US release of BRIDE AND PREJUDICE delayed
The website rediff.com reports that BRIDE AND PREJUDICE, orginally slated to open on Christmas Day, will not be appearing in US theatres until mid-February:
It is not uncommon for Hollywood distributors to juggle the release date when the market seems too crowded or the test screenings suggest the film needs more time and less competition to find an audience. . .Miramax honcho Harvey Weinstein, who scored a big hit with the musical Chicago and had admired Gurinder Chadha’s Bend It Like Beckham, had very high hopes for Bride And Prejudice. But the much-hyped film opened to mixed to downbeat reviews in the United Kingdom and India. It opened at top spot in the UK but with a not-so-great $3 million over the weekend. . . In the second week in the UK — not to forget India — the film that cost about $7 million lost a big chunk of its audience. Its gross in the UK is at $9 million, half of what Bend It Like Beckham minted, and the film, fast on its way out, is being shown in just about 50 screens.
The other downside of the later release of the film (beside not being able to see it sooner!) is that BRIDE AND PREJUDICE is no longer eligible for nominations in the Oscars and Golden Globes.
November 18th, 2004 at 7:55 pm
We can suppose this delay is another of the brilliant decisions of Mr. Weinstein. Agrrr!!!
With all their experience in Hollywood, he and his team should have known that date would be crowded. It would have been better a November release and this time, we, the fans would have backed the film as we did not with MP2.
If it’s until February in the US, it will be still more for non-English speaking countries, I guess.
November 18th, 2004 at 9:45 pm
<channeling Kirk>
WEEEEEINNNNNNNNNSTEIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
</channeling Kirk>
This is infuriating. I’m sick of him holding these movies hostage. It was incredibly popular in England! We’re all panting to see the bally thing! LET US SEE IT, HARVEY, DAMN YOUR EYES!
(Do you guys understand why I call him John Thorpe now?!?)
November 20th, 2004 at 6:36 pm
It’s due for DVD release in the UK on 7th February:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0006N0FD8/
so it looks like we’ll get to see it in our living rooms before you get it in the cinemas.