Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: 'Malcolm X' packs theaters Date: Thu, 19 Nov 92 15:23:03 EST Message-ID: \SE B;METROPOLITAN \HD 'Malcolm X' packs theaters \SH Black leader focus of epic \BY Pam Weisz and Margaret Rankin \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES Director Spike Lee's long-awaited epic about slain black leader Malcolm X opened at area movie theaters last night, drawing sellout crowds in the District hours before scheduled show times. "It's one of the busiest shows ever," said Michael Hobbs, manager of the AMC Union Station 9 Theaters. "The only show I could compare it with is the original 'Batman.' " Mr. Hobbs said the movie, which is showing on two screens at the Union Station complex, sold 921 seats for yesterday's shows through advance sales. The action also started early at the KB Foundry theater in Georgetown, where matinee showings of the film on two screens drew 110 persons. Among them was Craig Gray, who said he had been waiting 20 years to see the black leader's story told on the big screen. "I read the book back in the '70s," he said of "The Autobiography of Malcolm X," by Alex Haley. "Now it's a matter of seeing it visually. I'm very much looking forward to it." KB Foundry manager Anthony Walker said he sold more tickets than usual for a weekday matinee and expected to do even better yesterday evening. "We should sell out for the 8 and 9 o'clock shows," he said. Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly, who went to the New York premiere earlier this week, threw a pizza party at 5:30 p.m. in her offices at the District Building for about 40 children who later trundled off to an early showing at Union Station. "You really ought to read the book and think about his life. He believed in himself, therefore he stood up for what he believed in," she said. "If you don't believe in yourself and fight for your rights, who's going to give your rights to you?" she asked. The children munched pizza and snatched up huge black "X" posters while discussing the movie they were about to see. "I think he was a strong freedom fighter. I think he knew what he was talking about and I think he was a smart man," said 10-year-old Edward Wilburn. Edward said he thought all children should see the movie. "If they did then they might not do some of the things on the streets that they're doing," he said. Adam Dinkins, 11, was quick to point out that Malcolm X was not exactly a saint when he was on the street as a young boy. "He's a civil rights leader, but I think when he was a teen-ager he shouldn't have been doing drugs on the street." Crowds for the movie weren't quite so large outside the District. But those who did come, like Basheer Kareem of Rockville, were just as enthusiastic. Basheer, 15, came with his cousin, Umar Kareem, and friend Omar Dunham, 15, who were prepared to "analyze and critique" the film. "I'm anxious to see if he'll do Malcolm justice or sell out," said Basheer. The teen-ager said he hoped the movie would concentrate on "what became of him [Malcolm X] after his conversion to Islam. It's his religious life that we love. I'm a Muslim, too," Basheer said. Michael Jenkins was hoping for a somewhat broader overview. "I want to find out more about Malcolm X and his whole philosophy of life," said Mr. Jenkins, who was wearing an "X" cap as he waited to buy a ticket for the 1 p.m. show. "I'm expecting a real good movie," he added. Kevin Watson, who was waiting for his girlfriend outside the Union Station theater, said he was interested in supporting the movie's director. "I support black filmmakers, and I think we'll see more African-centric films," he said. "It's a form of media. Unfortunately a lot of people don't take the time to read books. They'd rather see action." Emma O'Neal had already seen a preview of the movie and was waiting in line at the KB Foundry to buy a ticket for her boss. "It's a masterpiece," she said. "It tells the truth." Her co-worker Desiree Robinson agreed. She said she hoped youths would learn from the movie that Malcolm X means something more than a design on a hat or T-shirt. "Young people who were born in the '70s and didn't know Malcolm X now can understand the meaning of what they're wearing on their bodies," she said. The promotion and advance billing for the film have sparked a wave of clothing and accessories emblazoned with an X. Coming out of the Union Station theater, James and Annie Johnson, who managed to buy the last two tickets for the 2 p.m. show, said the movie "was all right. . . . It was powerful and we got the message." * Celeste McCall, Lorraine Woellert, Siobhan McDonough and Laura Outerbridge contributed to this report. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM