Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

Few Roadshows Are Likely For the 1939-40 Season Hays Approval on Rosen's Script With the 1939-40 product lineup from most of the major studios having been either formulated or definitely announced, indications are that roadshow treatment for the biggest-budgeted efforts will be equally as infrequent, at least in this territory, as it was during the 1938 season. Bookings for roadshows, which are recorded on a January-to-January dating, rather than the August-to-August year adhered to in production and general distribution, found only three features given such treatment in 1938 in the Carthay Circle and Four-Star Theatres. While no definite announcements have been made as to two-a-day bookings for the new year’s product in this area, two pictures are listed as extremely likely candidates—Warner’s “Juarez” and M-G-M’s “Gone With the Wind,” now being produced by Selznick International. Warner will roadshow its “Juarez” at the Hollywood Theatre, in New York City, beginning April 28, with every likelihood it will be accorded similar treatment elsewhere. Now in discussional stages is a plan whereby it may be two-a-dayed at either the Carthay Circle or Warner’s Beverly Theatre in Beverly Hills. On this no decision has been announced, however. From all indications, “Gone With the Wind” is slated for roadshow treatment when completed, although no official plans have been broadcast as yet. During 1938 only two pictures — “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Marie Antoinette” — were given two-a-day showings at the Carthay Circle, while the Fourplayed host to but one roadshow, “In Old Chicago.” This compares with a total of eight in the two houses the previous year. Considered strong possibilities should the once-popular roadshow policy revive to any great degree are such 1939-40 offerings as: Metro — “The Wizard of Oz,” Technicolor version of the famous Frank Baum fantasy; “Northwest Passage,” co-featuring Spencer Tracy, Robert Taylor and Wallace Beery; “Madame Curie,” and “The Wizard of Menlo Park,” a biography of Thomas Edison. 20th Century-Fox — “The Rains Came,” a $2,000,000 production just underway; “Stanley and Livingston,” now completed; “Hollywood Cavalcade.” Warner — “The Knight and the Lady,” with Errol Flynn and Bette Davis; “The Sea Hawk,” also starring Flynn; Paul Muni’s “The Life of Beethoven;” “Disraeli,” with Claude Rains. Paramount — “Rulers of the Seas,” a Frank Lloyd production; “Knights of the Round Table,” with Douglas Fairbanks jr. ; “Invasion,” imaginative concept of the United States in a defensive war; “Beau Geste.” RKO Radio — has two-a-day possibilities in “The American Way” and “Abe Lincoln in Illinois,” both to be produced by Max Gordon and Harry Goetz; Walt Disney’s feature cartoon, “Pinocchio.” Columbia— The Frank Capra produc Paramount Tieup on 50 th Anniversary First evidence of a studio’s tying in and cashing in on a connection with the golden anniversary of motion pictures next October 6 comes from Paramount, where an announcement discloses the formation of a “Golden Circle” comprising 14 studio players who are to be given an exploitation and publicity buildup in connection with films’ 50th anniversary. President Barney Balaban, Stanton Griffis, Neil Agnew and other New York executives currently visiting the plant, have given the plan their official okay. Players will make a nation-wide tour next fall, climaxing the jaunt at Menlo Park, N. J., where Thomas Edison developed the kinetoscope — forerunner of the modern film projector — nearly 50 years ago. The 14 “Golden Circle” players include Joseph Allen, Muriel Angelus, Judith Barrett, Louise Campbell, Ellen Drew, Betty Field. Susan Hayward, William Henry, William Holden, Evelyn Keyes, Janice Logan, Joyce Mathews, Patricia Morison and Robert Preston. Paramount thus takes the initiative in acting upon the Hays office’s recommendation that the individual companies observe the anniversary. As yet no such concrete steps have been taken at other studios, although their respective publicity heads all attended a meeting at the Hays office some weeks ago at which it was agreed the industry’s 50th birthday should be fittingly honored. At that time a recommendation that a general industry celebration be held was drafted and forwarded to the producers association in New York, but so far no answer has been received. Publicity spokesmen for Warner, M-G-M and other plants have indicated, however, that plans of a nature comparable to those initiated by Paramount will undoubtedly be mapped. " Sherlock Holmes " Next Twentieth Century-Fox has announced “Sherlock Holmes” as a sequel to “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” with Basil Rathbone repeating as the famous sleuth and Nigel Bruce again set to portray Dr. Watson. "Hardy" Meg to Van Dyke “Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever” will be directed by W. S. VanDyke for Metro. tion, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington;” “Golden Boy,” which has just been launched; “The Lost Atlantis,” being prepared by Trem Carr and Fred Jackman on a $1,000,000 budget. United Artists — Charles Chaplin’s “The Dictators;” Samuel Goldwyn’s “The Music School.” Recent revival of A1 Rosen’s plans to produce “The Mad Dog of Europe” as a picturization of conditions within Nazi Germany, has taken another substantial step forward through the disclosure that the Hays office has gone on record with the declaration that the script submitted by Rosen lives up to the requirements of the production code although branded as “enormously dangerous” material for distribution outside the United States. Fifteen revisions, none of major importance, in the script written by Rosen, Herman Mankiewicz and Lynn Root were suggested by Joseph I. Breen of the producers’ association. “The material appears to be acceptable under the provisions of the production code,” Breen declared in a communication to Rosen, “but it is, we fear, enormously dangerous from the standpoint of political censorship outside the United States.” “From the standpoint of political censorship,” Breen’s comment continued, “it is our thought that you are likely to have serious difficulty in marketing in the foreign field.” The Hays official made specific reference to the British board of censors. During Rosen’s three previous attempts to launch production on the feature, he was unable to secure a Hays seal, the association having objected on the grounds its production and distribution would result in Germany’s refusal to allow entry to any American film product. This was one of two major obstacles — the other being Rosen’s heretofore unsuccessful attempts to finance his venture. Rosen heads for New York this week, an eastern group having indicated it is is prepared to finance him. Nucleus of “The Mad Dog of Europe” is some 3,000 feet of negative film comprising actual scenes of street rioting, life in Nazi concentration camps and other material, brought to this country under the greatest difficulty. Rosen declares he was offered $120,000 for the clips and script by a representative of the German government some years ago and that ExMayor James Walker of New York, who was acting as his attorney, flatly refused. Gordon , Goetz to Produce "Abe Lincoln" lor RKO To be produced as their second for RKO Radio release, Max Gordon and Harry Goetz have acquired screen rights to “Abe Lincoln in Illinois,” Broadway play. Raymond Massey, appearing as Lincoln in the stage production, will repeat in the film version. First RKO Radio-Gordon production will be “The American Way,” also running on Broadway. "Golden Boy" Role The lead in Columbia’s “Golden Boy” will be played by William Holden. 28 BOXOFFICE :: April 22, 1939