National Box Office Digest (Jan 1940-Jan 1941)

JANUARY 2, 1940 5 TL Sc, Ojjfjice: mu HHVIE TOPS WEEK FOR FOX WITH 'EVERYTHING HAPPENS AT NIGHT;’ BALALAIKA’ STRONG FOX— 3 NEW RELEASES Twentieth Century-Fox ends 1939 with three new releases, one a new Sonja Henie hit and two fairly good programmers. Fox’s top release this week, which is also the Honor Box winner, is Darryl F. Zanuck's new Sonja Henie production. “EVERYTHING HAPPENS AT NIGHT.” which opened in several spots in the pre-Christmas week and so far is averaging quite well at 122%. In her past releases. Miss Henie has generally had either Tyrone Power or Don Ameche as her leading man. This time, however, she has neither of these big names, but instead has two new leading men, Ray Milland and Robert Cummings. Others in the featured cast are Alan Dinehart. Fritz Feld, and Victor Varconi. Harry Joe Brown acted as associate producer and Irving Cummings directed. Exhibitor reports for the past couple of years have shown that this little ice skater has brought plenty of money into the box office, and there is no reason why this one shouldn't do likewise. Fox’s other two releases this week are better than average programmers from the Sol Wurtzel unit. The best of these is a new picture in the Cisco Kid series, and this time it is “THE CISCO KID AND THE LADY.” which is doing quite well at an 83% average. Due to Warner Baxter’s retirement from 20th Century-Fox. he has been replaced bv Cesar Romero as the Cisco Kid. Marjorie W eaver is Romero’s leading lady and others prominently featured are Robert Barrat. Virginia Field and Harry Green. John Stone acted as associate producer and Herbert Leeds directed. Exhibitors have been running the Cisco Kid series ex,er since sound came in. and accordingly know best where to spot this one. Fox’s third and last release this week is another Dro^rammer. “THE HONEYMOON’S OVER. ’ 80%. which co-stars Stu Erwin and Mariorie Weaver. Patric Knowles and Russell Hicks are featured. Gene Ford directed. “THE HONEYMOON’S OVER.” which is a linht domestic comedv drama, was based on William Anthonv McGuire’s “Six Cylinder Love.” with which most old timers are familiar. MGM— ALSO 3 NEW RELEASES MGM. like Fox, has three new releases this week, one a special and two fair programmers. Leo the Lion’s top release is the uew MGM musical special. “BALALAIKA.” which co-stars Nelson Eddv with Ilona Massey, of “Rosalie” fame. This musical, which hasn’t an exceptiorellv good box office title, has opened at 112% on its first bookings. As the music in the pic Of Twelve New Releases In The Past Week, Three Ran Over lOO^c! Tive Came Thru Okay; and Four Were Very Weak. ture tends towards the classical side, this one will probably draw better in the carriage trade houses than in the family type. Among the important featured players are Charlie Ruggles, Frank Morgan, Lionel Atwill. C. Aubrey Smith, Joyce Compton, and many others. Larry W eingarten produced and Reinhold Schunzel directed. MGM's other two releases this week are good programmers from the Joe Cohn unit, both packed full of good entertainment, but not strong enough to carry top billing. The best of these is Damon Runyon’s “JOE AND ETHEL TURP CALL ON THE PRESIDENT.” which is getting by at an 80% average. This is not quite as strong as Ann Sothern’s recent pictures since she staged her big comeback in “Maisie. ’ However, it is possible because of the popularity of this story, that this picture may pick up on its future bookings. Edgar Selwyn nroduced and Robert Sinclair directed. MGM’s third release is the first of the new Nick Carter series entitled “NICK CARTER. MASTER DETECTIVE.” 78%. This series will probably prove popular in the nabes catering to family trade, but will not be of any particular first-run value, due to the lack of marquee names. W alter Pidgeon is starred and Rita Johnson. Henry Hull, and Stanley Ridges are featured. Lucien Hubbard produced and Jacques Tourneur directed. WARNER BROS.— 2 NEW RELEASES W arner Brothers-First National have two new re'eases, one a good box office attraction, while the second is a very weak programmer. W arners’ “FOUR WIVES,” 108%, is by far their best release this week, although this picture doesn’t quite come up to the standard set bv its two predecessors, “Four Daughters” and “Daughters Courageous.” W hile it features practically the same cast as the other two pictures, still it doesn't hold interest as well and is rather long, especially for double billing, running just short of two hours. The Lane girls, Priscilla, Rosemary, and Lola, with Gale Page, are again the Four Daughters, with the other characters portrayed by Claude Rains, Jeffry Lynn, May Robson, Eddie Albert, Frank McHugh, and Dick Foran. John Garfield, who was promiently featured in the last two “Daughter” pictures, only appears in a flashback in this one. Henry Blanke produced under Hal Wallis’ supervision, and Mike Curtiz directed. W arner Brothers’ second release is a new programmer from the Bryan Foy unit, “PRIVATE DETECTIVE,” which is just getting by at around 71%. Jane Wyman and Dick Foran are co-starred and Gloria Dickson and Maxie Rosenbloom are featured. This one will probably make a good filler, but that’s about all. Noel Smith directed. COLUMBIA— 2 RELEASES Columbia studios have two new releases, one of which is an excellent box office hit. while the second is a new programmer. Columbia’s best hit this week is “THE AMAZING MR. WILLIAMS,” the latest in the domestic comedy drama series co-starring Joan Blondell and Melvyn Douglas, which in spite of the pre-Christmas lull, is averaging quite well at 93%. Director A1 Hall, who left Paramount a vear and a half ago to make this series for Columbia, has certainly chalked up an enviable record, as the three predecessors in this series (“There’s Always A Woman.” “There’s That Woman Again,” “Good Girls Go To Paris”) have all been good money makers for both Columbia and the exhibitors. Supporting Miss Blondell and Mr. Douglas. who recently scored so heavily in “Ninotehka.” are Ruth Donnellv. Ed Bronhv. and Clarence Kolb. Everett Riskin produced. Columbia’s second release. “CAFE HOSTESS,” is a new programmer from the Irving Rriskin unit and is doing much better than his recent releases, at a 74% average. Preston Foster and Ann Dvorak are co-starred nnd Douglas Fowley and Wynn Gibson are featured. Sidney Salkow' directed and Jack Fier was the associate producer. UNIVERSAL— I RELEASE Universal closes the year with a rather good release, “THE BIG GUY,” which is averaging around 81% to date. Jackie Cooper, fresh from his big success in “What A Life.” is co-starred with Victor McLaglen in this gripping melodrama. Ed Brophy. Peggy Moran. Russell Hicks, and Ona Munson, who drew such ra'es for her work in "HoneyIn Bali,” are featured. Burt Kelly (Continued on Page 12) / N 6 New Releases Not In Last Issue % We Est. 1. 2. Everything Happens At Night .. Balalaika FOX MGM .... 122 . .112... .120 110 3. Four Wives WAR. 108.. .110 4. Amazing Mr. Williams COL. .... 93. .... 85 5. Cisco Kid and the Lady FOX .... 83 .... 75 6. Big Guy FNIV .... 81. .. .... 80 7. The Honeymoon’s Over FOX .... 80. .. .... 70 8. Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President MGM. .... 80 .... 85 9. Nick Carter, Master Detective . ...MGM... .... 78. ... .... 75 10. Reno RKO .... 78 .... 80 11. Cafe Hostess COL ... 74 .... 75 12. Private Detective ...WAR... 71 .... 70