Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

Page 28 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW June 17, 1939 STR West Coast Offices Guaranty Building 6331 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, Calif. Telephone, Hollywood 1390 Strollin' Thru the Studios Marjorie Reynolds is playing the feminine lead in Monogram's "Mr. Wong in Chinatown", now before the cameras with Boris Karloff starring. Others playing prominent roles are Grant Withers, Lotus Long, Peter George Lynn and Willie Fong. William Nigh is directing from the screenplay by Scott Darling. Frontier" and "Vigil in the Night." William Dieterle, William Seiter and George Stevens will direct in the order named. Jane Bryan has been set for an important role in MGM's "These Glamour Girls," Lana Turner-Lew Ayres feature which S. Sylvan Simon is directing under the production wing of Sam Zimbalist. Gloria Dickson will join Zorina and Eddie Albert in the Warner Bros, screen translation of "On Your Toes", Broadway musical comedy hit. The adaptation of the Rodgers and Hart book goes before the cameras this week under the direction of Ray Enright. Franklyn Warner's first Cosmocolor production for Fine Arts, "Isle of Destiny", finished shooting this week with one of the strongest casts ever seen in an indeoendent picture. Cast includes Wallace Ford, June Lang, William Gargan, and Gilbert Roland. Nate Watt left for Lone Pine to set scenes for the three-week location of "Argentina," which he directs for Harry Sherman. Derwin Abrahams, assistant director, and Louis Rachmil, art director, accompany him. Jane Withers and the Ritz Brothers will be co-starred in 20th Century-Fox' "Tin Hats," scheduled to go before the cameras within the ne.xt two weeks with H. Bruce Humberstone directing. The Ritz Brothers have just retiirned from a P. A. tour to prepare for the picture. Gene Autry, No. 1 western star, goes over to Paramount on a one-picture deal for the top spot in Z:ine Grey's "Emperor of the West", scheduled as a special on the 1939-40 program! This will be the first outside picture for Autry since signing with Republic several years ago. Gordon Douglas reports back to the Hal Roach studios as assistant to Roach on the direction of "The Housekeeper's Dau<^hter " which is scheduled to start in about three weeks. Dennis O'Keefe replaces Jack Oakie in Universal's "Sand;.' Takes A Bow", now before the cameras under the direction of Charles LaMONT, with Ken Goldsmith producina;. Sandy, Mischa Auer and Shirley Ross head the cast with Joy Hodges, Donald Briggs. Dorothy Arnold, Anne Nagel and Richard Lane in supporting roles. The United States Senate scenes in Frank Capra's "A'Ir. Smith Goes To Washington," now in production at Columbia, tops anything being filmed in Hollywood today. Capra's technical advisor is James D. "Jim" Preston, for 35 years superintendent of the United States Senate press gallery. Work started on setting up of special icerink for use in SoL Lesser's forthcoming Irene Dare starrer, "Everything's On Ice", slated to roll on June 19. Rink was originally built for the ice review at the International Casino in New York and covers an area of 50 by 75 feet. Erle Kenton directs the picture. The next of Republic's Th ee Mesquiteer. series, "Timberline Cowbovs", will «el the .starting gun on June 24, with George Sherman directing and Bill Berke p-oducing. John WAYNE, Ray Corrican and Raymond H\tton continue in the featured roles. Production started last week on MGM's "Blackmail," new drama which stars Edward G. Robinson and Ruth Hussey. Henry C. Potter is the director with Gil Curlin working as his assistant. RKO has scheduled three of its top-budget p^tures for July shooting. The three a^re. Hunchback of Notre Dame," "Alleglianv Ida Lupino and Alan Marshall have been signed for the romantic leads in "Adventures of Sherlock Holmes", scheduled to get under way at 20th Century-Fox shortly. Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce will portray the characters of Holmes and Dr. Watson. Alfred Werker will direct for associate producer Gene Markey. Script Discussion Franklyn Warner discussed a scene zvith VV'illiam Gargan for his current production, "Isle of Destiny." At the right is Arthur Hoerl, who ivrotc the screenplay for this production being filmed in Cosmocolor. Samuel Berkowitz, executive manager of Fine Arts, is interested spectator. A Couple of Debuts Director Gregory Ratoff imparts final hints to Elsa Maxwell and Linda Darnell, both of whom are making their acting debuts before the cameras at 20th Century-Fox in "Elsa Maxwell's Hotel For Women." Elsa is — well, Elsa — and Linda is a young Dallas, Texas girl zvho took the Cinderalla route to a contract and leading roles overnight. Construction Work Completed For "Northwest Passage" Unit With construction work completed on location sets for "Northwest Passage," unit manager Jay Marchant and his crew returned to the MGA'I lot from McCall, Idaho, to supervise final studio preparations for the departure of the troupe headed by Spencer Tracy. Four men remained at McCall to handle prop and wardrobe shipments being sent from Culver City by rail, as production is scheduled to begin in two weeks with King Vidor directing and Hunt Stromberg producing. Truman Bradley has been set for a featured role, playing the leader in the Ranger band. Third Tailspin Tommy The third picture in the Tailspin Tommy series, "Sky Patrol," goes into production the end of this month with John Trent, Marjorie Reynolds and Milburn Stone continuing in the leading roles. Producer Paul Malvern is at present editing the second of the series, "Stunt Pilot." Norton S. Parker handled the screenplay for "Sky Patrol," which, like the first two of the series, will be released by Monogram. "Little Pepper" Series Starts The first of Margaret Sidney Lothrop's "Little Pepper" series is scheduled to start production at Columbia within the next week, under the direction of John Brahm. It is "Five Little Peppers and How They Grew," and Edith Fellows will play the starring role. The series should prove a great break for the girl star who has climbed up to outstanding prominence as a result of long service for her years and the display of remarkable ability.