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Early Resumption Is Seen for Selznick
Pointing to an early resumption of picture-making activity, David O. Selznick Productions, Inc., has announced the following officers were elected at a special meeting of the board of directors:
David O. Selznick, president; Daniel T. O’Shea, vice-president; E. L. Scanlon, treasurer; Loyd Wright, secretary; Charles E. Millikan and Katharine Brown, assistant secretaries. Directors include Selznick, O’Shea, Scanlon, Wright and Walter S. Orr.
Under exclusive contract to the company are Ingrid Bergman, Alfred Hitchcock, Joan Fontaine and Alan Marshal. Vivien Leigh’s contract is exclusive save for one picture yearly with Alexander Korda. The company also has an option on the services of Director Robert Stevenson for one picture yearly.
Further indication that Selznick is planning to re-enter production shortly is seen in the recent appointment of Victor M. Shapiro as publicity director. The company has a two-picture distribution deal with United Artists.
Start Film Soon lor Use In Training Drait Army
To be launched within the next few days, as soon as a studio site is selected, is the first in a series of short subjects to be turned out by Hollywood in cooperation with the U. S. Signal Corps for use in training the nation’s new draft army.
This was indicated with the return to Hollywood of Darryl Zanuck, chairman of the industry defense group’s sub-committee in charge of producing the reels. Zanuck stopped in Washington en route here from New York to be sworn in as a lieutenantcolonel in the signal corps, and spent several hours in the nation’s capital conferring with army officials.
Dr. Francis Abdo has become the fourth Paramount studio doctor to be ordered to active service, having been assigned to duty at Fort Winfield Scott in San Francisco.
Meantime a brief lull is hovering over the charity front. Next great effort in which Hollywood will be called upon to participate is the national infantile paralysis campaign, of which Joseph M. Schenck is national vice-chairman and chairman for the state of California. Schenck is expected to announce detailed plans for securing industry pledges within the next few days.
Paramount Story Head
William Dozier has been appointed head of Paramount’s studio story and writing departments, joining the company February 3. For the past five years Dozier has been in charge of writers and story sales for the Berg-Allenberg agency. Julian Blaustein will continue at Paramount as associate story editor.
Bonus Arrangement for Holden at Paramount
William Holden and Paramount have smoked the pipe of peace and Holden has reported to Columbia for a loanout assignment in the starring spot in “Texas.” Holden had been suspended by Paramount for refusing the role, the actor contending he was entitled to a wage boost which the studio refused to consider. Holden still has not gained his salary increase, but a bonus arrangement has been worked out to the mutual satisfaction of him and the studio, Paramount officials reported.
Anthony Veiller, Paramount producer for the past two years, will check off the lot upon completion of editing duties on “New York Town,” his most recent assignment. Veiller has announced no plans for the future. Also departing the Paramount roster is Arthur Jacobson, an assistant director for 14 years and, more recently, in charge of the talent department.
After six months on the lot without assignment, Jules Dassin, stage and radio director imported to Hollywood by RKO Radio, has been released.
Benjamin Cohn Forms Independent Firm
Benjamin Cohn, formerly with Warner’s exploitation staff in New York, has established headquarters here and announced the incorporation of an independent production company with plans to make three pictures during 1941, budgeted at $500,000 each.
A major release arrangement will be revealed by Cohn within a few days, as well as titles and other details of the pictures he plans.
Barry Trivers Chore
Warner has set Barry Trivers to script “Night Hawk,” from Leonard Hoffman’s original.
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(Continued from page 29) changes; and compares favorably with them as supporting material. Ed Kelso’s script stretches its story values as far as the law will allow, while Lindsley Parson’s production and Howard Bretherton’s direction reflect favorably upon their respective efforts.
Fox’s “Michael Shayne, Private Detective,” is a fast-moving entry which thrillhunting audiences should find eminently satisfying. It’s the initialer in a proposed series with Lloyd Nolan in the title role, directed by Eugene Forde, produced by Sol Wurtzel and scripted by Stanley Rauh and Manning O’Connor from a novel by Brett Halliday.
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The exception, “Blackout,” is a United Artists release of an English production, loaded with suspense, dramatic vitality, and topflight performances. It was smartly and competently directed by Michael Powell and boasts a story so cleverly handled that American theatregoers should find it highly intriguing fare.
Academy Governors Re-elect Wanger
New Board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has re-elected Walter Wanger president of the organization. Re-named vice-presidents were Frank Capra and Edward Arnold, with two new vice-presidents added — Darryl Zanuck and Jane Murfin. New secretary is Mervyn LeRoy, replacing Robert Riskin, while Nathan Levinson supplants John Aalberg as treasurer. New positions of assistant secretary and assistant treasurer were filled by Allan Scott and Henry Fonda respectively.
Board also discussed plans for the forthcoming annual Awards banquet, but reached no decision as to the definite date and locale for the affair, which will be held some time in February.
Previous to the yearly election of Academy officers, a special balloting was held to break a tie vote in the technicians’ branch, as a result of which John Aalberg, Farciot Edouart and Thomas Moulton were named to the board of governors from the technicians’ division.
Producers' Election Feb. 3
Meantime the producers association, in its regular monthly meeting with Y. Frank Freeman presiding, disclosed its annual election of officers has been scheduled for the next session, February 3. John Zinn has been appointed as the organization’s representative in negotiations with the Screen Actors Guild relative to enforcing terms of the SAG-producer standing committee’s recent report recommending a purge of so-called “casual” extra players to aid the bit-players’ unemployment crisis.
A second meeting was held by the committee headed by Walter Wanger which is planning a testimonial dinner honoring Frank Capra for his 20 years of service in the motion picture industry. No date has yet been set for the affair. Fred Beetson has been made to head a sub-committee to select a date, while J. P. McGowan heads another group which will endeavor to secure the cooperation of the various Guilds. Attending the meeting in addition to Wanger, Beetson and McGowan, were Y. Frank Freeman, Donald Gledhill, Dore Schary, Sheridan Gibney and Kenneth Thomson.
Atwill and Dr. Frenke Form Independent Unit
Formation of a new independent production unit headed by Lionel Atwill, character actor, and Dr. Eugene Frenke has been announced, together with the disclosure they have purchased “The Dark River,” by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall, as their first production. James Whale has been signed to direct and a release now being negotiated will be announced shortly. Production will start when Whale has completed his current Columbia assignment, “They Dare Not Love.” Anna Sten will probably be starred in “The Dark River.”
BOXOFFICE :: January 11, 1941
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