Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1948)

'/what the picture did for me^ Columbia PRINCE OF THIEVES, THE: Jon Hall, Patricia Morison — These historical dramas, especially when they take place in England, and involving swordplay, unconventional costumes, together with difficult to understand English dialect all adds up to a complete flop and a loss of potentially valuable playing time. No more of these for me if I can possiblv avoid them. Played Wednesday, Thursday, July 7, 8.— W. D. Rasmussen. Star Theatre, Anthon, Iowa. RELENTLESS: Robert Young, Marguerite Chapman— A very good action type picture. It has a story that holds attention. The scenery and color are magnificent. The actors play their parts with skill. Not a picture for the Sunday trade except in towns such as mine. Played Sunday-Tuesday, July 11-13. — W. D. Rasraussen, Star Theatre, Anthon, Iowa. Eagle Lion I SEE A DARK STRANGER: Deborah Kerr, Trevor Howard — A good spy melodrama with plenty of suspense and comedy. One or two comedy scenes are standouts. Miss Kerr gets a chance to act in this. After the '"Hucksters" this is a standout. Strange what Hollywood does. Priced right as well. Played Monday, July 19. — Fred J. Hutchings, Community Theatre, Leader, Sask., Can. RETURN OF RIN TIN TIN, THE: Donald Woods, Bobby Blake — For the Friday and Saturday patronage in this rural and small town area this picture filled the bill very nicely. The color is only fair and the photography a bit fuzzy but the picture has the story material, scenery, etc., to please nearly everyone. So far Eagle Lion has sold these on a live and let live price. Played Friday, Saturday, July 2, 3. — W. D. Rasmussen, Star Theatre, Anthon, Iowa. Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer BIG CITY: Margaret O'Brien, Robert Preston— The star of this show is Betty Garrett and it is a happier role for the O'Brien child than she has had previously. Metro has evidently gotten wise that she can not hold up a show by herself. The picture did fair business and was liked. A word on this Garrett girl. She has what it takes and was super in one song. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. GOOD NEWS: June Allyson. Peter Lawford— For some reason or other this picture failed to really click although in the writer's opinion the picture is good. Business definitely oflf on this picture. Played SundayTuesday, June 27-29. — W. D. Rasmussen, Star Theatre, Anthon, Iowa. GREEN DOLPHIN STREET: Lana Turner, Van Heflin — An outstanding release by MGM and very much enjoyed by my adult patronage. Lana Turner excels as an actress in this release. In fact the whole cast is excellent. This is first class entertainment and I can recommend it. Played Thursday. July 1. — A. L. Dove, Bengough Theatre, Bengough, Sask., Can. LIVING IN A BIG WAY: Gene Kelly, Marie MacDonald — I played this instead of "Merton of the Movies" as Red Skelton is a washout in my situation and it turned out to be not much better as I had a lot of walkouts. Played Thursday, June 3. — A. L. Dove, Bengough Theatre, Bengough, Sask.. Can. NO LEAVE, NO LOVE: Van Johnson, Marie Wilson— This was an excellent comedy and a change from a lot of the poor stuff that we are playing on our screens these days. I played it as a single bill but many spots show this as an upper half of a double bill. Played Thursday, June 17. — A. L. Dove, Bengough Theatre. Bengough, Sask., Can. SUMMER HOLIDAY: Mickey Rooney, Gloria DeHaven — Metro is never going to let Rooney grow up. If there is anything more ridiculous and downright silly it is to cast a grown man 27, divorced twice, as a bookish kid. There must be a fringe of lunacy in the director and producer who will try to gull the public this way . They were not having any of it the second day. Huston, Morgan and Moorehead were just right in the old folks role. The picture was miscast but it has bright music. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. TARZAN'S NEW YORK ADVENTURE: Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen O'Sullivan — A reissue but a . . . the original exhibitors' reports deportment, established October 14, 1916. In it theotremen serve one another with intormation about the box office performance ef product — providing a service of the exhibitor for the exhibitor. ADDRESS REPORTS: Whot the Picture Did for Me, Motion Picture Herald, Rockefeller Center, New York 20. good one. Play this and I am sure you will be satisfied with results. Tarzan pictures are just a natural for my situation. Played Wednesday, Thursday, July 14, 15.— O: Fomby, Paula Theatre, Homer, La. THREE DARING DAUGHTERS: Janette MacDon aid, Jose Iturbi — We did excellent with this picture. All favorable comments, A picture that will stand up with the best. Wonderful color. Played Saturday Monday, July 17-19. — O. Fomby, Paula Theatre, Homer, La. UNFINISHED DANCE, THE: Margaret O'Brien, Cyd Charisse — This was a picture in Technicolor that was out of the ordinary with Margaret O'Brien taking one of the best of 'her roles but it had no entertainment value for a rural community as the farmers didn't go so much for ballet dancing. It would make excellent city entertainment but would not recommend it for a small town. Played Thursday, June 24. — A. L. Dove, Bengough Theatre, Bengough, Sask., Can. YEARLING, THE: Gregory Peck, Jane Wyman— This is one of the outstanding releases of the season by MGM, yet there are a few flaws in this excellent release. It is very long and several of my patrons mentioned the fact that the scenes were overly drawn out. I thought maybe they could have gotten away without the deathbed scenes, also the graveyard scene, which some thought rather depressing. However, more like this would help the box office. Played Thursday, May 20.— A. L. Dove, Bengough Theatre, Bengough, Sask,, Can. ZIEGFELD FOLLIES: MGM Contract Stars— Why they waste good Technicolor film and money on such a release as this is beyond me. More walkouts on this than any I have ever played. Put a few more of MGM's big stars in such a production and it looks as though there will be a big cut in their salaries. Enough said on this one. Played. Thursday, July 8. — A. L. Dove, Bengough Theatre, Bengough, Sask., Can. Paramount BLAZE AT NOON: Anne Baxter, Sterling Hayden — A good airplane action picture which I can recommend if you have not already played same. Played Thursday, May 27. — A. L. Dove, Bengough Theatre, Bengough, Sask., Can. DEAR RUTH: Joan Caufield, William Holden— Played this late but turned out to be a good comedy which was enjoyed by my patrons. Played Thursday, May 13. — A. L. Dove, Bengough Theatre, Bengough, Sask,. Can. SAINTED SISTERS, THE: Veronica Lake, Joan Caulfield — With this cast it should have been a passable picture but somewhere along the line it bogged down and all that held up was the forthright acting of Barry Fitzgerald. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia Tlieatre, Columbia City, Ind. Republic BACK IN THE SADDLE: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette — Very good picture. Lacked very much the usual Autry draw. Business poor for weekend. Played Friday, Saturday, July 16, 17. — Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. NORTHWEST OUTPOST: Nelson Eddy, Ilona Massey— I don't think the Herald would print my honest opinion of this feature. It wouldn't be fit to print. I can't understand how any reputable producing company can put their trademark on such tripe. As long as Eddy sang it wasn't bad. Neither he nor Miss Massey can act. Ridiculous story, improbable settings and hammy acting. Pretty awful. Played Monday, July 12. — Fred J. Hutchings. Community Theatre, Leader, Sask., Can. RKO Radio Young — One of the best grosses we have ever had. Enjoyed by all. A picture like this occasionally will put new pep into an exhibitor. Played SaturdayMonday, July 10-12'.— 0'. Fomby, Paula Theatre, Homer, La. CODE OF THE WEST: James Warren, Debra Alden — These Westerns from this studio bear the name of Zane Grey but that is as far as the resemblance goes. Makes good material for second features where patrons require action. This had plenty of action . Played Friday, July 9. — Fred J. Hutchings, Community Theatre, Leader, Sask., Can. TYCOON: John Wayne, Laraine Day — In spite of the Fourth of July celebrations this picture did nice business. Many patrons made compliments and all were satisfied with the show. Nice color, good story but the running time was too long. Played SundayTuesday, July 4-6. — W. D. Rasmussen, Star Theatre, Anthon, Iowa. SRO DUEL IN THE SUN: Jennifer Jone^s, Gregory Peck — Although this may not have grossed as well as SRO would like it to, it gave me the best business I've had in months. Too many had seen it beforehand. The theatres in the nearby first runs drew 'em like flies. One even played it on a double feature program. I don't think it was worth the $1.25 asked during its roadshow run, but at regular prices it's really a treat. Many who attended were seeing it for the second or third time. I had to sit through it four times and didn't mind it a bit. Played Sunday, Monday, July 11, 12.— Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. Twentieth Century-Fox BOWERY, THE: George Raft, Wallace Beery— As usual Wallace Beery takes the spotlight and this one is no exception. I played this late and many of these reissues do more business than the current releases. Very good program. Played Thursday, June 10. — A. L. Dove, Bengough Theatre, Bengough, Sask., Can. HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY: Walter Pidgeon, Maureen 0''Hara— Picked this up. Another oldtimer but a box office natural. These old releases have really got the stuff and are full of entertainment value. Enjoyed by my patrons. Thanks to 20th -Fox. Played Thursday, July 15. — A. L. Dove, Bengough Theatre, Bengough, Sask., Can. IRON CURTAIN, THE: Dana Andrews, Gene Tierney — Excellent melodrama. Any company should be proud of this eftort. It is of particular interest to Canadian audiences. Our patrons were well satisfied. A must for all Canadian theatres. One of the best. Played Saturday, July 17.— Fred J. Hutchings, Community Tlieatre, Leader, Sask., Can. United Artists OTHER LOVE, THE: Barbara Stanwyck, David Niven — A well done drama that allows Miss Stanwyck to do some very good acting. Story the usual tripe but with one or two good twists. Worth playing in those situations where drama is liked. Played Friday, July 16.— Fred J. Hutchings, Community Theatre, Leader, Sask., Can. Universal BISHOP'S WIFE, THE: Gary Grant, Loretta RIDE THE PINK HORSE: Robert Montgomery Wanda Hendri.x— In two nights I plaved to about 60 adults. Had many walkouts. For a first run feature excludmg English features, this was really a flop Picture was fair. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, July 13 14.— Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W Va' MOTION PICTURE HERALD, AUGUST 7, 1948 41