National Box Office Digest (Feb-July 1941)

FEBRUARY 8, 1941 5 *1Ua Bax &Uica; 'High Sierra' Hits High Peak; 'Miss Bishop' Strong Of 7 New Releases in the Past Week. 2 Ran Over 100%, 2 Came Through Okay, and 2 Were Very Weak. WARNERS— 2 Releases Warners-First National have two new releases, one an outstanding box office attraction, while the second one is getting by but not as strongly as expected. Warners’ ace producer and director team, Mark Hellinger and Raoul Walsh respectively, who have turned out several of Warners’ top money makers, including such hits as the "Roaring Twenties” and "They Drive by Night,” have delivered another box office hit in "HIGH SIERRA,” which on its first openings is doing quite well at a 115% average, especially considering that the marquee names in the picture are not automatic draws. Humphrey Bogart with Ida Lupino, who has advanced so rapidly in the past six months, co-star in this thrilling crook melodrama which transfers its locale from the big city to the High Sierra hang out. Alan Curtis, Arthur Kennedy, Joan Leslie, Barton MacLane and Henry Travers head the featured cast. Exhibitors as a whole should receive good box office results from this one and where action pictures are popular it will be especially strong. Mark Hellinger was associate producer to Hal Wallis, R. A. Walsh directed. Warners’ second release for this week "HONEYMOON FOR THREE” on its initial openings is not any too strong, only averaging 82%. Ann Sheridan and George Brent are costarred. The featured cast includes Charlie Ruggles, Jane Wyman, Johnny Downs and Walter Catlett. Henry Blanke produced under Hal Wallis’ supervision and Lloyd Bacon directed. The picture has been well guided in di 22 FEATURES "GOING DOWN” Was Now 1. Kitty Foyle RKO.___143. — 140 2. Love Thy Neighbor PAR ...144 139 3. Comrade X MGM — 141— 138 4. Flight Command MGM 121. 113 5. Hudson’s Bay FOX — 118 .112 6. Chad Hanna FOX — 118 112 7. You’ll Find Out RKO ...106 102 8. Son of Monte Cristo UA — 107... 100 9. Go West MGM 100 — 97 10. Victory PAR ... 105. — 92 11. Four Mothers WAR ...103 92 12. No, No, Nanette RKO. — 92. — 88 13. South of Suez WAR ... 84 82 14. Melody Ranch REP — 80 .... 78 15. Texas Rangers PAR — 78 .... 76 16. East of the River WAR — 78 ... 75 17. Night Train ..FOX — 76... 74 18. Remedy for Riches RKO ... 75 ... 72 19. Behind the News . REP — 72 ... 70 26. World in Flames PAR — 72____ 70 21. Little Men RKO — 70. — 67 22. Queen of Destiny RKO. — 68 ... 65 7 New Releases Not in the Last Issue % We Est. 1. High Sierra WAR 115 110 2. Cheers for Miss Bishop UA 105 95 3. Road Show UA 83 ... 85 4. Three on a Honeymoon . ..WAR ... 82 ... 90 5. Six Lessons from Madame LaZonga UNIV 80 80 6. Life With Henry PAR 75 ... 75 7. Bowery Boy .... REP .... 68 ... 65 rection. and well handled in production. It is an entertaining comedy. The fact that it is not doing better at the box office may be due to a lack of interest in George Brent and Ann Sheridan, or to a lack of oomph in its exploitation to date. UNITED ARTISTS— 2 New Releases United Artists has two new releases from their independent producers this week, the first of which has opened well, while the second seems rather weak. Richard A. Rowland’s first production for United Artists is "CHEERS FOR MISS BISHOP.” This is a "word-of-mouth” picture. It is consistently hitting over that 100% mark, but its possibilities seem to be determined by the territoy or the exploitation. It is definitely not for Main St., but it has solid values. No further proof of that is needed than news that Mr. Van Schmus, of the Radio City Music Hall has set in his playing time. Van Schmus has the world’s largest theater, the most successful on week by week grosses, and he can’t afford to lull himself because he must make profits for the stockholders. "CHEERS FOR MISS BISHOP” is based on the popular novel by Bess Streeter Aidrich. "Miss Bishop” is in reality a feminine "Mr. Chips” and consequently being a very sentimental story will undoubtedly do its budding on word-of-mouth advertising. Martha Scott, who has received much publicity recently through her outstanding roles in "Our Town” and "Howards of Virginia,” very capably portrays the illustrious "Miss Bishop.” There is an excellent cast of featured players headed by Edmund Gwenn, who never fails the audience. If the exhibitors will give "Miss Bishop” showmanship treatment they will be well rewarded at the box office. Furthermore this is the type of picture that will make friendly patrons at their theatres. Tay Garnett directed for Producer R. A. Rowland. Old-time exhibitors will remember Dick Rowland as the former head of First National for many years. The United Artists executives are so pleased over his first picture for them that they have signed him to make three more pictures in the coming year. United Artists’ second release this week is a new Hal Roach production "ROAD SHOW” which doesn’t seem to be faring any too well, only averaging 82%. Of course, this picture is lacking in marquee names. The cast is headed by Adolph Menjou, Carole Landis and John Hubbard who all in all do not mean much at a box office. Charles Butterworth and Patsy Kelly are featured. UNIVERSAL— 1 Release Universal’s series of musical comedies that J oe Sanford has been producing for the last year and a half continue on their merry way and the latest, "SIX LESSONS FROM MADAME LAZONGA” 80%, seems to be the best box office picture of this series. Lupe Velez and Leon Errol, who recently registered well in RKO’s "Wildcat” series are co-starred in this one. The featured cast includes Helen Parrish, Charles Lang, William Frawley, Eddie Quillan and Big Boy Williams. John Rawlins directed. PARAMOUNT — Also 1 Release Paramount’s new release this week is an entertaining programmer, the latest in the famous Henry Aldrich series, "LIFE WITH HENRY,” 75%. While the Aldrich series doesn’t seem to be a very good first run attraction, the pictures are well received in the subsequent runs, neighborhood houses and small town bookings. Jackie Cooper, as usual heads the cast and seen in support are Leila Ernest, Eddie Bracken, Fred Niblo, Hedda Hopper and Kay Stewart. Ted Reed produced and directed under William LeBaron’s supervision. REPUBLIC— 1 Release Republic’s new release this week is "BOWERY BOY,” 68%, which is a fair programmer but entirely lacking in marquee names. It will probably be best suited to fill in with a big percentage picture — or as a good booking for the Saturday kiddies’ matinee. The featured cast is headed by Louise Campbell, Jimmy Lydon, Dennis O’Keefe Helen Vinson, and Roger Pryor. William Morgan directed and Armand Schaefer acted as associate producer. 7 FEATURES "GOING UP” Was Now 1. Philadelphia Story MGM 176 181 2. Santa Fe Trail WAR.__.146 __.148 3. This Thing Called Love COL ___126.___132 4. Thief of Bagdad UA .122 124 5. Maisie Was a Lady MGM 81____ 87 6. Trail of the Vigilantes __ UNIV 81 83 7. She Couldn’t Say No WAR 65 ... 67