The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

THE EXHIBITOR 13 Production Notes West Coast News Items Hollywood — So that its readers may keep abreast of the times, be in the know on the major developments and interesting sidelights, The Exhibitor offers the following items from the various lots. M etro-Goldwyn-Mayer It looks like Czech and double Czech for 28-year-old Emil Zarek, a native of Czechoslovakia, who came to Hollywood five years ago, hoping for a chance on the screen. Studios told him to get rid of his foreign accent. For five years he became associated with English books and teachers. He recently landed a part as the ballet dance-master in the Our Gang comedy, “Alfalfa’s Double.” Throughout the picture Zarek is required to speak with his native Czech accent. Myrna Loy and Greer Garson are being considered for the title role of “A Lady Comes to Burkburnett,” by James Edward Grant. Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy will have the male leads. The parallels between modern government problems and those which faced the founders of the U. S. will be drawn in “The Dawn’s Early Light,” which the studio purchased from Columnist Dorothy Thompson and Playwright Fritz Kortner. Clarence Brown, whose latest work is “The Rains Came” for 20th Century-Fox, will direct “Edison the Man.” Robert E. Sherwood’s play, “Waterloo Bridge,” will be remade, with Vivien Leigh starred. Mervyn LeRoy will direct. W. S. VanDyke will direct the forthcoming “New Moon,” based on the Sigmund operetta of the same name Jack Chertok’s first feature production will be “Our Home Town,” an original story by William Ulman, Jr “Cathleen,” an original story by Kay VanRiper, collaborator on the Judge Hardy stories, has been purchased. “The Shop Around the Corner,” with Ernst Lubitsch directing, is now before the cameras. Picture stars Margaret Sullavan and Jimmy Stewart, with a supporting roster including Frank Morgan, Joseph Schildkraut, Felix Bressart, and Sara Haden. “Edison the Man,” with Spencer Tracy in the top spot, gets the starting guns with Clarence Brown directing. Title change announced is “New Moon,” for the Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy starring picture. Paramount “I Wanted Wings,” an aviation story by Lieutenant Beirne Lay, Jr., has been purchased. Arthur Hornblow, Jr., will produce the picture based on it. Andrew Stone, producer-director of “The Great Victor Herbert,” has been resigned. Susanna Foster, as a result of her work in “The Great Victor Herbert,” was given a new contract. “French Without Tears,” the Englishmade Ray Milland-Ellen Drew co-starrer, has been released in London. In January, there will go before the cameras “I Want a Divorce,” “The Ghost Breaker,” “Triumph Over Pain,” “The Night of January 16” (which Mitchell Leisen will direct), “King of the Ice,” and an untitled George Arthur production. Five stars will head the cast of Cecil B. DeMille’s “Northwest Mounted Police.” First two set are Joe McCrea and Robert Preston. Paramount joins the army of title changers with “The Night of Nights” set as the final release title on the Pat O’Brien-Olympe Bradna-Roland Young picture formerly called “Happy Ending.” Picture was produced by George Arthur and directed by Lewis Milestone. Option on Ruth Rogers, currently playing an important role in Harry Sherman’s celluloid version of the Zane Grey story, “Light of Western Stars,” has been picked up. RKO-Radio “Married and in Love” is the new title, replacing “Distant Fields,” just completed by producer Robert Sisk. This one features Alan Marshal, Barbabra Read, Helen Vinson and Patric Knowles. 20th Century-Fox The 16th of the Jones Family series will be “Young as You Feel,” went before the cameras November 9 with John Sloane as associate producer. Louis Bromfield, author of the eminently successful “The Rains Came,” will write the screen play for “Marching As to War,” a story of the Salvation Army’s Booths. Shooting has been completed on Sonja Henie’s “Everything Happens at Night.” Contacts for the service of George Sanders and Marjorie Weaver have been renewed. That for director H. Bruce Humberstone was also extended. United Artists — Small Camera work on “My Son, My Son!” is expected to start November 15, with Brian Aherne and Carole Lombard in the leads, and Charles Vidor directing. This is a celluloid version of Howard Spring’s best selling novel. Capturing the important role of Dermot O’Riorden, Henry Hull has joined Brian Aherne and Louis Hayward in the cast of principals. Florence Ryerson has been engaged to write the scenario on “The Life of Rudolph Valentino.” Third in a cycle of Alexandre Dumas’ stories will be “The Corsican Brothers,” the central characters of which are Siamese twins. United Artists — W anger Walter Wanger has borrowed George Raft from Warners’ studios for the costarring role with Joan Bennett in “House Across the Bay,” which Archie Mayo is directing. Clarence E. Erickson has resigned (after 20 years) as business manager for Douglas Fairbanks to devote his entire time to being WWP’s business manager and treasurer. Warners — First National “Klondyke,” a gold-rush story, has been added to the schedule for Wayne Morris and Lya Lys. , , , x “We Shall Meet Again” is scheduled to go into production November 15, with George Brent co-starred with Bette Davis. Emil Goulding will direct. A ninecar train transported the 200 players and production men to Cameron City, Arizona, where the majority of the scenes for “Virginia City” will be shot. The principal roles are played by Errol Flynn, Miriam Hopkins, and Randolph Scott. Because she considered it inappropriate in the picture, Mrs. Joyce Kilmer withheld permission to use Joyce Kilmer’s “Trees” in the forthcoming “The Fighting 69th.’ “Trees” was written before the war. Nell O’Day, popular stage actress (“One for the Money,” “Many Mansions”), has been signed to a long-term contract. Number 57 of a Series: BERT PARKER Manager, FOLLY THEATRE Castine, Maine "I consider THE EXHIBITOR the best magazine of this kind that we have ever had. Its many services are definitely of great value to us.” Nearly every Exhibitor reads THE EXHIBITOR! AN INV ITATION Throu ghou t 1 9 9, expressions of praise, comment, criticism or sug ecstion from ou r many Exhibitor Friend s will be carried in similar form n every issue. We welcome the ex pression of every reader amt will use them in the order in which they arc received. November 15, 1939