Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

“WLt tk Picture did it 99 or me . . . the original exhibitors' reports department, established October 14, 1916. In it theatremen serve one another with information about the box office performance of product — providing a service of the exhibitor for the exhibitor. ADDRESS REPORTS, What the Picture Did for Me, Motion Picture Herald, Rockefeller Center, New York 20. Allied Artists CRASHING LAS VEGAS: Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall — From acting, would say this was Gorcey’s last. This is a good series and they could play up the gags to be just a bit more mature and start all over again with Hall. Always a desirable second feature, particularly for holidays. Played Thursday, Friday, Saturday, November 22, 23, 24. — Moz Buries, Canyon Theatre, Bingen, Wash. JAIL BUSTERS: Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall — We all liked it and made money on it. Everyone seemed to have a “laughing” time. A corny show like this should do business for most small town theatres. Played Wednesday, September 19. — Harry Hawkinson, Orpheum Theatre, Marietta, Minn. TOUGHEST MAN ALIVE: Dane Clark, Lita Milan — Played with "Pillars in the Sky” (U) Satisfactory second feature. Several of audience commented on how satisfactory this show was for average fan. Played Thursday, Friday, Saturday, November 8, 9, 10. — Moz Buries, Canyon Theatre, Bingen, Wash. YAQUI DRUMS: Rod Cameron, Mary Castle — This was good double bill picture. Played on weekend to very acceptable business. — Harland Rankin, Rankin Enterprises, Chatham, Ont., Canada. Allied Films CAESAR & CLEOPATRA: Claude Rains, Vivien Leigh — An oldie but still will do business. If you go after the schools and give a special matinee, it will get you more money than some of the new ones. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, October 3, 4.— Joe Meyer, lone Theatre, lone, Calif. Associated Film LAST OF THE DESPERADOES: James Craig, Jim Davis — Played with “Africa Adventure” (RKO) — good western, good adventure picture. Sound on both great and made a little money. Played Friday, Saturday, October 12, 13. — Joe Meyer, lone Theatre, lone, Calif. Columbia HOT BLOOD: Jane Russell, Cornel Wilde — Columbia just missed on this one. Played as second half and everyone pleasantly surprised and pleased with this vivacious offering — tops in color and music. Played Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, November 25, 26, 27.— Moz Buries, Canyon Theatre, Bingen, Wash. IFE LOST CONTINENT : Documentary — It played TV two days before we showed it, but it will do business if you advertise it. Played Wednesday, Thursday, November 21, 22. — Joe Meyer, lone Theatre, lone, Calif. Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer FASTEST GUN ALIVE: Glenn Ford, Jeanne Crain — -BOX OFFICE is all I can say. Book it and make money ! — Joe Meyer, lone Theatre, lone, Calif. GABY : Leslie Caron, John Kerr — Very poor response for this tame re-make of "Waterloo Bridge.” Please. M-G-M, don’t press your luck with Caron. She just isn’t box office any more. We do wonderful business here most times — only when we get a real stinker do we fall slightly. So the only reason for the bad box office on this film I can find is Leslie, whom I like personally, but then I don’t pay for my ticket. Fellow exhibitors, lay off this one if your patrons don’t go for slow-moving movies. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, October 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. — Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe/Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, Africa. HIGH SOCIETY: Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra — This picture really packed them in. People MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 22, 1956 loved it. — Harland Rankin, Rankin Enterprises, Chatham, Ont., Canada. LUST FOR LIFE: Kirk Douglas, Anthony Quinn — -A very fine biography of an artist; very good, but not for action houses nor small towns. — Harland Rankin, Rankin Enterprises, Chatham, Ont., Canada. SWAN, THE: Grace Kelly, Alec Guinness — Top billed this as last Kelly picture. On basis of prior reports, expected a washout, but in spite of intensely cold weather, picture grossed near average business. Teamed with “The Ambassador’s Daughter” (UA) and this made a good program. Played Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, November 18, 19, 20. — Moz Buries, Canyon Theatre, Bingen, Wash. Republic COME NEXT SPRING: Steve Cochran, Ann Sheridan — Willing to bet this wonderful little film not only cost an eighth of what "Diane” (MGM) and "The Conquerer” (RKO) cost, but that it did better business everywhere as it did with us ! Top comments from all who came, and they came in large numbers. The less a film is ballyhooed, . the better it does at the box office and less it disappoints. This one really surprised them all. It will surprise you too, so book it now. Cochran needs more breaks. If the studios persist in giving the "pretty” boys the breaks, they cannot expect better than the poor dividends shown now. Played Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, October 14, 15, 16.— Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe/Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, Africa. LAST COMMAND, THE: Sterling Hayden, Anna Maria Alberghetti — A very enjoyable western. When they make them this way, they even satisfy the non-western fans. Even the British critics had kind things to say about this one. Highly recommended for your best playing time. We did very good business with it. Of course, I could not expect Radio City Music Hall to play it, yet with some of the so-called supers doing the rounds, thi3 could easily be in place ! Give Hayden some more breaks. Played Sunday, Monday, October 21, 22. — Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe/Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, Africa. OUTCAST, THE (THE FORTUNE HUNTER): John Derek, Joan Evans — More entertaining than “The Conqueror (RKO) and it must have cost many millions less ! Proof that you don’t have to spend millions to have a box-office hit — well acted, good story, fine photography, and Trucolor is getting better all the time. We did not expect to make a fortune with this one, but it did as well as “The Conqueror”. Recommended for all action houses. Played Sunday, Monday, October 21, 22. — Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe/Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, Africa. Twentieth Century-Fox MOHAWK : Scott Brady, Rita Gam — Though played as second feature, a position it was produced for, this fantasy pleased our rugged action fans 100% plus. The young actors, the swell color and scenery were scored a hit here. Played Thursday, Friday, Saturday, November 29, 30, December 1. — Moz Buries, Canyon Theatre, Bingen, Wash. Universal NEVER SAY GOODBYE; Rock Hudson, Cornell Borchers — If any picture is a sure thing, then this is it — one of the best majority-pleasing pictures we have played in a long time. When not only the women leave with tears in their eyes, but the men also, you certainly have something to rave about, and your business will back you up. If any picture will do it, this is the one. Played Monday, Tuesday, November 26, 27. — W. L. Parrent, O’Brien Theatre, Pembroke, Ont., Canada. Warner Bros. BATTLE CRY: Van Heflin, Aldo Ray— An overly long but very good CinemaScope picture about the Marines in World War II. My patrons want action, but this had very little of actual warfare in it. Did only average business. Played one week, Friday, September 14, through Thursday, September 20. — Agha Rafique Ahmed, New Majestic Theatre, Hyderabad, West Pakistan. BURNING HILLS, THE: Tab Hunter, Natalie Wood — Score an assist to the Saturday Evening Post story. Wonderful color and inspired direction. Gross about average, but good proportion of teenagers who like Tab Hunter and Natalie Wood comprised the audience. Let’s have more like this one with an appeal to the young folks. Played Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, December 2, 3, 4. — Moz Buries, Canyon Theatre, Bingen, Wash. GIANT : Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson — This picture will do well through the build-up Ed Sullivan gave it and much publicized James Dean. If handled right, it should put extra seats to work. — Harland Rankin, Rankin Enterprises, Chatham, Ont., Canada. MOBY DICK : Gregory Peck, Richard Basehart — Great production though a bit too rugged for most female viewers who came, but we were pleasantly surprised at gross after prior reports that it was not grossing. We did 20% over no™-' he-e with the Saturday fans more than pleased. Played Thursday, Friday, Saturday, November 29, 30, December 1. — Moz Buries, Canyon Theatre, Bingen, Wash. PETE KELLY’S BLUES; Jack Webb Janet Leigh — I’m glad a few of the customers I had — and the customers I had were few — liked this one better than I did. The jazz music was good, the color and settings were fine — but the jazz, muscles and dragnet weren’t mixed in the direction that sent many of my customers home in a good mood. Played Wednesday, Thursday, October 16, 17. — Lew Bray, Jr., Queen Theatre, McAllen, Texas. SANTIAGO: Alan Ladd, Rossana Podesta — -Lots of action and wonderful color in this one, but films having a South American locale are below average here and this one was no exception. Will nlease everyone you can get in. Played Sunday, Monday, Tuseday, November 25, 26, 27. — Moz Buries, Canyon Theatre, Bingen, Wash. SANTIAGO : Alan Ladd, Rossana Podesta — A lot of action, so played on weekend. The picture has too many gory scenes with everybody getting knifed. Nights cold and we did poor business. Played Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, November 18, 19, 21. — Roman Noecker, Amuzu Theatre, Fonda, Iowa. SATELLITE IN THE SKY: Walter Budd, Lois Maxwell — Well produced with exceptionally fine color, but abundance of accented conversation in film and preview proved our undoing, together with over-priced rating. Played Thursday, Friday, Saturday, December 6, 7, 8. — Moz Buries, Canyon Theatre, Bingen, Wash. SEARCHERS, THE: John Wayne, Vera Miles — As usual, John Wayne does a wonderful job. However, he is beginning to show his age and getting a little heavy. Even so, he still has the box-office draw. Very good business. Played Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, September 23, 24, 25.— Ray E. David, Pace and Starlite Theatres, Chadron, Nebr. SEARCHERS, THE: John Wayne, Vera Miles — A very good western. Everything about it seemed to be good. John Wayne was good, as he always seems to be, Ward Bond was quite funny. We did a very good business with it. Give it a try and see if you can do the same. Played Saturday, Sunday, November 17, 18. — Harry Hawkinson, Orpheum Theatre, Marietta, Minn. 23