Boxoffice-February.26.1973

to Release 10-14
Six-Month Period
HOLLYWOOD — "American
International
has the most important release schedule
in its history from February through August
1," announces Samuel Z. Arkoff. president
and chairman of the board of American
International Pictures. "'We are releasing
a minimum of ten features in this sixmonth
period and possibly as many as 14."
Lawrence A. Gordon. AIP vice-president
in charge of worldwide production, now has
three features under way in the Los Angeles
area, all to be available by August 1.
They are "Slaughter II." "Blacula 11" and
"Little Cigars." "Coffy" is completed.
AIF's first picture in national release in
February was "Black Mama, White Mama."
produced by John Ashley and directed by
Eddie Romero. "Black Caesar," underworld
story starring Fred Williamson and written,
directed and produced by Larry Cohen, has
just opened nationally.
"The Sisters" (tentative title), produced
by Ed Pressman and directed by Brian De-
Palrna, will be released in March. "Cannibal
Girls," out in April, was produced by
Daniel Goldberg and directed by Ivan Reitman.
Robert Sandler wrote the screenplay,
based on a story by himself. Goldberg and
Reitman.
Scheduled for May distribution are "Coffy"
and "Little Cigars." "Coffy," in which
Pam Grier plays the title role, is being produced
by Robert Papazian and was directed
by Jack Hill from his own screenplay. Chris
Christenberry is directing "Little Cigars" for
producer Albert Band, from a screenplay by
Louis Garfinkle and Frank Ray Perilli.
"Dillinger," considered one of AIP's most
prestigious productions, will be released June
20 following its premiere. Warren Oates
plays the title role, with Ben Johnson, Michelle
Phillips and Cloris Leachman also
starred. John Milius directed from his own
screenplay and Buzz Feitshans produced.
Also set for June distribution is "Blacula
II." William Marshall rejjeats in the title role
and Joseph T. Naar again is producing, with
Bob Kelljan directing.
"Slaughter II," currently filming in the
Los Angeles area with Jim Brown starring,
as he did in "Slaughter," goes into national
distribution July 3. Monroe Sachson, who
produced the original, also is producing the
sequel and Gordon Douglas is directing.
Other cast members are Ed McMahon.
Gloria Hendry, Don Stroud, Brock Peters,
Richard Williams and Jackie Giroux.
"Heavy Traffic" is being made now for
AIP by Steve Krantz and Ralph Bakshi, the
same team that created "Fritz the Cat."
The animated feature about human beings
will be released August 1. Three other completed
feature-length films are being considered
by AIP for distribution before that
LA Variety Tent to Fete
Frank Yablans Mar. 28
Los Angeles—Frank Yablans,
date, with the certainty that at least one will
be added to the schedule.
Leon P. Blender, American International's
executive vice-president in charge of sales
;ind distribution, states that the company's
intention is to maintain this rate of major
-.--,„, ,:, ;,-
,-\^f^ (uture.
president
and chief operating officer of
Paramount Pictures and Paramount
Television, will be honored at a testimonial
luncheon March 28 in the
Grand Ballroom at the Beverly Wilshire
Hotel by the Variety Club of
Southern California Tent 25.
Joseph Sinay, chief barker of the
showmen's organization, devoted to
aiding needy children, said Yablans
will be cited for his "dedicated efforts
in behalf of Variety Clubs' local and
worldwide charities."
Nat D. Fellman, president of National
General Theatres, and second
assistant
chief barker of Tent 25, will
serve as chairman of the special planning
committee for the luncheon, along
with Sherrill C. Corwin, international
president of Variety Clubs; M. J.
Frankovich, international vice-president;
Murray Propper, Tent 25 dough
guy, and Sinay.
Yablans is a member of Variety's
New York Tent 35, and also an international
ambassador. Last year, he
served as co-chairman of the Variety
International convention held in New
York.
NSS Again to Distribute
Oscar Ad Accessories
NEW YORK—Burton E. Robbins, president
of National Screen Service, announced
that his company once again would distribute
a special trailer, one-sheet and newspaper
ads for the 45th annual Academy
Awards telecast on NBC. March 27. This
year's trailer runs 30 seconds.
All major circuits throughout the country
have been asked to submit their requirements
to NSS for both one-sheets and
trailers; shipments will begin the week of
March 5, allowing ample time to publicize
the Oscar telecast of March 27.
All the motion picture distribution companies
have been requested to devote space
in their advertising to these special Academy
Awards accessories during the period immediately
prior to the Award telecast on
NBC.
'RoomMates' Grosses Reach
$1 Million First Month
HOLLYWOOD — "The RoomMates,"
General Film Corp's. latest release, has
grossed $1 million in its first month of release,
according to Don Gottlieb, GFC's
sales vice-president. The film has played
400 engagements in the South and Southwest.
Cannes Festival Will
Honor WB's 50th Year
XXVI Can-
BURBANK, CALIF.—The
nes Film Festival will celebrate the 50th
anniversary of Warner Bros. May 13-20
with a special weeklong series of events
that will highlight this year's festival, it was
announced by Maurice Bessy, festival director,
after a meeting at the Burbank
Studios with Ted Ashley, chairman of the
board and chief executive officer of Warner
Bros. Ashley will lead a Warner Bros.
contingent to Cannes for the celebration.
Included will be company officials and
stars, directors and producers of new Warner
Bros, films that will be shown at the
festival. Film titles will be announced
shortly, Bessy said.
Among the golden anniversary events at
Cannes will be presentation of a mini-retrospective
of a half-century of Warner Bros.
films and a gala golden anniversary party.
Warners will invite representatives of the
world press, radio and TV to be the company's
guests in Cannes and to participate
in the celebration and all other festival
activities, Bessy added.
"The 50th anniversary of Warner Bros.
is a milestone to be observed with an appropriate
salute by the international film
community that will gather in Cannes in
May," Bessy said. "We look forward with
great excitement to the celebration at Cannes,
where we will hail the film achievements
of the countless men and women
whose artistry and skill enabled Warner
Bros, to play such an important role in
film history and to become so vital a
force in the film world of the '70s."
Speaking for himself and for the entire
Warner Bros, organization, Ashley said:
"We truly are honored to have our golden
anniversary celebrated at the world's most
important film festival. We wish to thank
Bessy and the festival leadership. On our
part, we will do everything possible to
help make this year's festival the most successful
ever held."
Warner Bros., a Warner Communications
subsidiary, is observing a yearlong celebration
of the 50th anniversary of the
founding of Warner Bros. Pictures April 4,
1923. During the past five decades, Warner
Bros, has released more than 1,500
motion pictures.
AFI Tendered 6.8 Million
Of NGC's $40 Warrants
CINCINNATI — Of National General's
warrants outstanding, 72 per cent have been
tendered to American Financial Corp. of
Cincinnati in response to the latter's offer
of $6.75 each. AFC executives told the Wall
Street Journal that as of Wednesday (21)
tenders for about 6.800,000 of the $40 warrants
had been received. Previously, American
Financial had extended its tender offer
through Monday (26).
AFI owns about 21 per cent of National
General's common stock and intends to acquire
other NG securities through tender
or merger offers.
BOXOFFICE :: February 26, 1973