Box office digest (May-Dec 1946)

i8 BOX OFFICE DIGEST flashes + + ( Continued from Page 4) Were and There + + ★ ★ ★ On completion of the Stephen Ames RKO production “Sinbad the Sailor’’ Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., is starting his own independent picture making company, with Clarence Erickson, long business manager for his father, associated. ★ ★ ★ Kathryn Grayson and Jimmy Durante will have the top spots in MGM’s “It Happened in Brooklyn." ★ if ★ Paul McNamara, advertising and publicity director for Selznick enterprises, has appointed Sidney Alexander as eastern publicity director. The latter has been in the same spot with Columbia since 1942. ★ ★ ★ Leonard Golstein will hold the executive producer reins on “The Egg and I" for International Pictures. ★ ★ ★ Stephen Longstreet, author of “Stallion Road” which Warners is now shooting, has been handed a producer-director ticket at that plant. ★ ★ ★ Joan Crawford has signed a two picture deal with Jack Skirball and Bruce Manning, who produce independently for Universal distribution. The Academy winner has the privilege of buying a participating interest in the pictures. ★ ★ ★ “Shop Around the Corner,” MGM Ernst Lubitsch hit of 1940, has been assigned to Joe Pasternak for a remake. ★ ★ ★ Monty Shaff, who produced “The Powers Girls” just before entering Army service, has purchased screen rights to “Man-Eaters of Kumaon,” April Book-ofthe-Month selection and is now discussing major release deals. He plans to take a company to India for much of the shooting. ★ ★ ★ Robert Florey leaves Warners after two years to join with Charles Chaplin as an “associate director” in the making of the latter’s long planned feature, “Comedy of Murders.” Picture is expected to roll this Summer. ★ ★ ★ Warners have assigned “The African Queen" to the Henry Blanke slate. Picture will star Ida Lupino and Paul Henreid. ★ ★ ★ Howard Bay, prominent New York stage production designer, has been signed to an International contract. Paramount + + ★ ★ ★ Pine-Thomas, producing independently for Paramount release, have signed a new two year deal with the company, extending their pact until August of 1949. Pine-Thomas have produced 35 pictures under the tie-up, present renewal being the fourth of a deal that started in 1941. ★ ★ ★ Hal Wallis has purchased rights to an unpublished English novel, “For Hei to See.” It is a mystery yarn. UNITED WORLD RE ALIGNS Conferences over the past week by the Board of Directors of United World — the new J. Arthur RankInternational-Universal world-wide set up, brought announcements from Matthew Fox, president of the organization. . . . Monroe Greenthal, veteran advertising and publicity executive best remembered from his long service — before war — with United Artists, has been elected a vice-president of United World. . . . Les Kaufman, for many years ace Fancho and Marco publicity and advertising aee, and for the past two years Republic executive, has been appointed to the International post of the late John LeRoy Johnston. . . . Kaufman takes his new spot with the solid goodwill of the West Coast and fan magazine press due to the efficiency and cooperative spirit of his tenure at Republic. . . . R.E.W . ★ ★ ★ Paulette Goddard has been set for the lead in Cecil B. DeMille’s “Unconquered,” a Technicolor special laid in the Colonial times. ★ ★ ★ Option has been lifted on director William Russell, who recently completed “Ladies Man,” and who received exceptional notices on “Our Hearts Were Growing Up.” ★ ★ ★ “Dear Ruth,” Broadway stage success has been placed on the Paul Jones production slate. The producer is currently handling Bob Hope’s “Where There’s Life.” ChterpriAe + + ★ ★ ★ Charles Drake has been signed for a top spot with Barbara Stanwyck in the David Lewis production, “The Other Love." ★ ★ ★ Enterprise announces plans to make a picture based on “Lord Chesterfield’s Letters to H is Son,” which has been placed on the David Lewis production slate. ★ ★ ★ Jasper Russell, for years with MGM before entering Army service, has been signed as casting director for Enterprise. Rendezvous 24 ( Continued from Page 17) Britisher, engaged in this race with atom death for the Allies. Good scripting coats the spy yarn with believability, and the well-chosen cast responds to James Tinling’s direction with a number of good performances. Exhibitor’ s Booking Suggestion : Fast moving meller that might garner some extra exploitation dollars. . . . Previewed April 25th. WHAT THE OTHER FELLOWS SAID: VARIETY: “Exciting, well-developed melo drama.” The Sox Office + -f ( Continued from Page 5) also includes Arthur Kennedy, Dame May Whitty, Victor Francen and Montague Love. Curtis Bernhadt directed for producer Robert Buckner. UNIVERSAL— 1 Release Universal’s only new release is a fairly entertaining psychological murder melodrama, “She-Wolf of London,” 82 per cent, that will get by o.k. in houses where this type of fare is popular. June Lockhart, Don Porter and Sara Haden head the cast with Martin Kosleck, Lloyd Corrigan and Jan Wiley in supporting roles. Jean Yarbrough directed for producer Ben Pivar. REPUBLIC— 1 Release Republic exchanges’ only new release is “The Glass Alibi,” 82 per cent, the first release from the new independent Lee Wilder unit. This well produced murder melodrama co-stars Paul Kelly, Douglas Fowley and Anne Gwynne and will do more than hold its end up on the average dual bill. Maris Wrixon, Cy Kendall and George Chandler are in the supporting cast. Lee Wilder produced and directed. MONOGRAM — Also 1 Release “Joe Palooka, Champ,” 78 per cent, based on the comic strip of the same name, was Monogram’s newest feature. Leon Errol is starred with Elyse Knox, Joe Kirkwood, Jr. and Warren Hymer in supporting roles. Reginald Le Borg directed for co-producers George Moskov and Hal Chester. RKO — 1 Release RKO's single release is another in the Falcon series — “The Falcon’s Alibi,” 77 per cent, which at best could only be spotted in as a filler. Tom Conway is again starred with Rita Corday, Vince Barnett and Jane Greer featured. Ray McCarey directed for producer William Berke. PRC — 1 Release PRC Studios also have one new release, “Murder is My Business,” 77 per cent, just a fair program murder mystery. Hugh Beaumont and Cheryl Walker are co-starred in this picture which is the first in a series of “Michael Shayne, Detective” pictures to be produced by Sig Neufeld for PRC. George Meeker, Lyle Talbot and Pierre Watkin are in the supporting cast. Sam Newfield directed for producer Neufeld. Watch FOR THE BOX OFFICE DIGEST Annual