20th Century-Fox Dynamo (August 5, 1939)

STUDIO SPECIAL 5A THE LATEST SURVEY OF 1939-40 LINEUP As of Aug. 4 THE RAINS CAME—Based on a book printed in almost every language, one of the most popular novels of our time. It is a story of the State of Ranchipur in India, suddenly stricken by earthquake and ensuing flood, that transforms the small, prosperous area into one of suffering and pestilence. It has romance and thrills and spectacle and it involves a terrific financial outlay. Seldom has a story been offered the screen that offers what this one does. It has fire, earthquake, flood. “The Rains Came” represents the highest price ever expended by this company for a novel. Clarence Brown, Metro’s ace director, directed. George Brent portrays Ransome. Myrna Loy has the best role of her career as Lady Esketh, Tyrone Power is co-starred as the romantic, colorful Major Safti. Maria Ouspen- skaya plays the Maharanee; H. B. Warner the Maha- rajah; Henry Travers, the Missionary; Marjorie Rambeau portrays Mrs. Simon and Laura Hope Crews enacts the part of Mrs. Hoggett-Eggbury. Others in the cast are the new “find” Brenda Joyce, who is Fern; William Royle and thousands of others. Miss Joyce scores a sensational triumph and emerges from this super special as an excellent dramatic star. “The Rains Came” is not only one of the eight most expensive, but one of the greatest undertakings of this company. Here we have a story of an India never before seen on the screen—modern India of 1939, the India of Maharajahs, the India of class pitted against poverty and the Untouchables. And, as Tom Ransome in the books says: “You hate her, you despise her. In one breath she takes from you all that is worth having, and in the very next she opens her arms and smiles and gives you anything that any man could want.” That is “Mother India.” Budget on this production was the highest in the his- tory of this company—$2,500,000. Of that amount $500,000 was spent on settings and another $500,000 on the flood and earthquake sequences. In the cutting department. DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK—This is a great story taken from a big selling novel that has won millions of readers. The production calls for a story and background of great dramatic sweep. It’s a fas- cinating story of raw, frontier days. It’s the story of early settlers of Northern New York State, of hearty pioneers fighting for their very existence. Not only did they fight Redcoats during the Revolution, they fought Indians. They saw their houses, crops and barns burned. They saw their children burned at the stake. They saw their women ravished and their men scalped and killed. But they never gave up! They fought on and on irrespective of the odds, and finally won out. It is inspired by one of the greatest chapters in Amer- ican history. It will be entirely done in Technicolor. Claudette Colbert and Henry Fonda will co-star. Edna May Oliver, Dorris Bowden, John Carradine, Robert Lowery, Charles Tannen, Roger Imhoff and Ward Bond also are in the cast. John Ford, director. Company has just returned to the studio from Cedar City, Utah, location. “Shooting” will not be com- pleted until September. HOLLYWOOD CAVALCADE—This special is being produced in Technicolor. Here’s the romance of the ever-changing Hollywood scene—from the days of the “custard pie” to the advent of the “talkies.” That’s the background for this absorbing tale. There’s nothing scientific or technical about it. Never once does the background overshadow the great personal story that has been written. Irving Cummings di- rected the story. Mai St. Clair directed the humorous and chase sequences. What “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” was to music, “Falling Stars”—the Cavalcade of Hollywood—is to the moving picture. It is the first story ever laid in the Glamour City in the days before it became a city of mechanical guilds, unions, etc.—the drama of Jack Michaels, a movie pio- neer, and of Vera Dale, the actress he made famous. Michaels starts out as just an over-worked subordi- nate with ideas and ambitions; he remains an over- worked subordinate, but not for long! His handling of Vera from an understudy to a leading lady, with its resulting romance, is the great personal story that dominates this production. It’s simply handled in a big way in this picture with Alice Faye and Don Ameche set for the two leading parts. A1 Jolson, Stuart Erwin, Buster Keaton, J. Edward Bromberg, Jed Prouty, Donald Meek, George Givot, Ben Turpin, Lynn Bari, Alan Curtis, Roberty Lowery, Kay Arledge, and others. Harry Joe Brown, associate producer of “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” will oversee this big production. Mack Sennett appears and served as co-associate producer. It is very big in every sense of the term. In the cutting department. SWANEE RIVER—A not her of Zanuck’s Technicolor super specials. The story of a man, a great historic figure of early America, whose songs were sometimes credited to him; sometimes sold for a few much- needed dollars for the signatures of others. He was a figure in the theatre—the backbone of the rising tide of minstrelsy, who lived, laughed, fought, starved and occasionally feasted through a brief, dark but glorious existence. This is a stirring dramatization of the eventful life of Stephen Foster, beloved com- poser of “Oh Suzannah,” “My Old Kentucky Home,” “Old Black Joe” and other important songs. This will he patterned to surpass “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” This story is consolidated with the colorful career of E. P. Christie, the man who made famous the black- faced American minstrel, the originator of the street ZANUCK K-7 SPECIALS 1 As of Aug. 4 _ o Following are the 24 super specials that Darryl F. Zanuck, Vice-President in charge of production, plans to make for the 1939-40 year: 1— The Rains Came 2— Drums Along the Mohawk (T) 3— Hollywood Cavalcade (T) 4— Swanee River (T) 5— The Crapes of Wrath 6— Brigham Young 7— Maeterlinck’s “The Blue Bird” (T) 8— Stanley and Livingstone 9— Little Old New York 10— Mark of Zorro (T) 11— Irving Berlin’s “Say It With Music” 12— Everything Happens at Night <SH) 13— Shadows in the Night (SH) 14— Lady Jane (ST) 15— Johnny Apollo 16— The Postman Walks Alone 17— Elsa Maxwell’s Hotel For Women 18— Here I Am a Stranger 19— Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 20— Dance With the Devil 21— rublic Deb No. 1 22— Day-Time Wife 23— Scotland Yard 24— White Lady of the Orient (ft) t NOTES: (T) Technicolor super special. (SH) With Sonja Henie. | (ST) With Shirley Temple, (tt) Tentative title. jf parade and ballyhoo, the torchlight parade, the end man and the use of the tambourine in minstrel shows. Don Ameche will play Foster. A1 Jolson will be Christie. The feminine romantic lead will be played by Nancy Kelly. Others in the cast will be announced later. Sidney Lanfield will direct. Screenplay by Philip Dunne and John Taintor Foote. STANLEY AND LIVINGSTONE—One of the indus- try’s greatest undertakings. More than three years in preparation. A total of $400,000 was spent in finan- r , WURTZEL K-7 PICTURES As of Aug. 4 3,1 j SERIES ( ■”! i JANE WITHERS (4) 1— Chicken Wagon Family 2— Roughnecks (*) 3— Jubilo (f) 4— High School Story (**) CHARLIE CHAN (4) 1— Charlie Chan at Treasure Island 2— Charlie Chan in a City in Darkness 3— Charlie Chan in Rio 4— Charlie Chan in Washington CISCO KID (3) (*) 1— In Portugal 2— On Broadway 3— Untitled JONES FAMILY (4) 1— Quick Millions 2— Jones Family in Too Busy To Work 3— Untitled 4— Untitled NOTE: (*) Tentatively titled “Tin Hats” with Withers-Ritz Brothers co-starred, (f) With Gene Autry. (**) Tentatively titled “Texas Kid.” (J) A “Cisco Kid” series replaces “Mr. I Moto.” SPECIALS 20,000 Men a Year James Oliver Curwood story Heaven With a Barbed Wire Fence Gambling Ship story The Escape (n) Hold Me Tight Stop, Look and Love The Simple Life Take Your Happiness No Man Is Safe Living High Peter B. Kyne story Dog story by James Oliver Curwood j TU L NOTE: (n) Was formerly known as “East Side, West Side.” In one of the Wurtzel specials the Ritz Brothers will be fea- tured. The latter is in addition to their co-starring vehicle with Jane Withers, ring an expedition, headed by Mrs. Martin Johnson, that spent five months in the jungle of Africa filming actual “last frontier” sequences, with thousands of natives. However, this is a brief sequence in this stupendous production whose cost will be some $2,250,000. It is a story of surging courage, of soar- ing adventure, of sweeping romance. It is a story that 70 years ago set the world ablaze. As a record of indomitable achievement, in the face of almost un- surmountable obstacles, it has no equal. It is based on the sensationally adventurous life of the world’s greatest newspaperman, Henry M. Stanley, who was instructed to find in the jungles a famous scientist, Dr. Livingstone, whose mysterious disappearance had baffled civilization. A thrilling drama of romance and suspense. Directed by Henry King, who made “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “Jesse James” and “In Old Chicago.” The cast is one of the greatest assembled for any picture. It is headed by Academy prize-winning Spencer Tracy, who plays Stanley; Sir Cedric Hardwicke, international stage star, as Dr. Living- stone; Richard Greene, and Nancy Kelly, who carry the romantic interest; Academy character prize-win- ning star Walter Brennan, of “Kentucky” fame. Henry Hull of “Jesse James” fame, Charles Coburn, David Torrence, Montague Shaw, Brandon Hurst and thousands of others. A Darryl Zanuck super special. World premiere at Roxy Theatre, New York, this week-end (Aug. 4). LITTLE OLD NEW YORK—Mr. Zanuck asserts that in this story the studio has not only one of the best known titles in the amusement industry, but also a subject that will enable him to make a picture which can stand alongside of “In Old Chicago.” The studio is determined to stop at nothing in the way of expense to properly stage it. It was made by Marion Davies many years ago and was a tremendous box office success. Now, with the use of sound, mod- ern technique and modern methods of story telling, for the first time the screen can really take advantage of the story of the little Irish immigrant girl who lived on the waterfront. It is the story of Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat. It is the story of the gay blades of that never-to-be-forgotten period when New York was in its infancy. Here is a story chockful of grandeur, color atmosphere—the New York of the old Vander- bilts and the Astors. Heading the all-star cast that Henry King will direct are Alice Faye, Richard Greene, Fred MacMurray (borrowed from Para- mount), Andy Devine (borrowed from Universal), and others now being selected. It will have in addition to a great story, big spectacles that should make it one of the outstanding productions of the season. MAETERLINCK’S “BLUE BIRD”—A Technicolor super special. The sum of $100,000 has been paid for the rights to this story. This will be by far the most expensive production in which Shirley has appeared. Of course, it will star the world’s No. 1 box office star, Shirley Temple. Here is one of the most important stories ever acquired by this industry. It will be one of the super specials, for Miss Temple will head an all-star cast. Mr. Zanuck will produce it in the same lavish style as “Stanley and Livingstone,” “The Rains Came,” and “Drums Along the Mohawk.” “The Blue Bird” will be second of the Shirley Temple all-star super specials for the 1939-40 season. This world- famous story is particularly adaptable to Technicolor. Negotiations to acquire the rights to this story lin- gered for many months, for several other producers sought them. The cast will be the most important to appear in any production with Shirley Temple. Director and other details will be announced later. Scheduled for domestic release during Christmas- New Year week. THE GRAPES OF WRATH—John Steinbeck’s greatest novel. Studio competing- against all other producers, paid $70,000 for the screen rights to this stirring story of this generation which in the very first month of its sale reached the astounding total of 225,000, with ad- ditional printings already ordered by its publisher, Viking Press. Comparable with “The Rains Came,” “Drums Along the Mohawk” and “Gone With the Wind.” Screenplay by Nunnally Johnson who will also be associate producer. John Ford will direct. More details later. Henry Fonda, Walter Brennan and Beulah Bondi are among those mentioned for top roles. MARK OF ZORRO—A $2,000,000 Technicolor super production. With Tyrone Power in the title role. The greatest romantic legend of early California—made famous by Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., will be brought back to the screen in all its picturesque glory. It’s a battle of proud aristocracy against helpless labor, with but one man with courage enough to denounce the wave of greed surging through the aristocracy from which he sprang. Tyrone Power will head an all-star cast. One was the bandit crusading against railroads in the West; the other, the Mexican fight- ing for freedom against wealthy landowners. EVERYTHING HAPPENS AT NIGHT—What a title! To date, Sonja Henie pictures have been gay com- edies, primarily stories of young love. In her first K-7 release she has a role of more importance, one which gives more scope for her varied talents—the daughter of a political refugee sought by his ene- Continued on Page 6A