Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

Page 34 'SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW May 27, 1939 STR West Coast Offices Guaranty Building 6331 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, Calif. Telephone, Hollywood 1390 • • • Strollin' Thru the Studios • • • NuNNALLY Johnson will write the screenplay and act as associate producer of 20th Century-Fox' "Grapes of Wrath," John Steinbeck's sensational novel, which will be personally produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. The picture is scheduled to be the most momentous production for the 1939-40 program on the 20th Century-Fox schedule. After seeing Priscilla Lane's performance in "Daughters Courageous," Warner Bros, has decided to switch her into the leading feminine role of "Dust Be My Destiny," starring John Garfield. Margot Stevenson, who has worked in this part for a few days, goes into "20,000 Years in Sing Sing." "Send Another Coffin," written by F. G. Presnell, has been purchased by Walter Wancer, as the next production following "Whose Wife." It will go into production as soon as writers complete its screen adaptation. Tay Garnett will direct. Gene_ Autry, Republic's singing cowboy star, will make two more pictures before he leaves for Europe on a personal appearance tour with Herbert J. Yates. "Colorado Sunset" goes before the cameras this week, and will be followed by "Here Comes the Showboat," scheduled for shooting the end of June. The heaviest roster of stars and featured players in three months is on call at MGM for work in five productions. Twelve stars and thirty-three featured players are on call for "The Women," "On Borrowed Time," "Babes in Arms," "Lady of the Tropics" and "Stronger Than Desire." Fine Arts' "Trouble Over the Pacific" is scheduled for immediate production with Elmer Clifton directing. The picture will be made in Cosmocolor with the biggest budget to date. William Gargan, Wallace Ford, Karen Morley and Katherine DeMille have been signed for the principal roles. Anthony Collins will create the symphonic score for Herbert Wilcox's current production, "Nurse Edith Cavell," now filming at RKO with Anna Neagle starring. Collins will leave England within the next two weeks to report for his assignment. Fritz Leiber has been signed for an important role. Bernard Vorhaus completed shooting on the new Bob Breen picture, "Way Down South," SoL Lesser production. Vorhaus will take a two weeks' rest before returning for his next assignment, "Everything's On Ice," first starrer for six-year-old Irene Dare. Paul M.vlvern has completed cast assignments for "Stunt Pilot," second of the "Tailspin Tommy" series for Monogram, which George Wagcner will direct. John Trent has the title role and the supporting cast includes Marjorie Reynolds, Milburn Stone, Jason Robards and Pat O'Malley. Frieda Inescort will arrive in Hollywood this week from New^ York to join Otto Kruger, Rochelle Hudson and Gordon Of-iVER in Columbia's "A Woman Is the Judge." The picture is now before the cameras with Nick Grinde directing. Edward Sutherland has been signed by Boris Morros to direct the Stan LaurelOliver Hardy feature, "The Flying Deuces." The first rough cut of "The Hobby Family," in which Irene Rich and Henry O'Neill appear, has brought the announcement from Warner Bros, that the idea will become the basis for a series. Miss Rich and O'Neill will continue their head-of-the-family duties in subsequent productions. The screenplay of "Intermezzo," David 0. Selznicic's forthcoming production, is being completed so that production will start within the next two weeks. William Wyler will direct with Leslie Howard playing the leading male role and acting as associate producer. The Hal Roach studio is slated to reopen on May 31 for the new season's production activity. Two pictures are set to go before the cameras within the next six weeks, "Chump at Oxford" and "The Housekeeper's Daughter." Universal has added two more pictures to Edmund Grainger's production schedule for the 1939-40 program. Writers have been assigned to prepare "McGlusky's Lucky Day" and "Anybody Here Seen Kelly" for summer shooting. Harold Buchman is working on the former and Edmund Hartmann on the latter. Autograph Please Robert Young obliges a young fan on location for "Maisie" in lehich he is featured with Ann Sothern. // is an MGM picture, being directed by Edwin L. Marin and produced by J. Walter Ruben. Newest Ginger Rogers Starrer Starts With Top Supporting Cast Ginger Rogers' newest starring vehicle for RKO, "My Fifth Avenue Girl," got the "go" signal from producer-director Gregory La Cava last Monday with one of the strongest supporting casts ever assembled for a production at the Gower Street studio. The cast includes James Ellison, Walter Connolly, Veree Teasdale, Franklyn Pangborn, Ferike Boros, Kathryn Hohn, Manda Lane and Louis Calhern. Miss Hohn is a newcomer recently discovered by La Cava when she visited Hollywood for auditions in the Jesse Lasky "Gateway to Hollywood" talent search, "My Fifth Avenue Girl" is being filmed from the screenplay by Morrie Ryskind and Winifred Kay, based on Frank R. Adams' original story in Red Book Magazine. Studio Executives Are Set for Paramount's Annual Convention Paramount studio executives are all set for the annual sales convention opening at the Ambassador Hotel, June 7-10 inclusive. Delegates from every state are expected. The convention will open with William LeBaron, Y. Frank Freeman and Harold Hurley slated to speak on the first day with the evening devoted to a showing of 1939-40 product already completed. The second day will be opened by Neil F. Agnew, vice-president in charge of sales, speaking on the production line-up, to be followed by ?. trip to the studio in the afternoon and evening. Bufl^et supper will be served in the studio commissary for the delegates. The business session will close on Saturday, the 10th, at noon. The annual banquet is slated for the Cocoanut Grove that evening. New Talent What producer Joe Pasternak hopes zvill turn out to be a "lucky day" provided the occasion for this meeting on the first day's shooting of "The Underfup", his new picture for Universal. Elevenyear old Gloria Jean of Scranton, Pa. (right) makes her first appearance in the title role w hi I e Marie Farnum is another youngster in the cast.