Sony readies answer to WB store

GOOD MORNING from New York: After Time Warner and Warner Bros. leaders Gerald Levin, Bob Daly, Terry Semel and company held sway over the city with the bow of WB’s flagship studio store on 5th Ave., Sony and Columbia’s corps of toppers took center stage — and they plan to stage their own party with Sony Plaza’s 40 ,000-square-foot emporium in the next week or so. It’s only two blocks from WB’s — Sony’s HQ is on Madison Ave. High atop the Sony building, on the 35th floor in the Sony Club, Michael Schulhof was greeting guests at the post-preem party for Columbia’s “Remains of the Day.” He was joined by Columbia’s Mark Canton, plus the movie’s Ismail Merchant, James Ivory, Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson and Christopher Reeve … In view of the past week’s developments involving Paramount and WB acquisitions and conversations about the studios’ futures in cable and network interactivity, I asked Schulhof, “What are Sony’s plans along those lines?” He smiled and noted, “That’s a good question.” As for a good answer — that may soon be forthcoming. But he happily reminded that Sony’s purchase of Columbia (and TriStar) for $ 4.5 billion, as compared to the offers for Paramount, “on an apple for apple basis”– makes Sony’s deal worth $ 7 billion,” he claimed. But, for the immediate future, he talked about the Sony Plaza’s giant store features — product for sale, exhibits of the latest in electronic gear — which will demonstrate interactivity to young and adult viewers-buyers. There already are screens in the lobby previewing movies. But the Sony “Store” is a long way from the WB long-range plans — soon to exceed 100 stores. One exec volunteered to me the stores will gross a billion (that’s billion) in four years.

SONY’S SCHULHOF is also heavily in favor of seeing the Grammys permanently emanating from New York. “The Oscars belong in L.A.,” he said, “and the Grammys should be here. All the major record companies are headquartered in New York”… Mark Canton countered with movie focus from Columbia. He said the lineup includes this week’s “My Life,” opening as well as “Remains of the Day.””Day” opens Friday in 93 theaters, gradually building up to 500. Previously, the biggest spread for a Merchant-Ivory film was 200 theaters. In December, Columbia bows its “Geronimo” epic … At the premiere of “Remains of the Day” earlier in the evening at the Paris theater, the well-liked Ismail Merchant thanked everyone for attending and reminded they started their film career (Merchant-Ivory’s, that is) 30 years ago with Columbia at that theater with their “Householder.” Coincidentally, it was written by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, who wrote “Remains” and was Oscar’d for their “Room With a View” and “Howards End,” the latter also with Hopkins and Thompson. There are more teamings coming up for the Oscar-winning thesps. Hopkins says he has shifted his plans for “Macbeth” from the stage to film — he’ll direct and he and Thompson will co-star. It’s a first time for Emma in “Macbeth.” Next September, Merchant-Ivory plans another India-set saga, with Hopkins. The actor has been on a non-stop work sked and next starts (Dec. 6) in “The Road to Wellville.” Last week, Savoy screened his “Shadowlands,” directed by Richard Attenborough; Hopkins’ wife and mother, seated with us at the post-preem “Day” party, told me they cried copious tears at the showing … Following the “Day” preem, Hopkins took a print to Skag Harbor for a benefit by Sybill Burton Christopher for her theater group. Hopkins has been a friend and fan of Richard Burton since he (Hopkins) was 14 years old in the same Wales town.

CHRISTOPHER REEVE said he will be returning to Africa in April when Robert Halmi plans to start “The Hunt,” previously titled “Samburu.” Reeve also plans a legit limited stand before the trek … Among those applauding “Remains of the Day” at the theater and then traveling to the top of the Sony HQ was Mike Myers, who brought his mother-in-law, Linda Richman, after whom he patterns his hysterical “advice” character on “Saturday Night Live.” Mike’s wife was in L.A. and he admitted the commuting from their California home was getting tougher. He plans to take a break when the “SNL” commitments are completed and will not start another movie for a while following “Wayne’s World II.””I would like to write something,” Meyers said … Among the preem guests was Barbara Walters and the conversation, of course, turned to the N.Y. Friars and the recent Ted Danson-Whoopi Goldberg brouhaha. And the inevitability of references to that event coming up when the very proper 90th Friars’ Anniversary honors Walters next year. That night will be super-starred, black-tied and a toast to her and the Club’s anni, of course. Her father, Lou W., was one of its leading members in the halcyon days of New York’s night life.

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Larita Shotwell

Update: 2024-07-27

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