Boxoffice-September.24.1979

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BOXOFFICE/SEPTEMBER 24, 1979
rooting ik-L expects an exciting year ahead,
which will sec [he expansion ol Dabara I ilms
into several new areas, including involvement
in film projects at the preproductiun
Film Development c orp. and private in
vestors
yel another recently announced ( .in.nh.iii
film project is "Tulips." a $3 million action
TORONTO
Two more Canadian feature films are in the
works. Genevieve Bujold is 10 star in "Final
Assignment." a political drama, and this will
be the first film she has made in this country in
seven years. The film has a hefty 1 6 4 million
budget; also starring in the film will be
Michael York. Burgess Meredith and Coleen
Dewhurst The film is being shot in Montreal
The director is Silvio Narizzano. and this will
be his first Canadian film since "Why Shoot
the Teacher."
"The Last Chase" is a $5 million production
that is to be shot here in Toronto and in
Arizona. In it, Lee Majors will drive the
fastest competition car in the world, the
Porsche 9I7I0. Shooting will commence in
October The director will be Martyn Burke,
who says it will be "the most technically
sophisticated movie ever made with Canadian
money." Majors trained for a week in Nor
thern California to be able to handle the car.
Both "Final Assignment" and "The Last
Chase" are being financed by the Canadian
Film Development Corp. and by private investors,
and supporting roles will be played by
actors from Toronto and Montreal.
Shirley MacLaine is to star in "The Incredible
Mr. Chadwick." a $6.6 million Canadian
feature film that is slated to go before the
cameras in Montreal beginning in October.
Gordon Pinsent is to appear opposite her in
this turn-of-the-century story of a Canadian
woman w ho. posing as philanthropist Andrew
Carnegie's daughter, succeeded in milking
American high society out of millions.
A market glut is feared because of the growing
number of feature films going into production,
particularly in this country. Wood Gun
d>. an investment company with offices in 26
CHICAGO
Russ Meyer's "Beneath the Valley of the
Ultra Vixens" has been breaking boxoffice
records at the 3-Penny. Wilmette. Addison
and Homewood theatres.
Richard Stern, owner of the Wilmette. said
running the film there was actually an experiment.
Suburban Wilmette is posh and the
residents are among the North Shore's most
affluent. Stern thought the movie might draw
certain groups from around the North Shore
area, but it has been Wilmette residents who
puffed up the grosses during the past two
weeks.
John Lange of W'm. Lange Si. Associates,
the film's distributor, said the attraction had
been advertised as "entertainment for adults"
minus an X rating. The censor board was not
brought in for viewing the picture. Lange said
that without an X-rated connotation and as a
feature in first class theatres, moviegoers simply
see "L'ltra Vixen" as a film for fun.
William Kinsolzing spent a couple of days
here going the press rounds with Robert
Newcombe of the 20th Century -Fox publicity
department in connection with the launching
of Kinsolzing's new book. "Born With the
Century."
Fox has film rights to 'he story and also has
rights to some of the royalties.
The primary purpose of the tour, which
started in Chicago and 'continues through
Washington and Atlanta. Ga. is aimed at gaining
recognition for the book as a best seller,
eventually gaining benefits for the film. The
tour is sponsored by Fox and Putnam
Publishing.
( .in.nli.in cities, luis advertised the issuing of
825 units of $5,000 each in the film "Nevei
I nisi an Honest Thief" and at least one Canadian
stockbroker. Earl Agulnik. fears that
many of these films are going to fall by the
wayside.
This Canadian boom in the production of
feature films was spurred by an incentive
measure introduced by the federal govern
ment that permits investors to deduct 1 00 per
cent of the subscription price from ordinary
taxable income for the year the investment is
made. The film must conform to the federal
definition of a Canadian film.
The first to be sold under this incentive was
"Agency." and a market that was required to
absorb S30 million of film financing last year
is
expected now to absorb $100 million.
"It's the investor's turn to pick and choose."
Agulnik said in an item on the Toronto Star's
financial pages. Competing against film issues
in this country is gas and oil exploration stock,
which offers a better tax write-off. "In a
movie, there's a risk." Agulnik said. "For some
gas and oil exploration, the investor who is in
a high enough tax bracket has no risk."
Agulnik alone has four films on his hands.
"Pinball Summer" and "Tanya's Island" are
sold out. and he expects to close "Double
Negative" in August and "The First Hello" in
September.
Tooting Bee Ltd. has announced the acquisition
of Dabara Films from its former partner.
Cemasco Management Ltd. Tooting Bee
founded and has been operating Debara Films
since TB's inception four years ago. and under
Tooting Bee Dabara has acquired successful
films in this country such as "It's Alive."
"Madame Rosa" and "The Innocent." which
recently opened in Montreal—in both English
and French versions— to both critical acclaim
and smash boxoffice receipts.
T
V\ m. Lange & Associates and S.K. Films
Inc teamed up for the combination showing
of "Kentucky Fried Movie" and "The Groove
Tube." The advance presentation of the duo in
Detroit has been a boxoffice success.
Showings that begin in Chicago theatres
Sept. 28 have been backed by a substantial
advertising campaign.
"The Groove Tube" caught on in a big way
when it first opened in this territory in 1974,
and the interest continued as the spoof returned
in three runs. "Kentucky Fried Movie" is a
later movie, but it too grossed well in initial
showings.
Support to Bill Lange and Sid Kaplan in this
combined venture is evident from the 35 booking
responses.
Residents in Northwest Chicago are expected
to get out their cameras for the Samantha
Fox stage appearances at the Admiral
Theatre. She will be there in connection with
her new film. "Mystique." Patrons may take
pictures of the stars on stage.
Owner Pat Riccardi said that "Proball
Cheerleaders" would have its first showing at
the Admiral Oct. 1 2. Advance word about this
new comedy feature says it outdoes "Debbie
Does Dallas." a film which was held over
several weeks.
American Seating Co. is putting in new
chairs in the Brotman Lake Shore theatre.
Barbara Sapstein, booker for Brotman
Theatres, will return from vacation Sept. 17.
Scheduled for production is Your I ickct Is
No 1 ongCI Valid." a $5 5 million feature lilni
to be lensed in Montreal. New York and Paris,
beginning Oct 15 The executive producers
are Robert Lantos and Stephen Roth, who
made "Agency" and "In Praise of Older
Women " The film is to star Richard Harris.
Jeanne Moreau and George Peppard.
Some casting was done in this city, and Lan
tos made application to the Association Of
Canadian Television Artists to have a fourth
imported actor. James Stewart, play a cameo
role. The director will be George Kacznder.
and financing will come from the Canadian
corned) thai is to star Gabe Kaplan ol I
"Welcome Back Kolter." This is the third film
to be produced by Astral-Bellevue Pathe of
Montreal in four months, and one of at least
10 to be nude hv this company within the
next nine months The director will be Mark
Warren, a former C'BC-TV director who has
been in Hollywood for the past five years
Toronto and Montreal compete in several
areas, including film festivals. The curtain
went up on the Montreal event just a few days
before the 10-day festival in this city, yel the
two festivals are vastly different in several
respects.
first run report
TORONTO
The Amity ville Horror iaFDi. Plaza,
4ih wk
Apocalypse \im iUAi. University.
1st wk
die trisn. Kid tWB), Plaza. (Mh wk
Hie In-Laws IWBl. Hollywood, luthwk
Very Good
Excellent
fair
(h»k1
I. a Cage Au\ Folks ll Ai. Imperial.
6th wk
Very Good
Lifeof Brian (WBl. Uptown. 1st wk. . Excellent
Manhallan ll A), bglimon. itih wk
(n»«J
Mealhalls iParal. Uptown. Imperial.
4ih wk
Good
Mciimrakeril Ai. Eglinton. 8th wk
fair
Nnrlh Dallas Forty (Para!. Imperial. 3rd wk. (iixxl
Kith Kids il Ai. rowne.2ndwk. ...VeryGood
Sunburn (Paral. Elgin. Isi wk Fair
MONTREAL
Alien (20thFox), York, llthwk
Excellent
Americathon lUAl. The Cinema.
2nd wk
'
Very Good
Eli Wallach has joined the cast of Stev e Mc-
Queen's "The Hunter." Filming began in
Chicago Sept 10.
Anthony S. Groe, a member of Local 1 10.
has died.
In response to queries about National
Screen Service following announcement of the
closing of National Theatre Supply Co., National
Screen Service is not affected. National
manager Paul Ayotte and branch manager
Robert Newman will offer service from the
usual location. 1322 South Wabash Ave.,
Chicago. III. 60605.
\ ariety will mark fall programming at the
Film Center in the Art Institute. On Fridays
for the next several weeks there will be showings
of Bernardo Bertolucci films and nightly
presentations of vintage American comedy
product. The Film Center is also continuing
with the series "Fifty . Years of French
Talkies " There will also be showing of recent
works by Chicago filmmakers.
The Amitytille Horror lAFDl. Loews 2.
5th wk
VeryGood
Bloodline Paral. Loews 4. 8th wk Very Good
Breaking Away l20th Foxl. Place du Canada.
2nd wk
Good
City on Fire lAstrall. Cinema de Paris. 1st wk Good
Escape From Alcatra/ (Paral. Palace.
9th wk
VeryGood
The Frisco Kid I Avenue. 6th wk. Very Good
Hot Stuff iColl. Atwater, 1st wk
Excellent
The In Laws I Loews 5. 12th wk VeryGood
Manhattan lUAl. Place Ville Marie.
1 7th wk Very Good
Moonraker lUA). Loews 1, 9th wk Very Good
North Dallas Forty IParal. Claremom.
3rd wk
Very Good
Rockv II lUAl, Loews 3, 12th wk Very Good
Sunburn IParal. VanHorne. 2nd wk Very Good
French Language Films
Guerre des Etoiles (20th -Foxl. Champlain.
3rd wk Good
LTnnocent iDcharai. Le Dauphin. 2nd wk. Excellent
Les Nuit de la ViolancelMutuell. 1st wk. Very Good
Mill, State Lake and the U.A. Cinema in
Oakhrook are ready for the much-talked-about
tended the WOMPI convention in Jacksonville.
United Artists' "Apocalypse Now."
Fla. Thev will reconstruct convention ac-
(continued on page I0»
&y*s*«^
tivities in condensed form for Chicago
members who could not attend.
Although September normally does not pro
vide an abundance of new films. Louis Marks
of M & R Amusement Co. called such current
attractions as "Meatballs" and "The Concorde—Airport
79" highly compensating.
Both features are having successful runs at
their Twin Outdoor properties.
Although an analogy may seem a bit farfetched,
there is an unusual situation related
to the bookings of "Meatballs" and "The Concorde"
at the Twins: the Palwaukee Airport
Hanks the theatres on one side and Kelly 's Day
Camp is on the other side.
Marks also expressed satisfaction about
"Rust Never Sleeps" grosses. The film, in
stereo, is proving to be a September winner at
the \1 & R Old Orchard. Evergreen and Norridge
theatres, he said.
Although exhibitors generally appear to be
satisfied with business resulting from current
attractions, thev are looking forward to
newcomers due in late September and early
October. The Evergreen. River Oaks. Gold
Carol Prescott of the Wolk Co. and
Chicago WOMPI president Georgia Klein and
Vicchi Burns, both of Paramount Pictures, at-
Christie Lamphouses & Consoles
Potts 3 and 5
I CD
Ballantyne-Strong-Hanovia
• Stack Platters Replacement Package Plan
For the best at less, contact John or Mike.
Ringold Cinema Equipment Co.
^s«^
I 8421 Gravois Road »St Louis Mr f 3123. Phone 314-352-2020 /