NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

With ‘Force’ looming, ‘Heart of Sea’ sinks

NEW YORK

The movie industry braced for the coming storm of “The Force Awakens” over a quiet weekend where “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2” notched its fourth-straight week atop the box office and Ron Howard’s whaling tale “In the Heart of the Sea” capsized.

With “The Force Awakens” lurking, few studios wanted to push out a new release ahead of the expected box-office behemoth. That left the final chapter of Lionsgate’s “Hunger Games” saga to remain No. 1 with $11.3 million according to studio estimates Sunday, bringing its domestic total to $245 million.

“In the Heart of the Sea,” starring Chris Hemsworth, was the only major new wide release to test the pre-“Star Wars” waters. But hopes for the Warner Bros. film sank with an estimated $11 million despite a production budget around $100 million.

The low-key weekend allowed Pixar’s “The Good Dinosaur” to take third place with $10.5 million in its third week. Ryan Coogler’s acclaimed “Rocky” sequel “Creed” followed close behind with $10.1 million in its third week. Slowly expanding Oscar contenders “Spotlight” and “Brooklyn” – both in their sixth week – continued to crack the top 10 with $2.5 million and $2 million, respectively.

Swift to release concert special on Apple Music

NEW YORK

Taylor Swift is releasing a live-concert special from her star-studded “1989 World Tour” exclusively on Apple Music.

The pop star announced Sunday, on her 26th birthday, that she will release the “The 1989 World Tour LIVE” on the streaming platform next Sunday. It will not be available for purchase, but it is free for streaming for Apple Music users.

The concert, directed by Jonas Akerlund, features Swift’s performance in Sydney, Australia, at the ANZ Stadium, taped Nov. 28. It also will include appearances from the many celebrities and musicians who surprised fans on the tour, from Justin Timberlake to Mick Jagger to Kobe Bryant.

Apple Music is the only streaming platform where Swift’s best-selling “1989” album is available.

‘Make Room for Daddy’ star Marjorie Lord dies at age 97

LOS ANGELES

Marjorie Lord, the Broadway and film actress who became a TV star on the sitcom “Make Room For Daddy,” has died. She was 97.

In a statement, her family said she died Nov. 28 at her Beverly Hills home.

In two 1943 films – “Shantytown” and “Sherlock Holmes in Washington” – Lord appeared with her first husband, John Archer, who died in 1999. Their daughter is the film star Anne Archer.

Lord was best known as Danny Thomas’ loyal wife on the popular sitcom that first aired in 1953.

Associated Press