Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1940)

Motion Picture Daily 'Rebecca' Hits Good $8,500, Seattle's Best Hollywood Previews "On Their Own" (20th Century-Fox) Hollywood, April 8. — This number in the Jones Family is exploitable as the 17th in that long sustained series, as the first in many which has not had Jed Prouty in the cast and — if a showman feels like attempting something out of the ordinary in his exploitation of the feature — as "A Pollyanna 'Grapes of Wrath.' " For in this number the Jones Family goes broke, sells the old homestead, sets out for California in the family automobile and trailer with a gross capital of $400, traverses the same Route 66 that the Joad Family of "The Grapes of Wrath" traversed, but finds happiness and prosperity in California, specifically in Los Angeles and in operation of a bungalow court in that city. Whether or not this similarity of geographic movement and economic motivation was designed for the purpose of providing showmen with an unique exploitation opportunity, the parallel is indicated both in scenic setting and dialogue so manifestly as to make such an advertising campaign practicable. The absence of Prouty is not conspicuous. The story starts with him in the hospital with a nervous breakdown and raises no reason for showing him to the audience. Spring Byington is the mainspring of the action, aided by Ken Howell, George Ernest, June Carlson, Florence Roberts, Billy Mahan, Marguerite Chapman, John Qualen and a host of others, character actors, vaudevillians, musicians and dogs. The Hollywood preview audience reacted favorably to the humor throughout. Running time, 65 minutes. "G."* Roscoe Williams "Curtain Call" (RKO) Hollywood, April 8. — Well paced for its comedy situations, "Curtain Call" features Barbara Read, Alan Mowbray, Helen Vinson, Donald MacBride and John Archer in a story of a young playwright made to realize that the romance of the stage can be secondary to the romance of home and marriage. The amateurish play written by the young authoress portrayed by Miss Read is accepted as a stage vehicle by a case-hardened producer and his director as a means of forcing their star to stay with them rather than going to work with another producer. The star, enacted by Miss Vinson, thinks the play a masterpiece, however, with screen comedy resulting from the director's attempts to turn the play from melodrama to farce. Howard Benedict produced the picture in his initial venture as producer, with Frank Woodruff directing. The screenplay was written by Dalton Trumbo, from a story by Howard J. Green. Running time, 60 minutes. "G."* W. S. "Enemy Agent" (Universal) Hollywood, April 8. — Universal's "Enemy Agent" is a melodrama on which, by virtue of its background of spies seeking to steal the secret of a new American bomb plane sight, an exploitation campaign appealing to action fans can be based. It is 60 minutes of action suspense and comedy. Richard Cromwell, Helen Vinson, Robert Armstrong and Marjorie Reynolds have the leading roles, supported by Jack Arnold, Russell Hicks, Philip Dorn, Jack LaRue, Bradley Page, Abner Biberman, Luis Alberni, Jack Carson and Milburn Stone. The screenplay by Sam Robins and Edmund L. Hartmann, who adapted the original story by Robins, has Cromwell, a draftsman in an aviation plant, suspected of plotting to steal the bomb sight plans. "Framed," Cromwell is discharged and, through a burglary of a fellow worker's apartment, finds evidence to clear his name. Complications arise when the evidence is stolen from his car, and at the climax, the real spies are captured. Lew Landers directed the Ben Pivar production. Running time, 60 minutes. "G."* Vance King 6 Seattle, April 8. — Six holdover attractions and only one new first run kept grosses down. "Rebecca" at the Liberty in its second week took $8,500 to show the best comparative gross. "Pinocchio" was the only new attraction, where it gathered about $8,000 and earned another week's run. Estimated takings for the week ending April 5 : "Young Torn Edison" (M-G-M) "Charlie Chan in Panama" (28th-Fox) BLUE MOUSE— (550) (25c-40c-55c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $3,300. (Average, $4,000) "Strange Cargo" (M-G-M) "Free, Blonde and 21" (ZOth-Fox) FIFTH AVENUE— (2,500) (25c-40c-55c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $7,000) "Rebecca" (U. A.) LIBERTY— (1,800) (25c-40c-55c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $5,000) "The Bluebird" (20th-Fox) MUSIC BOX— (950) (25c-40c-55c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $3,100. (Average, $4,000) "The Road to Singapore" (Para.) "Oh Johnny How You Can Love" (Univ.) ORPHEUM— (2,450) (25c-40c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $6,000) "Virginia City" (W. B.) PALOMAR — (1,500) (25c-40c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,100. (Average, $5,000) "Pinocchio" (RKO) "Little Orvie" (RKO) PARAMOUNT— (3,050) (25c-40c) 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $6,000) 'Pinocchio* Strong $7,600, Providence Providence, April 8. — With four programs doing a second week in town, business held up well. "Rebecca" and "Little Orvie," held over at Loew's State, held the gross up to an average $11,000, and "The Road to Singapore" and "Black Limelight" gave the Strand $7,200. Estimated takings for the week ending April 3-4: "Pinocchio" (RKO) "Millionaire Playboy" (RKO) RKOALB EE — (2,239) (25c-35c-50c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,600. (Average, $6,000) "Rebecca" (U. A.) "Little Orvie" (RKO) LOEW'S STATE— (3,232) (25c-35c-50c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $11,000) "I Take This Woman" (M-G-M) "Man From Montreal" (Univ.) MAJESTIC— (2,250) (25c-35c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $7,000) "Road to Singapore" (Para.) "Black Limelight" (Alliance) STRAND— (2,200) (25c-35c-50c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $6,000) "Viva Cisco Kid" (2<rth-Fox) FAY'S— (1,800) (25c-35c-40c) 7 days. Stage show with Mayfair Accordian Ensemble; Johnny Sully and Muriel Thomas; Kenny and Norris; White and Manning; Paul Nolan and Co. Gross: $5,100. (Average, $6,500) "Virginia City" (W. B.) CARLTON-0,526) (25c-35c-50c) 7 days. 2nd week. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $3,500) "Sidewalks of London" (Para.) (3 days) "Charlie Chan in Panama" (20th-Fox) (3 days) "The Earl of Chicago" (M-G-M) (4 days) "Swiss Family Robinson" (RKO) (4 days) EMPIRE— (2,200) (20c-30c) 2nd run. Gross: $1,500. (Average, $1,700) Two Companies Formed Albany, April 8. — Gloria Pictures Corp. has been formed here with authorized capital stock of $50,000. Incorporators are Helen Willner, Leo Taub and Harold M. Geller, New York. O. & J., Inc., has also been formed to conduct a theatre business by Harold O. Johnson, John S. 01sen, A. S. Cutler and Abe Males, .New York. * "G" denotes general classification. Projectionists' Fete Boston, April 8. — The 30th anniversary celebration of the Motion Picture Projectionists of Boston is scheduled for the Copley Plaza Hotel on May 1. An exhibit of projection machines from 1890 up to the present time has been arranged. Odium Heads Troops Montrea, April 8. — Brig-Gen. V. W. Odium, vice-chairman of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., will command the second division of Canadian active service force. He has been a member of the CBC board of governors since its inception in 1936. Tuesday, April 9, 1940 'Seventeen,' Unit on Stage Set Loop Pace Chicago, April 8. — "Seventeen," aided by Bonnie Baker and Orrin Tucker's band, ran up a terrific gross at the Chicago, $55,600. "I Take This Woman" at the Roosevelt drVfa $12,000, while holdovers domnv)|^n,'. the rest of the Loop. Mild weather helped. Estimated takings for the week ending April 3-6 : "Of Mice and Men" (U. A.) APOLLO— (1,400) (35c-55c-75c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $6,200. (Average, $6,000) "Seventeen" (Para.) CHICAGO^(4,000) (35c-55c-75c) 7 days. Stage: Orrin Tucker's Band, and Bonnie Baker. Gross: $55,600. (Average, $32,000) "Road to Singapore" (Para.) GARRICK— (1,000) (35c-55c-75c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $6,100. (Average, $5,000) "Gone With the Wind" (M-G-M) ORIENTAL— (3,200) (75c-$1.10-$1.50) 7 days, 10th week. Gross: $32,000. (Average, $13,000) "Pinocchio" (RKO) "Courageous Dr. Christian" (RKO) PALACE— (2,500) (35c-55c-75c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $12,400. (Average, $12,000) "I Take This Woman" (M-G-M) ROOSEVELT — (1,300) (35c-55c-75c) 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $11,000) "Slightly Honorable" (W. B.) STATELAKE— (2,700) (25c-35c-50c) 7 days. Stage: Little Jack Little & Band. Gross: $15,800. (Average, $14,000) "Young Tom Edison" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,700) (35c-55c-75c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $8,600. (Average, $14,000) "Gone With the Wind" (M-G-M) WOODS — (1,100) ($1.10-$1.50) 7 days. 10th week. Gross: $11,800 'Singapore' $15,500 Is Best in Cincinnati Cincinnati, April 8. — Despite warm weather which offered aa outof-doors lure, "The Road to Singapore" gave the RKO Palace a smash $15,500, while "Pinocchio" had a $10,000 second week at the RKO Albee. Other houses, although below average, were ahead of the previous week. Estimated takings for the week ending April 3-6: "Pinocchio" (RKO) RKO ALBEE— (3,300) (35c-42c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $12,000) "Road to Singapore" (Para.) RKO PALACE— (2,700) (35c -42c) 7 days. Gross: $15,500. (Average, $10,000) "Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet" (F. N.) RKO SHUBERT— (2,150) (35c-42c) 7 days. Gross: $6,800. (Average, $10,000) "Virginia City" (W. B.) RKO CAPITOL— (2,000) (35c-42c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $6,500) "Seventeen" (Para.) RKO LYRIC — (1,400) (25c-40c) 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $5,000) "Calling Philo Vance" (W. B.) "The Telegraph Trail" (W. B.) RKO FAMILY— (1,000) (15c-25c) 4 days Gross: $1,300. (Average, $1,500) "Zanzibar" (Univ.) "Granny Get Your Gun" (W. B.) RKO FAMILY— (1,000) (15c -25c) 3 days. Gross: $«00. (Average, $900) "Sidewalks of London" (Para.) KEITH'S— (1,500) (30c-40c) 7 days. Gross: $4,900. (Average, $6,000) CEA Meeting July 9 London, April 8. — The Cinematograph Exhibitors Association will hold its annual Summer conference at Bournemouth on July 9 and 10. The meeting will be shorter than usual. Metro Buys 'Jekyll' M-G-M has purchased the rights to Robert Louis Stevenson's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," and is planning a production in England, with Robert Donat in the dual starring role.