Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1944)

Motion Picture Paily Review "Abroad With Two Yanks" (Edzvard Small-United Artists) fp DWARD SMALL'S "Abroad with Two Yanks" is a gay little slapstick production which recounts the rather hilarious experiences of two U. S. Marines while on furlough in Australia with their outfit during a respite from the South Pacific battle zone. Director Allan Dwan has keyed it to provide good clean fun and plenty of hearty laughs as light escapist entertainment. He keeps William Bendix and Dennis O'Keefe, as two gallavanting Marines, stepping from start to finish. Helen Walker is the "Aussie" girl who is their foil and John Loder as her devoted family friend who is secretly in love with her, is the eventual beneficiary of the Yank invasion. Six writers provided the material. Fred Guiol did the original story; Edward E. Seabook and Tedwell Chapman, the adaptation, and Charles Rogers, Wilkie Mahoney and Ted Sills, the screen, play. What the story simmers down to. is the hectic attempts of O'Keefe to curry favor with Miss Walker and Bendix's equally hectic attempts to frustrate his strategy and to put Loder in the running once he himself discovers that he does not stand a chance and that Loder does. It all started because Bendix saved Loder's life and Miss Walker was over-zealous in showing her appreciation. Female impersonations, mistaken identity, feigned psycho-neurosis, Bendix's flair for sprouting sonnets and O'Keefe's glib tongue, are but some of the farcical plot elements. An early afternoon audience at Loew's Mayfair Theatre in New York where the film was givn a "sneak" preview yesterday, appeared to enjoy it immensely. Running time, 80 minutes. "G."* Release date, August 4. Milt Livingston 8 $9,000 Over Par Is Tremendous for 3rd Week of 'Way' Philadelphia, July 20. — The heat wave, creating an exodus to the seashore, held down business at most central city houses. However, two major openings fared well, with "Two Girls and a Sailor" expected to bring the Stanley $24,800 in addition to $3,200 for the dual Sunday showing at the Earle. "Going My Way?" continues to lead the field at the Mastbaum, pointing to $31,300 for its third week. Estimated receipts for the week ending July 19-21 : "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (RKO) A LDIN E— (900) (40c -45c 50c 65c 75c -85c) 7 davs, 3rd week. Gross: $7,000. (Average: $14,600). "The Mask of Dimitriots" (WB) ARCADIA— (600) (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c) 7 days, 2nd run. Gross: $4,200. (Average: $4,000). "Once Upon a Time" (Col.) BOYD— (3,000) (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross : $10,200. (Average : $18,000. "Take It Biff" (Para.) (6 days) "Two Girls and a Sailor" (M-G-M) (1 day) EARLE— (3,000) (50c-65c-85c-95c) Six days of vaudeville, including Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra, Patricia Morison, Jerry Lewis, Carr Bros., Eugenie Baird and Bob Anthony. Gross: $21,700. (Average: $27,600) "Double Indemnity" (Para.) FOX— (3,000) (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c) 7 days. Gross: $23,500. (Average: $20,500) "Up in Arms" (UA) KARLTON— (1,000) (40c-45c-S0c-65c-75c85c) 7 days, 2nd run. Gross: $8,000. (Average: $6,600). "Up in Mabel's Room" (UA) KEITH'S— (2,000) (4Oc-45c-50c-b5c-75c-85c) 7 days, 2nd run. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,800). "Going My Way?" (Para.) MASTBAUM— (4,700) (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c85c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $31,300. (Average: $22,500). "Two Girls and a Sailor" (M-G-M) STANLEY— (3,000) (4Oc-45c-50c-65c-75c85c) 7 days. Gross: $24,800. (Average: $20,000). "Cobra Woman" (Univ.) STANTON — (1,700) (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $8,200. (Average: $9,400). Montreal Cools Off, Gives 'Moon9 $12,000 Montreal, July 20. — With a cooling-off in weather anticipated for the balance of the week here, local managements look to more or less unaffected attendances. Loew's, with "Harvest Moon," expects $12,000 against a $11,500 average, while the Palace, witQ^'Follow the Boys," expects to register an average with $10,000. Estimated receipts for the week ending July 20 : "Heart of a Nation" (French-Graetz) ORPHEUM— (1,100) (30c-40c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $5,000). "Shine on Harvest Moon" (WB) LOEW'S-(2,900) (35c-53c-67c) 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average: $11,500). "Cobra Woman" (Univ.) "South of Dixie" (Univ.) CAPITOL— (2,700) (30c-45c-63c) 7 days. Gross: $9,500. (Average: $8,000). "Pardon My Rhythm" (Univ.) "Weird Woman" (Univ.) PRINCESS— (2,000) (27c-34c-47c) 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,500). "Follow the Boys" (Univ.) PALACE— (2,700) (30c-45c-62c) 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average: $10,000). SALESMAN Experienced handling outstanding films metropolitan and upper New York. State qualifications, experience and references. Confidential. BOX 226 MOTION PICTURE DAILY *"G" denotes general classification. Industry Continues OWI Production (Continued from page 1) jects made by the Army or Navy on recent campaigns, such as the "Liberation of Rome," will be released as soon as they are made available to the OWI, Griffis said. A recent report that Griffis would resign from the OWI post shortly was described by him as "greatly exaggerated." "I intend to stay on the job until the war ends," he declared. Griffis plans to go to Hollywood Sunday for a four-week stay to confer with studio officials on the production phase of the OWI film program for the coming year. Subjects such as the need for women recruits to the armed forces, manpower problems, war bond appeals, gasoline and paper salvage, the questions of pricefixing and economic stabilization are again to be emphasized in the film messages. Additionally, several films touching on post-war problems, one particularly on the subject of returning soldiers, and another on the work of the United Nations Relief Administration are to be included in the program. Griffis spoke of his recent trip to Sweden, made at the request of the Foreign Economic Administration in an attempt to persuade Swedish manufacturers to stop exporting ball bearings to Germany. Despite reports, he said, "the mission was reasonably successful. The export of the Swedish ball bearings to the Nazis has been substantially reduced." After the war, Griffis declared, "I look for tremendous business for American motion picture companies. American films will follow the American flag. They're now going right behind the Army and will continue to do so." Joseph Schnitzer, 57, Dies on Coast (Continued from page 1) dent of the Western Costume Co., here. Schnitzer, a native of Pittsburgh, entered the industry in 1908 at the age of 20 as manager of the Des Moines branch of the Pittsburgh Calcium Light and Film Co., going from there to the Mullin Film Service, of which he became general sales manager. From 1920 until 1922 he was president of Equity Pictures and then vicepresident of Film Booking Offices, predecessor to RKO. After rising to the RKO presidency, Schnitzer resigned in 1932 to enter independent production, producing "Tomorrow at Seven" the next year. He bought Western Costume in August, 1934. The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon at the Home of Peace Cemetery Chapel. Surviving are his widow, a daughter, Gloria and a son, Don. Mrs. A. Moskowitz Dies Here at 80 (Continued from page 1) Martin Moskowitz, also of 20th, and three daughters, Mrs. Maurice Scopp, Mrs. Jack Harris and Mrs. Irving Snyder. She is also survived by four grandchildren. The funeral services will take place this morning at 11 :15, at Riverside Chapel here. Mildred Harris, 41, Dies on Coast Hollywood, July 20. — Mildred Harris, actress in the silent-film days and first wife of Charles Spencer Chaplin, comedian, died today of pneumonia, which followed a major operation. She had been ill for three weeks. Her age was 41. Friday, July 21, 1944' $42,000 for 4 Way" And $38,000 for 'Johnny' in 'Frisco San Francisco, July 20. — Two> houses broke tops for the season with; smashing grosses. All others showed! strong grosses. Fox hit $42,000 with "Going My Way" and the Warfield was also way up, doing $38,000 wiijfl| Lena Home in person and "JohnSI Doesn't Live Here Anymore" on the screen. Estimated receipts for the weeki ending July 18-20 : "Christmas Holiday" (Univ.) "Minstrel Man" (PRC) ORPHEUM— (2,440) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $9,800. (Average: $14,000). "Marine Raiders" (RKO) GOLDEN GATE^(2,850) (45c-65c-85c) V days. Stage: vaudeville. Gross: $25,000. (Average: $25,000). "Johnny Doesn't Live Here Anymore" (Mono.) WARFIELD— (2,680) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days. Stage: vaudeville. Gross: $38,000. (Average: $25,000). "Going My Way" (Para.) FOX— (5,000) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days. Gross: $42,000. (Average: $24,000). "The Eve of St. Mark" (20thFox) "Yellow Rose of Texas" (Rep.) PARAMOUNT— (2,740) (45c-65c-8Sc) 7 days. Gross: $23,000. (Average: $19,500). "Home in Indiana" (ZOth-Fox) "Secrets of Scotland Yard" (Rep.) STATE— (2,306) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days, moveover from the Fox. Gross: $16,000. (Average: $12,000). "The Story of Dr. Wassell" (Para.) "Leave It to the Irish" (Mono.) ST. FRANCIS— (1,400) (45c-65c-85c) 71 days, 3rd week. Gross: $14,000. (Average: $11,000). "The Hairy Ape" (UA) "Stars on Parade" (Col.) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,200) (45-65c-85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $9,100. (Average: $11,000). 'Adventure', Krupa Survive the Heat Boston, July 20. — Downtown theatres suffered terrifically from the unprecedented— for New England — heat wave of the past several days and business was far off in every instance despite good pictures and plenty of exploitation. The strongest shows were "Night Adventure," with Gene Krupa on the stage, at RKO's Boston, for a $30,000 take, and "White Cliffs of Dover," getting $29,500 at the Orpheum. Estimated receipts for the week ending July 20 : "Night Adventure" (RKO) RKO BOSTON — (3,200) (55c-85c-$1.10) Plus stage show with Gene Krupa. Gross: $30,000. (Average: $28,300). "Shine On Harvest Moon" (WB) "Candlelight in Algeria" (WB) FENWAY — (1,373) (40c-55c-74c) Gross: $6,000. (Average: $8,800). "The Sons of Bernadette" (ZOth-Fox) MAJESTIC— (1,350) 12th week. Gross: $6,300. (Average: $18,000) "Home in Indiana" (ZOth-Fox) "Gildersleeve's Ghost" (RKO) MEMORIAL(2,900) (55c-65c-74c-9Sc). Gross: $17,500. (Average: $22,000). "Dr. Wassell" (Para.) METROPOLITAN — (4,367) (55c-65c-74c85c). Gross: $22,400. Average: $24,600). "White Cliffs of Dvoer" (M-G-M) ORPHEUM — (2.900) (55c-65c-74c-85c). | Gross: Gross: $29,500. (Average: $28,300) "Shine On Harvest Moon" (WB) "Candlelight in Algeria" (WB) PARAMOUNT — (1,700) (40c-55c-65c-74c). , Gross: $8,500. (Average: $9,500). "White Cliffs of Dover" (M-G-M) STATE— (3,200) (45c -65c -74c). Gross:) $22,000. (Average: $23,600)