Boxoffice-May.29.1948

SHORTS RE
—
Opinions on the Current Short Subjects
-
Cyrano de Bergerac
English Films (Featurette) 10 Mins.
Good. Walter Hampden, whose portrayal
of Cyrano de Bergerac was acclaimed as one
of the greatest stage performances of this
generation, gives a few outstanding scenes
from the Rostand classic. The picture will
interest all students and lovers of fine acting.
Best suited to art theatre showings. Hampden,
as himself, introduces his stage characterization
of the long-nosed, poetic soldier
who loved the fair Roxane from afar.
The Church in the Atomic
Age
(Documentary Featurette)
Film Program Service 19 Mins.
Good. One of the best films on atomic energy
which brings the facts home to the ordinary
filmgoer. It establishes definitely the
responsibility which every citizen must shoulder
in the atomic age. The film traces the
events leading up to the use of the bomb as
a weapon of war. The shots of the devastation
wrought by the bombings of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki are terrifying but revealing. Film
Program Service is at 1173 Sixth Ave., New
York City.,
First Steps
(Documentary Short)
Film Program Service 11 Mins.
Good. Produced by the Division of Social
Affairs of UN, this received the Academy
award as the outstanding documentary of
1947. It shows the day-by-day constructive
work in the field of international social welfare.
It tells the story of a little boy, Ivan
Manny Weinstock, whose courage and persistence
conquers his disability and his mind
and lame body are strengthened.
Men, Women and Motion
Univ.-Int'l (Answer Man, No. 3) 8 Mins.
Good. One of the better films in the series.
The Answer Man supplies pictorial replies
to the following questions: Does a polo player
hit the ball with the end of the mallet? Does
an albatross ever land? How long does it
take to become an expert figure skater? Do
locusts eat everything in their path? The
Exhibitor Has His Say
(Continued from page 3)
mond Theatre, Cromona, Ky. Mining and
small town patronage. *
UMy Wild Irish Rose (WB)—Dennis Morgan,
Arlene Dahl, Andrea King. The best musical
ever made by Warner Bros. Our patrons go
for good musicals 100 per cent. Dennis Morgan
was never belter. Played Wed., Thurs.
James C. Balkcom jr.. Gray Theatre, Gray,
Ga. Small town patronage. * * *
4>My Wild Irish Rose (WB)—Dennis Morgan,
Arline Dahl, Andrea King. Dennis Morgan
is well liked here and since he got a
chance to do all the singing he wanted in
this picture, only three things could have
happened: (1) Those who watch for him saw
it in the nearby key spots; (2) Word got
around that it was a big musical flop, or (3)
Costumes killed it. The weather was fine,
the show exploited well, not too much competition,
yet it flopped. Opinion was very
much divided and I expected too much from
it in both business and entertainment, and
was disappointed in both.—Ralph Raspa,
State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. Small town
patronage.
• * •
MISCELLANEOUS
Duel in the Sun (SRO)—Gregory Peclr,
polo and ice skating sequences are entertaining.
Echo Ranch
Univ.-Int'l (Musical Western) 25 Mins.
Very good. Diverting musical interludes
and a standard western theme make this a
solid supporting filler for long single feature
bills. Red River Dave, personable singing
cowboy, and the Texas Tophands provide the
music and excitement. They save a friend's
ranch by staging a benefit rodeo. When the
proceeds from the rodeo are stolen, Dave and
his group track down the outlaws and return
the money in a brief but action-filled chase.
Red River Dave sings "Red River Valley,"
"Echo Ranch," "I Can't Tell That Lie to My
Heart" and "I'm a Rovin' Cowboy." The
rodeo scenes are excellent. There are thrilling
shots of roping, riding and bronco busting.
y
Red Ingle & His
Natural Seven
Univ.-Int'l (Name Band Musical) 15 Mins.
Amusing. Red Ingle, the comedy band
leader, clowns his way through this short
with the aid of lovely Karen Tedder, his vocalist,
and the musicians. The scene is a night
club, where Ingle cavorts through "Natural
Seven Stomp," "The Man With the Big Sombrero,"
"Steel Guitar Rag" and "Cigarets,
Whiskey and Wild Woman." The Albins,
comedy dance team, provide laughs with a
burlesque of a classic ballroom routine. The
boys in the band, like Ingle, wear fantastic
costumes.
Whatta Built
Univ.-Int'l (Variety View) 10 Mins.
Amusing. Ann Thomas is the narrator in
this film of physical culture enthusiasts at
work. Her humorous remarks on the benefit
of concentrated muscle building and the perfect
physical specimens flexing their muscles
before the camera is delivered with a Brooklynese
accent. There are brief glimpses of
dancing girls exercising to keep their figures.
The camera lingers on a group of obese matrons
trying to work off extra poundage. In
the closing scene the current Mr. America displays
his perfect build while several attractive
girls in bathing suits deliver wolf calls.
Jennifer Jones, Joseph Gotten. I don't mean
anything against SRO but, brothers, this was
one of the poorest pictures I've ever run. We
did a very poor business with this and half
of them walked out on it. Played Thursday
only. Weather: Fine.—Orin J. Sears, Apache
Theatre, Elida, N. M. Small town and rural
patronage. * *
Principe Del Deserte, El (Azteca)—This is
just what the doctor ordered. This fellow
Calderon has a lot on the ball. Almost a
remake of Valentino's "Shiek," it has plenty
of action and good music. Too bad we had
it the first week in Lent or we would have
had a packed house. If you have a Spanishspeaking
audience, don't pass it up. Played
Sun., Mon.—Charles Osborne, Presidio Theatre,
Presidio, Tex. Small town patronage. *
Renegade Girl (SG) — Alan Curtis, Ann
Savage, Jack Holt. Used this with "Philo
Vance's Gamble" (EL) and it held the bill up.
Most of our people enjoy a show of this type,
and this one was only fair. Played Wednesday.
Weather: Okay.—D. W. Trisko, Ritz
Theatre, Jerome, Ariz. Mining patronage. * *
Torment (Oxford Films)—Stig Jarrell, Alf
Kjellin, Mai Zetterling. Swedish with English
subtitles. This is a good one for the art lovers.
—Noble Jonas, Capital Theatre, Gastonia,
*
N. C. General patronage.
In the Newsreels
Movietone News, No. 40: Rebirth of Jewish
state of Israel; Hagenah takes city of Haifa;
New York rally hails Jewish state; the new
Italian president; Princess Elizabeth visits
Paris; President Truman addresses young
Democrats; Preakness; charity golf; Olympic
skaters, Barbara Ann Scott and Dick Button.
News of the Day No. 274: The birth of a
nation; Jewish state proclaimed in Palestine;
25 firemen hurt in San Francisco blaze; President
Truman makes an election prediction;
Derby winner scores again; those he-men are
here again.
Paramount News No. 77: Princess Elizabeth
and the duke in Paris; golf benefit drive in
Washington, D. C; young Democrats hear Truman;
meat strike in Minnesota; Mister America;
rally hails new state in Palestine.
Universal News, No. 144: Jews defend new
Zionist state; UN wrangle over Palestine truce;
Paris hails Princess Elizabeth; celebrities play
golf in Washington, D. C; world figure skating
champs thrill Toronto crowds; Mister America
of 1948; Citation wins Preakness.
Warner Pathe News, No. 79: Jewish nation
is born; Truman talks to young Democrats;
Italy installs a new president; amazing new
limbs for war veterans; fatal fire in San Francisco;
Elizabeth and Philip see Paris; select
Mister America for 1948; Citation wins freak-
Movietone News, No. 41: Dewey and Stassen
debate; Jewish state proclaimed at Tel Aviv;
free election held at the American zone at
Korea; flower fashions; girl gymnast from
Sweden; street auto race in Monte Carlo;
dynamite girl.
News of the Day, No. 275: Israel at war;
total eclipse gives Japs a thrill; Stassen-Dewey
debate o% Reds; Korea's first free election;
girl gymnast from overseas.
Report from Pales-
Paramount News, No. 78:
tine; Bob Hope is dad to 4,000 kids; the Paris
walk; first pictures in south Korea.
Universal News, No. 145: Jews fight for survival
on Palestine fi-ont; violence breaks out
during Korean election; Swedish girl gymnast
arrives; Central Park fashions; college rodeo
at Austin, Tex.; Miss T.N.T. is near miss at
Birmingham, Ala.
Warner Pathe News. No. 80: First pictures
from Israel; Stassen vs. Dewey; Swedish girl
gymnast; Grand Prix auto race; Great Americans—Nathan
Hale.
•
All American News, Vol. 6, No. 292: Canada
Lee presents medals to Penn relays champions;
new bishops chosen at Methodist conference;
Drew Pearson speaks before Capital
Press club; Memphis citizens honored for community
service; Negro Catholic clinic holds
open house; Kansas City Monarchs beat
Cleveland Buckeyes in opening baseball
game.
•
Telenews Digest, No. 20: Birth of Israel; Truman
hits GOP; wage fight opens in Chrysler
strike; "nature boy" hit composer is bearded
mystic; spectacular fire in San Francisco;
Noah's Ark, II, arrives in California; Geri.
Jonas Cernias, former prime minister of
Lithuania, finds new employment on the assembly
line of an electrical products factory
outside Newark; Italy's new president takes
office; Princess visits Paris, asks for unity;
Panama's first election in eight years; Toscanini,
a favorite in all countries, returns to
Genoa for a two-month visit; Lana Turner
takes time off from her honeymoon to bestow
a trophy on England's midget auto-racing
champion; U.S. males muscle in on the "beauty
contests" in the national weight lifting competition
for the Mr. America title; the country's
top names take national honors in the annual
celebrities golf tournament; river floods Michigan
State baseball field and the team takes
to canoes for the season's funniest sporting
event.
14 BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: May 29, 1948