Boxoffice-September.03.1979

. Gerber
I
10 BOXOFFICE/SEPTEMBER 3, 197!
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SAN ANTONIO
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doza and Melani Temente Tickets for the
premiere showing were $5 and proceeds went
to benefit the annual Christmas telethon held
on KWEX TV.
Six Women, all nationally acclaimed
Hispanic film directors, were honored at a
party in the lagoon area of the Theatre for the
Performing Arts on Aug 24 The party was in
connection with the fourth Chicano Film
Festival, CineFestival, which was held Aug.
24-25. Honored directors were Carmen
Tafolla, Leticia Ponce, Grace Castro Nagata,
Sylvia Morales, Margarita Strasberg and
Marcela Fernandez Violante. director of the
award winning film "De Todos Modos. Juan
te Llamas ." Sponsored by Oblate College of
the Southwest, CineFestival is the only
national film conference which exculsively
screens productions created by Hispanic film
makers.
"Americathon" was reviewed by Bob
Polunsky in the San Antonio Light and he
said the picture "spoofs politics, youth,
capitalism and marriage. Unfortunately, we
have loo much spoofing of these same institutions
in real life for such a satire to be funny.
Instead it's painfull) realistic." He reviewed
"More American Graffiti" by saying the pic
lure "is just what the title says. All the
characters from the original 'Graffiti' are back
(except Richard Dreyfuss). New we can see
who grew up and who just grew older. It was
produced with a light touch to make it a
logical extension of that first film We follow
the characters one by one, noticing at times
with satisfaction how they turned out. But
there are some innovative effects that should
be noted. Like the first film, the music is
handled with originality and taste. The
background score used to develop
'atmosphere' for the Vietnam War scenes is
especially noteworthy."
HOUSTON
Eric Gerber, Houston Post film critic, in
reviewing "The Seduction of Joe Tynan"
wrote, "traditionally, summer is devoted
almost exclusively to 'wowee' movies,
mindless fun like 'Main Event' and 'Airport
'79' aimed at out of schoolers with out-tolunch
taste. What a refreshing surprise, then,
is 'The Seduction of Joe Tynan," a political
melodrama (in the best sense of that word)
written by and starring Alan Alda This is
decidely not 'wowee'— no aliens, vampires or
vampire bats, sabotaged Concordes, 007,
Muppets and/or Brooke Shields. This story of
the complications attendant to a successful
young senator's rise to power will be most
enjoyed by folks who've been known to read
Texas Observer or New Yorker once in a
while, realize 'Annie Hall' was a serious
movie, and no longer think the way Cher
dresses is 'keen': in short, adults, nay, more
than simply adults—thinking, educated
adults. . says of "Love and Bullets":
"Charles Bronson plays a tough cop—so what
else is new It's every bit as tired as that
unbelievably hokey title (which, by the way.
gets my nod along with 'Who'll Stop the Rain'
as the worst movie names of recent memory).
Branson's star seems to be in decline right
now. His recent films like 'White Buffalo,'
'From Noon Til Three' and "St. Ives' have
been, at best boxoffice mediocrities, not to
mention critical lead balloons; only 'Telefon'
(with Lee Remick somehow managing to
elbow out the inevitable Jill Ireland as Bron
son's co star) was anything worth mentioning.
'Love and Bullets' continues this disappointing
trend."
CycleRama studio near completion
SHFLBY. N. C— Producer Farl Owensby
has begun construction on a new million
dollar underground CycleRama sound stage at
his LO Studios here and completion is scheduled
in six weeks.
The underground stage is believed to be the
lirst such motion picture facility, Owensby
said The soundproof concrete structure will
contain 1 5.000 square feel ol work space. The
soundstage will be the seventh unit at LO
Studios, making the facility "the largest
motion picture production facility in the
United Slates outside of Hollywood and New
York." according to Owensby.
The underground stage will be used for the
first time in the filming of "The Plantation,"
which Owensby is producing. When not needed
lor motion picture production the stage will be
available lor rental clients filming commercials.
Owensby said.
first run report
NEW ORLEANS
Alien l20th Foxl. Loews 2. 7ih wk $2,662
The Amitviille Horror IAIi. 2nd wk
Loews 3 19.210
Pla/a4
1 9.850
Dracula (llniv), Sena Mall. 4ih wk 3.087
Escape from Alcatra/ (Paral. 3rd wk.
Loews I
5.6 10
Lakeside 3 8.554
List of fun. Part II (SRi. Orphcum.
2ndwk 10.632
lhe ln-l.a»s iWBl. lakeside 2.
8lhwk 8.076
A Little Romance (Orion WBl. Likcside 4,
4th wk ...5.775
Rocky II |l \\. theatres, 9th wk 20.69!
The Villain (Coll. 3 theatres, 1st wk 42.416
CHARLOTTE
Alien l20lh l-oxl. Park Terrace I,
1 1th wk $147,128
The Amityvillc Horror lAlL.Trvon Mall I,
2ndwk 56.130
The Apple Dumpling dang Rides Again IIIVl.
Eastland Mall 2. 5lh wk ... 23.738
Bruee Lee The Man (Simpson Dist. Co.),
Village, 1st wk 3.215
The Concorde—Airport '79 (Untvl. Regency I.
Islwk 9.006
DraculalUmvi. South Park II. 1st wk H 1.-41-4
Escape From Alcatraz (Paral. C harlottetown
Mll3.7thwk 61.606
Steve Moore has taken a 10 week leave of
absence with the Greater Houston and
t^^WHfflJl^ffl
Visitors Council to work as dialogue coach on
"Middle Age Crazy," which is being filmed in
Houston and Toronto
The Frisco Kid I WBl. Manor Theatre.
Istwk 5,219
The In l_a»s (WBl, Park Terrace 2.
8th wk 63,673
The Main Event (WBl, South Park I.
7(hwk 90,292
Meatballs (Paral. Eastland Mall 3.4th wk 61.618
MoonrakerlUAI. Easlland Mall l.6thwk 92.349
The Muppet MoiielAI 1)1. ( apn I. 3rd wk 45.053
North Dallas FortJ (Paral. 2 theatres.
Islwk 12.799
Rockyll|UAI.Capri2.8thwk 102.842
The Villain (Col), C harlotictown Mall I,
3rd wk 26.600
DALLAS
Americathon lUAl. 4 screens. 2nd wk $19,000
The Amityvillc Horror IAIi. 4 screens.
4th wk
_>8.(NKI
Breaking Away (20th Fox), Skillman Six,
Village. 4ih wk 8.574
the Main Event (WBl. North Park.
Promenade, 9th wk 7.602
Moonraker lUAl. Park Central. North Town.
8th wk 11.000
North Dallas Forty tParal. 5 screens.
3rdwk 65,000
Rocky II (UAI. C me. Skillman Six.
lOlh wk 9.526
•Star Wars (20th Fox), 1 1 screens. Isi wk 109.000
The Villain (Col). 4 screens. 5th wk 89.000
* reissue
HOLLYWOOD
Ihe Academy ol
Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences will reminisce on two of the
industry's most talked about eras in a pair of
upcoming programs
On Sept. 8 at the Academy, prominent stars
ol the silent screen will discuss their careers
and answer questions at a symposium on
acting in silent films. Ihe program is being
held in conjunction with the Academy's cur
rent exhibit of silent movie posters on display
in the lobby of the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre.
The symposium will be open to the public,
without charge, on a first-come, unreserved
basis
Musical numbers nominated lor an
Academy Award in the unheralded category
ol best dance direction will be the theme of a
90 minute program scheduled lor Sept. 10 at
the Academy.
LOS ANGELES
Gene Cofsky and Dick Gralman have been
appointed co-chairmen of the Sth annual
Variety Club lent 25 golf tournament and
awards dinner to be held Sept 17 at the
Mountain Gate Country Club in West Los
Angeles
he annual duller event was inaugurated in
1971 in memory of theatre executive William
Thedlord Proceeds go toward a scholarship
fund lor underprivileged youth in the Variety
sponsored boys club program. To dale, the
program has assisted 62 young men in their
pursuit of advanced education.
A limited number of golf and dinner rcser
valions were still available at press lime Those
persons interested in participating should con
tact the Variety Tent 25 headquarters at
274 8717.
Max and Robert Laemmle have acquired
the Town and Country Cinemas in Encino.
The three cinemas are at 1 7200 Ventura Blvd.
he triplex will offer many of the foreign films
I
that have regularly played at the other
Laemmle I heatres. Ihe opening attraction.
on Aug. 29. was "Picnic At Hanging Rock."
which will be continuing at two other
Laemmle Theatres—the Los Fell/ in
Hollywood and the Westland Twin in West
Los Angeles. "Picnic At Hanging Rock" is a
mystery, directed by Peter Weir, who also
directed "The Last Wave."
Ihe addition of the Town and Country
Cinemas in Encino will bring the number of
theatres operated by the Laemmles to 13.
A special advance screening of Warner
Bros/Orion's Time Alter lime" was held
Aug 26 at the Avco Cinema Center in
West wood.
I he film, which is scheduled to begin its
national engagements on Sept 28. was
presented as part of a series of programs
featuring the work of young new directors.
Ihe scries is sponsored bj the Eos Angeles
Cinematheque, a nonprofit service organiza
lion lor lilm and video professionals, teachers,
students and other interested persons.
SEATTLE
Director Richard Rush of Mel Simon
Productions' new release. "The Stuntman,"
was in town to talk with Seattle Post
Intelligencer movie critic Bill Arnold and
others. Rush returned on Aug. 25 to be on
hand for the first public audience reaction
preview showing of the film at the Bellevue
Overlake Cinema. The print shown was the 2
hour. 16 minute version which could be cut
down depending on audience reaction A big
hype was put on in the Seattle Post
Intelligencer's "206" section by critic Arnold,
who had seen the film previously in a private
showing in Los Angeles. Not only did the film
command the cover of the "206" section, but
there was a roaring top review of the film and
mention of it being sneak previewed the next
night.
Linda Blair is the new booker under branch
manager Candace Manning at the Seattle-
Portland Film Exchange at 975 John in Seattle.
Screened at the Seven Gables this past week
by this company were "Pourquoi Pas" (Why
Not) and "The Last Straw."
Other screenings all at the Uptown theatre:
American International's "Jaguar Lives" and
Warner Bros." "Abba. The Movie." The
screening of Warner Bros." "The Great Santim"
was pushed back from Aug. 24 because
the print didn't arrive from Portland as
scheduled.
"Richard Pryor Revisited" opened at the
Town theatre Aug. 24 and "Phantasm" had a
big opening Aug. 22 at the Admiral Twin, Bel
Kirk Drive In, Lynn Four, Renton in
downtown Renton, Puget Park Drive In, and
on Aug. 24 at the Duwamish and Aurora
drive ins.
A huge retirement party was held for A.B.
McGlinchey, branch manager of National
Screen at the Norselander Restaurant on Aug.
21. On hand to personally wish him well was
the head of National Screen from New York
City, Burton Robbins, who is also the Interna
tional President of Variety Clubs. Among
those present were heads of many of the area's
circuits, and exhibitors from as far away as
Idaho and Alaska. McGlinchey, who retired
Aug. 3 1 , was with National Screen since 1 940.
His replacement is Gene Lome, who has worked
along with "Mac" for 30 years. Bud Saffie was
the host of the festivities.
SAN DIEGO
Wall Disney's "Fantasia" is playing
exclusively at Mann's Cinema 21 Theatre in
Mission Valley Before the opening day
matinee, a contest was held in which children
under 14 could show off their artistic talents
by drawing Mickey Mouse. The grand prize in
the contest was a Mickey Mouse wrist watch.
People of all ages came to the College
Grove shopping Center last week to show off
their paper airplane (making and flying) exper
lise. This was a promotional gimmick for
Universale "The Concorde— Airport "79."
The event was sponsored by radio station
KGB and Pacific Southwest Airlines. T shirts
were given to all participants and passes to the
movie were given to winners in the flight and
design categories. Three PSA stewardesses
judged Ihe contest.
"I ining Couples," a new film starring
Shirley MacLame and the first feature to be
produced by Time Life Films Inc.. will be film
ing on location in San Diego for several days
this month.
The production will use the Hotel Del
Coronado as well as other location sites in the
area to film the romantic comedy . also starring
James Coburn. Susan Sarandon. Stephen Col
lins and Sally Kellcrman Local filming is
being coordinated by the San Diego Chamber
ofC oniincrccs Motion Picture and television
Bureau.
SAN FRANCISCO
WOMPIs of San Francisco to attend the
international convention in Jacksonville. I la..
Sept. 5 9 arc lillic Spadaro. UA EC . local club
president and international finance chairman,
and Jenny Soinmerville. Bucna Vista, interna
tional treasurer and newly appointed second
vice president of Ihe local club
Robert I.. Lippcrt I heatres has closed Ihe
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