King and I (1956)



The King and I, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein's 1951Broadway musical hit, was based on Margaret Landon's book Anna and the King of Siam. Since 20th-Century-Fox had made a film version of the Landon book in 1946, that studio had first dibs on the movie adaptation of King and I. Deborah Kerr plays English widow Anna Leonowens, who comes to Siam in the 1860s to tutor the many wives and children of the country's progressive King (Yul Brynner, recreating his Broadway role-and winning an Oscar in the process).

Of all Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals put to film by 20th Century Fox, The King And I likely suffered from being the most "staged." Yet with help from the grand sets, lavish costumes and (perhaps most importantly) Yul Brynner, this film has become immortal.

King and I (1956)



1957 Academy Awards: 9 Nominations – 5 Wins
WON - Best Actor in a Leading Role - Yul Brynner
WON - Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color
WON - Best Costume Design, Color
WON - Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture
WON - Best Sound, Recording

NOM - Best Picture
NOM - Best Director - Walter Lang
NOM - Best Actress in a Leading Role - Deborah Kerr
NOM - Best Cinematography, Color

1957 Golden Globes: 4 Nominations – 2 Wins
WON - Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy
WON - Best Motion Picture Actress - Comedy/Musical - Deborah Kerr

NOM - Best Film Promoting International Understanding
NOM - Best Motion Picture Actor - Comedy/Musical - Yul Brynner

1957 Guild Awards of America
WON – Writers Guild of America (WGA) - Best Written American Musicals

NOM – Directors Guild of America (DGA) - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures

---

Nominated for 9 Oscars, The King And I was the most nominated that year in a highly competitive field which included Around the World in 80 Days (8 nominations – 5 Wins) and Cecile B. DeMilles’ Ten Commandments (7 nominations – 1 Win). Although it was denied Best Picture by the Jules Vern adaptation, Yul Brynner did pick up Best Actor for his powerful performance and the movie did win 4 other technical categories.

Deborah Kerr faced stiff competition in the Best Actress race, which included famous names such as Katherine Hepburn (The Rainmaker), Nancy Kelly (The Bad Seed) and Carroll Baker (Baby Doll); however, all were beaten by Ingrid Bergman’s Anastacia.

Gigi (158)

Box Office = $7,300,000



Gigi was the biggest moneymaker Vincente Minnelli had in all his years at MGM, although it concedes nothing to 1950s notions of mass taste. The Lerner and Loewe musical was based on the real-life romance between a sugar heir and a courtesan in turn-of-the-century Paris, a relatively daring topic. Colette wrote the cynically nostalgic Gigi when she was almost 70, during the Occupation. It had been a modest French film in 1948, and soon after, Anita Loos persuaded the author to allow her to adapt it for the Broadway stage. Colette acted as a talent scout, recruiting an unknown Audrey Hepburn to play Gigi, and it was a success largely because of its radiant star.

Some of the film was photographed in Paris, in locations (like Maxim's) redressed by Beaton, their Belle Epoque interiors meticulously restored. MGM's tight budget demanded all of the Parisian locations be filmed in a month.



". . .Gigi was a stylish triumph from start to finish which sadly - but gloriously - marked the end of an era. . .If Gigi was one of Freed's finest achievements, it also showed Minnelli on top of his form. . .Musically, too, it was perfection. . ." - Clive Hirschhorn, The Hollywood Musical

"Gigi is not only a charming comprehension of the spicy confection of Colette, but it is also a lovely and lyrical enlargement upon that story's flavored mood and atmosphere." - The New York Times

Gigi (1958)



1959 Academy Awards: 9 Nominations – 9 Wins
WON - Best Picture
WON - Best Director - Vincente Minnelli
WON - Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White or Color
WON - Best Cinematography, Color
WON - Best Costume Design, Black-and-White or Color
WON - Best Film Editing
WON - Best Music, Original Song - For the song "Gigi"
WON - Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture
WON - Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium

1960 BAFTA Awards: 1 Nomination – 0 Wins
NOM - Best Film from any Source - USA

1959 Golden Globes: 6 Nominations – 3 Wins
WON - Best Motion Picture - Musical
WON - Best Motion Picture Director - Vincente Minnelli
WON - Best Supporting Actress - Hermione Gingold

NOM – Best Motion Picture Actor - Comedy/Musical - Maurice Chevalier
NOM - Best Motion Picture Actor - Comedy/Musical - Louis Jourdan
NOM - Best Motion Picture Actress - Comedy/Musical - Leslie Caron

1959 Grammy Awards
WON - Best Soundtrack Album, Dramatic Picture Score or Original Cast

1959 Guild Awards of America
WON – Directors Guild of America (DGA) - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
WON – Writers Guild of America (WGA) - Best Written American Musicals

---

1959 goes down in history as Gigi’s year, winning all major awards and guilds; and as we know it now, the equal-2nd largest sweep in Oscar History (behind ROTK and tying with Last Emperor). Surprisingly it achieved the Best Picture without the aid of any acting nominations, and strangely, the same could be said for Last Emperor and ROTK. Freaky huh. LOL

I'm hoping its drop stabilises and that the Oscars next week will enocurage people to see it one more time.......if not, it's going to be very very long until $50m....

INTL. Report - 'Fockers,' 'Hitch' tickle o'seas B.O.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111791 ... id=13&cs=1

"Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera," remarkably, was the pace-setter again in Japan in its fourth stanza, orchestrating around $2 million, to lift the total to $20.6 million: Japan is the tunertuner's most lucrative market, surpassing the U.K.; its estimated cume hit $81 million.

---

Things are all over the place with Phantom in Japan, is it #1 or isn't it......the conflicting results last weekend really got on my nerves, let's hope it irons itself out this week......regardless, it's total is very good, $20m puts it very close to Ocean's Twelve after 4 weeks..... :razz:

It'd really suck if it stops at 49 million. #-o I'm confident that it'll hit 50 though.
Be sure vote for the WoKJ Movie Awards! And vote for Phantom for Best Costume Design and Art Direction. :wink:

Phantom was underestimated this weekend :razz: ,

I'm not sure if i want to vote in the WOKJ Awards now, i'm thinking of boycoting because Emmy wasn't nominated.....that'll send them a message :wink:

_____THE PHANTOM of the Opera_____
______RottenTomatoes Tracking______

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/phantom_of_the_opera/



12/12/2004 - ROTTEN 40% - 5 Reviews (2 Fresh + 3 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 4.6/10
17/12/2004 - ROTTEN 38% - 13 Reviews (5 Fresh + 8 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 4.9/10
18/12/2004 - ROTTEN 38% - 13 Reviews (5 Fresh + 8 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
19/12/2004 - ROTTEN 41% - 17 Reviews (7 Fresh + 10 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
20/12/2004 - ROTTEN 41% - 17 Reviews (7 Fresh + 10 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
22/12/2004 - ROTTEN 43% - 46 Reviews (20 Fresh + 26 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.5/10
23/12/2004 - ROTTEN 41% - 71 Reviews (29 Fresh + 42 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.3/10
23/12/2004 - ROTTEN 39% - 98 Reviews (38 Fresh + 60 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.3/10
24/12/2004 - ROTTEN 39% - 102 Reviews (40 Fresh + 62 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.3/10
25/12/2004 - ROTTEN 39% - 102 Reviews (40 Fresh + 62 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.3/10
27/12/2004 - ROTTEN 38% - 102 Reviews (40 Fresh + 64 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.3/10
28/12/2004 - ROTTEN 38% - 109 Reviews (41 Fresh + 68 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.3/10
29/12/2004 - ROTTEN 37% - 111 Reviews (41 Fresh + 70 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.2/10
30/12/2004 - ROTTEN 37% - 112 Reviews (41 Fresh + 71 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.2/10
31/12/2004 - ROTTEN 37% - 112 Reviews (41 Fresh + 71 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.2/10

1/1/2005 - ROTTEN 37% - 112 Reviews (42 Fresh + 72 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.2/10
2//2005 - ROTTEN 37% - 116 Reviews (43 Fresh + 73 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.2/10
3//2005 - ROTTEN 36% - 120 Reviews (43 Fresh + 77 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
4/1/2005 - ROTTEN 36% - 121 Reviews (44 Fresh + 77 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
5/1/2005 - ROTTEN 37% - 125 Reviews (46 Fresh + 79 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.2/10
6/1/2005 - ROTTEN 37% - 125 Reviews (46 Fresh + 79 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.2/10
7/1/2005 - ROTTEN 37% - 126 Reviews (47 Fresh + 79 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.2/10
8/1/2005 - ROTTEN 37% - 127 Reviews (47 Fresh + 80 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.2/10
9/1/2005 - ROTTEN 37% - 127 Reviews (47 Fresh + 80 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.2/10
10/1/2005 - ROTTEN 37% - 128 Reviews (47 Fresh + 81 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.2/10
11/1/2005 - ROTTEN 37% - 128 Reviews (47 Fresh + 81 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.2/10
12/1/2005 - ROTTEN 36% - 129 Reviews (47 Fresh + 82 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.2/10
13/1/2005 - ROTTEN 36% - 129 Reviews (47 Fresh + 82 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.2/10
14/1/2005 - ROTTEN 36% - 130 Reviews (47 Fresh + 83 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
15/1/2005 - ROTTEN 36% - 130 Reviews (47 Fresh + 83 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
16/1/2005 - ROTTEN 37% - 134 Reviews (49 Fresh + 85 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.2/10
17/1/2005 - ROTTEN 36% - 135 Reviews (49 Fresh + 86 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
18/1/2005 - ROTTEN 36% - 135 Reviews (49 Fresh + 86 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
19/1/2005 - ROTTEN 36% - 135 Reviews (49 Fresh + 86 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
20/1/2005 - ROTTEN 36% - 136 Reviews (49 Fresh + 87 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
21/1/2005 - ROTTEN 36% - 136 Reviews (49 Fresh + 87 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
22/1/2005 - ROTTEN 36% - 136 Reviews (49 Fresh + 87 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
23/1/2005 - ROTTEN 36% - 136 Reviews (49 Fresh + 87 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
24/1/2005 - ROTTEN 36% - 137 Reviews (49 Fresh + 88 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
25/1/2005 - ROTTEN 36% - 139 Reviews (50 Fresh + 89 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
26/1/2005 - ROTTEN 36% - 139 Reviews (50 Fresh + 89 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
27/1/2005 - ROTTEN 36% - 139 Reviews (50 Fresh + 89 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
28/1/2005 - ROTTEN 36% - 139 Reviews (50 Fresh + 89 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
29/1/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 141 Reviews (50 Fresh + 91 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
30/1/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 142 Reviews (50 Fresh + 92 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
31/1/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 142 Reviews (50 Fresh + 92 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10

1/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 142 Reviews (50 Fresh + 92 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
2/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 142 Reviews (50 Fresh + 92 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
3/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 142 Reviews (50 Fresh + 92 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
4/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 142 Reviews (50 Fresh + 92 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
5/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 142 Reviews (50 Fresh + 92 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
6/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 142 Reviews (50 Fresh + 92 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
7/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 142 Reviews (50 Fresh + 92 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
8/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 142 Reviews (50 Fresh + 92 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
9/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 142 Reviews (50 Fresh + 92 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
10/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 142 Reviews (50 Fresh + 92 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
11/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 142 Reviews (50 Fresh + 92 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
12/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 142 Reviews (50 Fresh + 92 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
13/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 142 Reviews (50 Fresh + 92 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
14/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 142 Reviews (50 Fresh + 92 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
15/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 142 Reviews (50 Fresh + 92 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
16/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 142 Reviews (50 Fresh + 92 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
17/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 142 Reviews (50 Fresh + 92 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
18/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 143 Reviews (50 Fresh + 93 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
19/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 143 Reviews (50 Fresh + 93 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
20/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 143 Reviews (50 Fresh + 93 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
21/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 143 Reviews (50 Fresh + 93 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
22/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 143 Reviews (50 Fresh + 93 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10
23/2/2005 - ROTTEN 35% - 143 Reviews (50 Fresh + 93 Rotten) - Avg. Rating = 5.1/10

_____THE PHANTOM of the Opera_____
________MetaCritic Tracking________

http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/p ... ftheopera/



23/12/2004 - 39 POINTS - 30 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 7.4/10
23/12/2004 - 39 POINTS - 30 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 7.8/10
24/12/2004 - 39 POINTS - 30 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 7.7/10 (18 votes)
25/12/2004 - 39 POINTS - 37 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.6/10 (58 votes)
25/12/2004 - 39 POINTS - 37 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.4/10 (60 votes)
26/12/2004 - 39 POINTS - 37 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.4/10 (67 votes)
27/12/2004 - 39 POINTS - 37 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.4/10 (74 votes)
28/12/2004 - 39 POINTS - 37 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.3/10 (82 votes)
29/12/2004 - 39 POINTS - 37 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.3/10 (82 votes)
30/12/2004 - 39 POINTS - 37 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.3/10 (82 votes)
31/12/2004 - 39 POINTS - 37 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.3/10 (82 votes)

1/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 37 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 7.9/10 (93 votes)
2/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 38 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 7.9/10 (93 votes)
4/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 38 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.1/10 (114 votes)
5/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 38 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (118 votes)
6/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 38 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (119 votes)
7/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 38 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (121 votes)
8/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 38 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (124 votes)
9/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 38 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (128 votes)
10/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 38 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (131 votes)
11/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 38 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (135 votes)
12/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 38 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (138 votes)
13/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 38 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.3/10 (140 votes)
14/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.3/10 (141 votes)
15/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (145 votes)
16/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (149 votes)
17/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.1/10 (156 votes)
18/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (161 votes)
19/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (164 votes)
20/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (167 votes)
21/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (168 votes)
22/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (169 votes)
23/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.1/10 (170 votes)
24/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (174 votes)
25/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (177 votes)
26/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (181 votes)
27/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (181 votes)
28/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (181 votes)
29/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (183 votes)
30/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (187 votes)
31/1/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (188 votes)

1/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (188 votes)
2/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.1/10 (192 votes)
3/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.1/10 (192 votes)
4/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.1/10 (193 votes)
5/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.1/10 (194 votes)
6/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.1/10 (195 votes)
7/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (198 votes)
8/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (198 votes)
9/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (198 votes)
10/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (198 votes)
11/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.1/10 (200 votes)
12/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.1/10 (201 votes)
13/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.1/10 (202 votes)
14/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.1/10 (204 votes)
15/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.1/10 (204 votes)
16/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.1/10 (204 votes)
17/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.1/10 (204 votes)
18/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.1/10 (204 votes)
19/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.1/10 (205 votes)
20/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.1/10 (205 votes)
21/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.2/10 (207 votes)
21/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.1/10 (208 votes)
22/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.1/10 (208 votes)
23/2/2005 - 40 POINTS - 39 Revews - User Avg. Rating = 8.1/10 (208 votes)

POTO: Weekend Rollout

Weekend 1:
Israel 10th Dec, 2004
South Korea 10th Dec, 2004 (tbc)
United Kingdom 10th Dec, 2004

Weekend 2:
Greece & Cyprus Dec 10th (1 screen), 2004 Dec 17th (wide)
Spain & Andorra 15th Dec, 2004
Germany 16th Dec, 2004
Malaysia 16th Dec (tbc)
Switzerland (German part) 16th Dec, 2004 (tbc)
Austria 17th Dec 2004
Italy 17th Dec, 2004 (tbc)

Weekend 3:
US Select cities 22nd Dec, 2004
Belgium 22nd Dec, 2004
Luxembourg 22nd Dec, 2004
Middle East 22nd Dec (tbc)
Portugal 23rd Dec (tbc)
Singapore 23rd Dec, 2004 (tbc)
Finland 25th Dec 2004 (tbc)
Sweden 25th Dec, 2004 (tbc)
Australia 26th Dec, 2004 (tbc)
Norway 26th Dec, 2004 (tbc)

Weekend 4:
Hong Kong 30th Dec, 2004 (tbc)

Weekend 5:
Holland 6th Jan, 2005
Russia 6th Jan, 2005 (tbc)
Baltic States 7th Jan, 2005 (tbc)
Poland 7th Jan, 2005 (tbc)
Taiwan 8th Jan, 2005 (tbc)

Weekend 6:
France 12th Jan, 2005 (tbc)
Switzerland (French part) 12th Jan, 2005 (tbc)
Poland 14th Jan, 2005
Denmark 14th Jan, 2005 (tbc)

Weekend 7:
US Nationwide
Mexico 21 Jan, 2005

Weekend 8:
Thailand 27th Jan, 2005
Ex-Yugoslavia 27th Jan, 2005 (tbc)
Indonesia 27th Jan, 2005 (tbc)
Japan 29th Jan, 2005

Others:

South Africa 4th Feb, 2005 (tbc)
Peru 10th Feb 2005
Colombia 11th Feb 2005
Venezuela 11th Feb 2005
Argentina 17th Feb, 2005
Chile 17th Feb, 2005
Czech/ Slovakia 17th Feb, 2005
Panama 18th Feb 2005 (tbc)

Icealand 4th Mar 2005
Hungary 17th March, 2005

Eastern Europe Q1, 2005
Turkey pending

PHANTOM: Release Dates vs. Others

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293508/releaseinfo

.....No New Openings this week....

Andrew Lloyd Webber's newest make a pre-Broadway stop in Chicago

By Chris Jones
Tribune arts reporter
http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/stag ... e_features

The sudden strong flow of pre-Broadway shows to Chicago will continue next season when Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Woman in White" holds a holiday pre-Broadway engagement here from Nov. 15 to Jan. 8, 2006.

"The Woman in White," a popular hit in London, where it continues to run at the Palace Theatre, will be the first production to occupy the newly renovated La Salle Bank Theatre, 22 W. Monroe St. The former Shubert Theatre, which recently housed the pre-Broadway premiere of "Spamalot" is now closed for an extensive renovation-this will be the first production in the newly restored venue.

"The Woman in White," received a mixed critical response in London and features a book by Charlotte Jones, lyrics by David Zippel and music by Lloyd Webber, the leading name in populist British megamusicals.

Adapted from Wilkie Collins' Victorian thriller, Lloyd Webber's newest show is directed by Trevor Nunn, the man responsible for such long-running shows as "Cats" and "Les Miserables."

After its Chicago engagement, the show will head to Broadway, where it is slated to open in the spring of 2006 at a Nederlander theater still to be announced.

Michael Crawford, the original Phantom in "Phantom of the Opera," stars in the London show (although he is out of the cast due to illness), but no casting has yet been announced for the Broadway incarnation. Group sales have begun, but individual tickets are not yet on sale.

Gere turns down Andrew Lloyd Webber

Wednesday, February 2 2005, 14:14 GMT -- by Daniel Saney
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds18914.html

Richard Gere has declined Andrew Lloyd Webber's offer of the lead part of Captain Von Trapp in a West End production of The Sound Of Music.

Webber has apparently been desperate for the Pretty Woman actor's services ever since he saw his impressive performance in the movie version of Chicago with Catherine Zeta Jones and Renee Zellweger.

Although Webber asked the 55-year-old personally, it seems likely that Gere will prioritise other ventures. Breakingnews.ie reports that a spokesperson from Webber's Really Useful Group explained: "Nothing has been announced yet - it's all in very early stages.

"Richard Gere has been approached but it looks like other Hollywood films will take precedence - even after Lloyd Webber asked him personally."

Gere starred as Danny Zuko in a London production of Grease over 30 years ago.

Pierce Brosnan favours Gerard Butler and Colin Salmon as James Bond #6

http://www.mi6.co.uk/news/index.php?itemid=2137

Pierce Brosnan was his usual charming self when he caught up with his favourite Daily Mirror (UK) gossip columnists.

His date for the night was his son Sean, 19, who is studing acting at the Central School Of Speech And Drama in London.

Pierce - who very kindly said to Jessica when the flash on the camera took time to warm up: "I'll just stand here and stroke your back while we wait" - revealed he wasn't serious about tipping Colin Farrell as the next Bond star.

"That was only a joke. I can't really see that happening," he said.

"I think Gerard Butler would be great. Colin Salmon would be brilliant but they don't have the bottle.

"I know what you're like - you'll say to the next Bond star that he's the best one ever. You won't be loyal to me!"

Phantom` star Gerard Butler fed up with the James Bond rumours

http://www.mi6.co.uk/news/index.php?itemid=2057

"The Phantom of the Opera" star Gerard Butler wishes people would stop asking him if he's going to replace Pierce Brosnan as British superspy James Bond 007 - reports ContactMusic.

The 35-year-old shot to fame starring in the recent movie adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical, and doesn't feel he deserves to fill a role played by some of Britain's finest actors yet.

Butler says of rumours linking him to Bond, "I'm starting to get tired of hearing that but like what I always say, it's not true."

Last week Butler said he "would not object if offered the role".

Never thought as Gerry being Bond, great idea. If Clive or Gerry gets the role I'll be a happy camper. :wink:

AWARD SCHEDULE: The Road to Oscar

http://www.forums-oscarwatch.com/forums ... adid=19252

30th November - Independant Spirit Award Nominations
1st December - National Board of Review Winners Announced
11th December - Los Angelas Film Critics Award
11th December - New York Online Film Critics Award
12th December - BFCA Nominations Announced
13th December - Golden Globe Nominations Announced
13th December - New York Film Critics Winners Announced
5th January - Dallas Fort Worth Film Critics Winners Announced
5th January - Producers Guild of America Nominations Announced
6th January - Director's Guild of America Nominations Announced
6th January - Las Vegas Film Critics Winners Announced
7th January - Florida Film Critics Winners Announed
8th January - National Society Of Film Critics Nominee's Announced
10th January - BFCA Winners Announced
11th January - Screen Actor's Guild Nominations Announced
12th January - American Society of Cinematographers Nominations Announced
13th January - Writer's Guild of America Nominations Announed
13th January - Art Director's Guild Nominations Announced
14th January - American Cinema Editor's Nominations Announced
16th January - Golden Globe Winners Announced
19th January - BAFTA Nominations Announced
20th January - Cinema Audio Society Nominations Announced
22nd January - Producers Guild Of America Winners Announced
23rd January - Golden Satellite Awards Winners Announced - NOMINTED (11) - LOST
25th January - 77th Oscar Nominations
29th January - Director's Guild Of America Winners Announced
5th February - Screen Actor's Guild Winners Announced
5th February - Empire Film Magazine Winners Announced
11th February - London Film Critics Winners Announced - NOMINATED - LOST
12th February - BAFTA Winners Announced
12th February - Art Director's Guild Winners Announced - NOMINTED - LOST
15th February - American Society of Cinematographer's Winners Announced
16th February - Visual Effects Society Winners Announced - NOMINATED - LOST
19th February - Writer's Guild of America Winners Announced
19th February - Costume Designers Guild Winners Announced - NOMINATED - LOST
20th February - American Cinema Editor's Winners Announced

22nd February - Oscar Ballot's Close
26th February - ISA Winners Announced
27th February - 77th Annual Academy Awards

Clive Owen is also rumored to be in contention, personally i would really love it if either Gerard or Clive get it, both wonderful actors and have the mature look needed for this role.... :razz:

ACADEMY AWARDS - 5 Days to GO!!!!!!!!!!!



:razz: :razz: :razz: :razz:

Stars shine in vain as Oscars' ratings fall

By John Cook
Tribune staff reporter
Published February 22, 2005

It's a good thing Oscar can't furrow his gold-plated brow. If he could, a glance at the recent ratings for the sort of star-studded, glamorous awards show that he has come to personify would no doubt crease his shiny face with worry lines.

The Grammys? Down 28 percent from the previous year, according to Nielsen Media Research.
The Golden Globes? Down 37 percent.
The Emmys? Down 23 percent.
The People's Choice Awards? Down 29 percent.

If the 77th Annual Academy Awards telecast grows or breaks even in the ratings Sunday night on ABC, it will be the only prime-time network awards show to do so this season. And though ABC executives say they're optimistic, there are few if any blockbuster films in this year's crop of nominees likely to bring in the audience that, say, "Titanic" did for the 1998 ceremony.

What's more, industry observers say, ABC is up against a long-term and seemingly inexorable trend: People just don't watch awards shows anymore, at least not in the numbers that they did just a few years ago.

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"I think someone desperately needs to reinvent the awards show format," said Laura Caraccioli-Davis, director of entertainment for the media-buying firm Starcom MediaVest Group. "There's a whole generation that grew up on the MTV awards shows. You can't expect them to watch their grandfather's awards show."

The allure of the movie star that helped networks gather more than 80 percent of the television audience for the Oscars in decades past has been eclipsed by a barrage of celebrity news and gossip--including countless Oscar imitators, from the Golden Globes to the Screen Actors Guild Awards--turning what once was a Hollywood spectacle into a relatively commonplace event.

Blockbusters draw viewers

"When I was a boy, if you wanted to see Jimmy Stewart, you could either go to the movies or watch the Oscars," said Gil Cates, the executive producer of this year's Oscar ceremony and a longtime veteran of awards shows. "But now--the Golden Globes had more stars than the heavens, and it still tanked. Stars alone do not make a show or a rating."

What usually does make an Oscar rating is a blockbuster film in contention for best picture. The most-watched telecast in Oscar history was in 1998, when "Titanic" won 11 awards and pulled in 55.2 million viewers. And even Cates is worried that this year's crop of nominees is notably lacking in the blockbuster department.

"The fortunes of the Oscars are directly related to how many people have seen the films," he said.

By the time the Oscars aired in 1998, "Titanic" had sold about 105 million tickets, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. That's nearly three times the 38 million tickets sold for this year's best picture nominees--"The Aviator," "Finding Neverland," "Million Dollar Baby," "Ray" and "Sideways"--combined.

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In the face of those less than encouraging numbers, ABC is doing what it can to generate interest in the show, most notably by hiring a professional bomb-thrower, comedian Chris Rock, as host.

The choice of Rock, who tends to find comedy in uncomfortable truths about race and is one of Hollywood's more foul-mouthed comedic stars, is clearly an effort on ABC's part to draw in younger audiences that might take a pass on Billy Crystal or Steve Martin.

"The networks and producers are without question trying to find a way to be relevant to a younger audience," said Tim Spengler, executive vice president and director of national broadcast for Initiative North America, a media-buying firm. "Using someone like Chris is ABC's way of trying to do that."

And Rock has already lived up to his reputation with comments to Entertainment Weekly suggesting that only women and gay men watch the Oscars, causing a minor flap that cynics accused ABC of engineering.

"It's obviously a publicity stunt," Starcom MediaVest's Caraccioli-Davis said. "The only draw is Chris Rock."

Andrea Wong, the ABC executive vice president overseeing the Oscars, said she had nothing to do with Rock's comments, but seemed pleased nonetheless that he's attracting attention.

"Chris is making noise, and that's a good thing," she said.

Target: New generation

Whether audiences--particularly younger ones--hear that noise and tune in is another question.

"People will start to question the overall value of awards shows if the numbers are down this time," said Caraccioli-Davis. "This year could be a turning point where they realize there is a new generation we need to get watching these shows."

ABC insists that it's not concerned with the poor performances of other awards shows, both because several of those programs fell victim to the Sunday night behemoth that is its own "Desperate Housewives," and because they are just that--other awards shows.

"I think the Oscars stand alone," Wong said. That's why advertisers are willing to pay a reported $1.6 million per 30-second spot--compared to a reported $2.4 million for 30 seconds on this year's Super Bowl telecast. The Academy Awards ad price is up 6 percent from last year.

ABC recently signed a deal for the right to air the ceremony through 2014. ABC won't say how much it is paying, but its previous deal paid the academy a reported $45 million per year.

Although the Oscars' share of the viewing audience has declined over the 51 years it has been broadcast, the total number of viewers has consistently hovered somewhere around the 40 million mark, give or take 10 million. It is still generally the second-most-watched event of the year behind the Super Bowl.

Indeed, as television audiences continue to fragment and migrate to cable and other offerings, shows like the Oscars tend to become more valuable.

"It's still an ultra-classy environment," said Spengler. "Most of the sponsors have been in for many years, and they believe in the platform and what it says about their brand. And that matters more than ratings variations in any one year."

Terrorism, rain threaten Oscars

22/02/2005 12:23 - (SA)
http://www.news24.com/News24/Entertainm ... 60,00.html



Hollywood - The Oscars have battened down the hatches six days ahead of cinema's biggest night, as organisers moved to ward off a dual threat to this year's Academy Awards: terrorism and driving rain.

Authorities threw a security blanket around Hollywood's Kodak Theatre as they launched the process of transforming the area ahead of the glittering arrival of hundreds of top stars for Sunday's 77th annual Academy Awards.

An army of police and anti-terrorism operatives was expected to flood the area later in the week ahead of the show that will be attended by around 3 300 VIPs and watched by up to a billion viewers across the world.

"We will do our best to make the Oscars safe for everyone involved because it's kind of obvious that it is a potentially very attractive target for terrorists," said Los Angeles Police Department officer Jason Lee.

Security guards, wearing vivid yellow rain slickers against the unseasonably inclement weather, dotted the edges of the area where the famous 150m long red carpet will be laid later this week.

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Preparing for the wet weather

Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences officials said they were taking precautions to keep the $20 000 - about R117 000 - designers gowns and tuxedos of Hollywood's good and great dry in case the wet weather extends into Sunday.

"Tents and canopies are going be constructed all over the red carpet," which will is due to be laid on Wednesday, one official said.

Local businessmen were non-plussed by the frenetic activity overtaking the area that is home to Hollywood's walk of fame, where more than 2 000 bronze-edged stars immortalising screen luminaries are set in the pavement of Hollywood Boulevard.

"Of course, we going to lose money," sighed the manager of a souvenir shop that sells imitation plastic Oscar statuettes next door to the Kodak Theatre.

Meanwhile the countdown to movieland's ultimate awards was underway, as stars and producers nervously began preparing their acceptance speeches.

The Academy's 5 808 voters must return their Oscars voting ballots to auditors by 17:00 on Tuesday in order for them to be influence the outcome of the awards in 24 categories.

The ballot papers will be held under high security at an undisclosed location while they are tallied, and will then be carried into the Oscars ceremony by two PriceWaterHouse Coopers accountants on Sunday.

Oscars, the grouches

A curmudgeon's guide to the Academy Award nominees.

http://www.sfbg.com/39/21/art_film_oscars.html

Cinematography
KC: House of Flying Daggers was no Hero, just as The Passion of the Christ was no Ten Commandments, especially without the gritted teeth of Gun Club for Men prez Charleton Heston. The Phantom of the Opera frankly makes us retch, though A Very Long Engagement might have a shot, considering the bright, particular look and feel of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's previous light-and-shadow love letter, Amélie. Regardless, we'll have to go with The Aviator and the opening sequences that seem to be shot on faded Technicolor film stock, the lushly appointed midperiod, and the eerie womblike coloration of a starkers, stark-raving Howard Hughes's OCD hermitage.

Music (song)
CE: Why are semicrunchy 1990s rockers Counting Crows on this list? It turns out, as annoying as "Mr. Jones" is (especially when crooned in karaoke form – dear god), the band's Shrek 2 ditty, "Accidentally in Love," is surprisingly irresistible. The song may not be as memorable as scene-stealer Puss 'N' Boots, but the upbeat, earnest paean to newfound romance provides a perfect backdrop for the film's opening montage of newlyweds Shrek and Fiona. Vignettes that cheerfully rip off obvious source material (Spider-Man, The Lord of the Rings) unfold over lyrics like "Well baby, I surrender / To the strawberry ice cream," and the resulting romantic, goofy vibe almost (almost!) excuses all the fart gags to come.

ACADEMY AWARDS - Misc. Information

77th Oscars will be held February 27, 2005 at the Kodak Theater, Hollywood

Produced by: Gil Cates
Directed by: Louis J. Horvitz
Honorary Oscar: Sidney Lumet
Hosted by: Chris Rock

Presenters:

Charlize Theron
Renee Zellweger
Orlando Bloom
Tim Robbins
Salma Hayek
Martin Scorsese
Halle Berry
Gyneth Paltrow
Penelope Cruz
Zhang Ziyi
Robin Williams
Kate Winslet
Kirsten Dunst
Al Pacino
Dustin Hoffman
Drew Barrymore
Natalie Portman
Cate Blanchett
John Travolta

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Couting Crows - "Accidentally In Love" - SHREK 2
Antonio Banderas & Carlos Santana - "Al Otro Lado Del Río" - THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
Josh Groban & Beyonce - "Believe" - THE POLAR EXPRESS
Beyonce - "Learn To Be Lonely" - THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Beyonce - "Look To Your Path (Vois Sur Ton Chemin)" - THE CHORUS

I wonder if they will bunch these up like last year, let's hope not...