Boxoffice-March.10.1951

Exhibitor Has His Say
(Continued from page 3)
Park Theatre, Brooklyn, N. Y. Neighborhood
patronage. * * *
American Guerrilla in the Philippines
(20th-Fox)—Tyrone Power, Micheline Prelle,
Tom Ewell. This is an excellent action fea-
The
ture in color that was hurt by the title.
inadequate trailer failed to interest the patrons.
Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Snow.—
Jack Hammond, Shastona Theatre, Mount
Shasta, Calif. Small lumber town patronage.
Big Lift, The (20th-Fox) — Montgomery
Clift, Paul Douglas, Cornell Borchers. This
is very interesting and will satisfy all who
see it. Business was normal. Played Fri.,
Sat. Weather: Good.—W. L. Stratton, Lyric
Theatre, Challls, Ida. Small town patronage.
Big Lift, The (20th-Fox) — Montgomery
Clift, Paul Douglas, Cornell Borchers. This
is an excellent picture that was liked by
the customers but it did less than normal
business. Me? I don't have any likes or dislikes,
because I can't out-guess my customers.
Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Cold.—
Josef Nehring, Floodwood Theatre, Floodwood,
Minn. Small town and rural patronage.
*
Broken Arrow (20th-Fox)—James Stewart,
Jeff Chandler, Debra Paget. This is an outstanding
picture that is well liked. Jimmy
and Jeff crowded each other for the lead,
leaving Debra almost out. We feel that it
would have helped to have an older and more
seasoned lady star. Give it your best. Played
Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold.—L. E. Wolcott,
Melba Theatre, Oakwood, Tex. Rural and
small town patronage. * * *
Broken Arrow (20th-Fox)—James Stewart,
Jeff Chandler, Debra Paget. The grosses
from this were a satisfaction as it is a
small town natural, and the weather was
okay when we played it, on Sun., Mon., Tues.
—J. N. Allison, Vivian Theatre, Carlisle,
Ind. Small town and rural patronage. • • *
Cariboo Trail, The (20th-Fox)—Randolph
Scott, George "Gabby" Hayes, Bill Williams.
Here's a very good western in color which
should have been in Technicolor. This, to
my opinion, is the best Randolph Scott picture
I've ever run and it did a nice business.
Played Fri., Sat.—Orin J. Sears, Apache
Theatre, Loving, N. M. Small town patronage.
Dancing in the Dark (20th-Fox)—William
Powell, Betsy Drake, Mark Stevens. You'll be
dancing in the dark yourself if you have to
play many like this. Played Wed., Thurs.
Weather: Bad.—Harland Rankin Enterprises,
Chatham, Ont. General patronage. * • •
Fighting IVIan of the PUIns (20th-Fox)—
Randolph Scott, Jane Nigh, Bill Williams.
What will we small towners do when Scotty
Is gone? We played this Fri., Sat. to above
normal In Just fairly decent weather. The
only thing wrong was that Pox was too high
In my situation. I guess 111 sell them down
the river. This Is really good entertainment.
Jane Nigh Is a fine young actre.ss and Bill
Williams, In my book. Is a boy that we are
all going to hear a lot about. You will do all
right with this If you can buy it right.—
Curt Bigley, Princess Theatre, Humeston,
Iowa. Small town and rural patronage. •
For Heaven's Sake (20th-Fox) — Clifton
Webb, Joan Bennett, Robert Cummlngs. The
power of Mr. Belvedere failed to bring in the
customers on this one. The theme is amusing,
as far-fetched as it is, but Clifton Webb
failed to make a very impressive cowboy and
certainly not an angel. Business, as a result,
was below average. The production and
photography were very good. Played Sun.,
Mon. Weather: Snow. — Jack Hammond,
Shastona Theatre, Mount Shasta, Calif. Small
lumber town patronage. * * *
For Heaven's Sake (20th-Fox) — CUfton
Webb, Joan Bennett, Robert Cummings. This
was a terrible let down from Webb's previous
pictures. In our situation, it fell flat on its
face. It is not much of a comedy. Do not
pay a premium for this one. I would allocate
it as a C picture. Played Sun. through Wed.
Weather: Cold.—M. W. Mattecheck, Mack
Theatre, McMinnville, Ore. City and rural
patronage. * ' *
I'll Get By (20th-Fox)—June Haver, William
Lundigan. Gloria DeHaven. This Technicolor
music did average business for me,
but business was not as good as I expected.
There is nothing wrong with the show.
Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Good.—E. M.
Preiburger, Dewey Theatre, Dewey, Okla.
Small town patronage. * * *
Leave Her to Heaven (20th-Fox)—Reissue.
Gene Tierney, Cornel Wilde. Reissues of the
right kind still will outgross most present-day
B features and some A's. This did 25 per
Real Show for Grownups
On Midweek Dates
TyARS. MIKE (UA)—Dick Powell, Evelyn
Keyes, J. M. Kerrigan. I was late
playing this picture and then I only
played it because I had had many requests
from people who had read the
book. Although a little sad in spots, it
is a real show for the grownups on midweek.
Business was normal and I have
no complaints on the picture, although
I have seen other reports where they
complained. Played Tues., Wed., Thurs.
Weather: Good. — E. M. Freiburger,
Dewey Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town
patronage. * * *
cent above average for the midweek. Played
Wed., Thurs. Weather: Cold and fair.—J.
N. Allison, Vivian Theatre, Carlisle, Ind.
Small town and rural patronage. * * *
UNITED ARTISTS
Love Happy (UA)—Marx Bros., Ilona Massey,
Vera-EUen. This is just what the small
town wants. Business was good and everyone
was happy. Enough said. Played Tues., Wed.,
Thurs. Weather: Good.—E. M. Freiburger,
Dewey Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town
patronage. * * *
Quicksand (UA)—Mickey Rooney, Jeanne
Cagney, Barbara Bates. This is very interesting
and good for its type. It is a hightension
drama and the title fits beautifully.
I lost money on the engagement as my patrons
don't appreciate this type of picture.
Personally, I think this would be okay on
a Fri., Sat. change, doubled with a western.
I played it midweek. Weather: Cold as usual.
—Carl P. Neltzel, Juno Theatre, Juneau, Wis.
Surrounding and local patronage. * • *
So Young, So Bad (UA)—Paul Henreld,
Catherine McLeod, Grace Coppln. This was
good and the adults ate It up. Play up the
Book This for the Lift
It Gives You Two Ways
STARS IN MY CROWN (MGM) —
Joel McCrea, Ellen Drew, Dean Stockwell.
Want that "ole good feeiin'?" Not
only financially but spiritually? Then
book this one, just for the lift it will
give you after the run. You will lock
your door and head for home, saying,
"Well done." Played Sun., Mon. Weather:
Rain and stormy.—Joe and Mildred Faith,
Linn Theatre, Linn, Mo. Small town and
rural patronage. * * *
delinquent children angle and cash in. This
gave us a good gross but the high film rental
meant no profits. Played Tues., Wed.
Weather: Fair.—Ralph Raspa, State Theatre,
Rivesville, W. Va. Rural patronage. * * *
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL
Frenchle (U-D—Joel McCrea, Shelley Winters,
Paul Kelly. We opened the first night
to fair business but the second night was
the payoff. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold.
—Rankin Enterprises, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury,
Ont. General patronage. * * *
OLoulsa (U-I)—Ronald Reagan, Charles
Coburn, Ruth Hussey. I did not get to see
this one, but it drew well and people really
liked it. They seem to go for their light
comedies and I hope Universal-International
keeps up with this comedy streak. Played
Sun., Mon., Weather: Cold.—Marcella Smith,
Vinton Theatre, McArthur, Ohio. Small town
patronage. * * *
Rugged O'Riordans, The (U-I) — John
O'Malley, Thelma Scott, Michael Pate. A good
family picture and a nice story, but my patrons
still don't like that English accent.
They say an English picture is not natural
more like play-acting. It's my idea of a
picture one could get along without. Business
—nix. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather:
Blizzard—20 below.—Ken Christianson, Roxy
Theatre, Washburn, N. D. Small town patronage.
* * *
Sierra (U-I) — Audie Murphy, Wanda
We
Hendrix, Burl Ives. This is a very good western,
with good acting and a good story.
doubled it with "Blondie's Hero," which was
one of the best Blondie-Dagwood shows
we've had. Weather: Freezing. Played Thurs.,
Fri., Sat.—Loui.se Bowen, Roxy Theatre, Winlock,
Wash. Small town
*
patronage.
WARNER BROS.
Destination Tokyo (WB)—Reissue. Cary
Grant, John Garfield. This is an epic in
suspense rather than a war drama. Business
was poor during the "miserable" weekdays.
It is a good thing I have plenty of these low
rental, long running "epic" reissues. Played
Tues., Wed. Weather: Cold.—Ralph Raspa,
State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. Rural patronage.
* * *
Perfect Strangers (WB)—Ginger Rogers,
Dennis Morgan, Thelma Ritter. This isn't
too good for small towns. TV isn't hurting as
much as the poor Judgment used by film
companies in selling to small towns. I had
better watch my step after this, or that
mortgage never will get paid. There is no
action or "life" to the picture, and most of
the patrons were fidgeting around like they
had the seven-year itch. Played midweek.
Weather: Cold—icy roads.—Carl F. Neitzel.
Juno Theatre, Juneau, Wis. Surrounding and
local patronage.
* * '
BOXOFFICE BookinGuido :: March 10, 1951