In April, Arthur's long-awaited thriller, The Silence of the Lambs, was released, opening in 1,400 theaters across North America with a first-weekend box office of $14.7 million.
The film received critical acclaim, earning unanimous praise from critics and creating one of the most chilling characters in horror film history. "Hannibal the Cannibal" Lecter became incredibly popular!
Various media outlets spared no words of praise:
"A movie with such terrifying power is a rare gem to see in a decade." - USA Today.
"The interaction between Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter reflects an undefinable, dark psychology they share, giving the film an unforgettable and unsettling power." - The San Francisco Chronicle.
"All the eeriness is not just confined to Jonathan Demme's brisk, witty new thriller; it also plays out beyond the screen." - The New York Times.
"I haven't felt the presence of evil as palpable as when Anthony Hopkins first appeared in The Silence of the Lambs in a long time." - Chicago Sun-Times.
"The sparks flying among director Jonathan Demme and lead actors Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster in The Silence of the Lambs are jaw-dropping!" - Vanity Fair.
In high spirits, Arthur attended a promotional event in New York for the film. Afterward, he, Castle Rock Entertainment executive Rob Reiner, and Tom Cruise went to Broadway to watch the stage play A Few Good Men.
Producer Arthur Smith, director Rob Reiner, along with leading man Tom Cruise, were the decision-makers for this adaptation of A Few Good Men.
"This Navy lawyer role, I find it very challenging," Tom Cruise expressed interest immediately upon receiving the script.
Since Arthur's preferred director was the experienced Rob Reiner, Tom Cruise took the opportunity to drag both men to watch the stage play while Arthur was in New York promoting The Silence of the Lambs.
Rob Reiner suggested, "The female lead is also a righteous lawyer. Why not add a romance subplot with the male lead?"
Arthur smiled, "I asked the screenwriter Aaron Sorkin this before. When I approached him last year to adapt the screenplay, I already intended to invite Tom Cruise for the lead role. Since we have Tom Cruise, adding some romantic scenes isn't unreasonable. But Aaron Sorkin told me that the male and female leads in the story are too embroiled in solving a base murder case and uncovering some horrifying hidden truths about the military to think about romance. I found his point logical and decided not to include any romantic scenes!"
Tom Cruise nodded and said, "I agree. The film's plot revolves around a murder case at a military base, exposing hidden secrets. The characters, given their situation, definitely wouldn't be thinking about love!"
Rob Reiner moved on, "The role of the base commander needs an actor with explosive power. Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, or Robert Redford would be quite suitable."
Tom Cruise nodded seriously, expressing hope for any of them to join the cast.
Arthur's mouth twitched. This project was funded by Orion, with Rob Reiner as the director. Castle Rock was of course a co-producer.
But the sensitive subject of A Few Good Men meant the U.S. Department of Defense would absolutely refuse to endorse or support the film. Hence, no military facilities could be used during shooting. The scenes would have to be filmed on studio sets.
Arthur's production budget for A Few Good Men was capped at $35 million. Tom Cruise alone would take $12 million, Castle Rock would get $3 million for production costs, leaving minimal pay for the supporting actor and female lead.
Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro, and Robert Redford wouldn't come cheap, demanding around $5 million each. Al Pacino, though a bit cheaper, was busy with Scent of a Woman. This plot couldn't match his $1.5 million rate tied to an Oscar-nominated role, likely asking around $3.5 million.
Al Pacino had earned $5 million for The Godfather Part III, buoyed by the sequel's influence.
"Let's have Anthony Hopkins try out for the role of the base commander," Arthur suggested. "His performance in The Silence of the Lambs would easily warrant an Oscar. Rob, Tom, you will be impressed when Anthony auditions!"
Anthony Hopkins was affordable, his current rate being around $500,000. And next year, he'd win an Oscar for Best Actor. An actor with great skill and low cost - why not use him?
A Few Good Men was set to release next summer, promising another wave of big promotion. Not using Anthony Hopkins would be a disservice to Arthur himself.
"Anthony Hopkins!" Rob Reiner chuckled. "I've seen The Silence of the Lambs. His acting skills are indeed unquestionable."
Let's not forget, half of the North American rights for The Silence of the Lambs belonged to Castle Rock. Rob Reiner was obviously attentive to the film's release.
"I will be there for the audition," Tom Cruise had no objections. With the right director, himself as the clear main lead, and an engaging plot, these elements were enough for him.
"Trust me, Anthony Hopkins' performance will amaze you," Arthur reassured. "This A Few Good Men is Galaxy's biggest investment this year, with a $35 million budget!"
Back at Orion's New York office, Arthur received a congratulatory call from Mike Medavoy, who also invited him to a cocktail party.
As Orion's former chairman, Mike Medavoy seemed to still be interested in its development.
Sleeping with the Enemy was a success, grossing hundreds of millions worldwide, but its acclaim was nowhere near that of The Silence of the Lambs.
Arthur's previous script exchange of Sleeping with the Enemy for The Silence of the Lambs indeed proved to be a wise move. Now, Orion was wholly his.
Both The Silence of the Lambs and Sleeping with the Enemy belonged to Orion's rights portfolio.
"Don't worry, I'll be there," Arthur said, hanging up after looking at the invitation card on his desk. Cocktail parties were indeed a staple in the entertainment industry.
*****
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