Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1948)

riday, October 29, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 7 iey City irosses \ FOLLOWING are estimated picture grosses for current engagetents in key cities as ■ reported by Iotion Picture Daily correspondnts. Estimates omit admission tax. 3ALtXL>RE Business is just above average. ; )penings were strong and provided 1 , substantial start, but bad * weather | qr most of the weekend cut down hose gains. Estimated receipts for the week ended Oct. 28 : APARTMENT FOR PEGGY (20th-Fox)— SIEW (1,800) (29c-40c-50c-S4c) 3rd week, piross: $9,000. (Average: $12,250) 'I3UNG HO (FC) — MAYFAIR (1,000) (21c|»c-54c). Gross: $6,500. (Average: $5,000) HENRY V. (UA) — LITTLE (328) (50ctj50c-$1.00) Return engagement. Gross: 1J4.500. (Average at regular prices of 29cii7c-56c: $3,000) IHOLLOW TRIUMPH (EL) — HIPPOIDROME (2,204) (29c-37c-50c-58c) With a Istage show. Gross: $19,250. (Average: 817,000) AN INNOCENT AFFAIR (UA) — CENTURY (3,000) (29c-37c-45c-54c). Gross: 817,000. (Average: $14,500) IjOHNNY BELINDA (WB) — STANLEY (3,280) (29c-37c-50c-58c) 2nd week. Gross: i$13,500. (Average: $14,500) NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES (Para.) — KEITH'S (2,404) (25c-37c-44c-54c). Gross: $10,000. (Average: $12,500) THE SECRET LAND (M-G-M)— VALENCIA (1,466) (29c-37c-45c-S4c). Gross: $6,500. (Average: $5,000) THE VELVET TOUCH (RKO Radio) TOWN (1,450) (29c-37c-50c-56c) Gross: $12,500. (Average, $11,000) CINCINNATI The attendance curve, with a few exceptions, continues downward, although "Sorry, Wrong Number," still is doing plus-average business in its third week at Keith's. Estimated receipts for the week ended Oct. 26 : APARTMENT FOR PEGGY (20th-Fox)RKO ALBEE (3,300) (50c-55c-60c-65c-70c75c). Gross: $16,500. (Average: $15,000) FOREVER AMBER (20th-Fox) — RKO GRAND (1,500) (5Oc-55c-6Oc-65c-70c-75c) 9 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average for 7 days: $8 000) NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES (Para.)— RKO PALACE (2,700) (50c-55c60c-65c-7Oc-75c). Gross: $11,000. (Average: $15,000) ROPE (WB)— RKO SHUBERT (2,150) (50c-55c-60c-65c-7Oc-75c) 2nd week, on a moveover from the Albee. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,000) SORRY, WRONG NUMBER (Para.)— KEITH'S (1,500) (50c-55c-60c-65c-75c) 3rd week. Gross: $9,000. (Average: $7,500) A SOUTHERN YANKEE (M-G-M)— RKO CAPITOL (2,000) (50c-55c-6Oc-65c-70c-75c) 3rd week. Gross: -$6,500. (Average: $10,000) THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE (UA)— RKO LYRIC (1,400) (50c-55c-60c-65c-70c-75c) 4 days, 2nd week, on a moveover from the Palace, and BLOOD AND SAND (20th.Fox reissue) (5Oc-55c-60c-65c-70c-75c), 3 days, dualed with I WAKE UP SCREAMING (20th-Fox reissue). Combined gross: $5,000. (Average for 7 days: $5,000) 10c Admission for All Ottawa, Oct. 28. — Admission prices for both children and adults have been :ut to 10 cents, including tax, for laily matinees until 5 :30 P.M. by the Rialto Theatre. DOUGLAS 4ENGINES vFlY OVERNITE TO CALIFORNIA Reviews "The Strange Mrs. Crane (Eagle-Lion) THAT old fictional device known as the long arm of coincidence oft-times is called upon to substitute for imaginative plot development in "The Strange Mrs. Crane," a mediocre little melodrama that figures to fit in where the program responsibility is not too great. The yarn is about a gubernatorial candidate's wife who slays her erstwhile confederate in the rackets in an attempt to cover up her shady past. By way of explaining that introductory statement about coincidence and how far one can stretch it before it is left dangling, one part of the story has the murder ess appointed foreman of a jury at the trial of a falsely-accused "other woman." Marjorie Lord, Robert Shayne, Pierre Watkin and James Seay are the top performers in the John Sutherland production. Sherman Scott directed Al Martin's screenplay, taken from an original story by Frank Burt and Robert Libott. Running time, 60 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, not set. . ' Gene Arneel Sky cruises inc. 004 • 12 HOURS 108 W. 43rd St CALL BRYANT 9-3707 Hotel Diplomat "Inner Sanctum" (Film Classics) WITHIN the formula framework, "Inner Sanctum" unfolds an adequate melodrama. By way of a minor novel touch, the story opens with a clair voyant foretelling the dire fate to befall one of the pivotal characters. The remainder of the footage depicts the events in advance of their happening. Samuel Rheiner and Walter Shenson who produced, cast Charles Russell, Mary Beth Hughes and Lee Patrick. While the story is by no means a work of craftsmanship, it does manage to drum up scattered moments of excitement. James Todd Gollard's original screenplay has a girl getting killed during a scuffle with a boy friend, Russell, who is about to run out on her. Russell then dumps the body onto a train. The remainder of the picture shows Russell's attempts to escape the net of police and his conscience. Freedom might have been easy for him were it not for the fact that a neighborhood youngster saw him deposit the body on the train. In the slow, coincidence-laden turn of events that follow, Russell finds himself stranded in a boarding house because of a flood. And, as the script has it, the knowing kid happens to live there, along with others, including Miss Hughes. For a time it seems Russell has fallen in love with Miss Hughes, but he is pressed by the necessity of removing the kid. Therein lies his downfall. He finally surrenders to the police. Richard B. Morros was executive producer for M.R.S. Pictures ; Lew Landers directed. Running time, 62 minutes. Adult audience classification. For October release. Mandel Herbstman "Disaster" (Pine-Thomas-Paramount) Hollyzvood, Oct. 28 A FULL MEASURE of the kind of action to be expected of this type of Pine-Thomas production motivates "Disaster," the story of which is a simple tale, although an interesting one, all making for good entertainment. Performances are standard throughout with Will Wright as "Pop" outstanding, Richard Denning and Trudy Marshall. William Pine directed, mixing action and dialogue satisfactorily. Thomas Ahearn wrote the screenplay'; Denning, a former steel worker, is framed to make it appear that he killed his foreman on the job. He is on the run from the police and hides on scaffolding mounted high on the outside of a church. There he meets Wright, owner of a small reconstruction firm. The old man, impressed by Denning, gives him a job. Denning learns how to be a steeplejack, but has a tough time because his teacher, another employee, James Millican, is in love with Trudy, Wright's daughter. The girl, of course, has fallen in love with Denning. Dick tells Wright why he is running from the police and that he is trying to find the man who framed him. Several times detective O'Flynn almost catches up with him. When a plane crashes into a building and Wright is pinned under a steel beam, Denning risks his life and arrest to save him. In the end, of course, the real murderer is exposed. Running time, 60 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, Dec. 3. <( The Angry God (Edward Peskay-United Artists) LITERALLY and figuratively embellished with color, this legendary tale of Mexican Indians in the panoramic setting of a travelogue nature, has much to recommend it visually, with its all-native cast performing their ancient dances in bright costumes, other deficiencies to the contrary, including the otherwise obviously untrained cast and disconnected dubbed music and English dialogue. The story, adapted from the Good Housekeeping magazine story by EmmaLindsay Squier concerns the legend of a God who sought the love of an Indian girl and brought near destruction on her and her people when she spurned him. Alicia Parla, the heroine, is beautiful. Director Van Campen Heilner has not given the film sufficient pace, and the lengthy narrative adds to the travelogue effect. The color, while excellent in the close-ups, is frequently blurred in distant shots, generally lacking adequate contrast. Edward Peskay produced. Running time, 57 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, Oct. 19. 45 from Columbia (Continued from page 1) ring Red Skelton and Janet Blair, and "Walk A Crooked Mile," another Edward Small production, starring Louis Hayward and Dennis O'Keefe. Planned for early release are "The Man From Colorado," Technicolor film starring Glenn Ford and William Holden ; "The Return of October," in Technicolor, starring Glenn Ford and Terry Moore; "The Gallant Blade," in Cinecolor, starring Larry Parks and Marguerite Chapman. Eight in Production In production are: "Knock on Any Door," Santana production starring Humphrey Bogart, in an adaptation of Willard Motley's novel ; "Rough Sketch," Jennifer Jones, John Garfield and Pedro Armendariz ; "The Dark Past," starring William Holden, Nina Foch and Lee J. Cobb; "The Lovers," documentary of prison paroles, starring Cornel Wilde and Patricia Knight; "Mr. Soft Touch," starring Glenn Ford and Evelyn Keyes ; "The Undercover Man," starring Glenn Ford and Nina Foch; "Song of India," starring Sabu, Gail Russell and Turhan Bey, and "The Walking Hills," starring Randolph Scott and Ella Raines. Among those planned for production are "The Big Jump," starring George Raft; "Wild Bill Doolin," starring Randolph Scott, and "Miss Grant Takes Richmond," starring Lucille Ball. Four Now in Release Included in the already released group are : "The Untamed Breed," Cinecolor Western starring Sonny Tufts, Barbara Britton and George (Gabby) Hayes; "Coroner Creek," another Cinecolor Western, starring Randolph Scott and Marguerite Chapman; "The Black Arrow," starring Louis Hayward and Janet Blair, and "Lulu Belle," Benedict Bogeaus production starring Dorothy Lamour and George Montgomery. Also in the Columbia picture are "Superman," serial currently in release ; two Gene Autry productions ; two Roy Acuff Westerns ; eight "Durango Kid" Westerns with Charles Starrett and Smiley Burnette; four other serials ; 60 single reels, 24 color cartoons and 28 two-reel . comedies. Another Pal Feature Hollywood, Oct. 28. — Well along with his forthcoming Technicolor feature for United Artists release, "The Adventures of Tom Thumb," producer George Pal has assigned staffers to begin development of a live actionanimation version of another fairy tale, "Rumpelstiltskin," to be developed from the public domain plot. It will probably follow "Tom Thumb" on Pal's UA schedule. BANKING FOR THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION