Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

12 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, February 16, 193' "Nana" Piles Up $103,000 At Music Hall Looking 'Em Over Anna Sten in "Nana" went over with a bang in its first week at the Music Hall. The take reached $103,000, not a record, but high enough to keep lines running half way to 5th Ave. most of the week. Even during the record cold on opening day the lines were five deep. The cold wave hit business in most Broadway houses. The Capitol, with "You Can't Buy Everything" on the screen and May Robson on the stage, was down to $15,500. "All of Me" at the Paramount with Milton Berle in the stage show and Rubinoff in the pit was pretty good at $34,000, and the Roxy had $24,000 with "I've Got Your Number." "Hi, Nellie" got off to a fine start with $23,686 at the Strand. Estimated takings : Week Ending Feb. 6: "GALLANT LADY" (U. A.) RIVOLI— (2,200), 35c-99c, 3rd week, A days. Gross: $8,300. Week Ending Feb. 7: "THE GHOUL" (Gaumont British) "ROSS-PETROLLE FIGHT" (Garden Films) RIALTO-(2,200), 25c-65c, 2nd week, J days. Gross: $8,000. "NANA" (U. A.) RKO MUSIC HALL— (5,945), 35c-$1.65, 7 days. Music Hall Revue. Gross: $103,000. Week Ending Feb. 8: "YOU CAN'T BUY EVERYTHING" (M-G-M) CAPITOL — (4,700) , 35c-$1.65, 7 days. Stage: May Robson and others. Gross: $15,500. "FASHIONS OF 1934" (Warners) HOLLYWOOD— (1,545), 25c-85c, 3rd week, 3 days. Gross: $3,800. "FRONTIER MARSHAL" (Fox) MAYFAIR— (2,300), 35c-85c, 2nd week. 2V2 days. Gross: $2,600. "I AM SUZANNE!" (Fox) PALACE— (2,500), 25c-75c, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $10,400. "ALL OF ME" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3,700), 35c-99c, 7 days Stage: Milton Berle, Dave Rubinoff, and others. Gross: $34,000. "I'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER" (Warners) ROXY— (6,200), 25c-65c, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $24,000. "HI, NELLIE" (Warners) STRAND— (2,000), 25c-$1.10, 7 days Gross: $23,686. Week Ending Feb. 9: "MAN OF TWO WORLDS" (Radio) ■ — 4 days "CROSS COUNTRY CRUISE" (Univ.) — 3 days RKO CENTER— (3,700), 25c-55c, 7 days Gross: $11,000. Week Ending Feb. 12: "QUEEN CHRISTINA" (M-G-M) ASTOR— (1,012), 55c-$2.20, 7th week days. Gross: $10,000. (tr The Big Race ( Showmen's Pictures ) The Big Race" is an average story of the racetrack soaked with the atmosphere of the paddocks. The film reaches its big climax in a race that has been filmed with considerable excitement. John Darrow is turned out by his father in the belief he has been responsible for doping a horse in the parent's stable in order that he might win a bet placed on a rival entry in a race. Even his fiancee (Boots Mallory) would have nothing more to do with him. Set on proving his innocence, the young man acquires a horse of his own and grooms him for entry in the big race of the year. He is driven frantic trying to raise money for the entry fee. Without his knowledge the dough is put up by his girl after she realizes she has been mistaken about him. As per expectation, Darrow's horse is the winner. Only in this case victory is carried off when another horse, coming in first by fouling Darrow's entry, is disqualified. As per expectation also, the two lovers are in each other's arms at the end, with dad beaming his approval. It must be explained that the doping was done by an employe of Darrow's father. Frankie Darro, Phillips Smalley and Katherine Williams are other players. The director is Fred Newmeyer. "Bolero," today's opener at the Paramount, was reviewed by wire from Hollywood on Feb. 8. "Long Lost Father," today's opener at the Roxy, was reviewed from Holly wood Jan. 11. "The Cat and the Fiddle," today's opener at the Capitol, ivas reviewed yesterday. MOTION PICTURE DAILYS HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW 'Gambling Lady" "Women" Montreal Lead in Icy Week Montreal, Feb. 15. — Weather that was bitterly cold, even to local inhabitants, cut into theatre patronage. It would have been a great week for television. Generally speaking. Loew's led the way with $11,500 on "The Women in his Life" and a stage show. A return engagement of "Dinner at Eight" brought $10,500 to the Capitol, while the Palace was at $8,500 for "Sons of the Desert" and "Sweetheart of Sigma Chi." The second week of "Gallant Lady" at the Princess grossed $5,,000. Total first run business was $37,000. Average is $38,500. Estimated takings for the week end ( Warners) Hollywood, Feb. 15. — Novel and interesting is the colorful leading character of "Gambling Lady." Instead of fighting the gambling syndicate as her dead father did, this gambling gal decides to string along working for them, but on her own terms. Although knowing all the devious angles of the sucker racket and how the syndicate controls the play, they agree to permit her to deal on the level. Jailed in a gambling raid which she believes was pulled by a tip from her boy friend, Joel McCrea, bailed out by Pat O'Brien, a bookie pal, she falls for McCrea after he explains his stupidity. Barbara Stanwyck's romance with McCrea, her conflict with Claire Dodd. Joel's former flame, her separation from McCrea. her loyalty to O'Brien and his bump-off and her reconciliation with McCrea reflect the dramatic structure. Doris Malloy. author of the story, is said to be the daughter of a gambler. The dialogue is bright, knowing and wise. Miss Stanwyck's cutting high card with Joel's father, Aubrev Smith, for his okay to marry Joel, and her winninar all of Miss Dodd's jewel? in a feminine game of twenty-one, are highlights of unique interest. "Gambling Lady" is a swell role for Miss Stanwyck. The love scenes with McCrea are in for feminine trade. O'Brien is good as the sacrificial lover. The production is satisfactory entertainment. ing Feb. 10: "DINNER AT EIGHT" (M-G-M) CAPITOL— (2.5471. 25c -35c -50c -60c -75c, 7 davs. Gross: $10,500. (Averaee. $9,000.) "FANNY" (French) IMPERIAL — (1,914). 25c-35c-40c-50c. 7 davs. 3rd week. Gross: $1,500. (Average. $2,000.) "THE WOMEN IN HIS LIFE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S— (3.115). 25c-35c-50c-65c-75c, 7 days. Stage: "Rv a Garden Wall Idea": Cass. Mack & Owen; Colbv & Murray; Toe. Mav & Dottv; Ferrv. the Frog Man: 12 Canadian Rockets. Gross: $11,500. (Averaee, $10,500.) "SONS OF THE DESERT" (M-G-M) "SWEETHEART OF SIGMA CHI" (Monoeram) PALACE— (2.6001. 25c-35c-50c-6Oc-75c, 7 days. Gross: £8.500. rA^eraee. $11,000.) "GALLANT LADY" (U. A1 "GIRL WITHOUT A ROOM" (Para.) PRINCESS— f 2.272). 25c-35c-50c-65c. davs. 2nd week. $6,000.) Gross: $5,000. (Average. Literary Classics On New M-G-M List Hollywood, Feb. 15. — M-G-M currently leads the field in story purchases with 10 literary works recently added. These include : Dickens' "David Copperfield." to be proproduced by David O. Selznick: Kioling's "Kim" and "Captains Courageous"; "Nancy Stair." a novel by Elinor MacCartney": "The Thin Man." a mystery by Dashiell Hammett: "Calm Yourself." by Edwin Hope; "What Every Woman Knows," stage hit by Sir James Barrie; "Ah, Wilderness." Eugene O'Neill's theatre success; "Declasse," by Zoe Akins, and "All Good Americans," by Laura and S. J. Perleman. Express" and Show $10,500 In Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Feb. 15. — There wer<; few complaints here last week, evenhouse in town with the exception of two hitting par or better. In at least a couple of cases, average grosse? were almost doubled. Topping everything by a wide margin, was the Pitt where a combination of "Orient Express" and the Rae Samuels unit, "Cocktail Hour," accounted for $10,500, with most of the credit going to the stage attraction. The Fulton, too, swung into high gear with "Carolina," getting around $7,700 and enabling the Janet Gaynor picture to hold over for a second week. The Stanley started off well with "Fashions of 1934," but slipped off near the close with the arrival of a cold wave and wound up with $9,700. "Three-cornered Moon" gave the Davis its best business in some time, holding over for an extra two days and collecting $3,200 on the extended engagement. The lone disappointment was the Penn, where "Miss Fane's Baby If Stolen" couldn't get started at all and limped along all week to a $7,000. Total grosses in six first runs were $44,000. Average is $38,500. Estimated takings for the week ending Feb. 10: "THREE-CORNERED MOON" (Para.) DAVIS— (1,700), 25c-35c, 8 days. Gross: 3,200. (Average for six days, $2,500) "CAROLINA" (Fox) FULTON— (1,750), 15c-40c, 6 days. Gross: $7,700. (Average. $4,000) "MISS FANE'S BABY IS STOLEN" (Para.) PENN— (3,300), 25c-50c, 6 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $12,000) "ORIENT EXPRESS" (Fox) PITT— (1.600), 15c-40c, 6 days. Stage: "Cocktail Hour" with Rae Samuels, Kitty Doner, Harmony Co-Eds, Olyn Landick, Billie Lee and Eleanor Whitney. Gross: $10,500. (Average, $6,000) "FASHIONS OF 1934" (Warners) STANLEY— (3,600), 25c-50c, 6 days. Gross: $9,700. (Average, $9,000) "DARK HAZARD" (Warners) WARNER— (2,000), 25c-50c, 6 days. Gross: $4,900. (Average, $5,000) "Carolina" $6,500 Draw in Oklahoma Oklahoma City, Feb. 15. — "Carolina" took top honors here last week with a gross of $6,500, over par by $2,500, at the Midwest. "The Private Life of Henry VIII," at $7,000, was $2,000 over average at the Criterion. Presence of the Oklahoma Educational Ass'n. was a big help to grosses. The "B" houses also got a break. Total first run take was $19,100. Average is $13,500. Estimated takings for the week ending Feb. 10 : „.„ "PRIVATE LIFE OF HENRY VIII" (U. A.) CRITERION— (1,700), 10c-20c-26c-36c-41c56c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $0,000) "CAROLINA" (Fox) MIDWEST— (1,5000, 10<*26c-36c-56c. days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $4,000) "CONVENTION CITY (F. N.) CAPITOL— (1,200), 10c-20c-26c-36c-41c 7 days. Gross: $3,500. (Average $2 500) "BLOOD MONEY" (U. A.) LTBERTY-(1,500), 10c-15c-26c-36c. 3 days. Gross: $1,200. (Average week, $2,000) "BEDSIDE" (F. N.) LIBERTY-(1,500), l(k-15c-26c-36c, 4 days. Gross: $900. (Average week, $2,000)