Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1939)

SCRIPTERS — Columbia EDMUND HARTMANN to "Passport to Happiness," first Irving Starr production, which will feature Tony Martin, — Samuel Goldwyn MALCOLM STUART BOYLAN and HARVEY GATES to "Canal Zone,’’ scheduled as a starring vehicle for Jon Hali. JO SWERLING and JAMES EDWARD GRANT to “The Outlaw,” historical western which will star Gary Cooper, Original title was "Vinegaroon." — Metro COREY FORD and ALASTAIRE MacBEAN to "Canterv.lle Ghost," a story by Oscar Wilde, which Milton Bren will produce. — Monogram ROBERT EMMETT to "Overland Trail,” next Jack Randall western. — Paramount FRANK BUTLER to "The Road to Singapore. ’ Harlan Thompson produces and Victor Schertzinger will direct. MAXWELL SHANE to "Golden Gloves,” a Harold Hurley production. IRWIN SHAW, New York playwright, to “Broken Heart Cate” for Producer William H. Wright. — Edward Small ROBERT CARSON, borrowed from Paramount, to "Kit Carson, Avenger.” — 20th Century-Fox LEONARD HOFFMAN to "The Cisco Kid In Chicago,” third in the series starring Cesar Romero. — Univer.sal ARTHUR T. HORMAN to "The Road to Romance.” HARRY CLORK to "Fashions for Sale.” an original by Ed Sullivan, which Ken Goldsmith will place in production early in October. — Walter Wanger KATHRYN SCOLA teamed with ARCHIE MAYO, who will direct, on "The House Across the Bay,” slated to star Joan Bennett. — Warner Bros. RICHARD M.^CAULAY and JERRY WALD teamed on "Torrid Zone,” which will co-star George Raft and Ann Sheridan. MICHAEL FESSIER to "The Times of Tony Pastor,” slated as a starring vehicle for Edward G. Robinson. JOHN WEXLEY to "City of Conquest,” from a novel by Abem Kandel. JULIUS and PHIL EPSTEIN to "Married. Pretty and Poor,” forthcoming Ann Sheridan vehicle. New Type Positive Film Development Claimed Three Paramount engineers have developed a new fine grain positive film in cooperation with DuPont Film Mfg. Corp. of Delaware which the studio is heralding as the greatest technical advance in motion pictures since the advent of sound. The new film, created by Loren Ryder, Roy Hunter and James Wilkinson, respective heads of the sound, photographic and laboratory departments, reduces screen graininess, fuzziness, blur and background distortion to a minimum and provides for a warmth and richness not heretofore known, its developers claim. First commercial use of the new positive film will be in “Geronimo” the historical Bernard Giannini to Wed In Hollywood Tuesday Los Angeles — ^Bernard, only child of Dr. and Mrs. Giannini, marries Colleen Sword at St. Brenden’s Church, Tuesday. A reception at the Town House will follow. Dad Hurries Home New York — Dr. A. H. Giannini, who attended the Columbia stockholders’ meeting on Wednesday, came here from Hollywood for this purpose and remained about 48 hours. He now is back on the coast in the swirl of a series of parties for his son, Bernard, who 'will marry Colleen Sword on Tuesday. Americanism Film Policy Continues to Hold Own Hollywood’s unofficial Americanization campaign appears, from latest developments, to be holding its own. This in the face of war news from Europe and widespread interest throughout the country in possible revisions in the government’s neutrality legislation — two factors which may conceivably influence the film makers in their America-for-Americans production policy. Acting on the theory that war times stimulate interest in patriotic themes, Warner will increase its program of historical featurettes — the exact extent of the boost to be determined when Norman Moray, Vitaphone sales manager, comes to the coast in October. The present schedule calls for six of the historical short subjects, with “Old Hickory,’’ concerning Andrew Jackson, set to go into work Oct. 9. The studio is adhering to its earlier decision, however, to abandon all “propaganda” films, including the projected “Underground” and “The Bishop Who Walked With God,” at which time it announced a 100 per cent neutrality policy. With Roland Drew and Steffi Duna heading the cast, Ben Judell’s Producers Pictures Corp. signaled a start on “Hitler — Beast of Berlin,” which is being produced on an ambitious scale as a story of the anti-Nazi movement within Germany itself. Universal completed the filming of added scenes possessing a more strongly antiNazi sentiment for “The Road Back,” produced two years ago, and the picture was set for its first west-coast showing at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco. George O'Brien Vehicle “Legion of the Lawless” will be the next George O’Brien western at RKO Radio. ments, and Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder provided a meaty adaptation of the play by Clifford Goldsmith. ijf Hi if The balance of the preview lineup, three pictures, qualifies thoroughly as substantial program material. Warner’s prizefight comedy, “Kid Nightingale,” delivers a hefty punch in the light, hokum-laden vein. Built on a basically sound and amusing situation created by Lee Katz, it was breezily and humorously scripted by Charles Belden and Raymond Schrock and should account for itself well on most programs. George Amy acquits himself creditably in his first chore as a director — having recently been promoted from film-cutting post — and Mark Hellinger, as associate producer, turned in a competent piece of work. Built along the same lines as earlier chapters in the popular “Tailspin Tommy” series. Monogram’s “Sky Patrol” is the latest manifestation of the steady improvement that has characterized them since their inception. Best episode to OPTIONS — Gordon-Goetz Productions SOLLY WARD joins writing staff. — Metro GEORGE OPPENHEIMER, writer, held for another term. KAY VAN RIPER handed new writing deal. MICKEY ROONEY given new term acting ticket. TOM NEAL, actor, held for another term. — Paramount FREDERICK HOLLANDER, composer, held for another term. KAY STEWART signs long-term acting contract. FRANK LOESSER wins new songwriting contract. —RKO Radio ADELE PEARCE and DICK HOGAN sign longterm acting pacts. ANTHONY COLLINS signed to handle musical direction on “Allegheny Uprising," John Wayne starrer. JOHN ARCHER, “Gateway to Hollywood" talent contest winner, draws new term contract and featured role in “Distant Fields," which goes into production October 2. — Warner Bros. TERRY MORSE, director, held for another term. GEORGE BRICKER and ALEX GOTTLIEB join writing staff. NANETTE FABARES, actress, signs term contract. AL ALLEBORN, unit manager, held for another term. ROBERT FELLOWES, associate producer, given contract renewal. He will supervise “Virgin. a City." forthcoming Errol Flynn starrer. ROBERT KENT joins writing staff. John Brahm Borrowed John Brahm has been borrowed from Columbia by Edward Small to direct “My Son, My Son,” which Small is preparing as a forthcoming United Artist release. "Courage" to Considine John W. Considine jr. has been assigned to produce “Salute to Courage,” starring Joan Crawford, for M-G-M, as his next chore. date, it reaches a new altitude mark in production values, suspense, action and plot structure. Howard Bretherton’s direction is more than adequate and Producer Paul Malvern, mounting the film well, incorporated a number of well-handled aviation sequences which should delight the air-minded juveniles. Joseph West and Norton S. Parker tailored the well-knit screenplay. Universal again rehabilitates a group of recalcitrant adolescents in “Call a Messenger,” which, if for no other reason, merits some sort of comment because for the first time it pools two of the redoubtable “Dead End Kids” with the equally violent “Little Tough Guys.” The result is spirited, rough-and-tumble comedy-drama which, although a bit forced and obvious for adult consumption, should be eminently suitable for the juvenile trade. Ken Goldsmith’s production, Arthur Lubin’s direction and the scenario by Arthur T. Horman, based on a story by Sally Sandlin and Michel Kraike, are all well up to standard. Spearheads (Continued from page 43) BOXOmCE September 23, 1939 47