Round About
Silver-bell season means green for silver screen
Movie mania will hit this holiday season with potentially big money draws such as Robin Williams, Harrison Ford, Sharon Stone, Jim Carrey and Wesley Snipes starring in new movies.
"All in all, I think this holiday season is going to be a real winner," said Rance Blann, division manager for Crown Cinema, which runs two theaters in Lawrence: Hillcrest Theatres, 925 Iowa St., and the Cinema Twin, 3110 Iowa St.
Last holiday season was disappointing because movies weren't as good,and overall sales were less than expected,Blann said.
Blann said some great movies were coming out this season, and the theaters expected a big draw from families and college students who stay in Lawrence.
Blann said that "Toy Story," which opened Nov. 24, would be the No.1 or No. 2 moneymaker this season. It is the first computer-animated movie and features the voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen as bickering action toys who both want to be their owner's favorite toy.
He predicted higher sales this season because the quality of movies and the drawing power of the stars were much better.
The action movie lover can look forward to "Money Train" with Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson portraying good cops
gone bad. It opened Nov. 24 at the Hillcrest along with another action film, "Nick of Time," starring Johnny Depp.
'Sabrina," with Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond, opens Dec. 15 at the Hillcrest. It is a remake of the movie released in 1954 starring Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn.
Kevin Frost, Topeka junior and an employee at the Varsity Theatre, 1015 Massachusetts St., said he hoped that "Casino," starring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci, would draw crowds. "Casino" opened Nov. 24.
"Not all the students go home for the holidays, and those who stay need something to do," Dorsett said.
The Varsity has only one screen and depends on hits like last year's "Interview with the Vampire," which was one of the top-grossing movies for the theater, Frost said.
The Dickinson opened the season Nov. 17 with "Golden Eye," the new James Bond movie with Pierce Brosnan as the infamous 007. The movie is expected to be Dickinson's biggest hit of the season, Dorsett said.
Matt Dorsett, Topeka junior and an employee at Dickinson Theatres,2339 Iowa St, said that last year the theater was crowded from open to close,and it did even better during the holiday break.
The movie "Nixon," starring Anthony Hopkins, will be out Friday, and so will "Jumanji," which features Robin Williams and Kirstin Dunst. In the movie, Williams' character escapes from a board game in which he has been trapped for 26 years.
For those who can't afford to see a new movie, Cinema Twin Theatres will be offering the summer's big hits at a discounted price.
Janet Cathcart, manager of the theater, said she didn't expect a noticeable drop in revenues during the holidays because parents likely would treat children to movies during the break from school. The theater's reduced prices help draw moviegoers, too.
Steve Jones, Ottawa junior, probably will have to see a movie during the break. "My girlfriend will drag me out to one. Probably the James Bond movie," he said.
Giavonni Brewer, Omaha, Neb., senior looks forward to seeing a good drama during the winter break but didn't know yet which one to see.
John Kristoffersen, Ottawa graduate student, doesn't think he'll be seeing any movies during the break. "I don't think there are any coming out that are worth the price I'd have to pay to watch it," he said.
—BY LAURIE FLETCHALL
Reel World
Hot movies for the holidays
"Goldeneye," starring Pierce Brosnan. Dickinson
"Toy Story,"starring Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. Hillcres
"Money Train," starring Wesle Snipes and Woody Harrelson Hillcrest.
"Sabrina," starring Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond. Oper Dec. 15.
"Jumanji," starring Robin Williams and Kirstin Dunst. Opens Friday at Dickinson.
Need a Study Break?
8 Hawk Holidays
Hill • December 6, 1995