Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1946)

8 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, November 14, 1946 Hollywood By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Nov. 13 STUART Heisler has been engaged by California Pictures to take over direction of "Vendetta," which has been temporarily suspended during reorganization of the corporation. Heisler's latest directorial job was Paramount's memorable musical, "Blue Skies" . . . Independent Artists, new company whose president is Frederick Brisson, has purchased "The Velvet Touch," original story by Annabel Rose and William Mercer. Jack Gage will direct the picture, which is to be released through RKO Radio. British actress Lilli Palmer has been signed to a new contract by United States Pictures, and will star in "Distant Drums," the Dan Totheroh s'tory of the Oregon Trail, for which Ben Hecht is currently preparing the screenplay. Warners will release the film. . . . Sol M. Wwrtzel's sixth production for 20th Century-Fox release will be "The Jewels of Brandenburg ," by Irving Cummings, Jr., Robert North and Irving Elman. It is a topical drama inspired by the theft of royal jewels in occupied countries of Europe. Richard Travis is Set for the stellar role. • "King Solomon's Mines," H. Rider Haggard's story of adventure in darkest Africa, has been purchased in England by M-G-M. Sam Zimbalist is slated to produce. . . . Frank Faylen, remembered for his portrayal of the male nurse in Paramount's Academy Award winning "Lost Weekend," has had his contract renewed by that studio. . . . The producer, director, and stars of the cast of Warners' "Two Guys from Milwaukee" will be reunited in a second film, to be titled "Two Guys' from Texas." Alex Gottlieb will produce, David Butler will direct, while Dennis Morgan, Jack Carson and Janis Paige will have leading roles. Joan Leslie, no doubt, will be conspicuous by her absence from the cast. • Opportunities to enhance the laugh potential of "Here Comes Trouble," as revealed at a recent "sneak-preview," have induced Hal Roach to take the Cinecolor feature back to the studio for several weeks' shooting of additional scenes. Producer-director Fred Guiol will have charge of the added sequences, in which William Tracy, Joe Sawyer, Beverly Loyd and Emory Parnell will appear. . . . Vivian Blaine has had her 20th CenturyFox contract extended. • Monogram has purchased Alfred Noyes'' narrative poem, "The Highwayman," from, James S. Burkctt, zvho will produce it for the studio. Noyes is collaborating with Jack DeWitt and Renault D'uncam. on the screenplay. Most of the picture will be filmed in England, which is the locale of the poem. . . . Robert Armbruster, who was Nelson Eddy's musical director during seven years of radio work, has been signed by Republic to perform a similar function on Eddv's initial Republic picture, "Will Tomorrow Ever Come?" for which Rudolph Friml h-as written an original score. Key City Grosses ipOLLOWING are estimated pic* ture grosses for current engagements in key cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily correspondents. BOSTON Rainy weather over the weekend and Armistice Day drew the downtown crowds indoors to boost grosses. Estimated receipts for the week ended Nov. 13: THE KILLERS (U)— BOSTON (2,900) 50c$1.10). Stage show: 3 Stooges. Dolly Dawn, Hal LeRoy. Gross: $28,000. (Average: $27,400) CLOAK AND DAGGER (WB) and ROLLING HOME (Screen Guild)— FENWAY (1,700) (40c-80c) Gross: $6,500. (Average: $6,900) MARGIE (ZOtk-Fox) and SLIGHTLY SCANDALOUS (U) — MEMORIAL (2,900) (40c-80c) Gross: $30,000. (Average: $25,000) TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST (Para.) and GENIUS AT WORK (RKORadio) — METROPOLITAN (4,376) (40c-80c) Gross: $31,000. (Average: $25,000) GALLANT BESS (M-G-M) and CRIME DOCTOR'S MAN HUNT (Col.)— ORPHEUM (3,200) (40c-80c) Gross: $26,000. (Average: $23,500) CLOAK AND DAGGER (WB) and ROLLING HOME (Screen Guild) — PARAMOUNT (1,700) (40c-80c) Gross: $16,200. (Average: $15,100) GALLANT BESS (M-G-M and CRIME DOCTOR'S MAN HUNT (Col.) — STATE (2,900) (35c-80c) Gross: $14,000. (Average: $16,900) LITTLE (328) (35c-44c-65c) 7 days. Gross $3,500. (Average: $3,500) I'VE ALWAYS LOVED YOU (Rep.)— MAYFAIR (1,000) (25c-35c-54c) 7 days, 4th week. Gross: $5,500. (Average: $6,000) ST. LOUIS Business at all houses was swelled by a big weekend and the Armistice Day matinees. Estimated receipts for the week ended Nov. 13 : TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST (Para.) — AMBASSADOR (3,154) (50c-60c75c) Gross: $28,000. (Average: $18,000) NEVER SAY GOODBYE (WB) and INVISIBLE INFORMER (Rep.) — FOX (5,038) (50c-60c-75c) Gross: $24,000. (Average: $20,000) THE WESTERNER (UA reissue) and THE BOHEMIAN GIRL, (Film Classics)— LOEWS ORPHEUM (1,900) (50c-60c-75c) Gross: $12,000. (Average: $9,000) NOi LEAVE, NO LOVE (M-G-M)— LOEWS STATE (3,154) (50c-60c-75c) 2nd week. Gross: $21,000. (Average: $20,000) THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES (U) and DECEPTION (WB) — MISSOURI (3,514) (S0c-60c-75c) Gross: $15,000. (Average: $12,500) NOTORIOUS (RKO-Radio) — ST. LOUIS (4,000) (50c-60c-75c) 5th week. Gross: $10,200. (Average: $6,000) VIRGINIAN (Para, reissue) and THE LAST OUTPOST (Para, reissue) — SHU BERT (1,900) (50c-60c-75c) Gross: $8,000. (Average: $7,500) BALTIMORE The first-run box-offices are doing a little better than average despite fairly strong attractions. Weather conditions are fine, and except for weekend football contests, nothing in town offers outside competition. Estimated receipts for the week ending Nov. 14 : RAGE IN HEAVEN (M-G-M reissue)— CENTURY (3,000) (35c-44c-55c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $19,000. (Average: $15,500) THE DARK MIRROR (U) — KEITH'S (2,409) (35c-44c-55c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average: $12,000) MARGIE (2flth-Fcx) — NEW (1,800) (35c 44c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average: $10,750) KINGS ROW (WB reissue) — STANLEY (3,280) (35c-44c-55c-60c-70c) 7 days. Gross: $10,500. (Average: $17,500) THE THRILL OF BRAZIL (Col.)— HIP PODROME (2,205) (35c-44c-60c-70c) 7 days, with stage show. Gross: $19,000. (-Average: $18,000) JOHNNY IN THE CLOUDS (UA)— SAN FRANCISCO Business still is on the dull side, with the start of the rainy season not helping. Estimated receipts for the week ending Nov. 14-15 : THE JOLSON STORY (Col.) — ESQUIRE (1,008) (55c-8Sc) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross $6,750. TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST (Para.) and IT'S GREAT TO BE YOUNG (Col.) — FOX (4,651) (60c-85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $31,000. (Average: $32,000) SISTER KENNY (RKO Radio) — GOLDEN GATE (2,825) (6Sc-1.00) With vaudeville. 7 days. Gross: $29,350. (Average: $32,000) THREE LITTLE GIRLS IN BLUE (ZOth Fox) and BELOW THE DEADLINE (Mono.) — PARAMOUNT (2,735) (60c-85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $19,000. (Average: $23,000) MY DARLING CLEMENTINE (2flth Fox) and STRANGE JOURNEY (20th Fox)— STATE (1,459) (60c-85c) 7 days, 2nd week on moveover. Gross: $8,500. (Average $13,000) THE JOLSON STORY (Col.)— TIVOLI (1,616) (55c-85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $10,000. THE JOLSON STORY (Col.)— UNITED ARTISTS (1,465) (85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $16,750. (Average: $14,000) THREE WISE FOOLS (M-G-M) and) THE COCKEYED MIRACLE (M-G-M)— WARFIELD' (2,672) (60c-85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $20,000. (Average: $27,000) CLEVELAND With holdovers predominating, grosses have been fairly satisfactory Estimated receipts for the week ended Nov. 13: HOLIDAY IN MEXICO (M-G-M) LUKW'S OHIO (1,268) (SOc-70c-75c) 7 days, 4th week. Gross: $8,000. (Average: $7,000) TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST (r-ara.)— LOEW'S STATE (3,300) (50c-70c/5c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $19,500. (Average: $23,800) MR. ACE, (UA) — LOEWS STILLMAN (1,900) (50c-70c-75c) 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average: $11,000) BRIEF ENCOUNTER (U) — MALL (700) (45c-S0c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $2,000. (Average: $2,500) MY DARLING CLEMENTINE (ZOth-Fbx) —RKO ALLEN (3,000) (55c-70c-75c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $9,000. (Average: $10,000) WHITE TIE AND TAILS (U) — RKO PALACE (3,300) (60c-S5c-95c) 7 days. Stage: Gene Krupa band and vaudeville. Gross: $30,000. (Average: $30,000) SISTER KENNY (RKO Radio)— WARNERS' HIPPODROME (3,500) (55c-70c-75c) 7 days. Gross: $19,000. (Average: $22,600) THE KILLERS (U)— WARNERS' LAKE (714) (55c-70c-75c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $3,650) OMAHA "Rendezvous with Annie" stands out among generally good grosses despite cold and snow. Estimated receipts for the week ending Nov. 13-14: THREE LITTLE GIRLS IN BLUE (20thFox) and SHADOWS OVER CHINATOWN (Mono.)— OMAHA (2,000) (50c-65c) 7 days, 2nd week, for "Three Little Girls," moveover from Paramount. Gross: $8,500. (Average: $8,600) RENDEZVOUS WITH ANNIE (Rep.)— ORFHEUM (3,000) (55c-80c) 7 days. Glenn Miller Orchestra on stage. Gross: $23,600. (Average: $19,900) THE KILLERS (U) — PARAMOUNT (2,900) (50c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $12,100. (Average: $11,000) THE KID FROM BROOKLYN (RKO Radio) and THE CRIME DOCTOR'S MAN HUNT (RKO' Radio) — RKO BRANDEIS (1,200) (50c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $7,600. (Av I erage: $6,800) ; Urges Withholding Color Standards Washington, Nov. 13. — Standards, for commercial color television should not be established until the electronic: method of color has been perfected toi the point of practical use, Leonard F. Cramer, executive vice-president of Dumont Laboratories, said here today. He predicted that electronic color development will take five years b^'% > it is ready for the public. V .. Cramer stated that Dumont will appear at the Dec. 9 hearing on television color at the Federal Communications Commission to oppose the adoption of color standards. "We feel that a broad system of color standards could be adopted by the FCC now. However, it would not be wise to nail down these standards until the electronic system of color has reached a practical stage," Cramer added. The Dumont executive said in an interview that his company and RCA are making progress in their experimentation with electronic color. He pointed out that the electronic system has many advantages, including the use of a dual receiver, where both color and black-and-white can be intercepted. More experimentation will be required, he said. Sound Advances to Continue: Seeley Improvements in sound reproduction, resulting in increased technical complexities, will continue to appear at regular intervals, E. S. Seeley, chief engineer of Altec Service Corp., said last night in a speech before the the monthly meeting of the Atlantic Coast section of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers, which was held at 20th Century-Fox's home office, here. Frank E. Cahill, Jr., section chairman, presided. Seeley said anticipated improvements will include control track, automatic volume control, stereophonic sight and sound, television, panoramic (wide angle) sound origin, extended range, and new color films which will require modification of reproducing equipment. These new improvements will be brought into theatres as speedily as thev evolve. Seeley predicted. Seeley also traced the evolution of sound reproduction quality and theatre service from the debut of talking pictures, through the expediences of the war, to the present day. INDIANAPOLIS Business generally is average or better despite occasional rains. Estimated receipts for the week ending Nov. 12-13: HOME, SWEET HOMICIDE (20th-Fox) and BLACK BEAUTY (20thFox)— CIRCLE (2,800) (40c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $10,500. (Average: $11,700) THE BIG SLEEP (WB) — INDIANA (3,'00) (40c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $17,000. (Avrage: $15,600) THE DARK MIRROR (U) — KEITH'S (1.300) (40c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (No average, first attraction under new policy) NO LEAVE, NO LOVE (M-G-M)— LOEW'S (2.450) (40c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $16,000. (Average: $14.4001 TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST (Para.)— LYRIC (1.600) (40c-60c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $5,500. (Average: $6,700)