Universal Dinosaurs Play in May
ontinuing a successful video franchise, Universal Studios Home Video here will release "The Land Before Time Sing Along Songs" May 13. The tape includes favorite songs from the animated dinosaur series. Suggested retail is $12.98 and the order close date is April 28.
Also on that date, which coincides with the theatrical release of the sequel, "The Lost World: Jurassic Park," the original "Jurassic Park" will be repriced to a $9.98 suggested retail tag. It has an order close date of April 21. The title will go on moratorium Dec. 31, 1997.
"The Land Before Time Sing Along Songs" will be supported by a "multimillion-dollar" marketing campaign, including national cable and spot television advertising, a cross promotion with Burger King, rebate offers totaling $6 on other Universal videos and a free CD-ROM, "The Land Before Time Activity Center," in each tape package, the studio said. Inserts will promote a variety of branded merchandise in "The Land Before Time Treasure Chest."
Streeting the same day will be "The Land Before Time Boxed Set Collection," including four titles: "The Land Before Time"; "The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure"; "The Land Before Time III: The Time of the Great Giving"; and "The Land Before Time IV: Journey Through the Mists." The set will have a suggested retail of $79.98, and will include a free set of "Land Before Time" cutout characters. Additionally, the slipcase for the set converts into a cave playset for children. All the "Land Before Time" tapes are in clamshell packaging.
"The Real Jurassic Park" and "The Making of Jurassic Park" also will be repromoted. Point-of-purchase and display materials will use the theme from the theatrical movie's marketing campaign, "Something Has Survived!" with the additional heading, "See the Sequel, Own the Original!"
Reprise of Summer Event Set
BURBANK, Calif. -- Buena Vista Home Video here will kick off a reprise of its "Hollywood HITS (Hot in the Summer)" promotion May 13 with "Ransom," which grossed $135 million at the box office. Directed by Ron Howard and starring Mel Gibson, the title will prebook April 22.
Running to July, the "Hollywood HITS '97" promotion will encompass 15 theatrical titles, supported by national television advertising, a frequent-renter program and point-of-purchase materials. Other titles will include "Scream"; "Metro"; "Swingers"; "Marvin's Room," which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress; and "Sling Blade," which received Academy Award nominations for Best Actor and Best Screenplay.
Besides "Ransom," there will be four other titles in May: "Swingers" and "Adrenalin: Fear the Rush," streeting May 20; and "Curdled" and "Unhook the Stars," streeting May 27. All May titles prebook April 22. June titles are "Scream," "Marvin's Room," "Ridicule," "Citizen Ruth" and "Crime Story." July titles are "Metro," "Sling Blade," "Substance of Fire," "Albino Alligator" and "Mask of Death." Dates for June and July titles have yet to be announced, and all are subject to change, the studio noted.
Columbia Plans April Rentals
CULVER CITY, Calif. -- Columbia TriStar Home Video here will release "The Spitfire Grill" and "Extreme Measures" to the rental market in April. "Spitfire Grill" streets April 1, with a March 11 order date, while "Extreme Measures" streets April 8, with a March 18 order date. Other April titles will include "Lone Star," streeting April 8, with a March 18 order date, and "To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday" and "Big Night," streeting April 22, with an April 1 order date. Two sell-through releases are also planned for April 22. "Anne Frank Remembered" will be repriced to $19.95 from the rental market, and the classic French film "Madame Butterfly" will be released to the home video market for the first time, priced at $19.95 as well. Order date on both is March 20.
