MAD AS HELL: THE SEQUEL
Ellyn Belinski is “Mad as Hell” that Tom Cruise made $12.5 million and Jack Nicholson $5 million for “A Few Good Men,” while she, a teacher, makes $30,000 a year (Nov. 22).
While I’m sure Belinski is a fine teacher, there are probably thousands of people who could replace her if she quit. If “A Few Good Men” lost Cruise and Nicholson, however, its drawing power at the box office would be greatly reduced. The studio made a bottom-line decision and judged these large salaries to be worthwhile.
This isn’t to say that actors are better than teachers, or vice versa: It’s simply our free-market economy at work.
STEPHEN RYDER
Hollywood
Only good movies
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