The Sheboygan Press from Sheboygan, Wisconsin • Page 19

i. 4 The Shebovaan Press, Tuesday, December 19, 1995 B7 'Toy Story 'Jumanji' duel for box office lead ereen denies How else do you explain those unlikely looking movie siblings? Top weekend la It doesn't take a Charles Darwin or a Gregor Mendel to figure out this weird science. Screen genes have nothing to do with Weekend of Dec. 16-18, 1995 All dollar figures in millions Gross to dam mks in Weekend lewase.nuntwot screens gross Jumanji $11.08, oneweek, 2,487 screens' Shirley MacLaine or Jeff and Beau Bridges, also scarcely resemble one another.) In a big-budget movie, genetics is determined by box-office bankability. Thus, when producers and casting directors searched for an actor to play Harrison Ford's father in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," they didn't hire an American who actually resembled Ford.

Toy Story $97.5, lour weeks, 2,528 screens Heat $8.4. one week. 1.325 screens 1 3 4 5 6 7 Father of the Bride Part $212. two weeks, 1,956 Sabrina $56. one week, 1,821 screens $10.97 $8.4 $7.3 $5.6 $1.83 Goldeneye $83.

1 fve weeks. 202 screens By CARRIE RICKEY KNIGHT RIDDER NEWS SERVICE Geneticists are stumped, and if they can't figure it out, imagine how the casual moviegoer feels. You're watching "Rain Man," in which Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman play movie history's most improbable siblings. (OK, there was Schwarzenegger and DeVito, but that was the joke.) You try to focus on the plot, but are distracted. Brothers? The only thing these guys have in common is that they're male bipeds living in the 20th century.

Even different mothers couldn't account for the dissimilarity. Different planets is more like it. So, how could the tiny Hoffman, with his sliver of a mouth and beak of a nose, be biological kin to Cruise, he of the cupid lips and pert proboscis? Screen genes, that's how. Screen genes are like nothing found in nature. But they are found everywhere in Hollywood.

Screen genes explain why in the remake of "Sabrina," opening on Friday, Harrison Ford, who is 53 and has a mug like a potato, rutted and asymmetrical, is the brother of Greg Kinnear, 32, whose marshmal-low face is smooth and regular. Screen genes explain why on tele- vision's "Friends" David Schwim-mer, that teddy bear with the chocolate eyes and king-size features, is -the brother of Courteney Cox, the The American President $41.1, live weeks, 1,508 screens LOS ANGELES (AP) The new Robin Williams movie "Jumanji" and the computer-animated "Toy Story" were virtually tied for first place at the weekend box office, with less than $110,000 in receipts separating the two. TriStar, the makers of "Jumanji," claimed their movie made $11.08 million, while Disney said "Toy Story" brought in $10.97 million. But both numbers released Monday were suspect because they changed twice from Sunday projections. Exhibitor Relations Co.

Inc. said Monday morning that "Toy Story" was first with $10.8 million, while "Jumanji" was second with $10.5 million. Estimates from industry sources Sunday said "Toy Story" and "Jumanji" each made $11 million. Since the box-office numbers are based on actual ticket sales and studio projections, the figures cannot be independently confirmed. In third place was "Heat," which actually enjoyed the best statistical weekend among the top 10 releases, with the leading per-screen average.

Playing in fewer theaters and with limited showings due to its three-hour running time, "Heat" still grossed $8.4 million. Harrison Ford's "Sabrina" remake performed poorly in its debut, netting $5.6 million in fifth. In limited release, "Sense and Sensibility" played very well, while "Cry, the Beloved Country" flopped. The top 5 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Sunday, followed by studio, gross, number of theater locations, receipts per location, total gross and number of Casino $32.8, lour weeks, 1 ,615 screens Tiio Screen Gene Hall of Shame Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange and Sissy Spacek as the Southern-fried sibs in "Crimes of the Heart." (Bankability and amiability not to mention cheekbones.) James Caan, John Cazale and Al Paci-no in "The Godfather." (Availability, and they're all ethnic types.) Mia Farrow, Barbara Hershey and Dianne Wiest as "Hannah and Her Sisters." (Bankability.

And, of course, cute, cute, cute.) Edward James Olmos and Jimmy Smits as "hermanos" in "Mi Familia." (Scarcity.) Danny Aiello and Nicolas Cage as the brothers who share Cher in "Moonstruck." (Amiability. And they are both Italian.) Robin Williams and Harvey Fierstein as bros in "Mrs. Doubtfire." (You figure that one out.) They hired Sean Connery, Scottish burr and all, the most bankable star of the prior generation. This, though Connery is only 12 years older and looks about as much like Ford as Pee-wee Herman. Meanwhile, in a no-budget movie, screen genes are about availability.

The producers make sisters out of any competent actresses who like the script. Other gene pools are marketing creations. Their aim is to attract the broadest possible audience. It's the amiability factor. There is, additionally, the scarcity factor, best illustrated by the startlingly dissimilar actresses who play the Chinese mothers and American daughters in "The Joy Luck Club." There isn't an abundance of seasoned Asian-American actresses in Hollywood, which is why Eurasian France Nuyen and Japanese Amer Ace Ventura: When Nature $101 six weeks, 2,135 screens $1.75 "fQ Money Train Source; Exhibitor Relations Inc.

AP weeks in release: 1. (tie) "Jumanji," TriStar, $11.08 million, 2,487 locations, $4,457 per location, $11.08 million, one week. 1. (tie) "Toy Story," Disney, $10.97 million, 2,528 locations, $4,341 per location, $97.5 million, four weeks. 3.

"Heat," Warner $8.4 million, 1,325 locations, $6,374 per location, $8.4 million, one week. 4. "Father of the Bride Part II," Disney, $7.3 million, 1,956 locations, $3,727 per location, $21.2 million, two weeks. 5. "Sabrina," Paramount, $5.6 million, 1,821 locations, $3,055 per location, $5.6 million, one week.

icans such as Tamlyn Tomita starred in the film alpng with Rosalind Chao and Lauren Tom. OK, let's review. Screen genes are, as a rule, a product of bankability, availability, amiability and Kind of puts a new spin on the expression "family values," doesn't it? blue-eyed, brunet Barbie whose entire face could fit in one of Schwimmer's nostrils. And Cox looks so Irish, while Schwim-mer and screen dad Elliott Gould play so Jewish. DNA or the milkman, the usual culprits when kids don't look like anyone in the family.

(Though some real-life Hollywood sibs, such as Warren Beatty and DO YOU REMEMBER? Always get it in writing Please tell me" what to do. Renton, Wash. purchased through the drive are 25 cents per movie both for the child and for any adult attending with him. The box office price is 50 cents. mail reached Tuesday, Postmaster Albrecht predicted that the situation would ease somewhat in the few days remaining before Christmas.

Yesterday's mail receipts shattered all existing traffic records at the local post office. The department's cancellation machine stamped 6,500 more than last year's peak day. 1 Ann Landers I Columnist Dear Renton: Tell your husband to take his choice. His father is healthy, he has money and there is no reason he must live with you six months out of the year, displacing your son and depriving you of your husband's companionship. 75 YEARS AGO TODAY December 19, 1920 Dear Santay: Will you please bring me a boy doll, be sure you don't bring me a girl doll, a choo-choo train, a drum, horse-wagon a few handkerchiefs.

Thank you very much. I remain a faithful friend. Howard Miller. 50 YEARS AGO TODAY December 19, 194S The heaviest Christmas mail traffic in history, easily eclipsing other rush years, was reported today by Louis J. Al-brecht, Sheboygan postmaster.

With the peak day of outgoing 10 YEARS AGO TODAY December 19, 1985 An early morning fire has put a Sheboygan welding and radiator repair shop out of business, at least temporarily. The blaze caused a considerable amount of damage to Butzen's Welding and Fabricating, 2516 Superior Ave. "It has to be in excess of $40,000," noted Battalion Chief Larry Schneider, who headed the forces that put out the fire. I believe in the biblical, "Honor thy father and thy mother," but THIS father poses a genuine threat to your marriage. If your husband refuses to put you first, insist on joint counseling.

25 YEARS AGO TODAY December 19, 1970 Inflation has not affected the price of the Saturday movie series ticket, the Sheboygan Area Council of Parents and Teachers points out as it announces the 1971 ticket sale. The tickets BRIDGE Dear Ann Landers: How does one collect money from relatives? For several years my wife, "Ginny," sent money to her elderly aunt in the Twin Cities. Ginny assured me the money was a loan and we would be reimbursed. There was also the cost of travel, long-distance phone calls to lawyers, a CPA, doctors, nurses, the nursing home and eventually her aunt's funeral. Ginny has a sister, "Maggie," who lives in another state and a brother, "Jim," who lives in a fashionable suburb.

Both Maggie and Jim are well off, yet they each received $60,000 from their aunt's estate. My wife was left nothing. What can be done to make things more equitable? Bob in Pittsburgh Dear Bob: Since Ginny only assumed she would be reimbursed for the money she spent on her aunt and she has nothing in writing, there is no way she can collect directly from Maggie or Jim. However, Ginny can file a claim against the estate and try to convince a judge that the money she gave to her aunt was a loan. If the judge believes her, she will be reimbursed.

Either way, Maggie and Jim should at least offer to pay part of the cost for Auntie's funeral expenses. There's a lesson here, readers. Assume nothing. Get it in writing. Dear Ann Landers: Smart women think ahead.

It pays off. It certainly did for Rita Lucas. When I read about it, I cheered. Rita's former husband, Robert Lucas a University of Chicago economist, recently won the Nobel Prize in Economics and $1 million. When the couple was divorced in 1989, Rita thought he just might win the price and put in a claim for half of any Nobel prize money in the divorce settlement.

Let her serve as a role model. Not So Wise in New Jersey Dear N.J.: Robert may be a Nobel laureate, but obviously, Rita is no dummy. Congratulations to both. Dear Ann Landers: "Dick" and I have been married for 11 years. When Dick's mother passed away three years ago, he informed me that his dad, "Ike," was going to spend six months a year with us.

Period. We never know when Ike will be here or for how long. He just shows up. Dick and I have three children and a four-bedroom home. Whenever Ike comes, one of our children has to give up his room.

Dick says his father has every right to live with us any time he chooses. Ike is in good health and financially well off. I spend most evenings in our bedroom alone because Ike watches sports on the big TV, and Dick feels he needs to be with him. Dick also insists that his dad be included in all of our social plans. This has been a terrible strain on the family.

Ike has another son who lives five miles from our home. They have a three-bedroom home and no children, but Ike never stays with them. This is really getting to me, Ann. NORTH 121995 6 5 Q2 A 6 5 3 2 A 5 4 2 WEST EAST 10 9 8 7 4 3 9 8 3 7 9 10 8 7 9 8 7 6 10 SOUTH A A 2 VA 10 6 5 4 K4 3 Vulnerable: Both Dealer: South South West North East 1 Pass 1 NT Pass 2 Pass 2 NT Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass 4 NT Pass 5 Pass 7 Pass Pass Pass Opening lead: for play in hearts. South used Roman Key Card Blackwood to learn that his partner had two aces and the heart queen.

The declarer saw that he had to establish a long diamond trick for a spade discard. But once the trick was established and trumps were drawn, declarer would need a dummy entry. That had to be the club ace. So, after winning the first trick with the spade ace, South' continued with the heart ace, the diamond king, a diamond to dummy's ace, a diamond ruffed high, a heart to dummy's queen and another diamond ruffed high. South drew West's last trump, played a club to dummy's ace and discarded his spade two on the diamond six.

At the end, West said to his partner, "It's a long deal that has no tricks." By PHILLIP ALDER F. Scott Fitzgerald claimed, "No grand idea was ever born in a conference, but a lot of foolish ideas have died there." A bridge partnership is like a conference: You and your partner must spend time working out your bidding and defensive card-play agreements so that you are on the same wavelength at the table. North and South benefited from their preparations in today's deal. Would you and your partner reach this desirable grand slam with only a combined 28 high-card points? In this auction, South's two spades was an artificial game-force, asking North to rebid two no-trump. Three hearts was natural.

Four clubs was a cue-bid, showing a good hand Missed delivery? If you don't receive your newspaper, please call the appropriate number by: 7 p.m. Weekdays 1 1 a.m. Saturday 11 a.m. Sunday SHEBOYGAN, KOHLER: 457-7711 MOTOR ROUTE CUSTOMERS: please call 457-7711 or 1-800-686-3900 to have your account credited. PLYMOUTH: 892-8307 SHEBOYGAN FALLS: 467-8568 KIEL, ELKHART LAKE, NEW HOLSTEIN: 894-2340 CHILTON: 849-9076 HOWARDS GROVE, CLEVELAND, ST.

NAZIANZ: 693-8073 CEDAR GROVE, OOSTBURG HINGHAM, WALDO CASCADE, ADELL, RANDOM LAKE: 564-2669 (The Shcbfljugan Press TODAY IN HISTORY dent Jimmy Carter, on a peace mission to Bosnia-Herzegovina, met with Bosnian Serb leaders, who offered a four-month cease-fire. Cable News Network publicly acknowledged it had wrongfully disobeyed a judge's order in broadcasting former Panamanian military ruler Manuel Noriega's jail-house telephone conversations. VII artificial heart. Lund re-' ceived a human heart transplant 45 days later; she died in October 1986. Five years ago: Iraq urged its people to stockpile oil to avoid shortages should war break out, and Saddam Hussein declared he was "ready to crush any attack." One year ago: Former Presi Dear Santa rd like someone to help me get better grades in math.

My mom always says, "It's Greek to me" whenever I ask for he(p. Maybe you codd MAYING ASSOCIATED PRESS Today is Tuesday, Dec. 19, the 353rd day of 1995. There are 12 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Dec.

19, 1843, Charles Dickens classic Yuletide tale, "A Christmas Carol," was first published in England. On this date: In 1984, Britain and China signed an accord returning the British colony of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty by 1997. In 1986. the Soviet Union announced it had freed dissident Andrei Sakharov from internal exile, and pardoned his wife, Yelena Bonner. Ten years ago: Secretary of State George P.

Shultz, defying a White House directive requiring polygraph tests for officials with access to highly classified Information, said he would resign before agreeing to such a procedure. In Minneapolis, Mary Lund became the first woman to receive a JarviK Whirlpool MAGNAVOX CSnJENN-AIR find me a Biq Sister sol don't feel so dumb at school Love, Sarah TV APPLIANCES, INC. ROPER Call Big BrothersBig Sisters 693-4301 434 E. Mill Plymouth 452-881 1.