Variety (Nov 1939)

16 VARIETY PICTURES WednosJay, November 1, 19.t9 Cleveland .Condniicd from pai;c 10_ FILM BOOKING CHART WEEK OF RELEASE 8/25, 39 $2,700. Last week, 'Million Dollar Ia':-."' (Par) plus rcvive<l "Murder Man' (M-G), were circusecl for salis- laclory $1,300 in four day."!. Hipp (Warner) (3.700; 30-3.')-42-.'>5) '■ —'.vlr. Smith' (Col) (2(1 wk). Smack- eel out such a healthy .score, | $15,000, In first inning that terrific buildup and new.spapcr publicity is ' pii.<:hing it up to extra-g(3od $9,000 ! in second stanza. A third at Allen | i.i indicated. { I'alace (RKO) (3,200: 30-35-42-55) — Blackmail' (.WB) with four Dead . End Kids in vaude. Favorable re- [ parts for both are backed up by top- jiotch afternoon crowd.s, due to • school holiday for teachers conven- , lion, and by commendable nighi at- , If-nriance. Sure for $15,000, and per- ha.D.s $17,000. Although a home-town ' ouifit. Sammy Kaye's orch in vaude 1 bow here last week didn't make a i killing. 'Stranger' (20th) no help,'n i on but Sl3,500, not so bad. Lake (Warner) (3.50. 15-25)—1 •Demon Flee: Street' .(Select) and I •Return Frog' (Select). English hor- I rot importations haven": enough ! American sock. Lucky to get mild ' $1,400. Last week, first for reopened jfiou.se was murder, 'Torpedoed' (FA) and "Pride Blue Grass' CWB), barely hilling $1,000. Slate (Loew"s) (3.450; 30-35-42- ' 55)—".^t Circus' (M-G>. Marx Bros, i bc;;er than usual, getting oft promis- | ingly with good juvenile draw that \ will earn $12,000, okay.' Last week, ; "Babes Arms' (M-G), after stalling a i bit. ran lip to $14,500, which was all I right, too. Stillman (Loew"s) (1,972: 30-35-42- 55)—Babes Arms' (M-G). Hold- over staclcing up sweetly, $5,000, capitalizing on early campaign. 'What Life' (Par) last week had lit- tle life, $2,000, lowest here this fall. (Pot information of theatre and film c.icliniifle bookers Variety presents a roinplele chart of feature releares oj all the American dixtribuiinu companies for the current qunrterlj; period. Dntc of ret"i«u"s as given in Variety and the running time of prints are tnchidfd.; «:OrYKI(!llT, IVM, HV V.IKICTY. INC. AIX RUillTS HrS»aiVKI> Bill Farnsworth .Continued from pace j_ H»T. In Vlir.—Rr\lrwr<] In VarlHy M —.MclmlrHnm; C—CnMii>il.v; Krr In Tj|Hi .4 llhrc villi loll* Cl>—Conicdy-Uniinit; W—Wrtrtrn; H. T.—Running l"tme I>—llrunia: Mu—Milklml mmW DUAL, $19,000, LEADING OKAYB'KLYN 9, 8. 39 9 15 39 9/22,39 Brooklyn, Oct. 31. ; Loew's Metropolitan continues to , keep on top of the heap of down- ; town deluxers with profitable i gro.sse.s. Currently dualling 'The! Women' and •Challenge' to excellent results. RKO Albee is also scoring this stanzii with 'Hollywood Caval- cade' and 'Pack Up "Your Troubles.' Fabian. Paramount's .second week of 'Dust Be My Destiny' and '$1,000 Touchdown' is okay, as is the re- cently revived Strand with 'Return of Frog' and 'Barber of .Fleet Street,' billed as the 'double horror show.' Estimates for This Week. Albee (3^74; 25-35-50) — "Holly- wood Cavalcade' (20th) and 'Pack Troubles' (20th). Excellent $19,000. Last week, 'All Quiet' (U) (reissue) and "Under-Pup (U), quiet $11,000. Fox (4,089; 25-35-50)—"U-Boat 29' (Col) and 'Drew Staircase' (WB) opens today (Tuesday). Last week. What Life' (Par) and 'High Grey Walls' (Col), fairish $14,000. Met (3,618; 25-35-50) —'Women' 'M-G) and 'Challenge' (FA). - Cop- ping major portion of downtown business. Swell $19,000. Last week, 'Fast and Furious" (M-G) and Ed- die Cantor's ■ unit on stage, satis- factory $26,000. Paramount (4,126; 25-35-50)—'Dust Destiny'- (WB) and Touchdown' (Par) (2d wk). Okay $16,000. Last week, good $21,000. Strand (2,870; 25-35-40)—'Return Fro;.;' (Select) and "Demon Fleet Street' (Select). Garnering good $5,500. Last week, "Tropic Fury' (Par) and 'Drummond s Bride' tPor), nice $5,500. 9/29/39 10/6/39 Niven Checking in With British, If Needed Abroad David Niven was slated to pay a visit to the British Embassy in Wash- ington yesterday ■ (Tuesday) to de- termine whether It is necessary for him to return to England for mili- tary service. He is currently visit- ing in Virginia. A IQritish subject, Niven will re- turn to Hollywood if his services aren't needed abroad. Schedule(] for him next is a sequel to 'Raffles,' v.'hich he just completed. 10/13/39 10/20/39 10/27/39 11/3/39 Hollywood, Oct. 31. Samuel Goldwyn assigned Sam Wood to direct David Niven in 'Raf- fles. Amateur Cracksman,' a sequel to 'Raffles,' recently completed. Niven is expected to return within e month. 11/10/39 11/17/39 BATOFF ON ICE Hollywood, Oct. 31. Gregory RatofI has succeeded Irv- ing Cummings as pilot of the Sonja Henie starrer, 'Everything Happens at Night,* which winds up with a week of skating sequences at 20th- Fox. Cummings was relieved of the chore to start work on 'Johnny Appllo,' which rolls Nov. 27 with Tyrone Power and Dorothy Lamour in the top spots. 11/24,39 Rev. in Var. 9/6 8/16 8/23 8 23 8/16 9/6 ;?/27 9,6 8/30 8/30 9,6 . 8/30 9/6 8/30 8,9 8,2 8/16 8/30 8,23 8 23 9,20 8/16 9/27 7/26 9/20 9/13 S/8 8/16 10/25 9/20 9/27 8/23 8/3« 10/4 10/4 10/18 9/13 9/27 10/4 9/27 10/25 8/23 9/ 27 9/20 9/29 10/18 9/6 10/4 9/13 10/18 12/14 9/20 5/31 10/4 10/4 10/25 10/18 11/1 10/25 .11/1 . 10/18 10/25 9/13 11/1 10/25 11/1 10/11 10/11 11/1 11/1 10/4 10/18 11/1 11/1 TALENT E. Fcllows-D. Petcrmn J. Garland-F. Morsan-B. Lahr F. Darro- Purcell-L. EllieU B. Crosby-L.Campbe:i-N.Sparks B Mackay-R. Hudson-G.Barbier J. Prouty Byin(lon-K. Howell Dead End Kids I. Rich-H. O'Neill Fred Stonc-Konea N.Shcarcr-J.Crawford-R.Russell L. Oyerman-R. Paige-V. Dale A. Lane-L. Hayes-R. Barratt R. Roeers-G. Hayes-A. Baldwin P.Rcgan-J.Parker-Col.R.Turner B. Rathbonc-N. Bruee-I, Lupine G. .Jcan-R. Cummings-A, Gray R. Arlen-A. Devine B. Davls-M. Hopkin.^-G. Brent B.Stanwyclc^A.McnJou-W.Holden W. Boyd-R. Hayden-B. Moran S. Toler-C. Romero-P. Moore G. O'Brlen-L. Tovar V.M<;Larlen-S.EIIers-B.Fi«irer>a E. Lowe-W. Barrie J. M. Brown-B. Bakcr-F. Knlrht B. Granville-J. LiUI C. SUrfctt-I. Meredith L. Tarncr-R. Carlson-L. Bowman J. Trent-M. Slenc-M. Reynolds G. Coopcr-R. Milland-R. Preston J. Pcnner-B. Grablc M. Loy-T. Powcr-G. Brent J. Downs-M. Carlislc-C. Moore J. Garfleld-P. Lane W. Connolly-L Meredith W. Beery-C. Morrls-V. Grey . J. E. Brown-M. Raye-E. Blore G. Roccrs-W. Connolly-E. Ellison J. Roeers-W. Frawley L. Howard-!. Bergman S. Gurie-B.'Rathbonc-V. McLaglen G. Dickson-D. Morgan-F. Stone R. T. SS 100 90 62 61 86 .16 132 67 58 66 60 8S 87 62 _9S 98 65 72 59 72 69 fi< been laid before the D.J. by -any (.( the half-dozen individuals who.se returns have been under clo.^e in- spection for many months by Trr;i>- ury and Justice officials. Flally de- nying reported offers to pay million.^ to satisfy the Internal Revenue Bu- reau, Murphy stated that. no com- promise can be negotiated without his consent and to his knowledge no overtures have been made. The parties under suspicion still contend they are innocent o( law viohilioiv^, he remarked. While Joseph M. Schenck was in town briefly Im^i week, Murphy said he did no!. yt e Iho film executive who is involved in three separate disputes with \ht revenue people. O. Krugcr-O. Munson A Sothern-F. Tone-V. Grey ' MacMurray-CarrolI-Jones D: Barry-B. Mack-W. Hymcr R. RogersrG. Hayes-S. March R. Grecne-R. Dix-B. Joyce P. Pnrbin-E. PallcUc-L. Howard Neagle-Olivcr-Sandcrs G. FUzgcrald-J. Lynn J. McCrea-B. Mar.<hall J. Coopcr-B. Field J. Newill-W. Hall-M. Stono Three Mesquitccrs I. Pare-E. Ellls-V. Vale K. Richmond-A. PuR L. YouDg-P. Niven A. Lonise-P. Faran E. Fcllows-J. McCalllon C. Farrell-J. Wells J. Garland-M. R«oney-G. Kibbee C. Lai)ghton-M. O'Hara E. Ellis-V. Vale-W. Gargan A. Fayc-P. Amcche-S. Erwin Zorina-E. Albert Marx Bros.-K. Bahcr-F. Rice W. Henry-J. Barrett-W.CollierSr. G. Fields-S. Howard J. Wilhcrs-Rilc Bros. B. Rathbone-B. Karlell J. M. Brown-B. Baker-F. Knight R. Rcagan-M. Stevenson J. E. Brown-M. Carlisle V. Wcidler-G. Rcynolds-R. Owen C. Bickford-B. MacLane J. Trent-M. Rcynoids-M. Stona Lamonr-Tamiroir-Howard K. Taylor-L. Hayes-R. Lane R. Scott-P. Fostcr-M. Lindsay J. Bcnnett-A.MenJou-W. Gargan H. Herbert-B; Saniiy-F. Rice J Cagney-U. Bogarl-P. Lane Weaver Bros.-R. R ogers C. Starrett-L. Gray-DTCurtio ' G. Garba-M. Douglas-I. Claire Jack Randall J. Newill-S. Biane S. Laurel-O. Hardy-J. Parker George O'Brien J.Kogers-R.Waiburn-M.Kambean R. Arlen-A. Nagel-A. Devihe B. Halop-H.Hali-M. Carlisle J. Pa yoe-J. Wym an P. Singlelon-A. Lake-L. Sims L. Ayres-L. Barrymore-L. Day D. Purccll-B. Hayes B. Hopc-P'lette Goddard-J. Beal E. Ellis-A. Louisc-R. Baldwin J. Wayne-C. Trevor-C. Sanders C. Colbert-H. Fonda-E. M. Oliver D. Dorbin-R. Stack D. Nolan-C. BIckford-J. Litel B. Davis-E. Flynn A. Sothern-W. Gargan-L. Stone W. Lawson-S. Hale No Cast D. Fairbanks, Jr.-M. Lock wood- G. Autry-S. Burnette-M. Carlisle J. Gleason-L. Glcason-T. Ryan J. HersholUD. Lavctt-P. Lee J. Pronty-S. Bylngton-K. Howell Dead End Kids-J. LKel M. Dietrich-J. Stewart 80 61 114 S3 leo 65 _88_ 79 94 71 82 57 70 78 71 95 65 81 66 97 _74_ 75 82 S7 65 «I10 65 _6.S 67 96 99 70 90 _93_ 85 58 75 _61_ 65 77 84 61 89 65 83 80 65 106 ' 69 i~ I >" 65 61 63 72 81 106 64 62 J. Blondcil-M. Douglas M. L«y-W. Pe«ell-C. A. Smith Tex Bitter P. Baintcr-F. CravcB-E. Lowe K.Kyscr-A. Mcnjon-E. E. Hortnn T. Powcr-L. Darncll-W. William V. Filcc-N. Grey-C. Bardwickc P. Mnnl-J. Bryan-F. Robson Interrogatories Debate Comes Up in N.Y. Nov. l.'> The next date for court hearinj;? on what questions will be answ"rrc(I by whom and when in the Governs meht's anti-trust suit against the major film companies, has been n-l for Nov. 15. The long drawn ml bickering over interrogatorie.<! re- sumed Monday (30) in the N. Y. federal court, when Paul Williams, ' U. S. attorney prosecuting the ac- tion, met with majors' coun.sel. Wil- I liams also met with Benjamin Pep- I per of United Artists yesterday : (Tues.), to dis(:uss the Governmeni's answers to the scries of question.^ I submitted by that company. It is ! understood that William J. Dono- van's firm will shortly file interrog,-i- tories on the Government on behall of the balance of the major com- panies. Williams is candid to admit th:it the major companies cannot an.<:wer the questions for several months. Since the latter's policy ha.s been to delay proceedings, it appear.^ likely that several months may well be stretched into a half dozen, thus ex- ceeding the time when the Miit would normally reach its trial cal- endar. The assistant to the attorney gen- eral, however, does not anticipate that this is likely to happen. He feds that by February the majors should not only have stipulated as to the questions they will answer, but will have filed their answers.. When ques- tioned as to whether the Govern- ment could have all its answers in at that time, Williams was more than optimistic. 'They know all the answers,' he declared. From his al- titude it may be deduced that a similar method, employed success- fully before, will again be used by the Government. That will be to answer what is known, and to stale that the U. S. has 'no knowledge' on other matters. Landis Vs. WB, Philly Suit, Still Unsettled Philadelphia, Oct. 31. Despite suggestions made by Fed- eral Judge William H. Kirkpatrick last week that the parties in case ot the Landis th.eatre versus the majors settle their differences out of court, all indications now point to a fini.<;h flght. Senator Harry Shapiro, coun- sel for Eugene Mori, operator of the Landis, declared yesterday (301 he will go into the U. S. District Court th:s.(Tuesday) afternoon and ask the court to hand down a preliminar.v injunction against -the major dis- < tributors forbidding them from showing preference to the two Stan- ley-Warner houses in Vineland. N. J., iri the matter of clearance, pending final adjudication in the .suit. 'My client does .not want to. settle this matter out of court,' Shapiro said. 'He is determined that a final decision be made in this case.' Probing For Taxes? Dallas, Oct. 31. Piclurie men seem unworried b.v .surprise probe of books and reccrdt of all theatre companies headquar- tering in Dallas, ordered by Alty. Gen, Gerald Mann, of Texa.s! Al- fected are Interstate and affiliaU, Texas Consolidated; Hobb & Rowl*y, and H. E. Griffith Theatre.s, and slalt distributing offices of major film pro- ducers. In Austin, Mann termed jnve.Migii- tion 'routine,' said it doe.<: not in- dicate violations. General opinion was that stale is looking for taxes rather than anti- trust infractions. Similar probe ol' oil companies resulted in suit f<<i $700,000 chain store taxes aguin.*-! Humble recently.