Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1936)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, June 26, I93( Looking 'Em Over "Luci Sommerse" ("Crooked Love") (Nuovo Mondo) This is to be considered definitely one of the less conspicuous of the importations of Italian product by Nuovo Mondo. Its story concerns a gentleman crook and his attempts, finally successful, to renounce his career of crime when he falls in love with a beautiful girl. The girl, Nelly Corradi, is certainly attractive, but hardly more than a competent performer. Fosco Giacchetti plays the "Spider," whose fate is sealed when he steals a necklace from the girl at a party, then returns it when she indicates its sentimental attachment. The film moves for the most part at a pace slower than anticipated in view of the nature of the story, the wooing of the girl being permitted to play too large a part in the footage. In general, the film is of the type which probably will appeal to audiences understanding the Italian language of the dialogue, but to few othe.s. There are plenty of superimposed subtitles to permit of ready understanding of the story. Reviewed without production code seal. Running time, 76 minutes. "A." "Below the Deadline" (Chesterfield) Containing a title with exploitable possibilities and a second-rate story that follows familiar patterns, this rates for a double bill. Cecilia Parker, borrowed from M-G-M and credibly naive, works for a prominent jeweler and is in love with Russell Hopton, a cop, who aspires to be a detective and carries a heavy brogue through the film. It is a redeeming feature. However, Hopton is framed by Thomas Jackson when a collection of diamonds is stolen and Hopton faces charges of murder in addition to robbery. He manages to run away, get involved in a railway accident, lose his identity, undergo a plastic surgery operation and reappear on the scene. He contacts Theodore Von Eltz, an insurance investigator, and with his assistance closes down on Jackson. The action moves jerkily, but subtly weaves excitement. The original story and screen play are by Ewart Adamson. Charle-Lamont directed. Production Code Seal, No. 2,270. Running time, 65 minutes. "G." Overseas Previews "A Star Fell from Heaven" (Associated British Pictures) London, June 18. — Thoroughly good entertainment in this British musical. It has melody, humor and pep. Joseph Schmidt, a very fine tenor, has just the sort of numbers the women love. All through, the action goes with a hop, skip and jump with large credit due to George Graves, stage veteran, as a film producer. The incidental satire of film methods is such as the public can appreciate. Lots of the action takes place in the studio of the Miracle Film Corp., whose trade mark is a snarling tiger, and slogan: "If you see a good film, it's a Miracle." A well-constructed plot, turning on the fact that a student with a beautiful tenor voice is persuaded to voicedouble for a film star who is in love with the same girl. Florine McKinney, Judy Kelly and Iris Hoey are the chief women W. H. Berry and Steve Geray back up Graves well in the comedy. Billy Milton looks good and acts good as the film star. There is enough musical appeal, and enough laughter, to compensate for the occasional ultra-English accent. Running time, 70 mins. "G." Allan. "Show Boat" Twin Cities' Best Grosser Minneapolis, June 25. — Hot weather hit all the first runs except "Show Boat," which went $500 over par for a take of $6,000 at the Orpheum here and the same amount over the line for a total of $4,500 at the St. Paul Orpheum. The only other attraction to get into the profit column was "The Princess Comes Across" at the St. Paul Paramount where the $6,000 gross was up by $500. Total first run business in Minneapolis was $26,000. Average is $25,500. Total first run business in St. Paul was $15,500. Average is $14,500. Estimated takings : Minneapolis : Week Ending June 18: "THINGS TO COME" (U. A.) WORLD— (400), 25c-35c, 7 days, 3rd week Gross: $3,000. (Average, $3,000) Week Ending June 19: "DESERT GOLD" (Para.) LYRIC— (1,238). 20c-25c, 7 days. Gross: $1,500. (Average, $1,500) Week Ending June 20: "EARLY TO BED" (Para.) MINNESOTA-f4,000), 25c-55c, 7 days. Stage: "Kiddie Revue." Gross: $10,000. (Average, $10,000) "SHOW BOAT" (Univ.) ORPHEUM— (2.900), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,500) "TROUBLE FOR TWO" (M-G-M) STATE — (2,300), 25c-40c. 7 davs. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $5,500) St. Paul: Week Ending June 20: "THE PRINCESS COMES ACROSS" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (2,300). 25c-40c, 7 days Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,500) "THE UNGUARDED HOUR" (M-G-M) RIVIERA— (1.000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $3,500) "SHOW BOAT" (Univ.) ORPHEUM-(2.000), 25c -40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average. $4,000) "TIMES SQUARE PLAYBOY" (W. B.) TOWER— (1,000). 15c-25c, 7 davs. Gross: $1,500. (Average, $1,500) "Squadron" on Dual ,700, Omaha Top Omaha, June 25.— "Devil's Squadron" and "Let's Sing Again," on a dual at the Brandeis were the moneymakers of the week. Thev pulled $4,700, over the line by §1,200, and were held over. "Private Number," dualled with "Woman Trap," garnered $7,800 at the Orpheum in eight davs. This was $300 to the good. Total first run business was $18,000. Average is $16,000. Estimated takings : 14 "Dracula," at $5,200, High In Cleveland Cleveland, June 25. — "Dracula's Daughter" took top box-office honors for the week. It was $2,200 over par at the Allen to a $5,200 finish in a week of only fair takes. "The King Steps Out," with $11,000 at Warners' Hippodrome, was $3,000 to the good, $8,000 being average. "The Princess Comes Across" made a fair getaway at Loew's State, but built steadily, finishing the week with $1,000 over the average $12,000 take. Because of its build, it moved over to the Stillman for another week. "The Case Against Mrs. Ames" with a $3,500 gross at Loew's Stillman, came within $500 of average. "Times Square Playboy" on the RKO Palace screen with Louis Armstrong and his orchestra on the stage, was within $2,000 of the average $15,000 take. Total first run business was $45,700. Average is $42,000. Estimated takings for the week ending June 19 : "DRACULA'S DAUGHTER" (Univ.) ALLEN— (3,300), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $5,200. (Average, $3,000.) • THE PRINCESS COMES ACROSS" (Para.) LOEW'S STATE— (3,400), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $12,000.) "THE CASE AGAINST MRS. AMES" (Para.) LOEW'S STILLMAN— (1,903), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $3,500. (Average. $4,000.) "TIMES SQUARE PLAYBOY" (W. B.) RKO PALACE— (3,100), 3Oc-42c-60c, 7 days. Stage: Louis Armstrong and orchestra. Gross: $13,0J). (Average, $15,000.) "THE KING STEPS OUT" (Col.) WARNERS' HIPPODROME— (3,800), 30c35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $8,000.) "Number" Houston Hit; Gets $8,750 Houston, June 25. — "Private Number" led the parade, finishing with a take of $8,750, which was $1,750 over par at the Metropolitan. "Fury," at Loew's State, opened well, but slumped at the close to chalk up a normal of $7,000. All other pictures were down, "Big Brown Eyes" at the Majestic falling off $1,500 to take $5,500, and the Kirby, playing "Country Beyond," "Ship Cafe" and "Sky Parade," slumping to $3,900, instead of the usual S5.000 for the week. Houston is still suffering the hottest weather of the summer, the thermometer hitting 98 for about three hours each midday. Total first run business was $25,050. Average is $26,000. Estimated takings for the week ending June 18. "THE COUNTRY BEYOND" (20th-Fox) KIRBY— (1,450), 15c-35c, 3 days. Gross: $1,500. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "SHIP CAFE" (Para.) KIRBY— (1,450), 15c-35c, 1 day. Gross: $750. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "SKY PARADE" (Para.) KIRBY— (1,450), 15c-35c. 3 days. Gross: $1,500. (Average. 7 days. $5,000) "FURY" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (2,750), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average. $7,000) "BIG BROWN EYES" (Para.) MAJESTIC— (2,250), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average. $7,000) "PRIVATE NUMBER" (20th-Fox) METROPOLITAN— (2,600). 25c-50c. 7 days. Gross: $8,750. (Average, $7,000) Jefferson to Remodel Port Arthur, Tex., June 25. — The Jefferson Amusement Co. will spend approximately $100,000 this year in remodeling and improving theatres in this city, according to Morris Clemmons, local manager. Clemmons said $20,000 is being spent on the Strand. The program also includes the construction of a new Peoples Theatre and remodeling of the Pearce. Benny to Do Two More Hollywood, June 25. — Jack Benny will make two additional pictures for Paramount after "The Big Broadcast." "College Holiday" will follow, produced by Kenneth Harlan who wrote the original with Frederick Haslett Brennan. Francis Martin and Walter DeLeon will do the screenplay. Negotiations are now under way to bring Benny Goodman's orchestra from New York for one. Week Ending June 18: "PRIVATE NUMBER" (20th-Fox) "WOMAN TRAP" (Para.) ORPHEUM— (3.000). 25c-40c, 8 days. Gross: $7,800. (Average, $7,500) "ROBIN HOOD OF EL DORADO" (M-G-M) "PALM SPRINGS" (Para.) OMAHA— (2,200). 25c-40c. 7 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $5,000) Week Ending June 19: "DEVIL'S SQUADRON" (Col.) "LET'S SING AGAIN" (Radio) BRANDEIS— (1.200), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,700. (Average, $3,500)