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30 years ago - December 20, 1985

Out of Africa
Sydney Pollack directs this post-WWI drama set in British East Africa about a woman from Denmark (Meryl Streep) who suffers from a cheating husband and develops a relationship with a big game hunter (Robert Redford). The film did not overwhelm critics but it was a huge success at the Oscars, winning Best Picture, Director, Writing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, and Music, with nominations for Streep and co-star Klaus Maria Brandauer as well as for Costume and Film Editing. Out of Africa opened at #4 with $3.6 million from 922 theaters. It continued to do well through Oscar season and eventually earned $87 million, making it the 5th highest grossing movie of 1985.

Disney’s 1961 animated film 101 Dalmatians received a re-issue this weekend, taking the #7 spot with $2.3 million from 1,097 theaters.

The Color Purple
This drama based on the novel by Alice Walker stars Whoopi Goldberg (in her film debut) as a young girl in the early 20th century South, who suffers abuse from her husband, played by Danny Glover, and receives support from women played by Margaret Avery and Oprah Winfrey (also in her film debut). Steven Spielberg shifted gears to direct this film after having huge adventure and sci-fi successes with Indiana Jones and E.T. Reviews were excellent, and the film was recognized with 11 Oscar nominations for Spielberg, Goldberg, Avery, and Winfrey, as well as for Best Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Song, and Music. It was also a success at the box office, starting with $1.7 million this weekend from 192 theaters and an expansion to wide release in February. Its total gross of $94 million made it the fourth highest grossing movie of the year.

Enemy Mine
This sci-fi survival story stars Dennis Quaid as a human and Louis Gossett, Jr. as an alien from a race called the Dracs. The two enemies are stranded together on a remote planet and must get past their mutual distrust of the other race in order to survive. Reviews were decent but budget overruns and a weak audience response meant the movie was doomed from day one. Enemy Mine opened at #9 with $1.5 million from 703 theaters and earned $12.3 million overall.

Brazil
This sci-fi drama from Terry Gilliam stars Jonathan Pryce as a government worker in a dystopian future who meets a woman (Kim Greist) who has appeared in his dreams. Robert De Niro, Bob Hoskins, and Michael Palin co-star. Reviews were excellent, and the film received an Oscar nomination for Gilliam’s screenplay and the Art Direction. Few audiences saw it this weekend as it was only at one theater, but it eventually earned nearly $10 million during its run.


Come back next week for another installment of Marquee History!

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