Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Hollywood Preview "Touchdown Army" (Paramount) Hollywood, Sept. 28. — This is a re-do of the one, or ones, about the smart Aleck who goes to West Point to play football and gets smacked down by the upper classmen but wins the Navy game in the final seconds of play and the major's daughter immediately afterward. Much of the footage is out of the library, but West Point graduation exercises, drills and gridiron conflict with Navy are never without interest. The rest of the footage has to do with the fiction side of the story and is admirably integrated with the stock stuff to make a smooth, brisk chronicle. Robert Cummings plays the fresh cadet this time and Mary Carlisle is the major's daughter beloved by him and John Howard, the upper classman who disciplines him sternly but readily gives up the romantic tussle when the time's ripe. William Frawley, Owen Davis, Jr., Benny Baker and Raymond Hatton are other principals, Hatton accomplishing a neat feat with a comedy in the Chic Sale manner. Timeliness and the West Point background are major exploitation factors. Kurt Newmann directed for Associate Producer Edward T. Lowe and the story and screenplay are credited to Lloyd Corrigan and Erwin Gelsey. Running time, 70 minutes. "G." Roscoe Williams New York Previews "Fugitives for a Night" (RKO) Here is a novel and fairly entertaining piece, in light vein, which has a touch of comedy, a bit of mystery and centers about the inner operation of a film studio. The central idea, and the best selling cue is the rejuvenation of a film star's stooge, a sort of personal valet and general handyman, via a murder and the subsequent unraveling of it. Frank Albertson plays the stooge, Eleanor Lynn his sweetheart who leads him toward self respect, Allan Lane, a star who seeks to throw suspicion on Albertson, and Bradley Page, another star, who though slipping, attempts to help Albertson. The title implies little of the content of the film, except that it is descriptive of ~ the hasty flight from the scene of the murder of Albertson and Miss Lynn, and their wanderings, by car, freight train and bus, back virtually from where they started, where the murderer confesses rather than see Albertson arrested for the crime. Lou Lusty produced, and Leslie Goodwin directed from a screenplay by Dalton Trumbo and a story by Richard Wormser. Running time, 63 minutes. "G." Charles S. Aaronson "Overland Stage Raiders" (Republic) With John Wayne as the leader of the engaging western trio, The Three Mesquiteers, this is entertaining and active western material. There is novelty in two regards, one that there is a conspicuous and pleasant absence of vocal rendition, rare in today's westerns, and secondly, that it centers about an overland stage in the form of a bus, and features an air line in the west. Ray Corrigan and Max Terhune are the other two of the group, and they should be popular with the fans of western material. George Sherman, who directed under the supervision of William Berke, from a screenplay by Luci Ward and an original story by Bernard McConville and Edmond Kelso, kept the action geared to a rapid pace, in the air, bus and on horseback. Wayne and his buddies buy into an airline and hope to salvage it with a contract to carry gold for a mining company. The bus line owner, fearing loss of his contract, attempts to break up the air line's business, with expected — and active — results. The girl in the case is Louise Brooks. Running time, 55 minutes. "G." Charles S. Aaronson 10 "Boys Town" Pittsburgh's $26,000 Hit Pittsburgh, Sept. 28. — The Perm had things pretty much to itself last week, "Boys Town" proving the year's outstanding smash with $26,000 in seven days topping even "Marie Antoinette's" recent gross in eight. The picture was moved to the Warner to continue its downtown first run. The only other attraction to make a showing was "My Lucky Star," which got $6,800 at the Fulton and also rated a holdover. Estimated takings for the week endinsr Sept. 22 : "THE GLADIATOR" (Col.) "REFORMATORY" (Col.) ALVIN — (1,850), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $5,350. (Average, $6,500) "MY LUCKY STAR" (ZOth-Fox) FULTON— (1,700), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,800. (Average. $4,500) "BOYS TOWN" (M-G-M) PENN — (3,300), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $26,000. (Average, $11,000) "VALLEY OF THE GIANTS" (F. N.) STANLEY— (3,600), 25c-50c, 7 days. Stage: Jane Garber's band, Patricia Norman, Serge Flash, Lorraine and Rognan. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $18,000) "RICH MAN, POOR GIRL" (M-G-M) "BOOLOO" (Para.) WARNER— (2,000), 25c-40c, 8 days. Gross: $3,750. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "Boys Town" Dual Big in Milwaukee Milwaukee, Sept. 28. — Grossing $3,300 above average, "Boys Town" and "Speed to Burn," showing at Fox's Wisconsin, collected $11,300. Second money went to the circuit's Palace, where "Spawn of the North" and "Give Me A Sailor" were good for $7,500, $2,500 above average. Both combinations have been held over. "Carefree" and "Smashing the Rackets" grabbed $7,000 at the Warner, just $2,000 to the good, while "Marie Antoinette," in its second week at Fox's Strand, grossed $4,800, just $300 above par. Estimated takings for the week ending Sept. 21-22-24: "CAREFREE" (RKO) "SMASHING THE RACKETS" (RKO) WARNER— (2,400), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $5,000) "SPAWN OF THE NORTH" (Para.) "GIVE ME A SAILOR" (Para.) PALACE— (2,400). 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average. $7,000) ' FRESHMAN YEAR" (Univ.) RIVERSIDE — (2,300), 25c-30c, 7 days. Stage: "Stars Over Broadway." Gross: $5,200. (Average. $5.0001 "MARIE ANTOINETTE" (M-G-M) STRAND— (1,400). 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $4,800. (Average. $4,500) "BOYS TOWN" (M-G-M) "SPEED TO BURN" (20th-Fox) WISCONSIN— (3,200), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $11,300. (Average. $8,000) "MOONLIGHT SONATA" (Malmar) PABST — (1,624). 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $4,800 To Build at New Orleans New Orleans, Sept. 28.— M. A. and Ira Weingrun have leased property for 10 years at 316 St. Charles St. and will open a modern theatre there about Nov. 1. It will be the third house operating on that street, and will to the theatre directory of New Orleans the site of one of the first — if not the first — motion picture theatre in the commercial district. Making Subject for Ford Audio Productions, Inc., is making a new short subject for the Ford Motor Co., the ninth for the automobile firm. Three camera crews are in the field on the subject. House Licenses Renewed Des Moines, Sept. 28.— The City Finance Commissioner is renewing the annual license of the 20 picture houses in Des Moines, the old ones having expired Aug. 31. Thursday, September 29, 1938 "Boys Town" Near Record, Philadelphia Philadelphia, Sept. 28. — Business hit a new high for the year when "Boys Town," with $19,000 afc^st broke a six-year-old record ar*lne Aldine and the stage-screen show at the Earle clicked in tremendous fashion. "Boys Town" looks good for four weeks. "Freshman Year" and Kay Kyser's Band collaborated on a $28,000 week at the Earle. "Too Hot to Handle" was roughly treated by the reviewers, but still cashed in on a $16,000 week. Estimated takings for the week ending Sept. 23 : "BOYS TOWN" (M-G-M) ALDINE— (1,300), 40c-55c-65c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $19,000. (Average, $8,160) "ALGIERS" (U. A.) (2nd run) ARCADIA— (600), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $2,600. (Average, $2,800) "FOUR DAUGHTERS" (W. B.) BOYD— (2,400), 40c-55c-65c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $11,500. (Average, $14,000) "FRESHMAN YEAR" (Univ.) EARLE— (2,000), 25c-40c-55c, 6 days. Stage: Kay Kyser and Band. Gross: $28,000. (Average, $14,000) "VALLEY OF GIANTS" (W. B.) FOX — (3,000), 40c-55c-65c,-75c, 7 days. Stage: Harriet Hoctor, Rasch Girls, GaliGali, Don Cummings, Carole Manners, 6 days. Gross: $15,500. (Average, $14,000) "CAREFREE" (RKO) (2nd run) KARLTON— (1,000), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $3,700. (Average, $4,000) "ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND" (20-Fox) (2nd run) KEITH'S— (2.000). 30c-40c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $3,900. (Average, $4,000) "TOO HOT TO HANDLE" (M-G-M) STANLEY— (3,700), 40c-55c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $16,000. (Average, $14,000) "ARMY GIRL" (Republic) STANTON— (1,700), 30c-40c-55c, 4 days. Gross: $1,700. (Average, 7 days, $7,000) "Boys Town" Is 2d Week Lead at Omaha Omaha, Sept. 28.— "Boys Town" held up well for its second week at the Omaha, grossing $9,700 in seven days to top weekly average by $4,200. The picture, built around Father Flanagan's home near Omaha, was held for a third week. "Four Daughters" and "I'm From the City" pulley $6,600 at the Brandeis in seven days, showing a neat profit of $2,600. The bill also was held for a second week. "Sing You Sinners" and "I'll Give A Million" grossed $10,300 at the Orpheum in seven days for a gain of $3,100 over weekly average. Estimated takings for the week ending Sept. 20-21-22 : "BOYS TOWN" (M-G-M) OMAHA— (2,200). 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $9,700. (Average, $5,500) "FOUR DAUGHTERS" (F.N.) "I'M FROM THE CITY" (RKO) BRANDEIS— (1,200), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,600. (Average, $4,000) "SING YOU SINNERS" (Para.) "I'LL GIVE A MILLION" (ZOth-Fox) ORPHEUM— (3,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $10,300. (Average, $7,200) Finish Ukrainian Film Shooting on "Cossacks Beyond the Danube," Ukrainian film, has been completed here under the direction of Edgar G. Ulmer. Michael J. Gann was associate producer. The film will be released early in November by Avramenko Films.