Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1941)

lursday, August 21. 1°41 Motion Picture Daily 5 rovidence Smash Grosser Is 'Ghost' I1' Provioknce. Aug. 20.— The RKOjlbee for its reopening had "Hold M Ghost" and "Repent at Leisure." |hich took a strong $14,000. Busies elsewhere was off. Estimated receipts for the week "ne Aug. 13-14: bat Ghost" (Univ.) >m,at at Leisure" (RKO) ' KKO-ALBEE — (2.239) (28c-39c-50c) bvs. Gross: $14,000. (Average. S6.000) "Whistling in the Dark" (M-G-M) The Stars Look Down" (M-G-M) ..DEW'S STATE i 3.232 i i2!<c-39c-50c) lavs. Gross: S8.WO. (Average. $11,000) Underground" (W. B.) Kisses for Breakfast" (W.B.) MA TESTIC— (2.250) (28c-39c-50c) Iross: $7,100. (Average. $7,100) "Kiss the Boys Goodbye" (Para.) •Puddin' Head" (Rep.) STRAND (2.200) (28c-39c-50c I 7 oss: $7,000. (Average. $6,000) ""Sunset ir. Wyoming" (Rep.) "Kitty Foyle" (RKO) FAY'S -(1.800) (15c-25c-35c) 7 Gross: $2,400. (Average, $2,800) "Charley's Aunt" (20th-Fox) 'Ride on Vaquero" (20th-Fox) CARLTON— (1.536) (28c-39c-50c) 2nd week. Gross: $2,300. (Average. "West Point Widow" (Para.) (3 days) "Time Out for Rhythm"" (Col.) (3 days) -They Met in Bombay" (M-G-M) (4 days) "'The Monster ar.d the Girl" (Para.) (4 days) EMPIRE — (1.200) (20c-28c) 2nd run. 'Cross: $1,400. (Average. $1,700) days. days. days : days. $3,500) Review 'Kiss,' 'Manpower' Strong in Mpls. Minneapolis, Aug. 20. — "Kiss the Boys Goodbye" drew $7,000 at the State theatre, while "Manpower" collected $7,500 at the Orpheum. Estimated receipts for the week ending Aug. 15 : "Tom, Dick and Harry" (RKO) WORLD— (350) (28c-39c-44c-55c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $1,900. (Average. $1,600) "Kiss the Boys Goodbye" (Para.) STATE— (3,300) (38c-39c-44c) 7 days. Gross: $7,600. (Average, $6,000) •Shepherd of the Hills" (Para.) CENTl'RY— (1,600) (28c-39c-44c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $6,000. (Average. $4,000) 'Manpower" W. B.) ORPHEl"M-<2,800) (28c-39c-44c) 7 days. With Dr. IQ on stage, one night. Gross: 57.500. (Average. $5,500) "The Big Store" (M-G-M) GOPHER— (998) (28c) 7 days. Gross: 52,400. (Average, $2,500) "Raiders of the Desert" (Univ.) 2 days "For Beauty's Sake" (Fox) 2 days 'Bullets for O'Hara" (W. B.) S days "I'll Wait for You" (M-G-M) 5 days ASTER— (900) (15c-28c) 7 davs. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $1,800) Indianapolis Gives 'Ghost' Big $10,000 Indianapolis, Aug. 20. — The Indiana, reopening after two months, did $10,000 with "Hold that Ghost" and "liit the Road." "Bullets for O'Hara" on the screen and Clyde McCoy's band on the stage brought the Lvric $11,500. Estimated receipts for the week ending Aug. 15 : "The Reluctant Dragon" (RKO) "Tight Shoes" (Univ.) CIRCLE— (2,800) (28c-33c-44c) 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average. $6,000) "Hold That Ghost" (Univ.) "Hit the Road" (Univ.) INDIANA — (3,200) (28c-33c-44c) 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average. $6,000) "Ringside Maisie" (M-G-M) "That Uncertain Feeling" (U. A.) LOEW'S— (2,800) (28c-33c-44c) 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average. $7,000) "Bullets for O'Hara" (W. B.) LYRIC (2.000) (30c-40c-50c) 7 days. Stage: Clyde McCoy's band, with the Rigoletto brothers, Sylvia & Clemence. Keaton & Arnfield. Gross: $11,500. (Average, $8,000) "Lydia' (Korda-U. .-i. — 1941-42 Release) HP HE story of a woman and her life as affected by the four men who loved her. thi> Alexander Korda film is a hue production, endowed with splendid direction, ami with wide feminine appeal. It has a tendency to move slowly, a factor somewhat compensated by the excellence of the production as a whole, its technical quality and fine ^etting^, typical of the Korda style, and the work of a fine cast, although it is not too well known. Julien Duvivier demonstrates a sure touch in his direction. He also had a hand in the original story. The slowness of the pace stems from the necessarily episodic result of the flashback method by which the story is unfolded. In the title role, Merle Oberon offers a warm, intelligent portrayal, while the four men who loved her are played expertly by Alan Marshal, Joseph Cotton, Hans Yaray and George Reeves. Edna May Oliver is perfect as the girl's dowager grandmother, and John Halliday is fine as the butler and father of Cotton. After a home for children is dedicated, its sponsor, Miss Oberon, an elderly woman, meets Cotton, a successful doctor, an old lover and friend. They meet again later, with Yaray, blind concert pianist, and Reeves, night club owner, also present. There the story of Lydia is recounted, by herself and the men. There are her first meeting w ith Cotton, young doctor, and his love for the Boston girl ; her brief romantic fling with the football hero, Reeves, and, when she turns to her eventual life work, the care of blind children, the love which the blind musician has for her. Focus of the story and of Lydia's life is her meeting and headlong romance with Marshal, with the two weeks they spend together on the island which belongs to Lydia's family as the crux of the story. The clear indication that they arc living together here makes of this adult entertainment. Then Marshal disappears, and when, about to marry Cotton, her grandmother dies, Lydia realizes she can never forget Marshal, and resolves to remain unmarried. When Marshal appears at Cotton's invitation at this meeting of four old people, all her old love for him stirs again, to be finally quieted by the realization that Marshal does not even know who she is. Running time, 104 minutes. "A."* Charlf.s S. Aakonson. * "A" denotes adult classification. 'Maisie' and Show $18,500, Philadelphia Philadelphia, Aug. 20. — While business at the downtown houses continued sluggish, good grosses were registered on two openings. At the Earle, "Ringside Masie," with Frankie Masters' orchestra and Dennis Day on the stage, made $18,500. "Bad Men of Missouri" gave the Stanton a big week with $7,000 Estimated receipts for the ending Aug. 12-14 : "The Big Store" (M-G-M) "Ruggles of Red Gap" (Para.) ARCADIA— (600) (35c-46c-57c) 4 2nd run. $1,650 ; 3 days, revival, $850 week days, day average, $2,500. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $2,600) "My Life With Caroline" (RKO) BOYD— (2,400) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c) 7 days. Gross: $9,500. (Average. $13,000) "Ringside Maisie" (M-G-M) EARLE — (4,000) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c) 7 days with vaudeville including Frankie Master's orchestra. Lou Hearst. Buddy Shiftman, Woody Kessler, Jay Matthews. Phyllis Myles, Dennis Day. Arnaut Brothers and Lane & Ward. Gross: $18,500. (Average, $14,000) "Charley's Aunt" (20th-Fox) FON— (3,000) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c) 7 davs. Gross: $13,000. (Average. $13,000) "The Bride Came C. O. D." (W. B.) KARLTON — (1,000) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c) 7 days. 2nd week, 2nd run. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $3,000) "Tern, Dick and Harry" (RKO) KEITH'S— (2.2CO) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c) 7 davs, 2nd run. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $4,500) "Manpower" (W. B.) STANLEY— (2.700) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c) 7 days. 2nd week. Gross: $9,500. (Average. $14,000) "Bad Men of Missouri" (W. B.) STANTON— (1.7C0) (35c-46c-57c) 7 davs. Gross: $7,000. (Average. $4,500) 'Whistling' Capital Winner at $25,000 Washington, Aug. 20. — '"Whistling in the Dark," at Loew's Capitol, combined with a vaudeville bill, drew a strong $25,000. "Sergeant York," in its second week at Warner's Earle, did $16,600. Estimated receipts for the week ending Aug. 13-14: "Charley's Aunt" (20th-Fox) LOEW'S PALACE— (2.300) (39c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $14,500. (Average. $15,000) "Tom, Dick and Harry" (RKO) KKO -KEITH'S — (1,834) (39c-55c) 7 days. 2nd week. Gross: $9,500. (Average, $8,000) "Sergeant York" (W.B.) WARNER'S EARLE— (2.200) (75c-$1.10) 7 days, 2nd week. On stage: Helen Faye. Enrica, & Norvello. Tonv Donadio. Gross: $16,600 "Whistling in the Dark" (M-G-M) LOEW'S CAPITOL— (3.434) (28c-39c-55c66c-77c) 7 days. On stage: Tony Pastor and his orchestra, Bobby Pine, Ruth Foster, Virginia Austin. Gross : $25,000. (Average, $15,500) 'They Met in Bombay" (M-G-M) LOEW'S COLUMBIA— (1,250) (28c-44c) 7 days, return engagement. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $3,500) "'The Bride Came C.O.D." (W. B.) WARNER'S METROPOLITAN— (1.600) (28c-44c) 7 days, return engagement. Gross: $4,400. (Average. $3,500) Drivers Pay Raised Pittsburgh, Aug. 20. — Pay increases of five cents an hour and one week's vacation with pay were terms of settling the Exhibitors Service Co. strike of drivers and mechanics, president George Callahan revealed. Delivery of film to more than 350 theatres in the Tri-State area had been stopped for more than a week by the strike. JOHN BE ALFLORENCE RICE EDWARD NORR1S • WARD BOND JACQUES TOURNEUR • Director SCREEN PLAY BY THEODORE REEVES and ISABEL DAWN • ORIGINAL STORY by THEODORE REEVES TITLE FROM LIBERTY MAGAZINE STORY Associate Producer ■ ALBERT J. COHEN