Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1955)

'WL( tL Picture did it 99 or me . . . fhe 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. Columbia ON THE WATERFRONT: Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint — Winner of eight Academy Awards gave complete satisfaction with patrons and at box office. It held up against the graduation week at school. Bought right and finally made a little money on a picture. Small town and country patronage. Played Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, May 15, 16, 17. — Shirley Booth, Booth Theatre, Rich Hill, Mo. ON THE WATERFRONT: Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint — We bought this at the right price and for once made some money. The picture has a terrific impact. A lot of my patrons said it left a taste in their mouths, but they wouldn’t have missed seeing it. In the three days we played it, we had many people come back to see it the second and third time —so it must be good. Played Thursday, Friday, Saturday, April 28, 29, 30. — Glenn E. Jensen, Gateway Theatre, Westhope, N. D. PHFFFT: Judy Holliday, Jack Carson — a good picture, but over the heads of my patrons. Brought in a fair crowd. Played Tliursday, Friday, Saturday, May 19, 20, 21. — Glenn E. Jensen, Gateway Tlieatre, Westhope, N. D. PUSHOVER: Fred MacMurray, Phil Carey — Although there was nothing wrong with this “crooked cop” picture, our patrons commented that Fred MacMurray was miscast in this one. It seems like they don’t want to see Fred shooting anybody, as in this picture. Played Wednesday, Thursday, May 4, 5.— Michael Chiaventone, Valley Theatre, Spring Valley, 111. THREE HOURS TO KILL: Dana Andrews, Donna Reed — First, the title scared them away, then those very few who came were disgusted with what they saw in the picture, and at last, we lost money and good will. When Columbia makes a good one, it’s all right, but when they make something like this, they go all the way to the bottom of fhe barrel. Played Tliursday, Friday, Saturday, May 5, 6, 7. — Glenn E. Jensen, Gateway Tlieatre, Westhope, N. D. WOMEN’S PRISON: Ida Lupino, Howard Duff — Don’t let the title fool you. This is very good. It should do O. K. in small towns on their best days. Ida Lupino superb in this one and Howard Duff gives a surprisingly good performance. This gave us our best midweek business in months. Surprising, isn’t it? Played Wednesday, Thursday, May 11, 12. — ^lichael Chiaventone, Valley Theatre, Spring Valley, 111. DCA LONG JOHN SILVER: Robert Newton -Tliis was Fremont County’s first drive-in CinemaScope show, and a complete flop as far as the picture was concerned. 90% of all old sword and pirate pictures are not worth paying freight on here. Played Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, May 8, 9, 10. — Zubie Chopping, West Drive-in Theatre, Riverton, Wyo. Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer LAST TIME I SAW PARIS: Elizabeth Tavlor. Van Johnson — A very good picture which failed for me at the box office. Played it for a benefit show — still it failed. It is sure hard to get them in on midweek. Don’t he afraid of this picture — play it. maybe you will do O. K. with it. Film rental too high for me. Small town and rural patronage. Playeil Thursday, Friday, May 26, 27. — James Hardy, Shoals Theatre. Shoals. Ind. MANY RIVERS TO CROSS: Robert Taylor. Eleanor Parker — May I congratulate MGM on "Many Rivers to Cross”? This picture could be played anywhere. It’s loaded with humor. Eleanor Parker and Robert Taylor did a wonderful job. If you are of the opinion that Stereophonic sound does not register with the average public, then watch the people in this picture when the Indians called their signals by whistles or when the rooster was crowing. Everybody remarked about the realism of the sound, and the photography was tops. It was fun to stand out ill front of the theatre and watch the people come MOTION PICTURE HERALD. JUNE II, 1955 out grinning. Tlie picture is tops. Playeil Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, May 22, 23, 24. — Glenn E. Jensen, Gateway Tlieatre, Westhope, N. D. Paramount CEASE FIRE: Korean War Documentary — This one did O. K. Even though I did play it late, everybody who saw it seemed to like it. Small town and rural patronage. Played Friday, Saturday, May 13, 14.— James Hardy, Shoals Tlieatre, Shoals, Ind. CONQUEST OF SPACE: Walter Brooke, Eric Fleming — This one pulled in a little extra business on Sunday night. A very good space picture which your kid fans will go for. Paramount gave me this one early, thanks to them. Play it— you can’t go wrong on this type of picture. Put it on midweek. Small town and rural patronage. Played Sunday, Monday, May 22, 23. — James Hardy, Shoals Theatre, Shoals, Ind. THREE RING CIRCUS: Dean Martin. Jerry Lewis — The circus in this picture sure put it over for Dean and Jerry, although they were O. K., but not as good as in some of their other pictures. I always do extra business on this team no matter what they are in. Comments good from those who saw it. Small town and rural patronage. Played Sunday, Monday, May 29, 30. — James Hardy, Shoals Theatre, Shoals, Ind. THREE RING CIRCUS: Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis — Had the usual Martin & Lewis fans and all seemed pleased with the picture. Zsa Zsa Gabor added the spice it needed. Played three days, but the last day fell down — Ray McCullough, Princess Theatre, Cookeville, Tenn. United Artists LITTLE KIDNAPPERS, THE: Duncan Macrae, Jean Anderson — A wonderful heart-warming picture, but our business fell off a little, probably because all the small theatres across the line (Canadian) have played this picture long before we were able to. Tlie two little chaps made a warm spot in everybody’s heart. Played Thursday, Friday, Saturday, May 26, 27, 28. — Glenn E. Jensen, Gateway Theatre, Westhope. N. D. Universal DESTRY: Audie Murphy. Mari Blanchard— I never miss on this boy; he always brings in some extra business. This one has a little more running time, which makes it better, also this gal Mari Blanchard is really tops in this one. Your men patrons will go for her. There’s everything in this picture to please any movie-goer — play it! Small town and rural patronage. Played Sunday. Monday. May 8. 9. — James Hardy, Shoals Tlieatre, Shoals, Ind. SIX BRIDGES TO CROSS: Tony Curtis, Piper Laurie — Give this one your best playing time — it deserves it. Thanks to “Collier’s” for writing the story in their magazine— it sure helped. Also the same goes to UI for putting it on the screen. Did over average and had good comments from all who saw it. Small town and rural patronage. Played Tuesday, Wednesday. May 24, 25. — James Hardy, Shoals Theatre, Shoals, Ind. SMOKE SIGNAL: Dana Andrews, Piper Laurie — A very slow moving adventure picture, though I cannot gripe about it because UT gave me the right film rental. One thing about it. the scenery is pretty. Did about average business on it. Play it, you won't go wrong on it. Small town and rural patronage.— James Hardy, Shoals Theatre, Shoals, Ind. Warner Bros. BOUNTY HUNTER. THE: Randolph Scott, Dolores Dorn — Played this one during high school exercises, which hurt business plenty. Nothing wrong with the picture. If you have many Scott fans, they will like this one. Small town and rural patronage. Play it. Played Sunday, Monday. May 1, 2. — James Hardy, Shoals Theatre, Shoals, Ind. CALAMITY JANE: Doris Day, Howard Keel Played this one on a repeat rim a year ago and did just about as much business the second time as 1 did the first. One of Doris Day’s best pictures. Had a lot of repeat customers, also small town and rural patrons. Play this again. Played Friday, Saturday, May 6, 7. — James Hardy, Shoals Tlieatre, Shoals, Ind. Shorts Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer HOMESTEADER DROOPY : Tex Avery Cartoon— We can’t get enough “Droopy” cartoons, and this was one of the best we’ve ever had. All the kids saw this twice. — Walt and Ida Breitling. Comfrey Theatre, Comfrey, Minn. POET AND PEASANT OVERTURE: Cinema Scope Musical Gems— Excellent. Most welcome short, loved by capacity houses. Only fault I can find is that the cameras ran too quickly, thereby giving a blurred effect in sections. — Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe/Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, Africa. Paramount HOW TO WIN AT THE RACES: PacemakerAn impossible situation with a lot of comedy makes this one of the tops for the year, in my estimation — Fred G. Weppler, Colonial Tlieatre, Colfax, 111. VISTA VISION VISITS NORWAY: V istavision Special — Not a scene of this VistaVision was out of focus on niy screen. Tlie photography is superior, the color and scenery the same. — Fred G. Weppler, Colonial Theatre, Colfax, 111. RKO BEN AND ME: Technicolor Cartoon — Tliis Disney cartoon was a good lesson in history and now everyone in this town will remember who Benjamin Franklin was. — Jussi Kohonen. Kino-Palatsi, Kotka, Finland. Twentieth Century-Fox JET CARRIER: CinemaScope Special — CinemaScope alxiard a jet aircraft carrier was very exciting. Many interesting facts unfold in this one. Tliis is one of the top CinemaScope shorts and was enjoyed by all. — Michael Chiaventone, Valley Theatre, Spring Valley, Til. JET CARRIER: Special — Excellent CinemaScope short. — W. R. Shepherd, Regent Cinema, South Shields, England Warner Bros. TRIAL OF MR. WOLF: Blue Ribbon Hit Parade —Good reissue cartoon. In this the wolf blames Red Ridinpr Hood for his troubles as he tells his side of the story in a courtroom. — Michael Chiaventone, Valley Theatre. Spring Valley, 111. 193