Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1948)

SHORTS REVIEWS^ Opinions on tho Current Short Subjects Makers of Destiny Astor Pictures (Vol. 1, No, 1) .15 Mins, Fair. Hullinger Productions of Washington, D. C., launches its new series of color documentaries with a short on Washington radio commentators. The subject matter is interesting, but narration and musical background fall short of established documentary quality. The commentary is sporadic, resulting in moments of undescribed action. The picture was shot on 16mm Kodachrome and blown up to 35mm for theatrical release. The picture illumination is low. Seen in the short ore Eric Sevareid, Fulton Lewis jr., Elmer Davis, Morgan Beatty, Drew Pearson, Ernest Bindley and Baukhage. Bone Bandit RKO (Walt Disney Cartoon) 7 Mins. Amusing. Pluto tangles with a mischievous gopher in the garden. The gopher has been stealing Pluto's bones and using them to support his underground tunnel system. Pluto chases the gopher, but the little fellow is aware that his pursuer has hoy fever. He waves some goldenrod under Pluto's nose and the dog has sneezing fits. Crime Lab RKO (This Is America) 17 Mins. Very good. Using New York's Dolice laboratory and highly skilled police scientists to show how modern crime detection works, the film points up a lot about police work that the average person doesn't know. All the policemen and detectives seen in the short are members of the police department. The homicide squad is seen tracing minute clues with the aid of scientific laboratory tests to track down the strangler of a young girl. The film points out that there is little glamour to the work. The capture ^of a criminal is enacted in a suspenseful climax. Daddy Duck RKO (Walt Disney Cartoon) 7 Mins. Good. Donald Duck adopts a baby kangaroo and receives detailed instructions from the adoption home on how to care for him. Donald gets nowhere when he attempts to get the little fellow into the bathtub. The kangaroo is frightened by a bear rug in Donald's living room. Donald sees this as an opportunity to impress his new child with his courage. He proceeds to kick the rug about. The baby kangaroo believes the rug is getting the best of Donald and attacks it with a hot poker. How to Clean House RKO (Edgar Kennedy Comedy) 18 Mins. Fair. Edgar Kennedy attempts to prove to his wife that he can clean their two-story house within three hours. The trouble starts when he uses too much soap in the washing machine, but Kennedy is unaware that the Exhibitor Has His Say (Continued from page 3) MISCELLANEOUS Night at the Follies, A (SR) — This is a roadshow on film as presented on the stage at the Follies Theatre in Los Angeles. It is good entertainment, something different, with suggestive gags by the comedians and plenty of dancing girls in very little clothes. I raised my price to 50 cents, adults only, and packed them in. Played Tuesday. Weather: Showers. ■ — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. * * * Thief of Bagdad (FC) — Reissue. Sobu, Conrad Veidt, June Duprez. This one is old but very good — play it single. — Noble Jonas, Capitol Theatre, Gastonia, N. C. General patronage. * suds are running over into the kitchen. He finds he can't make beds and doesn't kriow how to cook. In desperatiori Kennedy hires a maid while his wife and in-laws ore She finishes the cleaning, but leaves as Kenn©cly ctnd his family discov©r th© kitch©n is flooded with suds. Secretary Trouble RKO (Leon Errol Comedy) 18 Mins. Fair. Leon Errol learns the art of fencing the hard way when he is forced into a duel with his secretary's jealous husband. He also has to cope with his wife s jealous disposition. The secretary is a beautiful brunet. Her husband is a fencing instructor. After a furious chase in which Errol comes close to losing his head, he persuades the irate husband that his suspicions ore unfounded. Dying to Live 20th-Fox (Dribble-Puss Parade) 9 Mins. Good. Lew Lehr comments on strange ways of making a living. Professional bridge leapers, bicycle riders who dive off platforms into tanks, tight rope walkers and other dare devils come in for Lehr's kidding. The action shots are exciting. Majesty of Yellowstone 20th-Fox (Movietone Adventure) 9 Mins. Excellent. Yellowstone Park in the winter is dramatically photographed here. The Movietone cameramen accompanied rangers of the national park service on their rounds. The cameras took in vast expanses of moun In the News Movietone News, No. 42; Dewey beats Stassen in Oregon primary; President Truman at centennial fete of Girard college; father of the year; the Hague catches fire; carrier base jet planes pass navy tests; Scoutorama; Dutch celebration hails tulip time in Holland; Bedlington terrier wiris dog show championship; night harness racing at Roosevelt raceway, the winner. Direct Win; women's auto racing in Georgia. News of the Day, No. 276; Israel s first president thanks U.S. for help; navy's lightning jets in mass hop at sea; Boy Scouts thrill New York in great jamboree; fire sweeps Dutch palace; father of the year; world's fastest human; blue bloods of dogdom. Paramount News, No. 79; Dogdom high society; U.S. meets first president of Israel; Queen Mary brings many celebrities; GOP hopefuls set for battle of delegates. Universal News, No. 146: Dewey tops Stassen in Oregon primaries; Truman visits boys at school; navy jets tested on carrier; new Russian envoy arrives; father of 25 honored; fire damages Dutch palace; new president of Israel; track stars shine in Los Angeles meet; blue ribbon dog show. Warner Pathe News, No. 81: People on shipboard; Boy Scouts hold giant rally; Israel's bombed Jews dig in; royal palace burns at the Hague; big party in California; dog show; New York boys in PAL bouts. • Movietone News, No. 43: UN faces crisis over war in Palestine; Marshall makes plea for world needy children; New York rally hears appeal to help needy children; Princess Elizabeth at race track; Jesse James; Canadian oil well; Boys Town is his final resting place for Father Flanagan; Hogan wins PGA golf tournament at St. Louis. News of the Day, No. 277: War zone report from Palestine; science carries on amid ruins; Boys Town mourns Father Flanagan; flocks begin summer trek; golf classics. Paramount News, No. 80: Days of trial; Father Flanagan — Boys Town; 2,400 sheep cross Coulee dam; Jesse James reported alive; tain scenery; the geysers, and also herds of deer, antelope and bison. George Carson Putnam handled the narration. Mighty Mouse and Feudin' Hillbillies 20th-Fox (Terrytoon) 7 Mins. Fair. This time Mighty Mouse saves his mice kinfolk when they are attacked by a cabinful of whiskey drinking cats. The cats had taken the mice by surprise, but they got the surprise of their lives from Mighty Mouse. Mighty Mouse and the Magician 20th-Fox (Terrytoon) 7 Mins. Fair. Mighty Mouse comes to the rescue ot mousedom which faces extermination. The cats have gotten their paws on magic wands used by a mouse magician. The wands eriable the cats to become invisible and n^ the helpless mice. Mighty Mouse uses his X-ray eyes to end the cat menace. Scenic Sweden 20th-Fox (Movietone Adventure) 8 Mins. Good. Sweden has become a popular subject for shorts. Several have been made within the past six months. The one reviewed here includes a trip through the Gota C^nal, which cuts across southern Sweden. There are shots, too, of the University of Upsala and the rich farm lands of Dalecorlia. The film ends with scenes of the midsummer Maypole festival. reels golf classic; Hogan wins second PGA championship. Universal News, No. 147: Secretary Marshall appeals for the UN children; president of Israel visits White House; sheep cross Grand Coulee dam; Canadian oil fields goes on rampage; a goofy hair style shown in Hollywood; congressmen slug it out on baseball diamond; British win New York socker classic. Warner Pathe News, No. 82: Israel president visits Truman; sheep cross Grand Coulee dam; Britain's Philip goes to school; vacation fashions in cottons; Hogan wins PGA golf; Canadian wrestlers get rough; motorcycle races plane; great events — Bunker Hill. All American News, Voy. 6, No. 293: Slossfield Health Center brings medical help to many in Birmingham; Lavada Durst sets records as leading ^Texas disk jockey; sale of George Washington Carver stamps continues record pace; Shorter in North Little Rock college receives recognition from state department of education; Katherine Dunham dancers of New York give special revue; Abbott memorial award is presented to Chicago business leader. • Telenews Digest, No. 21: UN asks end of Palestine war; Jewish state proclaimed as Arabs attack; Scandinavia; British warships given to China; Mussolini family three years later; 6,000 students of France in mass pilgrimage; bomb blasts office of political party; Swedish students rib year's events; Truman's phrase "children and dogs" proves prophecy; Presidential Candidate Taft marches through picket line of striking unionists protesting the TalfHartley labor law; Mae West returns to the U.S. with comments on Anglo-American matters; Joe Louis fans watch their hero get a close shave — at a barber shop; the Democratic minority in Congress is not too small to give a severe beating to Republican opponents — on the baseball diamond; archers beat golfers in Dallas, Tex. 14 BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: June 5, 1948