(1973)
John Deegan and Dorothy S. Deegan, et al. v. Commissioner
This is a tax dispute case involving the investors who acquired the United States distribution rights to Roger Vadim’s 1973 movie ‘Don Juan, or If Don Juan Were a Woman’ starring Brigitte Bardot. Below is a brief breakdown of the distribution expenses related to ‘Don Juan, or If Don Juan Were a Woman’:
The United States distribution rights were sold for $1,800,000. The agreement dated August 15, 1975 provided that prior to October 1, 1975, distributor Scotia would exhibit ‘Don Juan, or If Don Juan Were a Woman’ in at least one city in the United States with a population exceeding one million; exhibit the film in at least fifty theaters prior to December 31, 1976; and in a total of at least 250 theaters. There would also be the right to cancel the agreement in the event that Scotia failed to obtain gross receipts of $500,000 within the first three years of distribution. Scotia was to bear all costs of distribution and expend no less than $50,000 on exploitation, advertising and promotion of the film.
Scotia described the film’s box office performance as a ‘disaster’ and it grossed just $2,400 in 1975 — $2,000 in 1976 and a mere $211.22 in 1977. No revenue was recorded after 1977.
Read the full court report below for further information.