Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1939)

Plan Top-Flight Premieres for Six Forthcoming Features Revival of premieres and elaborate firstnight screenings for current pretentious Hollywood product is rapidly assuming the proportions of a landslide, no less than six forthcoming features having been booked to make lavish bows either in the film capital or in some other part of the country. Most recent additions to the schedule: RKO Radio’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,’’ which will have its world premiere at the Pantages Theatre December 14, ten days before the Charles Laughton starrer opens its regular run on Christmas Day. Studio executives advanced the premiere date from Christmas Eve because they felt the latter date would not be propitious in view of other holiday activities. The exploitation staff is currently drafting plans to make it a gala affair and reports that reservations from every branch of Hollywood endeavor are already pouring in. Altering plans under which it was to make its bow in Wetherford, Tex., Paramount will world premiere “The Great Victor Herbert,” musical co-starring Allan Jones, Mary Martin and Walter Connolly, at the Carthay Circle Theatre November 28. Studio’s original plan to stage the opening in Wetherford — Miss Martin’s home town — fell through because the date conflicted with a stage engagement for the singing star. Monogram, bitten by the premiere bug, will introduce “The Gentleman From Arizona” to press and public early in December in Phoenix, Ariz. This is the first in a series of four films produced by Studios Bear Down On Schedules Apparently still intent upon cleaning up their 1939-40 schedules as rapidly as possible— for which the European war is held largely responsible — most of the major lots are continuing to chart heavy schedules for the next two-month period, an action that will assure a steady flow of product well into spring no matter what turn developments abroad may take. Still in evidence, however, is the feeling that a production slump and attendant personnel purge are near-certainties with the windup of 1939-40 schedules and during the hiatus until camera work begins on 1940-41 slates. Meantime, however, Warner has added four vehicles to go into work by December 1, including “We Shall Meet Again” and “All It All Came True,” both topbudgeters. Paramount has slotted another four to begin after the first of the year. An equal number of high-budgeters, plus several programmers, are set for starts at Universal during the next six weeks, the lead-off to be Deanna Durbin’s “It’s a Date.” RKO Radio plans to gun Golden West Pictures for Monogram release, directed by Earl J. Haley and featuring Craig Reynolds and John King. The Arizona locale was decided upon for its screen debut because the film was shot entirely in that state, using the Magnacolor process. Then, of course, Metro’s release of Selznick International’s “Gone With the Wind” will be unveiled in Atlanta, Ga., December 15, while RKO Radio is selecting various key cities as locales for sectional premieres of “Abe Lincoln in Illinois.” Highlighted by an official three-day “Valley of the Sun Geronimo Celebration,” Paramount’s “Geronimo” was given its world premiere November 25 in four simultaneous showings — one at Safford, two in Phoenix and another in Tucson. Attending were Preston Foster, Chief Thunder Cloud and Monte Blue, of the cast; Patricia Morison, Robert Preston, J. Carrol Naish, William Frawley, Joseph Allen jr. and Director Paul H. Sloane. Premiere was broadcast coast-to-coast from Phoenix by George Fischer via his “Hollywood Whispers” program. An impressive contingent of personalities will attend the “Gone With the Wind” debut in Atlanta. Headed by David O. Selznick and Director Victor Fleming, they including Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Olivia de Havilland, Ona Munson, Laura Hope Crews, Evelyn Keyes and Ann Rutherford. Daniel T. O’Shea, S-I’s secretary, and Russell Birdwell also are in the delegation, which will participate in a three-day round of social activities. five within a single week, beginning November 27. Metro, maintaining an average of from five to seven in work each week, will start “Waterloo Bridge,” December 15 and two others — “Marx Brothers Go West” and “Edison, the Man,” before that time. Currently dark, but scheduled to open up before the end of the month, are Republic and Monogram — the former preparing “Dark Command” and the latter set to gun “Rip Van Winkle.” On the executive side, Alexander Korda is conferring with Murray Silverstone, chief of United Artists’ operations, concerning his future production plans. Korda has been here the past two weeks and intends to return to England before the first of the year. Whether or not he will resume production there or transfer to Hollywood has not been disclosed. A similar problem is being threshed out by Irving Asher with Harry and Jack Cohn of Columbia. Asher halted his English operations at the outbreak of the war and journeyed to Hollywood to map plans for the future. "Son” to BischoH Sam Bischoff has been handed the production reins on Warner’s “My Son,” slated as a vehicle for James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart. Laurel-Hardy Pictures to Make Two Films Yearly Plans disclosed for the newly-formed Laurel-Hardy Pictures Corp. by Attorney Ben Shipman, legal representative for the two veteran comedians, and a member of the firm’s board of directors, indicates the company will swing into action some time in February or March on a production schedule of two pictures yearly. Shipman declared a major release now is being negotiated. Exact date of the L-H production start, the attorney said, is dependent upon completion of the comedians’ present contract with Hal Roach, under which they are slated to make two more four-reelers for United Artists release. The comedians will make outside commitments in addition to the two pictures which they will produce, starring themselves, annually. Incorporation papers were filed in Sacramento recently. Wright Mum on GN Refusing to comment on the outcome of his parleys in New York with E. W. Hammons, president of Grand National, Loyd Wright, attorney and trustee for the film company, returned from New York after a stay of nearly two weeks. Immediately upon checking in, Wright called a meeting of GN creditors at which they voted to accept a proposition submitted by Hammons, under which they would accept 25 per cent of their claims in cash and retain another 25 per cent participation in the loan which the GN president is endeavoring to secure. Hammons recently filed another petition for GN in bankruptcy court to stage off creditors until his long-expected RFC loan comes through. Still in New York with him is Franklyn Warner, president of Fine Arts Pictures, a GN affiliate, who has been joined there by David Blankenhom, of Cosmocolor Corp. Blankenhom and Warner are associated in the production of four films using the Cosmocolor process, for which an RKO Radio release has been obtained. Starting date of Academy Pictures’ initial production venture, “And So Goodbye,” was postponed until November 29 because of the sudden illness of Richard Carlson, slated to play the male lead opposite Jean Parker. Lee Garmes heads the company, which will release through RKO Radio. Selznick Renews Rental Lease on Pathe Lot Selznick International has renewed its rental lease on the RKO Pathe lot in Culver City, where it has been headquartering for the past three years, under terms of a deal negotiated by Daniel T. O’Shea, vice-president-elect of S-I, and Hal Lewis of RKO Radio. Operation of the studio will revert to Lewis, however, who will be in charge of other rentals. Helms "Golden Gloves" George Dmytryk has been assigned to direct Paramount’s “Golden Gloves,” rolling late this month with Robert Ryan, screen newcomer, in the lead. 18 BOXOFFICE :: November 25, 1939