R.I.P.

The press release about Frank Price’s resignation last week as chairman of the motion picture group and president of Universal Pictures was (see above) full of brevity.

But in its brevity, it may have spoken volumes.

Noticeably absent: Any mention of the not-so-dearly departed (and now playing the $1 houses) $37-million “Howard the Duck.” Reports have had it that it was this not-well-attended movie that encouraged his departure.

As if things weren’t tough enough, the N.Y. Times’ headline on the Price departure referred to him almost incidentally as “Universal Pictures Aide.”

Daily Variety headline writer Tim Gray cut right to the bone with what easily ranks as the year’s juiciest headline:

‘DUCK’ COOKS PRICE’S GOOSE