upstill (06/13/82)
The Wall is due for release at the end of July, and a recent issue of Variety has a glowing review, claiming that it is powerful and visually spectacular. It is based on the Pink Floyd album much more strongly than the film of Quadrophenia was based on its album; there is supposed to be very little dialogue, most of the story being told by the music and visuals. Like the record, it's a story of modern alienation, concerning a successful pop star (Pink, played by Bob Geldof of the Boomtown Rats). The film of Dune is coming along at a much more leisurely pace. According to the last Cinefantastique, writer/director David Lynch delivered his first-draft screenplay last March. He is quoted as saying they'll be luck to begin production before the end of the year, which means there's no wa the film will be out before Christmas '83. I would guess the following Summer. On the plus side, it seems there will be plenty of money to do it right -- upwards of $30M. On the minus side, the producer is Dino de Laurentiis, best-known for debacles like The Hurricane, King Kong and Flash Gordon, plus Conan.