The cover story for today’s Meridian 360º is about Roger Smith bringing a first-run movie to the Temple Theatre for Christmas.

Things changed after that section of the paper was printed, however.

Smith, who acquired the Temple early this year, said he booked the film “Nine,” which opened in Los Angeles and New York on Friday, and is scheduled for release elsewhere on Christmas Day.

On Friday Smith said he was notified by the person he booked the movie with, Janine Bradford of Cinema Service in Dallas, that the movie had been pulled from his scheduled showings — Christmas through the rest of December — because Regal Entertainment Group wanted the film, which is a Weinstein Co. release.

Regal operates the largest theatre circuit in the United States, including Bonita Lakes 9 at Bonita Lakes Mall, owned by Monte Royal.

Bradford could not be reached for comment Friday. Her recording at work said she was out the rest of the day and that she would be back Monday. A message about “Nine’s” booking in Meridian was left for her.

Smith is discouraged. He said someone told the Weinstein Co. his theatre is actually a church.

“You can go on our Web site and see that Eric Church is playing here Sunday (today),” Smith said. “But it’s not a church.”

Smith has started showing classic films at the Temple Theatre, along with various musical acts that are booked there. Currently he is showing the film “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” which was originally released Nov. 25.

Smith said that with “Nine” being pulled from him he isn’t sure if he should try to show first-run films again.

“I’m afraid if we try to bring in another first-run movie it will be taken away from me,” Smith said. “It was a bold move to get “Nine.”

He said he didn’t know there would be such an adverse reaction to his efforts, and that if Regal had wanted the film in Meridian they could have booked it before he got it.

Asked if Bonita Lakes 9 will be showing “Nine” now that it’s scheduled run had been pulled from the Temple, Royal said he had no knowledge of the situation.

“We had no hand in that,” Royal said.

If the film “stays on track through awards season,” Royal said, he may show it after the first of the year in January or February.

Last week “Nine” was nominated for five Golden Globe awards. That ceremony, scheduled for Jan. 17, is an important precursor to the Academy Awards, for which nominations will be released Feb. 2.

Royal said if he had to make a wild guess as to what happened with “Nine,” he imagined the Weinstein Co. found out the Temple was a part-time theater, and that with 118 runs scheduled in the whole country, they would want the film in full-time cinemas with more showings.

In the meantime Smith said he is working on finding a show to replace “Nine.”

“I don’t know what it’s going to be,” Smith said. “We’ve got to pick up something for Christmas Day.”





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The Weinstein Company Web site describes “Nine” as a vibrant and provocative musical that follows the life of world famous film director Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis) as he reaches a creative and personal crisis of epic proportion, while balancing the numerous women in his life including his wife (Marion Cotillard), his mistress (Penélope Cruz), his film star muse (Nicole Kidman), his confidant and costume designer (Judi Dench), an American fashion journalist (Kate Hudson), the whore from his youth (Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson) and his mother (Sophia Loren). The film is directed by Rob Marshall (“Chicago”). The original 1982 Broadway production of “Nine,” with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston, won five Tony Awards including Best Musical. “Nine” has been nominated for five Golden Globe Awards: Best Picture of the Year; Best Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis); Best Actress (Marion Cotillard); Best Supporting Actress (Penélope Cruz); and Best Sound.