Boxoffice-March.24.1956

The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY
(Continued from preceding page)
keep our doors open. It will do as much
repeat as any new one. At least, that's what
we found.—W. S. Funk, Star Theatre, St.
Stephen, S. C. Pop. 1,341.
Bridges at Toko-Ri, The (Para)— William
Holden, Grace Kelly, Fredric March. This
was a hot one, even hotter with Grace Kelly's
prominence in the news. A good solid picture
with a cast of sterling quality. Good for one
of our better weekend grosses. Played Fri.,
Sat. Weather: Clear.—T. Ross, Bay Theatre,
Vancouver, B. C. City suburban patronage.
Hell's Island (Para)— John Payne, Mary
Murphy, Francis L. Sullivan. Just can't seem
to ride out the slump we hit the last couple
days of January, and "Hell's Island" wasn't
good enough to do anything toward pulling
us back up. A good feature with an exciting
story enacted by a fine cast, but it gave us
the worst bread-and-butter change in years.
Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Chilly.—Bob
Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Pop.
1,463.
To Catch a Thief (Para)—Cary Grant,
Grace Kelly, Jessie Royce Landis. A very
good picture and it was filmed at a very
nice spot, but we just didn't do even average
business. Cast of favorites, sharp and clear
photography and a story that was full of
suspense and action of a sort. Should have
garnered some extra business, but it didn't.
Played Sun.-Tues. Weather: Cold.—Mayme
P. Musselman, Roach Theatre, Lincoln, Kas.
Pop. 1,636.
To Catch a Thief (Para)—Cary Grant,
Grace Kelly, Jessie Royce Landis. Just played
this one to less than average business at the
height of Grace Kelly's popularity. This is
a fine picture in every respect. Beautiful
scenery. Top acting. Best direction. Play it.
Your theatre needs good pictures. Played
Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Fair.—C. H.
Pryce, Alma Theatre, Alma, Wis. Pop. 1,068.
Trail of the Lonesome Pine (Para)—Reissue.
Sylvia Sidney, Henry Fonda, Fred
MacMurray. Though somewhat dated by the
youth of the cast, it's still a fine show and
worth good playtime. The color and scenery
are beautiful. Played Tues., Wed., Thurs.
Weather: Good.—Paul Ricketts, Charm Theatre,
Holyrood, Kas. Pop. 748.
You're Never Too Young (Para)—Dean
Martin, Jerry Lewis, Diana Lynn. Good Martin
and Lewis picture in Technicolor and
VistaVision (it's screwy), but not so hot as
a patron puller. This pleased the customers'
dispositions, and their comments pleased
mine, but what happened to all the nice
people that didn't see it? Played Sun., Mon.
Weather: Nice.—Lew Bray jr., Queen Theatre,
McAllen, Tex. Pop. 20,068.
You're Never Too Young (Para)—Dean
Martin, Jerry Lewis, Diana Lynn. Martin
and Lewis at their best in Technicolor.
Basketball tournament ruined the crowds
both nights, but this is a hilarious show.
Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Good-
Audrey Thompson, Ozark Theatre, Hardy,
Ark. Pop. 599.
RKO RADIO
Bengazi (RKO)—Richard Conte, Victor
McLaglen, Richard Carlson. And now the
shifting sands of the Sahara are becoming
rutted, or so it would seem to any moviegoer
who has to watch this plot and locale-worn
movie jostle over the ruts of 1,000 other films
since the days of Valentino. A big assist from
money in the bank night couldn't help It
become a hit, entertainment or moneywise.
It wasn't worth the cost or the date. Played
Wed., Thurs. Weather: Lovely.—Bob Walker,
Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Pop. 1,463.
Doctor in
REPUBLIC
the House (Rep)—Dirk Bogarde,
Muriel Pavlow, Kenneth More. Doubled with
"Genevieve." Wish a few American exhibitors
who back off from British product had been
around for the three nights of this engagement.
That is, if they could get near the
theatre. I mean by this, we had lineups,
which in these television days, is one for
the books. S'help me, our cashier, an ex-
Ziegfeld girl, was as excited as an opening
night on Broadway at the business we did.
And the remarkable thing about this package
is that they both were played before, each on a
separate bill and each contributed excellent
returns initially. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat.
Weather: Fair, then rain and wind.—T. Ross,
Bay Theatre, Vancouver, B. C. City suburban
patronage.
Eternal Sea, The (Rep)— Sterling Hayden,
Alexis Smith, Dean Jagger. We sold this flat
to our senior high class for our cost. They
sold tickets and did well. The story and
acting are superb. It's a shame it was not
Ray Kincade Says 'Thiei'
Will Go Over Anywhere
•TO CATCH A THIEF (Para)—Cary
Grant, Grace Kelly, Jessie Royce
Landis. A truly great picture, and wonderful
color. It's in VistaVision with
Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, who really
carried their parts. I personally think it
would go over in any town, large or small.
RAY KINCADE
Kesner Theatre,
LeRoy, Kas.
in color. It had the mark of greatness that
black and white ruined. Played Wed., Thurs.
Weather: Cold.—Joe and Mildred Faith, Linn
Theatre, Linn, Mo. Pop. 758.
CENTURY-FOX
20th
Adventures of Hajji Baba, The (20th-Fox)
—John Derek, Elaine Stewart, Rosemarie
Bowe. Fantastic to the extreme. However, it
was enjoyed by those who braved the weather
to come out to see it. Let me say here
that never in the history of the western
provinces has a winter like this been recorded,
with snow and storms and blizzards
for such a long period (October 31 through
the end of February). Now the picture. You
won't go wrong with this picture. The young
folks will especially enjoy it. Played Fri.,
Sat. Weather: Blizzard.—F. L. Murray,
Strand Theatre, Spiritwood, Sask. Pop. 355.
Carmen Jones (20th-Fox)—Harry Belafonte,
Dorothy Dandridge, Pearl Bailey. My
Fox salesman had to bend my arm to show
this one. Boy, was I wrong! I played it one
day. Should have played it three. Played
Wed. Weather: Bad.—W. C. Mosher, Blue
Moon Theatre, Blue Mound, Kas. Pop. 424.
City of Bad Men (20th-Fox)—Dale Robertson,
Jeanne Crain, Lloyd Bridges. A real nice
little western with some beautiful color in
it. It fits very nicely into the Friday-Saturday
niche. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Fine.
—I. Roche, Vernon Theatre, Vernon, Fla.
Pop. 610.
UNITED ARTISTS
Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (UA)—Jane
Russell, Jeanne Crain, Alan Young. I thought
I really had a killer-diller in this picture.
It has a big cast, pretty color and setting in
Paris—all the ingredients for a wonderful
movie. I thought it was a wonderful waste of
Jane Russell and Jeanne Crain. I did not
like any of the songs and the situations were
unbelievable.—W. S. Funk, Star Theatre, St.
Stephen, S. C. Pop. 1,341.
Kentuckian, The (UA)—Burt Lancaster,
Dianne Foster, Diana Lynn. Filmed in Cinemascope,
but we ran 2-D. It is a beautiful
and fine show. Well done. If Mr. Lancaster
will keep making this kind, the small-towner
will always love him. Book it. Played Sun.,
Mon. Weather: Rain.—Joe and Mildred
Faith, Linn Ihcatre, Linn, Mo. Pop. 758.
Moon Is Blue, The (UA)—William Holden,
David Niven, Maggie McNamara. One that
would be cheap entertainment for a person
to drive 100 miles to get to see. As to censorship,
a person will see any picture, or read
any book or get to see what he wants to.
So don't be afraid of it. Played Sun., Mon.
Weather: Cloudy and cool.—Ray Kincade,
Kesner Theatre, LeRoy, Kas. Pop. 695.
Not As a Stranger (UA)—Olivia DeHavilland,
Robert Mitchum, Frank Sinatra. They
don't make better pictures, but I couldn't get
them in on this one. New faces you don't
see often, but not enough of them. Playe
Sun., Mon. Weather: Clear and cold.—Terry
Axley, New and Best theatres, England, Ark.
Pop. 2,136.
Top of the World (UA)—Dale Robertson,
Evelyn Keyes, Frank Lovejoy. Story of the
Air Rescue Service with a cast that deserved
more support from the patrons. A $250 bar
didn't even lure them in. This picture may
be considered the "poor man's" SAC. Played
Wed., Thurs. Weather: Snow.—Michael
Chiaventone, Valley Theatre, Spring Valley,
111. Pop. 5,123.
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL
Kiss of Fire (U-I)—Jack Palance, Barbara
Rush, Rex Reason. A story of New Mexico
in the days of Spanish rule. Story type has
been overdone. Business below average.
Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Good.—D. W.
Trisko, Runge Theatre, Runge, Tex. Pop.
1.055.
Magnificent Obsession (U-I)—Jane Wyman,
Rock Hudson, Barbara Rush. One of
the finest pictures of all time. Played Fri.,
Sat., Sun.—Frank Sabin, Majestic Theatre,
Eureka, Mont. Pop. 929.
WARNER BROS.
Blood Alley (WB)—John Wayne, Lauren
Bacall, Paul Fix. This is an excellent film.
It will draw better than the average picture
of this type. Also, it will please almost any
type of show fan. Played Mon., Tues.—W. S.
Funk, Star Theatre, St. Stephen, S. C. Pop.
1,341.
Dam Busters, The (WB)—Richard Todd,
Michael Redgrave, Ursula Jeans. A good
picture and very interesting. Also considerably
British and perhaps more slow-moving
than if it had been made here. It is worth
a date on your action time anyway. The
British photography is not nearly as sharp
as it might be and the lighting wasn't too
good. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Good.-
Paul Ricketts, Holyrood, Kas. Pop. 748.
Rebel Without a Cause (WB)—James Dean,
Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo. Another very good
picture that just didn't get over the first
hurdle and failed on the other three nights.
Why, I'll never know. This Dean boy had
it and our patrons knew about it, but cold
weather and TV kept them at home. Or, if
they did get out, it was to see basketball or
some other attraction. They didn't come to
see this. Played Wed.-Sat. Weather: Cold —
Mayme P. Musselman, Roach Theatre,
Lincoln, Kas. Pop. 1,636.
Track of the Cat (WB)— Robert Mitchum,
Teresa Wright, Diana Lynn. Not quite enough
action for Saturday. Many were disappointed
because they didn't see the cat. I thought the
acting was very good by all concerned. Played
Sat. Weather: Good.—Audrey Thompson,
Ozark Theatre, Hardy, Ark. Pop. 599.
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide : : March
24, 1956