Mallard doing well as big UK cinema chains close doors
THE Mallard Cinema has been doing well over the summer, in contrast with the UK where cinemas are struggling.
Cinema chain Cineworld is closing all its UK sites indefinitely from today and in Jersey due to deferred major movie releases.
The second postponement of the next James Bond film, No Time To Die, this time to April next year, triggered the decision.
Bur the Mallard is thriving, with all-new screenings, and has filled the schedule inventively.
‘When we first reopened [after lockdown] in May there were no new films at all, so we brought back old classics like the Goonies remaster and Jurassic Park in 4K,’ said manager Daniel Phillips-Smith.
‘Now we are searching for more obscure art-house releases. These can often be of a higher quality than blockbuster movies.’
Many foreign animations have been dubbed in English to counter the lull in blockbusters.
‘The German-produced film, Elfkins, nearly overtook Tenet [Christopher Nolan’s much-anticipated sci-fi spy thriller] in the box office. These are almost like ready-made films.’
Footfall has been lower than usual.
‘Lots of people don’t realise we have new releases, or think we are still showing re-screenings.
‘September and October are always quiet, although it has been quieter than expected. We are really encouraged at how well it has gone though. At the beginning we had no idea what would happen.’
There are enough new releases to fill the Mallard’s schedule.
‘But there aren’t releases big enough to sustain cinemas as large as Cineworld. As an independent cinema, we can listen to what Guernsey wants and have more freedom.’
His sympathy was extended to the big chains.
‘They have considerably larger overheads.
‘We are very fortunate that we can redesign the schedule with a week’s notice. It does involve lots of researching, or showing films we didn’t have room for in the past.’
The James Bond film, which had been due for release in April this year, was expected to sell out across most UK cinemas.
‘It was profoundly disappointing, but not entirely unexpected,’ said Mr Phillips-Smith.
‘We had been saying it was only a matter of time, but praying it wouldn’t because we had so many private screenings booked in. It was difficult breaking the news.
‘It would have been all hands on deck. About 80% of the time this cinema is too big for Guernsey, but for things like James Bond or Avengers it gets fully booked for weeks.’
