'Point' has few returns overseas

By DON GROVES

"Point of No Return" began its European campaign in surprisingly languid fashion in Italy last week, while "Indecent Proposal" ran red hot in Australia, "Aladdin" captivated Filipinos and "Groundhog Day" wowed lots of Germans.

European exhibs are making hay with "Sommersby," which advanced to $ 48.7 million overseas, and with Warner Bros.' other crowd pleaser, "Forever Young," which piloted to $ 51.3 million.

Released in Italy as "Code Name Nina,""Point of No Return" took $ 259,000 in six days at 84 theaters, rated by exhibs as deeply disappointing.

The film rolls out across Europe in June-July. In a declining French market Paris biz was off 13%. "Rapid Fire" and "Toys" checked in moderately while German comedy "Schtonk" tanked.

British exhibs said "National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1" showed some life over the long May Day weekend but then went flat; "Alive" started OK. In limited release, "Mediterraneo" was fair but "Ruby Cairo" and "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" were dire.

In Germany "Groundhog Day" notched $ 1.478 million in six days on 282 prints to top the chart in an otherwise sluggish, hot weather-affected session.

Golden Week holiday in Japan was a godsend for cinemas and a perfect launching pad for "Scent of a Woman," which collared $ 1.98 million in seven days on 118 screens, propelling its overseas cume to just shy of $ 50 million.

Launched amid much media hype Down Under, "Indecent Proposal" bagged $ 1.73 million in the first week on 116 screens.