Boxoffice-August.11.1975

"
Trcme-Wiederhorn Lensing
'Death Corps' in Florida
NEW YORK.—Death Corps." a tilm by
Reuben Tranc and Ken Wiederhorn, who
won the 1973 Acadimy Award for Best
Dramatic Student Film, is being made in
Miami. Fla.. with a cast headed by John
Carradine and Peter Gushing. The story of
a shipload of experimental mutant soldiers
on the rampage in a Caribbean island and
an old SS officer who attempts to control
them, the film is being .shot in 16mm for
blow up to 35mm. ."Mso featured are Brooke
.-^dams and Don Stout.
Trane. who has his own production company
in Coral Gables and teaches filmmaking
at Florida International University, is
producer and photographer of "Death
Corps." Wiederhorn. who has written
scripts for Francis Thompson, Inc.. a leading
producer of industrial and documentary
films, is writer and director. The film is
being shot entirely in Dade County. Fla.,
although the action takes place in and
around the Grand Cayman Islands.
Wiederhorn and Trane won an Oscar for
"Manhattan Melody," made while they
were students at Colimibia University. A
SO-minute comedy concerning a runaway
drum majorette from New Jersey and an
inept young bicycle thief, the film has won
numerous awards. The late Rod Serling
described it as the best short film he ever
saw.
"Death Corps." which marks a return to
America for Cushing. a horror sp>ecialist
who was active in Hollywood in the late
'30s and early '40s. will continue filming
for several more weeks. Norman Gay, of
"The E.xorcist" fame, will edit. The film is
expected to be completed in January 1976,
at which time it will be ready for release.
'Strutters' Will Premiere
August 13 in Cleveland
HOLLYWOOD— -Darktown
Strutters."
New World Pictures' black music-comedy
fantasy, will be premiered Wednesday (13)
in Cleveland with three of its stars participating.
Key engagements will follow in Chicago,
Detroit, Indianapolis. Cincinnati, St.
Louis, Baltimore, Washington and other
areas, with Trina Parks, Shirley Washington
and Bettye Sweet taking part in the
ballyhoo planned along the route.
William Witney directed the PG feature
in which the Dramatics sing their hit single,
"What You See Is What You Get."
Jean Yarbrough Dies at 74;
Was Producer-Director
HOLLYWOOD—Jean Yarbrough, 74,
director-producer, died Saturday (2) at the
Motion Picture Country Home & Hospital
after a brief illness. He first entered the
film industry in 1922 as a property man
with Hal Roach. His pictures include "Brute
Man," "The Creeper," "Abbott and Costello
Lost in Alaska," "Women of Pitcairn
Island" and "Jack and the Beanstalk.
Survivors are his wife, daughter and
son. There were no services.
LOOK-ALIKES—Which one is the
title, Benji. With him are his trainer
Frank Inn, left; a stuffed toy Benji Dog
(availahle in three other sizes), and the
man who heads the licensing effort by
ABC Merchandising on behalf of
"Benji," Lou Weinberg.
MP's 'Cooley High' Gets
Impressive Report Card
HOLLYWOOD— .American
star of one of the most successful family
entertainment films of the summer?
The scruffy little pooch on the right
is—and his name is. like the movie's
International's
"Cooley High" continues to rack up
impressive grosses, with the Chicago Theatre
in the Windy City's Loop reporting over
$441,000 in 35 days. In two New York
City houses, Cinerama and RKO 86th
Street 1 , "Cooley" has scored a heavy $294,-
586 in the same period.
Playing 13 days at the Town and the
Lincoln in Washington, D.C., the picture
has amassed a total gross of $82,168, while
in four weeks at Baltimore's Hippodrome
and Charles, the boxoffice figure is $120,-
673.
Two underskyers in the Los Angeles area,
the Century Drive-In and the Compton
Drive-In. after a one-week engagement,
reported a total gross of $58,053.
"Cooley High" has attracted comparable
business in Houston. Philadelphia and St.
Louis
playdates.
Prestige Acquires Rights
To Distribute 2 Features
HOLLYWOOD—Prestige Pictures Releasing
Corp. has acquired distribution rights
for "The Night of the Assassins" for the
U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom and
rights for "Running Wild" in the U.S.
Both films were produced and directed
by Robert McCahon. who now is preparing
another feature, "What of Terry
Conniston," from a novel by Brian Garfield,
who will co-produce with MeCahon.
Jerome Levy Is President
Of First Nat'l MP Dist.
NLW YORK—Jerome K. Levy has been
named president of First National Motion
Picture Distributors. The firm, headquartered
in the MGM Building here at 1350
Avenue of the Americas, is involved in
many phases of the motion picture industry,
including distribution, production and
financing.
Previously executive vice-president of the
Gloria Group, one of the largest film distributors
in Europe, Levy will oversee distribution
and exploitation of foreign and
American films in the U.S. and Canada.
Levy last year co-produced "The Klansman,"
starring Richard Burton and Lee
Marvin, and was instrumental in "Emmanuelle"
negotiations.
"I will continue to work closely with producers
who have not yet reached the point
of complete financing of their films," Levy
stated. "And I will be involved in bringing
in limited partnerships to coop>eratc in that
area."
Velde Has Ad Accessories
For 'Harry' Promotion
HOLLYWOOD—Hal Marshall, director
of advertising and publicity for Los Angelesbased
Theatre Television Corp., has announced
the availability of numerous advertising
accessories for the promotion of
Bill Sargent's TheatroVision presentation of
"Give 'em Hell, Harryl", which stars James
Whitmore.
Technicolor trailers, one sheets, pressbooks,
etc., may be purchased from Donald
L. 'Velde, New York City, according to
Marshall, who lists 15 diverse accessories
to publicize the picture which opens next
month in hard-ticket, limited engagements.
Marshall additionally has prepared a 15-
part press kit for the use of exhibitors in
publicizing "Give 'em Hell, Harry!" dates.
'The Ark of Noah' Scores
High Gross in Denver
HOLLYWOOD—"The Ark of Noah," a
documentary feature from Barjac Productions,
opened a seven-day, four-wall engagement
at Phipps Auditoriimi in Denver
and grossed $17,000. Seats sold at $3 each.
Michael B. Druxman and .'\ssociates of
Hollywood are distributing the film.
The film opens on a similar basis Wednesday
(13) in Abilene, Tex., at the Convention
Center, and Saturday (16) in
Oklahoma City at the Music Hall. A Salt
Lake City date for opening in September is
being negotiated.
CORRECTION ON FILM REVIEW
In the review of "Russian Roulette"
(Avco Embassy) appearing in the August 4
issue, two lines were trionsposcd by the
printer in the comment part. The corrected
lines should read: "This story will remind
some of "The Day of the Jackal,' which
dealt with an a.ssassination plot against
President DeGaulle of France. Lou Lombardo.
a former film editor on many major
films, makes his directorial debut."
BOXOFHCE :: August 11, 1975