Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1947)

^Continued from page 58) BLUE MONTANA SKIES: Gene Autry— Good Western. Good print, too. In the last few weeks I have played a Tex Ritter, an Autry reissue and a Rogers. The Tex Ritter Western did the best business. — S. T. Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. HOME ON THE RANGE: Monte Hale, Adrian Booth — This is an excellent picture, which is given added impetus with the addition of the wild animals. However, the Mag^acolor was pretty bad, being alternately clear and then blurred, to the detriment of the picture. The coloring at times was very good. Doubled with "Crystal Ball" to fair business in a snow storm. Played Friday, Saturday, Dec. 27, 28. — C. M. Hulbert, Gem Theatre, Cornell, Wis. SONG OF ARIZONA: Roy Rogers, Dale EvansOne of the best Rogers. Excellent production. Good story. Good songs and good music. It was thoroughly enjoyed by an above average audience. Doubled with RKO's "Rhythm on the River." Ideal combination for the pleasure of the audience. Played Sunday, Monday, Dec. 8, 9.— Stanley Leay, New Stanley Theatre, Galena, 111. SUN VALLE.Y CYCLONE: "Wild" Bill Elliott, Bobby Blake — Excellent Friday and Saturday attraction. Red Ryder and Little Beaver are top Western attraction. Bill Elliott is the best real Western star in any Western series. Played Friday, Saturday, Nov. 15, 16.— Stanley Leay, New Stanley Theatre, Galena, 111. TUGBOAT ANNIE: Jane Darwell, Edgar Kennedy — Jane Darwell and Edgar Kennedy are grand troupers and are really good if they have good material. "Tugboat Annie" is a very weak production. Direction and supporting cast should be much better. Played Friday. Saturday, Nov. 15, 16.— Stanley Leay, New Stanley Theatre, Galena, 111. Screen Guild FLIGHT TO NOWHERE: Alan Curtis, Evelyn Ankers— Now and then they really make suckers out of us. We put it at the bottom of a double bill and I was ashamed to look the people in the eye when they came out of the theatre. Never again. This is not an air picture. Flayed Friday, Saturday, Dec. 13, 14.— C. M. Hulbert, Gem Theatre, Cornell. Wis ROLLING HOME: Jean Parker, Russell Hayden— Good little program picture. Not anything extra, of course, but it seemed to please. Jo Ann Marlowe is very good. — S. T. Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. Twentieth CenturyFox ANNA AND THE KING OF SI AM: Irene Dunne, Rex Harrison— This is a well produced picture and interesting, but it has no mass appeal. Also, it was too long drawn out. Shorter footage would have helped it, I believe. — Rudy Covi, Covi Theatre, Hermine. Pa. AND THEN THERE WERE NONE: Barry Fitzgerald, Walter Huston — For a one night stand this one did all right. I for one would like to see Fitzgerald stay out of this type of picture, although he did a hangup job of acting. All who saw this one liked it and the comment was good. Even a church party took this one in. Played Thursday, Dec. 5.— Harold J. Johnson, Elberta Theatre, Palisade, Colo. BLACK BEAUTY: Mona Freeman, Richard Denning— It is mushy and very amateurish. The most intelligent of the cast was the horse. It did fair business, but there were no raves and qutie a few walked out on it. When they have a natural like this, I don't see how they can mess it up as they did. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. DON JUAN QUILLIGAN: William Bendix Joan Blondell — Top stars wasted on a rather silly story. Doubled with Monogram's "Bowery Bombshell," which carried the show and pleased all. Played Friday, Saturday, Dec. 6, 7. — Stanley Leay, New Stanley Theatre, Galena, 111. DO YOU LOVE ME?: Maureen O'Hara, Dick Hay me s — Much over -rated musical. Audience reaction bad. Opinions were expressed. Just another poor picture. Played Sunday, Monday, Dec. 15, 16. —Stanley Leay, New Stanley Theatre, Galena, lU. IN OLD CHICAGO: Alice Faye, Tyrone Power— This doubled with "The Kid from Brooklyn" and it did nice business. The show was long, but all enjoyed two very good pictures for a change. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2. — Don Whittington, Lincoln Theatre, Rochester, N. Y. SWEET ROSIE O'GRADY; Betty Grable, Robert Young— Brought this back at a reasonable figure and doubled with "Along the Navajo Trail" to above average business. Print was good. Lots of fiood comments on this bill. Flayed Friday, Saturday, Dec. 27, 28.— Don Whittington, Lincoln Theatre, Rochester, N. Y. United Artists ABILENE TOWN: Randolph Scott, Ann Dvorak— An average so-called superWestern, which did a fair business. It lacked color. There is no better place to use Technicolor than in Westerns, where it can show up to top advantage. Played Sunday, Monday, Dec. 15, 16.— C. M. Hulbert, Gem Theatre, Cornell, Wis. BLITHE SPIRIT: Rex Harrison, Constance Cummings — I believe I am correct in saying that not one single individual liked this show and the criticism was so persistent that I did nothing but apologize for a week. Business very poor. Played Wednesday, Nov. 13.— Rudy Covi, Covi Theatre, Herminie, Pa. BLOOD ON THE SUN: James Cagney, Silvia Sydney— Outdated. To our audience at this date it seemed a mediocre production. Business poor. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Dec. 4, 5.— C. M. Hulbert, Gem Theatre, Cornell, Wis. CRYSTAL BALL, THE: Paulette Goddard, Ray Milland — Doubled with a color Western. This one did fair business. It could hold up on a better date alone, if not too cold. It is a good comedy. Played Friday, Saturday, Dec. 7, 8.— C. M. Hulbert, Gem Theatre, Cornell, Wis. DIARY OF A CHAMBERMAID: Paulette Goddard, Ray Milland — Let's settle by calling this one the flop of 1946. Pretty hard to find a worse one. UA has been letting us down this year. Flayed TuesdayThursday, Dec. 10-12.— C. M. Hulbert, Gem Theatre, Cornell, Wis. GETTING GERTIE'S GARTER: Dennis Morgan, Marie McDonald — I thought the title might get a few folks in, but it repelled them. I really got stuck on this one. Bottom business. Barely got film cost back. Played Tuesday-Thursday, Dec. 17-19. — C. M. Hulbert, Gem Theatre, Cornell, Wis. LITTLE IODINE: Jo Ann Marlowe, Marc Cramer — I would say very good. My customers came out in the rain and cold to see it. Drew better than average in spite of the rain and very cold weather. Hope there will be more of this type in the near future. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2.— L. Brazil, Jr., New Theatre, Bearden, Ark. NIGHT IN CASABLANCA, A: Marx Brothers, Lois Collier — These top ranking comedians put on a pretty poor show in this comeback. However, it is not their fault. Give these Marx boys a chance and they will fill the bill for me. Business on these dates was mediocre. Played Tuesday -Thursday, Dec. 31-Jan. 2. — C. M. Hulbert, Gem Theatre, Cornell, Wis. REBECCA: Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine — This reissue is still good and held up fairly well in spite of being the poorest date of the year. Played Sunday, Monday, Dec. 22, 23.— C. M. Hulbert, Gem Theatre, Cornell, Wis. WHISTLE STOP: George Raft, Ava Gardner— A fairly good picture as far as I am concerned personally, but it was a genuine flop at the box office. The very few who saw it, liked it, but that doesn't say much for the picture. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 4. — Harold J. Johnson, Elberta Theatre, Palisade, Colo. YOUNG WIDOW: Jane Russell, Louis Hayward— The usual pre-Christmas low gross on this picture, but I doubt if it could have drawn much more even if played at another time. It iG not a good show. Played Wednesday, Dec. 18. — Rudy Covi, Covi Theatre, Herminie, Fa. YOUNG WIDOW: Jane Russell, Louis Hayward— Ninety-eight long, long minutes of sheer boredom. The dramatics are nil. There is no comedy. All of it is a weak psychological study of a wife who has lost her man in the war and cannot adjust herself. — A. E. Hancock, Coltmibia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. Universal BECAUSE OF HIM: Deanna Durbin, Franchot Tone — Excellent all around show. Will please 90 per cent. Suggest midweek play for small towns. Miss Durbin is beautiful and sings beautifully and is excellent in her part. Flayed Wednesday, Thursday, Nov. 13, 14.— Stanley Leay, New Stanley Theatre, Galena, 111. TANGIER: Maria Montez, Preston Foster— They don't have any stars. Not much comment one way or the other by the 36 patrons who took this one in. We played it two days. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 18.— Harold J. Johnson, Elberta Theatre, Palisade, Colo. Warner Bros. NO TIME FOR COMEDY: James Stewart, Rosalind Russell — From the way these reissues draw, I would say the shortage of product will not be so serious as we think it will. They have that something that these program turkeys that we have had this season have not. I have checked the HERALD for the last three issues and of the 34 pictures reviewed, 21 have received a rating of Average or fair. I think they leaned over backwards to give them that. I have played a lot of them this season that were given that rating and I know most of them did not rate better than the weak half of a double bill.— A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. OF HUMAN BONDAGE: Paul Henreid, Eleanor Parker — There were two mistakes made on this picture. Warners made the first when they produced it; the exhibitor made the second when he played it. If you want your patrons to go bowling, play it by all means. Played Friday, Saturday, Jan. 3, 4. — Rudy Covi, Covi Theatre, Herminie, Pa. Short Features Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer FOOTBALL THRILLS: Pete Smith SpecialtiesVery good and enjoyed by all. Flayed this one on a good double biU, while it was fairly hot and it helped to bring more business. These should always be played during football season to get the most out of them. — Harold J. Johnson, Elberta Theatre, Palisade, Colo. JERKY TURKEY: Tom and Jerry Cartoons— Verjgood color cartoon. — C. M. Hulbert, Gem Theatre, Cornell, Wis. SURE CURES: Pete Smith Specialties— This Pete Smith short was one of the best we have used. Many of these have been pretty poor. Play this one. — C. M. Hulbert, Gem Theatre, Cornell, Wis. TREASURES FROM TRASH: Pete Smith Specialties— Excellent novelty reel. Laugh-filled clever dialogue and action. Good for best playing time. — Stanley Leay, New Stanley Theatre, Galena, 111. Paramount JASPER'S DERBY: George Pal Puppetoons— Good. Beautiful music. Clever story. Good audience. — Stanley Leay, New Stanley Theatre, Galena, lU. KLONDIKE CASANOVA: Popeye, the Sailor— Excellent Popeye. Popeye always pleases and gets laughs. — Stanley Leay, New Stanley Tlieatre, Galena, 111. MY MAN JASPER: George Pal Puppetoons— The beautiful color is worth the cost of these cartoons. This one is average. — C. M. Hulbert, Gem Theatre, Cornell, Wis. SUDDEN FRIED CHICKEN: Noveltoons— Extra good. Audience laughs at peak. — Stanley Leay, New Stanley Theatre, Galena, II. RKO Radio BATH DAY: Disney Cartoons — Excellent cartoons. Everyone will enjoy it. — Stanley Leay, New Stanley Theatre, Galena, 111. DONALD'S DAY OFF: Walt Disney Cartoons— A good cartoon but no better than those from other producers. — C. M. Hulbert, Gem Theatre, Camell, Wis. DUMB-BELL OF THE YUKON: Walt EKsney Cartoons — Very best. Audience laughs at peak. — Stanley Leay, New Stanley Theatre, Galena, 111. Twentieth CenturyFox HERE COMES THE CIRCUS: Dribble Puss Parade — This short is very good. — S. T. Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. THE TROJAN HORSE: Terrytoons— Clever cartoon, especially suited to children. — Stanley Leay, New Stanley Theatre, Galena, 111. Universal TINY TERRORS OF THE TIMBERLAND: Special Featurettes — This super special of Universal's isn't bad. This is O.K. for all ages and everybody should get some enjoyment out of it. — Harold J. Johnson, Elberta Theatre, Palisade, Colo. Warner-Vitaphone BASEBALL BUGS: "Bugs Bunny" Specials— Used on a free Christmas Kiddy show. This one is excellent. This is easily the best series of shorts we play.— C. M. Hulbert, Gem Theatre, Cornell, Wis. ENRIC MADRIQUERA AND ORCHESTRA: Melody Master Bands — Very good musical number. — Rudy Covi, Covi Theatre, Herminie, Pa. FASHIONS FOR TOMORROW: Vitaphone Varieties— Fair. — S. T. Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. 60 (MOTION PICTURE HERALD. JANUARY 18, 1947