The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

18 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 Larry Darmour has purchased Albert De Mond’s original, “Keep ’Em Alive,” which will serve as the next Jack Holt feature for Columbia release. . . . “The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady” starring Warren William, is now under way with Sidney Salkow directing. Supporting players so far signed include Jean Muir, Eric Blore, Thurston Hall, Victor Jory, Fred Kelsey, Warren Hull, Roger Pryor, Robert Emmett Keane, William Forrest and Bruce Bennett. Goldwyn Samuel Goldwyn has loaned Zorina, who is under long term contract to him, to Irving Berlin and Buddy DeSylva for the starring role in their forthcoming THE EXHIBITOR Broadway musical comedy, “Louisiana Purchase.” This will mark Zorina’s first Broadway appearance since her starring role in “I Married An Angel.” Metro-Goldtvyn-Mayer Cecil Broadhurst, six-foot six-inch Canadian singing cowboy, is signed for a featured role in “Susan and God,” with Joan Crawford and Fredric March. . . . “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” has been purchased by this studio as a starring vehicle for Academy Award Winner Robert Donat. . . . Marjorie Rambeau joins Wallace Beery in “Twenty-Mule Team” forming a battling duo reminiscent of Beery’s teaming with the late Marie Dressier. . . . Don Wilson, popular radio announcer, will play himself in a scene of “Two Girls On Broadway,” featuring Joan Blondell, George Murphy and Lana Turner. Paramount Charles Boyer has been signed on a two-picture deal. His first picture will be the Arthur Hornblow, Jr., production, “The Golden Door,” an original story by Ketti Frings, formerly titled “Memo to a Movie Producer.” . . . Gloria Dickson, who recently announced she would journey to Reno for a divorce from her makeup expert husband, Perc Westmore, has been signed by this studio for a featured role in “I Want a Divorce.” . . . “Honeymoon Island,” the tropical garden of Eden located off the coast of Florida and much in the news lately, will be brought to the screen under this company’s banner by director Joseph Santley. RKO-Radio Elsa Lanchester has been signed here to appear with Charles Laughton in “Half a Rogue.” . . . Lee Tracy is scheduled to star in “Millionaires in Prison,” an original story by Martin Mooney, for production by Howard Benedict. . . . “Men Against the Sky,” an original story by John Twist, will lie brought to the screen as a starring vehicle for Richard Dix. . . . Sam Wood, ace director borrowed from Samuel Goldwyn, has reported to this lot to begin preparation on “Rangers of Fortune.” This is a story of the TexasMexican border in the days following the civil War. Republic Kay Griffith, formerly under contract to 20th Century-Fox, gets the feminine lead in a new Three Mesquiteer picture, “Arizona Outlaws.” George Sherman is directing. . . . Henry Wilcoxon and Claire Carleton will be featured in “The Crooked Road,” with Edmund Lowe and Irene Hervey in the top spots. 20th Century-Fox Linda Darnell has been assigned the lead opposite Tyrone Power in “The Great Commandment.” . . . Allan Dwan has been set to direct “The Young People,” next Shirley Temple starrer, with Arleen Whalen, Jack Oakie and Charlotte Greenwood. . . . New story purchase here is “Rain or Shine,” an original by Vina Delmar. Mix Tom Mix erstwhile cowboy star of the silent films, is planning a return to pictures with the formation of his own company to be known as Tom Mix Productions. Present production plans call for six pictures a year. Universal Universal has purchased “Black Diamonds,” an original by Sam Robin. Yarn will serve as the next Dick Arlen-Andy Devine picture. Warners Marie Wilson, Janet Shaw and John Arledge get important roles in “Flight 8.” Other principals in this feature include Virginia Bruce, Ralph Bellamy, Wayne Morris, Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman. ... A new starring contract goes to Ann Sheridan. Thomas Mitchell, winner of the Academy “Oscar” as the best supporting player for his work in Walter Wanger’s “Stagecoach,” has signed a Warner contract to make three pictures during the year. . . . “The College Widow,” George Ade musical comedy, has been acquired. . . . “The Life of Freud,” a film play based on the life of the late great psychoanalyst, is announced as an Edward G. Robinson starring vehicle. The Frank Capra production will be called “The Life of John Doe.” . . . Ann Sheridan will be “The College Widow.” . . . Bill Marshall, young singer who has been leading his own band, has been signed to a term contract. . . . Allen Jenkins goes into the cast of “Brother Orchid.” “The DARK COMMAND” RAOUL WALSH • DIRECTOR with CLAIRE TREVOR * JOHN WAYNE * WALTER PIDGEON ROY ROGERS • GEORGE HAYES • PORTER HAll MARJORIE MAIN • RAYMOND WAIBURN PICTURE March 27, 1940