Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

Forty in Production Is Slight Decline Production in Hollywood’s film factories has slipped down a few notches, the total in work standing at 40, with seven others being prepared for immediate starts. Columbia had no starts scheduled. Its total dwindled to four features and a serial as two others, “Criminal at Large” and “Escape Prom Alcatraz,” went into the cutting rooms. Grand National is again idle, Fine Arts having completed “Isle of Destiny.” Metro gunned “The Return of the Thin Man” to boost its pace to nine. Monogram is filming two, having started “Mr. Wong in Chinatown.” Paramount held its own, starting a pair and finishing two others. New ones include “Dr. Cyclops” and “Our Neighbors — the Carters.” Going into the cutting rooms were “Disputed Passage” and “The Star Maker.” Six are currently in work at the plant. Republic continues filming a pair, neither new starts. RKO Radio has only three in production, including a new entry, “Everything’s on Ice.” “Frontier Marshal” has gone into production at 20th Century-Fox, giving the studio a five picture total. On the runways at Universal are “Hawaiian Nights” and “Fury of the Tropics,” raising the total to eight — capacity. United Artists lists three — one each from Selznick International, Samuel Goldwyn and Hal Roach. Warner gunned “Torchy’s Invitation to a Murder” to total seven. Two Studio Executives to Attend RKO Sales Meet RKO Radio’s national sales convention, to be held in New York June 19-22 as the final major company parley of the season, will be attended by two studio executives, several of the Los Angeles exchange personnel and a pair of the independent producers who are releasing through the company. Howard Benedict, studio publicity director, has already gone east, to be followed by J. R. McDonough, vice-president in charge of studio operation, who headquarters here. Pandro Berman, chief of production, does not plan to attend, according to studio attaches. Herbert Wilcox, who will complete filming of “Nurse Edith Cavell,” his first production for RKO Radio release, some time next week, will depart June 20 to appear on the last day of the convention. He will be accompanied by Anna Neagle, star of the film. Also slated to appear is Howard Lang, vice-president of William Stephens Productions, which will make a series of “Dr. Christian” pictures starring Jean Hersholt. Harry C. Cohen, western district manager, will head the sales contingent trekking eastward. The local exchange will be represented by Newton P. (Red) Jacobs, branch manager; and J. F. Samuels, Joe Rubenstein, Sam Whitehead and Lou Fink, salesmen. Frank Sindler, office manager, will remain here. Conventioneers plan to leave June 15 by train. Riskin' s Resignation to Take Effect in July Robert Riskin has submitted his resignation as production executive for Samuel Goldwyn, effective upon completion of his first year’s work in July. The former Columbia writer has made no announcement as to his future plans and did not explain the reason for his departure from the Goldwyn retinue. He has been functioning as a writer and associate producer, acting in the latter capacity on "Music School,” just completed, and “The Real Glory,” now in production. In its third attempt, Metro has inaugurated another junior writing department at the Culver City studio, selecting ten June graduates to learn the scrivening trade under the supervision of Kenneth MacKenna, head of the studio story department. They will be tutored by Richard Schayer, film writer. The embryonic scenarists include Thomas Seller, Yale and Stanford: Hunter Hendee, Harvard; Bernard Straub, University of Washington; Joy Davidman, Hunter; Ethel Frank, Vassar; Walter Doniger, Harvard; Robert Metzler, University of Southern California; Virginia Rooks, Manhattan ville; Alfred Eisner, Harvard; and John T. Southwell, Grinnell. Richard Altschuler has succeeded H. R. Brown as purchasing agent at the Republic studio. He replaces H. R. Brown, who has been named assistant to E. H. Goldstein, studio manager. New head of Republic’s sound effects department is Herb Norsch, succeeding Hank DeMond, who resigned. After ten months on the lot, Producer M. H. Hoffman has checked out. He had prepared four stories but placed none of them before the cameras. Paramount has added Louis A. Sarecky and Louis Kaye to its writing unit, while four others — Malcolm Stuart Boylan, Tom Kilpatrick, Edmund North and Donald Ogden Stewart — have completed their assignments and left the lot. Nicaraguan President Has A.n Encouraging Word Impressed by his first view of the film capital, President Anastasio Samoza of Nicaragua has predicted a great future for American motion pictures in the LatinAmerican countries, and declares they “best meet the entertainment needs” of those nations because “we are more familiar with American life than European life and appreciate the American productions best.” Samoza and his official party toured Paramount as the guests of Y. Frank Freeman, vice-president in charge of operations, and were served tea in Freeman’s offices. Tire party included Mrs. Samoza; their daughter Lillian; Dr. Leon de Bayle, Nicaraguan minister of foreign relations; Paul La Galyo, consul in Los Angeles; G. A. Drew; L. C. Tubbs, of the U. S. department of state; Capt. Earle Shipp, U. S. navy; Col. Charles H. Mason, U. S. Army; and Lieuts. Pedio Romero and Octavio Sacasa of the Nicaraguan military forces. Independent Firm Is Formed by Dreifuss Formation of a new independent company for the production of at least three action pictures, with a minimum budget of $125,000 each, has been announced by Arthur Dreifuss, currently producing a series of musical short subjects independently for Columbia release. Dreifuss plans to leave for New York next week to consummate a financial deal, and will embark on production upon his return. He is negotiating for a major release. Dreifuss at one time was connected with Coronado Pictures, releasing through Grand National. William C. Kent has resigned as vicepresident of the Dreifuss organization, and has been succeeded by Ben Black, formerly of Fanchon and Marco, Dreifuss announces. In addition to the three featurelength attractions, the remaining nine subjects in the Columbia shorts series will be filmed during the summer. Leonard Goldstein has started production of the first in a series of one-reelers based on the “Photo Crimes” feature in Look Magazine. He is filming at Grand National for an as yet unsecured release. Grand National itself is idle, although Fine Arts, GN production unit, is doing re-takes on the just-completed “Isle of Destiny.” Despite the fact Max Baer lost to Lou Nova in the recent heavyweight debacle, GN spokesmen declare plans are still progressing to feature Baer in a series of musical western, starting late this month. Fine Arts has another in its “Cipher Bureau” series ready to go, but is awaiting the return of Director Charles Lamont, currently piloting a picture for Universal. Added to J. D. Trap’s independent production schedule are “The Devil’s Highway” and “The Uncrowned King,” both based on outdoor books by Harold Bell Wright. Trap, who until recently was an executive production assistant to Harry Sherman, is lining up an extensive program of outdoor action vehicles to be made for 1939-40 release. The Condor Corp., which recently was given court authority to take over the assets of Condor Pictures in a reorganizational program, has been granted permission to increase its stock issue from 40,000 to 45,000 shares, and to raise the aggregate value of both Class A and Class B stock from $140,000 to $165,000. Changes were requested by a committee representing the unsecured creditors. Trustee Clinton Miller’s request that Attorney Max Forst be paid $321.63 for legal services, and that Felix M. Cunningham also be allowed $500 in attorney’s fees, was granted. Assign John Stone John Stone’s next production assignment at 20th Century-Fox will be “The Adventurer,” now being scripted by Arthur Lewis and Robert Yost from their own original. 32 BOXOFFICE :: June 17, 1939