Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

A Haze Settles Over Americanism Trend For the first time since it gathered full momentum, Hollywood's still unofficial Americanization production policy received a stiff setback through the disclosure that Metro has permanently shelved plans to produce Sinclair Lewis’ “It Can’t Happen Here,” on the eve of its scheduled production start. Leslie Fenton had been slated to direct and Lewis Stone and Edward Arnold were committed for leading roles. While the studio declared the reason for its abandonment was the feeling that times, at present, are not “politically propitious for its making,” the consensus of opinion among local railbirds is that the boxoffice fate of Warner’s “Confessions of a Nazi Spy,” now in general release, was one of the greatest factors in Metro’s decision. This explanation, if correct, immediately poses the question as to what Warner itself will do with several features of comparable content, the making of which had been previously announced. Although one studio attache declared that, to the best of his belief, they were still on schedule, a pair of such announced offerings at Warner have not yet hit the starting line, although now more than a week overdue. These are “Boycott” and “Underground,” both purportedly factual exposes of the German-American Bunds, which were originally scheduled to go into production simultaneously June 5. There is no apparent indication at present the films will get into work in the near future. Suffering a likewise nebulous fate is “The Bishop Who Walked With God,” a story of the German minister, Martin Niemoller, imprisoned by Hitler, which Warner at one time announced was being shaped as a starring vehicle for Paul Muni, to roll this summer. Furthermore, Metro has scheduled no immediate action on three other anti-dictator properties it has acquired, including a new Erich Maria Remarque novel of post-war Germany, Viscount Casselross’ “I Had a Comrade” and Phyllis Bottome’s “The Mortal Storm.” Production on all three is in the hazy future. These developments, seemingly, are failing to deter Charles Chaplin in his plans to film “The Dictators,” however. While actual camera work has not begun, a spokesman for the veteran producer-comedian reiterated Chaplin has no intention of abandoning his project. Miniature and process work has been underway for more than a month, Chaplin has invested heavily in sound and recording equipment, and the production delay is officially explained as script trouble. Ritzes and Jane Twentieth Century-Fox announces plans to co-star Jane Withers and the Ritz Bros, in “Tin Hats,” a world war comedy, with H. Bruce Humberstone directing for the Sol Wurtzel production unit. Lou Breslow and Owen Francis wrote the orginal screenplay. Production starts in two weeks. Republic Expansion Program to Start Republic gets under way within a few days on the first lap of its scheduled $500,000 building and expansion program on the North Hollywood lot. with C. L. Lootens, engineer in charge of operations, scheduled to break ground for a $40,000 annex to the administration building. It will serve as headquarters for writers and will accommodate from 30 to 40 scriveners. Press Preview for Indusfry Exhibit “Land of Liberty,” assembled to serve as the motion picture industry’s exhibit at the Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, and the New York World’s Fair, was given a press preview, the only Hollywood presentation it will have. The picture will not be shown in theatres; its exhibition is to be restricted to the two fairs. The feature, which in its present length runs for 140 minutes, is an engrossing cavalcade of American history during the past 150 years. Utilizing sequences from 124 features and short subjects produced during the past 25 years along with hundreds of clips from newsreel and stock material, the presentation is so masterfully edited and narrated that it possesses a surprising continuity of story. For film fans, in fact, anyone interested in America, it will prove splendid and educational entertainment, an achievement to which the entire industry may point with pride. Veteran Producer-Director Cecil B. DeMille, assisted by Herbert L. Moulton, William H. Pine and Francis S. Harmon, is credited with assembling and editing. James T. Shotwell served as historical consultant and the narration was written by Jeanie Macpherson and Jesse L. Lasky jr. Fifty-three producing and distributing companies are listed as having made available the wide variety of material from which the footage was selected, while a partial list of the players who appeared therein reads like a Hollywood who’s who — past and present. The project was carried forward under the auspices of the Hays organization. — SPEAR. Up "Rains” Budget An additional $100,000 has been allotted to the budget of “The Rains Came” at 20th Century-Fox, and writers have been assigned to tack a new ending onto the film version of Louis Bromfield’s novel. "Torchy” to Noel Smith Warner has assigned Noel Smith to direct “Torchy’s Invitation to a Murder,” next in the “Torchy” series, featuring Jane Wyman and Allen Jenkins. Drive Continues for "Slaves" Bookings Professing itself unable to specifically name the “organized opposition” which it claims was applying pressure to prevent showings of RKO Radio’s “Boy Slaves” in this territory, and reporting that, during the past week, the film has been booked into several subsequent-run houses in the area, the Associated Film Audiences is nevertheless continuing its drive to secure increased bookings for the picture. Pledges of support in pursuit of this goal were garnered from a score or more of AFA members at a mass meeting held June 10, at which “Boy Slaves” was screened and made the chief topic of discussion, led by Fritz Lang, director, and Albert Bein, author of the story on which the picture was based. Coincident with this meeting, according to Donald Murray, executive secretary of the AFA, it was learned “Boy Slaves” had been booked into Bard’s Adams Theatre, the Hollyway, and various houses in Ingelwood, Redondo Beach and other outlying suburbs. “Pressure" Is Charged Murray had at first charged the Business and Professional Women of Los Angeles with being the organization which had applied "pressure” upon RKO Radio to “play down” the film. This he withdrew when Boxoffice gained a vehement denial from Mrs. Odessa Davis, motion picture preview chairman of the group, that she or any other member of the club had attempted to exert such pressure, although she admitted she had written an unfavorable review of the picture. This was concurred in by spokesmen for both the RKO Radio studio and the company’s Los Angeles exchange. Possibly due to the advent of summer weather, other activity of Hollywood’s many progressive organizations dwindled to the minimum. A trio of film colonists indicated they would attend the first annual membership meeting of the Western Consumers’ Union in San Francisco June 17, the delegates to include Dorothy Tree, Scenarist Philip Dunne and Melvyn Douglas. Propaganda and the significance of broadcasting in its dissemination was explained to members of the American League for Peace and Democracy, Hollywood branch, by J. Frank Burke, owner of radio station KFVD. Helen Gahagan and Gale Sondergaard were co-chairmen of the affair. Hollywood contributors to Black and White, a new monthly news digest published here, include Donald Ogden Stewayt, Philip Dunne, Eric Winter and Cedric Belfrage. Gets Crosby Film First production assignment for Jack Moss at Paramount will be the Bing Crosby starrer, “Every Day Is Sunday,” which Henry Hathaway will direct. Vina Delmar wrote the original story under the title “The End of the World.” 34 BOXOFFICE :: June 17, 1939