The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 47

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1983 THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR- PACE 48- Movie mogul defends 'cheapies' from lot Angtlo I O'BRIEN 5EVARA JQ Olid from Lot Ang1 ALEX VALDEZ fC 1.1 Xt the oven. Hans Christian Andersen's stories were scarey. Walt Disney's cartoons were always scarey." He said he had great admiration for Disney, who was a personal friend. "ONE OF THE scariest things he did was show Bambi's mother get shot in the film. He was highly criticized for that: Mothers wouldn't take their kids to see it because a mother's death is always shocking to a young person." Did Disney regret leaving the scene in the film? "Walt Disney never regretted anything," Arkoff mused.

One of AIP's most successful ventures in recent years, "The Amity-ville Horror," was based on a true story "which added extra appeal. You just find what an audience likes and keep on making them until costs get too high or the audience cools off. "Today's audiences won't buy a western; they like more realistic films. You can't have Indians being the bad guys anymore. And it's difficult to make a movie on politics or as do many top Hollywood writers.

In 1980. AIP was sold to Film ways, which booted Arkoff out of the fold and eventually went bankrupt for their folly. Filmways was bought by Orion in 1982 and continues to distribute new products as well as the old AIP favorites, which show up at drive-ins and college campuses in "film festivals." ARKOFF PRODUCES under his own flag now Arkoff International Pictures and recently finished "Rafts," starring Tim Matheson and Steven Furst (both of "Animal about a college Whitewater rafting team whose members are promised degrees if they win a race. Also coming up is "Maria's Lovers." with Nastassia" Kinski, Robert Mitchum and Keith Carradine. Filmmaking is a family affair for Arkoff.

whose son and son-in-law produce and direct. His wife, however, is not involved. "She's a sculptor and the worst judge of box office appeal I've ever seen," he related with a hearty laugh. "If she likes one of my films, it's the kiss of death." Wednesday Thursday, 8 PM. Friday 8 10:30 PM, Saturday 8 10 P.M.

Special Midnight Show Saturday RESERVATIONS 251-3355 QQ STAR AND NEWS CLASSIFIEDS Gtt Fist Results 633-1212 "The Final Terror" stars Rachel Ward and Adrian Zmed. It is rated and starts today at Loews Greenwood, Loews Cherry Tree, Speedway and Castleton I. By RITA ROSE When the new "Guinness Book of World Records" comes out this month, Samuel Z. Arkofrs name won't be in it. But it should be.

Arkoff, 65, has just produced his 500th motion picture, and according to his enthusiasm and energy level, he'll probably produce 500 more. His latest is "The Final Terror" for Orion Pictures, a horror film whose release on Halloween weekend is no accident It stars Rachel Ward Thorn and Adrian Zmed (William Shatnor's hand some partner on "TJ. and is a contemporary thriller filmed in the Redwood region of California. "It's scenic that's more than I can say for most horror pictures." chuckled Arkoff in a telephone interview this week. ARKOFF IS atypical of most movie moguls, a usually untouchable breed with the ever present cigar and air of importance.

The cigar is there, but Arkoff is a jovial, friendly "Jewish papa" who doesn't mind de voting a chunk of his six- or seven day work week to talk about the movie industry. Some critics have called his films "garbage" and "cheapie trash." Ar koff has been tagged "the king of the dime store movies." an assessment he takes as a compliment. His American-International Pictures has churned out hundreds of exploitation films, and he's hard pressed to name one that didn't make any money. Known for his tight fisted budgets, short shooting Olympic benefit set Wednesday The U.S. Olympic Committee, in conjunction with Walt Disney Pro ductions and local sponsors WNAP Radio and The Athletic Department will host a special benefit showing of Disney new movie.

"Running Brave." Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Loews Norgate. The film, starring Robby Benson, is the true story of Billy Mills, the first American Indian to ever win a gold medal in the 1964 Summer "'Educating Rita' is one of the surprise delights of the season a literate, literary, off-beat comedy. Julie Walters is a joy." Sh.ihl BO-TV. TODAY MIOW if vi -if Sam Arkoff Producer hits 500th film mark schedules and ability to put out a product the film going public wants.

Arkoff's success is obviously a result of his industry savvy. "If I can make a picture for less money (than another studio), should I be condemned? Most pictures these days cost too much." he observed. "My films have no waste or graft which is why we've survived so long. And if I can turn out any enjoyable picture, what's the difference? The tickets cost the same as those for the high budget films with all the fancy special effects." AIP WAS BORN 30 years ago when Arkoff. then a lawyer, teamed up with filmmaker James Nicholson.

Their lucrative formula film stable began with a series of Edgar Allen Poe thrillers starring Vincent Price. Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre. progressing to the Annette Funicello-Frankie Avalon beach party pictures of the early '60s. motorcycle gang films, "blacksploitation" and kung fukarate series in the 70s. "We were doing sequels long before anyone else ever thought of it" Arkoff noted smugly.

The Nicholson Arkoff team (Nicholson died in 1972) had a handle on audience appeal, a talent Arkoff attributes to knowing the market. There is no one sure fire formula for a successful film, he said. "Taste changes and goes in cycles, like wide and narrow lapels." he explained. "We've gone through three or four cycles of horror films in 30 years in the Poe days, we couldn't show so much blood. Horror, as we understand it now.

has become more graphic. "The basic part of a child's 'terror' education begins with fairy tales. Whenever I read 'Hansel and Gretel' to my kids I expurgated the part about putting with witch's head in international terrorism because people can see stuff like Beirut or Grenada on TV. TV feeds reality to the public, so when they go to a movie theater they want to escape into a more upbeat story. "What people want now." he con tinued.

"are genre pictures. They want to be scared, laugh and cry the kind of crying you do when you're touched, not the morose kind. And most audiences don't like artsy films: People make those to please themselves, and the appeal is purely esoteric." AS ONE of 3.000 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences who votes each year for the Academy Awards. Arkoff offered his input on this year's winners. "Gandhi." he observed, was poorly directed and "basically untrue.

Gandhi was not for peace per se that was just publicity bull. He wasn't a pacifist but used a pacifist method. The acting was wonderful, but 'Tootsie' was a terrific picture. 1 thought 'The Verdict' was better too. "For some reason, the Academy members always vote for a solemn picture." Arkoff also has a knack for discovering up and coming talent: Many Hollywood stars and starlets got their starts in the mostly youth-oriented AIP films.

Linda Evans, the star of TV's "Dynasty," made her debut as a sweet faced, dimpled sing er in "Bikini Beach." "We've always gone for good, young casts." said the producer. "The older I get, the younger the leads get!" That isn't to say his films are peppered with unknowns. Jack Nicholson. Peter Fonda, Mike Connors and Woody Allen have AIP credits. KsJ C-v iTafKf a9a lit i 1 Olympics in Japan.

It will open in area theaters Nov. 4. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at any of the six Athletic Department stores. Proceeds will go to the U.S. Olympic Committee to benefit the United States Olympic teams which will compete next year in Los Angeles.

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