Boxoffice-August.11.1975

. , The
TORONTO
J^lex Barris, ex-Toronlonian, columnisi ;uhI
writer, was back in the cily to attend
the weddings of his son and daughter. Interviewed
by Betty Kennedy on her top-rated
CFRD Radio show, Barris spoke of his latest
Hollywood-inspired book and others soon
to come out. Barris discussed the many facets
of show business and stated that, unlike
the 1930s and "405, the public now has many
more ways to spend entertainment dollars,
rather than principally at
theatre.
the motion picture
Star staff writer Elaine Carey contributed
an item titled "Drive-Ins—The Passion Pit
Goes Legit" to the weekend edition. The
story covered several aspects of operating
ozoners, particularly in this area, and quoted
local executives on these details. It is interesting
to note that the Northeast Drivein
here was the first Canadian underskyer,
opening in 1947,
Universal's "Earthquake" currently is in
its fourth moveover locally, at the Don MilLs
and the Weston, and is marking its 35th
week of strong business in this city. Likewise,
the same company's "The Other Side
of the Mountain" is in its third local moveover,
at the York Two, for a total of nine
substantially good weeLs in
this area.
The Ontario Censor Board has rejected
part of a newspaper ad for "Hennessy,"
having its North American premiere at the
Hollywood here. The portion of the ad referred
to a personal ruling of Queen Elizabeth
II, The board twice had rejected the
entire ad but finally passed it after this
reference to the crown had been removed.
This American International Pictures feature
has Canadian distribution through Astral
Films.
Stratford Festival
Slated Sept. 13-20
TORONTO—The llth annual Stratford
Film Festival will be held September 13-20.
Scheduled thus far are the North American
premieres of Richard Lester's "Royal
Flash," with Malcolm McDowell and Alan
Bates; John Frankenheimer's "Impossible
Object," again with Alan Bates; Karel Zeman's
"The Adventures of Sinbad the Sailor,"
and Peter Smith's "A Private Enterprise,"
Canadian films will include "Lions for
Selected .shorts: A Summer Film Festival
has started at Varsity 1, while Columbia's
"Tammy" went into its 1 8th week at Varsity
2 ... A preview showing of "It Seemed
Like a Good Idea" was held at the Yorkdale
Cinema . "all new" New Yorker
on Yonge Street paired "The Texas
Chainsaw Massacre" with "Andy Warhol's
Frankenstein" , . . "AJfie Darling" had a
three-house opening at the Capitol Fine
Art and at the Dominion and Westwood
cinemas . . . "Race With the Devil" had a
multiple opening at the Imperial Six, Bramalea,
Westwood and Willow.
Residents in the Yonge-St. Clair area are
complaining of so-caUed "hellish" living
conditions due, largely, to the two twin
cinemas in the vicinity, the Hollywood and
the Hyland. The problems cited are said to
have increased because of the success of
"Jaws" at the Hyland. They include illegal
parking, disrespect for property and undue
late-night noise. It is reported that the theatres
are going to be lasked to reschedule
their showings for earlier closings,
Universal's "Jaws" continues to set
astounding boxoffice records, grossing $3.8
million in Canadian theatres at the threeweek
mark. "We've never had a picture
that the public wanted to see as much,"
Robert Myers, director of buying and booking
for Odeon Theatres, told the press here.
"They're breaking down the doors." George
Destounis, president of Famous Players,
reported,
"There's nothing to compare it
against. It's doing remarkably better in its
first
released,"
few weeks than any other movie ever
Breakfast," "Gina," "The Vultures," "Lcs
Males" and a premiere of "Me?"
This festival again is being organized toy
Gerald Pratley. who expects that no less
than 30 major films will be screened during
the event,
John Russell Taylor will be the critic-inrcsidence
and a tenth anniversary tribute is
planned for Quebec distributor Rock Demers
and his Faroun Films, via a ten-film
retrospective of the international favorites he
has brought here.
A day with Canadian filmmakers is set
for .September 15.
Shark Display Enjoying Boom
AURORA, OHIO—More visitors than
usual to the shark display at Sea Worid of
Ohio, a commercial attraction here, apparently
have been drawn to the exhibit by
the popular film "Jaws" and the book of
the same title, James S. Kepley, curator of
fish in the Triquarium which houses the
carnivores, said they have three varieties
of sharks on display. All are attracting biggcr-than-usual
crowds.
Columbia Pictures is planning a film
.•rsion of ihc play, "Herzl,"
Toronto Star Plugs Quota
And Suggests Further Aid
TORONTO— "Let's get the movie indus-
Iry moving," suggested a recent editorial in
the Toronto Star. It continued: "Featurelength
movies, made by Canadians for Canadians,
are one of the few ways people in
this vast land can share their culture. That's
why it's important that Ontario's effort to
help the film industry, by .setting out how
many weeks of Canadian films theatres
must show each year, be made to work.
"The quota system is a good first step
towards establishing the national distribution
network the film industry needs if it
is to succeed. But it won't work by itself.
It needs other measures so that part of the
boxoffice profits from all films shown in
Canada—American and foreign films as
well as Canadians — go back into production
of Canadian films.
"Movies are an important way of letting
Canadians see themselves, thus building a
common identity. We lack national publications.
Our TV networks are threatened by
the distractions of American channels. And
our movie industry, despite years of government
funding through the Canadian Film
Development Corp., still has not matured.
"One problem has been the lack of national
distribution once a film is made. The
quota system can help provide that exposure
—and Canada is the only industrialized
country that doesn't protect its movie industry
with quotas.
"But by itself a quota system will put few
dollars into the hands of Canadian film
producers. Under the Ontario plan, producers
will get 20 per cent of boxoffice revenues
from the showing of their films. This
formula may simply result in all the money
going to a few producers becau.se theatre
managers, rather than take a chance on a
new film, will simply rerun those already
proved to be a success.
"But if part of the boxoffice revenues
from all films were pumped back into Canadian
production, it could provide the
money needed. Instead of yearly grants,
producers could be given credits, which they
could draw on when they were producing
new fihns,
"Ontario filmmakers have supported this
proposal. It should be considered by the
Ontario government when it sets up quotas,
as it is now empowered to do under the
Theatres Act .Amendment."
Fashions, Model-T Used
To Ballyhoo Tunny Lady'
BURLINGTON, VT. — Eye -
catching
fashions and a model-T Ford highlighted
street ballyhoo tied to a benefit showing on
a recent midweek night of Columbia's "Funny
Lady" at the Merrill Jarvis circuit's
downtown Flynn Theatre,
The showing was sponsored by the
Friends of the Baird Children's Center, proceeds
going to a camp scholarship fund.
The sptmsoring organization provided a
theatre party atmosphere, the Burlington
Concert Band offering pre-show time entertainment.
Champagne punch and refreshments
were served after the screening.
BOXOFFICE .•\uuust n, l')75