Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1948)

Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, July 13, 1948 Key City Grosses I? OLLOWING are estimated picM7 ture grosses for current engagements in key cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily correspondents. Estimates omit admission tax. CINCINNATI Most grosses are several notches over the preceding week, with overall averages the best in many months, despite continuance of excessively hot weather and increased competition from outdoor attractions. Estimated receipts for the week ending July 13': THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (RKO Radio)— KEITH'S (1,500) (50c-S5c60c-65c-75c) 3rd week. Gross: $6,000. (Average: $7,500) FLOWING GOLD (WB reissue)— RKO GRAND (1,500) (5Oc-55c-60c-65c-70c-75c). Dualed with GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN (WB reissue). Gross: $8,500. (Average: $8,000) FOUR FACES WEST (UA)— RKO PALACE (2,700) (50c-55c-60c-65c-70c-75c). Gross: $15,000. (Average: $15,000) MR. B LANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE (SRO)— RKO LYRIC (1,400) (50c55c-60c-65c-70c-75c) 4 days, 3rd week, on a moveover from the Shubert, following an initial week at the Albee. GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN (U-I reissue)—RKO LYRIC (1,400) (50c-55c-60c65c-70c-75c) 3 days. Dualed with SON OF DRACULA (U-I reissue). Combined gross: $6,500. (Average, 7 days: $5,000) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M)— RKO CAPITOL (2,000) (50c-55c-6Oc-65c-70c75c). Gross: $10,500. (Average: $10,000) UP IN CENTRAL PARK (U-I)— "RKO ALBEE (3,300) (50c-55c-60c-65c-70c-75c). Gross: $16,500. (Average: $15,000) BALTIMORE About half of local first-run theatres are showing holdovers and, as a result, business is just about average. Among newcomers, "Easter Parade" is drawing capacity crowds. Weekend business was somewhat off, due to clear weather and outdoor amusements. Estimated receipts for the week ending July 15 : ANTOINE AND ANTOINETTE (Siritsky Int'l) — LITTLE (328) (29c-37c-56c). Gross: $2,750. (Average: $3,000) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M)— CENTURY (3,000) (29c-37c-45c-54c, and 56c weekends). Gross: $21,500. (Average: $14,500) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M) —VALENCIA (1,466) (29c-37c-45c-54c, and 56c weekends) 2nd week. Gross: $5,750. (Average: $5,000) THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (RKO Radio)— TOWN (1,450) (first time here at popular prices: 29c-37c-56c) 3rd week. Gross: $8,750. (Average: $11,000) THE DUDE GOES WEST (Allied Artists) — MAYFAIR (1,000) (21c-29c-S4c) 2nd week. Gross: $4,000. (Average: $4,500) THE EMPEROR WALTZ (Para.)— STANLEY (3,280) . (29c-37c-50c-58c) 2nd week. Gross: $13,000. (Average: $14,500) THE FULLER BRUSH MAN (Col.)— HIPPODROME (2,205) (29c-37c-50c-58c) 2nd week. With a stage show. Gross: $17,500. (Average: $17,500) STREET WITH NO NAME (Z0th-Fox)— NEW (1,800) (29c-40c-50c-58c). Gross: $12, 000. (Average: $11,750) UP IN CENTRAL PARK (U-I) KEITH'S (2,406) (25c-37c-44c-54c, and 56c weekends). Gross: $10,750. (Average: $12,000) TORONTO In spite of heat and the absence of many patrons from the city, there were two holdovers, one for a third week, at Famous Players first-run houses in Toronto, both being in the lighter vein. Most business was around average. Estimated receipts for the week ending July 15 : ANNA KARENINA (ZOth-Fox) — EGLIN Reviews "Train to Alcatraz" (Republic) FROM simple material Republic has fashioned a compact melodrama sufficiently endowed with suspense even though the ultimate outcome of the plot is never too much in doubt. While a good deal of the story incidents are pat and lacking in conviction, the film sustains interest 'more than well, generally speaking. A sort of "Last Mile" on rails, the action is confined primarily to a prison car hauling an assorted bunch of escape-minded criminals across the country to Alcatraz. The drama in which these desperate men are involved is intensified by confining the area of activity and simplifying the plot structure as much as possible. Of the men, only one (William Phipps) does not deserve his fate. He is a victim of circumstances who at the end finds justice and love (with Janet Martin). An abortive escape of the convicts is pictured with plenty of excitement and blood-curdling violence. The love note was virtually dragged into the story, and while it may add to the happiness of Phipps, it seems strangely out of place. Lou Brock was associate producer, and Philip Ford applied hard-fisted direction to the Gerald Geraghty screenplay. Donald Barry, Roy Barcroft, Juan Storey, Jane Darwell, Milburn Stone and Ralph Dunn are others importantly placed in the cast. Running time, 60 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, June 28. P.E.L. Portrait of Innocence" (Nous Les Gosses) (Siritsky International — French with English subtitles') THIS IS an exceptional and very fine film about children and it deserves to be treated as top A product by exhibitors catering to art audiences. The picture creates a moving and altogether charming whole from what appears on the surface to be a patchwork of very simple incidents. "Portrait of Innocence" makes the most out of the appeal of the children in its story. It is full of humor and the kind of realism that will endear it to any family audience. And, without being tumultuous, there is action a-plenty, with some romance thrown in to boot. Louis Daquin directed this Pathe film. Louise Carletti, Gilbert Gil and Coedel are starred. Running time, 90 minutes. General audience classification. Current release. "They Are Not Angels*' (Battalion Du Ciel) (Siritsky International — French with English subtitles) D RODUCED by Pathe in France, with the co-operation of the British and * French governments and the Royal Air Force, "They Are Not Angels" is one of the few pictures of the war which has reached the screen without any artificial preachments or philosophizing, or embarrassing heroics. Despite its more than two hours' running time, its dialogue, situations and plot development have been so skillfully woven together, plus the excellent quality of the acting by all players, that the audience will not be aware of the time it takes to tell the story. Opening at a training camp in England where a battalion of French paratroopers await D-Day, the picture shows their jump into France, their operations behind the enemy lines, and, finally, in an impressive scene, the three remaining members of the unit. Starring Pierre Blanchar and Raymond Bussieres, it was directed by Alexandre Esway, from a scenario and dialogue written by Joseph Kessel. Running time, 121 minutes. General audience classification. Current release. TON (1,086) (20c-36c-50c-66c) 6 days. Gross: $6,400. (Average: $6,900) ANNA KARENINA (Z0th-Fox)— TTVOLI (1,434) (20c-36c-50c-66c) 6 days. Gross: $7,700. (Average: $8,200) THE FULLER BRUSH MAN (Col.)— SHEA'S (2,480) (20c-36c-50c-66c-90c) 6 days, 3rd week. Gross: $14,100. (Average: $14, FURY AT FURNACE CREEK (20th-Fox) — NORTOWN (959) (20c-42c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $5,500) FURY AT FURNACE CREEK (ZOth-Fox) —VICTORIA (1,240) (20c-36c-42c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $4,800. (Average: $5,800) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M)— LOEWS (2,074) (20c-36c-50c-66c-78c) 6 days. Gross: $15,200. (Average: $14,200) ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS (WB) —IMPERIAL (3,343) (20c-36c-50c-66c-90c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $14,100. (Average: $14,600) RUTHLESS (EL)— DANFORTH (1,400) (20c-36c-50c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average: $6,500) RUTHLESS (EL)— FAIRLAWN (1,195) (20c-36c-50c-55c) 6 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,500) . ttt, SUMMER HOLIDAY (M-G-M)-UP TOWN (2,761) (20c-36c-50c-66c-90c) 6 days. Gross: $10,600. (Average: $10,600) ATLANTA Business this week is about average. Weather is fair and cool. Estimated receipts for the week ending July 14: ANNA KARENINA (ZOth-Fox) — PARAMOUNT (2,446) (12c-50c). Gross: $6,000. (Average: $5,800) ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST (U-I)— ROXY (2,446) (12c-50c). Gross: $5,900. (Average: $5,800) THE EMPEROR WALTZ (Para.) — FOX (2nd week). Gross: $14,500. (Average: $15,000) ON OUR MERRY WAY (UA)— LOEWS GRAND (2,446) (12c-60c). Gross: $15,000. (Average: $15,000) 'I A' Local Celebrates New Orleans, July 12. — Richard F. _ Walsh, president of IATSE, and William P. Raoul, general secretarytreasurer, were here from New York to celebrate the 35th anniversary of IATSE Local No. 293 at the Roosevelt Hotel last weekend. A highlight of the affair was the presentation of a gold membership card to N. L. Carter, assistant general manager of Paramount-Richards Theatres by A. S. Johnstone, international representative and president of Local No. 293. Crescent Fighting Tax Atlanta, July 12. — Circuit Judge Newton B. Powell has upheld the right of the city of Decatur, Ala., to levy an amusement tax. Crescent Amusement Co. of Nashville, owner of theatres there, has appealed the ruling to the Alabama Supreme Court. Production Drops Again, Down to 31 Hollywood, July 12. — The production index again stood unimpressive at 31, dipping slightly from last week's 34. Four films were started, while seven were completed. Shooting started on "Inner Sanctum" (M.R.S. Pictures), Film Classics ; "Interference," RKO Ra- '. , "The Fan," 20th Century-Fox; A W Gay Amigo" (Philip N. Krasne), United Artists. Shooting was finished on "Wings Westward," Columbia; "Words and Music," Metro-GoldwynMayer ; "The Denver Kid," Republic ; "Indian Scout" (Edward Small), United Artists ; "The O'Flynn" (Fairbanks), Universal-International, and "The Girl from Jones Beach" and "The Younger Brothers," Warner. Walls of Jericho' Rated 'B' by Legion Twentieth Century-Fox's "The Walls of Jericho" and Discina International's "Blind Desire" (French) have been given "B" ratings by the National Legion of Decency. Monogram's "Back Trail" and Eagle-Lion's "The Spiritualist" were rated A-l and Columbia's "Coroner Creek," Paramount's "So Evil My Love" and United Artists' "Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven" were classified A-II. Broadway Grosses (Continued from page 1) Foreign Affair" and a stage bill headed by Jo Stafford looks like $82,000 in a second week, despite a mild weekend. Unimpressive debuts were made by four new films, with first-week grosses expected as follows : "Canon City," Criterion, $37,000; "Raw Deal," Victoria, $19,000; "Fury at Furnace Creek," Globe, $14,000, and "Old Los Angeles," Gotham, $7,000; "Mickey," will take over at the Gotham on Saturday. "Give My Regards to Broadway," plus an ice show on stage, is fair in its third and final week at the Roxy where $74,000 is expected; "Street with No Name" will move in tomorrow. "Romance on the High Seas," together with Bob Crosby's band on stage, is so-so at the Strand, a third and final week due for $30,000; "Key Largo" will be the replacement on Friday. A very modest $15,000 for a seventh week is expected for "Melody Time" at the Astor where "The Babe Ruth Story" will open on July 26. At the Winter Garden, "Man-Eater of Kumaon" is mild in its second week, with $16,000 expected. "Time of Your Life" is doing modestly in its seventh week at the Mayfair where $14,500 is due. "The Crusaders" re-issue has slumped in its second week at the Rivoli, with a flimsy $17,000 due. "The Illegals" will have its premiere tomorrow at the Ambassador. 'Glory' Opens July 23 World premiere of "Beyond Glory," Alan Ladd-Donna Reed picture, will be staged by Paramount in Radio City Theatre in Minneapolis on July 23, the opening day of that city's annual Aquatennial. Ladd will visit Minneapolis to attend a press luncheon prior to the opening.