National Box Office Digest (Jan-Dec 1945)

THE BOX OFFICE DIGEST 1019 South Hauser : : : Los Angeles 35, California RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED Cecil B. deMille 2010 deMille Dr. Bollywood, Cal. Sec. 562, P. L. & R. U. S. POSTAGE PAID Los Angeles, California Permit No. 11678 “The Fighting Lady” . . ocnaiaiiuiiai navy Facts (20th CENTURY-FOX) The Digest's Box Office Estimate: 100% Producer Louis DeRochemont From authentic battle scenes photographed by combat forces of the United States Navy. Photography supervision Commander Edward J. Steiehen, Lt. Comdr. R. L. Middleton, Lt. Comdr. Dwight Long, and Phillippe De Lacy. Narrator Lieut. Robert Taylor, U.S.N.R. Edited by . Robert Fritcli Time 61 minutes The Linked States Navy made this one — or, rather, your sons, cousins, husbands and those of your neighbors. Twentieth CenturyFox releases it, and Twentieth’s Louis De Rochemont, master of the documentary film, has shaped it up for theater audiences. Putting the Navy and those other factors together you can well imagine that we have something of a picture. We have. There is a temptation to say that it is the best war action picture made, but memory reminds that all the way from Africa to the Philippines, there has been a succession of “best” films depicting the gallant fighting of American boys. The pages of the calendar turn, and circumstances change. But you can put “The Fighting Lady” in your books as a biggie — it will get talk, and more talk, and money. With all the miles of newspaper coverage, and acres of pictorial space given to descriptions of the bare facts of war action, there has not been until “The Fighting Lady,” a medium that brought the lay home front person so closely, intimately, in touch with what our boys are doing. The “fighting lady” of the title is an aircraft carrier. With every scene an authentic one, we live with this bristling lady, through some of the most thrilling moments these eyes have seen, we go on with the lady’s brood to the climax of the awesome battle of the Philippines when eager-faced Ameri can youngsters blasted the heart and muscle out of the Japanese air and surface forces. It is difficult to tell you what a powerful punch the picture packs. We must retire on the single, but all-embracing word, this is “Real.”' The picture is in Technicolor, considerable asset to the eye-values and the selling. Louis DeRochemont has done a great job of welding together, and enhancing in audience appeal, a great array of film shot by Uncle Sam’s men on the spot. And none other than Robert Taylor, Lieut., U.S.N., does the narration. Exhibitor’s Booking Suggestion : Current headlines make it red hot. . . . Previewed Dec. 19. WHAT THE OTHER FELLOWS SAID: REPORTER: “One of the greatest, if not the greatest, authentic warfare pictures to come out of this war.” VARIETY : “No other film showing American fighting forces in action lias caught such terrific combat impact.” . Standard Dr. Gillespie “Between Two (MGM) The Digest’s Box Office Estimate: 100% Producer Carey Wilson Director Willis Coldbeck The Players: Van Johnson, Lionel Barrymore, Gloria De Haven, Keenan Wynn, Marilyn Maxwell, Alma Kruger, Marie Blake, Keye Luke, Nell Craig, Edna Holland, Lorraine Miller, Walter Kingsford, Tom Trout, Shirley Patterson. Photography Harold Rosson Time 82 minutes Van Johnson’s surge to hot popularity will give added interest and money value to this new chapter in the hospital experiences of Leo the Lion. Otherwise it is standard in Women” the Dr. Gillespie series — which means that it is well-conceived, well-made, and very safe entertainment in its budget grouping. That grouping may not be “super,” but it is considerably above what many companies offer as “program.” Johnson, as Dr. “Red” Adams, is faced with the problem of straightening out a girl who seems ill physically and mentally. Plot structure built on this premise works up to a dramatic operation scene, and along the path we have enjoyed chuckles with Lionel Barrymore, our familiar Dr. Gillespie, the standard characters of the series, including an able contribution by Keye Luke, and the very welcome presence of two cute gals, Gloria De Haven nad Marilyn Maxwell. Nor should Keenan Wynne’s assist as a night club m.c. be overlooked. The performance by Van Johnson will probably add the Johnson fans to the solid nucleus of Dr. Gillespie fans. Direction by Willis Goldbeck is smoothly paced throughout, and he takes full advantage of his highlight dramatic moments. Exhibitor’ s Booking Suggestion : Good number in the series, with possibilities of extra money. . . Previewed Dec. 19. WHAT THE OTHER FELLOWS SAID: REPORTER: “If no one ever heard of Blair or Doctor Gillespie before this picture would stand out as one of the finest examples of entertainment Hollywood has produced.” VARIETY: “Ably furthers the career of Van Johnson and Metro’s medico series.” “Lake Placid Serenade” . . Could Be Better (REPUBLIC) The Digest’s Box Office Estimate: 90% Associate producer .Herry Grey Director Steve Sekely The Players: Vera Hruba Ralston, Eugene Pallette, Vera Vague, Robert Livingston, Stephanie Bachelor, Walter Catlett, Lloyd Corrigan, Ruth Terry, William Frawley, John Litel, Ludwig Stossel, Andrew Tombes, and Ray Noble and Orchestra, Harry Owens and his Royal Hawaiians, McGowan and Mack, Twinkle Watts, The Merry Meisters, Roy Rogers, Felix Sadovsky and Janina Frostova. Photography John Alton Time 85 minutes The reviewer who would say that “Lake Placid Serenade” is rather placid, should probably be shot at sunrise but the temptation is strong. And still it would not be entirely fair to make such a remark. Republic has put oodles of money into the picture, the star, Vera Rhuba Ralston, is a real figure in the skating world and very effective when seen in her specialties, and there is money for theaters in these ice-carnival pictures. The trouble seems to be that they can’t find stories for them. It isn’t evident that Republic tried very hard on this one, the plot being a frayed thread that just meanders along sufficiently long to give Miss Ralston her specialty moments, provide work for an assorted group of hard-working comics, and ending up not much advanced from the point of departure. Roy Rogers has been tossed in for a guest appearance that will help the box office and the ice-skating theme has its values. Direction couldn’t overcome the script. Exhibitor’s Booking Suggestion : One of those good things gone wrong. . . Previewed Dec. 19. WHAT THE OTHER FELLOWS SAID: REPORTER: “The picture merited a better script and better direction than it received.” VARIETY : “The results are strictly from the ‘rack’ and can only offer mild entertainment at best.”