THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 10, 1994 TAG: 9411090166
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
``DEUCE COUPE'' IS finally ready to take to the road.
The '50s coming-of-age movie, involving racing action and young love, features area people and vehicles. It was filmed in Suffolk and Franklin in 1989.
Following its May 1992 world premiere in Franklin, ``Deuce Coupe'' was, in effect, put on the rack. But on Jan. 21 it is scheduled to be off and running, opening in Fresno and Clovis, Calif., at United Artists theaters.
Its return to Hampton Roads ``will probably be Feb. 4,'' director Mark Deimel said during a telephone interview from his Pasadena office earlier this week. ``It will most likely, but not absolutely, play local United Artists theaters.''
That means a trip to Virginia Beach - Kempsriver Crossing or Lynnhaven Mall. There are no United Artists theaters on the Peninsula, but a spokesman for the company said the movie will probably be shown by another chain in that area.
It has been shown in Asia, Europe and Latin America, dubbed and/or sub-titled. Overseas distributorship has been in the hands of Group W-Westinghouse. Its decision to become involved followed a screening at the American Film Market in Santa Monica, largest of the international film markets.
Distributors view. If they like, they distribute overseas.
Deimel discussed the reasons for delay of the release in the United States.
A few local folk who worked with the movie claim that the production company, Airtight Filmworks, owes them some money. Deimel noted two years ago, and now reiterates, that they will get paid.
``They'll be shocked,'' he said at the time, ``but they will.''
Other reasons for the delay are the ``various legal matters that needed to be resolved and the various distribution offers that had to be considered,'' Deimel wrote in a letter to The Sun. ``And since the production was a `for profit' venture we very carefully studied every opportunity that came our way - a time-consuming process.
``A release of `Deuce Coupe' needed to meet certain market objectives,'' he said. ``We were able to get bits and pieces of what we desired, but not the whole package, until recently.''
The movie has been licensed ``to a small, quality distributor, Resonant Pictures. It will roll around the country for several months.''
Then, as is the custom these days, it will roll around as a VCR release.
Deimel describes the forthcoming Hampton Roads screening as ``a natural, what with all the support we received during the making of the picture and the bit of noise we made with the screenings in Franklin.''
It was favorable noise, many people expressing surprise that the picture was, indeed, quite good. For whatever reason, some of them expected something on the shabby side.
Deimel remembers a review in The Sun which, he recalled, gave ``Deuce Coupe'' a nice tip of the hat.''
The tip was also extended to Bob Sloat, a film-loving lawyer who produced the movie. He has, since, left showbiz to return full-time to law.
Deimel is staying in the business. His next venture, ``Queen of the Cody Stampede,'' expected to be filmed in that Wyoming city, is a rodeo version of ``Deuce Coupe'' - also set in the 1950s, also concerned with coming of age rituals.
Another thing the two movies have in common is that both are family films, a trademark of Airtight Filmworks.
``Queen of the Cody Stampede'' is only in the pre-production stage, but Deimel is already thinking of his next project.
``I'd love to come back to Hampton Roads and do a picture about native Americans,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: File photo
This scene from the movie ``Deuce Couple'' was being filmed outside
Suffolk High School in 1989. Three local actresses are in the
convertible at left: Julia Horward, Casey Ivey and Jacqueline
Champlain.
by CNB