Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

THE HOLLYWOOD SCENE Production Off in Week But Trend Is Upward; Jolson Film Started by WILLIAM R. WEAVER Hollywood Editor The production level slipped down from 33 to 30 during election week, although the now historic returns had nothing to do with the reduction. In fact, the auguries — if anybody still cares about auguries — appeared J at the weekend to be for an upward trend (if "trend" is still a word in good standing) in production as the year wears on. Two unrelated reports combine to suggest that a bit more activity on the studio front is in prospect. The California Bureau of Labor Statistics report covering September showed studio employment at 74.3, which is up from 69.8 for August. The CBLS uses 100, representing 1940 employment, as its base figure. To be sure, Au ] gust's index was the lowest in recent ] years, but the September rise is consid j ered substantial. 2J)00 Extras Employed In First November Week The other report from which studio people can extract cheer is to the effect that more than 2,000 extra-players were employed during the first week of November. This is a total figure, representing the combined production companies, and it would have been regarded as sub-average a year ago, but one of the most widely used means of reducing production costs has been the elimination of scenes requiring large num1 bers of extra-players, and the performers who live by this type of day-to-day work have been getting very little of it for the past several months. At a time when prognostications are in acute disrepute, it is hardly to be ex pected that these statistical exhibits will be given much weight by the more studious observers of the Hollywood scene, but they are the only tangibles at hand on which to base a view of the future. Presumably the production community will place its own construction upon them, and proceed accordingly. And presumably the same goes for the various press-releases recently given out concerning bursts of production activity contemplated for December. The six productions started during the week represent six release channels. Columbia sent "Jolson Sings Again," one of its biggest undertakings, into production. It is, of course, the continuation of ''The Jolson Story," one of the industry's box office milestones, and it is being given what may be called the full treatment. Larry Parks, following settlement of long standing differences with the studio, is again portraying Al Jolson, whose voice is again to be heard on the sound track, and the cast includes Barbara Hale, William Demarest, Ludwig Donath and others. Sidney Buchman is producing, of course, and Henry Levin directing. It will take up the Jolson career where the earlier picture left off, and you couldn't get Dewey odds in Hollywood that this second Jolson picture will not be followed by a third. Crosby Starts Work in "Top o' the Morning" Bing Crosby, the four-time Number One Star in the Motion Picture Herald Money-Making-Stars election, came back from his Elko, Nevada, ranch to face Paramount cameras in "Top o' the Morning," in which he has Barry Fitzgerald alongside again (together with Ann Blyth, Hume Cronyn and many more. Robert Welch is producing and David Miller directing. Screen Plays, Inc., which produced "So This Is New York" as its first picture, went to work on "Champion," which United Artists will distribute. Stanley Kramer is producing and Mark Robson directing. The cast includes Kirk Douglas, Marilyn Maxwell, Ruth Roman, Arthur Kennedy, Paul Stewart and others. Lindsley Parsons started "Tuna Clipper" for Monogram. William Beaudine is directing Roddy McDowell, Elena Verdugo and Roland Winters in this melodrama. Producer William Stephens rolled "Rolling Wheels" for Screen Guild Productions. Robert Lowery, Pamela Blake, Michael Whalen and Clem Bevans are in the cast, directed by William Berke. Equity Productions, producing for Eagle Lion release, turned cameras on "Counselorat-Gun-Law," a Jerry Thomas production, with Lincoln Widder as associate producer and Lou Collins directing. Jim Bannon, Emmett Lynn and Marin Sais are in the cast. ASC Sees Public Relations Program Successful The public relations program of the American Society of Cinematographers was declared a "complete success" last week by Fred W. Jackman, executive vice-president of ASC, in Hollywood. Continued efforts to coordinate the Society into the industry's general public relations framework, with special accent on the exhibitor, were pledged by Mr. Jackman. The ASC program, which involves a drive to get increased recognition for photographic work in Hollywood films, was launched at a board meeting six months ago. Mr. Jackman believes it provides exhibitors an important tieup in view of the wide interest in photography. The project, under the direction of Esther Tow, aims at highlighting the work of ASC members and closer cooperation with other industry branches. It also seeks closer ties with film, light and equipment manufacturers. Miss Tow, in New York, is conferring with critics on the ASC plan. STARTED COLUMBIA Jolson Sings Again EAGLE LION Counselor at GunLaw (Equity) MONOGRAM Tuna Clipper PARAMOUNT Top o' the Morning SCREEN GUILD Rolling Wheels UNITED ARTISTS Champion (Screen Plays) COMPLETED ALLIED ARTISTS Stampede COLUMBIA The Mutineers The Devil's Henchmen M-G-M The Barkleys of Broadway MONOGRAM Crashing Through PARAMOUNT El Paso (Pine-Thomas) RKO RADIO Stagecoach Kid UNIVERSALINTERNATIONAL The Amboy Dukes WARNER BROTHERS Flamingo Road SHOOTING ALLIED ARTISTS Bad Boy COLUMBIA Wild Bill Doolin Bonanza ! M-G-M The Stratton Story Neptune's Daughter The Great Sinner The Secret Garden PARAMOUNT Easy Does It Bitter Victory Samson and Delilah REPUBLIC Montana Belle RKO RADIO She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (Argosy) The Set-Up Roseanna McCoy (Goldwyn) 20TH CENTURYFOX Down to the Sea in Ships The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend UNITED ARTISTS Impact (Popkin) UNIVERSALINTERNATIONAL The Life of Riley Calamity Jane and Sam Bass WARNER BROTHERS Task Force This Side of the Law Colorado Territory Happy Times Montana MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 13, 1948 31