The Americans Go Potty for British Comedy ``Saving Grace'' as U.S. Box Office Doubles Over Labor Day Weekend.Entertainment/Business Editors LONDON--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Sept. 5, 2000 The award-winning British comedy "Saving Grace," starring Brenda Blethyn with co-star Martin Clunes Martin Clunes (born 28 November 1961 in Wimbledon, South London) is an English actor. Biography Born Alexander Martin Clunes, he is the son of the classical actor Alec Clunes who died of lung cancer when he was eight;[1] , continues to pull in moviegoers in America, taking an astounding a·stound tr.v. a·stound·ed, a·stound·ing, a·stounds To astonish and bewilder. See Synonyms at surprise. [From Middle English astoned, past participle of astonen, $2,925,000 in three days, therefore doubling its existing U.S. box over the Labor Day Labor Day, holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada on the first Monday in September to honor the laborer. It was inaugurated by the Knights of Labor in 1882 and made a national holiday by the U.S. Congress in 1894. weekend. From an accumulated U.S. box office of $3.4 million, it has now toked up a total of $6.7 million. Over the three-day weekend, the attendance levels in the core 255 screens rose by 22% with a screen average of $3,343, ensuring that "Saving Grace" moved up from number 17 to 12 in the U.S. weekly box office. Sky Pictures (the feature film division of BSkyB), Portman Entertainment and Homerun Productions found reason to smile when U.S. distributor Fine Line made the decision to expand the movie's existing number of screens, from 255 to 880 for the Labor Day Weekend -- a vast jump from the films initial release schedule, opening on just 30 screens across 12 U.S. markets on Aug. 4. After two weeks the comedy moved on to 150 runs in 30 markets then expanded further to 255. William Turner
William Turner (c. 1508 – 7 July, 1568) was a British ornithologist and botanist. , head of Sky Pictures, today commented on what the success means for Sky Pictures: "`Saving Grace' is Sky Pictures' first feature film to be released in the U.S., and we couldn't have wished for a better result. This puts down a clear marker that we are equipped to make international films that have the potential to break out and achieve success not just at home but worldwide." Tristan Whalley, managing director of Film at Portman Entertainment, commented: "We are thrilled for all concerned that `Saving Grace' is getting the recognition and results it deserves. In honour of its growing success we are considering renaming the company Potman Pot´man n. 1. A pot companion. 2. A servant in a public house; a potboy. Noun 1. potman - a worker in an inn or public house who serves customers and does various chores potboy rather than Portman Films!" As the major studios have sweated out the August B.O. climate, "Saving Grace" still remains smokin' in the U.S. box office's top 20, with a screen average in excess of predicted U.S. hits, "Space Cowboys," "Coyote Ugly" and "Hollow Man," all of which started their U.S. release on the same day as "Saving Grace." Directed by Nigel Cole, "Saving Grace" tells the story of Grace Trevethan (Brenda Blethyn) who, facing destitution des·ti·tu·tion n. 1. Extreme want of resources or the means of subsistence; complete poverty. 2. A deprivation or lack; a deficiency. Noun 1. after her husband's untimely death, is forced to turn her green fingers to enterprise. Swapping prize-winning orchids for marijuana, and the safety of her idyllic lifestyle in Cornwall for London's underworld, Grace's adventure turns to mayhem and her only salvation seems to lie back in the village, with a motley bunch of eccentric locals. "Saving Grace" is produced and co-written by Mark Crowdy crow·dy n. Variant of crowdie. and stars Brenda Blethyn, Craig Ferguson Craig Ferguson (born 17 May 1962) is a Scottish comedian, actor, writer and talk show host. He is the current host of CBS's The Late Late Show, a role which earned him an Emmy nomination in 2006. (also co-writer), Martin Clunes, Tcheky Karyo, Phyllida Law Phyllida Law (born 8 May, 1932) is a Scottish actress. She was born in Glasgow to William and Megsie Law, who divorced after World War II. Law has worked extensively in television, including appearances in Dixon of Dock Green and Rumpole of the Bailey , Leslie Phillips
Leslie Samuel Phillips OBE (b. April 20, 1924) is an English BAFTA-nominated actor, best known for comedy. He was born in Tottenham, London. and Valerie Edmond Valerie Edmond (born Edinburgh, 1971) is a Scottish actress. Her first notable role was in The Sunshine Boys at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, directed by Maureen Lipman, soon after she graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. and was the recent winner of the World Cinema Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. The success of "Saving Grace" in America follows on from the recent announcement that Martin Clunes is to star in a new TV film franchise, "Doc Martin." From the production company that brought us "Saving Grace," Homerun Productions will make, in association with Buffalo Pictures, six stand-alone TV movies for Sky Television and Portman Entertainment based upon Clunes' popular "Saving Grace" character Dr. Bamford. "Doc Martin" will screen in the UK on Sky Premier next year. "Doc Martin" will be executive produced by Mark Crowdy and produced by Philippa Braithwaite. Released recently in the UK through Sky Pictures' distribution arrangement with Twentieth Century Fox, "Saving Grace" continues to build in the German and Swiss Box Offices where it recently opened. The film opens around the world over the next four months, opening this week in the Netherlands. Sky Pictures presents in association with Portman Entertainment and Wave Pictures a Homerun Production. Stills from "Saving Grace" are available from the Sky Television stills department by calling 0207 800 4276. |
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