National Box Office Digest (Feb-July 1941)

6 BOX OFFICE DIGEST 'Great American Broadcast' Solid Entertainment Current Reviews We Est. The Great American Broadcast FOX 120 The Flame of New Orleans UNIV 90 The Wagons Roll at Night WAR. 85 A Very Young Lady FOX 75 The Devil Commands COL. 75 The Roar of the Press MONO. 75 The Face Behind the Mask COL. 75 The Singing Hill REP. 75 The Great Train Robbery REP. 70 The Big Boss COL. 65 Tumbledown Ranch in Arizona MONO. 60 20TH CENTURY-FOX The Digest’s Box Office Estimate 120% Associate producer Kenneth Macgowan Director Archie Mayo Original screenplay Don Ettlinger, Edwin Blum, Robert Ellis, Helen Logan Stars Alice Faye, Jack Oakie, John Payne, Cesar Romero Featured: The Four Ink Spots, James Newill, Nicholas Brothers, Wiere Brothers, Mary Beth Hughes, Eula Morgan. William Pawley, Lucien Littlefield, Edward Conrad, Gary Breckner, Mike Frankovich, John Hiestand, Eddie Acuff, Mildred Gover, Syd Saylor, Eddie Kane William Halligan, Frank Orth, Herbert Heywood. Photographers Leon Shamroy, Peverell Marley Lyrics and music Mack Gordon, Harry Warren Time 92 minutes Without any pretensions at epic production size — aside from its grandiloquent title — "The Great American Broadcast” turns out to be one of the most satisfyingly entertaining pictures of the year, and a definite money-picture. The title throws you off balance with its hint that the picture might be heavy history of the birth and growth of radio, or else a hodgepodge of spectacular specialties. It is not very accurate or serious history, nor is it a Technicolor jamboree. But, and emphatically, director and cast have combined for a hefty ninety minutes of darn good fun. And if our mail means anything, that is what exhibitors can sell these days The picture has the basic entertainment qualities that made for the success of "Ti n Pan Alley” and other Zanuck hits. With just enough plot to keep it moving, and direction by Archie Mayo that keeps the plot sugar-coated, it relies on melody and laughs to send you home happy. When you say that the melody is in the hands of Alice Faye, with able pinch-hitting assistance by John Payne, and the laughs are on the broad shoulders of Jack Oakie, you sort of sum up the picture for anyone who knows his pictures Alice Faye gets extra moments of singing, and does one of her best jobs. Which is about like saying that the vocal moments from Miss Faye are fine. But then you come up with the necessity of mentioning Jack Oakie, who can hog almost any scene, and who has never seemed so much at home. About that time you remember that a very capable and personable fellow named John Payne not only does a good job holding the plot together, but he also contributes a few warbles. It is about time we told you something about the picture. Well, it seems way back yonder when radio was an amateur nut fad, a chap named Payne got the idea that it might become a great industry if it would sell entertainment. The only entertainment he had was a neat gal friend, Alice Faye, who was willing to chirrup for nothing just to help the good cause along. The only backing he had was the none-toobright Jack Oakie, who did, however, know something about kilowatts. And then, there is that sleek Cesar Romero, hovering in the background. It is not news to either 20thFox nor exhibitors that Romero is definitely one of those audience likes. He repeat here. What happens? You can see there is a perfect gang-plank for music and entertainment, and you won’t be bothered too much to know that all the boys love Alice, a knot that must be untangled before the fade-out. Scripting must have been a tough job. trying to combine something of history with the hokum of heart interest and the values of melody, or probably the group of orchids should go to Archie Mayo and the name quartette at the top of the credit list. After which, we are not allowed to forget some hot specialties. One is a trio, Zanuckdiscovered, the Wiere Brothers. They are as refreshingly new as the first time you ever saw the Ritz Brothers — not the last time. Then there are the Four Ink Spots, who, our operatives inform us, sell quite a few of those recordings that keep people home from the theaters. They are good, and well spotted. Top that group with the Nicholas Brothers, wizards of eccentric dancing, who could work all night for our money and we would still be asking for more Exhibitor’s Booking Suggestion: A money picture. That about says it all. Preview April 23rd. WHAT THE OTHER FELLOWS SAID: REPORTER: "Continuing the film cavalcades of American hit tunes, so successfully inaugurated with 'Alexander’s Rag Time Band’, 20th CenturyFox now turns attention to the story of radio’s growth since the crystal sets of 1917. The result is a lively musical entertainment called 'The Great American Broadcast’ — as surefire a box office sock show as has emerged from Hollywood in recent months.” VARIETY : "One of the undertakings in which 20th Century-Fox executive guidance functions best and its top players perform most brightly is the film devoted to phases of the show world. 'The Great American Broadcast’ deserves to stand amongst the top rank in Darryl Zanuck’s lengthening list of successful, widely entertaining features based on music and the radio. It sparkles, it has draw names, captivating music, a smart collection of specialties and sound dramatic interest, splendidly presented.” + THE DIGEST IS THE FACT PAPER 4 OF THE INDUSTRY