Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1948)

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6 Motion Picture daily Tuesday, August 17, 1948 Bergman and Aides To Promote 'Venus' A "flying squadron" of UniversalInternational advertising, publicity and exploitation executives will visit 20 key cities beginning next week on advance promotion plans for "One Touch of Venus," Maurice A. Bergman, U-I Eastern advertising-publicity director, announces. The group will consist of Bergman, Al Horwits, Eastern publicity manager, and Charles Simonelli, Eastern exploitation manager. Republic in First Deal for Trucolor Hollywood, Aug. 16. — First outside deal for the use of Trucolor process, recently made generally available by Republic, has been negotiated by Howard Welch and Walter Colmes, who will independently produce "Montana Belle," using Republic studio space. Fined on Violation Detroit, Aug. 16. — Hyman Bloom, manager of the Mercury Theatre, was fined $100 and placed on six months' probation for permitting 300 more persons than are allowed by fire regulations to enter the theatre. Review Luxury Liner (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer') Hollywood, Aug. 16 LIGHT, brisk, pleasantly humorous and musically noteworthy, this Joe Pasternak confection in Technicolor takes good care of its audience Lauritz Melchior and Marina Koshetz give the addicts of top-drawer music plenty of the best to listen to, but devote most of their time and talent to comedy which is within the appreciation-range of everybody. Jane Powell works out in the grand-opera tradition, too, but also in the topical and swing divisions. And Xavier Cugat pilots his bandsmen through typical musical interludes to excellent advantage. George Brent and Frances Gifford share the principal romantic complication, and Miss Powell shares a secondary one with Thomas E. Breen, the son of Production Code Administrator Joseph I Breen, who makes an auspicious screen debut in this picture. The production, directed by Richard Whorf, from a script by Gladys Lehman and Richard Connell, plays a good deal beter than it looks .on paper, and figures to build as it runs. Miss Powell, as the daughter of ship captain Brent, is the central character in the lightly told story. Against her father's instructions, she runs away from a fashionable school and stows away on his boat, the luxury liner of the title, as it heads out for Brazil. He undertakes to teach her discipline by making her work for her passage, but Miss Gifford, a young widow flee ing an unwelcome suitor, befriends her, as does Melchior, Breen and the others aboard. Thwarted in his disciplinary objective, Brent relents, and before the voyage ends he has wooed and won Miss Gifford, and his daughter has agreed to see things Breen's way. The shipboard setting is ideal for the smooth handling of a diversity of musical sequences which offer at least one number for every variety of taste. Running time, 99 minutes. General audience classification. Release date not set. William R. Weaver Reade Drive-in Opening Walter Reade's Drive-In Theatre located near Woodbridge, N. J., and first of 27 planned by the circuit in the next few years, will open Satur day night. It has a capacity of 950 cars and has provision for enlargement for 100 others. Julius Daniels. Reade city manager for Perth Amboy, will supervise and Samuel Shumer, manager of the Strand in Perth Am boy, has been transferred to the drive in as manager. Edward Moroz, for mer assistant manager at the Majestic, succeeds Shumer at the Strand. Mono. Southern Meet Atlanta, Aug. 16. — In Atlanta for a sales meeting with Arthur C. Bromberg, president of Monogram Southern Exchanges, were the following branch managers ; Henry Glover, New Orleans ; Hal Jordan, Charlotte, and Bailey Prichard, Memphis, with sales representatives from Atlanta and Charlotte. WB Circuit Zone Meet Hartford, Aug. 16. — Annual meeting of Warner Theatres' New England zone will be held on Aug. 31 at the Racebrook Country Club, Orange, Conn., with Harry Kalmine, president and general manager; I. J. Hoffman, zone manager, and Henry L. Needles, Hartford district manager, among executives who will attend. C. P. Skouras (Continued from page 1) become one of the country's most successful business leaders and outstanding citizens is a story in the best American tradition. Presentation of of the Great Heart Award to him is further proof that he has not forgotten his early beginnings and has continued, to this day, to lend his active support to the betterment of mankind." Louis B. Mayer lauded the NT head for_ his "leadership in every worthwhile cause." Other speakers introduced by toastmaster George Jessel included Mayor Fletcher Bowron, Joseph M. Schenck, Ted Gamble and Willard Keith. Many NY Key Spots Are Off; 'Judy' and 'Walls' Beat the Heat S.R.O. shingles gathered dust at several New York first-runs this week as film attractions, in competition with beaches and other summer resorts, came out second best. Showshops vaudeville are doing the best busA The weekend's intense heat di* help. Two new films are running mild: "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid" probably will take in $24,000 in its opening week at the Winter Garden, while "Escape" is figured to take $15,000 in a first week at the Globe. The Music Hall's "Date with Judy" with a stage show is tops with a second week's gross estimated at $152,000. Close second is "Walls of Jericho," with Dick Haymes, an ice revue and others on stage likely to bring the Roxy a big $105,000. "Beyond Glory," with Peggy Lee, Jan Murray and Ray Eberle's orchestra in person all stack up as successfully at the Paramount where $90,000 is apparent for a second week. The Strand's "Key Largo," with Count Basie and Billie Holliday on stage is good for $52,000 in a fifth week; the show will continue, making an unusually long run for the house at this time. "On an Island with You" with the "Stop the Music" give-away show is down to $62,000 in a third and final week at the Capitol. "Pitfall" will follow on Thursday. At the Rivoli, "So Evil My Love" is growing weak with less than $20,000 in sight for a fourth week. "Velvet Touch" will follow on Aug. 25. "Easter Parade," too, is showing signs of fatigue with an estimated $35,000 likely for the seventh week at the State. This is still impressive in view of the length of the run, however. "Return of the Bad Men" is about fair with $15,000 probable for a second week at the Mayfair. "Babe Ruth Story" should do a moderate $20,000 in a third week at the Astor. A strong second week's gross of $12,000 is indicated at the Rialto, playing "Gung Ho" and "Eagle Squadron," reissues. The Gotham is continuing with reissue combinations and frequent changes and taking about $8,000 per week. Key City Income (Continued from page 1) with the upward trend. Films mostly cited were "Emperor Waltz," "Easter Parade" and "On an Island With You." Toward the end of the month "Key Largo" and "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" came in for a good share of top money. "A Foreign Affair" and "Canon City" figured importantly in late openings. "Street With No Name" was well above average in several situations, while "Fuller Brush Man," one of the winners in June, continued to have good returns in July. "Return of the Bad Men" scored in Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Kansas City, while "Tap Roots" opened at a record-breaking pace in Philadelphia. "Fort Apache" was especially big in Toronto and some other locations. "The Paradine Case" did nicely in Chicago and Philadelphia. "The Search" commanded attention in Los Angeles, ditto "Ruthless." "Summer Holiday" was above average in Kansas City and Los Angeles.