Variety (January 1953)

ufalneBday, January 7, 1953 forty-seventh P^&ZTETY ’Anniversary PICTURES 61 Upre are 1952’s best, that is, all films which went into release during the cal- *,»iar year which have, or will have, grossed $1,000,000 and over in domestic dis- union rentals ( U . S. and Canada). Estimates are used, based on actual bill- Z and play dates to date. Only pix excluded are those which went into dis- tribution too late in the year or have played too few dates to make any reason - rrhic determination of final gross business. Among these are Allied Arties' „ n at tie loner Columbia's “The Happy *Time," United Artist's “Moulin Rouge" „vd "Limelight," Paramount's “Come Back, Little Sheba,'* 20th-Fox’s "My Cousin Rachel ” RKO's “Hans Christian Andersen," Universal’s "Against All Flags" and Metro's “Prisoner of Zenda " 1. Greatest Show on Earth ■ Par Quo Vadis M-G Ivanhoe M-G. Snows of Kilimanjaro 20th Sailor Beware Par African Queen.. V.;..; UA .lumping Jacks Par High Noon UA Son of Paleface Par Singin’ in the Rain M-G With Song in My Heart. 20th Quiet Man . Rep Bend of the River U Plymouth Adventure M-G Stars & Stripes Forever. 20th World in His Arms U I'll See You in My Dreams WB Iron Mistress WB Just for You Par Distant Drums WB Million Dollar Mermaid..' M-G Room for One More * WB Scaramouche M-G Westward the Women . M-G Affair in Trinidad Col Story of Will Rogers WB Big Jim McLain WB My Favorite Spy Par Crimson Pirate „ WB Kettles at the Fair u Lovely to Look At M-G Skirts Ahoy k.. . .^ttM-G Texas Carnival • • • M-G Lone Star M-G She’s Working Way Through College WB Springfield Rifle WB Merry Widow # M-G Sdmebbdy Loves MS'. : '.v Par Pat and Mike M-G Robin Hood RKO Battle at Apache Pass U Bells on Their Toes 20th Bloodhounds of Broadway 20th Dream Boat 20th Francis Goes to West Point U Lure of the Wilderness 20th Monkey Business 20th • Red Mountain Par Retreat, Hell WB ( We're Not Married 20th What Price Glory 20th Wild North M-G Viva Zapata 20th Carrie Par Because You’re Mine M-G Carbine Williams M-G Lydia Bailey... 20th Carson City WB Marrying Kind Col. Winning Team WB Big Sky RKO Pony Soldier »...’. 20th Pride of St. Louis 20th Sudden Fear RKO About Face WB Jack and the Beanstalk WB One Minute to Zero RKO Decision Before Dawn 20th Bugles in the Afternoon WB Clash by Night RKO Don’t Bother to Knock 20th Flame of Araby •. .U I Want You. RKO Island of Desire -.-.r- UA Lost in Alaska U Lusty Men RKO Maru Maru. r .“ WB Red Ball Express U Scarlet Angel U Untamed- Frdntier U Where’s Charley? WB Caribbean > J Par Diplomatic Courier 20th Way of a Gaucho 20th Belle of New York •. M-G Five Fingers 20th Phone Call from a Stranger. 20th Walk East on Beacon .....Col Back at the Front U Cimarron Kid..,;* U Deadline USA 20th Duel at Silver Creek U Flaming Feather Par Kangaroo 20th 1 andora and the Flying Dutchman M-G Red Skies of Montana 20th Son of Ali Baba .U J'ales of Hoffmann UA Wait ’til the Sun Shines, Nellie 20th Weekend with Father U Death of a Salesman Col Las Vegas Story.. .RKO Denver and the Rio Grande Par Hurricane Smith Par Man in the Saddle Col Model and the Marriage Broker 20th Los Miserables 20th Macao RKO My Six Convicts Col Steel Town U Submarine Command Par Silver City ....Par Went Thataway M'-G } ] * Thief V....UA My Pal Gus 20th o Henry’s Full House 20th Hie River UA' Steel Trap • 20th 'ild Blue Yonder..... Rep 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 . 9 . 10 . 11 . 12 . 13 . 14 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 18 . 19 . 20 . 21 . 22 . 23 . 24 . 25 . 26 . 27 . 28 . 29 . 30 . 31 . 32 . 33 . 34 . 35 . 36 . 37 . 38 . 39 . 40 . 41 . 42 . 43 . 44 . 45 . 46 . 47 . 48 . 49 . 50 . 51 . 52 . 53 . 54 . 55 . 56 . 57 . 58 . 59 . 60 . 61 . 62 . 63 . 64 . 65 . 66 . 67 . 68 . 69 . 70 . 71 . 72 . 73 . 74 . 75 . 76 . 77 . 78 . 79 . 80 . 81 . 82 . 83 . 84 . 85 . 86 . 87 . 88 . 89 . 90 . 91 . 92 . 93 . 94 . 95 . 96 . 97 . 98 . 99 . 100 . 101 . 102 . 103 . 104 . 105 . 106 . 107 . 108 . 109 . HO. Hi. 112 . 113 . 114 . 115 . 116 . 117 . 118 . 119 . $12,000,000 10,500,000 7.000. 000 6.500.000 4.300.000 4.000. 000 4.000. 000 3.400.000 3.400.000 3.300.000 3.250.000 3.200.000 3.000. 000 3.000. 000 3,000,000 3.000. 000 2.900.000 2,900,000 2.900.000 2.850.000 2.750.000 2.750.000 2.750.000 2.750.000 2.700.000 ’ 2,650,000 2.600.000 2.600,000 2.500.000 2.500.000 2,500,000 2,500,000 2.500.000 2.400.000 2.400.000 2.400.000 2.300.000 2.200.000 2,100,000 2.100,000 2 . 000 . 000 2,000,000 2 . 000,000 2,000,000 2 , 000,000 2 . 000,000 2 , 000,000 2 . 000,000 2 , 000,000 2 . 000,000 2,000,000 2 , 000,000 1.900.000 1.800.000 1.750.000 1.750.000 1.750.000 1.700.000 1,700,000 1.700.000 1.650.000. 1.650.000 1.650.000 • 1,650,000 1.600.000 1,600,000 1,600,000 1.550.000 1.500.000 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 1.500.000 1.400.000 1,400,000 1.400.000 1.350.000 1,350,000 1.350.000 1.300.000 1.250.000 1,250,000 1,250,000 1,250,000 1,250,000 1,250,000 1,250,000 1,250,000 1,250,000 1,250,000 1,250,000 1.250.000 1.200.000 1,200,000 1,180,000 1.175.000 1.150.000 1.150.000 1.100.000 1,100,000 1,100,000 1,100,000 1,080,000 1.075.000 1.050.000 1,050,000 1 . 000 . 000 1 , 000,000 1 , 000,000 1 , 000,000 1 , 000,000 ‘Show,’ ‘Vadis’ Tops Continued from page 3 ln other categories—male and, femme performers, producer and I director—all were associated with 1 other films. The outstanding money producer was Leonard Goldstein : while on the Universal lot which he recently exited (he’s how at 20th). Goldstein made eight films for total domestic business of $13,- 250,000. Either Super Specs or ‘Cheapies With Charm,’ Prod. Trend of ’52 L LeRoy Top Director I M-G’s Mervyn LeRoy takes the laurels as ace director among 1952’s crop. He called the turns on three productions with a total gross of $15,750,000. Trio of writers who fashioned “Greatest Show” copped first place in that division. They’re Frederic M. Frank, Barre Lyndon and Theo- dore St. John. For the most part, Holly\, ood veterans were connected with the pix which made the biggest b.o. impression. Only relatively new name among the male stars up front is Charlton Heston, who had one of the key roles in “Show.” In the money listing, he followed Taylor, George Sanders (with two films grossing $17,500,000) and James Stewart (three films total- ing $16,750,000). Gregory Peck, top man in 1951’s rating report, was next with two films taking a combined $9,500,000. There’s not a single newcomer on the leading femme talent roster. Following Miss Taylor, in this order, are Betty Hutton, Dorothy Lamour (via “Show”), Susan Hay- ward, who was first last year, and Joan Fontaine and Deborah Kerr, tied. For exhibs and distribs. alike, probably the most significant aspect of the 1952 tabulations is the fact that the year brought a fewer num- ber of big b.o. pix but they reaped greater revenue. Taking into con- sideration only those productions which promise distribution coin of $1,000,000, and over domestically, ’52 had a total of 119 films with an overall gross of $253,510,000. Pre- ceding year had 131 pix with total gross of $247,900,000. This is con- sistent with the trend in many en- tertainment fields: The successful entries are down in number but (he clicks in many instances are smash b.o. performers and the duds are more of floperoo propor- tions than ever. As for the hits, 1951 produced only two films with grosses over $5,000,000; 20th’s “David and Bath- sheba,” $7,000,000, and M-G’s “Showboat,” $5,200,000. For ’52, four films are in that golden circle. Runnersup to “Show” and “Vadis” are “Ivanhoe,” at $7,000,000, and 20th’s “Snows of Kilimanjaro,” $6,500,000. Male Stars’ Ranking The top actors with the number of pix in which they appeared and the total gross: 1. Robert Taylor 2. George Sanders 3. James Stewart 4. Charlton Heston* Cornel Wilde* . 5. Gregory Peek . . 3 2 3 1 1 2 $20,250,000 17.500.000 16.750.000 12,000,000 12,000,000 " 9,500,000 •f Hollywod in the past year gave an unusally heavy play to two ap- proaches to sound economics. There was a payoff ‘for both, it’s shown in Variety’s annual probe of which pix fared best at the b.o. Properties of super-scale propor- tions, more than ever before, rep- resented the formula for smash money at the b.o. The landslide biz racked up by Paramount's “Greatest Show on Earth” and Metro’s “Quo Vadis” is the evi- dence. The second bid for a profitable buck was via what might be termed the cheapie with charm. If this needs explanation it means a low- cost pic. corny or otherwise, with characters who catch the public’s fancy. Universal mattes only money with the “Ma and Pa Kettle” series. Though the formulae for the two are wide apart from the negative investment standpoint, they have plenty in common. For the pro- ducer and director in each case are called upon to manifest more pic- making savvy than in the usual run of films, and with less reliance on star names to build the b.o. I Dwarfs Stars “Both for "Greatest Show.' Femme Stars The gals emerge in this order: 1. Elizabeth Taylor 2. Betty Hutton 3. Dorothy Lamour . 4. Susan Hayward.. 5. Joan Fontaine* ... Deborah Kerr*... 2 2 1 3 1 1 $17,500,000 14.200.000 12 , 000,000 10.900.000 10.500.000 10,500,000 •Both for "Quo Vadis.’ Top Grosser by Companies Company-by-company breakdown of films sent into distribu- tion in 1952, promising to gross $1,000,000 or over in domestic (U. S. and Canadian) distribution rentals . 1. Metro 2. 20th-Fox .... 3. Paramount .. 4. Warner Bros. 5. Universal .... 6. RKO 7. United Artists 8. Columbia . . 9. Republic .... No. of Films Over $1,000,000 19 29 . 15 . 17 . 16 6 6 2 Totals 119 Total Rentals $ 55,500,000 52.500.000 42.360/000 37.050.000 27.350.000 13.200.000 12 . 200.000 9.150.000 4.200.000 $253,510,000 Top-Money ’52 Producers, Directors PRODUCERS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.0 1. 2 . 3. 4. 5. No. of Pix Leonard Goldstein 8 Cecil B. DcMille 1 Sam Zimbalist • 1 Hal Wallis 3 Darryl F. Zanuck 2 DIRECTORS Mervyn LeRoy 3 Cecil B. DeMille 1 Richard Thorpe 2 Henry King 2 John Ford 2 Gross Totals $13,250,000 12,000,000 10.500.000 10.300.000 8.400.000 $15,750,000 12,000,000 8.750.000 7.750.000 5.200.000 Coronation Continued from page 3‘ polishing up his title and his con- tacts with the Royal Family. At this writing it had not been de- cided where he would be permit- ted to sit. Anything less than a seat in the Abbey, of course, is inferior. Mother Brown is shining up her knees. That 'pub way out King’s Road, the World’s End, where Edith Head to everyone’s astonishment sang songs and swilled brown ale last summer, is planning to festoon itself with strips of colored paper, and if anybody goes home sober on the night of June,the Second It will indeed be the World’s End. The Daily Express has been yam- mering for weeks that the route of the profession should be lengthen- ed to include the Embankment so that little children can see the Queen. The Express Circulation among little children is expected to be augmented. For street decoration, the Crown will be the dominating motif. Crowns will no doubt be on sale in the form of boiled sweets. Lamp- posts will be disguised to look like plumed knights. Special coins are being minted; naturally these are to be five-shilling pieces which, be- ing double the value of the present well-known coin, the half-crown, will be crowns. Although the Eng-, lish are very fond of puns, no pun is intended by the Royal Mint. All ew coinage for the reign of Eliz- abeth II will have her profile fac- ing to the right. Victoria, George V and George VI faced to the left. I do not know which way Edward VII or Edward VIII faced nor do I know why Elizabeth will be turn- ing the other cheek, This is one of those mysteries of British Tradi- tion. There have been some hints froin, north of the border that a few 'Scottish hotbloods are plot- ting to abscond with the Stone of Scone from the Coronation chair just before the great ceremony. An electric eye has been installed near the chair meanwhile to thwart this dastardly design. Martin St Lewis will be at the Palladium during’ Coronation Week. The Royal Family does not J “Show,” “Vadis” and others of that calibre are heavy with impor- tant names, of course. But the point which studio analysts sress is that the magnitude of the epics is of the greatest importance. As the production sweep becomes greater the importance of the star names becomes proportionately lesser. No one is minimizing the on- screen talents employed in “Great- est Show” and “Quo.” But in these two pix particularly, the produc- tion values were such that it would be difficult' to conceive of either flopping at the b.o. with any other assortment of competent per- formers. As for the lower-case pix, Vari- ety’s list of product in the money displays that folksiness, whim- sy and good imagination in fashion- ing screenplays more than make up for an absence of stellar names. ^ Blue-Pencil Blues Si Continued from page 35 hamlet couldn’t possibly foretell a play's Broadway reception to such a fine degree, the blue-pencil de- partment gave it the bum’s rush in short order. * ^ (Six months later, when the play did win the prize, the blue pencil turned to a red face, but It should be recorded that the editor was a good enough sport to admit the premature castration in a special piece headed, “Variety Misses the Boat.”) There have been various other eliminations over the years but maybe it’s best just to let sleeping dogs lie. (Note: This is not meant to be a snide remark concerning my editor.) At any rate, some day, when per- secuted writers form an organiza- tion for the purpose of editing the editors, I’d like to apply for char- ter membership. Meanwhile, as a sort of checkup on this blue-pencil subject . . . when this manuscript was turned in, it contained exactly 500 words. Now, let's us see how many of them actually get into print! [If 500 is the count— you count ’em—so be it!—Ed.] consider this to be unfair compe- tition; Quite a number of impoverished dukes, earls, marqueses and their ladies are wondering where the ermine is coming from. Lapin will be worn. Sir Alexander Korda will view from his office at 144 Piccadilly. Will the Duke of Windsor take part? Will the Dean of Canterbury be there? Will Col. McCormick come over from Chicago? Will Pravda carry story and. pictures? Will Baudouin refuse to march? Will Dr. Mossadegh send oil for the tions? Will the Mau-Mau killers of Kenya go on killing Englishmen? Will Dr. Mossadeq send oil for the Royal Daimler? Will the Queen's horse win the Derby a few days later? Will ex-King Farouk wish he’d kept his throne a little longer so he’d have a seat in the Abbey? Will the weather be right or will it rain? One never knows in Eng- land. God Save the Queen.