Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1943)

10 Motion Picture daily Monday, December 6, 19< Reviews "Fighting Valley9' (PRC) «t C'IGHTING VALLEY" is a walloping Western about a valley full of "fightin' mad" miners, a crooked smelting corporation and some Texas Rangers, led by Dave "Tex" O'Brien, Jim Newill and Guy Wilkerson. Producers Alfred Stern and Arthur Alexander have polished off this one quite nicely, injecting some really good comedy in proper spots, furnishing some pleasing musical renditions and giving leading roles to the right people. The story concerns a girl, in the person of pretty Patti McCarty, who returns to the West to sell the Independent Smelting Company, which she has inherited from her father, and which is about to "fold" as a result of "dirty work" of a smelting syndicate which has been hijacking gold shipments. In order to salvage what's left, Miss McCarty decides to sell to the syndicate, leaving neighboring miners, who have an interest in the Independent, "holding the bag." The Rangers arrive, sense that the syndicate is back of the hijacking, and convince Miss McCarty she should hang on until the hijackers are apprehended. Much shooting and hand-to-hand fighting ensues and the Rangers emerge triumphant, uncovering the plot and saving the Independent and the miners from ruin. The film has been embellished with the songs of O'Brien and his boys and rich Western humor that is superior to the usual "horse opera" corn. Oliver Drake's screen-play is well above average. Ira Morgan has handled photographic possibilities nicely, and Drake, as director, has moulded all into a pleasing picture for Western fans. Good performances are turned in by O'Brien, Newill, Miss McCarty and Wilkerson, who handles the comic element with natural cow-hand "finesse." Helen McNamaea Running time, 60 mins. "G."* "Pride of the Plains" (Republic) Hollywood, Dec. 5 Hp HIS is the first of the series that were tagged John Paul Revere's after Eddie Dew left the studio and Bob Livingston took over. It stacks up well with the formula Western that Republic has been turning out and should help to make Livingston stand out with Western followers. With the support of Smiley Burnette, Nancy Gay, Stephen Barclay, Kenne Duncan, and Jack Kirk, producer Lou Gray and director Wallace Fox bring out a believable Western plot that concerns itself with the usual land grab deal. Revere and his pal ride into the scene just in time to solve the plot, tangle up the outlaws and expose the "dirty" deal. Jack Cartwright. Running time, 56 minutes. "G,"* 'Girl Crazy' on a Dual Gets $25,000 Kansas City, Dec. 5. — "Girl Crazy" plus "Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case" at the Midland are drawing approximately $25,000 to lead first-run grosses. Sunday business here was especially good. Estimated receipts for the week ending Dec. 1-2 : "Guadalcanal Diary" (20th-Fox) ESQUIRE— (800) (40c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $5,500) "Girl Crazy" (M-G-M) "Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case" (M-G-M) MIDLAND— (3,600) (35c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $25,000. (Average, $14,000) "Northern Pursuit" (WB) NEWMAN— (1,900) (40c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $11,000) "The Iron Major" (RICO) "The Falcon, and the Co-Eds" (RKO) ORPHEUM— (1,900) (40c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $16,000. (Average, $10,000) "Is Everybody Happy?" (Col.) "Hi Ya, Sailor?" (Univ.) TOWER— (2,200) (35c-50c) 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $9,400) "Guadalcanal Diary" (20th-Fox) UPTOWN— (2.000) (40c -60c) 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $5,600) "Guadalcanal Diary" (ZOth-Fox) FAIRWAY— (700) (40c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $1,500. (Average, $1,450) 'Acquaintance' Gets Big $20,000 Gross Baltimore, Dec. 5. — Strong openings on a holiday continuing brisk over the weekend put current figures here in the class of boom-time business. Heading the list is "Old Acquaintance" due for $20,000 at the Stanley, followed by "Girl Crazy" set to take $18,500 at the Century. Estimated receipts for the week ending Dec. 2 : "Girl Crazy" (M-G-M) CENTURY— (3,000) (28c-44c-50c and 55c weekends) 7 days. Gross: $18,500. (Average, $16,500) "True to Life" (Para.) KEITH'S— (2,406) (30c-40c-50c and 55c weekends) 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $12,000) "Guadalcanal Diary" (20th-Fox) NEW— (1,581) (28c-35c-55c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $11,500. (Average, $9,700) "Old Acquaintance" (WB) STANLEY— (3,280) (28c-40c-55c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $20,000. (Average, $16,900) "The Iron Major" (RKO) HIPPODROME— (2,205) (28c-39c-44c-55c56c) 7 days. On stage: Clark & Thomas, Table Tennis Champs, Maysy & Brach, Six Debutones, Cappy Barra Boys, Jerry Mann. Gross: $18,000. (Average, $16,800) "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (Para.) MAYFAIR— (1,000) (75c-$1.10) 7 days. Gross: $11,500. (Average, at regular prices, $5,900) Grauman's Chinese to House Oscar Awards Hollywood, Dec. 5. — The board of governors of the Academy of Motion Pictur Arts and Sciences Friday night selected Grauman's Chinese for the 16th annual award of presentations, Mar. 2, foregoing the traditional banquet for the first time. The Academy will offer approximately 700 of the Chinese's 2,500 seats for sale to the public at an as yet undetermined price. The governors also set rules for awards voting, to be announced later. Atlanta Critic Named Atlanta, Dec. 5. — Ernest Rogers, for many years film and radio editor of the Atlanta Journal, has been given a roving assignment for the paper calling for a daily column. Rogers is co-founder of the Marquee Club here. His former duties will be taken over by Linton Hopkins, Journal editorial staff member. *"G" denotes general classification. Unique: $14,500 for Each of Three Houses Indianapolis, Dec. 5. — Unique situation exists here this week. The three larger first-run houses expect to complete the week with identical grosses, $14,500 each. This is $3,500 above average for the Circle and Loew's and $3,000 over for the Indiana, largest house. The features are "Always a Bridesmaid" and a stage show at the Circle, "Sweet Rosie O'Grady" at the Indiana and "Girl Crazy" at Loew's. Estimated receipts for the week ending Nov. 30-Dec. 2 : "Always a Bridesmaid" (Univ.) CIRCLE — (2,800) (30c-40c-50c) 7 days. Stage show: Will Osborne. Gross: $14,500. (Average: $11,000). "Sweet Rosie O'Grady" (20th-Fox) INDIANA— (3,200) (30c-40c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $14,500. (Average: $11,500). "Girl Crazy" (M-G-M) LOEW'S— (2,800) (30c-40c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $14,500. (Average: $11,000). "Northern Pursuit" (W. B.) "Hi Ya, Sailor" (Univ.) LYRIC— (2,000) (30c-40c-50c) 7 days, moved from Indiana. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $5,000). Variety Dinner Dec. 10 Chicago, Dec. 5. — Variety Club Tent No. 28 here will have a dinner and election of new directors on Friday, Dec. 10. Film Center Expands .Princeton Film Center, Princeton, N. J., has announced purchase of new and enlarged quarters necessitated by a steadily increasing volume of production and distribution. A tract of 35 acres was acquired in addition to a large main structure and several smaller adjoining buildings. Property is located in an outlying district of Princeton. The Center is producing and distributing educational and informational pictures for the United States Government and makers of aircraft. Kyser to Tour Camps Trainees in desert camps in the Southwest will be entertained by Kay Kyser and his troupe throughout December, RKO Radio announced here last week. The star of RKO's "Around the World" will broadcast his Wednesday night programs from the various bases visited. Paramount Revives Two Two Paramount pictures, "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" in Technicolor, and "Island of Lost Souls," are being revived. They opened at the Squire Theatre, 44th St. and Eighth Ave., at the weekend. 'Rising Sun' Shines! With $13,100 Tak Toronto, Dec. 5. — "Behind ti, Rising Sun" was making a bid f ! $13,100 at the Imperial but "Flesh a ! Fantasy" at the Uptown Theatre w traveling to a proportionately high gross of $11,200 in relation to houi average. Second week of "Claudi was pointing to $10,800 at Shea's a business at Loew's suggested $9,3 for "Johnny Come Lately" in its s< ; ond week. Estimated receipts for the week en ing Dec. 2 : "Cottage to Let" (British) EGLINTON — (1,086) (18c-30c-48c-60c) days, 2nd week. Gross: $3,500. (Avera $3,900) "Behind the Rising Sun," (RKO) IMPERIAL — (3,373) (18c-20c-42c-60c-9 i 6 days. Gross: $13,100. (Average, $12,6 "Johnny Come Lately" (U. A.) "Yanks Ahoy" (U. A.) LOEW'S — (2,074) (18c -30c -42c -60c -78c) days, 2nd week. Gross: $9,300. (Avera; $10,800) "Claudia" (20thFox) SHEA'S — (2,480) (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c) i days, 2nd week. Gross : $10,800. (Avera | $12,300) "Heaven Can Wait" (20thFox) "Bomber's Moon" (20thFox) TIVOLI— (1,434) (18c-30c-48c) 6 da Gross: $4,100. (Average, $4,600) "Flesh and Fantasy" (Univ.) UPTOWN — (2,761) (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c: days; Gross: $11,200. (Average, $9,700) 'Girl Crazy' on Dual, Hits $2,200 Over Pc New Haven, Dec. 5. — At the Loe j Poli "Girl Crazy," dualled w' "Scream in the Dark" took $11,500 an 8-day run, over par by $2,200, a; moves to the College for another eig the prolonged run being for the pi pose of moving opening dates grac' ally to New Year's Eve. Total fi run business was $38,400. Average $29,200. Estimated receipts for the week er j ing Dec. 2: "Paris After Dark" (20th-Fox) "Silver Spurs" (Rep.) BIJOU— (1,627) (40c-50c) 7 days. Gro $4,500. (Average: $3,500). "Lassie Come Home" (M-G-M) "Is Everybody Happy?" (Col.) COLLEGEW1.565) (40c-50c) 8 days, 2 week. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $3,200). ji "Girl Crazy" (M-G-M) "Scream in the Dark" (Rep.) LOEWPOLI— (3,005), (40c-50c) 8 da Gross: $11,500. (Average: $9,300). "In Old Oklahoma" (Rep.) "Good Fellows" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (2,373) (40c-55c) 7 da!( Gross: $8,200. (Average: $6,400). "Old Acquaintance" (WB) "Hi Ya, Sailor" (Univ.) ROGER SHERMAN— (2,037) (40c-50c)ii days. Gross: $9,200. (Average: $6,400). Circuits Book Monogra Additional circuits which ha closed for Monogram's 1943-44 pre uct, according to Steve Broidy, vii president and general sales manag include Jefferson Amusement a. East Texas Theatres, operating houses in Texas and Essaness Tl atres, with 29 in Illinois. Cut Service Shows St. John, N. B., Dec. 5.— Sunc shows for members of the am;, forces held here under th<_ auspi of the Famous Players Canad Corp., have been cancelled indefinit due to the coal shortage. Need conservation has also necessitated c tailment of patriotic Sunday conce