Boxoffice-August.11.1975

een made before Watergate, because peo-
pie wouldn't believe the power-hungry mar-
j
ATLANTA
Jt's a little early for Oscar talk, but Atlantans,
after seeing "Nashville."' arc talking
about the performance of Lily Tomlin,
making what must be considered her
motion picture debut, and Barbara Harris,
who has all manner of awards for her sitage
work. She has not made too many movies,
but was nominated for an Oscar as best
supporting actress in "Harry Kellerman."
Atlantans are very much interested in
the
casting for "Lombard and Gable." Latest
signing involved Morgan Brittany, a model
chosen to play Vivien Leigh in the picture.
It is a cameo role and her big scene is one
in which Clark Gable (James Brolin) escorts
her to the Coconut Grove night club during
the filming of "Gone With the Wind."
"Franny and Zooey," a play scheduled ai
the Trinity Presbyterian Church for July 24,
was canceled when the representatives of
J.D. Salinger, author of the story upon
which the play was based, "closed the door"
on the production, according to Jim Peck,
the play's director. Salinger does not grant
rights for adaiptations of his work. Peck and
Kent Stephens, who wrote the script, had
hoped the small, nonprofit production
would not be noticed. Turns out they were
wrong.
Georgia's Board of Natural Resources has
issued a list of some 35 (out of 85) stateowned
parks and historic sites that are to be
closed as the result of slumping state revenues.
This was an economy move aimed at
saving $454,000 and eliminating 28 jobs.
The bulk of these to be closed are "substandard,
marginal" parks and sites
the state
should give up in order to save money. It
is hoped that these locally oriented areas
will be picked up and operated by local
governments.
Shirley Jones was in Atlanta recently.
FOR ALL YOUR THEATRE NEEDS
Cinemeccanico Projectors * Carbons
Bt * ORC Equipment
* Xenon Bulbs * Reels
Capital City Supply Co., Inc.
124 16th St. N. W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30318
(404) 521-1244, 873-2545, 46, 47
Starring in a revival of "On a Clear Day
You Can See Forever," a tour which followed
her dramatic tperformancc in the title
role of "The Lives of Jennie Dolan." the
vehicle which marks producer Ross Hunter's
initial venture into TV. This two-hour special
was so special that both Paramount and
the National Broadcasting Co. network
withheld it from the end of the season runof-the-mill
fare and reruns in order to spotlight
it as one of its prestige fall film offer-
WXIA-TV, Combined Communications
Corp.'s Atlanta ABC-TV outlet, staged its
"Blast Off" fall presentation to 400 guests
at the Royal Coach Motor Hotel im. the
Castle Ballroom last month and put plenty
of stress on the film fare they will offer
during the season, along with other goodies
they will schedule. Their Sunday Night
Movie slot will include "The Sound of Music."
"Cabaret," "The Last Detail." "Five
Easy Pieces." "What's Up. Doc?" "You
Only Live Twice" and others. The Friday 9
O'clock Movie will offer "Down Hill Racer,"
"Bullitt," "Bonnie and Clyde." "Cool
Hand Luke." "Number One" and others.
Showing on the Saturday 11:30 p.m. Late
Movie will be "The Organization." "Welcome
to Hard Times." "The Brotherhood."
"Five Card Stud." "Villa Rides." "Will
Penny" and others. The network's Prize
Movie, with its weekly prize format, moves
to the 10 a.m. slot Monday/Friday and
brings a new package of films, such as
Susan Hayward Week, Mystery-Sus(pen,se
Week, Romance Week and Musical Comedy
Week. And. last, hut not least, the Sunday
Matinee offers exciting features such
as "Those Daring Young Men in Their
Jaunty Jalopies." "Call Me Bwana," "Love
Is a Ball," "Can Can," and "Up the Down
Staircase."
This year 1975 marks the 20th anniversary
of Kirk Douglas' film company, Bryna
Productions, which he organized so he could
keep more creative control over his films.
(Bryna was named after his Russian mother.)
Douglas claims he has always been interested
in the creative side of filmmaking
from inception to completion. It was not
until he made "Scalawag" that he got around
to directing, although he spent a lot of lime
peering over directors' shoulders. In town
to promote his latest film "Posse," in which
he stars, directs and produces, he told how
he long wanted to film a "different" version
of a western. He found what he was after
in "Posse," which had been languishing on
the "abandoned" shelf at Paramount Pictures.
He doesn't think "Pos.se" could have
shal he plays. With more than 50 films to
his credit, Douglas has run the acting gamut
from hero to villain and just about every
shade in between. What's he going to do
after "Posse" is on the road? "I'm going to
take about six months off and do absolutely
nothing."
'Godfather' Combo for TV
Upsets Theatre Reviewer
ATLANTA—Scott Cain, movie reviewer
for the Atlanta Journal and writer for the
Sunday Journal, is highly indignant over
Francis Ford Coppola's plani to merge "The
Godfather" and "The Godfather, Part 11"
into a new film.
Cain, writing in the Journal, said he has
no quarrel, per se, with the project but he is
infuriated over the fact that Coppola is
doing it directly for TV.
"This has to be one of the worst insults
to moviegoers, who made the first 'Godfather'
the biggest boxoffice movie of all
time and put 'The Godfather, Part 11' among
the highest in coinage . . . It's also turning
the back on the movie industry, which rewarded
both "Godfather' movies with Oscars
as the best of their years, the first time
Hollywood has bestowed its top prize on
both an original film and a sequel," he
said.
" "The Godfather' was created as a motion
picture work. If Coppola wants to continue
tinkering with his already notable achievement,
that's entirely his prerogative. CertaiiOily
there's plenty of money to do anything
his heart desires. Everybody connected
with 'The Godfather' has made {Wts
and pans," added Cain, "but if Coppola is
bringing forth a substantially different film,
the moviegoing public is owed a first look."
This creation of a mammoth Corleone
story, using footage not incorporated into
is the originals, the fulfillment of a dream
that Coppola has mentioned a number of
times. Cain noted, but "unfortunately he is
doing it directly for TV for one of those
multi-million dollar deals . . . not even a
test engagement in theatres. No prestigious
show dates in key cities. Just sitraight to the
lube, perhaps as early as next year."
Apollo Theatre Raided
SPRINCiDAl.H. ARK..—Two men were
chargL-il late last month with exhibiting an
cbscene film here at the ,\pollo Theatre,
Authorities viewed the film and then raided
the theatres, arresting owner J.T. Hitt. Bentcinville.
and projectionist Boyd Strickland.
Both were released on $2,500 bond after
pleading innocent to the charges rvlated to
the film "Touch Mo."
BETTER HYBRID POPCORN
DIRECT FROM THt GROWERS
50 LBS. OR 50 TONS
SotUfoctlon Guoronteed
STAR and GOLD MEDAL MACHINES
574-1079 m j n / SCOTTSBORO
Tel.
P.O. B«x 787 Word Popcorn Co. ala. 35768
All Popcorn Supplln 300 lbs. Prepaid
"Everything for your theatre— except
^
film"
800 Lambert Drive N.E,
305 S, Church St
Atlanta, Go. 30324
Charlotte, N.C. 28202
(404) 876-0347
(704) 334-3616