Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

April 28 , 1923 2043 WHAT SHOWMEN THINK OF CURRENT RELEASES Exhibitors Box-Office Reports EARLY RETURNS FROM WEEK RUN THEATRES FAMOUS PLAYERS Bella Donna — An elaborate piece* of sheikery. Its beauty and opulence rarely equalled. Pola Negri's magic name packed them in. (Middle West.) The attendance held up good all week with this one. (Middle West.) Magnificent feature. Played to big business for second week. (Middle West.) All that it is claimed; drew well on two weeks' run. (Middle West.) Grumpy — Excellent picture which did a good business despite very unfavorable weather. (Middle West.) Did not make the hit expected. (East.) Mr. Billings Spends His Dime — Picture only fair. Business poor. (East.) Not many laughs in this. Pleased his followers, however. Fair business. (Middle West.) The Go-Getter — Too frothy, and too episodic. We didn't do very well with this picture. (Middle West.) Picture fair ; business the same. Racing Hearts — Good feature, which the names of stars helped put over. Business excellent. (Middle West.) The White Flower — Good picture and good business. The Nth Commandment — Good picture, but did light business only. Adam's Rib — Business did fine on second week. (East.) The Glimpses of the Moon — Generally pleasing picture, without any special feature. Business good, helped by strong surrounding program. (East.) FIRST NATIONAL Daddy — People liked this picture as well as any of Jackie Coogan's and most thought it better than " Oliver Twist." Business very good. (Middle West.) What a Wife Learned — You can't keep them away from this house. But more good com ments were heard on this one than on any film feature in manv weeks. (East.) Brawn of the North— A fair picture. Business fair. (East.) just Heroes and Husbands — Picture much below par. ness bad. (East.) Busi The Isle of Lost Ships — Improbable but interesting and gripping sea story. Business good. (Middle West.) The Pilgrim — Great picture ; big business on two weeks' run. (Middle West.) METRO All the Brothers Were Valiant — One of the best films shown at this house in lo, these many moons, and as a result the S. R. O. sign was kept up most of the time. (East.) A fair picture. Business very good. (East.) Peg O' My Heart— Failed to get over. Not type of drama bulk of patrons want. Miss Taylor's performance splendid. Stage play killed off some box office value. (Middle West.) Picture previously reported. Business fair on second run. (East.) Where the Pavement Ends — Production out of ordinary, but business was just average. (Middle West.) A Noise in Newboro — A charming light picture that took the crowd. (East.) Jazzmania — Mae Murray's fans liked her. Critics were not enthusiastic about it, but it drew well. (Middle West.) UNIVERSAL The Abysmal Brute — A red-blooded man's feature. Went over big. Star is popular. (Middle West.) Hunting Wild Game in Africa — Heavily advertised and very well liked. (East.) The Flame of Life — Poor picture. Business away off. (East.) Driven — A wonderful picture. Played to record business. Held over for second week. Has (Middle West.) ■ every thint UNITED ARTISTS Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood — The best box office attraction in several weeks. Big crowds all week. (Middle West.) Wonderful from everv angle. Cleaned up. (Middle West.) After breaking all house records, this one upheld this city's record as a one week town. Business was off from the start and remained so for the entire second week of the run. (East.) ALLIED PROD. & DIST. The Glorious Adventure — Opening in new house did as well as expected. Lady Diana does some excellent work. The novelty of colors should prove attractive to picture goers. (Middle West.) FOX The Town That Forgot God — Good picture and business was good. Romance Land — ■ One of Mix's best. A sure winner. (East.) Silver Wings — Another "mother picture": average drawing power. (Middle West.) PAT HE Safety Last — The best picture Harold Lloyd ever made. Held it over for third week and may run it the fourth. Broke all records the first week. We never expect to do such a business again. (Middle West.) Filled the house during the first week. Second week to run. (East.) VITA GRAPH The Ninety and Nine — Opened big but closed little. (East.) A Front Page Story — Picture fair and business proved the same. GOLDWYN Lost and Found — Few recent films have combined beauty of scenery, strength of plot and thrills and interest of this one. Did good business during week's rtm. (Middle West.) HODKINSON Down to the Sea in Ships — ■ Wonderful. Can't say enough about this picture, as an artistic production, and as a money getting. Had crowds waiting in front of box office all the time. Turned 'em away for every performance. (Middle \\ est.) Second Fiddle — The star, Mary Astor, comes from an adjoining state, which made the picture a good drawing card for a week's run. (Middle West.) WARNER BROS. The Beautiful and Damned — As good as the book. Those who liked the one, liked the other. Splendid production, well staged, well acted. Above average. (Middle West.) Considered a good picture by patrons and drew well. (Middle West.) Good picture. Played to good business. Marie Prevost growing in drawing power. (Middle West.) Brass — A fine picture and a good boxoffice attraction. (Middle West.) F. B. O. The Third Alarm — Good melodrama ; satisfactory business on two weeks' run. (Middle West.) ASSOC. EXHIBITORS Till We Meet AgainFair picture, nothing new, but nothing tiresome. Just an average program picture. Will go all right in a neighborhood house. (Middle West.) STATE RIGHTS Fabiola — A picture of great dignity and high purpose. Did good business at advanced prices. (Middle West.) Women Men Marry — A good drawing card. Business good all week. (Middle West.) Only a Shop Girl — Business fair, but the picture came in the same class. (East.) The Hills of Hate — Plenty of thrills, with love theme, danger, escapes and excitement equally proportioned. Our regular clientele of thrill-seekers likes this one and we had pretty fair business for Holy Week. (Middle West.) I Am the Law — A big picture that attracted big audiences all week. (Middle West.)