Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1943)

8 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, August 24, 1945' 49 Shooting, 50 Preparing, 58 Editing Hollywood, Aug. 23. — The production scene at the weekend indicated increasingly heavy shooting schedules on almost every lot, with 50 pictures in preparation, most of them to start during September. There were 49 before the cameras, compared with 52 the previous week, 11 finished to three for the week before, and eight new ones started, which was par with the previous week. Fifty-eight were editing, compared to 57 the week before. The figure of 50 preparing was a record for the year with the next highest preparation mark having been set the week ending Aug. 7, when 47 were being readied. The production scene at the weekend : Columbia Shooting : "Tropicana," "Cover Girl," "There's Something About a Soldier," "Ten Percent Woman." Finished: "Is Everybody Happy?" Goldwyn Shooting : "Up in Arms." M-G-M Started : "Gaslight," with Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer, Joseph Cotten, Dame May Whitty, Angela Lansbury. "The Canterville Ghost," with Charles Laughton, Margaret O'Brien, Robert Young, Rags Ragland, William Tannen, Frances Raeburn, Reginald Owen, Donald Stuart, Russell Gleason, Horace McNally, Marc Cramer, "Mr. Co-Ed," with Red Skelton, Esther Williams, Harry James and orchestra, Xavier Cugat and orchestra, Carlos Ramirez. Shooting : "Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble," "Broadway Rhythm," "Meet the People," White Cliffs of Dover," "See Here, Private Hargrove," "Rationing." Finished : "America," "A Guy Named Joe." Monogram .Started: "Mr. Muggs Steps Out," with Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Halliwell Hobbs, Eddie Gribbon, Joan Marsh, Billy Benedict, David Durand, Stanley Brown, Nick Stuart, Betty Blythe, Bobby Stone, Jimmy Strand, Lottie Harrison, Patsy Moran, Bud Gorman. "Sweethearts of the U. S. A.," with Una Merkel, Donald Novis, Lillian Cornell, Joel Friend, Parkyakarus, Ralph Sanford, Cobina Wright, Sr., Judith Gibson, Joe Devlin, Vince Barnett, Forrest Taylor, Marion Martin, Joseph Kirk. "The Sultan's Daughter," with Ann Corio, Charles Butterworth, Tim and Irene Ryan, Edward Norris, Fortunio Bonanova, Jack LaRue, Gene Stutnorth, ChrisPin Martin, Joseph J. Greene, Freddie Fisher and orchestra. Shooting : "Death Valley Rangers," "Hitler's Women." Finished: "East of the Bowery." Paramount Shooting : ''Going My Way," "Henry Aldrich, Boy Scout," "Ministry of Fear," "Standing Room Only," "The Story of Dr. Wassell," "Frenchman's Creek," "Hail the Conquering Hero." P. R. C. Finished: "Harvest Melody." RKO-Radio Started : "The Falcon and the Coeds," with Tom Conway, Jean Brooks, Threatens Probe On Political Films St. Louis, Aug. 23. — A resolution to investigate whether the film industry is being used for political purposes in domestic affairs of the Government, will be introduced by Congressman Ploeser, of Missouri, as soon as Congress reconvenes next month, he reports here. Ploeser wants to determine whether there has been any pressure brought to bear on the industry, to allegedly cause it to make political propaganda films for domestic consumption. 15,618,733 Attend CI A A Screenings Hollywood, Aug. 23. — The Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs revealed today a total attendance of 15,618,733 at 64,639 screenings of 16 mm. films sponsored by CIAA to Aug. 1. A breakdown shows that 7,920,995 persons attended 16,882 screenings in Latin-American countries, the remainder in the United States. Conn. Allied to Meet New Haven, Aug. 23.— Allied Theatre Owners of Connecticut will hold a special luncheon-meeting at the Hofbrau tomorrow. Maxwell Alderman, executive secretary and delegate to the Allied Baltimore convention, recently held, will report. Questionnaires for consent decree viewpoints will be distributed. Mono. Names Poulton New Haven, Aug. 23. — Albert Poulton, for many years theatre game representative in this territory, and once Paramount salesman in Denver, is new Monogram salesman for Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Dorothy Kelly, George Givot, Isabel Jewell, Rita Corday, Amelita Ward, Patti Brill, Margaret Landry, Ed Gargan, Elaine Riley. Shooting : "Rookies in Burma," "Tender Comrade," "The Ghost Ship," "Higher and Higher," "Revenge." Finished: "Gildersleeve on Broadway," "Government Girl." Republic Shooting : "In Old Oklahoma." Finished: "Mystery Broadcast." 20th Century-Fox Shooting : "Lifeboat," "Tampico," "Pin-Up Girl," "Buffalo Bill," "The Lodger." United Artists (Samuel Bronston) Shooting : "Jack London." (Gregor Rabinovitch) Finished: "The Girl from Leningrad." Universal Started: "Moonlight and Cactus," with Elyse Knox, Leo Carrillo, Andrews Sisters, Tom Seidel, Shemp Howard, Tom Kennedy, Murray Alper, Frank Lackteen, Eddie Quillan, Mitch Ayres and orchestra. Shooting : "Gung Ho," "Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves," "His Butler's Sister." Finished: "Gunfighters," "Set to Music." Warner Bros. Shooting : "Passage to Marseille," "Destination Tokyo," "In Our Time," "Conflict," "Rhapsody in Blue," "Shine On, Harvest Moon." 'DuBarry' $20,000 Is Buffalo's Best Buffalo, Aug. 23. — "DuBarry Was a Lady" is doing what was expected at the Buffalo and probably will lead for the week with $20,000. The Hippodrome went out of its role as a moveover house this week, is playing "Hitler's Madman" and probably will surprise with a good $14,000. Estimated receipts for the week ending Aug. 28 : "DuBarry Was a Lady" (M-G-M) BUFFALO — (3,489) (35c-40c-55c-6Sc) 7 days. Gross: $20,000. (Average, $16,500) "Heaven Can, Wait" (20th-Fox) "Night Plane From Chungking" (Para.) GREAT LAKES — (3,000) (35c -40c -55c -65c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $16,000. (Average. $16,400). "Hitler's Madman" (M-G-M) "Buckskin Frontier" (U. A.) HIPPODROME— (2,100) (35c-40c-55c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $9,500). "Behind the Rising Sun" (RICO) "Chatterbox" (RKO) TWENTIETH CENTURY— (3,000) (35c55c) 7 davs, 3rd week. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $10,600). "Here to Hold" (Univ.) "He's My Guy" (Univ.) LAFAYETTE— (3,000) (35c55c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $12,400. (Average, $10,500). Warners Buys Art Theatre in Springfield Springfield, Mass., Aug. 23. — The Art Theatre here has been taken over as a second-run house by the Warner Bros, circuit. While the purchase has been completed, further details were not available, although it was learned that Warners will take over within 10 days. $150,000 for 'Canteen' Chicago, Aug. 23. — "Stage Door Canteen" is cited for the all-time record at the State-Lake Theatre, with a gross of $150,000 in its first five weeks. It will continue for at least two more weeks. Radio spot announcements, used for the first time by United Artists, will also be used on "Victory Through Air Power," which opens at the Woods Theatre on Aug. 30. 'Freedom' Opens Today "Seeds of Freedom," modernized version of Sergei Eisenstein's "Potemkin," will have its U. S. premiere at the Stanley Theatre here this morning. Produced by William Sekeley and directed by Hans Burger, the new sequences were prepared by Albert Maltz and have Henry Hull and Aline MacMahon, among others, in them. Artkino Pictures will distribute. Soviet Envoy to Be Host Andrei A. Gromyko, new Soviet Ambassador, and Mme. Gromyko, will host the Washington diplomatic corps and newspaper correspondents, columnists, and radio commentators at a special Washington preview of Paramount's "The City That Stopped Hitler — Heroic Stalingrad," on Thursday evening in the Interior Department Auditorium. Murphy, Para. Salesman Los Angeles, Aug. 23. — Vincent Murphy, formerly assistant booker at the Paramount exchange here, has been promoted to salesman, replacing E. E. Bauerman, who has returned I as booking manager. $28,000 for 'Army' in 2nd Capital Week Washington, D. C. , Aug. 23.— ; Warner Bros.' "This Is the Army' still proves to be the outstanding filrr attraction in Washington, estiros.^c-i to do $28,000 in its second weekly Earle. A runner-up is "Heaven Wait," which will do an above-aver age $18,500 at Loew"s Palace. Estimated grosses for the weel ending August 26 are : "Above Suspicion" (M-G-M) LOEWS CAPITOL— (3,434) (28c-39c-44c 66c) 7 days, 2nd week. On stage: Mine vitch Harmonica Rascals; Cynda Glenn Gross: $19,000. (Average, $22,000). "Dixie" (Para.) LOEW'S COLUMBIA— (1.234) (30c -50c 7 days, 3rd downtown week. Gross: I8.0CC (Average, $6,900). "This Is the Army" (W.B.) EARLE— (2,210) (30c -40c -50c -75c -90c) days. 2nd week. On stage: Lyda Su< Ladd Lyon. Roxyettes. Gross: $28,00( (Average, $18,800). "Saludos Amigos" (RKO-Disney) "The Next of Kin" (Univ.) RKO-KEITH'S^(1.800) (40c-50c-65c) days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $11,400). "Pride of the Yankees" (RKO-Goldwyn) METROPOLITAN— (1,600) (30c-44c) days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $6,900). "Heaven Can Wait" (ZOth-Fox) LOEW'S PALACE— (2,242) (28c-55c) days. Gross: $18,500. (Average. $17,600). De Havilland Sues To Cancel Contrac Los Angeles, Aug. 23. — Olivia d Havilland filed suit in Superior Coui! here today asking the court to declar her contract with Warners void und( a state law providing contracts to t unenforceable after seven years. The action contends the contrai ended last May. New Company Gets 5 Theatres in Eir Washington, Aug. 23. — A ne company, Capitol & Allied Theatre Ltd., capitalized at $900,000, has bee formed in Eire to acquire the Capit* Cinema, Pillar Picture House, Mai Street Picture House, New Electr Theatre and the Rotunda Cinema, tl U. S. Department of Commerce hei reports from Dublin. Stangarone Joins MO! James A. Stangarone, formerly < Life magazine, has been named assis ant to Phil A. Williams, March ! Time advertising director, it was ai nounced yesterday. Stangarone w; previously connected with Penn m tual Insurance Co. and with Barrc Collier in a sales capacity. 'Stalingrad' Screening Paramount's "The City Th; Stopped Hitler — Heroic Stalingrad official Russian Army film record ; the siege of Russia's Pittsburgh, v/i be screened for the trade at the 20 ; Century-Fox projection room at 3' West 44th Street, New York, Aug. 2 ' at 2 :30 P.M. 'Claudia' Fund Premier Omaha, Aug. 23. — World premie of 20th Century-Fox's "Claudia" the Paramount Theatre here late la week, enriched the "Smokes £ Service Men" fund by nearly thre quarters of a million cigarettes, a cording to manager Ted Emerson.