Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1942)

4 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, January 6, 1942 10 New Films Finished; 33 Now in Work Reviews Hollywood, Jan. 5. — Thirty -three pictures were before the cameras this week, as 10 finished and only one started. Twenty-nine are being prepared and 64 are being edited. Twentieth Century-Fox is currently the busiest studio, with eight in work. The tally by studio : Columbia Finished : "Trinidad." In Work: "Camp Nuts," "Blondie's Blessed Event." Korda (U. A.) Finished: "To Be or Not To Be." M-G-M Finished: "Along Came . . . Murder," "The Courtship of Andy Hardy," "This Time for Keeps." In Work : "Monkey Delano," "Fingers at the Window," "Tarzan Against the World," "Tortilla Flat," "Ship Ahoy," "Rio Rita," "Mrs. Miniver." Paramount Finished: "American Empire." In Work: "The Palm Beach Story," "Take a Letter, Darling," "Holiday Inn," "Mr. and Mrs. Cugat," "My Favorite Blonde," "Out of the Frying Pan." RKO In Work: "My Favorite Spy," "The Turtles of Tahiti," "The Magnificent Ambersons." Republic In Work : "Yokel Boy," "Sleepytime Gal," "South of Santa Fe." Roach (U. A.) Finished: "About Face," "Cobana." 20th Century-Fox In Work : "Ten Gentlemen from West Point," "My Gal Sal," "Moontide," "This Above All," "Rings on Her Fingers," "Tales of Manhattan," 'To the Shores of Tripoli," "The Night Before the Divorce." Universal In W ork : "The Ghost of Frankenstein," "The Saboteur." Warners Finished: "In This Our Life." In Work : "Yankee Doodle Dandy." "Young America" (20th Century-Fox) Hollywood, Jan. 5 THIS Jane Withers vehicle is a full and competent screen presentation of the work, ideals and objectives of the Four H Clubs of America. Its appeal to the vast membership of these is direct and powerful. Support from this quarter and from persons and organizations interested in and sympathetic to the institution would appear a foregone conclusion. Miss Withers' associates in the picture are Jane Darwell, Lynne Roberts, William Tracy, Robert Cornell, Roman Bohnen, Irving Bacon, Ben Carter, Louise Beavers, Darryl Hickman, Sally Harper, Carmencita Johnson, Daphne Ogden, Charles Arnt, Myra Marsh and Hamilton MacFadden. The original screenplay by Samuel G. Engel takes Miss Withers, a spoiled city girl, to the country, where she learns about the Four H Clubs and joins the local unit, principally because she is attracted to its president, but is not won over to sincerity until a series of incidents which places her in the position of seeming responsibility for a breach of club ethics at the expense of a fellow-member. Quite a bit of story tension is built up before her conversion to the principles of the organization occurs and a happy ending is brought about. Louis King directed for executive producer Sol Wurtzel. Running time, 73 minutes. "G"* Roscoe Williams 'Deny,' Band Gets $19,000, Phila. is Slow "Mexican Spitfire at Sea" (RKO) THIS differs from the previous "Spitfire" pictures in title and little else. Basically the same story is told with much -ado by the same players. It centers about Leon Errol who goes in one door as "Uncle Matt" and out the other as "Lord Epping." Errol is a clever comedian, but the comedy provided by him and the other players in the film is now no longer fresh. The farce takes place aboard ship where Lupe Velez continues her marital squabbles with Charles "Buddy" Rogers, who is still competing with Eddie Dunn for a .business contract. Miss Velez induces "Uncle Matt" to masquerade as "Lord Epping" and promote peace between herself and her husband. • This he does, of course, and arranges for Zasu Pitts to pose as "Lady Epping." Difficulties develop as the real "Lord" and "Lady" are aboard — the difficulties being reminiscent of the pie-flinging era. Leslie Goodwins gave the comedy a brisk direction. Cliff Reid produced. Running time, 73 minutes. "G"* Eugene Arneel 'Dumbo' and Band $14,500 in Buffalo Buffalo, Jan. 5. — "Dumbo" and a new theatre orchestra policy led here at the Twentieth Century with a big $14,500. Estimated receipts for the week ending Dec. 27 : "The Chocolate Soldier" (M-G-M) "Glamor Boy" (Para.) BUFFALO — (3,489) (35c-55c) 6 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $12,0001 "One Foot in Heaven" (W. B.) "AllAmerican Co-Ed" (U. A.) GREAT LAKES— (3,000) (35c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $7,500) "Swamp Water" (ZOth-Fox) "The Devil Pays Off" (Rep.) HIPPODROME— (2,100) (35c-50c) 6 days. Gross: $7,400. (Average, $6,800) "Dumbo" (RKO) "The Tanks Are Coming" (W. B.) "The March of Time" (RKO) TWENTIETH CENTURY— (3,000) (35c55c) 7 days. Meyer Balsom conducting the orchestral ensemble in "A Christmas Festival," with Gertrude Lutzi, vocalist. Gross: $14,500. (Average, $7,500) "Keep 'Em Flying" (Univ.) "Sing Another Chorus" (Univ.) LAFAYETTE — (3.000) f35c-50c) 6 days, 3rd week. Gross: $5,900. (Average, $6,300) "Don't Get Personal" ( Universal) Hollywood, Jan. 5 CAVE in that it supplies showmen with some names for marquee dressing on such an occasion as other material on the bill may lack them in adequate number, this comedy displays scant usefulness. It is a light affair that strives too hard to make commonplace material stand up as comedy in a vein that has been worked many times beyond the modest lengths explored by these craftsmen. Hugh Herbert in a characteristic performance gives the proceedings a spark of interest at points along a dull course which cramps his style. Mischa Auer, Jane Frazee, Anne Gwynne, Robert Paige, Richard Davies, Ernest Truex, Andrew Tombes, Sterling Holloway, Ray Walker, Eddie Waller and Tim Ryan are the other members of the cast. The script by Hugh Wedlock, Jr., and Howard Snyder, from a story by Bernard Frins, deals with an eccentric who attempts to arrange the lives of some radio people employed by an agency serving a business which he has inherited. It is a transparent tale unfolded in terms of situations and dialogue which fail to relieve the tedium of the telling. Ken Goldsmith is down as associate producer and Charles Lamont as director. Running time, 60 minutes. "G."* Roscoe Williams 'G" denotes general classification. Legion Approves 8 Of 10 New Pictures The National Legion of Decency for the current week has approved eight of 10 new pictures, three for general patronage and five for adults, while two were classed as objectionable in part. The new films and their classification follow : Class A-l, Unobjectionable for General Patronage: — "Come On, Danger," "Duke of the Navy," "Riot Squad." Class A-2, Unobjectionable for Adults — "Confessions of Boston Blackie," "Harvard, Here I Come," "Johnny Eager," "Mr. and Mrs. North," "Today I Hang." Class B Objectionable in Part — "Shanghai Gesture," "Sullivan's Travels." Philadelphia, Jan. 5. — The war situation and pre-Christmas shopping proved too much, with the result that the pre-holiday slump was lower tJ^-» former years. The best business A . recorded at the Earle, taking in 000 with "Confirm or Deny" and Charlie Spivak's band on the stage. Estimated receipts for the week ended Dec. 23-26 : "H. M. Pulham, Esq." (M-G-M) ALD'INE — (1,400) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c) 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $9,000) "Birth of the Blues" (Para.) ARCADIA— (600) (35c-46c-57c) days, 2nd run. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $2,600) "Shadow of the. Thin Man" (M-G-M) BOYD— (2,400) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c) 7 days, 2nd run. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $13,000) "Confirm or Deny" (ZOth-Fox) EARLE — (4,000) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c) 7 days. Vaudeville including Carol Bruce, Ray Bolger, Charlie Spivak's orchestra, Garry Stevens, Bunny Shawker and The Stardusters. Gross: $19,000. (Average, $14,000) "Sing Another Chorus" (Univ.) FAY'S— (2,190) (15c-29c-35c-46c-57c) 7 days. Vaudeville including Vicki Wells, Jack Anthony & Harry Rogers, Jean, Jack & Judy, Paul Rich, Gae Foster's Roxyettes and Billy Klaiss' orchestra. Gross: $5,800. (Average, $6,900) "Appointment for Love" (Univ.) FOX — (3,000) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c) 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $13,000) "They Died With Their Boots On" (W. B.) KARLTON — (1,000) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c). ;, 6 days, 2nd run, 2nd week. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $3,000) "It Started With Eve" (Univ.) KEITH'S — (2,200) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c) 7 days, 2nd run. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $4,500) "Design for Scandal" (M-G-M) STANLEY— (2,700) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c) 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $14,000) "Swamp Water" (2flth-Fox) STANTON — (1,700) (35c-46c-57c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $4,500) Indianapolis Gross Far Below Average Indianapolis, Jan. 5. — With all first runs below par, the week was slow. It was the worst of 1941, despite mild weather and slight competition. Estimated receipts for the week ending Dec. 24-25 : "All That Money Can Buy" (RKO) "Glamour Boy" (Para.) CIRCLE — (2,800) (28c-33c-44c) 7 days. Gross: $4,200. (Average, $6,500) "Rise and Shine'' (20th-Fox) "Moon Over Her Shoulder" (20th-Fox) INDIANA — (3,200) (28c-33c-44c) 7 days. Gross: $4,600. (Average, $7,000) "Design for Scandal" (M-G-M) "Sing for Your Supper" (Col.) LOEWS— (2,800) . (28c-33c-44c) 6 days Gross: $5,800. (7-day average, $8,000) "Look Who's Laughing" (RKO) "The Gay Falcon" (RKO) LYRIC— (2,000) (28c-33c-44c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $3,600. (Average, $4,500) Resume Buffalo Shows Buffalo, Jan. 5. — Shea's Buffalo Theatre will return to stage and musical attractions, according to Vincent R. McFaul, general manager of the Shea circuit, opening with Cab Calloway and his Cotton Club or chestra on Friday. Basketball Tomorrow The Motion Picture Basketbal League will hold a basketball doubk, header and dance tomorrow evening1 at the Hecksher Foundation. The Un versal team will play Paramount, and M-G-M will meet International Pro jector, with dancing to follow. It