20th Century-Fox Dynamo (September 16, 1939)

2A STUDIO SPECIAL He Made Stephen Foster Famous Here is A1 Jolson, as Christie, the famous minstrel man of the last century, introducing the first song written by Stephen Foster, who is played by Don Ameche in “Swanee River,” now rounding out its first month of production. It was this minstrel man’s rendition and showmanship that endeared the Foster songs to all Americans. COWBOY “FIND” GETS HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT IN “THE ADVENTURER” MOVIETONE CITY—George Montgomery, the Montana cowboy whom Zanuck believes is a “find,” was given his first important assignment this week. He will play the romantic lead opposite Marjorie Weaver in “The Adventurer” which is the first of the new Cisco Kid series. Production on “The Adventurer” started this week. Montgomery has been attract- ing much attention here since Zanuck signed him to a long- term contract several weeks ago. “GRAPES OF WRATH” CASTING PROGRESSES AT TOP SPEED! SHOOTING ON K-7 RELEASES NOW AT PEAK Continued from Page 1A pleted by last week-end. Five of those now “shooting” are Zanuck productions, with two being made in Technicolor. • N O OTHER studio is more active. All Technicolor spe- cials—of which there will be four this season — have either been completed or are in work. The first, “Hollywood Caval- cade” with Don Ameche, Alice Faye, J. Edward Bromberg, Alan Curtis and others, and “Drums Along the Mohawk” with Claud- ette Colbert and Henry Fonda, have been finished. In work are “Swanee River” with Don Ameche, Andrea Leeds and A1 Jolson, and Maeterlinck’s “The Blue Bird” with Shirley Temple, Nancy Kelly, Gale Sondergaard, Laura Hope Crews, Spring By- ington, Johnny Russell and others. “Here I Am a Stranger” was shipped to New York early this week. • J ANE WITHERS has set a record in completing three of her four starring vehicles for (his season in some five months. ‘‘Chicken Wagon Fam- ily ” i s n o w showing. ‘‘Pack Up Your Trou- bles” with the Ritz Brothers was hailed Jane’s greatest picture when screened at the Home Office this week, ac- cording to wires from there. And last week “High School” was completed. Within the next month, Jane’s fourth release, tentatively titled “Jubilo,” in which she will co-star with Gene Autry, the singing cowboy, will be started. • T HE untitled Warner Baxter special is being readied for the cameras and is expected to be started some time in early October. At the time that is in work, Zanuck also plans to have several other special start- ed. “The Blue Bird” and “Everything Happens at Night” have a schedule that will take them into October as has “Lit- tle Old New York” with Alice Faye, Richard Greene, Fred MacMurray and others. Mean- time, “The Grapes of Wrath,” with Henry Fonda starred, also will have been started. Right after she has finished “The Blue Bird,” Shirley Temple will start “Lady Jane.” Sonja Henie will start S. S. Van Dine’s “Shadows in the Snow” right after she has finished “Everything Happens at Night” in which Ray Milland plays the male romantic lead opposite her. • Z ANUCK is also currently making preparations to start production on “Brigham Young.” This special will be tackled either late in October or early in November. The production chief, meantime, is also having screen tests made of feminine singing stars to co-star with Alice Faye in Irving Berlin’s “Say It With Music.” Grace Moore is among those considered for the role of torch-singing Alice Faye’s sister who becomes an international opera star. By the latter part of October, Zanuck also expects to be ready to start “Johnny Apollo” in which Tyrone Power and Ed- ward Arnold have already been cast. Power also will be starred in another production, making a total of four with him for K-7 release. M OVIETONE CITY—All is in readiness to start shooting on Zanuck’s picturization of John Steinbeck’s current best seller, “The Grapes Of Wrath.” This week the production chief signed Dorris Bowdon to play the part of Rosaharn in this production that John Ford will direct, with Henry Fonda star- red. Miss Bowdon recently com- pleted a featured role in the Technicolor special, “Drums Along The Mohawk” that Ford also directed and in which Fonda is co-starred with Claudette Colbert. • M ISS BOWDON is looming as one of the most promising young actresses on the lot. Za- nuck is very pleased with the performance she gave in “Drums Along The Mohawk.!’ So was Director Ford. In fact, the two were so satisfied with that portrayal that they rewarded her with the important role in “The Grapes Of Wrath,” which is one of this company’s out- standing ventures for this sea- son. Production will start a week from Monday. Fonda is due back here from his vacation in the East, this week-end. • F RANK JAMES became a re- soeetable citizen, following his brother’s death. In fact, his career as a respectable citi- zen is as interesting a story as has been brought to the atten- tion of the studio. No easy time did Frank James have of acouiring the respect of his fel- lowmen after his widely her- alded escapades with his brother. The studio is considering this title: “The Return Of Frank James.” A NOTHER important future assignment has been given Henry Fonda, the studio an- nounced this week. He will play Frank James in an un- titled sequel to “Jesse James,” dealing with the future adven- tures of that outlaw’s brother who reformed. Kansas City Branch Manager George W. Fuller first suggested to the studio the production of this stroy, following many such sug- gestions the film man received from exhibitors and others in his territory. E DDIE QUILLAN has been given the part of Rosaharn’s husband in “The Grapes Of Wrath.” By the end of this week Zanuck had hoped to com- plete the cast. Last week he assigned Jane Darwell the part of Ma Joad. This will be the second time that Miss Darwell will have plaved screen mother to Fonda. The first occasion was in “Jesse James.” • O TTO BROWER and his crew are expected back from Oklahoma late this week. They went there to film background material for “The Grapes Of Wrath.” The latter will be the third best seller that this stu- dio will have sent before the cameras in less than seven months. The other two are “The Rains Came,” now re- leased. and the Technicolor spe- cial, “Drums Along The Mo- hawk.” i ! . Virginia Field in "Adventurer" MOVIETONE CITY — j I Virginia Field was this j | week signed to play the ! | role of the dance-hall girl | I in “The Adventurer,” the j | first of the new Cisco Kid = series, starring Cesar Ro- I | mero in the title role. She j | takes the place of Binnie - j Barnes because the latter \ J will be busy working the S | Tyrone Power-Linda Dar- j j nell sophisticated comedy \ ! farce, “Daytime Wife,” | I which is before the cam- i I eras at the same time. ! ! Robert Barrat also was j I added to the cast. Miss j j Field will be recalled as ? | the barmaid in “Lloyds of | 1 London” in which Tyrone | 2 Power made his first sen- j = sational hit. fWrTritish PIX DELIVERED M ovietone city—a s Dar- ryl Zanuck announced to readers of this publication two weeks ago the war in Europe will not alter the 1939-40 pro- gram he announced last Spring. In fact, the original total of 52 pictures will be released, 24 to be made by him, 24 to be pro- duced by Wurtzel and four from the British producing or- ganization. And this week, af- ter a conference with Executive British Producer Robert T. Kane, here, Mr. Zanuck an- nounced that a total of six specials had been completed by this company’s London studios. Negatives of these productions are in New York. However, only the scheduled four will be released. • T HE first of the four 1939-40 International specials. “Gra- de Fields’ “Shipyard Sally” has been completed and screened at the Home Office in New York. This will be available for do- mestic release on Oct. 20. ac- cording to a decision reached at a conference the production chief had with General Man- ager of Distribution Herman Wobber last Friday. Thereaf- ter, one British-made special, with an international cast in each one, will be released every three months. • T HE second British-made spe- cial to be released in the United States and Canada will he ‘Inspector Hornleigh On Holiday.” This is the second of the Inspector Hornleigh (Scotland Yard) detective ser- ies this company will have re- leased. The first was domes- tically released late last year. “Inspector Hornleigh On Holi- day,” which co-stars Gordon Harker, in the title role, and Alastair Sim, will be released late in January. • T HE third International re- lease will be ‘Where’s That Fire” or “So This Is London.” The latter is a new version of the George M. Cohan comedy that was made with Will Rog- ers by this company some eight years ago. In the new version, Berton Churchill, the American star, plays the role of the Amer- ican “Babbitt” who takes Lon- don” bv storm.” The third re- lease will be available in early April. • M R. KANE arrived here from New York last week. He will be here for some time. Za- nuck announced this week that as long as the war lasts this company will not attempt to make anv pictures in England. The studios were closed by the British Government at the out- set of war. MORE “NAMES" ARE ADDED TO “WIFE” CAST! M OVIETONE CITY—Produc- tion has got under way on “Daytime Wife,” on the sophis- ticated domestic farce comedy. Gregory Ratoff, who made “Wife, Husband and Friend” and “Elsa Maxwell’s Hotel for Women” is directing. This is the second of four 1939-40 vehicles starring Tyrone Power. The first “The Rains Came” is now being na- tionally shown. “Daytime Wife” follows. Then comes “Johnny Apollo” and an untitled special. • I ^HE box office possibilities of “Daytime Wife” were further emphasffized this week when Za- nuck signed Wendy Barrie for a leading role. Linda Darnell, who clicked so triumphantly in “Hotel for Women” plays opposite y- rone Power. Featured in this comedy are Binnie Barnes, War- William, Joan Davis and Joan Valerie. The screen play is by Art Arthur and Robert Hahari. • T HE cast for “20,000 Men A Year,” now in production, is one of the largest assembled at this studio from the standpoint of principals. Two romances are revealed. They involve Ran- dolph Scott and Margaret Liv- ingstone, and Mary Healy and Robert Shaw. Others featured in the cast include Preston Foster, George Ernest, Paul Stanton, Jack Gargan, Maxie Rosenbloom, Russell Heustos, Leila McIntyre, Howard Hickman, Holmes Her- bert, Ernie Alexander, Stanley Mack, Grace Goodal, Sen Yung, the Brewster Twins, Esther Brodelet and Lucille Miller. • E VERY indication, studio at- taches believe, points to Sonja Henie’s first vehicle for this season, “Everything Hap- pens At Night,” being one of her most popular attractions. It will be a different Sonja who will be starred in this special which has been in preparation for nine months. Production is well un- der way. Ray Milland, borrowed from Paramount, plays opposite Miss Henie. • H ENRY KING is ready to try to beat his 1938-39 record when he tackles “Little Old New York” next week. It will be his second vehicle for this season’s release. His first was “Stanley and Livingstone.” Last season the two outstanding grossers, “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” and “Jesse James” were directed by this hit-director. • T HE Man Who Wouldn’t Talk” with Lloyd Nolan in the name cast, is now before the cameras, with Jean Rogers, and Onslow Stevens featured. David Barton is the director. This is another of Wurtzel’s specials. The Executive producer also has in work, “The City,” which Ri- cardo Cortez is megaphoning. • “IJIHE Adventurer,” the first of A the Cisco Kid series, with Cesar Romero playing the title role, has been started by Herbert I. Leeds. Marjorie Weaver, George Montgomery, Virginia Fields and others are in the cast. John Beach was also added to the cast this week. Eric Blore had been given an important part in “The City.” • N EXT month Wurtzel plans to place before the cameras the third of the Charlie Chan series and the third Jones Family. The second attractions in the two groups are now in the cutting rooms, being readied for preview within the next three weeks, along with “Heaven With a Barbed Wire Fence.”