‘Liaisons’ Flirting Its Way to the Top

Can “Dangerous Liaisons,” the sexy costume drama that shot up to No. 5 on the Billboard rental chart, muscle its way even higher--knocking out one of those four comedies at the top? It just might, particularly since fourth-ranked “Coming to America,” a May release, is past its peak and may be ready to fall out of the Top 5. Speaking of peaks, it looks like “The Last Temptation of Christ” may have already peaked, slipping a notch to No. 10. “True Believer,” a thriller starring James Woods and Robert Downey Jr., entered the chart at No. 29. This tale about a cynical attorney (Woods) working on a 8-year-old murder case grossed a modest $8.4 million, indicating there should be enough rental interest to ultimately land it just under the Top 10. Another Woods movie, “The Boost,” is No. 17 after two weeks.

* Summer is such a big comedy season in home video that comedies that just did fair box-office business can make a big splash in the rental market. For instance, “Who’s Harry Crumb?,” which grossed $10.9 million, debuted at No. 31 but is a good bet to make the Top 10. Its big attraction is comic actor John Candy, who is a major home-video star--this time playing an inept private eye who stumbles his way through a kidnaping case.

VIDEO CHARTS

Rental Rental Weeks Top Ranking Ranking 2 On Rental Rentals Last Week Weeks Ago Chart 1.”Twins” 11 2 6 (MCA) 2.”Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” 2 3 5 (Orion) 3.”The Accidental Tourist” 3 6 4 (Warner) 4.”Coming to America” 4 1 10 (Paramount) 5.”Dangerous Liaisons” 10 ... 2 (Warner) *”Who’s Harry Crumb?” ... ... 1 (RCA/Columbia)