Cinema: Late Spring Box Office

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Business at cinemansion box offices was still far below the wartime boom. Variety blamed it on rain, premature summer and lightweight products.

Exhibitors said that all they really need is better pictures to draw crowds; they particularly want big new marquee names. At present the only sure-fire stars—regardless of the picture—are Ingrid Bergman and Bing Crosby.

Hollywood, anticipating a recession in the not-too-distant future, was planning more costly and colossal productions on the theory that any old picture will make money in good times, but in tough times, the public gets choosy.

Top money-makers over the past few weeks:

1) Duel in the Sun (S.R.O.) and The Egg and I (Universal)

2) The Farmer's Daughter (RKO Radio)

3) The Best Years of Our Lives (RKO Radio) and Calcutta (Paramount)

4) The Macomber Affair (United Artists)

5) The Two Mrs. Carrolls (Warner) and Odd Man Out (Rank; Universal-International).