Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1942)

4 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, January 7, 1942 'Dinner' Gets Big $22,500, Philadelphia Philadelphia, Jan. 6.— The holiday season provided favorable grosses. The Boyd registered §22,500 for "The Man Who Came to Dinner." The Earle, with "Swing It, Soldier," and Woody Herman's band, grossed a heavy $28,000. Estimated receipts for the week ending Dec. 30Jan. 2: "H M Pulham, Esq." (M-G-M) <\LDINE — (1,400) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c) 6 days, 2nd week. (Gross: $8,500. (Average, $9,000) "Birth of the Blues" (Para.) ARCADIA — (600) (35c-46c-57c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $2,600) "The Man Who Came to Dinner" (W. B.) BOYD — (2,400) (35c-41c-46c-57c-6Sc) 7 days. Gross: $22,500. (Average, $13,000) "Swing It, Soldier" (Univ.) EARLE — (4,000) (35c-41c-46c-5/c-68c) 7 days Vaudeville including Woody Herman's orchestra. Lucille Ball, Desi Arnez, Billy De Wolfe, The Shyrettos, Bilhe Rogers, Carolyn Grey and Frankie Carlson. Gross: $2S,000. (Average, $14,000) "The Perfect Snob" (20th-Fox) FAY'S — (2,190) (15c-29c-35c-46c-57c) 7 days. Vaudeville including Tftza, Marty Bohn, Jed Dooley & Andree Evens, Max and his Gang, 6 Singing Diplomats, Gae Fosters' Roxyettes and Billy Klaiss' band. Gross: $9,800. (Average, $6,900) "You're in the Army Now" (W. B.) FOX— (3,000) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c) 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $13,000) "Kathleen" (M-G-M) KARLTON— (1,000) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c) 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $3,000) "Appointment for Love" (Univ.) KEITH'S — (2,200) (35c-41c-46c-57c-68c) 7 days, 2nd run. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $4,500) "Remember the Day" (ZOth-Fox) STANLEY — (2,700) (3Sc-41c-46c-57c-68c) 7 days. Gross: $11,500. (Average, $14,000) "Swamp Water" (2flth-Fox) STANTON— (1,700) (35c-46c-57c) 7 days, 4th week. Gross: $9,500. (Average, $4,500) Reviews 'Soldier' and Raye $19,000, Cincinnati Cincinnati, Jan. 6. — "Swing It, Soldier," with Martha Raye heading the stage show at the RKO Shubert, gave that house $19,000. "Tarzan's Secret Treasure" pulled $7,800 at Keith's, while "How Green Was My Valley" registered $14,500 at the RKO Albee. Estimated receipts for the week ending Dec. 31-Jan. 3: "How Green Was My Valley" (ZOth-Fox) RKO ALBEE— (3,300) (33c-40c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $14,500. (Average, $12,000) "Playmates" (RKO) RKO PALACE— (2,700 (33c-40c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $9,200. (Average, $10,000) "Swing It, Soldier" (Univ.) RKO SHUBERT— (2,150) (33c-44c-60c) 7 days. Stage: Martha Raye and acts. Gross: $19,000. (Average, $10,000) "Blues in the Night" (W. B.) "Target for Tonight" (W. B.) RKO CAPITOL— (2,000) (33c-40c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $3,700. (Average, $5,500) "The Men in Her Life" (Col.) RKO GRAND — (1,500) (33c-40c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $5,000) "Dumbo" (RKO) "Tan'fs a Million" (U. A.) RKO LYRIC— (1,500) (28c-33c-42c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $3,400. (Average, $4,500) "Confessions of a Nazi Spy" (W. B.) "Riot Squad" (Mono.) RKO FAMILY — (1,000) (15c-28c) 4 days. Gross: $1,200. (Average, $1,200) "Mr. District Attorney in Carter Case" (Rep.) "Sailors on Leave" (Rep.) RKO FAMILY(1,000) (15c-28c) 3 days. Gross: $900. (Average, $800) "Tarzan's Secret Treasure" (M-G-M) KEITH'S— (1,500) (33c-40c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $7,800. (Average, $5,000) "Joe Smith, American" (M-G-M) KEYED to the headlines in picturing the spirit of courage, determination and loyalty which characterizes the American workman, this simple picture may well be destined for "sleeper" business. Based on a Cosmopolitan Magazine story by Paul Gallico and a screenplay by Allen Rivkin, it has only one cast name of box-office significance, Robert Young. He is excellent as the young married man, a valued technician in a Coast airplane factory. In good support are Marsha Hunt, as his wife; Darryl Hickman, his young son; Russell Hicks, as the president of the company, and others. Designated to work on the installation of a valuable bomb sight after thorough investigation by Government men. Young is pursued in his car, kidnapped, beaten horribly and threatened with death unless he reveals the bomb sight plans. As he suffers, an off-screen voice records his mental reaction, his urging to himself to keep up, to hold on and tell nothing. When he eventually escapes from a moving car, although blindfolded, he has recorded mentally the progress of himself and his captors, and after he is rescued, he leads the Government agents and police in tracking the kidnapper-spies. Interplay preceding the climax pictures the spirit of the nation in the words and actions of his schoolboy son. As produced by Jack Chertok and directed by Richard Thorpe, the film moves rapidly and pointedly, and should serve admirably to picture the significant work of the unsung heroes who are the men behind the men behind the guns. Running time, 63 minutes. "G."* Charles S. Aaronson Short Subject Review "When Air Raids Strike" (March of Time— RKO) Another war subject pointing out I the perils of an inadequate system of I air raid defense and showing for our I edification the manner in which the I English function when an air raider is | sighted, this should be as welcome as I any of the better shorts on the sub I ject. It covers the proper handling of incendiary bombs, shows the home defense forces rushing into action and the behavior of civilians during a r/ The point is further stressed with. ^ showing of two "goofers" — as ttey I are called — who venture from the I shelter, endangering themselves and 1 others. In contrast, civilians here are seen preparing for what may come. J Running time, 20 minutes. Release, I Jan. 16, 1942. "A Gentleman at Heart" (20th CenturyFox) TJ ERE is light and amusing entertainment, which should fill the bill for *• most audiences in search of a chuckle or an hour's enjoyment. The yarn, taken from the Paul Hervey Fox story, "The Masterpiece," kids the old masters, art galleries and frenzied genius in likeable fashion. The cast is headed by Cesar Romero, Milton Berle, Carole Landis and J. Carrol Naish, and they give every evidence of enjoying themselves. Lee Loeb and Harold Buchman, who prepared the screenplay, and Ray McCarey, who directed for Producer Walter Morosco, have given the film humor and pace. Romero, big-time bookmaker, catches his employe, Berle, trying to pull a fast one, and so takes over the art gallery which Berle inherits, to square things. Romero's chief interest is the gallery's employe, Miss Landis, and he finds himself up to his ears in art and love with the girl. He engages in the "phony" racket, using the amazing skill of Naish in copying old masters, and very nearly finds himself headed for jail, but the situation is straightened in time. He gives the gallery to Miss Landis and her fellow-employe, Richard Derr, but she catches up with him at the close of the film. Berle demonstrates increasing skill in handling a comedy assignment. Running time, 66 minutes. "G."* Charles S. Aaronson *"G" denotes general classification. "Crimes at the Dark House (Times Pictures) Q OME of the murder melodrama staged in this is so unlikely that it ^ prompted chuckles among the patrons at the Central Theatre on Broadway. The fact is, however, that when the picture is in a more moderate vein it becomes less engaging. It was made in England with an all-British cast headed by one of England's chief exponents of whip-in-hand villainy, Tod Slaughter. Exploitation Pictures Co. imported the picture and the distribution is being handled by Times Pictures. Slaughter goes about masquerading as the Briton of note whom he murdered in the opening scene with the use of a hammer and chisel applied to the sleeping victim's skull. This and a number of other murders he commits in a most casual manner and with fiendish delight. It takes place for the most part in the typical big and dreary house. Oddette King produced. Running time, 62 minutes. "A."* Eugene Arneel *"A" denotes adult classification. 'Corsican' to Capitol "The Corsican Brothers," Edward Small production released by United Artists, will open at the Capitol on Broadway, following the current engagement of "Two-Faced Woman." Chicago Club Luncheon Chicago, Jan. 6. — The Reelfellows Club of Chicago will hold a luncheon at the Congress Hotel on Jan. 11, at which time the newly elected officers will be installed. 'Tarzan' Captures Lead in Providence j Providence, Jan. 6. — In an upturn in business generally, "Tarzan's Secret Treasure" and "The Lone Wolf's Secrets" took $15,000 at Loew's State. Estimated receipts for the week ending Dec. 31 : "Dumbo" (RKO) "An Obliging Young Lady" (RKO) RKO-ALBEE — (2,239) (28c-39c-50c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $8,200. (Average, $6,000) "Tarzan's Secret Treasure" (M-G-M) "The Lone Wolf's Secrets" (Col.) LOEW'S STATE— (3,232) (28c-39c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $11,000) "Remember the Day" (ZOth-Fox) "Rise and Shine" (20th-Fox) MAJESTIC— (2,250) (28c -39c -50c) 7 days. Gross: $9,600. (Average, $7,000) "Bedtime Story" (Col.) "Honolulu Lu" (Col.) STRAND — (2,200) (28c-39c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $6,000) "Mob Town" (Univ.) FAY'S— (1,800) (20c-33c-44c) 6 days. Stage show with Erna Fairchild; Charles Banks and Eileen Faye; Shirley LaValle; Rod Rogers; Olive White; Ray Dolph; the Three Kings. Gross: $6,200. (Average, $5,000) "Spooks Run Wild" (Mono.) METROPOLITAN — (3,045) (30c-39c-55c75c) 4 days. Stage show with Cab Calloway's Orchestra; the Six Jivers; Paul, Slim and Eddie; Anice and Alland; Cozy Cole. Gross: $9,700. (4-day average, $5,000) "Escort Girl" (State Rights) "Swamp Woman" (P.R.C.) PLAYHOUSE— (1,378) (28c-44c) 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $2,500) "One Foot in Heaven" (W.B.) "Target for Tonight" (W.B.) CARLTON— (1,526) (28c-39c-50c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $2,200. (Average, $3,500) "Sundown" (U.A.) (3 days) "Top Sergeant Mulligan" (Mono.) "You Belong to Me" (Col.) (4 days) "Nine Lives Are Not Enough" (W. B.) EMPIRE— (1.200) (20c-28c) 2nd run. Gross: $1,800. (Average, $1,800) 'Purchase' $13,000 Hit in Indianapolis Indianapolis, Jan. 6. — "Louisiana Purchase" and "Flying Cadets" at the Indiana took a smash $13,000 as first run business recovered. Estimated receipts for the week ending Jan. 1 : "Playmates" (RKO) "The Night of January 16" (Para.) CIRCLE— (2,800) (28c-33c-44c) 7 days. Gross: $7,800. (Average, $6,500) "Louisiana Purchase" (Para.) "Flying Cadets" (Univ.) INDIANA— (3,200) (28c-33c-44c) 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $7,000) "Tarzan's Secret Treasure" (M-G-M) "International Lady" (U. A.) LOEW'S — (2,800) (28c-33c-44c) 7 days. Cross: $9,200. (Average, $8,000) "Badlands of Dakota" (Univ.) "This Woman is Mine" (Univ.) LYRIC — (2,000) (28c-33c-44c) 7 days. Gross: $4,600. (Average, $4,500)