Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1934)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Saturday, October 13, 1934 Gaynor Film, Vallee Huge Hit on Loop Chicago, Oct. 12.— The Chicago put together a winning bill last week and grabbed a surprising $62,000. It was one of those grosses that remind exhibitors of "the good old days," being $27,400 over current average. "Servants' Entrance" was on the screen and Rudy Vallee and his band on the stage. Despite the dwindling World's Fair patronage grosses are holding up. "Belle of the Nineties." at the Apollo, took $10,000 in its third Loop week; "Dames," in its fourth Loop week, grabbed $4,000 at the Garrick, and "Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back," also in its fourth Loop week, garnered $13,000. Total first run business was $158,000. Average is $121,600. Estimated takings: Week Ending Oct. 1: "CHAINED" (M-G-M) ROOSEVELT — (1,591), 25c-35c-S0c, 7 days. Gross: $17,000. (Average, $11,000) Week Ending Oct. 4: "SERVANTS* ENTRANCE" (Fox) CHICAGO— (4,000), 25c-35c-68c, 7 days. Rudy Vallee & Connecticut Yankees and Alice Faye on stage. Gross: $62,000. (Average, $34,600) "THE AGE OF INNOCENCE" (Radio) PALACE— (2,509) , 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Stage: Paul Ash, Tom Gentry & Co., Lydia & Joresco. Gross: $22,000. (Average, $22,000) Week Ending Oct. 5: "BELLE OF THE NINETIES" (Para.) (Third Loop Week) APOLLO— (1,400), 25c-35c-50c, Gross: $10,000. Average, $12,000) "DAMES" (Warners) (Fourth Loop Week) GARRICK— (900), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $5,000) "BULLDOG DRUMMOND STRIKES BACK" (U.A) (Fourth Loop Week) ORIENTAL— (3,940), 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Arthur Tracy, Martha Raye, Lewis 6 Moore, Nord & Jeane. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $15,000) "THE LAST GENTLEMAN" (U.A.) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,700), 30c-40c-60c, 7 days. Gross: $16,000. (Average, $17,000) Week Ending Oct. 6: "ROMANCE IN THE RAIN" (Univ.) STATE-LAKE — (2,776), 20c-25c-35c, 7 days. Stage: Faith Bacon and other acts. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $15,000) 7 days. Educators to Study Wider Use of Films A special committee has been created by the National Education Ass'n, according to Ernest D. Lewis, of Evander Childs High School, president, to study the use of films in secondary education. Other purposes, according to Lewis, are to "offer constructive suggestions to the moving picture industry for improving the character of films shown to youth of high school age." Emanuel Cohen Feted Hollywood, Oct. 12. — -Emanuel Cohen was feted tonight at a dinner at the Ambassador marking his third year as head of Paramount production. More than 400 studio executives, contract players, writers, directors and cameramen attended. Mae West was the after-dinner speaker. Cecil B. DeMille left the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, where he is recuperating, long enough to attend. MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Gentlemen Are Born" (First National) Hollywood, Oct. 12. — Depicting with biting irony the front page idea of college graduates embarking on life only to find an unwelcome reception, a fine, faithful drama has been produced and spun with emotional romance. While the subject matter is one that faint hearts may turn from, so human is the picture, so aglow with sympathy that its message becomes vividly convincing. Four college boys graduate amid song. Franchot Tone will be a reporter and an editor. Football Player Nick Foran will be an athletic coach. Ross Alexander will be an architect and Robert Light a broker. Business treats them coldly and jobs are hard to find. Tragedy, heartbreak, unemployment and all the economic vicissitudes assail the quartet. Through it all the sustaining power of romance and love keeps them going. The entire production is suffused with an aura of metallic harshness blended with tender warmth. In every department, the film excels. Tone gives exciting interpretation to his role. Margaret Lindsay seems definitely headed for stardom here. Alexander should go places and Foran reveals hidden ability. Jean Muir and Ann Dvorak give understanding insights as the girls who inspire their sweethearts. Al Green's direction is penetrating and worldly, yet mooded to sock the heart. It is a fine achievement. As an indictment of economic life that inflates youth with collegiate ideas only to deflate it by unplanned conditions, this picture will have a direct appeal to all classes. It merits intelligent exploitation and given that, with word-of-mouth should result in real business and comeback patronage. Production code seal, No. 253. Running time, 76 minutes. Looking 'Em Over "Deserter" {Garrison Film Distributors) Never has a more fiery cry against capitalism come out of the Soviet studios than this Mezhrabpomfilm production. As a plea for a square deal for the laboring classes it should bring cheers from those who live by the sweat of their brows, but as entertainment pure and simple it can hardly hope to succeed. While its propaganda brands it immediately in the eyes of pleasure seekers, the film is further handicapped by harsh photography and choppy continuity, while in its eagerness to put over its message it becomes at times slightly incoherent. The film employs a dock strike in Hamburg to illustrate its theme that the salvation of the workingman lies in communism. The authorities resort to steel and guns in their attempt to break the strike. The dock workers, convinced that only to the Soviet union can they look for help, send a delegation to Russia to absorb the teachings of Lenin so that they may be taught in the ways of communism. The cast names mean nothing to an American audience, though the name of V. Pudovkin, who directed, may. English titles make it easy to follow the course of the story. Running time, 90 minutes. Back to Stage Policy Akron, O., Oct. 12. — The Palace has switched from straight films to a stage policy, opening with Mills Brothers. The change is tentative and dependent upon public response. This is the only stage policy in town at present. Its First on "LegiF Cleveland, Oct. 12. — "Green Pastures" with Richard B. Harrison as "De Lawd" comes to the Ohio, local legitimate house, for three performances on Oct. 23-24. This will be the first local legitimate show this season. Centennial Group Named Dallas, Oct. 12. — The motion picture committee for Texas' statewide centennial celebration to be held in 1936 was today appointed: John Rosenfeld, Dallas News theatre critic, chairman; P. B. (Jack) Garrett; Karl Hoblitzelle, president, Interstate Circuit ; T. E. Jackson, former president ol Texas State Fair; and Herbert Marcus. Dallas is to be the principal hostess city for the centennial, which will commemorate Texas' hundred years of freedom from Mexican rule. Several historical films based on the struggle and other romantic phases of Texas history are contemplated. "Wimpole" Is $65,860 Hit; Gets Holdover "Barretts of Wimpole Street" came pretty close to being a sellout at the Capitol last week on a take of $65,860. It was the big Broadway noise of the week and was held over. "Caravan" got off to a slow start at the Music Hall, but built up to $75,000 on the week. "The Count of Monte Cristo" had a good week at the Rivoli with $36,000, and "Belle of the Nineties" held up to $36,000 in its second week at the Paramount. "Chu Chin Chow" was good for $25,500 in its second week at the Roxy. "British Agent" took $23,109 in its second stanza at the Strand. Estimated takings : Week Ending Oct. 2: "COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO" (U. A.) RIVOLI— (2,300), 40c-99c, 7 days. Gross: $36,000. Week Ending Oct. 3: "SERVANTS' ENTRANCE" (Fox) MAFYAIR-(2,300), 35c-65c, 2nd week, 2 days. Gross: $2,000. "CARAVAN" (Fox) RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL — (5,945), 35c-$1.65, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $75,000. Week Ending Oct. 4: "BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET" (M-G-M) CAPITOL— (4,700), 35c-$1.65, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $65,860. "SHE LOVES ME NOT' (Para.) PALACE— (2,500), 25c-7Sc, 7 days. Vaudeville. Gross: $14,000. "BELLE OF THE NINETIES" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3,700), 35c-99c, 2nd week, 7 days. Gross: $36,000. "CHU CHIN CHOW" (Gaumont British) ROXY— (6,200), 25c-55c, 2nd week, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $25,500. "BRITISH AGENT" (F. N.) STRAND— (2,000). 25c-55c, 2nd week, 7 days. Gross: $23,109. Week Ending Oct. 9: "OUR DAILY BREAD" (U. A) RIALTO — (2,300). 25c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $18,000. Lloyd in Personal Checkup in South Charlotte, N. C, Oct. 12. — Because "The Cat's Paw" is not living up to his expectations in the south, Harold Lloyd is preparing for a visit here and to other key cities of the south. Leslie F. Whelan, Lloyd's personal representative who spent a day here conferring at the Fox exchange, said the comedian cannot understand it, so he has decided to make a personal trip through the south and find out for himself just why his latest film has not appealed. When he comes south, Lloyd will make no appearances at theatres but will confer with newspaper men, theatre and exchange managers. Double Wedding Nears Omaha, Oct. 12. — A double wedding of interest to the local industry will take place here Oct. 16. Louis Wintroub, son of Max Wintroub, owner of the Majestic exchange, will marry Eve Katzman, formerly secretary to the Universal branch manager here, while the groom's twin sister, Gerry, will be married to Adolph S. Wilhelm of New York. This will mark the first serious separation of the Wintroub twins since cradle days.