Boxoffice-September.10.1979

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BOXOFFICE/SEPTEMBER 10, 1979
HOLLYWOOD
Bernardo Bertolucci will introduce and
discuss his latesi film. "Luna." during the
special tribute honoring him as part of the
American Film Institute's National Conference
on Film and Television. Oct 1 1-14.
The film will have its West toast premiere
Oct. 1 2 at the Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences Jill C las burgh stars in
"Luna" as a famous American opera singer
Producer-director Peter Yates and 20th
Century Fox have received the award of
excellence from the Film Advisory Board for
"Breaking Away." The presentation was made
Aug. 26 at the Hollywood Bowl restaurant to
Art Levison. associate producer of the film,
and Eddie Kafafian. national director of promotion
for Fox.
Avco Embassy has changed its mind again,
going back to "A Man. a Woman and a Bank"
title for the feature starring Donald
Sutherland. For a short time the film was called
"A Very Big Withdrawal."
Casablanca Film Works has completed principal
photography on "The Hollywood
Knights," a Columbia release.
John Badham has signed a two-year deal
with Paramount to produce and direct films.
No details on forthcoming projects were given
in the announcement by Donald C Simpson,
vice president in charge of production.
Badham most recently directed Universale
"Dracula" starring Frank Langella. and before
that Paramoum's "Saturday Night Fever."
Marvin H. Bernstein, president of Brandeis
University, will be the principal speaker at the
Sept. 26 dinner honoring Ashley A. Boone Jr..
president of distribution and marketing at
20th Century-Fox. Boone, a I960 graduate of
Brandeis. will be inducted as a member of the
university's Presdent's Council at the dinner at
the Plaza Hotel. Proceeds from the dinner will
be used to establish a scholarship fund in
Boone's name. General chairman for the dinner
is Dennis C. Stanfill. chairman, president
and chief executive oficer of 20th Century-
Fox Film Corp.
Debbie Reynolds, Jane Withers and the
Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will join to
create a Hollywood Museum, ending years of
separate attempts by each to form a central
location to contain motion picture
memorabilia. Reynolds and Withers control
two of the largest private collections of
Hollywood memorabilia and artifacts and will
display them at the new facility. The chamber
will contribute its Hollywood Historic Trust to
the venture. A museum site in the Hollywood
and Vine area is to be announced shortly.
SAN DIEGO
Richard Rush, director of "Freebie and the
Bean" and "Getting Straight." was in town
last week to preview his new film. "The Stuntman,"
starring Peter OToole. Steve Railsback
and Barbara Hershey, at Mann's Valley Circle
Theatre. "The Stuntman" has been two years
in the making, some of which was spent on
location in San Diego for nine weeks in
November and December of 1977. Locations
used were La Jolla Cove and Hotel del Coronado.
The hotel, which happens to be a
national landmark, was also used in the com
edy classic, "Some Like It Hot" and will be
seen in "Loving Couples."
In an interview with the San Diego Union's
Carol Olten. director Rush said. "We are
testing two versions at the sneaks. The one
that will be screened here is the shorter version.
The other picture has 15 minutes more
footage toward the front of the film." Rush
also said that he loves the film and that he's
"ready for an honest verdict."
In that case. Rush was probably very disap
pointed with the preview. Shown before the
preview was "North Dallas Forty." which was
well received. "The Stuntman" was not.
Members of the audience were laughing
during unintentionally funny moments and
booed during the end credits.
"Time was when you could always count on
Irwin Allen for two things—a somewhat sappy
story and spectacular special effects," writes
Bill Hagen of the Evening Tribune. "Well,
'Beyond the Poseidon Adventure' indicates
that you can still count on him for one of
them. The Nelson Gidding screenplay is so silly
it makes 'The Swarm' look like literature. But
what happened to the special effects They
look like culls from Allen's 'Voyage to the Bottom
of the Sea' television series. Even the
water raging through the capsized liner looks
as perilous as a Jacuzzi."
A major student production is scheduled to
finish work here this week. TRI Productions
has been working since June 25 on "The
Cove," the story of the psychological terror
that follows in the wake of a shark attack.
Being shot on local beaches, the film has gotten
tremendous publicity in local papers and
on local TV news shows.
DENVER
Steve Wells, who operates the Alhambra
Theatre in Pleasant Grove, Utah, has signed
with Dick Epperson Film Service to do his
buying and booking.
Don Graham, who operates theatres in
Mountain Home. Idaho, has renamed his
theatres. The Canyon Theatre will now be
known as the Gaslight and the Motor-Vu now
becomes the Twilight Drive-In Theatre.
Warner Marketing in Bozeman. Monthandles
the datings for both theatres.
Morrie Birnbaum and Bruce Marshall of
the local Columbia office traveled to Billings,
Mont., for some meetings with Tim Warner of
Warner Marketing.
TUCSON
Subscriptions lor U of As 4th annual
Classic Film Series are now available. The
series' 32 films screen on alternate weeks Mon
day to Friday at 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost for
nonstudents is $10 and S8 lor students. Fall
semester subscriptions are $5 for students and
S6 for nonstudents.
SAN FRANCISCO
The Telluride Film Festival this year
attracted Gary Meyer of Parallax Theatres,
Ted Shugrue from Columbia Pictures and
Mike Thomas and Jesse Beaton, representing
Mike Thomas Theatres.
Jack Green has retired from his partnership
position at Motion Picture Service as of Aug.
31.
Paul Kolas has been promoted from the
contract department at Paramount Pictures to
a booker position, replacing Eric
Kleinhandler. who is leaving the Bay Area.
Henry Pryzborowski, after nearly 40 years
in the film business, is retiring as local head of
National Film Service. A retirement party in
his honor was held at Oronte's Sept. 6.
Parallax Theatres took over operation of
the Tower triplex, Sacramento, on Sept. 7.
Pacific Theatres has also terminated operation
of the Fruitridge Drive-In. Sacramento, which
is scheduled for demolition.
PORTLAND
New employees include Dave Peterson.
former publicity and promotion director of
Paulic International Enterprises, advertising,
Vickie Connor, payroll and accounting, and
Mark Sannes, boxoffice reports.
New managers include Carla Haynes at the
Soulhgate in Salem, Don Moore at the Music
Box in Portland, Jay Kim at the Town in
Hillsboro, Ben Nestell at the North Salem
Drive-In and George Ramsdell, formerly with
General Cinema in Florida.
Luxury Theatres, also known as Tom
Moyer Theatres, is one of several defendants
in a lawsuit filed by Moyer Theatres Inc..
first run report
LOS ANGELES
Alien (20ih Fox). 7 screens,
I5thwk $57,100
Americathon IUAI. 6 screens.
3rdwk 22,500
The Amilvville Horror (AD. 23 screens,
5th wk 175,700
Apocalypse Nov. (UA), Cinerama Dome,
2ndwk 143.600
Bevond the Poseidon Adventure iWBl,
Westwood II. 2nd wk 6.200
Breaking Awav l20th Foxl. 7 screens,
Istwk 73,500
Citv on Fire lAvco), 14 screens.
1st wk. (4 da) 55.900
The Concorde— Airport '79 (Univl.
6 screens. 4th wk 36.800
Dirt I American Cinema Releasing). 15 screens,
Istwk 120,500
Dracula lUnivl, 9 screens. 17th wk 9.400
Hot Stuff (Col). 17 screens.
2ndwk 125,800
The In-Laws IWBl. Century Plaza
1 Ith wk. 6.500
Jaguar Lives (All, 3 screens,
Istwk. (4 da) 108.200
The Last Wave [World Northall. Royal.
15th wk 8,400
La Cage Aux Folles IUAI, Music Hall.
6th wk 41,600
The Life of Brian (Orion WBl. 2 screens,
2ndwk. 76,200
Love and Bullets (AFDl. 17 screens,
lstwk.(4da) 83,400
Meatballs (Para), 2 screens, 7th wk 6,300
Moonraker(UA). 12 screens. 9th wk 72.400
More American Graffiti lUnivl. 8 screens.
4th wk 33,600
The Muppet Movie IAFDI, 18 screens,
4th wk 142,900
North Dallas Forty (Para). 9 screens,
4th wk 71,400
Picnic At Hanging Rock (Atlantic).
2 screens, 5th wk 9.700
Rich Kids (UA), Plaza Westwood,
2ndwk 19.600
Saint Jack (New Worldl, Avco Westwood.
Istwk 16.700
The Seduction of Joe Tynan (Univ),
8 screens, 2nd wk 101,300
Soldier of Orange (TIPSl, Fine Arts,
10th wk 8,300
•Star Wars (20th Fox). 16 screens.
2ndwk 129.800
The Villain (Coll. 5 screens. 4th wk 24.800
Wifemistress (Quartetl. Weslland, 8th wk. 6.800
SAN FRANCISCO
Alien (20th Fox). NorthPoint. !4thwk $15,251
The Amitvville Horror (All. 3 theatres.
5th wk 12.440
Bonjour Amour (Atlanticl. Cento Cedar.
Istwk 3.191
Breaking Away l20th Foxl, Alexandria
6th wk 9.513
The Concorde— Airport '79 lUnivl. Ghirardelli.
4th wk 3.323
A Force of One (American C memal. 4 theatres.
Istwk 54.956
Hot Stuff (Coll. Cinema 21. 2nd wk 5.433
La Cage Aux Folles lUAl. 4 Star. 7th wk. .
. 20.582
Love on the Run iNew Worldl. Clay.
4th wk 6,334
Manhattan (UAI. Vogue. 1 Ith wk 5.375
Moonraker (UAI. Serra. 9th wk 3.420
11
whose president is Larry Moyer, Tom's
brother Other defendants in the $5 million
suit are Warner Bros Distribution Corp., 20th
Century-Fox Film Corp.. Paramount Pictures
Corp., Universal Film Exchange Inc., Metro
Goldwyn Mayer Inc., American International
Pictures, the Motion Picture Association of
America, the Eastgate Theatres Inc., Broad
way Cinema Inc., General American Theatres
Inc. and Orewash Theatres Inc.
The suit alleges that the defendants have
illegally restrained trade by conspiring since
1 970 to control which theatres obtain rights to
exhibit certain (mostly first-run) films and to
discourage and prevent new film production
and distribution businesses in Oregon and
Washington
More American Graffiti lUnivl, Coronet,
4th wk 3,810
The Muppet Movie IAFDI, 3 theatres.
4th wk. 23,122
North Dallas Forty (Para). Regency II.
4th wk 14.784
Rich Kids (UAI. Regency I, 2nd wk 7.672
Saint Jack (New Worldl, Bridge. 5th wk. . 6,693
The Seduction of Joe Tvnan (Univl, Royal,
Istwk 22,197
•Star Wars (20th Foxl. 3 theatres. 2nd wk. 17,917
The Villain ICol). 3 theatres. 2nd wk 8.992
The Wanderers (WBl. Metro I. 3rd wk. 12.794
Wifemistress (Quartet!, Stage Door. 23rd wk 3,872
DENVER
Alien (20th Foxl, Cooper, 14th wk $14,500
Americathon (U A). 5 screens. 3rd wk 1 1.800
The Amitvville Horror (AD, 5 screens,
5th wk 26.000
Breaking Away (20th Foxl. 2 screens.
4th wk 16.400
The Concorde— Airport '79 lUnivl, 3 screens.
4th wk 9,100
Dracula (Univ), Colorado 4, 7th wk 2,700
Hot Stuff ICol). 7 screens. 2nd wk 42.500
The In-Laws (WBl. 3 screens. 1 1th wk 16.700
The Main Event (WBl. 2 screens. lOthwk. .8.500
Moonraker (UA), Continental. 9th wk 14.500
More American Graffiti (Univ). 4 screens,
4th wk 10,800
North Dallas Forty (Para). 5 screens.
4th wk 35.300
Rockv II (UA), University Hills I & 2.
llthwk 15,900
The Seduction of Joe Tvnan (Univ), 4 screens,
2ndwk 29,300
•Star Wars (20th Fox), 9 screens.
2nd wk 55.400
Unidentified Flying Oddball (BV).
4 screens, 4th wk 6,700
The Villain (Coll. 2 screens. 6th wk 4,400
TOTAL ENTERTAINMENT
FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT
My]
Filbert Company
Theatre Systems
1100 FLOWEB STREET. GLENOACE. CA 91201
(213) 247-8550
2503 - 152nd AVE.. HE, REOMONO. WA 96C52
(206)885^)200