Cinema: Late Spring Box Office

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).

Quotes of the Day »

Get & Share
RON WYDEN, Democratic Senator of Oregon and a member of the Senate Finance Committee, on health care reform; experts say it's impossible to know if the bill will meet cost-cutting goals
For use in rail of Articles page or Section Fronts pages. Duplicate and change name as necesssary to distinguish.

Time.com on Digg

POWERED BY digg

Quotes of the Day »

Get & Share
RON WYDEN, Democratic Senator of Oregon and a member of the Senate Finance Committee, on health care reform; experts say it's impossible to know if the bill will meet cost-cutting goals

Stay Connected with TIME.com