20th Century-Fox Dynamo (August 12, 1939)

4A STUDIO SPECIAL MARY HEALY GETS IMPORTANT ROLE IN “20,000 MEN’’ M ovietone city — Mary Healy, who scored a per- sonal triumph in “Second Fid- dle,” has drawn another im- portant assignment. This week she was selected to play one of the top feminine roles in “20,000 Men A Year,” a dramatic com- edy played against the back- ground of the government’s pro- ject aiding the study of aero- nautics in colleges. This pro- duction, which Executive Pro- ducer Sol M. Wurtzel will make as one of his 1939-40 super spe- cials, will go before the cam- eras next week. Alfred Green is scheduled to direct. R andolph scott, who is scheduled to play the male lead, has just returned to the studio from New York where he went following the completion of his current success, “Frontier Marshal” which has brought him excellent newspaper no- tices. Miss Healy returned this week from New Orleans, her home, where she went for a va- cation during which she made a personal appearance in con- junction with “Second Fiddle.” Lou Breslow and Owen Francis wrote the screenplay for “20,000 Men A Year.” • L illian porter, termed by artists as “the girl with the million-dollar face, figure and future,” is the seventh mem- ber of the stock school to gradu- ate into featured roles during the past 24-month period. She will play the role of Cuddles, the high school “siren” in Jane Withers’ third 1939-40 special, “High School.” Two dozen girls, most of them with considerably more experience than the bru- nette, blue-eyed, California- born Miss Porter were tested for the role. Other highly suc- cessful graduates of the stock school are Mary Healy, Mar- jorie Weaver, Lynn Bari, Dor- ris Bowden, June Gale and Hel- en Ericson. • T he simple life” with Marjorie Weaver and Stu- art Erwin goes into production next week. This means that by the end of next week Wurt- zel will have four more releases before the cameras. The other three are: Jane Withers’ “High School,” the Jones Family’s “Too Busy to Work” and “20,000 Men A Year.” Late this month he expects to start “shooting” on the first of the new “Cisco Kid” series starring Cesar Romero. • W RITERS are reportedly making splendid progress on the screenplays to introduce the new “Cisco Kid” series. Congratulatory letters from theatre operators continue to pour into the offices of Wurtzel. The selection of Cesar Romero for the title role has seemingly made a great impression upon the exhibitors here and abroad. Those in this country are par- ticularly pleased with the as- signment after noting Romero’s personal triumph in “Frontier Marshal.” J UNE CARLSON, the “kid sister” member of the Jones Family, has returned to the stu- dio, very enthusiastic over the reception she received at each of the branch offices she visited en route to and from New Y r ork on her recent vacation. Little June is one of the most promis- ing young players on the screen and her presence in each ex- change city was the occasion for much interviewing. June did herself a lot of good on her so-called “vacation” trip, judg- ing from newspaper clippings forwarded by branch managers. Congratulations, Sidney Toler WURTZEL TO MAKE “THE CITY” WITH 'kJ| CORTEZ DIRECTING /■ M ovietone city—R icardo Cortez this week drew an- other important directorial as- signment. Executive producer Sol M. Wurtzel has assigned him the megaphoning job on “The City.” The latter is based on a screenplay written by John Larkin. However, ho cast has yet been selected. Production will start some time early in September, according to present plans. • W ITH her second 1939-40 ve- hicle in the cutting rooms, Jane Withers is preparing to appear in “High School,” which has a San Antonio, Tex., back- ground. Cliff Edwards, the ukulele-strumming comedian, has been signed for one of the lead- ing roles. This week Lunn Rob- erts, Paul Harvey and Clair Du Brey also were added to the cast, which also includes Marvin Stephens and Lillian Porter. Other roles were to be filled this week. George Nichols is sched- uled to direct. • I NCIDENTALLY, some time during the next fortnight the studio expects to preview Jane Withers’ second 1939-40 vehicle, “Roughnecks,” in which she co- stars with the Ritz Brothers. This comedy drama was given a screening at the studio last week for Publicity Directors C. E. McCarthy and Harry Brand. They agreed that it was the best of the Withers series to date. • M EANWHILE, from England comes word that Gene Autry, the crooning cowboy, is attaining sensational success oil his personal appearance tour. He will not return to Hollywood until early in September, accord- ing to his plans. However, im- mediately upon his return he will start rehearsals for his co- starring vehicle, the tentatively- titled “Jubilo,” with Jane With- ers. Right after she has finished “Jubilo,” Jane will enjoy a well- deserved vacation, part of which she will spend on a contemplated personal appearance tour of the United States. • A nnouncement was made of the purchase of another story property, the dramatic ca- reer of John Marvin Yost, the Pikesville, Ky., banker who crashed the first pages of the nation’s newspapers not so long ago. His unique banking meth- ods amazed the millions of read- ers of newspapers. This has been grabbed by the studio as the basis for what should be a particularly timely screenplay. When it will be released, who will appear in it and who will direct are items that are to be determined later. • “rpHE ESCAPE,” based on the A original story by Robert Ellis and Helen Logan, was ex- pected to be previewed this week. Ricardo Cortez directed this Wurtzel production, in the cast of which appear the following players: Kane Richmond, Aman- da Duff, June Gale, Edward Nor- ris, Henry Armetta, Frank Reicher, Scotty Beckett, Leona Roberts, Rex Downing, Jimmy Butler, Roger McGee, Richard Lane, Jack Carson, Matt Mc- Hugh and Helen Ericson. • S IDNEY TOLER’S second fea- ture in the 1939-40 series, “Charlie Chan in a City in Darkness,” is also being readied for an early preview. Directed by Herbert I. Leeds, the cast supporting Toler includes Lynn Bari, Richard Clark, Harold Huber, Pedro de Cordoba, Dor- othy Tree, C. Henry Gordon, Douglas Dumbrille and Noel Madison. "PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES" TITLE FOR WITHERS-RITZ BROS. COMEDY j I MOVIETONE CITY—Official announcement was made this j | week that the second release in the Jane Withers series, s i formerly known as “Roughnecks” and “Tin Hats,” has been ! I definitely titled “Pack Up Your Troubles.” This is the comedy | j in which Jane is co-starred with the Ritz Brothers. “Pack Up ' = Your Troubles” is being readied for an early preview. I THE WEEK'S ADDUCTION IDE RELEASED OR DELIVERED TO NEW YORK ELSA MAXWELL’S HOTEL FOR WOMEN—With Elsa Maxwell, Linda Darnell, James Ellison, Ann Sothern, Kay Aldridge, Jean Rogers, Alan Dinehart, John Halliday and others. A Zanuck pro- duction. Directed by Gregory Ratoff. CHICKEN WAGON FAMILY—With Jane Withers, Leo Carrillo, Marjorie Weaver, Spring Byington, Kane Richmond and others. A Wurtzel release. Directed by Herbert I. Leeds. STANLEY AND LIVINGSTONE—With Spencer Tracy, Richard Greene, Nancy Kelly, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Charles Coburn, Henry Travers, Walter Brennan, Henry Hull and others. A Zanuck special. Directed by Henry King. JONES FAMILY IN QUICK MILLIONS—With Jed Prouty, Spring Byington, June Carlson, Ken Howell, Florence Roberts, Billy Mahan, Eddie Collins, Robert Shaw and others. A Wurtzel re- lease. Directed by Mai St. Clair. CHARLIE CHAN IN TREASURE ISLAND—With Sidney Toler, Cesar Romero, Sally Blane, Pauline Moore, Douglas Fowley, Wally Vernon and others. A Wurtzel release. Directed by Norman Foster. STOP, LOOK AND LOVE—With Jean Rogers, Robert Kellard, Wil- liam Frawley, Minna Gombell, Cora Sue Collins and others. A Wurtzel release. Directed by Otto Brower. IN THE CUTTING DEPARTMENT THE RAINS CAME—With Tyrone Power, Myrna Loy, George Brent, Brenda Joyce, Maria Ouspenskaya, H. B. Warner, Nigel Bruce, Marjorie Rambeau, Henry Travers, Laura Hope Crews and others. A Zanuck special. Directed by Clarence Brown. ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES—With Basil Rathbone, Ida Lupino, Nigel Bruce, Alan Marshall, Mary Forbes, Terry Kil- burn and others. A Zanuck production. Directed by Alfred Werker. HOLLYWOOD CAVALCADE—With Alice Faye, Don Ameche, J. Edward Bromberg, Buster Keaton, Mack Sennett, Alan Curtis, Stuart Erwin, Lynn Bari, Ben Turpin and many others. A Zanuck Technicolor super special. Directed by Irving Cummings. HERE I AM A STRANGER—With Richard Greene, Brenda Joyce, Richard Dix, Roland Young, Gladys George, John Arledge, Russell Gleason, Kay Aldridge and others. A Zanuck production. Di- rected by Roy Del Ruth. THE ESCAPE—With Kane Richmond, Amanda Duff, Henry Ar- metta, Edward Norris, June Gale, Marvin Stephens and others. A Wurtzel release. Directed by Ricardo Cortez. A CITY IN DARKNESS—Second Chan K-7 release, with Sidney Toler, Sen Yung, Lynn Bari, Pedro De Cordoba, Harold Huber, Noel Madison and others. A Wurtzel release. Directed by Herbert I. Leeds. PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES—Formerly titled “Roughnecks,” with Jane Withers, Ritz Brothers, Lynn Bari and others. A Wurtzel release. Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone. NOW IN PRODUCTION DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK—With Henry Fonda, Claudette Colbert, Edna May Oliver, Dorris Bowden, Robert Lowery, Eddie Collins, Ward Bond, Big Tree, Francis Ford, Arthur Aylesworth, Si Jenkins, Kay Linaker, Jack Pennick, Arthur Shields, Bob Ford, Wayne Frank, Roger Imhof, Paul McVey and many others. A Zanuck Technicolor super special. Directed by John Ford. HIGH SCHOOL—Third of Jane Withers’ 1939-40 series, with Jane Withers, Joan Davis, Marvin Stephens, Lillian Porter, Cliff Ed- wards, Lunn Roberts, Paul Harvey and others. A Wurtzel re- lease. Directed by George Nichols. TOO BUSY TO WORK—Second in the Jones Family release, with the original members of the Jones Family cast and others. A Wurtzel release. GO INTO PRODUCTION NEXT WEEK 20,000 MEN A YEAR—With Randolph Scott, Mary Healy and others now being selected. A Wurtzel super special. Alfred Green director. THE SIMPLE LIFE—With Marjorie Weaver, Stuart Erwin, Chick Chandler and others now being selected. A Wurtzel release. William Beaudine, director. IN PRODUCTION WITHIN NEXT TWO MONTHS MAETERLINCK’S “THE BLUE BIRD”—With Shirley Temple, Sybil Jason, Gale Sondergaard, Eddie Collins, Spring Byington and others now being selected. A Zanuck Technicolor super special. Directed by Walter Wanger. LITTLE OLD NEW YORK—With Alice Faye, Richard Greene, Fred MacMurray, Andy Devine and others. A Zanuck special. Directed by Henry King. SWANEE RIVER—With Don Ameche, A1 Jolson, Andrea Leeds and others now being selected. With Stephen Foster music. A Zanuck Technicolor super special. Directed by Sidney Lanfield. JOHNNY APOLLO—With Tyrone Power, Nancy Kelly, Edward Arnold and a stellar supporting cast. A Zanuck special. EVERYTHING HAPPENS AT NIGHT—First of a series of two with Sonja Henie. With Miss Henie, Ray Milland and others now being selected. A Zanuck special. SCOTLAND YARD—With Warner Baxter and an all-star cast now being selected. A Zanuck special. Directed by Alfred Werker. GRAPES OF WRATH—Based on John Steinbeck’s current best- seller, with an all-star cast. Walter Brennan and Beulah Bondi already set in cast. A Zanuck super special. Directed by John Ford. BRIGHAM YOUNG—Screenplay by Louis Bromfield, author of “The Rains Came,” with an all-star cast now being selected. Further details later. A Zanuck super special. FIRST CISCO KID STORY—Starring Cesar Romero in the title role, first of a series of three stories. Cast for first release now being selected. Further details later. A Wurtzel release. THE CITY—A new story based on screenplay by John Larkin. No cast yet selected. A Wurtzel release. Directed by Ricardo Cortez.