Boxoffice-March.20.1948

. . . "Fine—and
MGM's
Cass Timberlane' Wim]
Blue Ribbon Award for February
By VELMA WEST SYKES
QASS TIMBERLANE," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's screen version of the Sinclair Lew
"novel of husbands and wives" has been voted the February BOXOPFICE Blue 1
bon Award by the National Screen Council. With Spencer Tracy in the title roles as
lovable judge in the "city" of Grand Republic (another Minnesota town created t
Lewis 1, this popular best seller carries over into celluloid most of its charm, enhanced t
Lana Turner whose glamor is not obscured by the baseball outfit in which she appeao
early in the picture. While serious in theme, Tracy's casual portrayal of his role keej
it himiorous in spots and there are many neat touches of direction which make it moi
of a family picture than the novel itself might indicate. Good taste is shown in all situa
tions and as entertainment it is an enjoyaole entry in that field.
As a boxoffice favorite, "Cass Timberlane"
has been strong in nearly all of the key exchange
cities from which BOXOFFICE receives
percentage gross reports. In the March
6 issue it was the top hit, having grossed
200 per cent in Kansas City at the Midland
the previous week and 190 per cent in Indianapolis
at Loew's. The February 7 issue
showed it again as the top hit for pictures
playing at regular prices, that time playing
to 160 per cent at the Pox in San Francisco.
It has been held over in many of these
key show tovras for five weeks. This week
it scores again, grossing 190 at Minneapolis.
Dozen Plaques for Tracy
This is the first Blue Ribbon winner for
MGM since it won with "The Unfinished
Dance" for October of 1947, but that company
had a third of the Award winners last
year. For Director George Sidney it is a
first Blue Ribbon and also for Author Sinclair
Lewis, his other filmed novels failing
to fall in this special class.
With the cast, we find Spencer Ti-acy
can be nonchalant about an even dozen
plaques now, the last being for his role as
Colonel Doolittle in "Thirty Seconds Over
Tokyo" for Januai-y 1945. Tom Drake has
three now, one in each of .the last two years,
but Mary Astor only her second, though her
first was as far back as 1932. For Lana Turner,
Albert Dekker and Zachary Scott, these
are initial honors in the Blue Ribbon field.
In the issue of November 8 last year, the
BOXOFFICE reviewer had this to say about
"Cass Timberlane" in part: "The celluloid
version of what he considers his most sue
cessful book attains a new high of excel
lence for pictures based on the author's worl
Such superlative classification is easily mer
ited because of the sterling qualities of
film's every department ... A probablHsc'*
Academy Award nomination—a standout i
a highly competitive field."
"Estimates on Current Motion Pictures,
a sheet put out by MPAA in HoUywooo
which carries combined reports from 14 wo
men's and educational organizations, say |Ts(
that estimates agree on its family rating an<
comments: "If for no other reason, this pic
ture has merit because of the opening speed
jjf]
of Spencer Tracy in which he upholds th
sanctity of marriage and deplores the at
titude of those who rush too carelessly int
it and then seek the divorce court as
Comments from National Screen Counc:
members on their ballots included these
"The cast was great and the story was ver;
humanistic. Photography was excellent,
Arnold Hederman Jackson Clairon-Ledge
I had not expected mucl
for I disliked the book, but the splendii
acting of Mr. Tracy and Miss Turner make
it outstanding."—Mrs. Ferd Lucas, Indian;
Indorsers of Photoplays, Greencastle.
"Saw it twice—to me it was very out
standing, vibrant—and Tracy just talked
Such pictures we need."—Anne Hayes
KCMO, Kansas City . . "It good adull
. is
entertainment and is depicted vrith charir
and simplicity."—Mrs. Allen Cox, Helens
(Ark.) Better Films Council.
1(11
The Cast
Cass Timberlane Spencer Tracy
Virginia Marshland Lana Turner
Bradd Criley Zachary Scott
Jamie Wargate Tom Drake
Queenie Havock
Mary Astor
Boone Havock Albert Dekker
Chris Grau
Margaret Lindsay
Diantha Marl
Rose Hobart
Webb Wargate John Litel
Avis Elderman Mona Barrie
Executive Producer Louis B. Mayer
Directed by George Sidney
Produced by Arthur Hornblow, Jr.
Screenplay by Donald Ocden Stewart
Adaptation by Donald Ogden Stewart,
Sonya Levien
Based on the Novel by Sinclair Lewis
Director of Photography
Robert Planck, A.S.C.
Art Directors Cedric Gibbons
Film Editor.
Production StaH
Lillian Drover Josephine Hutchinson
Louise Wargate Selena RoyleBt
In]]
Gregg Marl Frank Wilcox
Dennis Thane Richard Gaines
Dr. Roy Drover John AlexandebI
Eiiio Roskinen Cameron MitchelIi;
Hervey Flint
Howard Freeman
Mrs. Higbee
Jessie Grayson i
Herman
Griff Barnett I
Alice Wargate Pat Clark
i
Musical Score
Roy Webb
Musical Director
Constantine- BakaleinikoffI
Recording Director Douglas Shearer!
Set Decorations
Edwin B. Willis!
Associate Richard PefferleI
Special Effects Warren NewcombeI
A. Arnold GillespieI
Costumes by IreneI
Hair Styles Designed by
Daniel B. Cathcart Sydney GuilarofpI
John Dunning Make-Up Created by Jack Dawn|
n\<
O This Award is given each month by the National Screen Council on the basis of outstandinn merit
and suitability for family entertainment. Council membership comprises motion picture editors, radit
film commentators, and representatives of better film councils, civic and educational orjanizations.