Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Mar 1954)

. . . the original exhibitors' reports department, established October 14, 1916. In it theatremen serve one another with information about the box office performance of What the Picture Did for Me, Motion Picture Herald, Rockefeller Center, New York 20. product — providing a service of the exhibitor for the exhibitor. ADDRESS REPORTS Lippert NORMAN CONQUEST: Tom Conway, Eva Bartok — Very good comments from patrons on this one. Might not be a big picture, but it’s worth seeing. Played with “Sins of Jezebel, one of the best dramas played in months. Played Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, January 11, 12, 13. — Yves Legault, Regent Theatre, Hawkesbury, Ont., Canada. SINS OF JEZEBEL: Paulette Goddard — Very good story and excellent color (Ansco). Although it does not contain any great luxurious scenes, the story makes up for that. Patrons were well satisfied with this one. Played it with “Norman Conquest.” Played on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, January 11, 12, 13. — Yves Legault, Regent, Hawkesbury, Ont., Canada. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer DANGEROUS WHEN WET: Esther Williams, Fernando Lamas — A very good picture, so don’t be afraid to play it. You need no cartoon with this, as cartoon figures play a part in this also — very clever of Metro to give their exhibitors a break to save on a cartoon. I didn’t make any money — really lost my shirt — but no fault of the picture. TV is new here and most everyone bought one for Christmas, so you know the answer. Played Saturday, Sunday, January 9, 10. — Henry Jakes, Hope Theatre, Hope, N. D. DREAM WIFE: Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr— Did very poorly. Good for cities, but my hicks couldn’t understand sophisticated comedy. They want corn. — George Kelloff, Ute Theatre, Aguilar, Colo. DREAM WIFE: Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr — Good, smart comedy that will bring a smile and a chuckle to the most blase theatre goer. Cary Grant does an excellent job, while Deborah Kerr is always tops. Played Monday, Tuesday, January 11, 12. — D. P. Savage, Capitol Theatre, Listowel, Ont., Canada. MOGAMBO: Clark Gable, Ava Gardner — Just finished showing this on my wide screen to very good results. Brought out people who seldom go. and as far as I could determine, comments were 100% favorable. Box office 150% in the face of some of the most severe weather conditions known. Played on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. — Leo W. Smith, Elk Theatre, Elkton, S. D. RIDE VAQUERO: Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner — Did very well here. Anthony Quinn truly a wonderful actor. We should have MGM make “Viva Villa” again with Quinn in the starring role. It would fit him perfectly. Played on Friday and Saturday. — George Kelloff, Ute Theatre, Aguilar, Colo. SCANDAL AT SCOURIE: Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon — Excellent, but didn’t do any business. Title killed it for me. If you can get them in, they will love every minute of this perfect picture. Played on Tuesday and Wednesday. — George Kelloff, Ute Theatre, Aguilar, Colo. SEQUOIA: Jean Parker, Russell Hardie— This is a reissue, folks, but don’t pass it by. People — old and young alike — will love it everywhere. Give it good advertising and play it. Played Saturday, Sunday, January 2, 3. — Henry Jakes, Hope, Hope, N. Dak. Paramount BOTANY BAY: Alan Ladd, James Mason — In Technicolor. Alan Ladd made his name here in “Shane.” The patrons like this as much as they did “Shane.” Very good color and photography — one of the best pictures of its .kind since “Mutiny on the Bounty.” Played Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, January 25 , 26, 27 Yves Legault, Regent Theatre, Hawkesbury, Ont., Canada. JAMAICA RUN: Ray Milland, Arlene Dahl — Fair but not worth top allocation. Paramount overcharged me for this.— George Kelloff, Ute Theatre, Aguilar, Colo. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, FEBRUARY 6, 1954 RKO Radio BLACKBEARD, THE PIRATE: Linda Darnell, Robert Newton — After the South African censors were finished cutting this one to bits, we were lucky we had enough over to show! Newton loved making this film, I’m sure. It did not make us a fortune, but it entertained most. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, December 16, 17, 18, 19. — Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe/Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, Africa. STORY OF ROBIN HOOD: Richard Todd, Jean Rice — Double billed this with “Tarzan and the SheDevil” (RKO) and did O.K. Priced right. Played Friday, Saturday, December 25, 26. — Shirley Booth, Booth Theatre, Rich Hill, Mo. Republic CRAZYLEGS — ALL-AMERICAN : Elroy Hirsch, Lloyd Nolan — Best and most authentic football picture I have ever seen or heard about — the real McCoy — but as usual, business not what it should have been. Played Sunday, Monday, January 3, 4. — Ken Gorham, Town Hall Theatre, Middlebury, Vt. QUIET MAN, THE: John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Barry Fitzgerald — I’ve played this film so often and to so many capacity houses that they are beginning to call me “The Quiet Man.” If you have not yet played this, either you are making enough money already or you just can not care what your customers like. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, December 23 , 24, 25, 26. — Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe/Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, Africa. Twentieth Century-Fox STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER (MARCHING ALONG): Clifton Webb, Ruth Hussey — Twentieth CenturyFox and yours sincerely slipped on this one. We only booked it for two days, when it could have filled an easy four. Hats off to Fox for a different musical with fine performances by Clifton Webb and Debra Paget. Good for any house in any situation. It will make money for you, especially if you can get them in the mood. Played Friday, Saturday, January 1, 2. — Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe/Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, Africa. United Artists MARSHAL’S DAUGHTER: Ken Murray, Preston Foster — Corn, but they loved every minute of it. — George Kelloff, Ute Theatre, Aguilar, Colo. MOON IS BLUE, THE: William Holden. David Niven— The South African censors ban films here left and right, but not when it comes to those like “The Moon is Blue.” So why should it meet with the opposition it has from some of your states? Our box office was besieged — registers crammed full — smiling faces— a thrilled exhibitor. Comments said it was one of the best light comedies ever seen, and with I heartily agree. If this film was predominantly about sex, at least it was done with grace, charm and sincerity. I’ve just recently returned from the States. If some of your communities cannot take “The Moon Is Blue,” then start letting them examine their own moral standard — they may be surprised! First they kick out “Limelight,” now they turn their backs on “The Moon is Blue” — maybe some of those censors have a share in TV, who knows? Played Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, January 6, 7, 8, 9. — Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe/Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, Africa. Universal ALL-AMERICAN: Tony Curtis, Lori Nelson — Just another picture, but Universal, as usual, had it in a high allocation. Played Friday, Saturday, January 8, 9. — Ken Gorham, Town Hall Theatre, Middlebury, Vt. ALL I DESIRE: Barbara Stanwyck, Richard Carlson— You can always depend on Barbara Stanwyck to turn in a grade A performance, and t-his picture is no exception. It has everything an audience likes. Play it and the women folks will go for it in a big way. Played Monday, Tuesday, January 18, 19. — D. P. Savage, Capitol Theatre, Listowel, Ont., Canada. FORBIDDEN: Tony Curtis, Joanne Dru — Very good drama, but played so early that I had received no good from advertising campaigns and crowd very slim indeed. Played Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, January 17, 18, 19. — Ken Gorham, Town Hall Theatre, Middlebury, Vt. LAWLESS BREED: Rock Hudson, Julia Adams — It’s been many a day since Hollywood put its label on a better western than this. It has excellent family story plus enough action to please everyone. Added to this is a top job of casting that should establish Miss Adams as one of the ranking contenders for the sex queen. She’s got more than Monroe, and can act too. Bucked up against too much competition from basketball and wrestling to justify rental. However, it did well considering the competition. Played Friday, Saturday, January 15, 16. — Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruit a, Colo. MEET ME AT THE FAIR: Dan Dailey, Diana Lynn — Had a struggle in convincing people it wasn’t just a musical, but the ones we lured in found it to be the perfect small town movie. Story is made to order. “Scat Man” Crothers eases the show out from under a good cast as he steals scene after scene. Universal pegged it a bit high for us considering the business it did, but it deserved better than it got. At least we ended up in the black. Played Sunday, Monday, January 17, 18. — Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Warner Bros. BY THE LIGHT OF THE SILVERY MOON: Doris Day, Gordon MacRae — This is just a wonderful picture. Don’t any situation pass it by. A musical, but not overdone with music. Give us more like this. Regardless of how wonderful a picture one plays these days, can’t get the people in. TV has been here six months and show business is about licked. Will try one change now, if no go, will have to close. Play “Silvery Moon.” Played Sunday, Monday, December 27, 28. — Henry Jakes, Hope Theatre, Hope, N. D MIRACLE OF FATIMA: Gilbert Roland, Angela Clark — Not many will play this later than us, but in case there is anyone left who hasn’t given Warner a deal, don’t pass this excellent feature. Don’t worry about not having enough Catholics. It can be sold and the Protestants will be just as complimentary. With rain both nights, the combination of a fine picture and $80 in the bank was too irresistible and we had one of the best mid-weeks in our history. Played Wednesday, Thursday, January 20, 21. — Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo. 35