Boxoffice (Sep 8, 1951)

% MORE COLOR FILMS AND STARS ON NEW MONOGRAM PROGRAM 45 Features to Be Made Ai a Steady Rate of Four Each Month TORONTO—More color pictures than they ever released before, a more important star roster, the filming of popular stories by name authors—several of them literary classics— and a greatly augmented producer contingent were all reflected in the confidence with which Steve Broidy, president of Monogram and Allied Artists, announced his companies’ 1951-52 season. Forty-five feature films, to be made at a steady rate of four a month, were detailed to a meeting of the Monogram Canadian distributing representatives at the King Edward hotel here Friday (7). PLAN 13 IN CINECOLOR More than one-fourth of the entire output will be filmed in Cinecolor, he said. These will be six high-budget Allied Artists productions, one Walter Wanger special and six Monogram productions. “The 100 per cent increase in color films,” Broidy said, “is a result of the highly satisfactory returns we had on our six color specials released last season.” The balance of the variegated Monogram program will include 32 films with all types of entertainment planned for the modern market, the company president stated. The entire program, Broidy revealed for the first time, will be under the supervision of newly appointed executive producer Walter Mirisch. “Furthermore,” he added, ‘“‘the door will be kept wide open for any producer who can augment this program with product which measures up to the caliber of our already scheduled films.” Several other innovations for its Hollywood studios were noted in Monogram’s schedule, including a heavier use of topical stories and the casting of two stars in the western product. The six Johnny Mack Brown films, for instance, will co-star Jimmy Ellison, while the six in the Whip Wilson series will have Jim (‘Red Ryder”) Bannon and Fuzzy Knight in support. THREE FROM WALTER WANGER The Allied Artists program will include three Walter Wanger productions. First to go will be “Yellow Knife,” based on the Saturday Evening Post serial, “Buccaneer of the Barrens,” by Robert Ormond Case. John Tucker Battle, who scripted “The Frogmen,” has been signed to do the screenplay. Second on the Wanger program will be “Queen of the Universe,” an original story by Ben Hecht, with Sherman Lowe doing the screenplay, followed by “Beauty and the Beast.” Scott R. Dunlap will produce “The Police Story” with the cooperation of the Los Angeles police department and “Battle Zone,” timely war drama. Scheduled as a Walter Mirisch production on the Allied Artists slate is “The Black Knight,” the story of Richard the Lion-Hearted. Heading the Monogram Cinecolor program will be Wanger’s “Aladdin and His Lamp,” augmented by six Monogram specials includ BOXOFFICE :: September 8, 1951 | nea wy AT KANSAS CITY MEETING 7 +f | é The Monogram sales and production executives who met in Kansas City are (seated) in the usual order: G. Ralph Branton, member of the board; Steve Broidy, president; Morey Goldstein, general sales manager; Harold Mirisch, vice-president. Standing: L. E. Goldhammer, eastern sales manager; John C. Flinn, director of advertising and publicity; Ed Morey, vice-president; Lloyd Lind, supervisor of exchanges; James Prichard, southwest division sales manager; Walter Mirisch, executive producer, and Harold Wirthwein, western sales manager. KANSAS CITY—At a two-day session here (September 4, 5) Monogram Pictures Corp. sales and production executives discussed policies and plans for the marketing of the company’s 1951-52 product output. Steve Broidy, president, was highly enthusiastic, particularly about the high-budget all-color specials to be released both as Monogram and Allied Artists productions. Announcement thereon, made at Toronto, appears in the adjoining columns. Addressing the convention of the Commonwealth Theatres, Inc., also meeting at Kansas City, Broidy urged that promotional activities be extended throughout the 365 days in the year, not held to special occasions. ing “Hiawatha,” to be produced by Mirisch; “Flat Top,” to be produced with the cooperation of the U.S. navy; “Wagons West,” starring Rod Cameron, to be made by Vincent M. Fennelly; “The Rose Bowl Story,” which will bring the traditional game and event to the screen; “Wild Stallion” and “Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come.” Leo Gorcey with Huntz Hall, under the guidance of Producer Jerry Thomas, will lead the Bowery Boys in four films, including “Bowery Leathernecks” and three others to be announced shortly. Johnny Sheffield will again star in two of the Bomba, the Jungle Boy series, which will be “African Treasure” and “Jungle Girl,” with Mirisch as producer. Two Wayne Morris starrers, “Submarine School,” to be filmed with the cooperation of the U.S. navy at New London, Conn., and “Starlight Canyon,” will be produced by Lindsley Parsons. Wild Bill Elliott, newly acquired western star, will appear in two outdoor specials, to be filmed in sepia tone, “The Longhorn” and “Vengeance Trail.” Stanley Clements will launch his new Monogram contract with “Jet Job” and “Army Bound,” to be produced by Ben Schwalb. The topical pictures will be based on fast-moving events taken from the front pages. The popular James Oliver Curwood stories starring Kirby Grant and featuring Chinook, the canine star, will be produced by Lindsley Parsons. They are “Yukon Gold” and ‘“Timber Wolf.” From William F. Broidy Productions will come two action pictures, “Escape to Freedom,” starring Roddy McDowall, and “Sea Tiger.” Two collegiate pictures to be made against athletic backgrounds are scheduled. The entire western program will be produced by Vincent M. Fennelly. ny Zanuck Back From Europe After Production Talks HOLLYWOOD—Darry! Zanuck, 20th Century-Fox preduction head, has returned from Europe. While his trip abroad was primarily a vacation, he met with proeduction aides while over there on plans fer a number of films, including “Five Fingers,” now in production at Ankara; “Diplomatic Courier” and “Snows of Kilimantaro.” Locations are still to be chosen for the last two.