Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

Friday, July I, 1938 MOTION PICTURE DAILY "Blockade" Is Hit at Frisco With $12,500 Sax Francisco, June 30. — Aided a ballyhoo campaign tying in with Spanish Civil War, "Blockade" Tracked a few records for the year at the United Artists. The gross was $12,500, over par by $5,500, and the picture will be held for a run. A revival of Rudolph Valentino's films was disappointing. "The Sheik" pulled only $3,000 with "To the Victor" at the St. Francis, and "Son of the Sheik," with "Highway Patrol," at the Orpheum was only slightly better with $3,800. Total first run business was $68,300. Average is $87,800. Estimated takings : Week Ending June 21: "EVERYBODY'S DOING IT" (RKO) GOLDEN GATE — (2,850) , 35c-40c-55c, 7 days Stage: Vaudeville. Gross: $10,700. (Average, $16,000) "THE SHEIK" (Para.) "TO THE VICTOR" (G. B.) ST. FRANCIS— (1,400), 15c-35c-40c-55c75c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $7,000) Week Ending June 22: "TOY WIFE" (M-G-M) "STOLEN HEAVEN" (Para.) PARAMOUNT — (2,740) , 1 5c -35c -40c -55c 75c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $13,000) "BLOCKADE" (U. A.) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,200), 15c-35c-40c; 55c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $12,500. (Average, $7,000) "CRIME SCHOOL" (W. B.) "SWISS MISS" (M-G-M) FOX— (5.000), 15c-35c-40c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $16,000. (Average. $17,000) "SON OF THE SHEIK" (Plunkett) "HIGHWAY PATROL" (Col.) ORPHEUM — (2,440), 15c-35c-40e-5Sc, 7 days. Gross: $3,800. (Average, $8,500) Week Ending June 23: "GOLD DIGGERS IN PARIS" (W. B.) "BELOVED BRAT" (W. B.) WARFIFLD — (2.6S0), lSc-35c-40c-S5c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $13,000) "MISSING WITNESS" (W. B.) "ROMANCE ON THE RUN" (Republic) EMBASSY— (1,400), 25c-30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $5,000) Week Ending June 24: "LAI LA" (Nordisk) CLAY— (400), 15c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $800. (Average, $1,300) "Blind Mice" Dual Omaha's Winner Omaha, June 30. — "Three Blind Mice," on a dual with "Sinners in Paradise," turned in the only profitable gross of the week here. The $5,500 take was par for the Omaha. The other two first runs were in a bad way. A racing meet and outdoor competition kept grosses down. Total first run business was $15,200. Average is $16,700. Estimated takings : Week Ending June 22: "WOMEN ARE LIKE THAT" (F. N.) "SAINT IN NEW YORK" (RKO) BRANDEIS— (1,200), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,200. (Average, $4,000) "THREE BLIND MICE" (ZOth-Fox) "SINNERS IN PARADISE" (Univ.) OMAHA— (2,200), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $5,500) Week Ending June 23: "JOSETTE" (20th-Fox) "DANGEROUS TO KNOW" (Para.) ORPHEUM— (3,000), 25c -40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $7,200) New York Previews "Prison Farm" {Paramount) While the cast boasts no outstanding screen names and the story, in the main, is rather grim and production detail, in several instances, realistically accentuates the brutality of prison life, "Prison Farm" is, nevertheless, an interesting picture. It is capably directed by Louis King and played to the hilt of its spirit by Shirley Ross, Lloyd Nolan, John Howard, J. Carroll Naish, Esther Dale, Porter Hall, May Boley, Marjorie Main, Anna Q. Nilsson and John Hart. As melodrama carries the brunt of the action, there is comparatively little that savors of lightness or gayety, but well constructed romance balances the heaviness. The main plot follows the career of a girl who has gotten into police difficulties unwittingly. Happiness seems to lie ahead for Miss Ross as she elopes with Nolan, unaware that he is a murdering robber. Following a fight with Naish, who attempts to force himself on the girl, Nolan accepts a six-month prison farm sentence for assault rather than have his finger prints taken. Miss Ross is similarly sentenced as an accomplice. Hard labor is her lot and, though Nolan tries to buy his way out, he is continually the victim of guard Naish's vengeance. As prison doctor, Howard, becomes sympathetically interested in the girl, the flaming enmity between Nolan and Naish culminates in the former's wounding during an attempted break. Prior to dying, Nolan clears Miss Ross of any complicity in his crimes. As she leaves the prison, Howard resigns to be with her. The film has a strongly melodramatic quality. Running time, 65 minutes. "A." "Riders of the Black Hills" {Republic) There is no dearth of the type of western action that audiences desire in this account of the further adventures of The Three Mesquiteers. Bob Livingston, Ray Corrigan and Max Terhune are cast in the sort of roles they fit and the story upon which much riding, shooting, joking and scrapping hangs is an interesting tale. When. Black Lightning, a thoroughbred race horse, is kidnapped the trio is arrested for having an animal that resembles it. They are locked up in Sheriff Roscoe Ates' jail. Ann Evers, niece of Maude Eburn, the nag's owner, comes for the animal and the boys face a jail term. Terhune manages a humorous escape and they set about to clear themselves. Pursuing this end they are ultimately absolved of the crime and, learning of Miss Eburn's philanthropic bent, they lend their aid. Mesquite, their horse, is entered in a race and wins. The kidnappers of Black Lightning decide to play their hand threatening to tell of the ringer. The required ransom is delivered and the criminals fall into the Mesquiteers' hands after an exciting bit of equine pursuit. The prize money goes to a children's hospital and Livingston, the most romantic of the trio, is still single at the conclusion. There are a few loose ends to the yarn which are left hanging when the plot has run out, but they can be overlooked. The performances measure up satisfactorily. Camera work is William Nobles' usual first-rate job. George Sherman directed. Running time, 55 minutes. "G." "Mice" Takes Top Honors On the Coast Los Angeles, June 30. — "Three Blind Mice," dualled with "Woman Against Woman," turned in good grosses at two houses — the Chinese and Loew's State. At the former the $13,452 take was $952 over the normal line and at the latter the $15,170 gross was up by $1,170. The only other attraction to get into the profit column was "Gold Diggers in Paris" which grossed $14,500 at Warners' Hollywood and $12,300 at Warners' Downtown. Total first run business was $89,641. Average is $90,950. Estimated takings for the week ending June 29 : "THREE BLIND MICE" (20th-Fox) "WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN" (M-G-M) CHINESE— (2,500), 30c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $13,452. (Average, $12,500) "MOONLIGHT SONATA" (Pall Mall-U.A.) ESOUIRE— (900), 40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $1,500. (Average, $2,500) "WE'RE GOING TO BE RICH" (20th-Fox) "GAIETY GIRLS" (U.A.) 4 STAR— (900), 40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $3,119. (Average, $3,250) "INTERMEZZO" (Swedish) GRAND— (750), 35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $1,200. (Average, $1,200) "THE DEVIL'S PARTY" (Univ.) "GO CHASE YOURSELF" (RKO) HILLSTREET— (2,700), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $6,200. (Average, $6,500) "THREE BLIND MICE" (20th-Fox) "WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE — (2,500) , 30c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $15,170. (Average, $14,000) "THE DEVIL'S PARTY" (Univ.) "GO CHASE YOURSELF" (RKO) PA NTAGES — (3,000), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $5,200. (Average, $7,000) "BIRTH OF A BABY" (Special) PARAMOUNT— (3,595), 30c-65c, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $17,000. (Average, $18,000) "GOLD DIGGERS IN PARIS" (W.B.) "SONS OT THE PLAINS" (Technicolor) WARNER BROS. (HOLLYWOOD) — (3,000), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $14,500 (Average, $14,000) "GOLD DIGGERS IN PARIS" (W.B.) "SONS OF THE PLAINS" (Technicolor) WARNER BROS. (DOWNTOWN) — (3,400), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $12,300. (Average, $12,000) "South Riding {Korda-United Artists) This film, produced by Alexander Korda's London Film under the hand of Victor Saville, is typically an English story, at least insofar as content, setting and people are concerned. That being the case,_ and in view of the pronounced English cast, it is possible that the exhibitor will be under the necessity of bearing that in mind in selling the film. "South Riding," which is the fictitious name of a small, agricultural English county, tells a human story, but tells it much in the fashion of its people, slowly, with a tendency to "plod its homeward way." Only toward the conclusion does the pace perceptibly quicken. The performances are capable, headed by those of Edna Best, who may be known in this country; Robert Carne and Edmund Gwenn. The exhibitor in this case might better offer for the attention of patrons the film's story, since the title will mean but little to the average American who has not read the novel by Winifred Holtby from which the film is taken, and the players' names are not too familiar on this side. As adapted by Ian Dalrymple, the story comes close to being a series of character sketches. As a matter of fact, the screen credits call the picture "a landscape." Typically English is the background about which the tale of the individual members of the County Council is told, each with his actions reflecting the person, and centering about the new school head and the master of the county's estate. Running time, 84 minutes. "G." Charles S. Aaronson "Gold Diggers" Is Best in Milwaukee Milwaukee, June 30. — Winner in a dull week was "Gold Diggers in Paris" and "Over the Wall" with a $6,300 gross at the Warner. "Three Blind Mice" and "One Wild Night" collected $8,000 at Fox's Wisconsin in eight days. Total first run business was $26,300. Average is $26,500. Estimated takings for the week ending June 23 : "COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO" (U. A.) "I COVER THE WATERFRONT" (U. A.) PALACE— (2,400), 35c-50c, 8 days. Gross: $4,200. (Average, $5,000) "SON OF THE SHEIK" (A. A.) RIVERSIDE— (2,300), 25c-30c, 7 days. Stage: Hi-Hat Hilarities. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $5,000) "JOSETTE" (ZOth-Fox) "KIDNAPPED" (20th-Fox) STRAND— (1,400), 35c-50c, 8 days. Gross: $3,800. (Average, $4,500) "GOLD DIGGERS IN PARIS" (W. B.) "OVER THE WALL" (W. B.) WARNERS— (2,400), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,300. (Average, $5,000) "THREE BLIND MICE" (20th-Fox) "ONE WILD NIGHT" (20th-Fox) WISCONSIN— (3,200), 35c-50c, 8 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $8,000)