Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1937)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY MOTION PICTURE DAILY5 HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Love Is News" (20th Century-Fox) Hollywood, Feb. 15. — Lively, colorful comedy-romance following a keynote of smart hokum, this show seems destined to meet with widespread public approval. Composed of appealing elements, the film is always fresh, breezy and entertaining. It is well produced, with Tyrone Power, Loretta Young and Don Ameche filling roles of modern-minded young folks in a manner that arouses intense interest in their adventuring into romance, comedy and light but exciting drama. Slim Summer ville, Dudley Digges, George Sanders, Jane Darwell, Elisha Cooke, Jr., and Walter Catlett round out the effective support. The show is that frothy kind of amusement usually appreciated by both classes and masses. The basic plot is a freshly concocted exposition of the rich girl-newspaper reporter theme. Miss Young's studied aversion to publicity always seems to land her in the headlines. Outsmarted by Power, a reporter, she revenges herself upon him by giving tc^ all the papers, except his, the announcement that she will endow him with $1,000,000 and marry him. Thus scooped, Power brings down upon his own brow the fire of condemnation from Ameche, his editor, with whom he is_ always battling. A celebrity himself now, Power, whose appeals to Miss Young for mercy are snubbed, comes in for a hearty round of kidding and ridicule all the way down the line. These sequences make for gay amusement. The three leads are always centers of attention, with action, dialogue and situations created to show them off to best advantage. Members of the supporting cast give excellent performances. The film moves at a smart and novel pace. The picture will be easy to sell because of its quality, story content, prestige of the leading players and the competent work of the supporting cast. Word-of-mouth advertising may be depended upon to arouse curiosity. The brisk original by William P. Lippman and Frederick Stephani has been adopted by Harry Tugend and Jack Yellen in a manner assuring maximum audience enjoyment. Tay Garnett's direction is good. Production Code Seal No. 2,957. Running time, 75 minutes. "G." "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney" (M-G-M) Hollywood, Feb. 15. — Modernized somewhat to fit the talents of Joan Crawford, William Powell and Robert Montgomery, "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney" remains a heavy-dialogued, dated English drawing room comedy-romance. It has the capabilities of appealing to those liking that sort of entertainment, but it must depend for popular support upon the magnetism of the three leading players plus Frank Morgan, Jessie Ralph, Benita Hume. Ralph Forbes and Sara Haden in the support. The familiar story of the American feminine Raffles setting out to rob the British aristocracy only to be attracted to the class she intended to loot and lose her heart to a nobleman who loves and saves her from a life of crime, it comes to the screen hewing closely to the spirit and atmosphere of the original. Miss Crawford, Powell and Montgomery handle their parts with easy grace, and Morgan, Miss Ralph, Miss Hume. Forbes, Miss Haden and Nigel Bruce, performing in characteristic fashion, are adequate additions to the leading trio. Costumed and produced in 1937 style, the generation of the old motivation still smacks of the reading in a hammock on a pleasant, unhurried summer's day. Nevertheless occasional spurts of clever situations embellished by smart if prolonged dialogue account for some gay amusement. Based on the Frederick Lonsdale play, Leon Gordon, Samson Raphaelson and Monckton Hoffe are credited with the screenplay. The late Richard Boleslawski directed all but the last few sequences. Production Code Seal No. 3,058. Running time, 85 minutes. "G." S2 "Lloyds" and Show Are Big Boston Draws Boston, Feb. 15. — "Lloyds of London," with a stage attraction featuring Belle Baker and Stepin Fetchit, took high honors at the Metropolitan with $31,000, above the line by $9,000. The weatherman still favors exhibitors with California weather. The Boston & Maine ran its first snow train of the winter to New Hampshire. Despite this theatres held their own. "Maid of Salem," second run dualled with "Return of Bulldog Drummond," grossed $11,000 at the Paramount, $4,000 above par. The same program at the Fenway drew $7,000. Average is $4,500. "After the Thin Man," in its second week, drew $16,500 at Loew's, $4,500 over average, and $14,000 at Loew's State, over par by $3,000. "The Plough and the Stars" at the RKO Memorial drew 2,500 above average with $15,500. Total first run business was $98,000. Average is $88,500. Estimated takings for the week ending Feb. 11 : "MAID OF SALEM" (Para.) "RETURN OF BULLDOG DRUMMOND" (Para.) FENWAY— (1,392), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $4,500) "PLOUGH AND THE STARS" (Radio) RKO MEMORIAL — (2,907), 25c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $15,500. (Average, $12,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) LOEW'S ORPHEUM— (2,970), 25c-45c65c, 7 days. Gross: $16,500. (Average, $12,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (3,537), 25c-45c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $11,000) "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) METROPOLITAN— (4,332), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Belle Baker and Stepin Fetchit. Gross: $31,000. (Average, $22,000) "MAID OF SALEM" (Para.) "RETURN OF BULLDOG DRUMMOND" (Para.) PARAMOUNT — (1,793), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $7,000) "JOIN THE MARINES" (Republic) RKO BOSTON— (3,246), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Leon Errol and Louise Beavers. Gross: $21,000. (Average, $21,000) "O'Malley," Bowes Indianapolis Wow Indianapolis, Feb. 15. — "The Great O'Malley," with Major Bowes' AllGirl Unit on the stage, pulled a big $12,000' at the Lyric, $5,000 in the black. "Lloyd's of London" proved a highpowered draw at the Apollo, where it was good for $6,500, $2,500 over the line. It was held. Total first run business was $28,000. Average is $21,000. Estimated takings for the week ending Feb. 12 : "LLOYD'S OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) APOLLO— (1,100), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $4,000) "YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE" (U. A) "BULLDOG DRUMMOND ESCAPES" —(Para.) CIRCLE — (2,800) , 25c -40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $4,000) "WOMEN OF GLAMOUR" (Col.) "UNDER COVER OF NIGHT" (M-G-M) LOEW'S— (2,800). 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $6,000) "THE GREAT O'MALLEY" (W. B.) LYRIC— (2.000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Major Bowes' All-Girl Revue. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $7,000) Bissell in Imperial Cleveland, Feb. 15. — Holbrook C. Bissell, who resigned last week as Columbia branch manager here, has taken the franchise for Imperial Pictures in northern Ohio. Two Plays Fold "A Point of Honor," after five performances, closed at the Fulton Saturday night. The same evening marked the passing of "Call Me Ziggy" after three performances at the Longacre. G.N. Meeting on Coast Grand National has tentatively set its next sales convention at the studio in Hollywood, according to Edward L. Alperson, president. The meeting will be held in May. Astor Preview Set "When's Your Birthday?", first Joe E. Brown comedv for David L. LoewRKO release, will be trade shown at the Astor Theatre tomorrow morning at 10:45 A. M. Tuesday, February 16, 1937 "Plainsman" Pittsburgh's Holdover Top Pittsburgh, Feb. 15. — "The Plainsman" led the parade in its second week at the Warner with a take of $8,500, over normal by $3,500. Lent slowedup business somewhat, but "Beloved Enemy" went $350 over the line on a take of $11,350 at the Penn, and "Champagne Waltz" was $500 to the good on a $12,000 gross at the Stanley. "Charlie Chan at the Opera," exhibiting growing box-office qualities for this series, coupled with "More Than a Secretary," gave the Alvin a neat $7,100. Total first run business was $42,400. Average is $37,500. Estimated takings for the week ending Feb. 11 : "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (20th-Fox) "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) ALVIN— (2,000), 25c -40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,100. (Average, $5,500) "MEN ARE NOT GODS" (U. A.) "LAUGHING AT TROUBLE" (20th-Fox) FULTON— (1,750), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,450. (Average, $4,500) "BELOVED ENEMY" (U. A.) PENN— (3,300). 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $11,350. (Average, $11,000) "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) STANLEY — (3,600), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $11,500) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) WARNER— (2,000), 25c-50c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $8,500, —(Average, $5,000) "Lloyds" Again Top Kansas City Gross Kansas City, Feb. 15. — "Lloyd's of London" led the town in comparative scoring for the second consecutive week at the Fox Uptown with a take of $4,500, which was $500 better than normal. The weather moderated, but the flu epidemic still is at its peak, and none of the other first runs managed to equal par at the box-office. Some 30,000 attended four nights of Golden Glove finals during the week at the Municipal auditorium, which didn't help. "More Than a Secretary" and "Devil's Playground" took the big money, $9,500, at the Midland, but this was $2,000 off the line. "A Doctor's Diary," starring John Trent, a home town boy, was well exploited by the Newman but was weak. Total first run business was $35,500. Average is $37,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending Feb. 11: "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W. B.) MAINSTREET— (3,100), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,800. (Average, $8,000) "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) "DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND" (Col.) MIDLAND — (4,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $9,500. (Average, $11,500) "A DOCTOR'S DIARY" (Para.) NEWMAN — (1,900), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,800. (Average, $7,000) "SMART BLONDE" (W. B.) TOWER— (2,200), 25c-35c, 7 days. _ Stage: The Harlemaniacs, Jess Libonati Trio, Mickey King, Ward Keith, Ted Cook, Lester Harding, The Dancing Darlings and Tower Orchestra. Gross: $6,900. (Average, $7,000) "LLOYD'S OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) UPTOWN— (2.000), 25c-40c, 2nd week. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $4,000)