SNEAKS ’91 : A USER’S...

SUMMER

Sure, the Oscars are important, and having the biggest movie of the Christmas season is a fine way to end the year, but every studio in town would trade both of those honors for the privilege of being No. 1 during the summer. This is the harvest season in Hollywood, three months of seven-full-days-a-week business that will pluck some $2 billion away from American moviegoers and at the same time establish the odds on next year’s video rankings.

Usually, the pre-season favorites are sequels to previously viewed hits, and this summer has its share. But other than “RoboCop 3,” “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” and “The Naked Gun II 1/2,” it’s hard to spot any sure things on the list. More likely, the big hits will come from an assortment of first-look deals like: “Hudson Hawk,” an action film starring Bruce Willis; “Frankie and Johnny,” with Garry Marshall (“Pretty Woman”) directing Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer; Richard Donner’s “Radio Flyer”; and “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” which will feature Kevin Costner’s big screen debut in tights.

In recent years, summers have become increasingly populated with films aimed at adults, and the leading hopefuls among this season’s lineup include: Robert Benton’s “Billy Bathgate,” starring Dustin Hoffman; “The Doctor,” Randa Haines’ first film since “Children of a Lesser God”; Terry Gilliam’s “The Fisher King,” with Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges, and Spike Lee’s “Jungle Fever.”

“Afraid of the Dark”--A psychological thriller about a daydreaming 11-year-old boy whose grasp on reality becomes dangerously tenuous. Mark Peploe (he wrote “The Last Emperor”) is the writer-director. Stars Fanny Ardant, James Fox, Paul McGann and Clare Holman. (New Line)

“Another You”--Richard Pryor plays a recently incarcerated con man who’s assigned to look after recently institutionalized pathological liar Gene Wilder. A mistaken-identities scam provides the high jinks. Also stars Mercedes Ruehl, Stephen Lang and Vanessa Williams. Maurice Phillips took over directing chores from Peter Bogdanovich. (Tri-Star)

“Backdraft”--Ron Howard directs Kurt Russell, William Baldwin, Robert De Niro and Jennifer Jason Leigh in this story of a family of firefighters’ heroism and sacrifice. Scott Glenn, Rebecca DeMornay and Donald Sutherland co-star in the Gregory Widen screenplay. (Universal)

“Beastmaster II: Through the Portal of Time”--Marc Singer is again the master of all creatures who travels from the primitive, mystical land of Arak to modern-day Los Angeles. Wings Hauser and “Superman II’s” Sarah Douglas also take the trip. Sylvio Tabot directs. (Distribution pending)

“Becoming Colette”--Klaus Maria Brandauer, Mathilda May and Virginia Madsen star in this biography of the legendary pre-feminist author Colette, who became the toast of Paris and first woman to receive France’s Legion of Honor near the turn of the century. Danny Huston (John’s son) directs. (Scotti Bros.)

“Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure II”--Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter and George Carlin all reprise original roles. This adventure finds our heroes killed by their evil robot twins --they must find a way to extricate themselves from hell. Director: Peter Hewitt. (Orion)

“Bingo”--This comedy looks at American life, ‘90s-style, with some bizarre characters and nightmarish predicaments tossed in. Starring Bingo the dog as the title character, along with “Laverne & Shirley’s” Cindy Williams, David Rasche and Robert Steinmiller Jr. Matthew Robbins directs. (Tri-Star)

“Black Rainbow”--Rosanna Arquette, Jason Robards and Tom Hulce star in this story of a spiritualist medium who’s schlepped around the Bible Belt by her manipulative pop until she foretells the details of a violent murder and is pursued by a heartless hit man. Mike Hodges directs. (Miramax)

“Boyz ‘n the Hood”--John Singleton writes and directs his first feature, a poignant story of three friends growing up in embattled South-Central L.A., where Singleton was raised. Larry Fishburne, Ice Cube and Cuba Gooding Jr. are the Boyz. (Columbia)

“Cello” (tentative title)--Nina is lovesick over Jamie but there’s a slight hitch--Jamie’s dead. She’s having a very tough time letting go until Jamie returns one day as a ghost. (Haven’t we heard this one before?) Juliet Stevenson and Alan Rickman are the leads; Anthony Minghella writes and directs. (Goldwyn)

“City Slickers”--A comedy in which Billy Crystal and buddies Bruno Kirby and Daniel Stern sign up as cowboys on a weeklong cattle drive. They learn responsibility, friendship--and that closing a $1-million deal ain’t nothin’ compared to delivering a calf. Jack Palance also stars; Ron Underwood directs. (Columbia)

“Clifford”--Martin Short as a 10-year-old (the illusion partly achieved with oversized props and furniture) wreaks havoc when he visits bachelor uncle Charles Grodin in L.A. Mary Steenburgen and Dabney Coleman also star under Paul Flaherty’s direction. (Orion)

“Curly Sue”--James Belushi, Kelly Lynch and Alisan Porter in a romantic comedy that John Hughes wrote, directs and produces. Porter’s an 8-year-old girl who, along with her street-wise guardian (Belushi), charms her way into the life of an uptight, cynical and urbane woman attorney played by Lynch. (Warners)

“Deathstalker IV”--This time our intrepid title character must defend his life and love in a nasty battle with the evil stone warriors. Howard Cohen directs; Rick Hill, Maria Ford and Bret Baxter Clark star. (Concorde)

“Doc Hollywood”--Michael J. Fox is a brash young medical resident who’s on his way to Beverly Hills to be a “cosmetic surgeon to the stars” when an accident strands the cocky kid in a small Southern town where he learns about life . . . and love. “Scandal’s” Michael Caton-Jones directs; Julie Warner, Bridget Fonda, David Ogden Stiers, Barnard Hughes and Frances Sternhagen co-star. (Warners)

“The Doctor”--”Children of a Lesser God” director Randa Haines has hired William Hurt again in this dramatic study of a 40-year-old surgeon who discovers he has a cancerous larynx. Now forced to rely on the medical opinions of others, the physician sadly learns what it’s like to be on the other side of the stethoscope. Christine Lahti also stars. (Buena Vista)

“Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead”--Christina Applegate of “Married . . . With Children” stars in this comedy about a rowdy family of five children who must fend for themselves when mom takes off for a two-month vacation and their babysitter dies. Joanna Cassidy, Keith Coogan, Josh Charles and John Getz co-star. Stephen Herek is the director. (Warners)

“Dutch”--Ed O’Neill (TV’s “Married . . . With Children”) plays a working-class guy who drives a snobbish, arrogant rich kid home for Thanksgiving. The kid learns a few things about decency on the trip. Producer/writer is John Hughes; “ ‘Crocodile’ Dundee’s “ Peter Faiman directs. (Fox)

“Dying Young”--Julia Roberts stars as a working-class woman who takes a job as companion to a wealthy man (Campbell Scott) dying of leukemia and falls in love with him. As his life slips away, the man is determined to push her into a relationship with a young man (Vincent D’Onofrio) working on a house next door. With Colleen Dewhurst. Joel Schumacher directs, based on a book by Marti Leimbach. Sally Field is one of the producers. (Fox)

“Eraserhead”--David Lynch’s classic mid-’70s nightmare of a film will again see the light of screen in a limited release. Jack Nance plays a bizarre-looking man who jumps from one surreal scenario to another while tending to his hideous infant. (Miramax)

“Final Embrace”--A pop music star is murdered and her sister sets out to find the real killer. Jim Wynorski (he did the cheapie “The Blob” remake for Roger Corman) directs a cast yet to be determined. (Concorde)

“1st Force”--Ted Mather directs this true story of the elite 160-man U.S. Marines’ 1st Force Reconnaissance company, deep behind enemy lines, during a vicious Vietnam War battle. Cast to be announced. (Distribution pending)

“The Fisher King”--Robin Williams is a former professor of medieval history who has withdrawn into a world of his own after a tragedy. Jeff Bridges plays a top shock deejay in Manhattan whose career has derailed and who seeks Williams’ advice. Terry Gilliam directs. (Tri-Star)

“Frankie and Johnny”--”Pretty Woman’s” Garry Marshall directs Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer in the film based on Terrence McNally’s award-winning play, “Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune.” Pacino the cook meets Pfeiffer the waitress and a torrid love affair ensues. (Paramount)

“The Giant of Thunder Mountain”--Richard Kiel, the metal-mouthed villain of several James Bond films, exec-produces, co-writes and stars in this story of a little girl who befriends a hulking and reclusive mountain fellow. Set in the late 19th Century. (New Generation)

“Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man”--Mickey Rourke is the former, and Don Johnson the latter in this shoot’-em-up. Harley’s a philosophical drifter and the Marlboro Man an ex-rodeo cowboy who join to defend their hangout, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Bar and Grill, by robbing the bank that’s fixin’ to foreclose on it. Simon Wincer directs. (MGM/Pathe)

“Homicide”--David Mamet’s next written/directed offering will be a complex police story in which Joe Mantegna plays inner-city cop Bobby Gold, whose investigation into a seemingly routine murder investigation leads to a possible anti-Semitic conspiracy. (Pressman Film Corp.)

“Hot Shots”--”Big Business” director Jim Abrahams directs Charlie Sheen in this spoof in which a misfit band of Navy pilots train for a special mission. Cary Elwes, Lloyd Bridges, Larry Gellino and Valeria Golino co-star. (Fox)

“Inside”--When model prisoner Jimmy Doyle is marked for murder by penitentary toughs, his kickboxing skills become well known. Real-life kickboxing champ Don (The Dragon) Wilson stars under the direction of Louis Morneau. Roger Corman produces. (Concorde)

“Lame Ducks”--What’s promised is a chaotic contemporary comedy inspired by the Marx Brothers and Three Stooges classics. John Turturro stars as Roland T. Flakfizer, a fast-talking attorney who, with two unlikely and oddball friends, attempts to liberate a wealthy dowager of her fortune. Dennis Dugan directs; Mel Smith and Bob Nelson co-star. David and Jerry Zucker (“Airplane!,” “The Naked Gun,” etc.) help produce. (Paramount)

“Let Him Have It”-- Two friends are convicted of murdering a policeman, and one is hanged, but many abuses in the pair’s trial later come to light. This true-to-life story, set in 1953 London, sparked a public outrage that eventually led to the end of capital punishment in Great Britain. (New Line)

“McBain”--Christopher Walken is McBain, a man rescued in the jungles of Vietnam. Many years later, a woman (Maria Conchita Alonso) whose brother saved McBain’s life finds McBain to enlist his help to overthrow a corrupt regime in South America. James Glickenhaus directs; Michael Ironside, Chick Vennera also appear. (Shapiro-Glickenhaus)

“The Miracle”--Jimmie and Rose are a couple of 15-year-olds who walk around an Irish seaside town conjuring up wild scenarios for the people they see. Jimmie’s mom, supposedly long dead, returns to the town to appear in a play and soon the boy, unwittingly, falls for her. Beverly D’Angelo stars in this one, written and directed by “Mona Lisa’s” Neil Jordan. Also stars Donal McCann, Lorraine Pilkington and Niall Byrne. (Miramax)

“Mobsters”--Christian Slater, Patrick Dempsey and Richard Grieco have been hired to portray “Lucky” Luciano, Meyer Lansky and Bugsy Siegel, circa 1917 through 1930. Also stars Costas Mandylor and F. Murray Abraham as directed by Michael Karbelnikoff. (Universal)

“The Naked Gun II 1/2: The Smell of Fear”--Leslie Nielsen and Priscilla Presley return in a scenario in which Nielsen’s character exposes an underhanded government Energy Policy. George Kennedy and O.J. Simpson also reprise their roles while Robert Goulet joins the fun. David Zucker directs. (Paramount)

“101 Dalmatians”--A reissue of the Disney favorite boasting comedy, adventure, romance and a diabolical dognapping by the ever-so-nasty villainess Cruella De Vil. Voices: Rod Taylor and J. Pat O’Malley. Directors: Wolfgang Reitherman, Hamilton S. Luski and Clyde Geronimi. (Buena Vista)

“Only the Lonely”--John Candy plays a Chicago cop who falls in love with a shy mortician (Ally Sheedy), but finds pursuing his love a problem while he’s living with his domineering Irish mother. Maureen O’Hara plays the mom in a return to the movies; James Belushi also stars and Chris Columbus writes and directs. From John Hughes’ production company. (Fox)

“Other People’s Money”--Norman Jewison directs Alvin Sargent’s screen adaptation of the long-running Off-Broadway comedy about a corporate raider’s attempt to take over an old New England company. Gregory Peck, Penelope Ann Miller, Danny DeVito, Piper Laurie and Dean Jones star. (Warners)

“Perfectly Normal”--This perfectly normal guy bumps into and befriends a larger-than-life fellow with a love for wine, women, opera and Italian food. When the two come into some serious money, they differ on what to spend the cash on. Yves Simoneau directs Robbie Coltrane, Michael Riley and Deborah Duchene. (Four Seasons)

“Point Break”--Director Kathryn Bigelow (“Blue Steel”) tackles the Southern California beach scene in this thriller about an FBI agent going undercover among maverick surfers. Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey and Lori Petty star. (Fox)

“Problem Child II”--Lovable Junior has moved to a new town but meets his match in the form of Trixie, a little girl even more raucous than he is. John Ritter, Jack Warden and Michael Oliver all return. (Universal)

“Pure Luck”--Martin Short plays the world’s most accident-prone accountant. When he’s assigned the task of locating and rescuing the world’s most accident-prone heiress, who’s missing, he enlists the help of no-nonsense cop Danny Glover. Jason Robards co-stars; Nadia Tass directs. (Universal)

“Radio Flyer”--Richard Donner directs this poignant family drama. Two young brothers use a beefed-up little red Radio Flyer wagon to help them transcend the pain inflicted by an abusive stepfather. Joseph Mazzello and Elijah Wood (as the boys), Lorraine Bracco, John Heard, Adam Baldwin and Rhea Perlman star. Michael Douglas is co-executive producer. (Columbia)

“Rambling Rose”--An alluring young woman (Laura Dern) makes an impact on the home and life of a Southern family when she’s hired to care for the kids. Also appearing: Diane Ladd, Lukas Haas and Robert Duvall as “Daddy.” Martha Coolidge directs; Renny Harlin (“Die Hard 2’s” director) produces. (New Line)

“Regarding Henry”--Mike Nichols directs his “Working Girl” star, Harrison Ford, in this story of a rich, successful man with something lacking in the heart department. But a tragic event enables him to change everything and start life anew. Annette Bening co-stars with Bill Nunn. (Paramount)

“Return to the Blue Lagoon”--In the original, the Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins characters die adrift, leaving their toddler son. Here, the boy is rescued, but, finds himself on a small boat along with an infant daughter headed toward an uncharted island where the whole process begins again. William A. Graham directs; Milla Jovovich, Brian Krause and Lisa Pelikan star. (Columbia)

“Roadshow Prophets”--Two loners on a winding motorcycle odyssey in search of a jackpot, a little wisdom and themselves. The eclectic cast includes Beastie Boy Adam Horovitz, L.A. musician John Doe, David Carradine, Timothy Leary, Arlo Guthrie and John Cusack. Written and directed by Abbe Wool. (New Line)

“Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”-- Kevin Costner portrays the legendary hero of Sherwood Forest in this new version directed by Kevin Reynolds. Costner’s Hood battles the evil Sheriff of Nottingham on locations in England and France. Morgan Freeman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Alan Rickman and Christian Slater also star. (Warners)

“RoboCop 3”--Robert Burke now plays RoboCop Murphy. In this outing, he battles Omni-Consumer Productions Corp. in its evil scheme to bulldoze a large Detroit neighborhood. Fred Dekker directs from a script he wrote with Frank Miller. (Orion)

“The Rocketeer”--Newcomer William O. Campbell got the nod as the star of this high-profile period piece. He plays a daring pilot, circa 1938 Los Angeles, who finds an experimental rocket pack that allows him to fly. But malicious types do their best to take his equipment. Joe Johnston (“Honey, I Shrunk the Kids”) directs, with co-stars Jennifer Connelly, Alan Arkin, Paul Sorvino and Timothy Dalton. (Buena Vista)

“Rover Dangerfield”--An animated comedy about a high-living Las Vegas pooch suddenly cast out into the world. This dog happens to bear an uncanny resemblance to comic Rodney Dangerfield, who created the canine’s voice and wrote the film’s script and songs. Tom Wilhite and Willard Carroll produce; James George and Robert Seeley direct. (Warners)

“Soapdish”--Aaron Spelling is one of the producers of this story of the on- and off-camera lives and loves of the players and crew of a long-running daytime soap opera. Michael Hoffman directs Sally Field, Kevin Kline, Robert Downey Jr., Cathy Moriarty, Whoopi Goldberg and Elisabeth Shue. Carrie Fisher and Garry Marshall make bonus appearances. (Paramount)

“Shattered”--Tom Berenger, Greta Scacchi, Corbin Bernsen, Bob Hoskins and Joanne Whalley-Kilmer star under the direction of “Das Boot’s” Wolfgang Petersen. Berenger’s a wealthy real estate developer who becomes amnesiatic following an auto accident. (MGM/Pathe)

“Stepkids”--”Crossing Delancey” director Joan Micklin Silver examines this story of a 15-year-old girl (Hillary Wolf) whose parents have divorced and reunited so many times she feels she’s drowning in a sea of stepbrothers and sisters. Also stars Griffin Dunne, Margaret Whitton, David Strathairn and Ben Savage. (New Line)

“The Super”--”GoodFellas” badguy Joe Pesci portrays a slum lord ordered by the court to live in his own filthy tenement as punishment for building code violations. Rod Daniel directs. (Fox)

“Talkin’ Dirty After Dark”--One night in the life of a comedy club in South-Central Los Angeles. Topper Carew writes/directs; Martin Lawrence and rapper Tone Loc star. (New Line)

“The Tapes of Dexter Jackson”--T.C. Carson portrays Dexter, a young black newscaster, and his journey from obscurity to Dan Ratherdom and the toll it takes on his identity. Michael Schultz directs; Lisa C. Arrindell and Afrika Baby Bam also appear. (Goldwyn)

“Thelma and Louise”--A surreal comedy in which Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis sneak off in Louise’s (played by Sarandon) ’66 T-Bird for a fishing trip that turns out to be a cross-country escape and rich experience. Ridley Scott directs. (MGM/Pathe)

“Tokyo Diamond”--When Tom Selleck’s character gets too old for America’s major leagues, he heads to Japan for a few more trips to the plate. Peter Markle directs. (Universal)

“Tom & Jerry: The Movie”--After 50 years of playing literal, albeit nonverbal, cat & mouse, the lovable cartoon duo will finally get a chance to speak. New characters will be introduced in this Phil Roman-directed 75-minute animated feature. (Four Seasons)

“The Tomb of Charles Dexter Ward”--Ward has escaped from a mental facility, leaving the body of an orderly and a mysterious pile of ashes behind. When his wife tells a private eye of her husband’s strange behavior, the horrific wheels begin to turn. Dan O’Bannon directs Chris Sarandon, John Terry and Jane Sibbett. (Scotti Bros.)

“Warshawski” (tentative title)--Kathleen Turner plays the tough-talking but sexy private eye from Sara Paretsky’s best-selling novel series. Warshawski’s hired by the 13-year-old daughter of a murder victim to nab the culprit but soon they’re both confronted with the seamier side of Chicago’s shipping industry. Jeff Kanew directs; Charles Durning co-stars. (Buena Vista)

“Welcome to Buzzsaw”--Buzzsaw is the fictional barren logging town where financial broker Matthew Broderick has his wallet stolen. Trouble is, there’s a phone number worth $60 million inside the trifold that Broderick must retrieve. Francis Veber directs. (Universal)

“What About Bob?”--Bill Murray plays Bob, a nut case with a quirky obsession for his shrink, played by Richard Dreyfuss. When the psychiatrist embarks on a peaceful vacation with his family, the desperate Bob follows. Also stars Julie Hagerty, Charlie Korsmo (“Dick Tracy’s” Kid) and Kathryn Erbe. Directed by Frank Oz. (Buena Vista)

“Wizard Quest”--Medieval fantasy adventure in which a young boy is summoned to reign as king. Jeremy Stanford directs a cast to be named later. (Concorde)

“Year of the Gun”--Andrew McCarthy, Valeria Golino and Sharon Stone star in this political potboiler from director John Frankenheimer. It’s set against the backdrop of the 1978 kidnapping of Aldo Morro by the Red Brigades and focuses on the activities of McCarthy, an American journalist residing in Rome. (Triumph/Columbia)