Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1945)

'/what the picture did for mejn Columbia BLACK PARACHUTE, THE: John Carradine. Larry Parks — A fair picture that did average Sunday business. Played Jan. 28.— Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont., Can. STARS ON PARADE: Lynn Merrick, Larry ParksHow could product like this come from the creator of "Cover Girl"? This one ought to be shelved now. We liad plenty of walkouts and even the cashier felt guilty. Played Tuesday-Thursday, Jan. 23-25. — Robert E. Floeter, Burton Theatre, Flint, Mich. City and suburban patronage. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer AMERICAN ROMANCE, AN: Brian Donlevy, Ann Richards — High praises for this Technicolor drama, although it was not a big box ofRce magnet. Orchids for beautiful Ann Richards, the lovely Australian actress. Played Sunday-Tuesday, Jan. 28-30.— N. W. Huston, Liberty Theatre, Columbus, Kan. General patronage. BATAAN: Robert Taylor, Thomas Mitchell— Realistic and perfectly portrayed film on modern warfare. It is kind of tough on some of the audience but served to remind us that there is a cruel war to be won. We played this late but we had excellent business. Played Tuesday-Thursday, Jan. 23-25.— -Robert E. Floeter, Burton Theatre, Flint, Mich. City and suburban patronage. BATHING BEAUTY: Red Skelton, Esther WilliamsComedy with music in Technicolor. One of the best with Red Skelton. It has what it takes for class entertainment and the patrons were well satisfied. It did exceedingly well in bad weather conditions and the ban on heat and light. Played Sunday, Monday, Feb. 4-5. — A. E. Andrews, Emporium Theatre, Emporium, Pa. General patronage. BEST FOOT FORWARD: Lucille Ball, William Gaxton — This is definitely good entertainment plus glorious color. This type of picture pleases the audience, the manager and everyone concerned. Product like this spells business. Big enough to play single. Played Sunday, Monday, Jan. 14-15. — Robert E. Floeter, Burton Theatre, FUnt, Mich. City and suburban patronage. GASLIGHT: Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman— We take off our hats to "Gaslight." According to our patrons it is the best picture we have had in a long time. It holds one's interest completely with the fascinating story and the excellent acting of Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer. We thought that it would be too heavy and serious to bring in a crowd but we were surprised with excellent business both nights. Played Friday, Saturday, Jan. 26-27.— M. Ewing, Ewing Theatre, Midlothian, 111. Suburban patronage. KISMET: Ronald Colman, Marlene Dietrich— In this, Colman does one of his usually good jobs of acting. Ditto for Edward Arnold but La Dietrich was just so-so. I advertised this picture with special attention to "The Legs" Dietrich which may have accounted for some of the added business. The musical background is very nice and likewise the Technicolor is fine. "Bugs Bunny," "Glamor in Sports" and the news rounded out a nice show which fared slightly above average but on the last day it dropped considerably. Played Sunday -Tuesday, Feb. 4-6.— Sid J. Dickler, Belmar Theatre, Pittsburgh, Pa. Neighborhood patronage. SEVENTH CROSS, THE: Spencer Tracy, Signe Hasso — This is another story of present day conditions in Europe. It is quite good but it did not seem to be as popular as Spencer Tracy pictures usually are. Business fairly good. Played Sunday -Tuesday. Jan. 28-30. — M. Ewing, Ewing Theatre, Midlothian, 111. Suburban patronage. SWING SHIFT MAISIE: Ann Sothem. James Craig— Good entertainment. Maisie really rolls them in the aisle with laughter in this picture. Excellent box office appeal. Don't be afraid to play this one. Played Sunday, Monday, Jan. 28-29.— Robert E. Floeter, Burton Theatre, Flint, Mich. City and suburban patronage. . . . the original exiiibiters' reports department, established October 14, 1916. la It theatremen serve one another with information about the box-office performance ef 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 29. Paramount DOUBLE INDEMNITY: Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray — Big stars wasted on a gruesome murder subject. Nobody liked it and our business was way oflF. Yet w^ were charged top prices, for it. The indemnity we paid was indeed double. Played Sunday, Monday, Feb. 11-12.— N. W. Huston, Liberty Theatre, Columbus, Kan. General patronage. FREJiICHMAN'S CREEK: Joan Fontaine, Arturo de Cordova — This is definitely not a small town picture as they walked out in droves here. If you haven't bought it you had better get Paramount to sell it one day only as such costume pictures as this really drive the action fans away. It was a bitter disappointment to us. Guess it proves that exhibitors should see all pictures screened first before buying. Played Saturday, Sunday, Feb. 3-4.— Henley and Burris Smith, Imperial Theatre, Pocahontas, Ark. Rural patronage. GREAT MOMENT, THE: Joel McCrea, Betty Field — A very interesting story based on the life of Dr. Morton, the dentist who discovered anesthetics. It contains much humor to balance the serious side. It was very well received by the audience and held their interest from start to finish. Business very good. Played Friday, Saturday, Feb. 2-3.— M. Ewing, Ewing Theatre, Midlothian, 111. Suburban patronage. HENRY ALDRICH'S LITTLE SECRET: Jimmy Lydon, Charlie Smith — The drawing power of this good family series unfortunately is fading due to the inevitable maturing of Henry and his pals. Played Friday, Saturday, Feb. 2-3.— A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Calif. Small lumber town patronage. HITLER GANG, THE: Robert Watson, Victor Varconi — -Cannot say much for this one. In fact I don't think it is worth playing. It proved a dud at the box office with a number of walkouts. While it might have been authentic it was not entertaining or interesting. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Feb. 7-8. — A. E. Andrews, Emporium Theatre, Emporium, Pa. General patronage. RAINBOW ISLAND: Dorothy Lamour, Eddie Bracken — This film has beautiful Technicolor but there is no plot. Business average. Played Saturday, Jan. 27. — Bryce Paulsen, Remus Theatre, Remus, Mich. Rural patronage. RKO Radio CASANOVA BROWN: Gary Cooper, Teresa WrightIt seemed to be the consensus of opinion of a large part of the audience that while Cooper never gives a bad performance, the role did not fit him. The story was insipid. He needs roles with red meat in them. It is the first time that he did not seem at ease in his portrayal. Frank Morgan really took the picture away from him.— A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. ESCAPE TO DANGER: Eric Portman, Ann Dvorak— This (and other similar features) may have influenced the Government's recent film curtailment. Just 84 minutes too long. Played Friday, Saturday, Feb. 2-3.— A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Calif. Small lumber town patronage. LADY TAKES A CHANCE, A: Jean Arthur, John Wayne — This is a fine piece of entertainment that can be played late. It does not attempt to teach anything and bears no important message. Pure entertainment. Business average. No comments from the audience. Played Saturday, Sunday, Feb. 3-4. — Johnnie Hynes, Community Theatre, Conde, S. D. Rural and "small town patronage. MARINE RAIDERS: Pat O'Brien, Ruth Hussey— We experienced fair business on this feature due to the popularity of the U. S. Marines with our young people. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Jan. 31, Feb. 1.— A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, CaHf. Small lumber town patronage. YOUTH RUNS WILD: Bonita Granville, Kent SmithUsed as a top bill on a double feature program for one night with "Otie Body Too Many" from Paramount. My patrons seemed to be well satisfied. We had no complaints and the usual amount of business. Flayed Tuesday, Jan. 23.— A. E. Andrews, Emporium Theatre, Emporium, Pa. General patronage. WOMAN IN THE WINDOW: Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett — This was a swell picture in anybody's language. We didn't do extra business with it but everyone that came really enjoyed it and that is what makes any exhibitor happy. The trick ending leaves some a little disappointed but they all loved it so grab it and step on the publicity angle. Played Sunday, Monday, Jan. 28-29.— Henley and Burris Smith, Imperial Theatre, Pocahontas, Ark. Rural patronage. Republic BRAZIL: Virginia Bruce. Tito Guizar— T was out of town but like _ all pictures without big names and national advertising it brought in a very small crowd. Played Sunday.Tuesday, Jan. 28-30. — Ken Gorbam, Town Hall Theatre, Middlebury, Vt. General patronage. GIRL WHO DARED, THE: Loma Gray, Peter Cookson— Should have been called "Producer Who Dared" to make such a picture. Skip this one. Played Friday, Saturday, Jan. 12-13.— Robert E. Floeter, Burton Theatre, Flint, Mich. City and suburban patronage. LIGHTS OF OLD SANTA FE: Roy Rogers, Dale Evans— Roy Rogers' pictures are tops with us. They bring in capacity crowds and even the college students like them. — Ken Gorham, Town Hall Theatre, Middlebury, Vt. General patronage. MYSTERY BROADCAST: Nils Asther, Ruth TerryGood enough mystery picture which did below average business. Played Friday, Saturday, Feb. 2-3.— E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. . SONG OF NEVADA: Roy Rogers, Mary Lee, Dale Evans — A fine, enjoyable feature. Give this top billing; it is worth it. It is a reUef from the ordinary run of tripe we are fed today. All classes of patrons like this type of entertainment. Played Friday, Saturday, Jan. 12-13.— Robert E. Floeter, Burton Theatre, Flint. Mich. City and suburban patronage. Twentieth CenturyFox BANJO ON MY KNEE: Barbara Stanwyck, Joel McCrea— A reissue that didn't do average business for midweek althought it is a good picture and the weather was good. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Jan. 31, Feb. 1.— Leonard J. Leise, Rand Theatre, Randolph. Neb. Rural and small town patronage. EVE OF ST. MARK, THE: Michael O'Shea, Anne Baxter — A surprise offering that brought in extra business on Bank Night. My patrons seemed to enjoy a change from the usual service films. This has some logic and is not beyond reason and it is without the usual war scenes. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Jan. 24-25. — A. E. Andrews, Emporium Theatre, Emporium, Pa. General patronage. GREENWICH VILLAGE: Dbn Ameche, Carmen Miranda— A colorful musical that registered just fair at the box office. It is not one of the best from 20thFox, which has produced some good ones in the past. Personally I thought it would do much better than it did. The title and the cast did not seem to appeal. Played Friday, Saturday, Feb. 2-3. — A. E. Andrews, Emporium Theatre, Emporium, Pa. General patronage. IN THE MEANTIME, DARLING: Jeanne Grain, Frank Latimore — This is a fair picture but we had no business because it lacked star power. Played Tuesday, Jan. 30. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. REMEMBER THE DAY: Qaudette Colbert, John Payne — Played this picture on repeat and in my opinion no picture could be more amusing and satisfying. Everyone loved it. Played Friday, Saturday, Feb. 2-3.— Ken Gorham, Town Hall Theatre, Middlebury, Vt. General patronage. TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT: Phil Baker, Phil Silvers— This picture is sure to please. It is full of merriment and music and contains some very good and interesting scenes from films of the past. It brought many compliments from our audience. We played it on a double feature with "Gaslight." Played Friday, Saturday, Jan. 26-27.— M. Ewing, Ewing Theatre, Midlothian, 111. Suburban patronage. TAMPICO: Lynn Bari, Edward G. Robinson— Have been holding back on this as I considered it bad. My convictions were fully realized. Business was way below normal. The terms were out of reason. Those that came were not enthusiastic. It is a program picture that should have been double billed. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Jan. 31, Feb. 1.— A. E. Andrews, Emporium Theatre, Emporium, Pa. WILSON: Alexander Knox, Charles Coburn — Business very poor. The people seemed to be waiting for regular prices. There was a basketball game at the school and that might have kept some of the people away. Played Friday, Jan. 12. — Bryce Paulsen, Remus Theatre, Remus, Mich. Rural patronage. WING AND A PRAYER: Don Ameche. Dana Andrews— This is a swell picture. A story well told. The interest never lags from the opening to the last foot of film. Played during the worst storm in years to fair business. Played Sunday, Monday, Feb. 4-5.— A. C. Edwards, Winema Theatre, Scotia, Calif. Small lumber town patronage. WING AND A PRAYER: Don Ameche. Dana Andrews— A service film that will give satisfaction. There (Continued on page 62) MOTION PICTURE HERALD. FEBRUARY 24. 1945 59