Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1941)

T ■MAY 17. 19 4 1 STUDIO SIZE-UPS The Inside on the Important Studios' Activities COLUMBIA Samuel Bronston, who was to have produced a program of pictures independently, has apparently abandoned that plan in favor of a deal with Columbia whereby the distributing organization will release "Martin Eden." the Jack London story, which Bronston will produce in collaboration with B. P. Shulberg. No director or cast has been announced. Columbia is lining up a flock of starlets and calling them all "most promising discoveries." The latest is Janet Blair, a dance band vocalist who hails from Altoona, Pa. Her screen debut will be in a singing spot in "You'll Never Get Rich," the Fred AstaireRita Hayworth musical. Larry Darmour signed a new deal with Frederick Dannay and Manfred B. Lee, authors of the Ellery Queen novels, assuring the producer of material for four more films in the detective-mystery series to be produced next season for Columbia. IN PRODUCTION — "Our Wife" (Melvyn Douglas-Ruth Hussey), "Heaven Can Wait" (Robert Montgomei-y-Rita Johnson), "Tilhe the Toiler" iKay HarrisWilliam Tracy), "Medico of Painted Springs" (Charles StaiTett-Terry Walker), "The Devil to Pay" (Ralph Bellamy-Charley Grapewin), "Texas" (WilUam HoldenGlenn Ford), "Tonight Belongs to Us" iLoretta Young-Dean Jagger). <'ASTIN<iS: N'ictor Vtirconi. Billy Reye.'i in Mar.jorie UeynoUls, Fianklin PaiiKhiirn in "Tillii Oeoig-e Bancrol't, Edgar Buchiiuin in •Ttxns".. olu'ster. Isobel Elsom, Edith li:invtt in 'Lidi Dk'w. TlnT.-.sa Hairis, Hobart ( 'av ;niii n ^ li . i: nl. ill ■iini Uii. ■■. . .Iionald McBride in II.!.!!; I'l ■ I'lan I MX is, I'ai-ni.Mi Mnrali-s in '■('.iris i M.rn ."-^tanle.N Briiwn in "I Wa.s a I'risom i < Hal Cooke. ClilT Claik in ' liliMiilip in Eden" by Jack l.ini.l.m . . .CONTH.KCTS: JilidKcs. Kennedy. "Martin deal. ToniKlit Belongs to Us"... tlie Toiler" .. .Claire Treyor, . ..Eyelyn Keyes, ELsa Lans in Retirement" .. .Ellen .1 Iirown, George McKay \\ ni" ..loan Woodbury. I 'il k Curtis, TJoyd II Hexil s Islanil" .. .Edgar S.ici. iy . . .STOKV lil'YS: llani.t Hilliald to i-piv METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER The fir.st important production personality to be added to the MGM staff in some time is Wesley Ruggles, who has been signed to an exclusive term contract as a producer-director. Negotiations are now underway to bring Claude Binyon into the Metro fold, he being a close collaborator of Ruggles. The author was associated with him on numerous pictures. Metro is going musical in a big way with six tune-fllms now preparing and editing, "Lady Be Good," "The Bargain Basement," "Smilin' Through," "The Chocolate Soldier," "Babes on Broadway," and "Panama Hattie." Speaking of "Lady Be Good," that picture is reported to be a prize package and its director, Norman McLeod, has been signed to a term contract and assigned the directorial reins of "Panama Hattie," which will also star Ann Sothern. Thoroughly pleased with the reception accorded "The Happiest Man on Earth," MGM is planning another short story adaptation, "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allen Poe. J. P. Marquand has arrived in town to assist on the film version of "H. M. Pulham, Esq.". . ."Billy the Kid" has been sneak previewed and there are reports that this outdoor film and "Lady Be Good" will go a long way toward b<'ating the jinx that has been pursuing most of Metro's product in recent months. . .Florence Bates has been signed to a term contract by Metro... An interesting cast has been assembled for "Smilin' Through" now in production. Brian Aherne plays the male lead and Jeanette MacDonald's husband. Gene Raymond, will portray her unsuccessful suitor. Also in the cast is Patrick O'Moore, of the stage's "Ladies in Retirement," who will make his American screen debut in this picture .. .The next Hardy feature, "Andy Hardy's First Job" will be bolstered by the appearance of Judy Garland in one of the leading roles. IN PRODUCTION — "Get-Away" (Robert Sterling-Danna Reed), "Barnacle Bill" (Wallace Beery-Virginia Weidler), "The Yearling" (Spencer Tracy-Ann Revere). "Life Begins for Andy Hardy" (Mickey Rooney-Lewis Stone) and "Smilin' Tlu'ough" (Jeanette MacDonald-Brian Aherne). PREPARING — "Untitled Tarzan" (Johnny Weissmuller) , "The Chocolate Soldier" (Nelson Eddy-Rise Stevens), "New York Heartbeat." t'.VSTINGS: Adeline de Walt Reynolds, Tully Marshall in •'The Yearling"... Patrick O'Moore in ■'Smiliir Thiougli" , . . Bnnila Cram ill., i;iv McDonald in "Young America" .. .Ann Sotliei n, Knbi rt Sterling in Uinu-nle Maisie" . . . Marjorie Main in ■•Honk. vtonk" . . . DIKl-X TOH .\SSI(..\ .M KN'I>. : Sylyan Simon to "Xew York 1 r.aitli.'ai' . . . STOIJ Y BVYS: •'UuBarry Was a I.idy" by B. G. DeSylya. . . "Tile Inside sii.i\' l.y .lo.seph Harrington ... "The .Anointed" by Clyde Brion 1 la \ is , . , Tin liu.^li s Blow at Midnight" by William l.,ippman. MONOGRAM Scott R. Dunlap will produce the Buck Jones "Rough Riders" series which may indicate that Monogram attaches a good deal of importance to the series and the group will have higher budgets than are usually accorded westerns. Taking the place of two pictures originally planned for release on the 1941-42 program. Monogram has announced two films to be added to its new season schedule. These are "Murder by Appointment," which replaces "The Fighting Cadet," and "Man with Many Faces," which is being substituted for "Night Edition." A busy Monogram producer last week was Sam Katzman who branched out into large scale production methods when he bought a musical revue, "Sis, Boom, Bah." Katzman plans first to present this as a stage attraction before filming it for the screen. Stories being prepared by writers for the Katzman unit are "Mi-. Wise Guy?' "Bowery Blitzkrieg," for the Dead End Kids, and "Ti'ail of the" Vampire," in which the youngsters will share honors with Bela Lugosi. Lindsley Parsons has three yarns in preparation. . .W. Ray Johnston and Trem Carr have headed East for business conferences. IN PRODUCTION — "Wanderers of the West" (Tom Keene). PREPARING — "Mr. Wise Guy" (Dead End Kids), "City Limits," "Army Hostess," "Isle of Lost Men." PARAMOUNT Havhi" c'oiiiplcled the job of cataloguing its story properties. Paramount will assign writers to develop treatments for submission to production head De Sylva. The studio expects to salvage several valuable stories from its accumulation of unproduced material. With "Citizen Kane" now at Hollywood's El Capitan, the first time this leuit house has played a motion picture, talk that Paramount is negotiating for the spot as a first run showing for its product has been revived. Paramount has been seeking a Hollywood theatre for years. Mitchell Leiscn has been signed to direct two pictures annually over a two year period... The contemplated remake of "The Vir