Boxoffice-August.11.1975

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Facts of Filmmaking
Explained by Writer
HARTFORD— Ihcrc is more liclion ih.in
fact printed about film producticin. Allen \1
Widem. Boxoffice regional correspondent,
told a Charter Oak Lions Club luncheon
meeting at Vallo's Steak House.
To a man. producers reflect instinct, not
indecision." Widem said. "Regardless o!
how much the print and broadcast media
may write and talk about helter-skelter
planning and attendant escalating costs, most
producers, with an unwavering eye and oar
on marketing capability of the project involved,
hope to provide entertainment of a
quality perhaps emulated but never fully
achieved in necessarily more abbreviated
filming schedules accorded even the
television
productions.
biggest
"It is not fair, and never has been fair,
for writers and commentators who should
know better, to single out minor inconsistencies
in story-line, for example, when the
overall intent, essentially, is to provide engrossing
entertainment. Nobody starts out to
make a "bad" picture. Unfortunately, many
factors simply do not work out.
"The entertainment industry—and most
especially motion pictures—has traditionally
contained legends. Through the years.
legends are. urderstandably enough, develop)ed
to a point where fact is secondary to
fiction, and the public, which seems to dote
more on what-might-have-been than whatdid-happen,
prefers the fiction, in something
akin to appreciation of a never-never land
in which everybody lives happily ever after.
"But in the harsh realism of the nowaday
world, not everybody lives happily every
day. Hollywood has been scored for its sheer
escapism, with some critics scoffingly saying,
"Life should be more like the movies," and
when a flock of escapist films can be said to
do more than satisfactory business at the
boxoffice. these same critics are quick to
contend. "See, I told you so!'
"In the '30s, with story accent on social
concern—as witness the Warner Bros, output—critics
commended the intent. Enter
the '70s. with an enormously changed life
style, escapism is accompanied by reflections
of life style, and still the critics carp. Ergo.
you can't please everybody every time."
"The greatest gesture to be accorded the
.'Xmerican film production community."
Widem said, "is boxoffice respon.se for motion
pictures of merit. This, in itself, will
serve to encourage even greater effort, even
more conscientious endeavor to reflect
American mores, manners and meaningful-
'Funny Lady' at Discount
PROVIDENCE — The Midland \I:ilI
Cinema opened a "special engagement" of
ness."
Columbia's "Funny Lady." charging .$1 admission
for all seats to 2 p.m.
$1 Policy Swampscott Surf
SWAMPSCOTT. MASS.—The Surf Cinema
has a new policv of $1 admission in
effect tor all seals at "all limes.
CELKBRATING IN BROOKLINE—Offitials (»1 Patriot ( inciiias pose with
Hearthstone Plaza officials during recent opcninj; of the cirinil's ( inema-Brookline
in the shopping center. Left to right: Steven .\vitable. V\c.vnu>iith. resident manager;
Philip E. Rudnick, Hearthstone Plaza building manager; Leonard Ritter,
Newtown, vice-president of Combined Insurance Co., landlord; Philip J. Scott,
Hingham, president of Patriot Cinemas; and David A. Kiolbasa, Weymouth, general
manager of Patriot Cinemas.
'Nashville Tops Boston With 625;
'Casino of Gold; 'Jaws' Tie at 600
BOSTON — Weekend business zoomed
here after a heat wave and exhibitors cited
the bicentennial flood of tourists as an
asset. "Nashville" topped the list of contenders
with 625 a fourth week at Cheri
in
One. "Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of
Gold" opened to a smashing 600 at the
Savoy, tieing with "Jaws" at the Charles.
(Average Is 100)
Beocon Hill—The Wind and the Lion (UA),
5th wk 180
Charles Jows (Univ.), 6th wk 600
Cheri One^Nashville (Para), 4th wk 625
Cheri Two—The Fortune (Col!, 4th wk 125
Cheri Three Love and Deoth UA), 7th wk 400
Cinema 57 One- French Connection II (20th-Fox),
10th wk, 130
Cinema 57 Two— Rolicrboi! UA), 3rd wk 400
Is Circle Jacqueline Susonn's Once Not Enough
(Paro), 5th wk 180
r-arv—Cooley Hiqh (AlP), 3rd wk 200
That's the Way of the World
Music Hall
(UA). 2nd wk 200
Paris Erotic Dreams (SR), 2nd wk 135
Tommy Col!, 18th wk 125
Pi Alle-'
Sovov One One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing
Savoy Two 'd try to take
you right off it." He said he went over
the side of the ship with 83 men. By
the time rescue vessels arrived four
days lattr, there «ere only 23 left. Altogether,
880 crewmen were lost or
eaten by sharks.
BOXOFFICE August 11. 1975 NE-1