The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

24 THE EXHIBITOR Why I'm OPTIMISTIC An Interview with SOL LESSER Independent Producer for United Artists Because he sees big possibilities in “Our Town” and because regardless of how legislation might affect the industry, he believes it will adjust itself to conditions, Sol Lesser, head of the newest production unit at United Artists, can be termed optimistic over the future of the business. Lesser was emphatic in his belief that the Neely Bill would benefit the entire motion picture industry. He asserted during an interview in his Sherry-Netherland suite last week that the film business “would adjust itself” to any problems which may crop up when and if the antiblock booking bill is passed by Congress. He claims he is willing to “take the rap if his own picture is a flop.” As the owner of several theatres besides being the producer of the projected filmization of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” Lesser views the Neely Bill from both sides of the fence and insists it would be of unlimited benefit to the industry. “It would open the field,” he said, “to many aspirants who heretofore wouldn’t take the chance.” He also stated that it would be better for the large circuits who are usually fairer with their competition than the large independent chains. When the fact that sales cost would rise if the Neely action goes through was brought up, Lesser claimed the companies would discover means of keeping the costs within reason. Concerning Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia’s plans for large scale movie production on the site of the New York World’s Fair, Lesser stated it “is like taking the automobile industry out of Detroit.” He said the expense involved in moving the industry east plus the fact that all the craftsmen and allied trades are located in close proximity to Hollywood, makes the entire plan too expensive and infeasible. Sol Lesser Having been connected with Bobby Breen pictures for so long, Lesser is beginning to fear queries as to why he switched so abruptly from making Breen programmers for RKO releases to producing higher budget offerings such as “Our Town.” He explains the discontinuance of Breen pictures as the result of the child actor’s voice changing period. “I decided to make pictures which mean something to the industry,” he said, “when I was in Columbus, Ohio, to attend my son’s wedding. For the first time in years, I had four or five hours of leisure and visited all the theatres in town to see Production Notes ( Continued from page 21) wyn, in exchange for Alice Faye Brennan goes into “Maryland,” Andrews into “Sweetheart of Turret One,” and Faye into “Natchez.” . . . Eugene Forde will direct “Charlie Chan’s Oriental Cruise.” . . . “Dance with the Devil,” formerly known as “Johnnie Apollo,” swing into production. . . . Thomas Hart Benton, American artist, has been commissioned to do six original lithographs on “The Grapes of Wrath.” . . . Peter Lorre goes into “I Was an Adventuress.” . . . Tyrone Power has been re-signed. . . . Andrea Leeds has been borrowed from Samuel Goldwyn again, this time for “Maryland.” . . . Lynn Bari and Joan Davis will head the cast for the untitled successor to “Elsa Maxwell’s Hotel for Women.” . . . Jean Rogers will be Cesar Romero’s leading lady in the second Cisco Kid picture. United Artists — Gold ivy n Andrea Leeds has been loaned to 20th Century-Fox. . . . Alice Faye has been borrowed from 20th Century-Fox for a 1940 musical, in which Zorina will be starred. United Artists — Lesser Sol Lesser has moved his production company from the Selznick-International lot in Culver City to the Samuel Goldwyn studios. United Artists — Roach Ben Turpin, 72, goes into “Two’s Company.” United Artists — Small Louis Hayward will be starred in “The Son of Monte Cristo.” Rowland V. Lee moves over from Universal to direct. . . . When Henry Hull completes his role in “My Son, My Son” he will co-produce and star in the stage play, “By Any Other Name.” United Artists — W anger Osa Massen, Danish actress, has been given a long-term contract. Universal Richard Wallace will direct the remade “Alias the Deacon.” . . . Carol what made them tick. I saw the movie business from a typical midwestern town’s point of view and decided to do something worthwhile as a result. “In searching for a worthy vehicle,” he added, “I reached to the very top and purchased ‘Our Town’ which I saw and liked as a play. In searching for a distributing organization I thought best for my product, I contracted with United Artists. Sam Wood, who did such a wonderful job on ‘Goodbye, Mr. Chips,’ will direct the picture from a script prepared by Lillian Heilman. The film goes before the cameras on the UA lot January 15.” Lesser is also interested in Ernst Lubitsch’s own producing company which will begin work on an untitled picture March 15. He also announced during his stay here that Ruth Schwerin will act as his New York City press representative. Hughes and Larry “Buster” Crabbe have the leads in the serial, “Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe.” Warners The “Virginia City” company, headed by Errol Flynn and Miriam Hopkins, that has been working on location near Flagstaff, Arizona, broke camp to report back to the Hollywood studio. . . . “For the Rich They Sing,” a musical show of college life during an election year, has been acquired, and will go as a winter production. Jane Bryan, Eddie Albert, and Claude Rains will head the cast. . . . Heinz Herald has been assigned to write the screen-play of “The Life of Alfred Nobel.” He will collaborate with Ulrich Steindorff in the writing of the story, based on the life of the man who created the internationally famous peace prize. The new Disraeli story will be titled “The Prime Minister.” . . . Dennis Morgan has the male lead in “Three Cheers for the Irish.” . . . Humphrey Bogart signed a new term contract. . . . Brandon Tynan, now playing in “Virginia City” and “The Life of Dr. Ehrlich,” was added to the “And It All Came True” cast. . . . Frank McHugh was planted in “We Shall Meet Again.” . . . Warners is contemplating making an annual “Four (Wives, Mothers, Daughters, Grandmothers, o r what have you)” for its annual Christmas release, through 1944 or 1945. . . . ZaSu Pitts and Grant Mitchell go into “And It All Came True.” . . . Jeffrey Lynn has been re-signed. “Torrid Zone” will be George Raft’s next. . . . Max Steiner will provide the scores for “The Life of Dr. Ehrlich” and “Virginia City.” . . . Shooting has started on “Three Cheers for the Irish” and “Bad Boy.” . . . Anatole Litvak will direct “City for Conquest.” . . . Director Raoul Walsh’s contract has also been renewed. . . . “The House on the Hill” has been set as the title for Bette Davis’s next picture. . . . Brenda Marshall was assigned to “Bad Boy.” . . . Jane Bryan and Eddie Albert top the “Stuff of Heroes” cast. . . . For “The Mighty Hunters,” Leon Schlesinger has painted the Merrie Melodie’s background in oil, rather than the usual water color. Advance Shots ( Continued from page 22) Features JUDGE HARDY AND SON (MetroGoldwyn-Mayer) — Lewis Stone, Mickey Rooney, Cecilia Parker, Fay Holden, Ann Rutherford. 90m. Another hit in the series of Hardy Family pictures, this one deviates from the expected path and has injected into it a rather heavy dose of drama, the value of which is questionable. However, the beginning and the end are sufficiently replete with adolescent Andy Hardy’s antics to carry this offering out of dramatic dangers into the higher grosses. Shorts BIRTH OF A CHAMPION (Fistic Films). 14m. Good. THE BLUE DANUBE (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer — Cartoon) . 7m. Excellent. FORGOTTEN VICTORY (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer — Passing Parade). 9m. Excellent. December 20, 1939