Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1943)

10 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, October 21, 1943 48 Shooting, Review "Lad from Our Town" {Artkino) T HANKS to attractive Anna Smirnova, who portrays the wife of a *• Russian tank officer with warm and appealing simplicity, and the engaging personality of Nikolai Kriuchkov, who typifies the heroism of the Russian Army, Artkino's newest release, "Lad from Our Town," emerges as a satisfactory romantic drama. Frederick Ermler guided the production, made at Central Art Film Studios of Alma Ata, U.S.S.R., while the Germans were hammering at the gates of Moscow, with Alexander Stolper and Boris Ivanov handling the directorial assignment, which manages to fuse the romantic action and the war sequences without permitting the latter to dominate the film. Konstantin Simonov, author of the play, "The Russian People," produced by the Theatre Guild in New York last season, has provided a simple story that depicts the anxiety and devotion of a young Russian wife, whose husband has chosen an Army career. Kriuchkov enters the Tank School at Omsk in the early '30's, to become a soldier rather than a scholar. Miss Smirnova is the girl whom he leaves behind. She goes on to Moscow to become an actress. Though they marry after Kriuchkov graduates from Omsk, Kriuchkov's life as a soldier permits him but brief interludes with his devoted wife, for he serves with the Loyalist Army in Spain, and finally in the heroic defense of his own country. Miss Smirnova endures the separation by entertaining at hospitals and army camps, inspiring other soldiers with song. Others who turn in fine performances besides Miss Smirnova, and Kriuchkov, are Nikolai Bogoliubov and Nikolai Mordvinov. Charles Clement has written the English sub-titles. Running time, 65 mins. "G."* Milt Livingston 72 Editing, 48 Preparing Hollywood, Oct. 20. — New pictures started during the week showed an increase over the previous week. Nine were put before the cameras, compared with five the week before. This brought the total in work from 46 to 48 due to seven finishing. Cutting rooms reported 72 editing, while studios were preparing 48 for early starts. The production scene : Columbia Shooting : "Curly," "Ten Percent Woman," "Cover Girl," "None Shall Escape." Finished : "Klondike Kate." W. R. Frank (Independent) Shooting : "Dr. Paul Joseph Goebbels, His Life and Loves." M-G-M Shooting : "Two Sisters and a Sailor," "Kismet," "Mr. Co-Ed," "The Canterville Ghost," "Gaslight." Monogram Shooting : "Where Are My Children?" "Return of the Ape Man." Paramount Started: "When I Come Back," with Paulette Goddard, Sonny Tufts, Beulah Bondi, Marie McDonald. Shooting : "Rainbow Island," "Going My Way," "Frenchman's Creek," "Our Hearts Were Young and Gay," "The Man in Half Moon Street," "Double Indemnity." Finished: "The Story of Dr. Wassell," "The Navy Way." P. R. C. Shooting : "The Drifter," formerly "Buster Crabbe No. 3." RKO-Radio Started: "The Falcon in Texas," with Tom Conway, Barbara Hale, Rosemary LaPlanche, Russell Wade. Republic Shooting : "The Fighting Sea CP" denotes general classification. bees," "Casanova in Burlesque." Finished: "California Joe." 20th-Fox Started: "The Purple Heart," with Dana Andrews, Richard Conte, Donald M. Barry, Farley Granger, Kevin O'Shea, Dave Willock, Sam Levene. Slwoting : "The Sullivans," "Eve of St. Mark," "Home in Indiana," "Lifeboat." Finished: "The Lodger." United Artists (Arnold Productions) Started: "It Happened Tomorrow," with Dick Powell, Linda Darnell, Jack Oakie, Eddie Acuff, George Chandler, Jack Gardner, Eddie Coke, George Cleveland. (Bogeaus Productions) Shooting : "The Bridge of San Luis Rey." (P. C. A.) Shooting: "Knickerbocker Holiday." (Harry Sherman) Shooting: "Timber." (Vanguard Films) Shooting : "Since You Went Away." Universal Started : "Gypsy Wildcat," with Maria Montez, Jon Hall, Leo Carillo, Gale Sondergaard. "Patrick the Great," with Donald O'Connor, Peggy Ryan, Frances Dee, Donald Cook, Eve Arden. "Her Primitive Man," with Louise Allbritton, Robert Paige, Edward Everett Horton, Helen Broderick, Robert Benchley, Ernest Truex. Shooting : "Phantom Lady," "When Ladies Fly," "The Impostor," "Gung Ho," "Three Cheers for the Boys." Finished: "Swingtime for Johnny." Warners Started: "Mr. Skiffington," with Bette Davis, Claude Rains, Richard Waring, Walter Abel. "Animal Kingdom," with Ann Sheridan, Dennis Morgan, Alexis Smith, Jack Carson, John Loder, Jane Wyman, Thurston Hall. Shooting : "Uncertain Glory," "Rhapsody in Blue," "Passage to Marseille," "Outward Bound." W.B. in WAC Tieup "Women at War," Warner's color two-reeler about the Women's Army Corps, will play eight Manhattan newsreel theatres and several other houses day-and-date tomorrow in a tie-up with the WAC's current recruiting drive. Members of the women's corps will be stationed in theatre lobbies. Tie-up includes the five Embassy newsreel theatres, two Translux houses, Grand Central, Strand, Fox Brooklyn and several other local theatres. 'Phantom' Weathers I Cleveland Storms For $19,500 Gross Cleveland, Oct. 20. — Heavy rain turning to snow on Saturday and all day rain on Sunday hit theatre business with resulting lowered grosses. "Phantom of the Opera" with $19,500 at Warners' Hippodrome made the best showing among the new picturej« and Bob Hope's "Let's Face It" heffl well in its second week at $17,000. ^ Estimated receipts for the week ending Oct. 20: "Behind the Rising Sun" (RKO) ALLEN— (3,000) (40c-SOc-60c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $8,500. (Average: $8,300) "Phantom of the Opera" (Univ.) WARMERS' Hll'.f ODROME — (3.5CG) (40c50c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $19,500. (Average: $17,100) "Heaven Can Wait" (20th-Fox) WARNERS' LAKE — (714) (40c-50c-60c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $3,500. (Average: $3,100) "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (Para.) LOEW'S OHIO— (1,268) (75c-$1.10) 4th week. Gross: $18,000. (Average: none yet) "Holy Matrimony" (28th-Fox) RKO PALACE— (3,300) (45c-55c-75c and 85c Sundays and holidays) 7 days. Stage: Clyde Lucas and orchestra, also Al Dexter and his "Pistol Packin' Mama" gang. Gross: $23,000. (Average: $25,800) "Let's Face It" (Para.) LOEW'S STATE— (3,300) (40c-60c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $17,000. (Average: $16,800) "Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case (M-G-M.) LOEW'S STILLMAN— (1,900) (40c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average: $8,600) $7,800 Above Par For 'Bell' in Buffalo Buffalo, Oct. 20. — "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is still playing to big houses and will reach $24,200 at the Great Lakes. "Watch on the Rhine" was a hit in its first week and has been moved to the Hippodrome, where it is bidding for a big $14,000. Estimated receipts for the week ending Oct. 23: "Holy Matrimony" (20th-Fox) BUFFALO— (3,489) (40c-65c) 7 days. On stage: Cab Calloway and his orchestra, with the Chocolateers, The Cab Jivers, Cholly & Dotty, Heard & Jones, Fay Canty and Ralph Brown. Gross: $23,500. (Average: $16,500) "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (Para.) GREAT LAKES — (3,000) (75c-$1.10) \ days, 2nd week. Gross: $24,200. (Average: $16,400) "Watch on the Rhine" (WB) HIPPODROME— (2,100) (35c-40c-55c-65c; 7 days, 2nd week, on a moveover. Gross: $14,000. (Average: $9,500) "Princess O'Rourke" (WB) "Murder on the Waterfront" (WB) TWENTIETH CENTURY— (3,000) (35c55c) 7 days. Gross: $16,000. (Average: $10,600) "The Strange Death of Adolph Hitler" (Univ.) "Honeymoon Lodge" (Univ.) LAFAYETTE— (3,000) (35c-55c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $10,000. (Average: $10, 500) Drop Suit Against RCA-NBC Over Blue Chicago, Oct. 20. — Anti-trust suit against Radio Corporation was dismissed here yesterday by Federal Dis. trict Judge John P. Barnes on a mo I tion filed by the Government's antitrust division. Dismissal, which the Government requested, was granted after the Federal Communications Commission had approved the sale of RCA's Blue Network, formerly operated by NBC. Alleged monopolistic practices resulting from the operation of the Blue had provided the basis of the suit. F . CHARLES BOYER * BARBARA STANWYCK to to UJ CO o > UJ I 3= o 2 UJ CO ec UJ CD O Nominated as the picture to be seen twice! . . . A UNIVERSAL PICTURE It outstars the all stars with eight of your favorites headed by Charles Boyer and Barbara Stanwyck » THOMAS MITCHELL * CHARLES WINNING m o o This is one of a series of advance newspaper advertisements running in all important key cities.,