Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1947)

SHORTS REVIEWS Opinions on the Current Short Suh'iects Out American Heritage REO Radio 1 1 Mins. (American Heritage Foundation) Interesting. Produced in connection with the Freedom Train exhibit, which will tour the leading cities, this is a powerful documentary. The picture opens with a view of a marching band with colors flying, after which the voice of an average American citizen justifies this so-called "flagwaving." As a calamity howler's voice predicts that our civilization is riding for a fall, the camera shifts to ruins of ancient cities that fell because they held that human rights should be exclusively for the privileged few. But the free Americans, who started from scratch to build the kind of nation they wanted, are building a house of freedom for all humanity, the short points out. Album of Animals 20th-Fox 8 Mins. (Lew Lehr's Dribble-Puss Parade) Amusing. There are many chuckles as Lew Lehr describes the various animals in the zoo to his chimpanzee friend. Most of the familiar Lehrisms are included, complete with dialect and crazy animal costumes. The kids and adults will enjoy this short. Holiday in South Africa 20th-Fox (Movietone Adventure) 8 Mins. Good. A pleasing travelog about Durban, third largest city of South Africa. Durban is an important seaport of 350,000 and also a favorite resort area. The scenic beauties of the city, its gleaming white beaches and parks show up vividly in Technicolor. George Carson Putnam is the narrator. Home of the Danes 20th-Fox (Movietone Adventures) 8 Mins. Good. Interesting Technicolor shots of Denmark, narrated by Ed Thorgersen. Highlights of the picture include the chalk cliffs at Mon, on the seacoast, and the town of Ribe, ancient capital of the country and known today as the birthplace of Jacob A. Riis, the noted Danish-Americon journalist and social reformer. Mighty Mouse in a Date for Dinner 20th-Fox (Terrytoon) 7 Mins. Fair. Mighty Mouse comes to the rescue of a rodent friend bothered by a hungry cat. Instead of having dinner the cat wages a losing fight with Mighty Mouse. One Note Tony 20th-Fox (Terrytoon) 7 Mins. Good. Amusing Technicolor cartoon about animal musicians. Tony, the monkey drummer, is always missing his cue and confusing the jungle symphony orchestra. One night an elephant monkeys with Tony's score and out comes jive. The audience then goes into a jitterbug session. The Talking Magpies in Flying South 20th-Fox (Terrytoon) 7 Mins. Fair. Heckle and Jeckle decide to hole up for the winter at grandmother's house instead of migrating south. Grandmother doesn't live there any more, but the wolf does. He tries to convert Heckle and Jeckle into magpie stew, but the talkative birds' outsmart him. However, they lose their feathers in the process, and have to fly south to keep warm. The short is in Technicolor. The 3 Rs Go Modern 20th-Fox (Movietone Adventures) 9 Mins. Interesting. Here we see a 1947 class from Tallahassee high school go through the education mill. In addition to readin', 'rilin' and 'rithmetic, the students study zoology, ornithology and ichthyology (all about animals, birds and fish) in the Florida everglades. Ed Thorgersen handles the narration. Fight of the Wild Stallions Univ-Int'l (Special Featurette) 20 Mins. ■Very good. An exciting and splendidly photographed outdoor short which compares favorably with many a full-length feature western. No actors are used and the only humans are members of Frank Robbins' band of wild horse wranglers. Against backgrounds of rare scenic beauty, the ^ wild horses fight starvation and capture by man. A palomino and a black stallion fight for leadership of the herd, the wranglers round up the horses by modern flying methods and, finally, the broncos are broken and branded. Hoop Skirt Bustle and Skin Univ-Int'l (Answer Man Series) 8 Mins. Good. One of the best of this informative series, one that will prove especially interesting to the ladies. To the question “What would girls of today look like in Grandma's clothes?'' the Answer Mon traces pictorially the evolution of women's attire from hoop skirts and bustles to the present revealing Movietone, No. 8: United Nations dance festival marks opening of general assembly; Secretary Marshall asks U.N. action on Greece; floods add to India's chaos; 300,000 Catholics hail pope; Venice revives old splendor; Louise Brough and Jack Kramer win U.S. tennis titles; bathing fashions. News of the Day, No. 204: British force exodus refugees into Germany; Pope Pius calls for action against foes of Christianity; international dance festival highlights U.N. celebration; an orange juice bath; where there's a will; national tennis championship. Paramount News, No. 7: Kramer beats Parker for national title; Pope Pius warns "time of test is here''; first pictures exodus refugees in Germany; U.N. faces greatest challenge. Universal News, No. 74: Secretary Marshall calls for U.N. action on Greece; India's homeless millions; French protest lower bread rations; U.S. wheat received by Italians; Pope prays for world peace; colorful folk dances performed in .New York; French roller derby; Kayaks race in swirling rapids in Austria. Warner Pathe News, No. 9: Irish battle roughly for title; prices rise as drought increases; exodus Jews landed in Hamburg; Churchill feeds' lion in zoo; Kramer and Brough win U.S. singles. • Movietone News. No. 7: U.N. veto question brought to head by Secretary Marshall; U.N. general assembly hears Secretary Marshall; Forrestal sworn in as secretary of national defense; terrific hurricane sweeps Florida with wild fury; John Cobb races his cor 394 miles per hour for new record; here comes the Freedom Train. News of the Day, No. 205: Marshall demands curb on U.N. veto; first films of the hurricane; gales flash across Florida coast; Crosby sings modes. The males will enjoy a query on whether a hockey player or a greyhound can go faster or how much earth was moved to build Boulder Dam. Tony Pastor and His Orchestra Univ-Int'l (Name Band Musical) 15 Mins. Good. The popular band leader features several novelty numbers in this tuneful short. The picture opens with “Hawaiian War Chant,'' played by Pastor and; the Clooney Sisters. Mildred Law dances to “Spell of the Moon" and the Nilsson Twins" sing "My Sister's a Little Bit Crazy." “Movie Tonight," which is laid in a theatre, has the popcorn and peanut accompaniment every moviegoer is familiar with and “Paradiddle Joe" is another novel tune. Power Behind the Nation Warner Bros. (Two-Reel Special) 20 Mins. Very good. The MPA is sponsoring this short produced and distributed by Warners. Rental proceeds will go to the Damon Runyon Cancer Fund. The film is dedicated to the pioneers and pioneering spirit that made America what it is today. It highlights the vast industrial and agricultural accomplishments of this nation. It plays up the point that the American people are the forces behind these wonders of industry and farm. The mines, fields, factories, cities and villages shown in the film are beautifully photographed in Technicolor. Berlin tune to launch Freedom Train; Forrestal takes oath as new defense chief; Olympic diving champions. Paramount News, No. 8: Canada rushes pulp to ease world shortage; Forrestal takes over as secretary of defense; veto issue dominates U.N. opening; here comes the Freedom Train. Universal News, No. 75: Worst hurricane in 17 years rips Florida; General Marshall scores Reds for failure to help settle peace problems; Freedom Train starts country-wide tour; Cobb tops 400 miles per hour in speed run on Utah salt flats; pro-football thriller at Philadelphia. Warner Pathe News, No. 10: U.N. assembly meets in New York; hurricane rips through Florida; Los Alamos dtom plant; Cobb speeds to a new record; Pendleton holds roundup. Telenews Digest, No. 21: Europe pushes coal output as disaster nears: Germany, the Ruhr — U.S. zone — French zone — in France; France — three years of freedom hailed; Belgium — mystery fires; Mexico — miracle dog becomes Latin Rin-Tin-Tin; Brooklyn — Wild camels balk at Flatbush landing. • ' All American News, Vol. 5, No. 257: Big welcome-home party, trophy and parade greets George A. Baker, only Negro Boy Scout on Boy Scout's French jamboree; Ted Rhodes of Nashville grabs first prize in golf tournament at Kankakee, 111.; Oklahoma's Negro county fair finds mothers, fathers and sons competing for top honors; ladies' skirts — Ah, that's the problem. How do you like 'em; as the Black Yarikees and Cincinrrati Clowns look on, John Stanley, baseball's iron man, is rewarded for years of pitching ability; fast ends in North Africa. In the Newsreels 14 BOXOFnCE BookinGuide :: Sept. 27, 1947