20th Century-Fox Dynamo (April 1950)

ENTERTAINMENTS DESIGNED TO ACCELERATE TICKET-BUYING GREAT STORIES REINFORCED WITH POTENT BOX OFFICE STARPOWER! PICTURES GEARED TO SATISFY A (Continued from Page 8 Of Montezuma” (in Technicolor), "Take Care Of My Little Girl” (this one will be a new title), “For Heaven’s Sake”, “The Man Who Sank The Navy”, “Call Me Mister” (A musical in Technicolor), “The Man On The Ledge”, “No Highway”, "The Jackpot” "Call It Treason”, “On The Kiviera” (a musical comedy in Technicolor), “The Australian Story”, "Sense Of Guilt”, "Zapata” and others. Others to go into production, stories for which have been written, include; “Interpole”, "The Desert Fox”, “Modesta”, "Mr. Belvedere Takes The Rap”, “Mischief”, “The Frog Man”, "May We Come In?”, “The Flesh Is Strong”, "It’s Only Human”, "The Fly- ing Teakettle” and “Irresistible Liar”. No less than six other stories intended for use in musicals also are in the hands of writers for treatment. Backing its announced intention of overlooking no means to reinforce its properties, the studio has borrowed Joseph Cotton front David O- Selznick to co-star with Cornel Wilde, Linda Darnell and Jeff Chandler in “Trumpet To The Morn”, which will be filmed in Technicolor. Engagement of Burt Lancaster (at top left of page) is another indication of the studio’s determination to cast pic- tures with the most potent starpower. However, in no case will personalities come ahead of story values, for, in the long run, a picture succeeds or fails on the merit of its entire content and par- ticularly on the quality of the yarn. Another announcement that has at- tracted widespread industry interest and developed much enthusiasm among potential ticket-buyers concerned the decision to produce “Queen Of Sheba”, a romantic adventure about the most beautiful woman of her time and King Solomon. This has been added to the 1951 agenda, meaning this Technicolor production is not contemplated for re- lease until then, for the story only re- cently was placed in the hands of a writer. Moreover, there is considerable pre- liminary work to be done before “Queen Of Sheba” can be sent before the cam- eras. Already there has grown rare in- terest in the studio’s choice for the leading role. In fact. Mr. Zanuck has inaugirated a world-wide search for a glamorous and talented woman to be the Queen of Sheba on the screen. The pictire itself will be produced in the Near East. Mr. Zanuck is personally go- ing there this Summer to personally study the situations and select loca- tions. At the time this publication was going to press, the studio had several pictixes in production, with four others scheduled to be started by mid-May. Be- fore the cameras were “Stella”, co- starring Ann Sheridan (center), Victor Mature and David Wayne; "I'll Get By” (inTechnicolor) with June Haver, William Luidigan, Harry James, Gloria de Haven and Dennis Day, and “American Guer- rilla In The Philippines” in Luzon, co- starring Tyrone Power and Micheline Prelie. For further information regarding this production, which is being filmed in the Philippines, turn to the next page. Just about ready to be started this week was " All \bout Eve”, an all-star satire on tlie stage, co-starring Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, Celeste llolm and George Sanders. Plans already have been perfected for the exploitation of such new, import- ant personalities as Barbara Bates, who scores in “The Gun-Fighter”; Academy \ward winner, Dean Jagger; Gary Merrill, Mitchell Millard, David Wayne and a number of others whom Mr. Zanuck be- lieves will emerge from 1950 as major stars. Vs the result of the studio’s poll of exhibitors vehicles have been found for major stars who played no small part in making this company’s product the most successful of 1949. Thus, at ex- hibitors* requests, the studio has re- signed Loretta Voixig of “Come To The Stable” and "Mother Is A Freshman” to star in “Half An Angel”. It also has bought an original story from Clare Boothe Luce who authored “Come To Ihe Stable ”. Miss Luce’s “A Spark In I’he Night” is to go into production late this year. The studio also has signed Claudette Colbert for the title role in “My Mother- In-Law, Miriam”. Many exhibitors and critics predict Miss Colbert will win the Academy Award for this year with her performance in “Three Came Home”. Hence, the studio is providing exhibitors w ith the means to exploit such a prob- ability next Spring. Gregory Peck will follow "The Gun-Fighter” with "The Second Oldest Profession” and another. Therewill be, in addition to “My Blue Heaven”, an- other musical in Technicolor with Betty (irable and Dan Dailey as singing hoofers.