FILM MIRRORING SCANDAL GETS NO BIG BOOST AT THE BOX OFFICE.Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services While the nation's capital was in a frenzy over allegations that President Clinton carried on an illicit affair, moviegoers in America's entertainment capital seemed more interested in watching the Titanic sink. Despite speculation that the White House scandal might drive bigger audiences to see New Line Cinema's ``Wag the Dog,'' many viewers said their cinematic choices had little to do with Clinton's predicament. Starring Dustin Hoffman Noun 1. Dustin Hoffman - versatile United States film actor (born in 1937) Hoffman and Robert De Niro Noun 1. Robert De Niro - United States film actor who frequently plays tough characters (born 1943) De Niro , ``Wag the Dog'' shares a passing similarity to the Clinton allegations. The president in ``Wag the Dog'' does something unseemly with a young ``Firefly Girl'' visiting the White House just 11 days before an election. Hollywood producer Stanley Motss (Hoffman) and political consultant Conrad Brean (De Niro Noun 1. De Niro - United States film actor who frequently plays tough characters (born 1943) Robert De Niro ) concoct con·coct tr.v. con·coct·ed, con·coct·ing, con·cocts 1. To prepare by mixing ingredients, as in cooking. 2. a phony war Phony War (1939–40) Early months of World War II, marked by no major hostilities. The term was coined by journalists to derisively describe the six-month period (October 1939–March 1940) during which no land operations were undertaken by the Allies or the with Albania to divert the country's attention from the scandal. ``We were going to see `Titanic,' but it sold out,'' said one woman with ``Wag the Dog'' tickets as she entered the AMC (Advanced Mezzanine Card) See AdvancedTCA. Theaters in the Woodland Hills Promenade theaters Sunday. Others at that theater said they had planned to see ``Wag the Dog'' even before allegations surfaced that Clinton had an affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky Monica Samille Lewinsky (born July 23, 1973) is an American woman with whom the former United States President Bill Clinton admitted (after initially denying) to having had an "inappropriate relationship"[1] while Lewinsky worked at the White House in 1995 and 1996. . ``I came to see it because of Robert De Niro,'' said 25-year-old Nikee Puni of Calabasas. ``I don't think the movie has anything to do with (the scandal).'' Ticket sales for ``Wag the Dog'' were up 7 percent Wednesday and Thursday immediately following reports about the alleged affair between Clinton and Lewinsky. But other movies also performed well on those two nights. It was too early to say whether the scandal would have any impact on the film, said Al Shapiro, president of domestic distribution for New Line. ``It does not look like major benefits,'' he said, although in Washington, D.C., ticket sales for the weekend were up about 5 percent over the previous week. Overall, ``Wag the Dog'' was expected to gross $4.7 million from Friday through Sunday at the North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. box office, down a moderate 27 percent from the previous weekend, which counted four days because of the Martin Luther King holiday. At another Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. theater, several patrons said news reports made them more interested in ``Wag the Dog.'' ``I want to see if it (the movie) will come out the way real life is going to come out,'' said 70-year-old Sonny Leonard as he bought a ``Wag the Dog'' ticket. New Line Cinema, the producer of ``Wag the Dog,'' says media coverage has increased the movie's profile but that timeliness also can be a liability. ``There's no question there possibly is a negative because of real-life events,'' said Mitch Goldman, New Line's president of marketing and distribution. ``There is a danger that people who see `Nightline' three days in a row may not want to go see `Wag the Dog.' But this is a comedy. There is a big difference between the two.'' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Director Barry Levinson, left, talks with actors Dustin Hoffman, center, and Robert De Niro on the set of ``Wag the Dog.'' Associated Press |
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