The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

THE EXHIBITOR 13 Granville, Rita Johnson, and Martha O’Driscoll have been assigned to “Forty Little Mothers.” . . . Robert Sinclair has signed a new writer-director contract. . . . Life’s “Everybody’s Pixillated, a Book of Doodles” will be made as a short subject. . . . Ian Hunter has signed a new long-term contract. . . . Lewis Miller, nephew of Thomas A. Edison, has been engaged as a biographical technical adviser on “Young Thomas Edison.” . . . Virginia Bruce recently passed the examinations for a first-aid certificate offered by the Red Cross. . . . Work was rushed on “Counterfeit,” the new Crime Doesn’t Pay subject. . . . On the new Passing Parade subject are brothers Basil Wrangell, director, and Paul Wrangell, period expert and technical adviser. Wallace Beery’s next starrer will be “Twenty Mule Team.” . . . Parents Magazine gave “Peace on Earth” its Medal Award. . . . Eddie Cantor is soon expected to start on “Forty Little Mothers.” . . . “The Old South,” a Miniature, is to deal with the story of cotton. . . . James A. FitzPatrick goes “natural” in making “Night Descends on Treasure Island,” the only night reel made of the Golden Gate International Exposition. . . . John Carroll is half owner of “When I Look at You, I Want to Sing,” composed by his friend and roommate, Earl Brent. Paramount “Hidden Gold,” is the final release title selected for the Hopalong Cassidy feature formerly tagged “The Man From Bar 20.” This is a Harry Sherman production starring William Boyd. . . . Paramount has signed Basil Rathbone to a three-picture deal. First assignment for Rathbone under the new deal will be the starring role in “Destiny,” George Arthur production which goes before the cameras January 15. . . . “Eyes of Texas” is the new working title for “Texas Rangers Ride Again,” and “F. O. B. Detroit” will be changed to “City That Never Sleeps. . . . “Adventure In Diamonds” is the new title for the George Brent-Isa Miranda picture, formerly titled “Diamonds Are Dangerous.” Paulette Goddard has signed her name on the dotted line of a contract for the next five years. Her next picture is “The Ghost Breakers,” in which she costars with Bob Hope. . . . Vivien Leigh, the Scarlet O’Hara of “Gone With The Wind,” is co-starred with Charles Laughton in the English production, “The Sidewalks of London,” which will be released in February. Producer Paul Jones has taken over “The Man in Half Moon Street.” . . . Lovey Warren, “double” for Princess Glory in “Gulliver’s Travels,” has been screen-tested. . . . Joseph Santley, former child stage star, now a film writer and director, has been signed to a long-term contract. . . . Mary Martin has been signed for the top feminine role in the forthcoming Jack Benny-Fred Allen picture. RKO-Radio Innovations calling for a dramatic use of color in “Irene” have been revealed by the producer-director Herbert Wilcox, who plans several Technicolor sequences in this forthcoming comedy with music. 20th Century-Fox Because of her success in “Swanee River,” Darryl F. Zanuck has again bor rowed Andrea Leeds from Samuel Goldwyn. She has been signed for the feminine lead in the forthcoming Technicolor production of “Maryland.” . . . Henry Wilcoxon has been signed for the principal male role in the untitled second “Hotel for Women” production now before the cameras. Ricardo Cortez is directing. United Artists — Lesser Ned Lambert has been signed to do the costumes for “Our Town.” . . . Harry Horner, reknowned scenic designer, will do the sets for “Our Town.” United Artists — W anger All-time record for title changes will probably go to Walter Wanger, who changed “Send Another Coffin” to “House For Sale,” and then “Slightly Honorable.” In the original, the murder angles were to be stressed; but, when the picture entered production, the gayer element was favored and the title “City For Sale” was adopted. As filming proceeded the importance of feminine characters brought about a second title change, to “Ladies Know Too Much.” When this was announced, however, theatremen and several distributing executives voiced the opinion that the original book title should be used, and it was then announced as a release title. In the finished version, the original title did not fit; therefore, the final release title will be “Slightly Honorable.” James Hilton has been signed to collaborate on the screen play of “Personal History.” Universal N. J. Blumberg, president, Universal has concluded negotiations with Tay Garnett to produce and direct “World Cruise,” a special feature which will be based on an original story idea by Garnett. Loretta Young has already been signed for the starring role. Warners “All this and Heaven, Too” replaces “Villa on the Hill” as Bette Davis’s next starring vehicle. . . . Abem Finkel has completed the screen play for “Stuff of Heroes.” . . . George Raft goes into “Torrid Zone,” to start later this month. . . . Henry Armetta has joined the cast of “Three Cheers for the Irish.” Ditto for Ferike Boros. Advance Shots On COMING REVIEWS New Pictures Tersely Cited Philadelphia — Received at the home office of The Exhibitor since last week’s edition of the Blue Section was printed have been reviews of the following pictures. Complete Six-Point Reviews will be printed in the next Blue Section. Features CALLING PHILO VANCE (Warners) — James Stephenson, Margot Stevenson, Henry O’Neill, Edward Brophy, Sheila Bromley. 63m. This is a remake of S. S. Van Dyne's “The Kennel Murder Case,” modernized through weaving into the original story international complications dealing with the illegal sale of American airplane secrets to foreign countries. The result is a complex murder case with a second victim making matters more complicated until Philo Vance solves the problem. THE CITADEL OF SILENCE (La Citadel de Silence) (Film Alliance of U. S.) — Annabella, Pierre Renoir, Bernard Lancret, Robert LeVigan. 90m. Adult drama from beginning to end, “The Citadel of Silence” presents Annabella at her best — she never did show to true advantage in American films. And when the lovely Gallic blonde is at her best, then exhibitors, who run art houses or who can play French films, have some money-making celluloid. It is the sombre story of Polish patriots who refuse to be ground under Russian heels before the World War I. ENTENTE CORDIALE (Concord) — Victor Francen, Gaby Morlay, Arlette Marchal, Jean Perier. 93m. The events leading to the signing of the pact making January 3} 1940