Box office digest (May-Dec 1946)

BOX OFFICE DIGEST 5 The Sex Offices A1 Jolson Magic Hits Box Office for Sky-High Figures COLUMBIA — 2 Releases Columbia Studios have one of the biggest box office hits ever turned out by that organization with “The Jolson Story,” which is running double normal business and is currently averaging 204 per cent. This outstanding Technicolor musical romance introduces a new star, Larry Parks, who portrays the role of the famous A1 Jolson. Evelyn Keyes is co-starred with Mr. Parks with the featured cast headed by William Demarest, Scotty Beckett, Bill Goodwin, and Ludwig Donath. Sidney Skolsky, the famous Hollywood columnist, produced “The Jolson Story” as his first effort and A1 Green turned in his best directorial job of his long career. Exhibitors should book this one as soon as possible and arrange for plenty of extended playing time. Columbia’s second release, “Shadowed,” 81 per cent, is a fairly entertaining program murder melodrama. Lloyd Corrigan and Anita Louise are co-starred and Wilton Graff and Michael Duane are in the supporting cast. John Sturges directed for Producer John Haggott. MGM — Also 2 Releases MGM has two new releases, one a big box office hit while the second is just a fair programmer. “No Leave, No Love,” 184 per cent, is another big Van Johnson picture. This musical comedy co-stars the popular English actress, Pat Kirkwood with Van Johnson and Keenan Wynn. The featured cast includes Marie Wilson, Leon Ames, Edward Arnold, Selena Royle, and Xavier Cugat and Guy Lombardo with their orchestras. Charles Martin directed and also collaborated on the screenplay for Producer Joe Pasternak. MGM’s second release, “The Cockeyed Miracle,” is just doing so-so at a 97 per cent average. This comedy-drama co-stars Frank Morgan and Keenan Wynn with Cecil Kellaway, Gladys Cooper, Audrey Totter, Leon Ames, and Marshall Thompson in the supporting cast. Sylvan Simon directed and Irving Starr produced. GOING UP W as Note Gallant Bess MGM....131....144 Gallant Journey COL... .124 . .127 If I’m Lucky FOX . .123 126 Home Sweet Homicide FOX... .118.. ..122 The Runaround UNIV.... 92.... 96 Faithful in My Fashion MGM. .. 84.... 88 By NORMAN WEBB Of 12 New Releases in the Past Two Weeks, 1 Ran Over 200%, 5 Ran Over 100%, 5 Came Through O.K., and I Was on the Weak Side. 12 NEW RELEASES NOT IN LAST ISSUE W'e % Est. The Jolson Story COL... 204 .200 No Leave, No Love .MGM.... 184. ...190 3 Little Girls in Blue FOX . 161. ...165 Nobody Lives Forever WAR 154 150 Sister Kenny RKO ... 123 .145 Bachelor’s Daughters U.A 113 115 Cockeyed Miracle MGM.... 97 ... 90 Her Sister’s Secret PRC.... 93. .. 90 Step by Step RKO.... 84.... 85 Decoy MONO 82 80 Shadowed COL ... 81.... 80 Secrets of a Sorority Girl PRC.... 74.... 75 FOX — 1 Release Darryl F. Zanuck’s 20th Century-Fox Studios have a sparkling new Technicolor romance, “Three Little Girls In Blue,” which is doing very well at a 161 per cent average. The “three little girls in blue” are June Haver, Vivian Blaine, and Vera-Ellen, and George Montgomery has the male lead. The featured cast includes Celest Holme, Charles Smith, Frank Latimore, and Charles Halton. Mack Gordon, who has created the musical scores for many of the big Fox hits, produced “Three Little Girls In Blue” as his first producing venture. Lucky Humberstone, as usual turned in an excellent directorial job. PRC — 2 Releases PRC has one of their biggest box office successes in a long time with “Her Sister’s Secret,” 93 per cent, and will probably build on future bookings as the word-of-mouth on this one has been very good. Nancy Coleman, Margaret Lindsay, and Philip Reed are costarred. The featured cast includes Regis Toomey, Fritz Feld, Henry Stephenson, and Felix Bressart. Edgar Ulmer directed for Producer Henry Brash. “Secrets of A Sorority Girl,” 74 per cent, a fairly entertaining programmer is PRC’s second release. MONOGRAM — 1 Release Monogram’s only new release this week is “Decoy,” 82 per cent. This heavy melodrama co-stars Edwards Norris and Jean Gillie. Sheldon Leonard and Robert Armstrong are in the featured cast. Bernard Brandt directed and also co-produced with Jack Bernhard. RKO — 2 Releases RKO’s top picture this week is the famous polio story, “Sister Kenny,” which has opened in several key cities and is doing very spotty business. The picture so far is only averaging 123 per cent, which is much lower than we had estimated. The production is a very outstanding one and is already being mentioned as a possible Academy Award winner, yet in spite of a terrific publicity and exploitation campaign, the picture doesn’t seem to be selling so many tickets. Roz Russell is starred in the title role as the nurse who made so many sacrifices. Seen opposite Miss Russell is Alexander Knox and Dean Jagger. Philip Merivale is in the featured cast. Dudley Nichols, who has previously won Academy Awards and made many big box office hits, produced and directed “Sister Kenny,” and also collaborated on the screenplay. RKO’s second release, “Step By Step,” 84 per cent, is a fair espionage melodrama that is o.k. for double billing. Anne Jeffreys and Lawrence Tierney are co-starred and Lowell Gillmore, Myrna Dell, and Jason Robards are featured. Phil Rosen directed and Sid Rogell produced. WARNERS — Also 1 Release Warner Bros, have a fine action gangster picture with “Nobody Lives Forever,” 154 per cent. John Garfield, fresh from his big triumph in “The Postman Always Rings Twice,” is co-starred with Geraldine Fitzgerald, who also recently scored very strongly opposite Alan Ladd in O.S.S. The big featured cast includes Walter Brennan, Faye Emerson, George Tobias, and George Coulouris. Jean Negulesco directed for Producer Robert Buckner. UNITED ARTISTS — 1 Release United Artists Exchanges have a new feature release from the Andy Stone unit, “The Bachelor’s Daughters,” which is just doing fair at a 1 13 per cent average. This comedydrama stars Adolphe Menjou as the bachelor and Gail Russell, Ann Dvorak, and Claire Trevor as his daughters. Billie Burke, Jane Wyatt, and Russell Hicks are in the supporting cast. Andrew L. Stone produced and directed as well as writing the screenplay. GOING DOWN IF'a.s Now Make Mine Music RKO 165 ...158 Angel On My Shoulder U.A 148 141 Time of Their Lives UNIV. ...148.. ..136 Three Wise Fools MGM....143....133 Young Widow U.A 130.. ..126 Scandal in Paris U. A.. . 1 17. .112