Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1944)

(5 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, November 1, 1944 Review "Meet Me in St. Louis" {M-G-M) Hollywood, October 31. HOUR-GLASS figures and hair ribbons, horse and buggy, sideburns and watch chains parade with all the nostalgic charm of another generation's nosegay in the daguerrotype-manner in "Meet Me in St. Louis." Producer Arthur Freed and director Vincente Minnelli have contrived a charming attraction, magnificently mounted and produced. Like good showmen, they also remembered to keep it commercial. The title, of course, plants the locale. The period of 1903-4. The big event is the St. Louis-Louisiana Purchase Exposition with its official song from which springs the attraction's monicker. It was in the days when girls who were kissed first had to be engaged, when father was the unchallenged master of the household, when "Under the Bamboo Tree" was popular and when a boy in New York telephoned a girl in St. Louis the urgency was expected to indicate a proposal. Against this kind of picturesque backdrop is the Smith family. Leon Ames is the lawyer-father, Mary Astor is the wife, Lucille Bremer is the oldest daughter, Judy Garland is next in line, Joan Carroll is third and Margaret O'Brien fourth. Henry H. Daniel, Jr., is the son; Marjorie Main, the family retainer-maid, Harry Davenport, the grandfather of understanding and quiet humor. Romantic foil for Miss Bremer is Robert Sully and for Miss Garland, Tom Drake. Dredging from a book by Sally. Benson, writers Irving Brecher and Fred F. Finklehoffe have put together very little resembling story but a pleasant compilation of incidents. The girls let their heartstrings out, with final success ; the Little O'Brien gets herself and her family in constant trouble and, in one way and another and through one device and another, the whole family plays out its life with father and with each other. The only dark spot to harry a leisurely and comfortable pastoral enters when father accepts a post in New York. Family rebellion breaks out, then subsides on the theory father — and not mother, this time — knows best. Finally, father realizes St. Louis is home to family and to him and chucks the offer. They remain in St. Louis for happy, romantic fadeouts and the inaugural of the fair. 4 ' \ It EET Me in St. Louis," it is easy to see, might have been one of those 1*1 things. There is so much reliance upon incident and upon proper mood, leading into excellence of performance, that the outcome could have been considerably less fortunate in less capable and careful hands. But these results are heart-warming in their fragrance and wholesome in their sweep. There is too much honey and sunshine, perhaps. Story content could have been far stronger and so, too, could have marquee names among the men. Yet the sugar is coated evenly, if somewhat thickly, and not hard to take. Not a musical, but a period piece, the attraction has four song numbers. Accelerating in popularity, of course, is "The Trolley Song" sung in best Garland by Judy. She also does "The Boy Next Door" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" which are sentimental, but not sloppy ; here, too, she garlands them with her best. In point of performance, it is probably inevitable that little Margaret O'Brien packages the picture neatly under her own label. She is practically resistant-proof, but, anyway, this reviewer didn't even try. He's a goner on Miss Garland, too, but that's a professional romance hardly new. The credit roster would lack completion without a bouquet for Edwin B. Willis and Paul Huldschinsky for their sets, Irene for her costuming and George Folsey for his Technicolor camerawork. Running time, 110 minutes. No release date set. G.* Red Kann. *"G" denotes general classification. 'Meet Again' In $27,500 Phila. Week Philadelphia, Oct. 31. — Business continued fair in mid-city houses with holdovers and second runs predominating. "Till We Meet Again" at the Fox, major film opening of the week, points to $27,500. The other opening, "Abroad With Two Yanks," at the Aldine, indicates $15,900, with an additional $3,000 already taken in for the dual Sunday showing at the Earle. Estimated receipts for the week ending November 1-3 : "Abroad with Two Yanks" (UA) ALDINE — (906) (40c-45c-5Oc-65c-75c-85c) 7 days. Gross: $15,900. (Average: $14,600). "The Seventh Cross" (M-G-M) ARCADIA— (600) (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c) 7 days, 2nd run. Gross: $5,800. (Average: $4,000). "The Very Thought of You" (WB) BOYD— (3,000) (4Oc-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $11,500. (Average: $18,000). "Music in Manhattan" (RKO) G days "Abroad with Two Yanks" (UA) 1 day EARLE — (3,000) (40c-50c-85c-95c) 6 days of vaudeville including Sonny Dunham's band, Carolyn Grey, Tommy Randall, Nicholas Brothers and Joey Rardin. Gross: $20,000. (Average: $27,600). "Till We Meet Again" (Para.) FOX— (3,000) (4Oc-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c) 7 days. Gross: $27,500. (Average: $20,500). "Kismet" (M-G-M) KARLTON— (1,000) (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c85c) 7 days, 2nd run. Gross: $7,000. (Average: $6,600). "Bride by Mistake" (RKO) KEITH'S — (2,200) (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c85c) 7 days, 2nd run. Gross: $6,000. (Average: $5,800). "Since You Went Away" (UA) MASTBAUM — (4,700) (40c-45c-50c-65c75c-85c) 7 days, 4th week. Gross: $23,200. Average: $22,500). "Irish Eyes Are Smiling" (ZOth-Fox) STANLEY— (3,000) (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $16,800. (Average: $20,000). "Are These Our Parents?" (Mono.) STANTON— (1,700) (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c85c) 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average: $9, 400). 'SYWA'Draws Big $52,000 in Denver Denver, Oct. 31. — The S.R.O. signs at the Denver and Esquire theatres here were taken out of storage and put into use over the weekend while "Since You Went Away" played out the week here. The gross at the Denver was $37,500, while the Esquire showed a neat $14,625 for the week. Estimated receipts for the week ending Oct. 30-Nov. 2 : "Irish Eyes Are Smiling" (20th Fox) "Shadows in the Night" (Col.) ALADDIN— (1,400) (35c-45c-74c) 7 days, moveover. Gross: $9,800. (Average, $5,600). "I Love a Soldier" (Para.) DlJK'HAM — (1,750) (35c-45c-70c) 3d week. Gross: $6,500. (Average. $9,000). "Since You Went Away" (U. A.) DENVER— (2,600) (35c-45c-74c) 7 days. Gross: $37,500. (Average, $15,000). "Since You Went Away" (U. A.) ESQUIRE — (740) (35c-45c-74c) 7 days. Gross: $14,625. (Average, $4,500). "Dangerous Journey" (20th Fox) "Moonlight and Cactus" (Univ.) PARAMOUNT— (2,200) (35c-45c-74c) 7 days. Gross: $17,205. (Average, $9,300). "Arsenic and Old Lace" (W.B.) RIALTO— (900) (35c-45c-74c) 7 days, moveover. Gross: $9,250. (Average, $5,000). Tribute to Willkie Freedom House will pay tribute to the late Wendell L. Willkie, former chairman of the board of 20th Century-Fox, at a memorial meeting on Saturday, at New York Times Hall. Report 90 Per Cent Sellout for 'Stars' About 90 per cent of available tickets for the 11th annual "Night of Stars," to be held Tuesday, Nov. 14, at Madison Square Garden, have been sold, it was reported yesterday by Sylvan Gotshal, chairman. A number of film stars, as well as stage and radio personalities will appear at the affair, proceeds of which will be turned over to the United Jewish Appeal for Refugees, Overseas Needs and Palestine. Robert Weitman, manager of the Paramount Theatre here, is chairman of the producing committee. Kelley Replaces Meeker Dallas, Oct. 31. — Robert Kelley of the Interstate Circuit home office here, has succeeded Charles R. Meeker, Jr., as publicity director of the IC's Dallas theatres, it has been announced by Frank O. Starz, circuit advertising manager. Plans Two Theatres For Chattanooga Chattanooga, Oct. 31. — Two new theatre-recreation centers to cost $400,000 are planned for Chattanooga, Abe Borisky, secretary-treasurer of Independent Theatres, Inc., announced. Each of the new houses will seat 1,000. In addition, Independent Theatres, which operates seven houses here, plans a new theatre in Knoxville and remodeling and enlarging of its Park Theatre here at a cost of $100,000. Carol Weill to IT & T Carol Weill, former director of advertising and publicity for Film Classics, has joined George A. Hirliman at International Theatrical and Television Corp. Miss Weill's entire staff, including Jean Guarini, her assistant, and her art, exploitation and advertising copy departments, have moved with her to I. T. and T. 'Village,' 4SYWA' Tops in Cleveland Cleveland, Oct. 31. — "Greenwich Village" headed the local parade with an estimated $10,500 at the Allen Theatre. Businesss was off right down the line, although "Since You Went Away" held strong in its fourth week, heading for a $12,000 take at Loew's Stillman following a three-week run at the State. Estimated receipts for the weel' ended Nov. 1 : "Greenwich Village" (ZOth-Fox) ALLEN — (3,000) (45c-55c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $10,500. (Average: $8,500). "Impatient Years" (Col.) WARNERS' HIPPODROME — (3,500) (45c-55c-65c) 7 days. Gross : $14,500. (Average: $22,100). "Arsenic and Old Lace" (Warner) WARNERS' LAKE— (714) (45c-55c-65c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $3,600. (Average: S3. 200). "Atlantic City" (Rep.) LOEW'S OHIO— (1,268) (45c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $3,500. (Average: $5,000). "San Diego I Love You" (Univ.) RKO PALACE— (3,300) (50c-60c-85c-95c) 7 days. Stage: Wally Brown,Alan Carney. Hal Mclntyre Band. Gross: $20,000. (Average: $25,400). "I Love a Soldier" (Para.) LOEW'S STATE— (3,300) (45c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $17,000. (Average: $19,000). "Since You Went Away" (U.A.) LOEW'S STILLMAN— (1,900) (45c-65c) 7 days, 4th week. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $10,000). 'Skeffington' Gets Toronto Welcome Toronto, Oct. 31.— "Mr. Sherrington" succeeded to the screen of Shea's Theatre here after the eight-weeks run of "Going My Way" to set the boxoffice pace, pointing to $15,300, while "Since You Went Away" continued a second week at Loew's Theatre for an expected above-par $12,200. Estimated receipts for the week ending Nov. 2 : "The Hour Before the Dawn," (Para.) EGLINTON — (1,086) (18c-30c-48c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $4,000). "Heavenly Days" (RKO) IMPERIAL— (3,373) (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c) 6 days. Gross: $12,300. (Average, $12,800) "Since You Went Away" (U.A.) LOEW'S— (2,074) (18c-30c-42c-60c-78c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $12,200. (Average, $11,200). "Mr. Skeffington" (W.B.) SHEA'S — (2,480) (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c) 6 days. Gross: $15,300. (Average, $12,800). "The Hour Before the Dawn" (Para.) HVOLI— (1,434) (18c-30c-48c) 6 days. Gross: $4,400. (Average, $4,400). "The Merry Monahans" (Univ.) UPTOWN— (2,761) (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c) 6 days. Gross: $9,300. (Average, $9,800). Ontario Exhibitors Re-Elect Officers Toronto, Oct. 31. — At a meeting of the Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario, N. A. Taylor of 20th Century Theatres, an affiliate of Famous Players Canadian Corp., was J elected president for a second term and Haskell M. Masters, general manager of Odeon Theatres of Canada, was named vice-president. J. Garbarino, proprietor of the Odeon Theatre, Toronto, was re i elected treasurer and Mayor Floyd / Rumford of Forest, Ont, was named ; honorary secretary, with S. B. Taube ( re-appointed to the position of executive-secretary. William Summerville, Jr., of -Bloom & Fine Theatres, a subsidiary of Famous Players, was named chairman of the membership and organization committee, and Garbarino is chairman of the budget and assessment committee.