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Promotion Blitz Set<br />
To Launch 'Coconuts'<br />
LOS ANGELES — Osmond<br />
Entertainment<br />
is matching its $3,200,000 production<br />
costs for a massive advertising and publicity<br />
blitz on Donny and Marie Osmond's first<br />
major feature, "Goin' Coconuts," it was<br />
announced by Alan Osmond, vice-president<br />
of Osmond Entertainment. The comedymystery<br />
spoof is scheduled for an October<br />
4 nationwide release with a gala charity<br />
opening in Los Angeles.<br />
Radio and TV saturation, a presell Dell<br />
paperback promotion, mid-August record<br />
release and promotional tie-ins with major<br />
corporations highlight the campaign, now in<br />
preparation.<br />
Both Kaleidoscope and PFT are developing<br />
concepts for key art, campaign slogans,<br />
billboards, exhibitor kits and TV and radio<br />
spots; Producers Creative Services is working<br />
on exploitation tools, and Scotti Bros,<br />
has been retained to do all radio promotions<br />
and spot placement.<br />
Publicity firms in 20 major markets will<br />
work as a network to localize and maximize<br />
the campaign's effectiveness and all publicity<br />
activities will be supervised by Phil Paladino<br />
Public Relations. CASS, a media buying<br />
service, is being used to place advertising in<br />
the college and high school press.<br />
"Goin' Coconuts," a Hawaiian Pictures<br />
production, completed shooting on location<br />
in Hawaii in April. John Cutts produced<br />
and Howard Morris directed. The feature<br />
will be released by Osmond Distribution<br />
Co., in association with Inter Planetary Pictures.<br />
The next feature slated for Osmond Entertainment<br />
is a science-fiction thriller<br />
titled "Cybernia," with Cutts producing.<br />
Casting currently is under way for this project,<br />
which is slated to go before the cameras<br />
in<br />
October.<br />
6 Members Added to Cast<br />
Of Universal's 'Gang!'<br />
UNIVERSAL CITY— Luis Reyes. Claudio<br />
Martinez. Eloy Phil Casados, Daniel<br />
Faraldo, Tony Alveranga and Angel Salazar<br />
have been cast as Chicano gang members<br />
in Universal's "Gang!", a Turman-Foster<br />
production being directed by Robert Collins<br />
for producer Lawrence Turman.<br />
Robby Benson and Sarah Holcomb star<br />
in the romantic drama that unfolds on a<br />
background of barrio gang rivalry in Venice.<br />
'Thank God It's Friday'<br />
Pleases the Netherlands<br />
AMSTERDAM—"Thank God It's Friday"<br />
has rolled up big grosses in its European<br />
debut in three cities in the Netherlands.<br />
The Columbia release of the disco film from<br />
Casablanca hit first-week figures of $22,514<br />
at the Cinerama in Amsterdam. $22,693 at<br />
the Luxor in Rotterdam and $12,962 at the<br />
Apollo I in The Hague.<br />
A Motown-Casablanca production for<br />
Columbia Pictures release, "Thank God It's<br />
Friday" was produced by Rob Cohen.<br />
lassie Provides Magic at RCMH<br />
Visiting in (he "star's" dressing room between shows are, left to right: Lassie;<br />
Bonita Granville Wrather, producer of "The Magic of Lassie"; Charles R. Hacker,<br />
executive vice-president of Radio City Music Hall, and Jack Wrather.<br />
Malcolm McDowell Signs<br />
For 'Time After Time'<br />
BURBANK — Malcolm<br />
been signed by producer Herb Jaffe<br />
McDowell has<br />
to star<br />
in "Time After Time." a Herb Jaffe production<br />
for Warner Bros, which begins filming<br />
September 18.<br />
McDowell, who received critical acclaim<br />
for his role in Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork<br />
Orange," will be top cast in the role<br />
of young H. G. Wells, who pursues Jack<br />
the Ripper into the future and saves a beautiful<br />
San Francisco woman.<br />
Latest 'Charlie Brown'<br />
Film Now in Production<br />
HOLLYWOOD — "Bon Voyage, Charlie<br />
Brown." fourth in a series of "Peanuts" adventure<br />
tales, has begun production with<br />
Bill Melendez producing and directing from<br />
Charles Schulz's screenplay.<br />
The film is produced by Bill Melendez<br />
Productions in association with L.M. Great<br />
Race for Paramount Pictures release.<br />
'Slithis' Is Big Winner<br />
During Summer of '78<br />
Des Moines— "Slithis," outstanding<br />
in its openings this summer, has grossed<br />
over $1,000,000 in the Des Moines-<br />
Omaha. Minneapolis, Kansas City and<br />
Jacksonville exchange areas, according<br />
to Dick Davis, president of Dick Davis<br />
Productions.<br />
Over 1,000 bookings have been .set to<br />
open before Labor Day, motivating<br />
Davis to predict "a gross of over $6,-<br />
000.000 before year's end." This<br />
achievement would make "Slithis" the<br />
biggest independent picture of the year,<br />
gross-wise.<br />
The tremendous acceptance of "Slithis"<br />
by moviegoers has resulted in plans<br />
for a sequel. "Slithis Returns," slated<br />
to begin filming in January 1979. Davis<br />
states that "Slithis" will be taken out<br />
of release in November 1978. then<br />
rerelcased in April 1979. Distribution<br />
of the sequel will be launched in April<br />
NEW YORK—A new boxoffice record<br />
of $309,647.25 for the highest opening<br />
week ever has been set by "The Magic of<br />
Lassie" at Radio City Music Hall, it was<br />
announced by Charles R. Hacker, executive<br />
vice-president and chief operating officer.<br />
The film, which opened Thursday (3).<br />
also had set boxoffice records for the biggest<br />
opening-day gross and the biggest four days<br />
of an opening week.<br />
As an added attraction. Lassie (in person)<br />
is appearing onstage at the opening of John<br />
Jackson's spectacular "Bizet and Bizazz."<br />
"The Magic of Lassie" also stars James<br />
Stewart. Mickey Rooney, Pemell Roberts,<br />
Stephanie Zimbalist, Alice Faye and Michael<br />
Sharrett.<br />
Bonita Granville Wrather and William<br />
Beaudine jr. produced the film, directed by<br />
Don Chaffey from a screenplay by Richard<br />
B. and Robert M. Sherman and Jean Holloway.<br />
'Force Ten From Navarone'<br />
Begins Publicity Push<br />
BEVERLY HILLS—"Force Ten From<br />
Navarone," the Christmas release from<br />
American International Pictures, is being<br />
touted in an advertising campaign which begins<br />
this month. Already exhibitors are being<br />
supplied with trailers, posters and other<br />
information about the film which stars<br />
Robert Shaw, Harrison Ford. Edward Fox,<br />
Carl Weathers and Franco Nero.<br />
Among future plans is an autumn media<br />
junket to the Caribbean, where the press<br />
and the stars will meet to discuss the film.<br />
a continuation of "The Guns of<br />
Billed as<br />
Navarone." "Force Ten From Navarone"<br />
is based on a novel by Alistair MacLean.<br />
with screen story by Carl Foreman and<br />
screenplay by Robert Chapman.<br />
Group I Gets World Rights<br />
To Science-Fiction Feature<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Group I has acquired<br />
worldwide theatrical and TV rights to<br />
"Plague." a "scicnce-fiction-fact" feature<br />
which president Brandon Chase plans to release<br />
in test engagements this October and<br />
worldwide later in the year.<br />
The film, now in posi-produclion and<br />
scoring, is ii Harmony Ridge production.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: August 21, 1978 15
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