare A Cineplex Odeon release
HEATHERS
Winona Ryder, who made quite an impres
sion as the ghoulish daughter in "Beetlejuice.
stars in this grim-sounding thnller that is
rooted in high school peer pressure She
plays a member of the "in crowd who acci
"
dentally kills one of her rivals, and then Ines
to cover it up as a suicide lustice, no doubi
wins out in the end Christian Slater (
"Gleani
ing the Cube ) also stars under the directtor
ot Michael lehmann A New Work) F^cturcs
release
November. 1»»KH "

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221
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Please send resume to William Homer. Cobb Theatres.
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DISTRICT MANAGER wanted lor a growing Midwest
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EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
COMPLETE THEATRE EQUIPMENT: ( New, Used or
Rebuilt) Century SA. R3, RCA 9030. 1040. 1050. Platters
3 and 5 tier. Xenon Systems 1000-4000 Watt
Sound Systems mono and stereo, automations, ticket
machines, curtain motors, electric rewinds, lenses,
parts and many more items in stock NEW Alan Gordon
MP30 portable projector 6000-foot reel capacity with
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FESSIONAL SERVICE AND INSTALLATION AVAIL-
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Millbury Rd MA 01540 (508) 832-4295
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LOWEST PRICES HIGHEST QUALITY: NEW AND
USED PROJECTORS. SOUND SYSTEMS: New Xenon
bulbs, cartxyis. lenses, seating, automation No one
sells for less Dealer most mfg's "NEW STEREO
EQUIPMENT- FACTORY PACKAGED OR CUSTOM
SYSTEMS leaturing ULTRA STEREO, SMART, EPRAD
& Others, call The Theatre Doctor lor Stereo Installation
or Booth Service Smith Sound and Proiection,
3922 Nolen Avenue S E .
Huntsville, AL 35801 Phone
(205) 534-2824
DOLBY CP-100 with MPU-1 preamp, owner-built SA-
26 subwoofef add on ( uses CAT 1 60— not furnished
SA-4 surround adapter, CAT 364 surround channel
rvjise reduction manual Can deliver and install 2 Norelco
AA2 35 70 pfoiectors 1964— almost as clean as
when new Used (or screenings only 70mm run less
tfian 50 hours Large quantity o( genuine Noreico spare
parts—new, still in original pkgs— no proiection lamps
1 Eastman 25 16mm—has optical and mag sound
Available with either cartjon arc or Xenon lamp and
rectifier—clean used only lor screenings Sanyo stereo
cassette dock model Rus 62 rack nnounted Kintek
KT43 exciter lamp supply made lor 1 or 2 machines
McGohan 100 watt amp MS- 1001 Marquee letters
very rare, fit 9 spacing Wagner wire system cast aluminum
black, also Wagnef plastic slotted nnoslly 10
red. Adier stotted cast aluminum Mack and more Call
for list Willis Johnsoo (312) 966-1600
PROVEN AFFORDABLE ACTION LIGHTINGI Poor
channel marquee belts Rope lighting Multi Eflecl solid
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Inc 406-566-5105
EQUIPMENT WANTED
TUBE-TYPE EQUIPMENT by Western Eleclnc
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rex. Langevin. Mcintosh. Marantz. Quad. Af^ Early
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EV. RCA. Tannoy Tel (818) 701-5633 Audio City.
P O Box 832. Monterey Park. CA 91754
DOLBY CP-SO'S on 55'S. Century Slider" motorized
lens changer with or w o motorized aperture
changer Willis Johnson (312) 968-1600
COMPLETE SOUND SYSTEM and booth renrrovals.
any place— Especially need surplus tubes, electronics
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JBL. Jenson. Tannoy. etc Charles Dupps (818) 444-
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THEATRES FOR SALE
INDOOR OUTDOOR— Growing Central Wisconsin
Town— In Operation INDOOR Partially remodeled—
410 seats— potential Twin OUTDOOR 86 acres on
major state highway— valuable real estate— block building—licensed
restaurant BOTH Land, buildings, and
equipment for $150.000 00. Serious Inquiries call
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THEATRE WANTED
WESTERN STATES— Independent wants theaters to
lease or purchase in Washington, Oregon. Calilomia.
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Inquines conlidential Lets talk Telephone 1 (800)
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INDOOR THEATRES lor lease or sale
Eastern. Southern
or Midwestern states sought by well-financed independents
Inquiries confidential Inlormation to Louis
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Call (814) 943-1880
THEATRE REMODELING
FOR TWINNING THEATRES call or whte Friddel Construction,
Inc . 402 Green River Drive. Montgomery. TX
77358 (409) 588-2667
MULTIPLEXING THEATRES We can perlorm all functions
from consulting to complete turnkey package professionally
and efficiently with minimum down time
Write or call Bill Clark, Quadrants Construction. (313)
261-9800. 12425 Stark Road. Livonia. Ml 48150
THEATRE SEATING
ALLSTATE SEATING, INC. Specialists in auditonum
and theatre seating service, installation, covers Phone
(617) 436-3448
"SEATING SPECIALISTS" New & used seats Installations
anywherel Good American (red) Bodilorm
chairs Irom $15 00 Good to excellent Irwms Irom
$25 50 Heywood and Massey rockers New Hussey
chairs TANKERSLEY ENTERPRISES, PO Box
36009, Denver. CO 80236 Phone (303) 980-8265
TRI STATE SEATING AND INSTALLATION CO.
Used seats & parts, sales & service, preventive maintenance
programs, complete & partial renovations to
accommodate your budget, acoustical wallcoverings
and more Services ottered throughout the United
States and Canada Free Information (313) 928-
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USED CHAIRS, American. Griggs. Irvyin SSOO up
Seat Covers $2 95 up Chair parts We buy used rockers
HAYES (315) 432-8183. PO Box 29. Syracuse.
NY n?i 1
DRIVE-IN CONSTRUCTION
SCREEN TOWERS INTERNATIONAL Now
Used
Transplanted. Complete Tower Service Plus Indoor
Screens Box 399-nooars. TX 76669. 817-642-
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Industries. Inc PO Box 26/. RicMMd. ONo 44286
(2t6) 669-6631
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FLAGS OF ALL NATIONS Custom flags, flag poles,
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(215) 675-1040
CONSULTANTS
BLAVIER. DONALDSON A JONES i ii
Iheaue cor>sultir^g
conr^pany made up ol tt^ealre nurugers arvj
professiorwis We will do blind checks S audits for your
curcuit with an on-going contract or an auditbyaudit
account Many other services are available, each |ob
custom taikxed to your companies needs, anywhere m
ttie country, no matter how large or small you are. we
are ready to help you Let us know wtiat you need
Contact Rhys Blavier at 121 Dove Avenue. Suite B,
Macomb. Illinois 61455
MISCELLANEOUS
FREE .
T APE about a new Christian
organization— Theatre Managers & Motion Picture
dustry For Christ RUSH! For your FREE tape, write
Theatre Managers for Christ. P O Box 9306. Waterbury,
CT 06724 Please Care & Catch The Vision!
WANTED: Collections of movie posters arx) kjbby
cards Will buy a lew or many Order materials prelerred
but will consider all offers. Call (213) 851-
9346
CASH PAID FOR: One sheets, lobby cards, inserts.
22x28s. etc No amount too small or large Poster
exchange welcomed We will clean out and pick up
large lots All inquiries will be answered Call or Wnte
Gregg Sabbatino 201-262-3513. 488 Henley Ave.
New Milford. N J 07646
WANTED: MOVIE POSTERS, lobbies, stills, etc Will
buy any sized collection The Paper Chase. 4073 La
Vista Road. Tucker. GA 30084 (404) 270-1239
HOTTEST LIVE ENTERTAINMENT news and review
show syndicated on two cable stations m the Richmond
area is looking to expand into ottier markets in
need of exciting programming For more information
and '2 or '. tape, send company letterhead to ON
SCREEN. P O Box 141. Hopewell. VA 23860
CASH PAID lor old movie posters Large or small
quantities In business since 1949 Theater Poster
Exchange, 2780 Frayser Blvd .
Memphis. TN 38127.
(901) 357-1649 anytime
ABSOLUTE AUCTION
May Twin Theatre
1515 N. May, Oklahoma City, OK
Wednesday, Nov. 16lh,10 a.m.
Inspection: 9 am. day ot sale only!
COMPLETE MOVIE THEATRE: 2 CmomscanKS DG8 M 2
Knesley Xenoi Pup Lamps, 2 Cer^uryC Projectors, 2 Smiptei
SH 1 (XX) Sound Reproducers. 2 Sirnplei Pedaslab. 2 Xelrol IV
Dimmers, 2 Eprad Co operator Automatic Coniol. 2 Teco
Upper Film Handling Arms and Holers. 2 Teco Lower fim
Handling Arms and Rollers. 2 Xelron Fail Sale Oevcas. 9
1 5.0(X)' Floating Hub Reels. 65 Amp Motor Gene rtlor. ? Knes
ley Xenor Rectiliers 6S Amp. Eiciler Limp S

1
WE'D LIKE TO
REMIND YOU
THAT THE
UNCENSORED
CONTENT
OF THIS
MAGAZINE
IS MADE
POSSIBLE
BY THE
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
UNITED STATES.
THF
CONSTITUTION
'J he words wc live by'
To Irani more about rhc Ccinsimnion wntt Con
siituiion. Washin^ion. D,C lo'^.oQ- The Commu
5i.in on the BKcnifnni.iI ofThc V S Co:>,tiiuti."';i touitil
|l quality
spare parts
Ad Index
Automaticket 38
C Cretors & Co 9
Christie Electric Corp
C2
Crest Sales of Texas 38
Eastman Kodak Company 6
Filmack Studios 13
Gold Medal Products Co 23
Greer Enterprises
Madden Theatre Supply Co
Hurley Screens
International Cinema Equipment Co Inc..
Just Born, Inc
Kintek, Inc
Odell's
Omniterm Ltd
Ricos Products
Silver King Refrigeration
Soundfold International
Theatron Data Systems
Weldon, Williams & Lick
CREST SALES OF TEXAS-MOTION PICTURE EQUIPMENT
Complete Sales — Service
AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTOR FOR MANY MANUFACTURERS
Ed Cernosek
1900 S. Central Expressway
Dallas, TX 75215-1309
Response No. 43
Roy Lisenbe
214-421-5692
SILENT SALESMAN
Doesn't Boil or
Steam Flavor Out
STEAMEnE
Portable Steam Table
water under pans
jooc without
^"3 pans
F.O.B. QUINCY, MICH. 49082
GREER ENTERPRISES, INC.
BOX 35, QUINCY, MICH. 49082
Response No 45
HURLEY SCREENS
Spare parts for 55 & 55/70 mm Westar, Century,
Westrex. Cinecita, Monee. Cinemex, Simplex,
Brenkert, Motiograph, and many other projectors,
soundheads and sound systems
Finest quality attractively priced, dealer discounts,
fast service Write for our list Dealer
inquires invited
SUPERGLO
A durable pearlescent,
smooth surface
offers maximum reflectivity
& ligtit distribution.
SILVERGLO
A smooth, aluminized
surface offering the
highest reflectivitv for
special applications
such OS 3D.
FRAMING -
All types available.
MW-16
A heavy guage r
white surface of
excellent light di;
tion. image clarity
color rendition.
Westar precision machine parts exclusively
distributed by international Cinema Equipment
Company inc
A^/^ incernacionai cinema
equipmenc company inc
1^^
^•^^ 6750 N E 4lh Court/Miami, FL 33138 USA
Telephone (305) 7560699
roie>. 522071, Teielax 758-2036
AijtofiHjllck#t
A dMskxi o( Cemcofp
1515 MeiroseLane
PO Box 105
Forest HIil, Md 21050
(301)838-0036
/ffil/nnfi/ifAaA
AUTOK4ATED HIGH SPEED
U/L APPROVED TICKETING EQUIPtVlENT
Factory Service, the only authorized
manufacturer and repair center
Hurtay tcf»«f
A SuCtsidtafv of
I
1610 Robin Circ
PO Box 217
Forest Hill. Md 2
(3011&3^9333
Response No 4
Response No 47
38 BOXOFFICE

3, Reader
Void after January 1989
Service
3fFor more information,
wril* adv«rU*«m*nl and product naws Ratpont* Numbar* in Ihaaa boiaa.
Void after January 1989
Reader Service
For more information,
wrlla advarllaamanl and product nawa
7
17
IgTitle
Company
Street
Cily
State _
Zip.
Phone
Date
—Parent Company or Circuit, if any
D Theatrical Extvbition
8 Q Equipmenl'Supplies
1 ri Indoor 2 Outdoor 3 O Both 9 O AssrvCatMe TV Govt/
4 n Nonthealncal Exhibition Unioabbfary Education
5 n News Media 10 Video Related Business
6 " Film Dislnbution 1 1 O Provide Services lo the Movie Industry
7 Film Production 12 O Oltier

Toronto,
\ I
!-
wrimryL
OMNITERM
Computerized Ticketing Systems
-t
CUSTOMIZED
To meet your exact needs!
Using advanced technology, OMNITERM Systenns
speed, flexibility and
provide the state-of-the-art in
simplicity for multi-screen theatres.
OPTIOIMS;
• Advanced Sales
^^
Integrated
Concession Sales
• Home Office
Telecommunications
• Numbered Seats
• Advanced Booking
Dmni term
DATA TECHNOLOGY LTD.
1209 King Street W Cafvtdfl M6K
. 1G2
Tel. (416) S31 0023 Fax (416) 531 -8047
No 48
645 Shawmigan Drive. Ocopee. MA.. U.S A. 01020
Tel. (413)594-6611 Fax (413) 594 2565

vve ve given burne ridvurrui
Old friends a fresh new look.
Just Born presents old flavor favorites in
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Joes® and Hot Tannales®..tlie same wonderful
candies everyone loves..now with a
--
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These products, plus our Rodda®
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gourmet jelly beans, are now under
our contemporary new company
logo This modern design symbolizes
our commitment to growth through aggressive
marketing programs and new product introductions
Welcome to the new Just Born!
Building on Our Tradition of Qualitv!
JusrJV)Mt®
Response No. 50