Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1944)

Monday, February 28, 1944 Motion Picture Daily 7 Theatre Boom Seen In Postwar Brazil A postwar theatre building boom for Brazil, with American films dominating, was the prospect held out by Columbia's Brazilian general manager, Sigwart Kusiel, at a press interview here at the weekend. usiel, in New York for six weeks conferences, stressed the fact that, with ioreign competition diminished since the beginning of the war and almost non-existent since Brazil's .break with the Axis, American product has gained much popularity with Brazilians. Native product, according to Kusiel, offers no competition to imported films. So far the only playing time given native product is to meet the requirement that each theatre play at least one Brazilian feature a year and one native-produced short with each show. The shorts, backbone of the Brazilian industry, are chiefly documentary. "Such pictures as 'Desperadoes' and others in that vein," said Kusiel, "are the big money-makers in Brazil. Business is generally better than in prewar days, although the industry has enjoyed no such increase as it has in g America and England. Due to the difficulty of transportation, there are no extended runs in the metropolitan areas . Brazilian theatres, of which there are from 1,300 to 1,400, are chiefly owned or controlled by circuits in the larger cities, according to Kusiel. 'World9 Is Big With $18,000 Take Minneapolis, Feb. 27. — "Around the World" coupled with a stage show, was headed for an $18,000 week at the Orpheum here, and "What a Woman" promised $13,000 at the State. Other situations slumped somewhat due to below-zero weather. Estimated receipts for the week ending Feb. 26: "Is Everybody Happy?" (Col.) GOPHER-(998) (35c) 7 days. Gross: $3,300. (Average: $3,700). "In Old Oklahoma" (Rep.) LYRIC— (1,250) (40c-55c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,600). "Destination Tokyo" (WB) CENTURY — (1,600) (40c-55c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,000. (Average: $7,400). "What a Woman" (Col.) STATE— (2,300) (40c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average: $12,700). "Around the World" (RKO) ORPHEUM — (2,800) (45c-60c) 7 days. On stage: Ink Spots, Ella Fitzgerald, "Cootie" Williams orchestra. Moke and Poke. Gross: $18,000. (Average: $13,900). "No Time for Love" (Para.) WORLD— (350) (40c-50c-55c-75c) 7 days. 3rd week. Gross: $3,000. (Average: $2,400). "Calling Dr. Death" (Univ.) 4 days "Sing a Jingle" (Univ.) 4 days ASTER— (900) (20c-30c) 7 days with midweek change. Gross: $2,200. (Average: $2,600). $7,000,000 to AER From 'This Is Army9 Washington dispatches at the weekend quoted Irving Berlin as saying that nearly $7,000,000 in profits from performances of "This Is the Army" have gone to the Army Emergency Relief and $322,100 to British charities. Berlin, who is in the Capital after an 11-week tour in the British Isles, said "The Army" will open in Algiers in April and then probably play Oran, Palermo and Naples. Review "The Hour Before the Dawn" {Paramount) TI/" SOMERSET MAUGHAM'S dramatic story of an earnest young ▼ » • English pacifist who became involved with an attractive but utterly unscrupulous Nazi operative in the early days of the war, has been transferred into an interesting and entertaining film by Paramount. "The Hour Before the Dawn" features Franchot Tone and Veronica Lake and a fine supporting cast. It should find favor with the customers and do well at the box office. Associate producer William Dozier has provided an attractive production for the action which is set against the English countryside, and director Frank Tuttle keeps the story moving in tracing events which transformed Tone from a pacifist into an RAF pilot. Michael Hogan's screenplay from Lesser Samuel's adaptation of the Maugham novel is excellent. Tone's aversion to killing is established in a childhood sequence when he accidentally shoots his pet dog. It is quite understandable that he should abide by his convictions, when England goes to war with Germany, despite the background of his aristocratic family. Miss Lake, a Nazi agent posing as an Austrian refugee, is welcomed into the family by Tone's sister-in-law and Tone falls in love with her. Sneering at the smug complacency of the family, Miss Lake goes about her task. When she faces internment as an enemy alien, she marries Tone to carry out her mission of directing Nazi bombers to the secret English airfields in the vicinity. Tone kills her when her activities are exposed and in doing so he manages to overcome his phobia. Binnie Barnes delivers a neat performance as Tone's sister-in-law ; so does Henry Stephenson as the father of Tone and John Sutton, an RAF pilot. Others include Philip Merivale, Nils Asther and Edmond Breon. Running time, 73 mins. "G."* Released in block No. 4. Milt Livingston 'G" denotes general classification. Deny SAG Demurrer To WB Complaint Los Angeles, Feb. 27. — Superior Judge Alfred Paonessa has denied the Screen Actors Guild demurrer to Warner's amended complaint seeking an order restraining the guild from enforcing Rule 33 in connection with production of "Hollywood Canteen," asking judicial definition of the status of the studio basic agreement between Warners and the guild. Additionally, the Court denied the guild's motions to strike out certain portions of the complaint. Now it is mandatory for the guild to file an answer within 15 days, after which a trial date will be set. O'Connor of Midwest Circuit Dies at 54 Kansas City, Feb. 27. — John J. O'Connor, 54, former vaudevillian and in recent years producer of stage and radio shows for Fox-Midwest, and manager of theatres here for the circuit, died recently at his home here. He is survived by his wife, six sisters and one brother. The. funeral at Guardian Angel Church was largely attended. Pallbearers were managers of Fox-Midwest and Senn Lawler, district man Frank Burns Dies Frank F. Burns, 69, retired theatre manager and one time vaudevillian, died recently in Yonkers General Hospital. He was an uncle of James Gleason, motion picture actor. His son, Charles F. Burns is manager of a Loew house in Yonkers. Burns was formerly associated with the Keith Circuit and was manager of the Passaic, N. J., Playhouse before his retirement. Surviving, besides his son and nephew, are a brother and a sister. RKO Officials Attend 'Snow White9 Banquet Cincinnati, Feb. 27. — RKO president Ned E. Depinet attended a "Snow White" banquet in the Netherlands Plaza here at the weekend, with other home office officials including Robert Mochrie, Edward L. Alperson, S. Barret McCormick, Harry Mandell, Walter Branson, Nat Levy, Sol Schwartz, Harold Mirisch, Terry Turner, Fred Ford, Bob Hickey, Tod Wynn, Ralph Banghart and Linus Travers. Governors John W. Bricker of Ohio and Simeon Willis of Kentucky were among the speakers at the gathering, which drew 800 people to see Miss Vera Collins of Middletown, O., crowned "Princess Snow White" by Deems Taylor. The Disney film is being reissued. 'Desert Song\ Dorsey Pull Heavily in Chi. Chicago, Feb. 27. — Biggest boom of the Winter established records at Loop theatres with capacity patronage spanning the weekend through Washington's birthday. "Desert Song" neted highest of single feature runs with $36,000. Tommy Dorsey's band and Gene Krupa, with "The Racket Man" on the screen, soared to $56,000 at the Oriental, hitting a four-year record. Estimated receipts for the week ending Feb. 28: "Jack London" (UA) 3 days, 2nd week "The Cross of Lorraine" (M-G-M) and "Minesweeper" (Para.) 4 days APOLLO— (1,200) (50c-65c-85c) 7 days. Gross: $16,000. (Average: $11,400). "No Time for Love" (Para.) CHICAGO— (3,850) (50c-65c-85c) 6^4 days, 3rd week (Thursday night, War Bond Premiere, "A Guy Named Joe"). Stage: Phil Regan, Robert Crum. Gross: $42,000. (Average: $51,500). "The Lodger" (2«th-Fox) "The City That Stopped Hitler" (Para.) GARRICK— (1,000) (50c-65c-85c) 7 days, 4th week. Gross: $14,000. (Average: $9,100). "His Butler's Sister" (Univ.) "The Ghost Ship" (RKO) GRAND— (1,250) (50c-65c-85c) 7 days, 5th Loop week. Gross: $18,000. (Average: $9, "The Racket Man" (Col.) ORIENTAL— (3,200) (35c-40c-55c-65c-75c) 7 days. Stage: Tommy Dorsey and Band with Gene Krupa. Gross: $56,000. (Average: $24,000). "Higher and Higher" (RKO) "Rookies in Burma" (RKO) PALACE— (2,500) (50c-65c-85c) 7 days 2nd week. Gross: $28,500. (Average: $24, " Desert Song" (WB) ROOSEVELT— (1,500) (50c-65c-85c) 7 days. Gross: $36,000. (Average: $20,400). "Madame Curie" (M-G-M) STATE-LAKE-(2,700) (50c-65c-85c) 7 days, 6th week. Gross: $29,000. (Average: $29,000). "Girl Crazy" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTSTS— (1,700) (50c-65c-8Sc) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $28,000. (Average: $20,200). "Whispering Footsteps" (Rep.) "Revenge of Zombies" (Mono.) WOODS — (1,200) (55c-65c-85c) 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average: $10,000). MP A Meets Tomorrow Motion Picture Associates will meet tomorrow at the Hotel Astor here at 12 :45. The agenda includes naming of committees on membership, charity, fund raising, constitution, and election, according to Morris Sanders, president. RKO RADIO PICTURES, Inc. NEW YORK TRADE SHOWING of "THE FALCON OUT WEST" THURS., MARCH 2, at 11:00 A.M. and 2:30 P.M. RKO PROJECTION ROOM 630 Ninth Avenue, New York, N. Y.