Boxoffice (Feb 4, 1974)

Cine Guarantors Unites With London Firm HOLLYWOOD—In an unprecedented move, Taft Broadcasting’s Cine Guarantors, Inc., of Los Angeles, and Film Finances Limited of London have formed a joint operation to provide completion guarantees and production services on a full international basis. The announcement of the collaborative venture was made January 17 by the principal parties to the agreement, Bernard Weitzman and Fouad Said president and chairman of the Cine Group; Terry Morse, jr. vice-president of Cine Guarantors, R.E.F. Garrett, chairman of the board and managing director of Film Finances; Bernard S. Smith, managing director of Film Finances, and William A. Croft, executive of the London-based firm. Film Finances, has provided completion guarantees to United Kingdom and European filmmakers on over 600 films in the past 20 years. The new alliance with Cine Guarantors will consolidate its entry into the finance and guarantee market in the United States. The international aspects of the project were emphasized by Weitzman. “For the first time in the history of the industry a foreign producer, planning to work in the U.S. will be able to arrange for completion bonding through Film Finance in London and Cine Guarantors will handle the U.S. end.” Cine Guarantors, Inc., is an independent financing operation set up within the Cine Group framework, which has provided fullscale finance and guarantees for a number of films during the past few years, including “Across 110th Street,” “Hickey and Boggs,” “Slaughter,” “Hammersmith Is Out,” and the current “Black Belt Jones” and “The Deadly Trackers.” Cine Guarantors also is set up to provide full production services, including budgeting, script breakdowns, computerized production accounting and the entire range of equipment packages from Cinemobile Systems. The company is currently providing financial services for “Bobby and Rose,” a film from Cine Artists International. ‘Sleeper’ Tops Half Million For 5 Weeks in New York NEW YORK—Woody Allen's boxoffice hit, “Sleeper,” has grossed more than half a million dollars ($504,123) during its first five weeks in New York at the Coronet and Little Carnegie theatres, it was announced by James R. Velde, United Artists senior vice-president, In New York as in most of the rest of the nation, the film is showing considerable holding power, with the fifth week cumulative gross reaching $81,316, compared with the $82,524 for the fourth week at the two theatres, which have approximately 1,000 seats combined, 6 Manfred Bernhard and Perry Dell are the prime movers of Ber-Dell Inter national Productions, Inec., which launched its initial feature January 29 titled “Devilin,” a bicycle racing film. Dell directs his own screenplay. Bernhard is executive producer. Thevis Outlines Plans For Atlanta-Made Film HOLLYWOOD—“There is no reason why Atlanta, Ga., shouldn’t be one of the film capitals of the country. We are half way between New York, the greatest source of talent in the theatre, Miami, where the night club talent spends the winters, close to Nashville, where the recording industry is powerful.and we have personnel and equipment in the recording and visual arts second to none,” stated Michael G. Thevis, entrepreneur, in the film and recording industry. Here to discuss with producers the growing distribution arm of his enterprises, Worldwide Distribution Co., and to boost the acceptance of his latest feature, starring Leslie Uggams, Thevis outlined his plans. They encompass setting up his own branch office, marketing his own records through Aware Records, which is a major operation, and the production of at least three to four major features a year. To implement the distribution cycle, Thevis is in the process of buying a well-organized firm, with the intent of making its owner, an experienced film hand, into its top executive officer. Discussing the film, “Poor Pretty Eddy,” lensed in Atlanta with Rick Robinson, Thevis’ co-producer, they are high on the new image which Ms. Uggams portrays, stating that this is the first film in which she has used her talents as an actress, along with her ability as a great songstress. The film is being edited in Hollywood, where Robinson is located, Due to the expected impact of the Uggams’ film on the market when the records break, Thevis is planning an all-out effort in promotion to see that all radio station disc jockeys get their copies to tie in with the promotion of the film, Obey that impulse and renew your subscription to Boxorrice to keep it coming every week, Two Magazines Honor ‘Fantastic Planet NEW YORK—"“Fantastic Planet,” New World Pictures release, has been selected as Seventeen Magazine’s February “Picture of the Month,” with Parents’ Magazine bestowing a similar honor on the PG-rated animated science-fiction motion picture. The adventure film opened to excellent business at the 357-seat 68th Street Playhouse here. Grosses climbed over 60 per cent in the second week of the run, due to favorable word-of-mouth publicity and rave reviews, according to NWP president Roger Corman, who purchased the film after seeing it at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was awarded the Special Grand Prix. The third-week gross at the 68th Street Playhouse was almost $3,000 above the holiday opening-week figure. In Washington, D.C., “Fantastic Planet” doubled its third-week gross in the fourth week of its showing at the Janus and Cerberus theatres, where the picture is set for an indefinite run. Corman attributed the increase to the launching of a powerful TV campaign. “Fantastic Planet” now is scheduled to debut in Los Angeles at the Beverly Theatre Wednesday (6) with the biggest advance of any film in the history of NWP, including Ingmar Bergman’s “Cries and Whispers.” Over 50 major playdates are set for February. In addition to the Cannes award, “Fantastic Planet” received a Gold Medal at the Atlanta Film Festival and captured first prizes at festivals in Teheran, Barcelona and Trieste. The picture also has been acclaimed by NBC-TV commentator Gene Shalit. Joel B. Deitch Named V-P For Indep.-Ini‘l Sales NEW YORK—Joel B. Deitch has been named vice-president and Eastern sales manager for Independent-International Pictures Corp., it was announced by president Samuel M. Sherman. Deitch recently served as national sales executive with Cinema 5. A graduate of Syracuse University, Deitch began his career in the industry as a sales trainee in Paramount's New York executive sales office. He later held sales positions at Allied Artists and served as director of branch operations for Cannon Releasing Corp. WOMPYI Int'l Nominating Committee Appointed CHARLOTTE — Amalie L. Gantt of Charlotte, president of the Women of the Motion Picture Industry, International, announces the appointment of the following past international presidents to compose the international nominating committee for the year 1973-74: Hazel LeNoir, Kansas City, chairman; Anne Dillon, Jacksonville; Mable Guinan, Dallas; Myrtle Parker, Charlotte, and Dorothy Reeves, New York. BOXOFFICE ;: February 4, 1974