Cinema: Harvest-Home

Hollywood’s moviemakers are only mildly interested in what the critics think are the “best” pictures of the year. The really important results of 1947, to cinemoguls, were published in Variety’s jumbo-size (250 pp.) anniversary issue: the 75 pictures of 1947 which grossed (or are estimated to gross) $2,000,000 or better; the 45 top-grossing stars; the top grossers by studios.

The ten top-grossing pictures:

1) The Best Years of Our Lives (Goldwyn-RKO) : $11,500,000.

2) Duel in the Sun (SRO) : $10,750,000.

3) The Jolson Story (Columbia) : $8,000,000.

4) Forever Amber (20th Century-Fox): $8,000,000.

5) Unconquered (Paramount) : $7,500,000.

6) Life with Father (Warner) : $6,250,000.

7) Welcome Stranger (Paramount) : $6,100,000.

8) The Egg and I (Universal-International) : $5,750,000.

9) The Yearling (MGM) : $5,250,000.

10) Green Dolphin Street (M-G-M): $5,000,000.

The ten top-grossing stars:* Jennifer Jones is rated (with just one picture —Duel} as a $10,750,000 star; Gregory Peck, with two pictures, rated an $8,000,000 average as a customer-puller; Linda Darnell (with one), $8,000,000; Gary Cooper (with one), $7,500,000; Teresa Wright (with two), $7,200,000; Dana Andrews (with two), $6,875,000; William Powell (with one), $6,250,000; Irene Dunne (with one), $6,250,000; Bing Crosby (with one), $6,100,000; Larry Parks (with two), $5,250,000.

The five top-grossing companies (figured on pictures which grossed $2,000,000 plus): MGM, $50,900,000 on 15 pictures; Paramount, $48,050,000 on 13; RKO, $39,050,000, on ten; Warner, $38,800,000 on 14; 20th Century-Fox, $35,750,000 on ten.

* Rated by the gross take of their films. These figures do not represent the stars’ earnings or box-office power, since they make no allowances for the pull of costars, Technicolor, story, etc.