Boxoffice-December.20.1952

12 FIRST QUARTER RELEASES
REACH A HIT CLASSIFICATION
'Ivanhoe' Is
the Top Hit,
Followed by 'Fatima/
'Affair in Trinidad'
by VELMA WEST SYKES
That compiirisons are odious
has been attested
to by writers from Shakespeare to
Cervantes. Yet there Is no other practical
way to draw conclusions about the boxofflce
business done for the first quarter of the
1952-53 season than to compare it with that
of other years—particularly with that for the
same quarter in 1951-52.
On that basis, the over-all picture Is generally
good. While there are only 12 top
hits for the quarter (top hits are those doing
120 per cent or more, using 100 per cent as
average business) compared to 14 hits for
the same period last year, the very top hit
was nearly 50 per cent higher this year than
last. Also, the average percentage of the
top hits Is higher this year, running to 145
per cent instead of last year's 138.
BASED ON 21
CITIES
The report is based on first run figures
received from BOXOFFICE correspondents
In 21 key cities. Only releases which have
had five runs or better are included, and only
the first week's percentage of patronage is
tabulated. The top three films were "Ivanhoe"
(MGMi . "The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima"
(UAi. and "Affair in Tiinidad" iCol.)
Three of this quarter's top hits were winners
Of the BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award, as
noted here. Of the various companies, Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer came up with the most hits
—five in all, and two of them winners of
this award for family entertainment merit.
BIG CLEVELAND GROSS
"Ivanhoe" had its largest gross in Cleveland,
doing a business of 400 per cent there.
Other large p)ercentages rolled up by the
Scott classic were 360 at Philadelphia, and 300
at Detroit, Minneapolis and San Francisco.
"The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima" did its
best business in Indianapolis, grossing 375
there, 280 at Pittsburgh and 220 at Cleveland.
"Affair in Trinidad" did its best business, at
210, in Los Angeles, running up to 200 at both
Boston and San Francisco. "Because You're
Mine" had its best week at 300 in Philadelphia,
"The Ring" pulled 250 in Denver, and
"Plymouth Adventure" made the best showing
far from Plymouth Rock, doing 190 in Minneapolis.
Denver turned out 200 per cent for
Iboth "The Iron Mistress and "The Merry
[Widow." "Just for You" was most popular
in Kansas City at 205. "The Prisoner of
iZenda" in San Francisco at 170 and "Because
[of You" in Boston at 190.
What type of picture is most popular with
jthe public at the moment? The three highest
ossers differ so widely that it is hard to
ludge from them, except to say that various
egments of the public like different types of
ictures. "Ivanhoe" is a historical pageant
ade from a classic that nearly everyone
as read in high school, "The Miracle of Our
lady of Fatima" is a religious spectacle
Top Hits of the First Quarter
Affair in Trinidad (Col)
Because oi You (U-I)
WBecause You're Mine (MGM)
Crimson Pirate. The (WB)
Iron Mistress. The (WB)
Ivanhoe (MGM)
Just lor You (Para)
WMerry Widow. The
(September Through November)
PERCENTAGES
(MGM)
sJMiracle ol Our Lady of Fatima. The (WB)
Plymouth Adventure (MGM)
Prisoner ol Zenda. The (MGM)
Ring. The (UA)
OBlue Ribtx}n Award winners.
beautifully presented, "Affair in Trinidad"
is a sophisticated extravaganza to display
the charms of Rita Hayworth, so much in
and out of the news because of her marital
troubles.
The stars of the hit pictures were mostly
those you might expect. Included, in addition
to Miss Hayworth, were Loretta Young and
Jeff Chandler, Mario Lanza. Burt Lancaster,
Alan Ladd and 'Virginia Mayo, Robert Taylor
and Elizabeth Taylor, Bing Crosby and Jane
Wyman with Ethel Barrymore. Lana Turner.
Gilbert Roland, Spencer Tiacy and Gene
Tierney, Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr
with James Mason, Gerald Mohr. No one of
them appeared in more than one top hit for
the quarter.
Considering that beginning the latter part
of September and continuing into November,
a tense national election kept many patrons
glued to their television sets, the industry
seems to have made a good showing in the
entertainment field for the quarter.
ALLIED:
(Average Is 100)
Arctic Flight 99
Army Bound 98
Bottle Zone 1 04
Feudin' Fools 91
Flat Top 118
COLUMBIA:
Affair in Trinidod 1 52
Assignment— Paris 101
Golden Hawk, The 98
Hangman's Knot 96
Rointxjw 'Round My Shoulder 91
Voodoo Tiger 91
LIPPERT
PRODUCTIONS:
Hellgotc 96
Scotland Yord Inspector ; 91
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER:
Apochc War Smoke 1 00
Because You're Mine 1 38
Devil Mokes Three. The 89
Everything I Have Is Yours 112
Hour of 13, The 100
Ivanhoe 241
Merry Widow, The 142
ZOO 210
211
My Mon ond 1 88
Plymouth Adventure 122
Prisoner of Zendo, The '33
PARAMOUNT:
Caribbean 94
Hurncone Smith 91
Just for You '23
Sovoge. The 91
Somelxjdy Loves Me '09
Turning Point, The 94
RKO RADIO:
Bewore, My Lovely 91
Lusty Men. The '02
Montono Belle '02
Under the Red Sea 94
REPUBLIC:
Tropical Heat Wove 86
WAC From Wollo Wallo 95
20th
CENTURY-FOX:
Bloodhounds of Broodway '04
Lure of the Wilderness '06
Monkey Business '12
My Wife's Best Friend 90
Night Without Sleep 90
O. Henry's Full House '08
Pony Soldier '09
Something for the Birds 83
Steel Trap, The 96
Woy of o Goucho 93
UNITED
ARTISTS:
Kansas City Confidential '09
Ring, The 132
Thief. The "•<
Untomed Women 102
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL:
Back ot the Front 88
Because of You '23
Bonzo Goes to College 93
Horizons West 92
It Grows on Trees 87
Roiders. The 96
Son of Ali Bobo 94
Stronger in Between, The 104
Untamed Frontier 88
Yonkee Buccaneer 89
WARNER BROS.:
Crimson Pirate. The '22
Iron Mistress, The '25
Miracle of Our Lody of Fafimo, The 186
Operation Secret '01
Springfield Rifle "6
BOXOFFICE December 27, 1952 25