FILM PROJECTS WITH A FEMALE ACCENT

A sampling of projects revolving around women in small groups and large that moviegoers may see in the next 18 months:

Female Ensemble

“The Whales of August”--about two elderly sisters (Bette Davis, Lillian Gish) and their best friend (Ann Sothern). Lindsay Anderson directed for Alive Films. Opens in October.

“Sweet Little Rock ‘n’ Roller”--about a group of girls (Justine Bateman, Trini Alvarado, Britta Phillips, Julia Roberts) who spend the summer playing in rock ‘n’ roll clubs. Joanne Freeman directed. Opens in early 1988 via 20th Century Fox.

“Shag”--about four girls (Phoebe Cates, Bridget Fonda, Page Hannah, Annabeth Gish) who have recently been graduated from high school and spend a weekend at Myrtle Beach. The film is set in 1963 and is described as a women’s “American Graffiti.” Zelda Barron is now directing in South Carolina. Hemdale will distribute.

“Mystic Pizza”--in development at the Samuel Goldwyn Co., with a possible start this autumn. Donald Petrie will direct what the company describes as “a warm comedy about the lives and friendship of four young local women who work in a pizza parlor in Mystic, Conn.” Amy Jones and Randy Howze and Perry Howze wrote the script.

“Lunch”--in development at Warner Bros. Producer Alexandra Rose describes the comedy, written by Robin Maxwell and John Collins, as, “about five women, ages 28-40, who have lunched and hung out together regularly since they graduated from college. An impetus for change in their lives happens when an old college friend they’d admired comes back into their midst.”

“Happy Birthday Elaine”--in development at Orion. Elaine turns 40 and goes to New York with two of her best friends to visit her daughter. Fiona Lewis wrote the script.

“Off the Floor”--in development. The movie is about four women who are waitressing in a fashionable restaurant on New Year’s Eve and how their aspirations and problems come together while dealing with the customers. Stephen Tolkin and Jessica Nelson wrote the script; Brad Wyman and Michael Peyser will produce.

“Untitled”--in development at Lorimar. Anjelica Huston’s project about four independent, successful women and how they deal with each other and the men in their lives.

“The Bridal Shower”--in development at HBO. Four women throw a surprise bridal shower for a fifth, who unbeknown to the others has just broken off her engagement. Fogwood Productions and Annie Willette will produce. Laura Daltry wrote the script. “It’s basically about marriage in the 1980s, female friendship and what makes us hurt and laugh,” co-producer Susan Merzbach explains.

“The Women of Brewster Place”--in development at ABC. A made-for-TV film about a group of women growing up on Chicago’s South Side. It is to star Debbie Allen, Shari Belafonte-Harper, Pam Grier, Lonette McKee, Phylicia Rashad, Oprah Winfrey and Alfre Woodard. Karen Hall wrote the screenplay.

“Savages”--in development at ABC. A new Shirley Conran novel about five women used to the soft life who have to cope in the jungle when their tour guide is killed. Gary Adelson and Malcolm Stuart will co-produce the four-hour miniseries for Lorimar. Adelson promises, “It’s not going to be trashy.”

“Gold Star Mothers”--in development at ABC. This network movie is about a group of women who visit battlefield cemeteries in France, where their sons are buried.

Female Buddies

“Big Business”--Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin play two sets of twins in this Disney comedy. Jim Abrahams directs.

“Casual Sex?”--based on a play about two girls (Lea Thompson, Victoria Jackson) who go to Club Med and have lots of encounters. With the current concern about AIDS, the film version has been altered to focus on the friendship between the two girls. Genevieve Robert directed. Opens in February via Universal.

“Sticky Fingers”--about two women (Helen Slater, Melanie Mayron) who find a cache of money and spend it. Mayron and Catlin Adams, who also directed, co-wrote the script. Made for Spectrafilm, the picture will open in early 1988.

“Anna”--Czech film star (Sally Kirkland) comes to act on the New York stage and befriends a young woman (Paulina Porizkova). Story is about their relationship. Yurek Bogayevich directed for Vestron. Opens in the fall.

“Flawless”--a comedy about two disparate women forced into a situation where they have to team up to solve a problem. Fonda Films project in development for Columbia. Jane Fonda will star.

Mainly Female Cast

“Shy People”--about cousins (Jill Clayburgh, Barbara Hershey, Martha Plimpton, Mare Winningham) and clash of cultures. Andrei Konchalovsky directed for Cannon. Hershey won a best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival. Opens in November.

“Housekeeping”--about two orphaned girls (Andrea Burchill, Sara Walker) and the woman who takes charge (Christine Lahti). Bill Forsyth directed for Columbia. Opens this month.

“Sweet Lies”--about two women (Joanna Pacula, Julianne Phillips) who vie for the attentions of a bumbling private investigator (Treat Williams). Nathalie Delon directed for Island Pictures. Opens in the fall.

“Reckless Endangerment”--about a lawyer (Kelly McGillis) and her client (Jodie Foster), who is the victim of a multiple rape. Jonathan Kaplan directed for Paramount. Opens in early 1988.

“Drop Out Mother”--about a woman (Valerie Harper) who has it all and can’t take it any more, so she quits her job. Bob Hanks wrote the script. Airs on CBS this fall.

“Mayflower Madame”--inspired by the life of Sydney Biddle Barrows (Candice Bergen), a New York socialite who also ran an escort service. “It’s one of our strongest movies this year in terms of a feminist theme,” CBS vice president Nancy Bein says. “It’s not at all what you’d expect of a movie about call girls.” Airs on CBS this fall.

“Married to the Mob”--about a woman who marries into organized crime but escapes and develops a network of female friends. Jonathan Demme will direct for Orion.

“The Life and Loves of a She-Devil”--Susan Seidelman’s next film, now in development at Orion.

“Angel’s Dance Card”--Joan Tewkesbury has written and will direct what she describes as “an erotic fairy tale” for Alive Films. It will star Lesley Ann Warren.

“Don’t Blame the Music”--in development at Warner Bros. about a high school senior and what happens to her life when her older sister, a burnt-out rock star, comes back home. Debra Powell wrote the script. Dorothea Petrie will produce.

“Gather Together in My Name”--a film based on a Maya Angelou book. Virginia Carter will produce; Joan Tewkesbury will write and direct.

“To My Daughter”--NBC-TV movie about a mother who favors her eldest daughter. When the girl dies, she is faced with rebuilding relationships with the rest of her children. Dennis Turner and Bill Schwartz wrote the script.