Box office digest (May-Dec 1946)

8 BOX OFFICE DIGEST Lubitsch in Top Form from the reviewer. It’s in the bag — the money bag. “Cluny Brown” is the sort of gay and sparkling romance that inspired the phrase “the Lubitsch touch.” The master had the material here, a cast of super excellence, and he revels and chuckles in his opportunity. The locale is England, the time just before the outbreak of war. Cluny Brown, portrayed by Jennifer Jones, is a delightful tongue-in-cheek Cinderella. She is a lady plumber, assisting her uncle, Billy Bevan. When a Sunday emergency call brings Cluny to the home of Reginald Gardiner, where stopped-up plumbing is threatening the success of a cocktail party, the girl embarks on events that are bewildering to her and consistently royally entretaining to the spectators. Events start with her unconventional meeting with Charles Boyer, Czech writer in England to put distance between himself and the Nazis. And events continue to roll merrily, on to the country estate of Sir Henry Ormel, Reginald Owen, where the plumber becomes parlormaid. Poor Cluny, her problem is to remember “her place in life,” and she gets into the most embarrassing situations. Jennifer Jones shows surprising deft qualities as a comedienne and makes the role one of her best screen contributions. Boyer, too, is in top stride. Your glance at the credit list will give quick evidence of the outstanding trouping quality of the supporting cast. Peter Lawford ably earns his featured spot. Exhibitor’s Booking Suggestion : Happy number for any type audience. . . . Previewed April 26th. WHAT THE OTHER FELLOWS SAID: REPORTER: “Lubitsch is in rare form.” VARIETY: “Calculated to attract strong reaction from every class of audience.” Cluny Brown” (20TH CENTURY-FOX) The Digest’s Box Office Estimate: 170% Producer-director Ernst Lubitsch The Players: Charles Royer, Jennifer Jones, Peter Lawford, Helen Walker, Reginald Gardiner, Reginald Owen. Sir C. Aubrey Smith, Richard Haydn, Margaret Rannerman, Sara Allgood, Ernest Cossart, Florence Rates, Una O’Connor, Queenie Leonard, Hilly Bevan, Michael Dyne, Christopher Severn, Rex Evans, Ottola Nesmith, Harold De Recker, Jean Prescott, Clive Morgan. Charles Coleman, George Kirby, Whitner Rissell, Philip Morris, Rettv Fairfax, Norman Ainsley. Photography Joseph La Slielle Time 101 minutes With Charles Boyer and Jennifer Jones for the marcjuee brilliants, a Book-of-theMonth Club choice for pre-selling build-up, and Ernst Lubitsch at his happiest for the entertainment delivered on the screen, “Cluny Brown” needs no prophetic words Bedlam” (RKO-RADIO) The Digest’s Box Office Estimate: 90% Executive producer Jack J. Gross Producer Val Lewton Director Mark Robson The Players: Roris Karloff, Anna Lee, Hilly House, Richard Fraser, Glenn Vernon, Ian Wolfe, Jason Robards, Leland Hodgson, Joan Newton, Elizabeth Russell. Photography . Nicolas Musuraca Time 80 minutes Screwy medicos running off-color asylums for the insane, sinister minded psychiatrists, and body-stealing scientists having had enough of film footage for horror fans, RKO’s specialist in shivvers, Val Lewton decided to go far afield, and far back, for his latest. “Bedlam” takes its inspiration from the 1 8th Century madhouse in London, well Goes known in literature and immortalized in a Hogarth drawing. Obviously, there couldn't be any better, or maybe it is worse, place to find horror. And in the hands of an expert like Lewton the horrors of “Bedlam” reach the screen with all the chiller quality that any queer fan for the species of entertainment could desire. With Mark Robson, something of a specialist too, directing, Boris Karloff starred, and such a title and theme, certainly any fan or exhibitor will find no cause for complaint that his money has been obtained under false pretenses. Producer, director and writers have gone about as far as the law of good taste allows in picturing the brutalities of the 1 8th Century madhouse. They suggest even more, for the ultra sadists. The theme is clothed in a straight line story structure that places Karloff as the All Out For Horror keeper of the asylum, Anna Lee as a pretty actress battling against its legalized horrors, Billy House, a leering nobleman menace and paramour of Miss Lee, Richard Fraser as a Quaker fighting the evil in his own way. From these characters evolves a plot which finds Miss Lee herself a framed inmate of the asylum, and works to a court trial of Karloff where he is represented by an equally mad lawyer, Ian Wolfe. The story has been intelligently scripted, directed for full horrific impact by Robson, and exceptionally well played in every role. Robson shows plenty, relies on suggestion for much more. Exhibitor’ s Booking Suggestion : Made for its own audiences. . . . Previewed April 18th. WHAT THE OTHER FELLOWS SAID: REPORTER: “Shocker.” VARIETY: “Suspenseful exploitation pic ture, may expect heavy grosses.” "Just Before the Dawn” Standard Crime Doctor Item (COLUMBIA) The Digest’s Box Office Estimate: 80% Producer Rudolph C. Flothow Director William Castle The Players: Warner Baxter, Adelle Roberts, Martin Kosleck, Mona Barrie, Marvin Miller, Charles D. Brown, Craig Reynolds, Robert H. Barrat, Wilton Graff, Charles Lane, Charles Amt, Ted Heclit, Peggy Converse, Irene Tedrow, Thomas Jackson. Photography Henry Freulich Time 65 minutes The Crime Doctor series is becoming pretty much of a standard item in the film market with little call for individual reviews on succeeding episodes beyond recording of the new title and the usual phrases. To warrant more attention the producers will have to turn out either an exceptionally good one or a very bad one. “Just Before the Dawn” is neither. It is, instead, a workmanlike job of program picture-making delivering the sort of goods expected by the customer. Producer Flothow has managed to give it above average dressing for the grade, and director Castle moves his plot and people smoothly through the 6 / minutes. The nature of the Crime Doctor theme necessitates a certain amount of overtalkiness in spots but it is the distinctive angle of the popular radio character and will probably be accepted by the fans. Dr. Warner Baxter is this time involved with a crook ring headed by an unscrupulous medico who specializes in plastic face-chang ing operations for criminals. There are three murder victims before the proceedings are wound up, and among other tense scenes some very eff ective moments in the mortuary which is an important prop for the crooks. Baxter continues to register with suave efficiency in the title role, support is above program average, with stand-out moments going to Mona Barrie and Martin Kosleck. Adele Roberts and Craig Reynolds are others seen to advantage. Exhibitor’s Booking Suggestion : Staple item. . . . Previewed April 30th. WHAT THE OTHER FELLOWS SAID: REPORTER: “Will fill the second half of the bill.” VARIETY: “Acceptable supporting fare.”