Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

s 1 1 ( ) vv M K N ■ s r R A I ) i< !•: V 1 J<: vv The Candid Camera Clicks Fraxces Dee and Ralph Bellamy were snapped chatting bctzcccn scenes of Columbia's "Coast Guard," zvliilc the film company ivas on location at Santa Catalina Island. Randolph Scott is also in the production zvhich is being directed by Edward Ludwig. Muriel Angelus Gets Lead in Para's "Light That Failed" Muriel Angelus, feminine star of the Broadway hit, "The Boys From Syracuse," received the top role in Paramount's William A. W'ellman production, "The Light That Failed," starring Ronald Colman. Recently signed to a long term contract. Miss Angelus will make her American screen debut in the Kipling story. The young actress has an extensive background of screen experience obtained in England, where she also was a hit on the concert stage and in radio, before coming to this country. Picture will po before the cameras the early part of next week when Producer-director Wellman takes his company to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Ida Lupino, Thomas Mitchell and Dudley Digges are also in the cast. Directorial Switches James Cagney's next starring picture for Warner Bros., "The World Moves On," will be directed by Raoul Walsh instead of Anatole Litvak, who will direct "20,000 Years in Sing Sing." Walsh was scheduled to direct the Sing Sing story and Litvak had been assigned to Cagney's vehicle, but changes in production program and availability of the directors, caused the switch in assignments. All-Dartmouth Epic "Winter Carnival," recently completed at the Walter Wanger studio, should be listed as an "All-Dartmouth" epic. Mr. Wanger is a graduate of the college as are Budd SchulRERG and Maurice Rapf, who wrote the screenplay with Lester Cole. Robert Allen, one of the supporting players and Werner Janssen, composer of the musical score, are also from Dartmouth. Join "Hollywood Cavalcade" Alan Curtis, Lynn Bari and Robert Lowery have been added to the cast of "Hollywood Cavalcade," 20th Century-Fox' musical in Technicolor, starring Don Ameche and Alice Faye. The film has two associate producers, Harry Joe Brown and Mack Sennett with Irving Cummings directing. Sennett will also serve as technical adviser and play himself in the picture. Warner Bros. Will Launch Record Summer Production Warner Btds. studio will launch a record summer production schedule with IS features slated for the cameras between now and September 15, Jack L. Warner vice-president in charge of production, announced this week. Supplementing these features will be a number of short subjects. The pictures to be made during the next twelve weeks include: "l)r. Elirlich," "The World Moves on," "20,000 Years in Sing Sing," "All This and Heaven, Too," "The Spirit of Knute Rockne," "Tombstone," "The Fighting 69th," "We Are Not Alone," "Four V\'ives," "The Sea Hawk," "Invisible Stripes," "And It All Came True," "The Dead End Kids at Military School," "Roller Derby" and "Torchy's Invitation to a Murder." Pof/r 29 AI3CLIND H€LLy>V€CE) with the "Oldtimer" Spent a very pleasant hour with Fkanklyn Warner on the set of Fine Arts "Isle of Destiny," and received some needed information on Cosmocolor photography. Practically the entire electrical equipment on the Grand National lot has been given over to this production. Looks like Mr. Warner has something in this one. Sally Eilers in "Confessions" Sally Eilers returns to RKO to play the feminine lead opposite Victor McLaglen in "Full Confessions." Producer Robert Sisk expects to send the picture before the cameras within the next week under the direction of John Farrow. Joseph Calleia, brilliant character actor, will play an important role. Inaugurates Writing Course Selecting ten gratudates from a canvas of thirty-four colleges, MGM will inaugurate a junior writing course under the direction of Kenneth MacKenna, head of the studio story department. Story construction will be featured in this course and later provisional writing assignments will be made. Universal Signs Newcomer Universal has signed Anne Gwynne to a term acting contract, and she will make her debut in "Sandy Takes A Bow," now rolling at the studio. Miss Gwynne comes from the Bliss-Hayden Little Theatre and has had no previous picture experience. Hand Quicker Than Eye Chester Morris received word this week from New York that at the annual meeting of the Society of American Magicians, he had been elected regional vice-president, proving that the hand is quicker than the eye. Morris is now playing in MGM's "Thunder Afloat," and is NOT making the tugboat disappear. "Flight at Midnight" Set MoE J. Siegel, Republic production head, ha» set the starting date of the long delayed "Flight at Midnight," featuring RoscoE Turner, for July 5 with Armand Schaefer producing. Siegel has just returned from a vacation in New York where he was checking on plays and new talent for the studio. Good or Days Gene Autry (center) popular present-day cowboy star, Smiley Burnette (left) his comical running mate, and Elmo Lincoln, the original Tarsan and former serial and action hero are shown here between scenes of Republic's "Colorado Sunset" discussing "good ol' days." Now that RKO have tested almost every available male in Hollywood for the lead in "Hunchback of Notre Dame," may we be bold enough to suggest one of the finest actors in the movie city, Abner Biberman. From where we're sitting, Ab looks like a natural for the job. Hollywood is sure a funny place. M. H. Hoffman, on the Republic Payroll for the past ten months checked off the lot this week without producing one single picture. Mike had four stories ready, and was due to start "Highway Police Patrol" in a few days. One of the striking sights at the Paramount convention was Robert M. Gillham, director of publicity and advertising, bending low to talk to Alec Moss, New York advertising boss. Bob is a good six-foot-three and Alec a mere five-foot-three, or four, or five. Pleased to see you again, Alec. Ran into Tex Ritter at the preview of his latest for Monogram, "Down the Wyoming Trail," at the studio the other day, and will say that the Ritter fans will go for this one in a big way. We were only kidding when we said that Tex and Producer Ed Finney were going to change places on the next one, but still think Ed has more sex appeal. Wish the lads at the studios would stop changing titles on us so often. Every time we get a story or two set, and announce the name of a picture, they seem to "gang" up and switch it to something else. We've had exactly sixteen changes in the past two weeks ... a new high, or something. After watching Jack Benny kiss the ladies in "Man About Town," we are beginning to feel sorry for Mary . . . and suggest that he take a few lessons from his old pal La\^i:rn.