Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1938)

Next for Jane Withers Will Be "Running Wild" Jane Withers’ next starrer at 20th Century-Fox will be titled “Running Wild,” with Leo Camllo in the supporting role. The current Withers picture, “Down to Earth,” is scheduled for completion within ten days. A large portion of “Running Wild,” laid in an 1870 background, will be filmed at Sequoia National Park. No director has been set as yet. "Aliairs of Annabel" a Forerunner of Series RKO Radio has decided to make a series of “Annabel” comedies, following the pre-showing of “The Affairs of Annabel” last week. Lucille Ball and Jack Oakie, who teamed in the initialer, will repeat their performances in further films. Next to go is “Annabel Takes a Tour.” Lou Lusty, who produced “Affairs of Annabel,” is in line for the production chore. Sherman "Rider" Unit Returns From Tucson Harry Sherman’s “The Mysterious Rider” unit has returned from two weeks of location work near Tucson, Ariz., after braving heat that ranged as high as 110 degrees. The picture is for Paramount release, based on a Zane Grey story, with Douglas Dumbrille and Russell Hayden in the leads. Change Initialer Anne Nagel goes first into “The Circus Comes to Town” under her four-picture Monogram deal, in place of “The Girl From Nowhere,” originally scheduled as her initialer. “The Girl From Nowhere” will be her second commitment. Karl Brown will direct ‘The Circus Comes to Town” with W. T. Lackey as associate producer. Doris Kenyon Try Another silent screen star is embarking upon the comeback trail. Doris Kenyon has been signed for an important role in Columbia’s “Finishing School,” in which Nan Grey, Anne Shirley and Margaret Tallichet have the leads. Ralph Bellamy has the top male role. Sam Marx produces. Assign John Cromwell John Cromwell has been signed to direct “Made for Each Other,” the Carole LombardJames Stewart co-starrer, at Selznick International. The Rose Franken novel goes into production July 26 for United Artists release. STORY BUYS H. C. Brunner’s “Zenobia’s Infidelity,” to Hal Roach. Roland Young will be starred. “Life Begins at Reno,” anonymous story supposedly written by a socialite divorcee, to Warners. John Huston and John Wexley will script. “Cipher Bureau,” by Monroe Shaff and Arthur Hoerl, a detective yarn, has been purchased by Fine Arts Pictures. “Two Time Loser,” by Arthur Sheekman, to Paramount. Sheekman will do the script. “Get a Horse,” by Herman Mankiewicz and Albert Shelby Levine, to M-G-M. It is a history of the early days of the automobile industry. Myron Brinig’s “May Flavin” to M-G-M. Frances Marion will script the novel. “The Ladybird,” by William Thiele and Reginald Owen, to Metro. “Texas in the Seventies,” by Estelle Dodds, to Republic as a possible Gene Autry feature. “The Life of Madame Curie,” by Eve Curie, to Metro, acquired from Universal. “Colorado Sunset,” a song and title written by L. Wolfe Gilbert and Con Conrad, to Republic. A script will be built around the title as a Gene Autry vehicle, with the song to be included in the picture. “Little Miss Fix-It,” by Betty Laidlaw and Robert Lively, to Producer Ed Finney, who will use it as a vehicle for 5-yearold Baby Mary Ruth, whom he recently placed under a long-term personal contract. “Circuit Rider,” by Ben Field, to Republic. Gene Autry will be starred. “The Wind in the Willows,” by Kenneth Graham, to Walt Disney. The entire group of “Saint” detective thrillers, by Leslie Charteris, to RKO Radio, to be made into a series of pictures of which “The Saint in New York,” now in release, is the forerunner. “The Night of January 16,” Broadway stage hit by Ayn Rand, to RKO Radio. “Starlight Over Texas,” by John Rathmell, and “Where the Buffalo Roam,” by Robert Emmett, to Producer Ed Finney as starring vehicles for Cowboy Tex Ritter at Monogram. Brenda Weisberg’s “Skipper McCoy, Gent,” and “First Assignment,” by Jack K. Leonard and Monte Collins, to Monogram. The latter will be used as a Frankie Darro starrer. Roach Signs Jean Arthur Hal Roach has signed Jean Arthur for “Water Gypsies,” to be filmed for United Artists release. Miss Arthur is allowed one outside picture a year on her Columbia contract. John E. Burch Managing Production for Ed Small John E. Burch has been appointed production manager for Edward Small Productions. His initial assignment will be “The Duke of West Point,” Small’s first picture for United Artists release. Burch was with RKO Radio for 12 years and was one of the production crew which traveled to Malay for Paramount’s “Booloo.” Tommy Kelly Gets Title Role in One for Lesser Selznick International has loaned Tommy Kelly, moppet star, to Sol Lesser for the title role in “Peck’s Bad Boy at the Circus,” which goes into production July 22 for RKO Radio release as the first in a projected series. Eddie Cline directs from a script by Robert Neville, David Boehm and A1 Martin. Pick Sullavan and Aherne For UA "Robbery" Leads Announced as a forthcoming vehicle for United Artists release, to be produced by Hal Roach, is “Robbery Under Arms,” with Margaret Sullavan and Brian Aherne sharing the star billing. The novel by Rolf Bolderwood deals with the colonization of Australia. The picture will get into production next fall. Geza Herczeg is adapting. Compson in Role As another step on her come-back trail, Betty Compson has been signed for a featured role in Monogram’s “The Circus Comes to Town,” which was to go into production July 7 with Anne Nagel as the star. Karl Brown directs and W. T. Lackey is the associate producer. Marion Orth did the screen play. S-I Signs Hitchcock Alfred Hitchcock, noted English director, has been signed by Selznick International to direct “Titanic,” which S-I will place in production next January. Hitchcock, currently vacationing here, leaves for the east next week, then to England. He has wielded the megaphone on several important British productions for Alexander Korda. Juvenile in " Sweethearts " Next film assignment for Terry Kilburn, 11 -year-old British moppet, will be in “Sweethearts,” the Jeanette MacDonald-Nelson Eddy musical now in production at Metro. Kilburn appeared last in “Lord Jeff,” an M-G-M picture co-starring Freddie Bartholomew and Mickey Rooney. BOXOFFICE :: July 16, 1938 39