Roberts’ Star Power
This is not meant to be a criticism of Roberts--I saw “Pretty Woman” six times--but I was disturbed by the financial pyramiding you report.
Sure, some women may take comfort in knowing that Roberts has gone from $50,000 a picture in 1988 to $3 million for “Dying Young” and now $7 million for her next film.
But even if Roberts gets $90 million (the combined compensation of Disney’s Michael Eisner and Time Warner’s Steve Ross), that doesn’t help other actors and actresses. Higher salaries for the few mean lower salaries for the many.
Her “low” figure of $90,000 for “Steel Magnolias” represents two or three years’ salary for many of your readers. And the history of Hollywood shows that the more money a performer gets, the less memorable the picture.
RICK ROFMAN
Van Nuys
Only good movies
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