Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

. . . the 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. Buena Vista DAVY CROCKETT, KING OF THE WILD FRONTIER: Fess Parker, Buddy Ebsen — We didn’t do well on it because most people thought Davy was just a kid’s hero and the show would be for kids, too, hut those who did come found out it was a real picture. Played Saturday, Sunday, November 10, 11. — Harry Hawkinson, Orpheum Theatre, Marietta, Minn. LADY AND THE TRAMP: Cartoon Feature — Very good entertainment for everyone. Had a very good child attendance. Be sure and pick this one up. Played Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, November 4, 5, 7. — Roman Noecker, Amuzu Theatre, Fonda, Iowa. 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA: Kirk Douglas, James Mason — A very good show, but did below average business because we played it too late. Disney was too high in rental terms to play any sooner. Played Friday, Saturday, November 2, 3. — Roman Noecker, Amuzu Theatre, Fonda, Iowa. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer BHOWANI JUNCTION: Ava Gardner, Stewart Granger — I consider this a waste of film and talent. Box office average. Played Sunday, Monday, October 21, 22. — -Roman Noecker, Amuzu Theatre, Fonda, Iowa. FASTEST GUN ALIVE: Glenn Ford, Jeanne Crain, * — Played over Thanksgiving weekend with Bowery Boys on bill, making an above-average gross for these days. Has all the elements of “High Noon” (UA) — plus. A sure bet for any theatre that features action films. Played Thursday, Friday, Saturday, November 22, 23, 24. — Moz Buries, Canyon Theatre, Bingen, Wash. FOREVER DARLING: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz— Is this going to start another “heavenly messenger” cycle like we suffered through a few years back ? This picture would have been twice as good if James Mason had been left out. Played Sunday, Monday, September 16, 17. — Frank R. McLean, Roxy Theatre, Coulterville, 111. STRATTON STORY, THE: James Stewart, June Allyson — Another good show that didn’t pay for itself. We think the reason was a cold wave coming through that kept people in front of their television sets. Of course, we ate beans come Thursday. Played Wednesday, November 14. — Harry Hawkinson, Orpheum Theatre, Marietta, Minn. Paramount LEATHER SAINT : John Derek, Jody Lawrence — Those who came — which were few — enjoyed it and told us so. Business off. Played Thursday, Friday, Saturday, October 4, 5, 6. — Roman Noecker, Amuzu Theatre, Fonda, Iowa. THAT CERTAIN FEELING: Bob Hope, Eva Marie Saint — Bob is very good in this, but guess our people don’t care too much for him — anyway that is what our box office said. Played Sunday, Monday, October 28, 29. — Roman Noecker, Amuzu Theatre, Fonda, Iowa. WAR AND PEACE: Audrey Hepburn, Henry FondaThis is a pretty long picture but has good opportunities to tie up with high schools as the students appreciate it. — Harland Rankin, Rankin Enterprises, Chatham, Ont., Canada. RKO Radio CONQUEROR THE: John Wayne, Susan Hayward — A bigger waste of money on any one film will be hard to find. Apart from being a costume drama again its two stars looked so out of place and character, it would have been no further surprise to find Jerry Lewis and Judy Holliday in the parts ! Too noisy for big houses — too slow for the action places. It will take selling. Played Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, October 17, 18, 19, 20. — Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe/Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, Africa. I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE: James Ellison, Frances Dee — Used with “King Kong” and did above normal business, but this one did not hold up its end of the program — not enough thrills and chills to keep the audience interest at the peak “King Kong” left it. Played Thursday, Friday, Saturday, November 1, 2, 3. Donald L. Rexroad, State Theatre, Falconer, N. Y. KING KONG: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong — Used this with “I Walked with a Zombie” and walked in with a home-run weekend. I’m still trying to figure out what or why. To have given this to TV when it still has this much business in it is unbelievable. Business about 30% above average. Played Thursday, Friday, Saturday, November 1, 2, 3. — Donald L. Rexroad, State Theatre, Falconer, N. Y. KING KONG: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong — For an oldie it still is box office. Don’t pay too much and you can bank well on Monday. Played Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, November 18, 19, 20. — Joe Meyer, lone Theatre, lone, Calif. Republic ETERNAL SEA, THE: Alexis Smith, Dean Jagger — A very good picture about John Hopkins, but we didn’t do well at all on it. If this keeps up, I will quit Wednesday nights, because my theatre patrons are not visiting me often enough. Played Wednesday, November 21. — Harry Hawkinson, Orpheum Theatre, Marietta, Minn. 20th Century-Fox LEFT HAND OF GOD: Humphrey Bogart, Gene Tierney — Here is a powerful, moving drama which rates with the best of its type. An outstanding performance by both Bogart and Tierney contribute greatly to the success of the picture. The story was tactfully handled from start to finish. We screened the picture for the local Catholic church here and they gave their approval of the film. General comment— WONDERFUL. Played Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, November 12, 13, 14, 15. — W. L. Parrent, O’Brien Theatre, Pembroke, Ont., Canada. MAN WHO NEVER WAS, THE: Clifton Webb, Gloria Grahame — Here's a real honey — one that should have your best playing time. True war stories always make better film fare, and this one is so well produced, so full of suspense and good acting, the story so exciting, that I cannot fail to bring them in, especially with Webb to attract and the newcomer, Stephen Bovd, who was real terrific in his first job for Fox. Sell it as the hoax that practically won the war for the Allies ! One disadvantage was Gloria Grahame, who was out of place in this one and she looked as if someone had punched her in the mouth — if they didn’t, they should have after this part. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, October 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. — Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe/Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, Africa. MAN IN THE GRAY FLANNEL SUIT, THE: Gregory Peck, Jennifer Jones — Outstanding production with top performances that played to capacity °11 the time. Excellent acting, fine story, absorbing for its. entire two and a half hours run, which is a sure sign of a good movie. The only complaints we received were op Jennifer JoneV performance. Her continual marked sneer in this film really upset our patrons. Looked as if she had a bad smell under her nose. Smaller houses will find this heavy, but when a movie like this comes along, it’s the duty of all exhibitors to play it. Played Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, October 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27. — Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe/Nkana, Northern Rhodesia, Africa. United Artists AMBASSADOR’S DAUGHTER THE: Olivia de Havilland. John Forsythe — This is the type of picture foreign producers need to crack the American market — more than acceptable. Second feature “The Swan” (MGM) a nice production. Played Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, November 18, 19, 20. — Moz Buries, Canyon Theatre, Bingen, Wash. ATTACK!: Jack Palance, Eddie Albert — Real action here, this has everything. Our people here like war pictures. — Harland Rankin, Rankin Enterprises, Chatham, Ont., Canada. FORT YUMA: Peter Graves, Joan Vohs — Thanks to all the laboriously developed new recording techniques, we can now hear a tomahawk split open a skull in high fidelity ! This is another Indian-maid-loves-heartless-white-man-with-tragedy-for-all epic. It isn’t much, but it got by, and that’s something in this day and age. Played Friday, Saturday, November 16, 17. — Frank R. McLean, Roxy Theatre, Coulterville, 111. Universal ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET THE KEYSTONE KOPS : Bud Abbott, Lou Costello — Crazy doings by Abbott and Costello in the silent era. Did good business.— Agha Rafique Ahmed, New Majestic Theatre, Hyderabad, West Pakistan. FRANCIS IN THE HAUNTED HOUSE: Mickey Rooney, Virginia Wells — Below average. It doesn’t have anything like the other Francis series and too many dark scenes. Be sure and watch rental terms. No Sunday picture. Played Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, November 11, 12, 14. — Roman Noecker, Amuzu Theatre, Fonda, Iowa. Warner Bros. GOODBYE, MY LADY : Walter Brennan, Brandon de Wilde — A wonderful movie, but it should have been in color. Played Tuesday, Wednesday, October 23, 24. — Roman Noecker, Amuzu Theatre, Fonda, Iowa. GOODBYE, MY LADY : Walter Brennan, Brandon de Wilde — If you have a town which goes for the boy-dog-man pictures, then by all means play this one. They filmed it in black and white, which in a way was a shame, as the swamp scenes would have been tremendous in color. In some locations this picture would have to be double billed, although we certainly had no complaints here. Played Friday, Saturday, November 16, 17. — W. L. Parrent, O’Brien Theatre, Pembroke, Ont., Canada. LONE RANGER, THE: Clayton Moore, Jay Silverheels — Thanks, Warners ! I could almost forgive you for the many times you've cut my throat. Now, how about a sequel, and then another sequel to follow that, with about a dozen more later? This could be the start of a series that would help keep the little people in business. Mr. Goldenson and his buddies may be ready to write off the little theatres, but we SHOWMEN will stay open if we get decent pictures. Plaved Friday, Saturday, September 14, 15. — Frank R. McLean, Roxy Theatre, Coulterville, 111. MOBY DICK : Gregory Peck, Richard Basehart — A superb picture with equally superb acting throughout. Most of my patrons expressed their complete enjoyment of the picture. Do not book it on a weekend, as it definitely is not suited for your weekend patrons. Played Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, November 19, 20, 21. — W. L. Parrent, O’Brien Theatre, Pembroke, Ont., Canada. SANTIAGO : Alan Ladd, Rossana Podesta — After looking at the trailer on this one, I quite frankly was afraid of the results, but at the end of the playdate we found we were favorably surprised. Our second day built over the first, which is always a good gauge with any attraction. An excellent action picture which will more than please the majority of your patrons. Played Thursday, Friday, November 22, 2**. — W. L. Parrent, O’Brien Theatre, Pembroke, Ont., Canada. . MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER IS, 1956 27