Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1953)

Teresa Wright and Larry Parks, movie stars, are rehearsed for Screen Gems tv film by Director James Neilson (squatting, center), former Columbia Pictures dialogue director. These three are typical of movie talent now in television. partnership basis and is utilizing much fullcrew domestic location, the firm is doing outside packages. Recently completed for inclusion on CBS-TV Omnibus are three halfhour films based on the John Steinbeck novel, "Pastures of Heaven." Making his tv film debut as director is Harry Horner, Academy Award winning art director for "The Heiress." On the Gross-Krasne roster of directors are Erie Kenton, "House of Frankenstein" and "House of Dracula"; E. A. DuPont, noted for the Emil Jannings starrer, "Variety"; Peter Godfrey, formerly with Gaumont-British and director of "Two Mrs. Carrolls" and "Forever and a Day." Desilu Productions Inc. has practically taken over Motion Picture Center with four large stages, three of which are devoted exclusively to filming in front of ah audience. The firm has developed into a $6 million property within the past two years, according to Martin Leeds, former CBS-TV director of business affairs and now Desilu executive vice president in charge of production. In addition to its own packages, CBS-TV / Love Lucy and Our Miss Brooks, the firm films outside packages, bringing the total output this year to 2Vi hours of tv film weekly. This is more than twice the amount turned out by any major studio. Run as a successful money-making proposition with the profits poured back into the development of better tv techniques, Desilu maintains a top technical staff on a yearly basis. With this foundation, Mr. Leeds declares they can produce better quality films more cheaply, but cautions "you need to know if the ideas stand a chance of being sold and to whom." Brooks and Lucy share cinematographer Karl Freund, Academy Award winner for "The Good Earth," and supervising art director Ralph Berger, whose RKO features include "Miracle of the Bells" and "Boy with Green Hair." Filmed under the D.P.I, banner for Marterto Productions, the ABC-TV Make Room for Daddy has producer Lou Edelman, "The Jazz Singer"; Sheldon Leonard, motion picture actor turned tv film director; Robert de Grasse, RKO cameraman. Under the same setup, for B & R Enterprises' ABC-TV Where's Raymond, the producer is Jerry Bresler, twice Academy Award winner for two-reelers, "Heavenly Music" and "Stairway to Light," and the director is Sidney Lanfield, whose movie credits include "Lemon Drop Kid" and "Skirts Ahoy." NBC-TV Letter to Loretta, for Lewislor Enterprises, captured director Robert Florey, "God Is My Co-Pilot" and numerous others, here and abroad, and cinematographer Norbert Brodine, "The Sea Hawk" and "House on 92nd Street." Additionally, Desilu has expanded its services to include tv commercials. Meridian's Schedule Now shooting 26 weeks out of the year, Meridian Pictures hopes to augment its CBSTV Schlitz Playhouse of Stars with a nonconflicting situation type comedy series. In this way, according to associate producer Bill Self, Meridian's potential output would be realized. A former movie actor who followed director Howard Hawks' advice to hold out for the very best, Mr. Self holds the theory that in tv film each individual makes more of a contribution to the finished product as opposed to theatrical film. Because of the time element, his starting premise is that each man knows his job. The cutter puts the film together his way; the cameraman shoots the scenes he knows will be good; the wardrobe department handles the costuming. Tackling the speeded up film editing of tv is George Amy, supervising editor, Academy Award nominee seven times and Oscar winner for "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and "Air Force." Russ Harlan, Oscar nominee for "Red River" and "The Big Sky," is Meridian's cinematographer. Meridian has opened the door to new directors and is fast developing its own. Included in the new group are Roy Kellino, former cameraman in England; Anthony Jowett, 20th Century-Fox dialogue director; Arnold Laven, script clerk; Arnold Ganzer, Paramount unit director. Revue Productions, with MCA vice president Alan Miller in charge, started off CBSTV Revlon Mirror with the star-spangled name of Joan Crawford. While holding to top name actors, Revue operates on the premise that directors grow with tv in developing their own techniques and does not seek motion picture directors who must adapt themselves. Richard Irving, with Revue since its inception, had a knowledge of film making, but was a RKO dialogue director. Robert Finkel came out of live tv and is directing ABC-TV Pride of the Family. Charles Barton, formerly associated with CBS Radio Amos V Andy, is directing CBSTV Meet Mr. McNutley. Thus, Revue follows its theory that tv film finds its own. Included in Revue's 3'/i hours of tv film, shot weekly at Republic Studios, are Kit Carson, City Detective, Chevron Theatre and ABC-TV Pepsi-Cola Playhouse. Movie actress Arlene Dahl, who reportedly received the highest salary paid a performer for tv film, did the Pepsi-Cola commercials filmed by United World Films. No less a name than John Alton, Academy Award winning cinematographer for "An American in Paris," recorded her one-woman high fashion display. Producer John Loveton is providing a major topic of film conversation these days Broadcasting • Telecasting December 14, 1953 • Page 85