Boxoffice-May.21.1979

UAjVideo Corp. Deal Includes 20
Pictures for Home Videocasettes
NEW YORK—Two landmark agreemenis
have been signed in the past four weeks by
Video Corp. of America (Video Corp.). One
with United Artists gives Video Corp. the
exclusive license of 20 films for rental distribution
in the home video market. The
other, with Sony Corp. of America, involves
the distribution by Video Corp. of these
features and others on prerecorded videocassettes
as a premium to 50,000 new Sony
Betamax purch;isers.
On March 5. United Artists Corp.
and Video Corp. of America jointly announced
an e.xclusive agreement to license
20 major motion pictures for rental distribution
to the home video market. The agreement
marks the first nationwide rental release
of prime motion pictures on videocassettes
by one of the major motion picture
distributors. Video Corp. plans national
distribution to begin in May/June 1979.
'Combining Our Knowledge'
Gerald F. Phillips, vice president of
United Artists said, "We believe the home
video market will be an important source
of revenue to United Artists Corp. UA will
work closely with Video Corp., endeavoring
to combine our knowledge of film distribution
with Video Corp.'s expertise in the
home video market."
The agreement represents a 3'/i year
license for the rental to the home video
market of a group of major United Artists
features, some of which have never appeared
on national television. They will be
released on videocassettes in their original,
uncut, theatrical versions and will rent from
$9 to $14 for a seven day viewing period in
the home. Video Corp. will distribute cassettes
that are compatible with all major
formats of home video tape cassette players.
UA anticipates its royalty revenues from
Video Corp.'s cassette rentals will exceed
$1,000,0000 during the ne.xt 3l2 years.
'Higli Potential Industry'
The UA pictures are exclusive to Video
Corp. in the consumer videocassette rental
market, and will be distributed together vvilh
a comprehensive library of other major features
and specials in the classics, adiili,
sports, and children's categories.
"In my opinion, UA's entrance into llic
home video market constitutes a most sig
nificant event in this growing, high potential
industry," George Gould, chairman oi
the board of Video Corp., said. "It represents
a carefully researched decision by
UA that the rental concept of pay-for-play
distribution, which is consistent with ihe
historical exhibition pattern of the movie
industry, is the most viable way to participate
in the consumer video market. The
long-term values of UA's extensive and
impressive library will be fully preserved
by our licensing to the consumer only Ihe
light to view a picture for a limited period.
Ownership of the property is never transferred,"
Gould added. "This extends the
theatrical exhibition principle unchanged into
the emerging home video market and
should be seriously considered by all producers
and distributors planning to enter the
market place."
MOTION PICTURES RATED
BY THE CODE & RATING
ADMINISTRATION
American Nitro
(Cannon Releasing Corp.)
Arabian Nights (UA)
The Brood (Mutual/Elgin)
Canterbury Tales (UA)
Chorus Call (Entertainment Ventures)
Count the Ways (Eudution)
Escape from Alcatraz (Para)
Escape to Athena
(Associated Film Dist.)
Feelings (Entertainment Ventures)
Felicia (Mature Pictures Corp.)
H.O.T.S. (Derio Prods.)
Human Experiments (Essex Dist.)
Just You and Me. Kid (Col)
Mad Max (AI)
Meatballs (Para)
Night of the Bloody Transplants
(Owl Prods.)
Rocky II (UA)
The Senator (Univ)
When a Stranger Calls (Col)
History Convention Set
NOTRE DAME, Ind.—The Theatre
Historical Society, dedicated to the study of
American theatre buildings, will hold its
annual convention July 13-16 in Los Angeles.
The emphasis this year will be on theatres
in the Los Angeles area. Highlights will be
visits and tours of the leading cinema
houses.
COMING SOON...
A
BIGGER
and
BETTER
BOXOFFICE
Australian Wines Add
Sparkle to Cannes
ANBERRA, AUSTRALIA—Over 60
Australian filmmakers, including producers,
directors,
actors and leading crew members,
will attended the 1979 Film Festival at
Cannes.
As part of the Australian promotion,
"1979, A Vintage Year for Australian
Films," they brought 1,500 bottles of Australian
wine and various Australian cheeses
for audiences watching the 16 feature films
presented this year.
The racks of special wines provided by
the Australian Wine Board for Cannes had
labels carrying the slogan and the AFC
lyrebird logo.
Three prominent directors who have been
making news on the international scene
Peter Weir. Fred Schepisi and Phil Noyce
were not be represented at Cannes this year.
(Left to right) Ken Watts, chairman
of the Australian Film Commission,
publicist Rea Francis and wine expert
Len Evans accompanied the Australian
contingent to the Cannes festival.
Weir, whose films "Picnic at Hanging
Rock" and "The Last Wave" hit the recent
Variety lists of the 50 top grossing films in
the United States, was preparing his next
movie, dealing with the Australian assault
at Gallipoli in World War I.
Fred Schepisi ("Devil's Playground" and
"The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith") was
also preparing his next movie.
Phil Noyce, whose film "Newsfront" was
acclaimed at last year's festival and which
has recently been a boxoffice successs in
Ix)ndon. was directing his new film "King
Hit."
Hopes were high for the 16 Australian
films screened at the festival. A $320,000
(Australian) campaign to promote the $10,-
000,000 investment recently got underway.
Among the films shown were "Dawn,"
"Blue Fin," "Dimboola," "The Money Movers,"
and "The Last of the Knucklemen."
12-Minute Cinderella
Short Gains Approval
NEW YORK—A I2-minute short on the
Cinderella theme stars a colt and is turning
out to be a winner around the country. Association/35,
theatrical arm of Association
Films, reports that acceptance of the film
"Cinderella Trotter" is running 35% higher
than average.
BOXOFFICE :: Mav 28. 1979