Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1939)

"Commandment" Gets 20th-Fox Release Having acquired a 20th Century-Fox release for its first effort, “The Great Commandment,” Cathedral Pictures is pushing ahead with plans for its second production, as yet untitled, which will also have a religious motif. Darryl Zanuck, who made the purchase for the Westwood plant, has announced he will re-shoot a number of sequences in order to make the vehicle a pretentious entry on the studio’s 1939-40 production lineup. Irving Pichel, who directed, and Dana Burnet, author of the script, have each been signed to long-term contracts by 20th Century-Pox, while Rev. James K. Friedrich and Jack Coyle, head of Cathedral and executive producer respectively, have been ticketed to aid in dressing up the production. Jolin Beal and Maurice Moscovich are starred. Friedrich and Coyle will announce their next Cathedral production upon completion of their 20th Century-Fox chores. Withdrawing from its releasing arrangement with Grand National, Golden West Pictures, headed by Charles Goetz, has signed a four-picture deal with Monogram. Contract was negotiated with W. Ray Johnston, Monogram president, in New York by Ted Richmond, former Grand National studio publicist, now connected with Golden West as an associate producer. Already completed and awaiting delivez’y is “The Gentleman From Arizona,” filmed in Magnacolor. Next to go into work will be “Derby Day,” which will be filmed on location in Arizona beginning December 1. “Winsted'' to Skirball Another ex-GN executive. Jack Skirball, has acquired screen rights to “Winsted,” a story by Ralph Spence, for filming by his Arcadia Productions. No release has been set. Skirball is also associated in Knickerbocker Pictures, which holds a Columbia releasing contract, and in which John Wildberg, Broadway stage impresario, is his partner. GN, meanwhile, remains at stalemate in its efforts to gain financing and reenter production and distribution. President E. W. Hammons’ action in throwing the company into bankruptcy caused Franklyn Warner, head of Pine Arts Pictures— an on-again-off-again GN affiliate— to plane to New York for further conferences. FA has five pictures, prints and accessories tied up with GN. Gene Towne and Graham Baker’s The Play’s the Thing Productions has slotted “Tom Brown’s School Days” for a December 11 start, contingent upon completion of “Swiss Family Robinson” by that time. Sets are now being constructed on the RKO Radio ranch and Robert Stevenson, English director, has been borrowed from Selznick International to direct the famous school story, which RKO Radio will release. Another independent releasing through RKO Radio, Stephens-Lang Productions, has postponed the start on ‘"The Courageous Dr. Christian,” second in the series, from December 15 to January 4. To confer with John Boyce-Smith about the recently announced eight-picture in "Old Glory" Honor — His accomplishment in producing “Old Glory,” two-reel Technicolor cartoon, won for Leon Schlesinger the gold statuette which he is admiring above. Award was made by the Teleview Newsreel Theatre in Hollywood after audiences polled for Schlesinger as the year’s outstanding cartoon-maker. Hollywood Is Unanimously For Early Thanksgiving Although causing considerable argument and dissension throughout the country, President Roosevelt’s decree moving Thanksgiving Day up one week to November 23 will be adhered to virtually unanimously by Hollywood’s motion picture plants, most of which already have announced they will officially close on that day and remain open November 30. Whether because of the new economy wave or for some other undisclosed reason studios will reopen the following day, November 24, instead of okaying a long weekend. As many Hollywood moguls as can safely cover their tracks, however, will undoubtedly take advantage of the situation by making holidays of both the old and the new Thanksgiving Day. Not to be caught napping. Fox West Coast and the Warner Theatre circuit will screen special holiday programs on both days — at special holiday prices, of course. The same policy has been recommended to independent exhibitors by the Independent 'Theatre Owners of Southern California and Arizona in a special bulletin distributed to its membership. Borrows John Howard Metro has borrowed John Howard from Paramount for one of the leads in “Arouse and Beware,” Wallace Beery starrer, which Leslie Fenton is directing. dependent production program for Inspiration Pictures for the 1940-41 season, Mitchell Leichter, veteran producer-distributor, has trained to New York. Leichter will also bear down on his selling campaign for “She Goes to War” and “Hell’s Harbor,” to which he has acquired reissue rights. Budgel Conferences On Paramount Slate Expected arrival next week of a trio of Paramount’s home office executives, including President Barney Balaban, will mark the launching of a series of important conferences relative to the studio’s 1940-41 production program, including tentative allotment of budgets and other matters. Accompanying Balaban will be Stanton Griffis, chairman of the executive committee, and Neil F. Agnew, chief of sales. They will huddle with Y. Frank Freeman, in charge of studio operations, and William LeBaron, managing director of production. Paramount at present lacks but nine films to complete its 1939-40 quota, on three of which starting dates already have been affixed. Balaban, Griffis and Agnew also are expected to review detailed plans for construction of the company’s new studio in West Los Angeles. Studio attaches declare the visitors will probably remain from two to three weeks. Returning to Hollywood late in December will be George Schaefer, RKO Radio president, who wound up a lengthy stay at the studio and returned east only a short time ago. Local executives believe the company chieftain will hereafter spend a majority of his time on the coast, as Pandro Berman, production supervisor, has announced he will leave the studio next month. Harry Goetz, co-producer with Max Gordon of “Abe Lincoln in Illinois” for RKO Radio, checked in after a sojourn in New York, during which he huddled with Schaefer on plans to stage sectional premieres. Goetz will be followed here by Gordon within a few days. Conferences on the balance of Warner’s short subject program for 1939-40, and consideration of the quota for 1940-41, are occupying the time of Norman H. Moray, Vitaphone sales manager, who is parleying with Jack L. Warner, Hal Wallis and Gordon Hollingshead. The 1939-40 lineup, calling for 44 shorts, lacks but six pictures to be completed. For the new season Hollingshead is planning several series, including “Racket Busters,” “Penrod,” a group of musical westerns and the historical features. Moray is also huddling with Leon Schlesinger concerning the latter’s program of “Merrie Melodic” and “Looney Tune” cartoons for 1940-41, which are released by Warner. In for a three-week stay is Alexander Korda, United Artists producer in England, whose activities there halted because of the war. He spent some time conferring with UA executives in New York before coming out to the coast, but has not announced, to date, his future plans. He was accompanied by his attorney, Basil Bleck. Lawrence Fox, head of General FUms, pulled out for New York to settle distribution arrangements for his “Crime Club” series and for a one-reel cartoon now in preparation. “Ne'er Do Well" to 1940-41 Well ahead on his 1939-40 quota for Paramount, Harry Sherman has moved back “The Ne’er Do Well” to 1940-41. 34 BOXOFFICE :: November 18, 1939