Citizens' Voice from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania • 56

Movies 4 Sons Follow Kirk Douglas Into Show Biz tion department, as gofers, helping the electricians and Comes" at Disney. Eric was the only one to complain about how difficult it was to succeed because of the "There are three things I like best about my sons. Each has a good sense of humor. They're blessed with initiative and they are hard workers." Douglas paused to think about some of the tragic offspring of Hollywood stars who fell victim to drugs, booze and sloth, living it up on the strength of their parents: ed around his office at Bryna Productions (named for his mother) and spoke with pride of his sons, all of whom worked for his company at one time or other. Michael probably is the most visible of his offspring.

He produced "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "The China Syndrome," in which he also starred, for his Big Stick Productions. Peter is head man at Vincent Productions. Joel runs The Douglas Company and is an executive in Blanc Produc By VERNON SCOTT Ufl Hollywood porMr HOLLYWOOD (UPI) -Kirk Douglas' best productions, his long string of hit movies notwithstanding, are his four sons who have followed him into show business. The three eldest, Michael, Peter and Joel, have their own production companies. Young Eric, 23, is a successful actor who may be making his own pictures in the future.

Douglas, he of the dimpled chin and hawk-like eyes, look Mitchum, 'Winds burden of his father's name. "Why don't you change your name like I did?" his father asked. Eric never broached the subject again. Douglas is unsure whether his boys' predilection for creative production is in the Douglas genes or simply a matter of environment. "I was inspired by a need to succeed," Douglas said.

"I told my sons they didn't have my advantage of being born poor. I had no way to go but up. "They were born and reared in affluence. I remember when I didn't have enough to eat. I succeeded out of necessity.

I it's to their credit that they are as strongly motivated as I was. McGraw Solved of War' Problems tions. Papa Kirk had no intention of siring a quartet of filmmakers. Indeed, he discouraged his sons, advising them there is no tougher profession than showbiz. "Just goes to show how much I influenced them," Douglas said.

"They all worked with me at one time or other. I thought taking them on locations and putting them to work would illustrate how difficult the movie business is. "They worked in the produc- 17 and now would like to make a comeback. We went on an enormous search. Nothing." Then a suggestion, "What about All McGraw?" But Curtis shot back "She's too old.

Forget it." "I thought Jane Fonda, 44, would be perfect for the role, except that she was too old, so why consider All." But he finally agreed to meet Ali who was 43 years old. "I told her you'll have to look in your thirties. But first, I must take a close look at your skin there'll be lots of huge closeups. I did and she looked fantastic. When she left, I said 'That's And those people who doubted her ability to act will eat their words." LJSYLVESTER STALLONE I tfnt tiki A stage hands, to earn a few bucks and to keep out of mischief.

Evidently they picked up more than I thought through all that exposure." Michael, who studied law at the University of California at Santa Barbara, was the first to turn to show business. One day he asked his father to see his acting debut in a bit part in a college play. Douglas told Michael he was terrible in the role. "I always tell my sons the truth," he said. "But I saw him in another play and told him he was very good.

By the time he graduated he was winning prizes in the drama department. "After the boys grew up they learned production right here at Bryna. They were sensitive about nepotism and were anxious to set out on their own projects. "I wish they were all with me now so I could make pictures with them. I tell them now that if I'd known they'd become so good, I'd have been nicer to them." Douglas is doing splendidly without the help of his kids.

He recently completed a pair of new movies, "The Man From Snowy River" and "Eddie Macon's Run." He will be seen Dec. 6 in "Remembrance of Love," an NBC-TV movie. Eric, who makes his home in New York, plays his father as a younger man in "Remembrance of Love." Peter recently produced the $20 million "Something Wicked This Way 2 IIG IAD JOHN SERENA Tu Tu. MM MCOfftSr'l. C0.77.

FftO iinooam XXX Casting Herman Wouk's "Winds of War," with its 285 speaking parts, has been a "nightmare," admits producer-director Dan Curtis, who spent nearly two years assembling perhaps the biggest cast in TV history. The first casting challenge was Victor "Pug" Henry, the central figure who played a role of quiet strength and power, a U.S. Navy commander, who Curtis says, could talk with Presidents, Hitler, Churchill and these figures would listen. If this were the '50's, he observes, Spencer Tracy would have been perfect. "I had endless meetings and compiled a long potential list of maybe 500 actors.

I was miserable and desperate," he says in the current issue of Los Angeles magazine. Someone suggested Robert Mitchum but Curtis thought he was too old. tTDCBStf LDL(D)S3) fame. "Some day I would love to work with all four of them on a movie project with Eric and Michael and me acting, Peter producing and Joel as production manager. Do you think the world is ready for that?" WYOMING TONIGHT AREA EXCLUSIVE ONCE ONLY AT 7:30 OFFICER AXD oryri rMitni ft II EN I LEM Ail K) Jne Of The Years Great Shows CTM GREAT lU WEEK! SHOWS 5:15,7:10, 9:30 2.00At 3:30,5:15 CENTER 287-7200 The ultimate in sight and sound Now, re-recorded in new digital stereo.

Ri-KlMMd by BUENA VISTA OWHIRUTION CO. ALL SEATS $2.00 4 AN ORION PICTURES RELEASE FORTY FOItT? GATEWAY SHOPPING With two months from filming, Curtis finally agreed to have lunch with Mitchum. "I agreed to met though I wasn't very hopeful," Curtis recalls. "I had considered Mitchum initially for the part, but placed him low on the list because of his age. However, when I walked into the restaurant, I did a double take.

He looked young. There was no question in my mind when I left that table this man was Pug Henry. I was so happy I couldn't see straight. Mitchum is flawless. You just smile when he's doing it." The second casting challenge was Natalie Jastrow, whom Pug Henry's son, Byron, fails in love with.

ABC-TV wanted the girl to be about 33, look fantastic, act wonderfully and be an unknown. "That meant we had to read Kansas City housewives who had dropped out of acting when they were Robert Mitchum SOME OF THE HOTTEST SCENES EVER MADE IN ADULT CINEMA. THE CREAM Of THE KHUDHUe.lUCIHUM SHOWS TODAY 2:00, 4:15, 7:00, 9:20 1:00,2:00,4:15,7:00,9:20 ALL SEATS 2.00 'til 4:30 CHUCK VINCENT'S I MD MO' CONSENTING I MON. THRU SUN. SHOWINGS BEFORE 6 P.M.

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