20th Century-Fox Dynamo (July 22, 1939)

4A STUDIO SPECIAL “SWANEE RIVER” FIFTH COLOR SUPER SPECIAL FOR 1939-40 The Never-to-Be-Forgotten Flood Scene in “The Rains Came” BRITISH STUDIO “SHOOTING" ON SPECIALSTHATMAYBE RELEASED DOMESTICALLY DURING K-7 YEAR “SECOND FIDDLE" DIRECTOR WILL HANDLE MUSICAL! I Lining Up All-Star | j Cast For "Postman"} I MOVIETONE CITY —Mr. | | Zanuck this week tackled the | {task of lining up the all-star i j cast that will appear in “The = ! Postman Walks Alone.” He | I is negotiating for the services j | of several stars under con- j 5 tract to other studios. Victor! J McLaglen is being screen- j tested for one of the major { Continued from Page 1A Cavalcade,” “Drums Along The Mohawk,’’Maeterlinck’s “The Blue Bird” and “Mark of Zorro.” Sidney Lanfield, who di- rected the current smash- hit, “Second Fiddle,” is the director on “Swanee River,” which looms one of the most promising super specials on Zanuck’s most ambitious list of 24 productions. Zanuck’s decision to make “Swanee River” in Technicolor meant the addition of $250,000 to the already high budget fixed for that dramatization of the color- ful life of America’s writer of never-to-be-forgotten melodies. With scenic backgrounds as beautiful as those used in “Ken- tucky,” the technicolorization of “Swanee River” will further exalt a story that will unfold one of the sweetest romances trans- formed to the screen. The story will further endear songs like “My Old Kentucky Home,” “Oh, Oh Suzannah,” “Old Black Joe” and others, for each was inspired by definite happenings in the eventful life of Stephen Poster. In fact, “Swanee River” will disclose much “inside” in the life of not only Poster, but the great- est minstrel America has devel- oped. A great showman, the lat- ter first brought Poster tunes to the attention of the American plugger. It was his showmanly presentation and singing of these songs that established them. This showman, Christie, is played by A1 Jolson. The story itself revolves around a double- hearted romance in which Foster figures, a man inspired by one woman to write undying songs and worshipped by another who is aware that his heart belongs to someone else. With “Swanee River” now set to be technicolorized, Zanuck this week was readying Maeter- linck’s “The Blue Bird” for pro- duction. The all-star cast in the latter all-color super special is now being selected and will be headed by Shirley Temple. “The Blue Bird,” based on one of the world’s most beautiful stories, read by millions through- out the globe, will be the most elaborate production in which Shirley has appeared. It will be the second Technicolor special in which she has portrayed the stellar role. The first two Technicolor pro- ductions are now in work. The first, “Hollywood Cavalcade,” is completing its second month of “shooting.” IMPORTANT Below is published a complete resume of all known details regarding planned 1939-40 British- made productions, to be made at the 20th Century- Fox Studio in London, England. Domestically, four British-made specials will be released, with the selection to be determined following screenings of the pictures at the Head Of- fice in New York. L ONDON—Details given by Robert T. Kane, Managing Director of British 20th-Century Productions, of the current schedule, provide interesting reading. Already completed is “A Girl Must Live” (a Gains- borough picture) featuring a strong cast including Margaret Lockwood, Renee Houston, Lilli Palmer, Hugh Sinclair and George Robey. Carol Reed di- rected. “Where’s That Fire?” also was recently completed and stars inimitable Will Hay, as- sisted by his famous “stooges” Graham Moffat and Moore Mar- riott. This was directed by Marcel Varnel. A LSO finished is Gracie Fields’ latest super - production, “Shipyard Sally.” Written around Clydebank and dramatic shipbuilding events, the film al- so stars Sydney Howard with Oliver Wakefield, Morton Sel- ten, Tucker McGuire and Hay Petrie prominent in support. Directed by Monty Banks, “Shipyard Sally” has a grand musical score featuring new numbers and supervised by Louis Levy. • T HE second film of the Brit- ish Hornleigh series just completed at Islington, “Inspec- tor Hornleigh on Holiday,” pre- sents Gordon Harker as the de- tective and Alastair Sim as his assistant, in a new setting. The story of the film is narrated with an abundance of laughs and thrills, helped out by some splendid character studies from Edward Chapman and a grand supporting cast. Walter Forde directed. A MONG films scheduled for production are “Molly, Bless Her!” an original Frances Mar- ion subject to star Gracie Fields and with Monty Banks direct- ing. Two further “Hornleigh” subjects starring Harker and Sim are also provided for. “Hangman’s House” by Donn Byrne is to be made and should be a worthy successor to the film version of the same author’s famous “Wings of the Morn- ing.” • A N interesting original story for production this Autumn is “Report on a Fugitive,” a starring vehicle for Margaret Lockwood and Michael Red- grave. The plot revolves around a political refugee who is smug- gled into England, and the con- flict of love versus duty sup- plies the motivation. “They Came by Night,” a comedy- thriller, has been secured for Will Fyffe who will probably also be in “Rob Roy,” to be made in color with a mammoth cast in authentic locations where the Scottish “Robin Hood” had his amazing adventures. • A NN ABELL A may return to make “Frenchie,” a comedy- drama that is tailor-made for the popular French star. The program so far outlined will be augmented with first-rate sub- jects which measure up to the required standards of enter- tainment content and produc- tion value. British 20th-Cen- tury Productions are made at Islington Studios where Mau- rice Ostrer is in charge of pro- duction and Edward Black is producer. 'Part-Time Wife," 39-40 Domestic Comedy, Is Now Definitely Titled "Day-Time Wife" MOVIETONE CITY—Official announcement was made this week that the 1939-40 domestic romantic satire, formerly known as “Part-Time Wife,” will be definitely released as “Day-Time Wife.” This is the production in which Zanuck proposes to co-feature Warner Baxter, Joan Blondell and Binnie Barnes. He plans to start “shooting” within the next two weeks. Originally, the story of “Day-Time Wife” was titled “A Deal in Heart.” Following a conference last month with Gen- eral Manager of Distribution Herman Wobber, the production chief decided to use a different title. “Day-Time Wife” will be made in the same mood that served “Wife, Husband and Friend,” and “Wife, Doctor and Nurse” to such splendid enter- tainment advantage.