Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, August 8, 193 "Blockade" Is Strong in Two Boston Spots Boston, Aug. 7. — Rain helped theatre business here last week, and Catholic opposition didn't seem to hurt "Blockade" at Loew's State and Loew's Orpheum. The Orpheum took in $14,000 on the double bill, which included "Reformatory," against an average of $12,000. Loew's State took in $12,000, $1,000 over the top. Shirk)' Temple arrived in town too late to aid "Little Miss Broadway" at the Metropolitan. The feature, combined with "Mr. Moto Takes A Chance," drew a smart $15,000, nevertheless. "Little Tough Guy," together with an aggregation of Walt Disney shorts, garnered $13,000 at the RKO Memorial, $1,000 over par. Total first run business was $61,500. Average is $59,500. Estimated takings for the week ending July 30 : "TROPIC HOLIDAY" (Para.) "PRISON FARM" (Para.) FENWAY — (1,382), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $4,500) "BLOCKADE" (U. A.) "REFORMATORY" (Col.) LOEW'S ORPHEUM— (2,970), 25c-30c-40c55c, 7 days. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $12,000) "BLOCKADE" (U. A.) "REFORMATORY" (Col.) LOEW'S STATE— (3,537), 25c-30c-4Oc-55c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $11,000) "LITTLE MISS BROADWAY" (Zflth-Fox) "MR. MOTO TAKES A CHANCE" (20th-Fox) METROPOLITAN— (4,332), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average. $11,000) "TROPIC HOLIDAY" (Para.) "PRISON FARM" (Para.) PARAMOUNT — (1,793), 30c-40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $8,000) "LITTLE TOUGH GUY" (20th-Fox) "WALT DISNEY'S PARADE" (RKO) RKO MEMORIAL— (2,907), 30c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $12,000) "Goodbye" Best Bet In Buffalo's Lull Buffalo, Aug. 7. — This town's first run operators saw only one bright spot last week. The Century's dual, "Always Goodbye" and "We're Going to Be Rich," took in $6,500, to beat par by $500. "The Amazing Doctor Clitterhouse," at the Great Lakes, broke even with S7,500. Total first run business was $36,200. Average is $38,600. Estimated takings for the week ending July 30 : "LITTLE MISS BROADWAY" (20th-Fox) BUFFALO — (3,000), 30c-55c, 7 days. Cross: $11,500. (Average, $12,000) "THE AMAZING DR. CLITTERHOUSE" (W. B.) GREAT LAKES— (3,000), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $7,500) "MY BILL" (W. B.) "PASSPORT HUSBAND" (20th-Fox) HIPPODROME — (2,500), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $6,800) "ALWAYS GOODBYE" (20th-Fox) "WE'RE GOING TO EE RICH" (20th-Fox) CENTURY— (3,000), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $6,000) "THE DEVIL'S PARTY" (Univ.) "THE JURY'S SECRET" (Univ.) LAFAYETTE— (3,300), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $5,200. (Average, $6,300) Delay "Drums" Preview The preview of Alexander Korda's "Drums" announced for Aug. 10 has been postponed by United Artists td Aug. 15 at 8 P. M. at the Hollywood Theatre. Hollywood Previews "The Gladiator" (D. L. Loew-Columbia) Hollywood, Aug. 7.— The story and production material of "The Gladiator" is of the kind that first zoomed Joe E. Brown to popularity. It includes a lot of comedy and hokum, a dash of romantic love interest and a dab of sentimental human interest. Nevertheless, the picture is a related series of gags, all of which have much audience amusement and commercial exploitation value. Winning a Bank Night prize, Brown, an orphanage attendant, returns to college. He is hazed by Robert Kent, football hero, and Coaches Donald Douglas and Lee Phelps. His humiliation wins the sympathy of June Travis. Lucien Littlefield, eccentric professor, gives him a dose of a formula that makes him a super-human strong man, able to wreck the football team. Needing money to adopt Dickie Moore, a waif, he turns wrestler and goes into the ring with Man Mountain Dean. Their hokum-packed bout, full of make-believe brutality, is a riot of fun. Brown gives Dean a merry going over until the effect of the formula wears off, whereupon he takes a terrific beating himself. He wins the bout by a trick, however. He also wins Miss Travis and is able to adopt the boy. Naturally Brown and later Dean are the whole show. Still Miss Travis, Moore, Littlefield, Kent, Ethel Wales, Douglas, Phelps and Eddie Kane, in a cleverly turned bit as an excited manager, contribute much to the production's fast-paced merriment. Based on a Philip Wylie novel, the screenplay by Charles Melson and Arthur Sheekman together with adaptation by James Milhauser and Earle Snell plus added dialogue by George Marion, Jr., makes it one of Brown's best pictures in months. Edward Sedgwick's direction keeps things moving every minute. Running time, 70 minutes. "G." McCarthy "Painted Desert" (RKO) Hollywood, Aug. 7. — It is safe to assume that RKO's signing of George O'Brien for six pictures for the new season, thereby increasing the annual allotment by two, was based on executives' appraisal of "Painted Desert," the last of the 1937-'38 series. The picture contains more action, more plausible situations and possibly more entertainment value than any of its predecessors, and is a thoroughly rounded out piece of film fare, containing suspense, humor, melodrama, and the requisite movement of this type of offering. O'Brien is supported by Laraine Johnson, Ray Whitley, Stanley Fields, Maude Allen, Fred Kohler, Sr., Lloyd Ingraham, Harry Cording, Max Wagner, Lee Shumway and William V. Mong. Bert Gilroy produced and David Howard directed, and incidentally this producerdirector team will handle the new series. John Rathmell and Oliver Drake wrote the script of Jack Cunningham's story. O'Brien, a young rancher, buys a mine on his leased grazing land to prevent its being worked and interfering with his cattle. However, assays show a valuable mineral deposit, so he, with Miss Johnson, whose grandfather has been tricked out of the mine by a crooked financier from whom O'Brien purchased the mineral rights, start to work it. The financier, played by Kohler, schemes to get the mine back by placing obstacles in the path of the pair, but is killed by the dynamiting which he inspired. Running time, 59 minutes. "G." Vance King RKO Buffalo Branch Wins Depinet Driv< (.Continued from page 1) member of the exchange staff will h paid with the award. The Toronto office, managed by F. Meyers, tied with the Vancouve branch, of which W. S. Jones is mar ager, for second place. Other winner were, Pittsburgh, George Lefko, man ager ; Portland, M. E.' Cory, manas^ c Cleveland, H. Greenblatt, man* Memphis, Page Baker, manager Seattle, Ed Lamb, manager, and Den ver, J. H. Ashby, manager. Winners in the foreign divisio were, Egypt, G. E. Georgeoussj manager, and China, Leon Brittor manager, tied for first; Panama, Fre S. Gulbransen, manager, second, an Dutch East Indies, Louis S. Lioni manager, third. Buffalo's Second Victory The award is the second to be woi by the Buffalo exchange in the pas two years under the managership o Mr. Boasberg. The office won th Jules Levy anniversary campaign las year. Mr. Depinet said that the final! audited figures showed a substantia increase in company income over an; like period. Rice Wins M-G-M Prize U. K. Rice, manager of the Carolina, Winston-Salem, won first prize of $75 in. a contest conducted by M-G-M among Kincey Theatre managers in North and South Carolina. The contest was in conjunction with "Of Human Hearts" and prizes were given on the basis of the increase in business and promotional activities. I.A.T.S.E. to Move Here Executive offices of the I.A.T.S.E., transfered from New York to Washington several years ago, are to be moved back here shortly. Offices will be established in the International Building in Rockefeller Center. Ben Cohen to Marry Ben Cohen, formerly manager of Loew's-Poli College in New Haven and now manager for Loew's in Calcutta, India, will be married in the fall to Bert Doff, dramatic coach and commentator for WELI, New Haven. She will sail Sept. 13 on the Paris. The wedding will take place on her arrival. Union Asks Probe of Fires in Film Labi (.Continued from page 1) year at a 20th Century-Fox film stor age plant at Little Ferry, N. J., whic caused one death and injuries t others. The union says these occurrence "raise questions of fire hazard" in th laboratories and it wants the Fir Department to order precautionar measures where necessary in order t protect laboratory employes and pre vent loss of work through fire or ex plosion. The investigation was aske in the interest of the companies a well, the union asserts. The Warner blast is under investi gation by Fire Marshal Thomas 1i Brophy. The department listed thii cause as undetermined over the week end, but there's some belief that I boiler explosion in the basement ma have been responsible. Warners pla to repair the damage immediately am have the plant in full operation i: three months. Change "Splinter" Title Hollywood, Aug. 7. — Twentieth Century-Fox has chosen "Submarine Patrol" as the title for its film formerly called "Splinter Fleet," a story based on the work of the submarine chasers during the World War. Universal, Fields Sign Two-Film Pac (Continued from page 1) a circus life yarn. It will start Sep : 15. The script will be by Georg j Marion, Jr. Universal also has signed Constanc Bennett to co-star with a newcomeij Vincent Price, in "Service DeLuxe, ! which will start next month. Mis' Bennett has a prior commitment wit Hal Roach for "Topper Takes Trip." Essaness Takes Buildint Chicago, Aug. 7. — Essaness ove the weekend closed a' deal for th Woods Theatre Building in the Loof The building will be taken immediate! and the theatre on Sept. 4. The the atre policy will be announced in th near future by Emil Stern, presiden of Essaness.