Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1944)

'/what the picture did for Columbia DOUGHBOYS IN IRELAND: Kenny Baker, Jeff Don11 — This didn't go over too big. Should have double led it. Played Sunday, July 9. — Harland Rankin, Plaza leatre. Tilbury, Ont., Canada. PARACHUTE NURSE: William Wright, M'argarite tapman — Very, very good little action picture, with a od story and some good acting. Play it. You won't sorry. Doubled with "Lone Star Trail." a darn good estern from Universal, and did excellent weekend siness. — R. J Neely, Times Theatre, Jonesboro, 111. lall town patronage. 1etro-Goldwyn-Mayer -OST ANGEL: Margaret O'Brien, James Craig — A ell little picture. A great deal more entertaining in a lot of the big ones. — W. O. Woody, Stockton eatre, Stockton, Mo. Small town patronage. JOST ANGEL: Margaret O'Brien. James Craig— We ;oyed good business on the feature, and there were ny favorable comments about the picture and the nderful performance of Little Miss Margaret. Played ednesday, Thursday, July 5, 6. — A. S. Edwards. WineTheatre, Scotia, Cal. Small lumber town. 1ADAME CURIE: Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon— thout doubt, wonderful acting, an absorbing story 1 _ an educational story. The boys in the overalls n't like it, and walked out. But I'm glad I plaved it. , a picture that everyone should see.— W. O. Woody, •ckton Theatre, Stockton, Mo. Small town patronage. ONG OF RUSSIA: Robert Taylor, Susan Peters— js picture missed for us and I can't tell whv. It has > good stars. Whether it was the Russian angle, never know, or too high class for our public. All mow is that our clientele did not go for it. Then it y be the war angle— we know that anv war picture in for a beating at the box office this season. — A. E. ncock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. /HISTLING IN BROOKLYN: Red Skelton. Ann .herford— Red Skelton is at his best in this one. It's of laughs from start to finish. Everyone really ened it, and proved it at the box office, which was ve average for midweek. But most of Leo's features all right for me. Played Wednesday, Thursday— R. J. :ly. Times Theatre, Jonesboro, 111. Small town and al patronage. onogram ILLION DOLLAR KID: East Side Kids— Not as good most of the East Side Kid series, but they all do i business, and this one is no exception. Did good week business. Played Wednesday, Thursday.— R. J. ly. Times Theatre, Jonesboro, 111. Small town pat•ige. HART GUY: Rick Vallin, Bobby Larson— Good; it I surprised me and the audience, too. Monogram a good star in Rick Vallin. The ladies really think IS handsome. And he is — and he can act. Mono n ? product is really improving. Played Saturday. — f. N'eely, Times Theatre, Jonesboro, 111. Small town on age. ramount ID THE ANGELS SING: Betty Hutton. Fred Macray— Really smash stuff for this neighborhood: esuly when doubled with a picture like "Weird Worn(not that "Woman" was so good, but thriller gave ' ram varied interest.) This type of picture is definite tpf La Hutton and for this manager's do-re-mi she's I in this comedy and musical type. Even the cash Mners at my theatre liked her better than in "Mira->f Morgan's Creek." Played Friday. Saturday. July —Sid J. Dickler, Belmar Theatre, Pittsburgh, Pa. 11 town patronage. • VMBLER'S CHOICE: Chester Morris, Nancy Kelly d not please. Had some walkouts. Business was Played Tuesday, July 4. — E. M'. Freiburger, Parant Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. 5UR BEFORE THE DAWN: Franchot Tone, VeronLake — Not as good as I expected. Business was Played Sunday, Monday. July 2. 3.— E. M. Frei| er. Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town ynzge. > TIME FOR LOVE: Claudette Colbert. Fred Macr*y — A good entertaining war-free picture that failed o business. I can't do anv business on a picture e title has "Love" or "Murder" in it. — W. O. Woody, 'kton Theatre, Stockton, Mo. Small town patronage. . . . the original exhibitors' reports department, established October 14, 1916. In It theatremen serve one another with information about the box-office performance of product — providing a service of the exhibitor for the exhibitor. ADDRESS REPORTS: What the Picture Did for Me, Motion Picture Herald, Rockefeller Center, New York 20. RIDING HIGH: Dorothy Lamour, Dick Powell— Good; lots of laughs, and that is what our customers want. Did •average business. Not as good as I expected, but maybe I expect too much, anyway. I had it bought right. Played Sunday, Monday, July 2, 3. — R. J. Neely, Times Theatre, Jonesboro, 111. Small town patronage. TORNADO: Chester Morris, Nancy Kelly— On a double bill it will do good business. Played Monday, Tuesday, July 12, 13. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre. Tilbury, Ont., Canada. UNINVITED, THE: Ruth Hussey, Ray Milland— They say this is the picture that started the cycle of this type now in production. If they are all along this line, heaven help us. My customers wanted to know what it was all about, and so do I. Played Sunday, Monday. — W. O. Woody, Stockton Theatre, Stockton, Mo. Small town patronage. YOU CAN'T RATION LOVE: Betty Rhodes, Johnnie Johnston — A nice little programmer. Give this Johnnie Johnston a real break and he will top Sinatra in anything he does. He deserves a real break. Patrons commented about his nice voice and enjoyed the picture as a whole. Saturday played revival, "For Me and My Gal" with this, and did above average business. Played Friday, Saturday, July 7, 8. — Arnold Schneeberger, Ritz Theatre, Tipton, Ind. General patronage. RKO Radio ACTION IN ARABIA: George Sanders, Virginia Brown — A weak program picture which failed to draw on "Two-for-One" Night. Played Tuesday, July 11.— E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. AROUND THE WORLD: Kay Kyser. Joan DavisKay Kyser has no appeal here but this picture is great. RKO makes few musicals but they're always good. Book it.— Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Riverville, W. Va. GHOST SHIP: Richard Dix, Edith Barrett— Best of the series. Nothing gruesome about Richard Dix's part as captain. Played Tuesday, Wednesday. — Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Riverville, W. Va. LADY IN THE DARK: Ginger Rogers, Warner Baxter— I'll bet a wide Stetson that Ginger will never do another like this one. It is (and I'll give it credit for that) the most elaborately mounted picture we have had for many moons, but that is all. A puzzled audience, they could not make up their minds whether they liked it or not. That was the reaction that we got from those that commented on the picture. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. ROOKIES IN BURMA: Alan Carney, Wally Brown — This was a real laugh producer. If RKO is careful this series should prove a money maker. Many favorable comments. Played Friday, Saturday, June 7, 8. — A. S. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Cal. Small town lumber town. UP IN ARMS: Danny Kaye, Dinah Shore— Danny Kaye doesn't line them up to get in. We did a little extra business because they had nowhere else to go. Played Monday, Tuesday, July 10, 11.— Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Canada. Republic CALL OF THE ROCKIES: Smiley Burnette, Sonny Carson — Entertaining Western which pleased and brought good business on Friday, Saturday. Played July 14, IS. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. CASANOVA IN BURLESQUE: Joe E. Brown, June Havoc — Sure can't give Republic any credit for this one. I believe it is the worst I have ever seen Joe Brown in. Business was way below normal. But every one can't be good. Played Sunday, Monday, May 28, 29. — R. J. Neely, Times Theatre, Jonesboro, 111. Small town patronage. HANDS ACROSS THE TABLE: Roy Rogers, Ruth Terry — Excellent. Here is a Western that has just about everything, music, action, comedy and good acting. I took a long chance and played it on Sunday, by itself, and did a nice business. Much better than on some of the "supers" that I have to play. Played Sunday, Monday, May 7, 8. — R. J. Neely, Times Theatre, Jonesboro, 111. Small town patronage. MY DARLING CLEMENTINE: Frank Albertson, Lorna Gray — Very good. This is another down-to-earth picture from Republic that really does the business. We broke all box office records for the Times theatre with this one. Played Wednesday, Thursday, May 10, 11. — R. J. Neely, Times Theatre, Jonesboro. 111. Small town patronage. PISTOL PACKIN' MAMA: Ruth Terry, Robert Livingston— Boy, this is another box office natural from Republic. That's what makes you glad to be in the show business. We broke all box office records for the theatre with this one. Played Wednesday, Thursday, May 3, 4.— R. J. Neely, Times Theatre, Jonesboro, 111. Small town patronage. Twentieth Century-Fox BUFFALO BILL: Joel McCrea, Linda Darnell— Giye me a picture like this once a week and I'll keep my "Brass Hats", happy. Very little exploitation required. Bill gave us the best Sunday-Tuesday business we have had since early in the spring. Technicolor story of a well loved character of yesteryear; and generally good acting approved by adults, too. Kids came early and stayed late Sunday, some repeating Monday and Tuesday. Played July 9-11.— Sid J. Dickler, Belmar Theatre, Pittsburgh, Pa. Urban patronage. FOUR JILLS IN A JEEP: Carole Landis, Kay Francis— Enjoyed by all. Clicked far above my expectations. Really a nice all around entertaining film with comedy and music here and there. It contained a few sad touches of the war, but it really gave the patrons an idea of how Hollywood is entertaining our soldiers and their appreciation to the film industry. Played TuesdayThursday, July 4-6. — Arnold Schneeberger, Ritz Theatre, Tipton, Ind. General patronage. HOME IN INDIANA: Walter Brennan, Lon McAllister— Being a Hoosier, I could brag about it. But— in all reality it was a fine all around entertaining movie. Praised very highly by all the patrons and well worth the best playing time available. Color was exceptional and the new stars did a swell job with such old timers as Brennan and Greenwood. Played Sundav, Monday, July 2, 3.— Arnold Schneeberger, Ritz Theatre, Tipton, Ind. General patronage. LIFEBOAT: William Bendix, Tallulah Bankhead— One setting, a lifeboat. The cast does outstanding work in the picture and it held the interest all the way. It is needless to say that it was sadly down at the box office. You can keep the type set on war pictures. Business down. We need light entertainment or good mystery pictures. The current news is full of the invasion, as it should be, but that is sufficient war for most people. I still say that the better musicals such as "Rio Rita," or "The Merry Widow" would clean up at this time. And why don't the producers put one out as a trial? "Show Boat" would go again with a good cast. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. United Artists JOHNNY COME LATELY: James Cagney, Grace George — And so did the customers— in fact, a lot of them never arrived. The few that came seemed to like it. Not enough action for Cagney. He should have stayed with Warners. Played Sunday, Monday. — R. J. Neely, Times Theatre, Jonesboro, 111. Small town patronage. THAT NAZTY NUISANCE: Bobby Watson, Joe Devlin— A nice laugh for a week. Played Friday, Saturday, July 14, 15.— Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Canada. Universal CALLING DR. DEATH: Lon Chaney, Patricia Morison — Universal should triple its output of Inner Sanctum mysteries if they are all like this — high above an average mystery. Watch low sound. Played Tuesday, Wednesday— Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Riverville W Va. (Continued on page 68) TION PICTURE HERALD, JULY 29, 1944 65