'Knight' again leads the pack
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- "The Dark Knight" again ruled the box office during the weekend, raking in more than $26 million in estimated U.S. receipts.
It was the fourth straight weekend that the Batman feature led the pack, with more than $440 million in total ticket sales.
"The Pineapple Express" was second with $22.4 million.
All estimated figures are from Box Office Mojo.
"The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" was third with more than $16.1 million; "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" fourth with $10.77 million; "Step Brothers" fifth with $8.9 million; "Mamma Mia!" sixth with more than $8.08 million.
"Journey to the Center of the Earth" was seventh with more than $4.85 million; "Hancock" eighth with $3.3 million; "Swing Vote" ninth with more than $3.1 million.
"Wall-E" rounded out the top 10 with more than $3.04 million in its seventh week of release.
'Order' star's son lashes out over estate
NEW YORK, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Chris Orbach, son of late "Law & Order" star Jerry Orbach, alleges his father's widow allegedly manipulated the actor into leaving her his entire U.S. estate.
The 39-year-old said in a letter to his stepmother, Elaine Cancilla-Orbach, that she allegedly convinced the TV actor to not leave a portion of his $10 million to his children so that she could inherit all the wealth, the New York Post said Sunday.
The newspaper said it obtained a copy of the private letter from an anonymous source and Orbach has said he regrets the familial dispute has become public.
Nonetheless, Orbach says he stands by the allegations in the letter, including her decision to offer the Eye Bank Association of America the "Order" star's eyes after his death.
"Having to leave my father's deathbed so that some guy with an ice box could shuck his eyes out while they were fresh still makes me sick and furious to this day," he had written in his letter.
The Post said the elder Orbach, who played Detective Lennie Briscoe on the popular NBC series, died of cancer in late 2004.
Cruz reserved about Johansson kiss
NEW YORK, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Spanish actress Penelope Cruz says she has no "funny answer" to the question of the quality of her on-screen kiss with Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson.
The New York Post said Sunday that Cruz didn't offer a concrete answer when asked if she preferred kissing the voluptuous actress in the film "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" or actor Ben Kingsley in "Elegy."
"Oh my god, I don't have a funny answer for you," Cruz said of the two intimate two on-screen moments. "And if I answer, it should be funny."
The actress did tell the Post how it was to work with famed director Woody Allen on the set of "Vicky" compared with director Pedro Almodovar, whom Cruz recently worked with for an upcoming film.
"With Pedro, I rehearse for a month, and with Woody it's not even one day," she said. "But you can adapt to both ways. It's a completely different system of work, like day and night. They are both geniuses, and it's great to know that you are in great hands."
Springfield roars back with 'Overdrive'
NEW YORK, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Famed 1980s musician Rick Springfield says he is excited to have re-emerged in the U.S. music scene with his newest album "Venus in Overdrive."
The singer, who hit it big more than two decades ago with the single "Jessie's Girl," said he is "excited" about his 17th album, which has reached No. 28 on Billboard charts, People magazine said Sunday.
"I haven't been this excited about a new record since the '80s," Springfield says. "I'm a loner in my private life, so the party animal only comes out on stage. That's really my connection to people."
The 58-year-old rocker, whose 1980s fame was also based on a recurring role on the soap opera "General Hospital," said while his newer songs have him excited, he is still happy to play the hits that made him a star.
"I liken them to favorite children. You never get tired of trotting out your kids. When they do well at something, you're really proud of it," Springfield, who still takes time to tour, told People.
