Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1948)

6 Motion Picture daily Wednesday, August 18, 19' Key City Grosses FOLLOWING are estimated picture grosses for current engagements in key cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily correspondents. Estimates omit admission tax. CHICAGO Peak business normally expected in August is holding up exceptionally well. On the sensational side is "Easter Parade," "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" and "Give My Regards to Broadway" with a strong stage show. Exception is "Lulu Belle" hitting a new low. Estimated receipts for the week ending Aug. 19: ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (U-I) — PALACE (2,500) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $40,000. (Average: $21 000) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M) — WOODS (1,080) (98c). Gross: $42,000. (Average: $23,000) FEUDIN', FUSSIN' AND A-FIGHTIN' (U-I)— GRAND (1,150) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $8,500. (Average: $11,500) GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY (20th-Fox) — CHICAGO (3,900) (50c-65c-98c). On stage: Disc Jockeys and Sara Vaughn. Gross: $70,000. (Average: $53,500) LIFE WITH FATHER (WB)— ROOSEVELT (1,500) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $18,000 (Average: $18,000) LULU BELLE (Col.) — APOLLO (1,200) (50c-65c-98c). 2nd week. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $14,000) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M)— STATE LAKE (2,700) (S0c-65c-98c). 2nd week. Gross: $20,000. (Average: $25,000). SIXTEEN FATHOMS DEEP (Mono.) and THUNDERHOOF (Mono.) — GARRICK (1,000) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $11,000. (Average: $10,000) SUMMER HOLIDAY (M-G-M) — UNITED ARTISTS (1,700) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $18,000. (Average: $20,000) THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE (UA) ORIENTAL (3,300) (50c-65c-98c) 6 days, 2nd week. On stage: Horace Heidt's Stars. Gross: $50,000. (Average: $45,000) BOSTON Weather is still fine during the day, with the evenings cool. Business is still fair. Estimated receipts for the week ending Aug. 18 : A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.) and! OUT OF THE STORM (Rep.) — PARAMOUNT (1,700) (40c-80c). Gross: $14,500. (Average: $17 000) A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.) and OUT OF THE STORM (Rep.) — FENWAY (1,373) (40c-80c). Gross: $5,900. (Average: $10,000). ANTOINE AND ANTOINETTE (Siritzky) and THE SEARCH (M-G-M)— EXETER Watch For Review "Isn't It Romantic?" {Paramount) WHILE "Isn't It Romantic?" falls considerably short of the mark, it possesses a breezy quality and a fast tempo that will make it possible to gloss over some of its inadequacies. The picture's shortcomings are made to seem less apparent by a spendthrift production hardly warranted by so inconsequential and so commonplace a yarn. It is fortunate that every last sound of laughter has been wrung from the Theodore Strauss-Joseph MischelRichard L. Breen screenplay by director Norman S. McLeod and a hardworking cast. The film is a sort of hybrid, teetering between straight comedy and musical. It is the light treatment of the story of an old Southern diehard still living in the past who is drawn innocently into a swindle affecting the fortunes of many of the townspeople. The fact one of the daughters is in love with a city slicker swindler creates complications. But all is straightened out in routine fashion. There are interpolated numbers that seem strangely out of place, serving merely to pad out the footage. De Wolfe participates prominently in several of them, not to 'best advantage, however. Roland Culver is the transplanted Southern gentleman; Veronica Lake, the straying daughter; Patric Knowles, the charming swindler, and De Wolfe, Miss Lake's fiance. Other players include Mona Freeman, Mary Hatcher and Richard Webb. Daniel Dare produced. _ i j I ■• I *1 Running time, 87 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, Oct. 8. P.E.L. (1,300) (45c-75c). Gross: $2,600. 4 days. HUNGRY HILL (U-I) and SMART WOMAN (AA-Mono)— EXETER (1,300) (45c-75c). Gross: $1,500. 3 days. KEY LARGO (WB) and THE SHANGHAI CHEST (Mono.)— METROPOLITAN (4,367) (40c-80c). Gross: $19,750. (Average: $27,000.) 2nd week. THE BABE RUTH STORY (AA-Mono) and DEVIL'S CARGO' (FC) — RKOMEMORIAL (3,000) (40c-80c). Gross: $25,000. (Average: $22,000). THE FULLER BRUSH MAN (Col.) and ADVENTURES IN SILVERADO (Col.)— ASTOR (1,300) (44c-80c). Gross: $5,800. (Average: None available). THE PARADINE CASE (SRO<) and MY DOG RUSTY (Col.)— STATE (3,500) (40c80c). Gross: $14,000. (Average: $12,000). THE PARADINE CASE (SRO) and MY DOG RUSTY (Col.)— ORPHEUM (3,000) (40c-80c). Gross: $25,000. (Average: $27,000). THE STREET WITH NO NAME (2»thFox) and FRENCH LEAVE (Mono.)— RKO BOSTON (3,200) (40c-80c). 2nd week. Gross: $8,000. (Average: None on summer schedule). SIXTEEN FATHOMS DEEP (Mono.)— MODERN (800) (45c-85c). Gross: $4,500. (Average: None available.) PITTSBURGH Paramount's "A Foreign Affair," which received an excellent reception from local critics, easily exceeded the house average by attracting $21,000 in its first week at the Stanley. M-G-M's "Easter Parade" was held over for a third week at the Ritz on a moveover from the Penn. Estimated receipts for the week ending Aug. 19: A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.) — STANLEY (3,800) (44c-60c-76c). Gross: $21,000. (Average: $15,000) DEEP WATERS (20th-Fo«) — FULTON (1,700) (44c-60c-76c) 2nd week. Gross: $6,500. (Average: $9,700) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M) — RITZ (1,100) (44c-60c-76c) 3rd week on a moveover from the Penn. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $3,500) EMBRACEABLE YOU (WB) and THE DUDE GOES WEST (AA-Mono.)— WARNER (2,000) (44c-60c-76c). Gross: $8,500. (Average: $8,000) THE BLACK ARROW (Col.)— J. P. HARRIS (2,000) (44c-60c-76c). Gross: $12,000. (Average: $11,000) THE WALLS OF JERICHO (20th-Fox)— SENATOR (1,700) (44c-60c-76c) 2nd week on a moveover from the J. P. Harris. Gross: $3,000. (Average: $3,500) TIME OF YOUR LIFE (UA) — PENN (3,400) (44c -60c -76c). Gross: $17,000. (Average: $15,000) hot weather. Estimated receipts for the week ended Aug. 17: CANON CITY (E-L) RKO S HUBERT (2,150) (50c-S5c-60c-65c-70c-75c) 2nd week, on a moveover from the Palace. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,000) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M)— RKO CAPITOL (2,000) (50c-55c-60c-65c-70c-75c) 4th week. Gross: $9,000. (Average: $10,000) A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.)-RKO PALACE (2,700) (50c-55c-65c-70c-75c). Gross: $14,000. (Average: $15,000) MR. PEABODY AND THE MERMAID (U-I) — KEITH'S (1,500) (50c-55c-60c-65c75c). Gross: $10,000. (Average: $7,500) RAW DEAL (E-L)— RKO GRAND (1,500) (50c-55c-6Oc-65c-70c-75c). Gross: $10 000. (Average: $8,000) RETURN OF THE BAD MEN (RKO Radio)— RKO LYRIC (1,400) (50c-55c-60c65c-70c-75c) 3 days. 2nd week, on a moveover from the Albee. DEEP WATERS (ZOth-Fox) — RKO LYRIC (1,400) (50c-55c60c-65c-70c-75c) 3 days, 2nd week, on a moveover from the Grand. Combined gross: $6,000. (Average for 7 days: $5,000) THAT LADY IN ERMINE (20th-Fox)— RKO ALBEE (3,300) (50c-55c-60c-65c-70c75c). Gross: $17,500. (Average: $15,000) ATLANTA CINCINNATI "That Lady in Ermine" is heading for an expected $17,500 at the RKO Albee, one of the best weeks at that house in some time. Other returns are on a satisfactory level, despite the proverbial "dog days" and extremely Business is above average in all theatres. Weather is hot and dry; estimated receipts for the week ending Aug. 18. GUNG HO (FC) and TOUGH GUYS (Realart) — TOWER (1,865) (17c-50c). Gross: $6,000. (Average: $5,800). FOUR FACES WEST (UA)-PARA MOUNT (2,446) (12c-S0c). Gross: $6,200. (Average: $5,800). LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WOM F-U-LOEWS GRAND (Holdover) (2,446) (12c-54c). Gross: $12,000. (Average: $15,000). TAP ROOTS. (U-I)-FOX (4,446) (12c-50c). Gross: $15,250. (Average: $15,000). WALLS OF JERICHO (ZOTh-Fox)-ROXY (holdover from FOX). (2,446) (12c-50c). Gross: $6,000. (Average: $5,800). BALTIMORE Continued cool weather continues to help first-runs. Newcomers are doing better now than earlier in the summer. "The Pirate," with a strong opening and substantial weekend crowds is keeping the box-office busy. "Lulu Belle" with a stage show also is big. Estimated receipts for the week ending Aug. 19: S ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (U-I)-KEITH'S (2,404) (25c-37c-44c-54c). 2nd week. Gross: $9,750 (Average: $12,000). FANNY (Siritzky International) — LITTI E (328) (29c-37c-56c) 2nd week. Gross: $2,500. (Average: $3,000). GALLANT LEGION (Rep.)— MAYFAIR (1,000) (21c-29c-54c). Gross: $4,500. (Avi age: $5,000). KEY LARGO (WB) — STANLEY (3,2l| (29c-37c-50c-58c). 2nd week. Gross: $10,51; (Average: $14,000). LULU BELLE (Col.) — HIPPODROW (2,205) (29c-37c-50c-58c). With a stage sh. Gross: $20,000. (Average: $17,500). THE BABE RUTH STORY (AA-Monc -TOWN (1,450) (29c-37c-56c). 3rd Gross: $10,500. (Average: $11,000). THE PIRATE (M-G-M) — CENTUR (3,000) (29c-37c-45c-54c) Gross: $19,500. (A' erage: $14,500). THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE (UA) VALENCIA (1,466) (29c-37c-45c-54c). 2r week. Gross: $6,500. ($5,000). WALLS OF JERICHO (Z0th-Fox)-Jg£\ (1,800) (29c-40c-50c-54c) Gross: $13,i erage: $11,750). MINNEAPOLIS "The Street with No Name" toppei a week of mediocre theatre busines that was featured mainly by holdovers Estimated receipts for the week ending Aug. 19: EASTER PARADE, (M-G-M) — RADIC CITY (4,000) (50c-70c) 2nd week. Gross $11,500. (Average: $16,000) FOUR FEATHERS and DRUMS (FC Re issues)— RKO1 PAN (1,500) (50c-70c). Gross $8,500. (Average: $8,000) JASSY (U-I)-CENTURY (1,500) (50c-70c) 6 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average for 7 days: $5 500) KEY LARGO (WB) — RKO ORPHEUM (2,800) (50c-70c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $10,000. (Average for 7 days: $12,500). OLD LOS ANGELES (Rep.) and JINX MONEY (Mono.)-GOPHER (1,000) (44c50c). Gross: $3,500. (Average: $3,200). THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (RKQi Radio)— LYRIC (1,100) 2nd week. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,000) THE STREET WITH NO NAME (20thFox)— STATE (2,300) (50c-70c). Gross: $14,000. (Average: $10,500) U-I's 'Saxon Charm' Rated (B9 by Legion Universal-International's "The Saxon Charm" was given a "B" rating by the National Legion of Decency in classifying nine pictures. In addition, the Legion has changed the classification of Distinguished Films' "Passionelle" (French) from "C" to "B". Columbia's "Man from Colorado" and Warners' "Smart Girls Don't Talk" were rated A-II. Classified as A-I were: "Cowboy Cavalier," "Fighting Ranger" and "Music Man," all Monogram; "Luxury Liner," M-G-M; "Marshal of Amarillo," Republic; "Miraculous Journey," Film Classics. FIVE -STAR DC-6 FLAGSHIPS LOS ANGELES 11 hours, 10 minutes CHICAGO 3h hours Phone HAvemeyer 6-5000 or your travel agent Ticket Offices: Airlines Terminal Rockefeller Center • Hotel New Yorker 120 Broadway • Hotel St. George AMERICAN AIRLINES