Boxoffice-September.17.1979

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ohollywood report ^i j
BOXOFFICE/SEPTEMBER 17, 1979
projects
COLDSTEELE AND NEON, a contemporary
romantic caper set against the
background of the Mardi (iras in New
Orleans, will be developed lor Warner Bros. b>
producers Dan Rissner, Jon Avnet and Sieve
I im.Ii Ezra Sacks and Richard Mellen wrote
i tic original screenplay which Sacks is
rewriting. Filming is planned lo begin next
>car
CHEAPER TO KEEP HER, starring Mac
producer.
DRESSED TO KILE, a George Lilto pro
duclion for American International release.
will begin filming Oct. 19 in New York C u
Brian De Palma will direct the $5 5 million
project. Starring in the psychological murder
mystery are Michael tame. Angie Dickinson
and Nancy Allen.
Paramount has signed Herbert Ross to
direct DRESS GRAY, to be produced by
Richard Roth from a screenplay by Gore
Vidal
a contemporary comedy satire produced by
the Jon Peters Organization and Orion Pictures.
Starring arc Chevy Chase, Bill Murray,
Rodney Dangerfield. Ted Knight and Michael
0'K.eefe. Harold Ramis is directing from an
original screenplay he wrote with Brian Doyle
Murray and producer Douglas Kenney.
Producers Ronald Saland and Eliot Geisinger
will being shooting in the spring on 666,
a horror story about a scries of related
demonic events occurring from the 1950s to
1979. Orion Pictures will release the horror
siory based on factual events written by
author screenwriter Jay Anson.
Davis, is scheduled lo begin principal
photography Oct. I for Regal Productions.
The romantic comedy, based on an original
screenplay by Timothy Harris and Herschel
Weingrod. will be produced by Lenny
Isenberg and Comnne Mann Ken Annakin
be produced by Gil Berkovitch.
will direct and Jerry Trankel will be executive
Filming will begin Sept. 17 on Johnny
Seven Productions' DEVIL AFFLUENCE, to
Universal has decided that THE NUDE
BOMB will be the new title for "The Return
of Maxwell Smart." the spoof starring Don
Adams as Secret Agent 86.
March Films of Canada will begin filming
Oct. 9 in Vancouver on CEBE, starring Linda
Manz in the title role and Raymond Burr co
starring in the story dealing with incest and
contemporary alienation. Leonard Yakir will
direct the script he wrote w ith Brenda Nielson.
Gary Jouvenal will produce with Yakir and
Paul Lewis will be executive producer.
Michael Douglas and his Big Stick Produc Casting
lions Company will produce ROMANCING
THE STONE as the first film under his three Ned Beaitv has signed for a role in Edie and
Ely Landau's HOPSCOTCH, the interna
year exclusive contract with Columbia. Pro
duction is expected to begin early next year on
the screenplay by Diane Thomas.
Principal photography began Sept. 4 on
THE GONG SHOW MOVIE, a
Universalis
Chuck Barns production starring Barns in the
comedy based on the TV show Budd Granoff
is producting and Barns is directing from the
screenplay he wrote with Robert Downey.
Professional Film Inc. and producers Elliott
Geisinger and Ronald Saland plan to begin
filming this fall on THE NIGHT THE
LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA, based
on the Bobby Russell song recorded by Vicki
Lawrence. Avco Embassy Pictures has signed
a deal for worldwide distribution rights
Release is scheduled for next summer.
Casablanca Record and LilmWorks plans to
begin filming in
October on KING OF THE
MOUNTAIN, the first self financed project
undertaken by the company under Us new arrangement
with Universal Pictures, which will
distribute the film in the United States. Pro
ducers Sales Organization has obtained inter
national distribution rights, Michael Butler
will direct and Brad Davis will star
Dick Clark Cinema Productions and T.K.
Productions arc developing THE ROADIE,
as a feature picture based on an original script
by Lennic Ripps and Pat Prof ft
MGM is developing KINCAID'S OLD
LADY, a contemporary musical love story for
which rock star Robbie Robertson will com
pose the musical score and star. The film will
be based on the screenplay by Ron rurbeville.
Michael Apted will direct and Jonathan
1 aplin, Reuben Bercovich and Spencer Young
will be producers
Caneveran Productions, based in Montreal.
and producer Peter Kroonenburg plan to
begin shooting in Holland Oct. 2 on THE
LUCKY STAR. Rod Steiger will star .is a German
officer who befriends a Jewish youngster
during the Nazi occupation of Holland, Film
ing also is planned for Canada
Filming began Sept. 5 at the Rolling Hills
Country Club in
\DDYSHACK,
tional caper feature scheduled to begin
shooting Sept 24 in Munich; Ronald Neame
is
directing.
Eli Wallach will portray a Los Angeles bail
bondsman who hires Steve McQueen lo hunt
down fugitives in THE HUNTER, the Rastar
Mort Engelberg production which began
shooting Sept. 10 in Chicago. Buzz Kulik will
direct the screenplay by William Levinson.
Richard Link and Peter Hyams.
Jim McMullan has a role in Universale
THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING
WOMAN.
Michael Rhodes will make his debut in films
by playing a sailor in sequences with Carrie
Snodgress in THE ATTIC.
Paul Quandt. 12 year-old novice, will have
a featured role in Melvin Simon Productions'
MY BODYGUARD.
Ruth Cox lias a featured role in Forum Pro
duclions' THE ATTIC.
Allovise Davis has signed for a co starring
role in Allan Carr's CAN'T STOP THE
MUSIC . EMI Jisco musical being directed by
Nancy Walker.
Pamela Reed will portray Belle Star in
LONG RIDERS, United Artists story
James and Younger gang.
THE
of the
Ciabnel Swann. 9 year-old son of actor
Stephen Macht. won out over 1.000 applications
lor a starring role in MGM's WHY
WOULD I I IE
(ilenda Jackson has signed to join Waller
Matthau in HOPSCOTCH, produced by
Edie and Ely Landau
Paul Sand will play a major recording in
dusir\ mogul in Allan Carr's CANT SLOP
THE MUSIC
Bob Shaw. George Spelman. Harvey Lentback
and Jerry Lee Rae have joined the cast ol
ITU GONG SHOW MOVIE, the Chuck
traduction fot
David Tomlinson will play the role of C om
nnssioner Sir Roger Avery, the head of
Scotland Yard, in THE FIENDISH PLOT
OF DR. FU MANCHU for Orion Pictures
and Zev Braun Productions.
Ned Beany has been signed for
HOPSCOK 11. scheduled to begin filming in
Munich Sept. 24; Ronald Neame is directing.
Kevin Brophv will portray Joe Younger in
United Artists' THE. LONG RIDERS, now
shooting with Walter Hill directing.
Lee Yung Hoo. Korean television host, has
a feature role in INCHON, now shooting in
Korea.
Gene Kelly has been signed to star with
Olivia Newton John in XANADU, an original
musical fantasy. The Lawrence Gordon Production
will go before the cameras Sept. 18 at
Universal.
assignments
Gene Polito has taken over as
cinematographer for the final weeks of
shooting on the Zanuck Brown feature, THE
ISLAND. He replaces French
cinematographer Henri Decae. who worked
on the picture 17 weeks but under union rules
is not permitted to work in Hollywood.
Director Chuck Braverman will create and
film a special opening sequence for Allan
Carr's CAN'T STOP THE MUSIC, now
shooting in New York. The segment, to be
filmed on New York streets, will be a montage
featuring a medley of music by the Village
People, who are starring in the movie.
Producer Andrew J. Fennady has assigned
two of his staff members. Jameson Brewer and
Kevin Coales. to prepare a feature based on
the exploits of Confederate troops during the
Civil War who used Canadaian border cities as
bases for guerilla raids on American banks.
titles & takes
Orion Pictures' THE WANDERERS has
grossed $323,000 in its first overseas opening
in 40 theatres in Germany, according to Producers
Sales Organization, which is
distributing the picture worldwide.
ELVIS: THE MOVIE. Dick Clark's
feature, has grossed $375,000 in its limited
engagements in Australia and Finland. The
film grossed $350,000 in the first three weeks
in Sydney. Melbourne. Brisbane, Adelaide and
Perth. In Helsinki, the gross was $25,000 in its
first 10 days in two theatres.
Paramount's BLOODLINE grossed
$69,961 in its hrsi playdates in London, including
S2 1.964 in five dates in 10 theatres.
\incrican Inter nat lonal's THE
WIMYVILLE HORROR has taken in
$46,000,735 in 39 days on 896 screens in the
United States and Canada to become the the
biggest grosser in the company's 25 year
history
ROCKY II.
United Artists' release, look in
$259,237 in 40 theatres in its first week of play
in South Africa, the first overseas playdates
for the Sylvester Stallone feature. In Johan
neshurg the film grossed $10,813 at the Kine
and S25.3I7 at SterlOOO At Capetown's
c iner.uiia Theatre the film look in $10,304.
Crown International Pictures' VAN NUYS
BLVD. yrosscii $35,210 in the first three days
in a seven theatre engagement in Milwaukee.
NORTH DALLAS FOR-
They will work from the memoirs of Bliss Car
man. Canadian historian and poet
British film editor Derek Parsen will be
associate film editor on THE LAST
RESORT, a Jerry B Wheeler production.
Julie Andrews and Dudley Moore have
been signed to sing a duet in Blake Edwards'
10, in which they star. They will record "It's
I as) to Say." which has music by Henry Mancini
and lyrics by Bob Wells, to serve a, a
theme song for the Orion Pictures release.
Sandy Dvore will design the main and end
titles for American International's comedy
feature GORP.
Ray Ellis will compose the score for Jacques
Films' THE MISSING LINK, a Paul Rapp
production.
acquisitions
Producer Julie Corman has acquired rights
to NIGHTFALL, a science fiction
Isaac Asimov.
thriller by
Sefel Pictures International, based in Toronto
and headed by George Meneluch and John
Ryan, has taken an option on THE FLESH
AND THE SPIRIT.
distribution
The International Picture Show has acquired
U.S. and Canadian rights to THE
VISITOR, for release early in the fall. The
Italian film stars Mel Ferrer. John Huston.
Shelley Winters and Glenn Ford.
AMB International Inc. has named Ray-
Blanco of Bauer International in Plamsfield.
N.J., to handle worldwide distribution of its
latest release. RUNNIN' FREE.
TY has grossed $19.0 1 0.7 10 in its first 32 days
of domestic release, playing in 654 theatres in
the United States and Canada. In the New
York City area Flagship engagements the film
took in $553,079 in its first week, and in Los
Angeles it has grossed $561,747.
In its initial overseas playdates. Woody
Allen's MANHATTAN has opened at five
London theatres and grossed $124,905 in its
first week of play
Record setting engagements were tallied at
each ol the live West End houses: Classic One
Oxford Street. $29,500. Cinecenta Two.
$20,610 and Three, $20,400. (iate in Notting
Hill. $27,520. and the Screen in Haverstock
Hill. $26,875.
1 he lilm grossed $21,916 at the Plaza 2 in us
lirst complete week. It grossed $8,604 in the ALIEN, from 20th Century Fox. in its first
first week at the ABC Fulham Road and five weeks in nine key Japanese cities and
$8,817 in one week at the ABC Edgeware entering its third week in a number of provin
Road.
cial cities, has amassed $8,957,000.
RICH KIDS has grossed an 18-day total of
$249,212 in five theatres across the country.
UA reported the following city by city
breakdown lor this period: New York.
Baronet. $114,601. Los Angeles. Plaza
West wood. $52,096. Toronto. Towne
(. iiiema. $35,205. Boston. Chen 2. $15,804.
San Francisco. Regency I. $20,623. and
Chicago, Water Tower 14 daysl. $6,050.
Francis lord Coppola's APOCALYPSf
NOW continues its record breaking three
theatre engagement in New York. Los
Angeles and Toronto in which it has grossed
$1,279,966 in 20 days.
Playing at the Ziegfeid Theatre. New \ ork.
the film 'rolled up S4NN.740 lor 20 days A
record breaking $418,770 was reported lor the
C inerama Dome. Los Angeles. I he Universi
ly. Toronto, amassed