Famous News (Summer 1990)

COMING SOON 7 This is a new section for Famous News, and it will be devoted to providing information on major films-in-the-works. The purpose is to let you know about releases in advance in order to get you thinking about promotions. In this section we will also let you know about any upcoming sponsored promotions. Bethune The Making of a Hero You've read the gossip, now see the movie. This is the most talked-about Canadian film in history, based upon one of the most well-known Canadian figures. Actually, it is a Canada-France-China co-production and it was shot in Montreal, Madrid, and various locations in China. Donald Sutherland stars in the title role of Dr. Norman Bethune, the visionary Canadian surgeon who contributed his expertise in Spain during the Spanish Civil War and labored against impossible odds as Chief Medical Officer for Mao Tse Tung’s 8th Route Army in 1938-39. Beloved by the Chinese people, who call him "Bai Chu En" (White Seeking Grace), Bethune is the most revered foreigner since Buddha. The film also stars Helen Mirren, Helen Shaver, Colm Feore and Anouk Aimee. Bethune premiered to very good reviews at the Montreal World Film Festival in August and will show at Toronto’s Festival of Festivals and the Vancouver Film Festival. It will be distributed in English Canada by C/FP Distribution and will open nationally on October 5. As of this writing, C/FP, in conjunction with Famous Players, is putting together a promotions kit for use by the theatres. Contact C/FP at 416/944-0104 or the Public Relations Department. In the meantime, start thinking about going into hospitals, medical schools, high schools, the Chinese community, etc. to get the word out about this great Canadian film. Cyrano de Bergerac The film Cyrano de Bergerac is based on the turn-of-the-century play of the same name by Edmond Rostand. This is one of the great love stories, about the unattractive but brilliant poet, playwright and swordsman in love with his cousin Roxane, who only has eyes for the handsome soldier Christian. Set in France in the seventeenth century the era of The Three Musketeers Cyrano, the film, is one of the most expensive ever made in France. It was highly acclaimed at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival and won for actor Gerard Depardieu (in the title role) his first Best Actor award at Cannes. The French version opened at the Parisien theatre in Montreal in June, where it broke house attendance records. The English version, premiering as a gala at the Toronto Festival of Festivals, is distributed by C/FP and opens nation-wide in December. C/FP and the Public Relations Department at Famous will be contacting you soon regarding the promotion of this beautiful film. High Schools, libraries, book stores, French departments, French book stores and drama societies are natural promotional targets. Fantasia Buena Vista will re-release Fantasia, Walt Disney’s classic animated feature, on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary. If you’re not familiar with this film, it is made up of a series of "fantasias" set to classical music. The unrelated pieces are inspired by the music they're set to, and held together by "host" Mickey Mouse (who performs in the famous Sorcerer’s Apprentice). The release, scheduled for October 5, will be marked by a number of special events including a contest for Famous Players theatres. Buena Vista, in co-operation with Famous Players, will be looking for the best promotional campaign from a Canadian theatre. The prizes will be cash awards and the judging panel will be made up of employees from Buena Vista’s Toronto office. Details of the contest will be forwarded to all theatres on electronic mail, along with Love Triangle: Anne Brochet, as Roxane, Vincent Perez, as Christian, and Gerard Depardieu, as Cyrano de Bergerac, in the film of the same name.