Chapter 493: Busy Cage

[Chapter 556: Be Polite to Me]

Glendale, Galaxy MGM Headquarters.

Arthur set down the project plan for Con Air, chuckling to himself as he realized it was indeed that movie.

He then glanced at the newspaper, which reported on the deaths of Hollywood producers Arnon Milchan and his wife. On the White House front, was Monica Lewinsky really out of the picture just like that?

"Talk about ruthless," Arthur remarked, leaning back in his chair with his hands clasped behind his head. Inside the Democratic Party, the push for Clinton's re-election was relentless. Any perceived threats would be mercilessly eliminated, meaning that even a formidable independent counsel like Ken Starr wouldn't have the chance to instigate the notorious impeachment scandal that would later unfold.

Perhaps this was partly due to the complexities surrounding the decision to relocate the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem; after all, with America's interests in the Middle East at stake, Clinton would be too wary to take such a bold step during his presidency.

With the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, the Israeli cabinet was effectively under the control of the far-right Likud party, signaling Israel's departure from the Oslo Accords that Rabin had championed, effectively truncating the fledgling peace process in the region with a few bullets fired.

Clinton dared not risk fully supporting Israel, especially given the impending scandal that was primed to tarnish his name and become one of the century's political fiascoes. Now, that particular threat had been thoroughly dealt with.

The United States needed Israel to act as a destabilizing force in the Middle East, but it would not allow the latter to jeopardize American interests.

Arthur stood and walked to the window, contemplating the significant Jewish influence in Hollywood, which had now become his first target for a purge. Galaxy's rise mirrored the ascent of that same Jewish influence in the industry.

"Ha, the air of freedom?" Arthur mused, planning to strike hard against media giants like Time Warner and Disney. He was confident that it wouldn't be long before Galaxy's IPO grabbed Wall Street investors' full attention!

...

Nearly a month after the release of the Coen brothers' new film Fargo, distributed by United Artists, the North American box office had raked in $12 million, receiving great reviews:

From the Chicago Tribune: "Fargo takes us to the far North with its bizarre murders and intriguing investigations, unveiling the darkness hidden beneath the white landscape."

From the San Francisco Chronicle: "With Fargo, the Coens have returned to the glory days of their earlier hit Blood Simple. This chilling yet highly engaging film is sure to become a classic."

From the Baltimore Sun: "A miracle -- a resilient, honest, and bloody film, with distant lights in the background that feel like another planet. From start to finish, Fargo is a great American film."

Most newspapers sang its praises, though some offered critiques.

Time Magazine stated: "Fargo is the Coen brothers' exaggerated emphasis on the dimwitted speaking and thinking patterns of Minnesotans!"

...

Later that night, at a nightclub on Selma Avenue in Hollywood, Arthur was lounging on a sofa with Kate Beckinsale, sipping drinks.

"Arthur, Primal Fear opened to $12 million in North America, and the reviews are solid, especially for the new actor Edward Norton, who is getting a lot of acclaim," she said.

"Next month, our disaster blockbuster Twister will hit theaters, can't wait!" Kate leaned into Arthur as she shared the latest happenings.

Arthur chuckled, "Next month, Paramount will also be releasing Mission: Impossible, going head-to-head with our Twister!"

Tom Cruise was indeed impressive; Paramount had invested $80 million in partnership with Cruise/Wagner Productions for Mission: Impossible. The production rights were entirely handed over to Cruise/Wagner, and they were famous for seeking joint investments. However, for Mission: Impossible, Paramount struck out on their own.

Yet, it couldn't be helped; the biggest selling point of Mission: Impossible was Tom Cruise, and Paramount had signed him to a hefty profit-sharing deal. This deal marked a precedent where Cruise directly influenced production with his pull, tying his earnings to the film's proceeds.

That meant a significant portion of the profits from Mission: Impossible would go to Cruise/Wagner Productions. If they sought other production companies for joint investment, the profits would have been substantial -- wow!

"Mission: Impossible? That's Tom Cruise's baby; it's bound to attract a lot of attention." Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks were both household names in America at that time.

"Trainspotting premiered in the UK; I've heard it stirred quite a bit of controversy?" Arthur asked.

"More than just a bit! The impact of Trainspotting on the British film scene is immense, even more so than the controversy surrounding The Crying Game back in the day!" Kate Beckinsale took a sip of her drink, "Many newspapers are praising this film highly. They say Trainspotting subverts tradition -- be it content or form, performances, or direction, it radiates the rebellious spirit of a new generation like never before seen in a British film!"

...

Later that night, in a Beverly Hills villa, Arthur said, "Phew, let MGM fast-track that Con Air; I'm banking on Nicolas Cage as the lead."

Arthur lay atop Kate Beckinsale, caressing her softness, "After he wraps Face/Off, he can jump straight into Con Air!"

"Ah, but The Rock doesn't come out until June. Isn't that a bit too soon?" Kate tightened her embrace around him, breathless.

"Not too early, just right; I need to swing by Vegas and then head straight to New York," he replied. "I'll probably be out of the country for an extended period after that," Arthur said, lowering his head to kiss her soft skin.

"Okay," Kate gasped, loosening her grip on him.

Not long after, Kate Beckinsale lay languidly in Arthur's arms, lighting up a couple of cigarettes, both enjoying their smokes.

"Ahh," Arthur exhaled a smoke ring, running his hand over her body a few times, "If you need anything, just call me. If there's a suitable role, Amy can help arrange something for you!"

"Got it," Kate smiled. "Honestly, being your personal assistant wouldn't be too bad; at least a lot of big stars are very nice to me!"

Of course, she was one of the closest people to Arthur Smith at that moment.

*****

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