• August 12, 1991
• Vol. 36
• No. 5

Bombs Away!

Somewhat out of season, the turkey was in full force in Hollywood this summer, joining its new friends Bruce Willis, Julia Roberts and Woody Allen (see SCREEN). Exactly why a movie is deemed a disappointment has to do with prior expectations: a film with a huge star {Dying Young), huge budget (Hudson Hawk, at a reported $60 million) or huge publicity (Truth or Dare) that fails to produce similarly huge profits is considered a dud even if it does mediocre to good business (The Doors). Studios, saddled with such films, can hope for salvation in the video market; moviegoers sitting through Hudson Hawk, however, have only the snack bar to turn to (see ETC.). Which might explain why Twizzlers, the electrical-cable-like candy that requires full attention to be loosed from its wrapper, is having a banner year.

SCREEN

Hollywood Reporter box office expert Martin Grove's "Disappointments of 1991"

1. Dying Young
Julia Roberts

2. Hudson Hawk
Bruce Willis

3. The Rocketeer
Bill Campbell

4. Dutch
Ed O'Neill

5. Truth or Dare
Madonna

6. The Doors
Val Kilmer

7. Scenes from a Mall
Woody Allen

8. Flight of the Intruder
Danny Glover

9. Alice
Mia Farrow

10. The Marrying Man
Alec Baldwin

VIDEO

TOP 10 RENTALS

1. GoodFellas
2. Kindergarten Cop
3. Edward Scissorhands
4. Green Card
5. The Grifters
6. Reversal of Fortune
7. Misery
8. Postcards from the Edge
9. Mermaids
10. Look Who's Talking Too

SOURCE: BILLBOARD

ETC.

TOP-SELLING MOVIE-THEATER SNACK BAR CANDIES

1. Twizzlers
2. Milk Duds
3. Raisinets
4. M&M Peanut
5. M&M Plain
6. Reese's Peanut Butter Cup
7. Starburst Fruit Chews
8. Snow Caps
9. Spree
10. Reese's Pieces

SOURCE: GENERAL CINEMA CORP.

Song

TOP 10 POP ALBUMS

1. Unforgettable
Natalie Cole

2. For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
Van Halen

3. Spellbound
Paula Abdul

4. Gonna Make You Sweat
C + C Music Factory

5. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Motion picture sound track

6. Luck of the Draw
Bonnie Raitt

7. Slave to the Grind
Skid Row

8. Out of Time
R.E.M.

9. Time, Love and Tenderness
Michael Bolton

10. Cooleyhighharmony
Boyz II Men

SOURCE: BILLBOARD

PAGES

TOP 10 HARDCOVER NONFICTION TITLES

1. Parliament of Whores
by P.J. O'Rourke

2. Chutzpah
by Alan Dershowitz

3. Iron John: A Book About Men
by Robert Bly

4. The Commanders
by Bob Woodward

5. Toujours Provence
by Peter Mayle

6. Boss of Bosses
by Joseph F. O'Brien & Andris Kurins

7. Fire in the Belly: On Being a Man
by Sam Keen

8. A Question of Character: A Life of John F. Kennedy
by Thomas C. Reeves

9. When You Look like Your Passport Photo, It's Time to Go Home
by Erma Bombeck

10. DO IT! Let's Get Off Our Butts
John Roger & Peter McWilliams

SOURCE: PUBLISHERS WEEKLY