The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

Brief Glances At PRODUCTION HAPPENINGS 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: Columbia Preparations are under way at this studio for the filming of “The Doctor Takes A Wife.” This is a William Perlberg production to be directed by Alexander Hall. . . . Newest vehicle for Jack Holt is “Passport To Alcatraz,” which marks his 24th year of stardom. . . . Lou Smith is now director of studio publicity, succeeding George Brown. John Litel has been engaged for the principal role in “Men Without Souls.” . . . Gail Patrick, Edmund Gwenn, and Reginald Gardner have been signed for “The Doctor Takes a Wife.” . . . Arthur Caesar has been signed to write the story and treatment on “Jane Addams and Hull House,” Charles R. Rogers’ first production for the company. . . . “Outside the Three-Mile Limit” replaces “Criminal Cargo” as the title of the Jack Holt picture now in production. . . . Jack Holt has started on “Passport to Alcatraz.” The contract of Director John Brahm has been renewed for another year. . . . “Convicted Woman” is being readied for a January 31 release. . . . New Year ushered in a burst of activity in the shorts department: a new comedy was set to start each week for three weeks. The first is Buster Keaton’s “Rolling Down to Reno,” with Jules White producing and directing. Globe “Two on Tour” will be the title of the production originally known as “Storm in Paradise.” David Boehm and Henri Verstappen are the authors. . . . James Roosevelt announced the purchase of Ursula Parrot’s “Love Song.” Goldwyn Samuel Goldwyn is negotiating with Sam Wood for screen rights to the novel “Trent of the Lone Hand.” Wood purchased it in London about three years ago. Lesser Sol Lesser has started cameras on “Our Town.” Cast to date includes Frank Craven, Thomas Mitchell, Fay Bainter, Beulah Bondi, Guy Kibbee and Stuart Erwin. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Elated over his performance with Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell in “Broadway Melody of 1940,” the powers that be have signed George Murphy to a new long term contract. . . . Pete Smith is getting the quiz craze and will fall in line with the times presenting a series of quiz THE EXHIBITOR films. First will be “What’s Your I. Q.?” Pete will ask the audience questions, giving them 15 seconds to get the answer before he reveals the solution. When “Babes on Broadway” goes into production, the stars, producer and director of “Babes in Arms” will be re-united. . . . Robert Taylor will be co-starred with Vivien Leigh in “Waterloo Bridge.” . . . Ernst Lubitsch went to New York for a short vacation after completing “The Shop Around the Corner.” Acquired have been “To Own the World,” by Dalton Trumbo; “White Chapel,” by Leo Birnsky and Kurt Siodmak; and “First Aid for Spots,” by Ernest P. Jones, Jr., and Robert E. Hyatt. . . . Lana Turner and George Murphy have the leads in “Two Girls on Broadway.” . . . Contracts for writing have been given Marc Connelly, Richard Sherman, Harry Clark, Kurt Goetz, and George Froeschel. . . . Vicki Baum’s unpublished “1417 Broadway” has been purchased. . . . “Calling on Colombia” is the newest FitzPatrick Traveltalk. . . . Patricia English, 16year-old lion tamer, appears in the Pete Smith Specialty, “Facing the Lion.” . . . Joan Blondell has been signed for “Two Girls on Broadway.” . . . Gene Reynolds and Henry Travers were added to the “Edison the Man” cast. Paramount Ralph Murphy has been signed to direct the forthcoming Joan Blondell-Dick Powell co-starring picture, “I Want a Divorce,” scheduled to go before the cameras the 13 first of March. . . . “Hold Your Horses,” Harry Sherman Hopalong Cassidy production, has been re-tagged “War Along the Stage Trail.” Following the completion of “North West Mounted Police,” Madeleine Carroll will leave for England. . . . Paul Lukas has been added to “The Ghost Breakers.” . . . “Mystery Ship” will go before the cameras at an early date. . . . Elizabeth Bergner joined the British production unit. RKO-Radio Howard Benedict’s first picture since getting a production berth at this studio will be “Curtain Call,” now ready to go before the cameras. John Archer, winner of “Gateway to Hollywood” talent quest, has the male lead opposite Barbara Read. Selznick-International Sigrid Bergman, last seen in “Intermezzo, a Love Story,” has returned to this country after a vacation abroad. Her next picture is a story of Joan of Arc. 20th Century-Fox Fay Bainter has been signed by Darryl F. Zanuck for a major role in the Technicolor production, “Maryland.” She will share top honors with Walter Brennan, borrowed from Samuel Goldwyn. . . . Director Gregory Ratoff will do it with mirrors on his next Vera Zorina picture, “I Was an Adventuress.” Ratoff intends to shoot Zorina against 42 life-size mirrors reflecting the star in the process of dressing and practicing her ballet steps. January 24, 1940 QUAD.