Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1948)

Tuesday, October 26, 1948 Motion Picture daily 7 V. Y. Grosses (Continued from page 1) I more than $16,000 in view for its ' fourth week at the Park Avenue. "Julia Misbehaves," with a stage j presentation, is firm in a third week J| at Radio City Music Hall, with a | good $81,000 grossed Thursday « through Sunday expected to mount to $127,000 for the week. At the S' ""^d, "Johnny Belinda," plus ]r V Martin's band on stage, is still ! strong, a fourth and final week promising $60,000; "June Bride" will take I over there on Friday. 1 Business is brisk for the second week of "Apartment for Peggy," and a stage show, at the Roxy where $54,000 taken in Friday through Sunday is expected to spiral to $92,000. Also doing well is "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes," which, together with Vic Damone on stage at the Paramount is on its way to a sharp $63,000 in a second week ; the picture will hold until Nov. 2 when "Sealed Verdict" will take over. "Red River" and a stage show topped by Tony and Sally DeMarco, has faltered somewhat at the Capitol where $41,000 is indicated for a fourth and final week; the third week brought $59,598. "One Touch of Venus" will move into the Capitol on Thursday. Satisfactory in its second week at the Mayfair is "Mourning Becomes Electra," due for $21,000. At the Criterion, "Walk a Crooked Mile" is expected to do a fair $20,000 in its final 10 days. It will be succeeded by "Kiss the Blood Off My Hands" on Friday after a run of two weeks and three days. "Gallant Blade" is doing poorly at the Rivoli, with only $9,000 seen for the second week. At the Sutton, "The Louisiana Story" is expected to produce a firm $7,800 for a fourth week, after $8,600 for the third. Dipson Action (Continued from page 1) missal first charge insufficient evidence to raise a presumption of fact and, secondly, dismissal on the grounds that the. plaintiff has offered no proof that damages have been incurred. On a third count, they ask dismissal of that part of the action involving the Century and Riviera theatres on the allegation that Dipson no longer operates these, houses and has no assignment of a cause of action from their present operator. In the complaint Dipson charged that leases running to 1949 on the two theatres were lost as a result of alleged trade restraints. Review O'Shea Duties (Continued from page 1) post of district manager was left open after he became division manager in 1945. Sweigert will maintain his district office in Philadelphia, where he makes his home. Present offices of the mid-Eastern division, currently in Philadelphia, will be moved to New York. 5 FLY OVERNITE TO CALIFORNIA Sky cruises inc. DC -4"2 HOUils CALL BRYANT 9-3707 'hUdX^ "Belle Starr's Daughter" (Alson-2Qth Century-Fox) WITH standard hero-and-villain ingredients, Edward L. Alperson presents an outdoor action drama which stands up pretty well in its category. In this instance George Montgomery is the hero and Rod Cameron the villain, and Ruth Roman is the girl thrown between the two. The film has been given good production values, but a basically routine story removes it from the "epic" classification. The story opens with Belle Starr, notorious lady bandit of the Old West, being slain by one of her disgruntled henchmen, Cameron. Belle Starr's daughter, Miss Roman, believing that Montgomery, a marshal, did the killing goes off with Cameron and his little band of followers. A long series of melodramatic conflicts and chases between Cameron and Montgomery follow, with Miss Roman finally seeing the light. Miss Roman, thus in danger from Cameron, provides the narrative with an added measure of suspense. Ample quantities of gunplay and rousing pursuits fill the yarn. Lesley Selander, in his direction, stressed action. The finale of W. R. Burnett's original screenplay has gunman and marshal shooting it out, with victory going to the latter, of course. In a secondary role, Wallace Ford gives an impressive characterization of an ex-gunman alcoholic. Jack Jungmeyer, Jr., was associate producer. Running time, 86 minutes. General audience classification. For November release. Mandel Herbstman Supreme Court (Continued from page 1) and the Arthur case was no exception. The St. Louis group contended that the observance of clearances by distributors was an illegal conspiracy in restraint of trade. When the distributors said that their action was made legal by the consent decree, the independents answered that any part of the decree that could be construed to block an action for relief from anti-trust law violation must be void Both the St. Louis District Court and the Eighth Circuit Court ruled however, that the New York court had not exceeded its authority, and it was these rulings which the high court refused to upset today. A rehearing petition by the St. Louis group is possible, but such petitions are practically never granted, and the high court's action apparently put an end to the attempt to upset the AAA clearances. A whole flood of similar suits could have been expected if the Supreme Court had taken the case and upheld the Arthur group. The distributors had warned the Court that accepting the case would hamper the New York District Court in its new deliberations on a possible arbitration system, and said this was an additional reason for refusing to review the lower court decision. Defendants in the suit were Paramount, RKO, 20th Century-Fox, Warner, the AAA, and Harold D. Connor, AAA St. Louis representative. There still is pending in the AAA's St. Louis office a case to reduce clearances in favor of the Princess Theatre against the Arthur theatres. RKO Board to Meet (Continued from page 1) Oklahoma Case Bid (Continued from page 1) versal in the case. Wise hinted that the Government might ask for divestiture in all towns where Griffith has no competition. Charles B. Cochrane, who formerly represented Westex and R. E. Griffith Theatres and now represents Theatre Enterprises, said the controlling interests are different. Vaught, who had little to say concerning the petition amendment, offered the following comment on the Supreme Courts' final ruling in the suit: "I don't know what the Supreme Court meant in its decision. I'll have to find out." equal value in both RKO and the new company, it is said. After the split, the shares in the theatre company, which would pass to RKO management, will be sold to outside interests and a report on this phase of the program has it that a syndicate of Texas businessmen, with no other links to the industry, has been dickering with Hughes for these holdings. With production and exhibition thus separated, the relationship between RKO and the new firm would be strictly that of buyer and seller. The entire program is subject to approval by the stockholders of RKO and a meeting is anticipated when agreement is reached with the Department of Justice. French Film Rated 'C As Legion Reviews 12 Discina International's "Ruy Bias" (French) has been given a "C" classification by the Legion of Decency in its review of 12 pictures. Warner's "June Bride" was given a "B" rating. Rated A-I were: Columbia's "The Gallant Blade," Sierra-RKO Radio's "Joan of Arc" and 20th Century-Fox's "Jungle Patrol." Classified as A-II were: "Angel in Exile," Republic; "Behind Locked Doors" and "In This Corner," EagleLion "Eternal Melodies" (Italian), Grandi Film ; "Leather Gloves" and "The^ Return of October," Columbia, and "Sofia," Film Classics. Hornblow to Italy London, Oct. 25.— M-G-M producer Arthur Hornblow, Jr., is en route to Italy to scout location sites for his production of "Quo Vadis." Hornblow, who is accompanied by his wife, bas just completed conferences here with M-G-M production executive Eddie Mannix regarding "Conspirator" and "Quo Vadis," both of which Hornblow will produce. Pecora To Induct Pioneers New York Supreme Court Justice Ferdinand Pecora will conduct the ceremonies at which 30 applicants will be inducted into membership in the Motion Picture Pioneers at the organization's ninth annual dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria on Nov. 17. $4,500 from U-I for Campaigns for Drive Universal-International will distribute $4,500 to theatre managers and publicity men for the most effective and original campaigns on its pictures during the "U-I Unity Sales Drive," starting Oct. 31 and concluding April 30, William A. Scully, sales vicepresident, announces. Judges from U-I will be Fred Meyers, Eastern sales manager ; F. J. A. McCarthy, Southern sales manager; C. J. Feldman, Western, and district managers John J. Scully, Dave Miller, P. F. Rosian, M. M. Gottlieb, P. T. Dana, Barney Rose, J. E. Garrison, Foster M. Blake and D. A. Levy. 20th~Fox Establishes New Reissue Unit A new department for servicing reissues has been put into operation by 20th Century-Fox, under the supervision of William C. Gehring, assistant general sales manager, it is announced by Andy W. Smith, Jr., general sales manager. Reissues selected to inaugurate the new department's activities are "Jesse James," "The Return of Frank James," and "Alexander's Rag Time Band." Challenge 'Rope' Ban Seattle, Oct. 25. — The local Board of Theatre Supervisors has been ordered by Superior Court Judge Donald A. McDonald to appear in his court on Nov. 1 and show cause why it should not be temporarily restrained from banning the motion picture "Rope". The order was obtained after Frank P. Helsell, attorney for Warner Brothers, filed an action seeking a permanent restrainer against the board. Helsell charged the board acted arbitrarily and illegally in banning the film after it had been shown at the Orpheum for nine days. Miss Hohne Leaves MOT Sophie Hohne has resigned as sales and distribution manager of the March of Time forum edition and will take over as director of distribution for the Princeton Film Center. I Now-,., de luxe all-sleeper service New York to Paris every Friday 4 P. M. EST Fly on world-proved TWA Constellations. Cocktails, champagne, vintage wines. Filet mignon dinner. Bed-size berths! Hot breakfast! Gall TWA or your travel agent .