THIS WEEK IN ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY
May 1, 1968
Paramount release:
“War & Peace”
Stars: Audrey
Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Mel Ferrer, Vittorio Gassman
Variety says:
“Compares favorably with “Gone with the Wind”
May 3, 1978
United Artist release:
“ The End”
Stars: Burt
Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Sally Field
Variety says: “Thin
outlook”
May 5, 1948
Paramount release:
“The Emperor Waltz”
Stars: Bing Crosby,
Joan Fontaine, Roland Culver, Lucile Watson
Variety says:
“Costumer for heavy box office”.
May 5, 1948
Paramount release:
“Dream Girl”
Stars: Betty Hutton,
Macdonald Carey, Patric Knowles, Virginia Field
Variety says:
“Broader and probably more popular edition of the Elmer Rice play;
should pull heavy grosses.”
May 5, 1948
Warner release:
“Silver River”
Stars: Errol Flynn,
Ann Sheridan, Thomas Mitchell
Variety says:
“Western drama of silver mining days.”
May 10, 1978
Universal pictures:
”The Greek Tycoon”
Stars: Anthony
Quinn, Jacqueline Bisset
Variety says:
“Thinly disguised bio pic of Jackie Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis.
May 12, 1948
20th-Fox release: “The Iron Curtain”
Stars: Dana Andrews,
Gene Tierney, June Havoc
Variety sys: “Timely
and important expose of Soviet undercover activities; a cinch box office
leader”.
May 12, 1948
British film release:
“Hamlet”
Stars: Lawrence
Olivier, Eileen Herlie, Basil Sydney
Variety says:
“Classic is magnificent.
May 12, 1948
Columbia release:
“Fuller Brush Man”
Stars: Red Skelton,
Janet Blair ,Don McGuire.
Variety says:
“Comic’s best slapstick in years:
May 14, 1958
United Artists release:
“God’s Little Acre”
Stars: Robert Ryan,
Aldo Ray, Tina Louise
Variety says: “Smash
box-office prospects”.
May 14, 1958
Paramount release:
“Vertigo”
Stars: James
Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes
Variety says:
“Psychological murder mystery in gimmick laden Alfred Hitchcock
tradition.,”
May 17, 1978
Columbia release:
“The Buddy Holly Story”
Stars: Gary Busey,
Don Stroud
Variety says:
“Excellent musical bio of early rocker”.
May 19 ,1948
Warner Brothers release:
“Wallflower”
Stars: Robert
Hutton, Joyce Reynolds, Janis Paige, Edward Arnold
Variety says: “Hokum
loaded with chuckles.”
May 19, 1948
RKO release: Return
of the Badmen”
Stars: Randolph
Scott, Robert Ryan, Anne Jeffreys, Gabby Hayes
Variety says: “ OK western.”
May 21, 1958
Metro release:
“Gigi”
Stars: Leslie Caron,
Maurice Cevalier, Louis Jourdan
Variety says: “Gay
90’s Gallic “Gigi” beaucoup box office.”
May 26, 1948
MGM release: “Easter
Parade”
Stars: Judy Garland,
Fred Astaire, Peter Lawford, Ann Miller.
Variety says: “Sock screen musical in Technicolor, certain
for big business.
May 26,, 1948
20th-fox release: “Give My Regards to Broadway”
Stars: Dan Daily ,Charles Winninger, Nancy Guild, Charlie
Ruggles
Variety says: “Neat
little piece of show biz nostalgia; should do well”
May 28, 1958
Warner Bros. release:
“Indiscreet”
Stars: Gary Grant,
Ingrid Bergman, Cecil Parker
Variety says:
“Rousing finish makes up for slow start. Bright box-office”.
May 29, 1968
Paramount release:
“Rosemary’s Baby”
Stars: Mia Farrow,
John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon
Variety says:
“Excellent film version of the book”
June 2, 1948
Republic release:
“Carson City Raiders”
Stars: Allan Rocky
Lane, Black Jack, Eddy Waller
Variety says:
“Western to please sagebrush fans.
June 4, 1958
United Artist release:
The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold”
Stars: Clayton
Moore, Jay Silverheels, Douglas Kennedy, Charles Watts.
Variety says:
“Hearty full-length tale of the masked rider from Detroit and Tonto.”
June 7, 1978
Columbia release:
“The Cheap Detective”
Stars: Peter Falk,
Ann Margaret,, Eileen Brennan, Sid Caesar
Variety says:
“Outstanding Neil Simon comedy takeoff on “Casablanca”. Terrific cast
and box office potential to match.”
June 7, 1978
Paramount release:
“Grease”
Stars: John
Travolta, Olivia Newton John, Stockard Channing
Variety says: “Slick
as a ducktail hairdo. An easy winner”.
June 11, 1958
20th-Fox release: “Showdown at Boot Hill”
Stars: Charles
Bronson, Robert Hutton, John Carradine
Variety says:
“Well-directed, well-acted suspense western”.
June 11, 1958
United Artist release:
“ Kings Go Forth”
Stars: Frank Sinatra,
Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood
Variety says: “ Top
romantic wartime triangle with black and white race angle for “shock” value.”
June 16, 1948
Paramount release:
“A Foreign Affair”
Stars: Jean Arthur,
Marlene Dietrich, John Lund
Variety says: “Strong
laugh film”
June 16, 1948
Paramount release:
“Beyond Glory”
Stars: Alan Ladd,
Donna Reed,, George Macready
Variety says: “Kudo
to the officer standards of West Point”
June 19, 1968
United Artist release:
“The Thomas Crown Affair”
Stars: Steve McQueen,
Faye Dunaway
Variety says:
“Excellent, message free crime drama”
June 23, 1948
Metro release: “A
Date with Judy”
Stars: Wallace
Berry, Jane Powell, Elizabeth Taylor
Variety says:
Infectious comedy with music based on radio characters”.
June 23, 1948
20th –Fox release: “A Street With No Name”
Stars: Mark Stevens,
Richard Widmark, Lloyd Nolan, Barbara Lawrence.
Variety says: “
Powerful documentary-type film, surefire box office.
June 28, 1978
Paramount release:
“Heaven Can Wait”
Stars: Warren Beatty
Julie Christie, James Mason
Variety says:
“Outstanding comedy drama. Big
money.”
June 30, 1948
Universal release:
“Tap Roots”
Stars: Van Heflin
Susan Hayward, Boris Karloff, Julie
London
Variety says:
“Romantic costumer that swash buckles through Civil War days
in the South”.
June 30, 1948
Universal release:
“Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein”
Stars: Bud Abbott,
Lou Costello, Long Chaney, Bela Lugosi
Variety says:
“Comedy team battles monsters.
Good box-office”.
THIS WEEK IN ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY
March 3, 1948
20th-Fox release: “Scudda-Hoe! Scudda-Hay!”
Stars: June Haver,
Lon McCalister, Walter Brennan, Anne
Revere.
Variety says:
“Modern family farming story excellent for general box office.”
March 3, 1948
Republic release:
“Oklahoma Badlands”
Stars: Allan Rocky
Lane, Eddy Waller, Mildred Coles, Roy Barcroft
Variety says: Fast paced western thriller. Fine support on
twinners.”
March 5, 1958
20-Century Fox release:
“The Long, Hot Summer”
Stars: Paul Newman,
Joanne Woodward, Anthony Francinsa, Orson Welles, Lee Remick, Angela Lansbury
Variety says: “Violence and wild humor are well-mixed in
this sex-ridden melodrama of the South.
Topnotch young cast plus veterans forecasts strong box office.”
March 5, 1958
Metro release: “Saddle The Wind.”
Stars: Robert
Taylor, Julie London, John Cassavetes, Donald Crisp
Variety says: “ Exciting old time western with built-in teenage appeal. Handsome color backgrounds.
Good box office.
March 8, 1978
Universal release:
“Gray Lady Down”
Stars: Charlton
Heston, David Carradine, Stacy Keach, Ned Beatty
Variety says:
“Nuclear sub rescue. So-so outlook”.
March 12, 1958
Paramount release:
“Desire Under The Elms.”
Stars: Sophia Loren,
Anthony Perkins, Burl Ives, Frank Overton
Variety says:
“Shocker about lust and greed in New England. Needs plenty of selling.
Best prospects as a high grade sex-ploitationer.”
March 13, 1958
Metro release: “The
High Cost of Loving.”
Stars: Jose Ferrer,
Gena Rowlands, Joanne Gilbert, Jim Backus
Variety says: “Metro
pleaser, amusing domestic comedy about home and office problems.”
March 17, 1948
Metro release:
“Summer Holiday”
Stars: Mickey
Rooney, Gloria De Haven, Walter Huston, Frank Morgan
Variety says:
“Amusing musical based on the play “Ah Wilderness!” Fair names; good box office.
March 17, 1948
Paramount release:
“Hazard”
Stars: Paulette
Goddard, Macdonald Carey, Fred Clark, Stanley Clements
Variety says: “Broad
melodramatic comedy with pacing good cast.
March 17, 1948
Universal release: “Are You With It?”
Stars: Donald
O’Connor, Olga San Juan, Martha Stewart, Walter Catlett
Variety says:
“Screen version of the Broadway musical comedy slated for good returns.”
March 19, 1958
20th Century-Fox release: “The Young Lions”
Stars: Marlon
Brando, Montgomery Clift, Dean Martin, Hope Lange, Barbara Rush
Variety says: “A
blockbuster”.
March 19, 1958
Paramount release “Teacher’s Pet”
Stars: Clark Gable,
Doris Day, Gig Young, Mamie Van Doren
Variety says: “Fresh
approach and smart comedy lends appeal to newspaper yarn. Top stars insure strong box office.”
March 20, 1968
United Artist release:
“ The Party”
Stars: Peter
Sellers, Claudine Longet, Marge Champion, Steve Franken
Variety says: “Limp comedy . Blake Edwards pic over-emphasizes visual gags. Spotty box office in special situations.”
March 27, 1968
Universal release: “
The Shakiest Gun In The West”
Stars: Don Knotts,
Barbara Rhoades, Jackie Coogan, Donald Barry
Variety says: “ Excellent Don Knotts comedy, a remake of
“Paleface”. Hot family trade box office
in general situations.
March 24, 1948
Metro release: “State of the Union”
Stars: Spencer
Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, Van Johnson, Angela Langsbury, Lewis Stone
Variety says: “Strong box office names. Socko box office.,”
March 24, 1948
Metro release: “The
Search”
Stars: Montgomery
Clift, Aline MacMahon, Jarmila Novotna, Wendell Corey
Variety says:
“Excellent semi-documentary type pic on Europe’s displaced children
should do fine.”
March 24, 1948
RKO release: “The
Arizona Ranger”
Stars: Tim Holt,
Jack Holt, Nan Leslie, Richard Martin
Variety says: “Okay
western co-starring the Holts.”
March 26, 1958
20th Century-Fox release: “South
Pacific”
Stars: Rossano
Brazzi, Mitzi Gaynor, John Kerr, Ray Walston
Variety says: “Box
office bonanza based on timeless potentials.”
March 26, 1958
United Artist release:
“Run Silent, Run Deep”
Stars: Glark Gable,
Burt Lancaster, Jack Warden, Brad Dexter, Don Rickles
Variety says: “Good
commercial entry.”
March 31, 1948
Selznick release:
“Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House”
Stars: Gary Grant,
Myrna Loy, Melvyn Douglas, Reginald Denny
Variety says: “Good
cast names to help comedy’s grosses”
March 31, 1948
Metro release: “The
Pirate”
Stars: Judy Garland,
Gene Kelly, Walter Slezak, Gladys Cooper
Variety says:
“Sprightly musical with strong marquee names.”
March 31, 1948
Columbia release:
“Last Days of Boot Hill”
Stars: Charles
Starrett, Smiley Burnette, Virginia Hunter, Paul Campbell
Variety says:
“Another in the Durango Kid series.
Okay oater for the Saturday matinee trade.”