Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1943)

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6 Motion Picture Daily Friday, January 8, 1943 'Morocco' Tops Chicago Week, Hefty $65,000 Chicago, Jan. 7. — Box-office receipts soared last week when a number of good pictures benefited from the holiday crowds and higher prices for New Year's Eve. Two musicals. "Road to Morocco" at the Chicago, doing §65,000, and "For Me and My Gal" at the State-Lake, with $37,000, were tops. Estemiated receipts for week the ending Jan. 1 : "Seven Sweethearts" (M-G-M) 7 days "Street of Chance" (Para.) 7 days APOLLO— (1,400) (36c-55c-6Sc-75c). Gross: $9,000. (Average, $5,000) "Road to Morocco" (Para.) 7 days CHICAGO— (4.000) (36c-S5c-75c). Stage: Les Brown Orchestra. Gross: $65,000. (Average, $32,000) "Springtime in the Rockies" (20th-Fox) 7 days, 3rd week in loop GARRICK— (1,000) (36c-55c-65c-75c). Gross: $12,000. (Average, $8,000) "Lady in Distress" (CoL) 7 days ORIENTAL — (3.200) (27c -31c -50c -59c). Stage: Eddy Howard Orchestra. Gross: $28,000. (Average, $16,000) "The Navy Ccmes Through" (RKO) 7 days, 3rd week ''That Other Woman" (20th-Fox) 7 days, 3rd week PALACE— (2,500 (40c-55c-75c). Gross: $18,000. (Average, $13,000) "George Washington Slept Here" (W. B.) 7 days ROOSEVELT — (1,500) (36c-55c-65c-75c). Gross: $22,000. (Average, $11,000) "For Me and My Gal" (M-G-M) 7 days STATELAKE— (2,700) (36c-55c-6Sc-75c). Gross: $37,000. (Average, $14,000) "Moon and Sixpence" (U. A.) 7 days UNITED ARTISTS — (1,700) (36c-55c-65c75c). Gross: $22,000. (Average, $14,000) Seattle Takes Up Despite Holdovers Seattle, Jan. 7. — The holiday week, even with several holdovers, hit top stride here. "Road to Morocco" in its second week at the Paramount, took a big $11,600 and "White Cargo" continued well above par at the Fifth Avenue. "War Against Mrs. Hadley" at the Music Hall and "I Married a Witch" at the Liberty did good business. Weather was generally good. Estimated receipts for the week ending Dec. 31 : "Springtime in the Rockies" (20th-Fox) "Bambi" (RKO) BLUE MOUSE— (950) (40c-50c-65c-80c) 7 days, 4th week. Moved from Paramount and Fifth Avenue. Gross: $4,600. (Aver age, $4,500) "White Cargo" (M-G-M) "Seven Sisters" (M-G-M) FIFTH AVENUE — (2,500) (40c-50c-65c80c) 7 days. Gross: $9,900. (Average. $9 000) "I Married a Witch" (U.A.) "The Devil With Hitler" (U.A.) LIBERTY — (1.800) (40c-50c-65c-80c) 7 days. Gross: $7,950. (Average, $7,500) "Forest Rangers" (Para.) "That Other Woman" (ZOth-Fox) MUSIC BOX— (950) (40c-50c-65c-80c) 7 days, 4th week. Moved from Fifth Avenue. Gross: $4,300. (Average, $4,500) "The War Against Mrs. Hadley" (M-G-M) "Tish" (M-G-M) MUSIC HALL— (2,275) (40c -50c -65c -80c) 7 days. Gross: $7,300. (Average, S7.500) "Now, Voyager" (W.B.) "Over My Dead Body" (ZOth-Fox) ORPHEUM — (2,450) (40c-50c-65c-80c) 7 days. 2nd week. Gross: $8,400. (Average. $9,000) "Sherlock Holmes in Washington" (Univ.) PALOMAR — (1,500) (30c-42c-58c-70c) 7 days. Stage: Vaudeville headed by Les Cole and His Debs. Gross: $7,700. (Average, $7,500) "Road to Morocco" (Para.) "Street of Chance" (M-G-M) PARAMOUNT — (3,050) (40c-50c-65c-80c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $11,600. (Average. $9,000) Reviews "Shadow of a Doubt" (Universal ) DIRECTOR ALFRED HITCHCOCK, with a very capable cast headed by Joseph Cotten and Teresa Wright, has turned out another of his masterpieces in the mood of fear and suspicion. Joseph Cotten, the beloved "Uncle Charlie" whose criminal past is unknown to his doting family, plays a fascinating role in juxtaposition to niece Teresa Wright, the only person to realize the truth about the returned uncle. The story centers around these two — the murderer who ruthlessly seeks to save himself at any cost, and the niece who is torn between the necessity for justice and her wish to keep her family from being hurt. Thornton Wilder, Sally Benson and Alma Reville have written an excellent screenplay for the Gordon McDonell's story. Hitchcock again demonstrates his ability to build, through detail and nuances of hidden meaning, the thrilling and dramatic climaxes which characterize his pictures. Jack H. Skirball produced the thriller. The supporting cast contributes to the quality of the production. Patricia Collinge, as Miss Wright's mother and Cotten's sister, gives a splendid performance of a woman immersed in the joys of seeing a a long absent brother, but oblivious to his obvious defects. Macdonald Carey, Henry Travers, Hume Cronyn, Wallace Ford and Edna May Wonacott complete the list of capable actors. Running time, 108 minutes. "A." * *"A" denotes adult classification. "Chetniks" (20th Century-Fox) GRIPPING, intense emotion and excellent acting characterize "Chetniks," the Sol Wurtzel production starring Philip Dorn as the Jugoslav guerilla leader, Gen. Draja Mihailovitch, and Anna Sten as his heroic wife. Taken from contemporary newspaper accounts, the film is stirring and suspense-filled in depicting the courageous actions of freedom-loving Jugoslavs in defying the Nazi conquerors of their country and continuing the fight against them. In addition to the larger scope of the picture — the theme of the struggle against Nazism by an independent people of real integrity — there is the more personal story of Mihailovitch's dramatic decision when he was forced to choose between the cause he believes in and the lives of his wife and children. Everything necessary to a fast moving audience-drawing film has been included in "Chetniks," and director Louis King has done a fine job of pacing the picture. Also, good casting finds Merrill Rodin and Patricia Prest doing well with the roles of the children, and John Shepperd and Virginia Gilmore as the young lovers. A stirring musical background is provided by the "Song of the Chetniks." Others in the cast are Martin Kosleck, Felix Basch, Frank Lackteen and Leroy Mason. Running time, 73 minutes. "G." * "Margin for Error" (20th Century-Fox) Hollywood, Jan. 7 'T~' HE widely publicized incident of Mayor LaGuardia's assignment ■*• of Jewish police officers to guard the Nazi consulate in New York furnishes the springboard for the story of "Margin for Error," 20th Century-Fox adaptation of the Broadway play by Clare Boothe. From that incident, which occurred while the United States was still neutral, the film story dallies uncertainly to its climax, the movement being restricted to stage-like action. While the consul is being guarded by the Jewish policeman, there arises inside of the building a tense situation in which the consul's wife, his male secretary and the head of the GermanAmerican bund are placed in positions to kill the diplomat. The consul is poisoned, stabbed and shot, but is found to have committed suicide inadvertently. Milton Berle in a straight role plays the policeman, Joan Bennett the consul's wife; Otto Preminger the consul, and Carl Esmond, the secretary. Others in the cast include Howard Freeman, Poldy Dur, Clyde Fillmore, Joe Kirk, and Ed McNamara. Preminger also directed this Ralph Dietrich production from a screenplay by Lillie Hayward, none of them taking full advantages of the opportunities afforded by the circumstances. Running time, 74 minutes. "G." * Vance King "G" denotes general classification. 'Honeymoon'Is Frisco Leader, Strong$26,500 San Francisco, Jan. 7. — "Once Upon a Honeymoon" turned in a big $26,500 at the Golden Gate, with stage show support, and was held for ond week. Holiday grosses wer^, " , yet not up to advance expectations, due primarily to rainy weather. "White Cargo" and "Omaha Trail" grossed a good $18,500 at the Fox. Estimated receipts for the week ending Dec. 29-31 : "Once Upon a Honeymoon" (RKO) GOLDEN GATE— (2,850) (44c-55c-75c) 7 days. Stage: vaudeville. Gross: $26,500. (Average, $17,500) "Who Done It?" (Univ.) "Great Impersonation" (Univ.) ORPHEUM — (2,440) (2Oc-35c-50c-65c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $9.C00. (Average, $10,000) "Thunder Birds" (20th-Fox) "Girl Trouble" (ZOth-Fox) PARAMOUNT— (2,740) (20c -35c -50c -65c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $13,500. (Average. $13,000) "Now, Voyager" (W. B.) "Secret Enemies" (W. B.) WARFIELD— (2,680) (20c -35c -50c -65c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $14,500. (Average. $13,000) "White Cargo" (M-G-M) "Omaha Trail" (M-G-M) FOX— (5,000) (2Oc-35c-50c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $18,500. (Average. $17,000) 'Road to Morocco" (Para.) "Wildcat" (Para.) ST. FRANCIS— (1,400) (20c -3 5c -50c -65c) 7 days, 3rd week. (Moved over from Fox.) Gross: $6,200. (Average, $6,500) "One of Our Aircraft Is Missing" (U. A.) "Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood" (CoL) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,200) (20c-35c-50c65c) 7 days. Gross: $9,800. (Average, $8,000) "Valfangare" (Foreign) CLAY — (400) (15c-35c-45c) 7 days. Gross: ;i,400. (Average, $1,000) 'Honeymoon' Draws Record $15,000, KC Kansas City, Jan. 7.— "Once Upon a Honeymoon" on the same program with "Street of Chance" grossed $15,000 to set new records for the Orpheum and to lead local first runs in an excellent holiday business week. Other strong bills included "Behind the Eight Ball," teamed with Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe stage revue, which grossed $14,000 at the Tower ; "The Black Swan," which drew a total of $11,800 in its second week at the Esquire and Uptown. Estimated receipts for the week ending Dec. 31 : "Black Swan" (ZOth-Fox) ESQUIRE— (800) (35c-50c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,800. (Average, $3,000) "Reunion in France" (M-G-M) "Laugh Your Blues Away" (Col.) MIDLAND — (3,600) (35c-50c) 7 Gross: $11,000. (Average, $10,000) "Gentleman Jim" (W. B.) NEWMAN— (1,900) (35c-50c) 9V2 Gross: $14,500. (Average, 954 days, "Once Upon a Honeymoon" (RKO) "Street of Chance" (Para.) ORPHELTM — (1,900) (35c-50c) 7 Gross: $15,000. (Average, $6,000) "Behind the Eight Ball" (Umiv.) TOWER— (2,200) (35c-50c) 7 days. Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe Gross: $14,000. (Average, $6,500) "Black Swan" (ZOth-Fox) UPTOWN— (2,000) (35c-50c) 7 days. 2nd week. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $4,500) days. days. $9,750) days. Stage. Revue. Joins Rep. in IndpVs Indianapolis, Jan. 7. — Harry A. Gorman has joined the Republic sales staff here, replacing Daniel Penrod, who entered military service.