Box office digest (May-Dec 1946)

I 2 BOX OFFICE DIGEST The Sex O0ice + + ( Continued from Page 4) Albertson, and Byron Barr are in the featured cast. Bill Thomas personally directed this picture. REPUBLIC — 2 Releases Republic exchanges have a new super Western and a fair program melodrama. “In Old Sacramento,” 107 per cent, is a historical Western of early California, that has been produced on a big scale, and is hound to get Republic many new first runs. Constance Moore and William Elliot (formerly “Wild Bill Elliot”) head the cast. There is a strong featured cast headed by Eugene Pallette, Jack LaRue, Hank Daniels, Ruth Donnely, Lionel Stander, and Grant Withers. Joseph Kane produced and directed under Allan Wilson supervision. “Strange Impersonation,” 82 per cent, is a fairly entertaining programmer co-starring Brenda Marshall and William Gargan with Hillary Brooke, Ruth Ford, Lyle Talbott and H. B. Warner featured. Anthony Mann directed for producer William Wilder. PRC — 3 Releases PRC exchanges have three new entries, one a big special and two fairly good programmers. “The Wife of Monte Cristo,” 104 per cent, is proving to be PRC’s biggest box office attraction to date, with a possible exception of “The Enchanted Forest.” This strong attraction based on Alexandre Dumas’ novel of the same name has been produced on a big scale, particularly for PRC. Lenore Aubert and John Loder are costarred in this modern idea of the French classic with Martin Kosleck, Charles Dingle, Fritz Feld, and Edward Cianelli in the supporting cast. Edgar Ulmer directed and Jack Grant is associate producer to Leon Fromkess. “Strangler of the Swamp,” 83 per cent, is just about what the title implies. In houses where the horror type of picture is popular, this one will get by OK, but should be better billed with a lighter subject. Rosemary LaPlanche and Robert Barrett are costarred, and Charles Middleton, and Blake Edwards are featured. Frank Wisbar directed for producer Raoul Page!. “The Devil Bat’s Daughter,” 78 per cent, is another murder melodrama also starring Rosemary LaPlanche. John James has the male lead and Molly Lamont and Monica Mars are featured. Frank Wisbar produced and directed. FOX— 1 Release 20th Century-Fox only new release, “A Yank in London, ’ 102 per cent, was originally sold under the title “I Live in Grosvenor Square.” Phis English made picture stars Rex Harrison, who is now in Hollywood co-starring with Irene Dunne in “Anna and the King of Siam.” Anne Neagle, who is well known to American fans has the feminine lead with Dean Jaggar and Robert Morlev the featured cast. Herbert Wilcox produced and directed. UNIVERSAL— 1 Release Universal's only new release is also an English importation — “The Man in Grey,” 91 per cent. England’s number one matinee idol, James Mason, is starred along with Margaret Lockwood, Phillis Calvert and Stewart Granger. Leslie Arliss directed for producer Edward Black of the Maurice Ostrer productions. BROIDY Monogram's Prexy Reports on Foreign Trip; Discloses Company at All-Time Domestic Peak Steve Broidy, president of Monogram Pictures, met the trade press this week as part of his continuing campaign of “letting the trade know through its press what Monogram is doing and is planning,” but in particular to report on his recent two month survey of the foreign market. . . . As it turned out, the top news for the visiting reporters was the ledger statement that figures covering the 42 weeks starting last July show Monogram running almost IB per cent ahead of the corresponding period last year. Broidy told of the moves to expand Monogram distribution to every possible corner of the globe, and the company’s plans to he ready for any competition in those spots by selective quality of the subjects offered rather than volume of footage. This is part of the local production plan which will see Monogram again making 32 features next year but with four of that number definitely in the million dollar budget class. . . . This will prohahlv mean two Roy Del Ruth subjects and two from the King Brothers. Mr. Broidy impressed his trade press hearers with his candid discussion of Monogram’s coming problems in the foreign market as analyzed after his personal trip, and the manner in which plans for that field will mesh with continued improvement of the fine domestic position. . . . Some of his angles on the foreign market will form the basis of discussion in the next issue of BOX OFFICE DIGEST . I l » The Red Cross Works AH the Time