Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1938)

OCTOBER 22, 193 The Inside on the Important Studios' Activities COLUMBIA Production is average for this plant — four pictures operating at the moment. New additions are Charles Starrett's wesern, Trail of the Tumbleweed, Spy Ring (Fay Wray and Ralph Bellamy) and Life Is Cheap. Only other feature on Columbia's schedule at the moment is the Larry Darmour production Wreckage. It will receive the starting gun as we go to press. . . . Rouben Mamoulian, who has a one picture directorial contract with this studio, is shopping around for a spot at the other plants pending a story decision on his commitment here. . . . Talk of producing a film based on the life of Chopin is being revived here. Early rumor had it as a Capra production, but in view of the success of You Can't Take It With You, it is doubtful if Capra would care to undertake what would obviously be a "highbrow" picture. If and when the biography is filmed, there will be some other megaphoner behind the scenes. . . . Randolph Scott signatured to a six year term contract. Scott, formerly a Paramount star, will make his free lance debut in Jesse James for 20th Century. Columbia deal permits him to make as many outside pictures as he pleases. . . . Gordon Elliott who was recently pacted here as a serial and action star, will have his name changed to Dick Elliott. GRAND NATIONAL When Fine Arts begins work on Long Shot, as we go to press, it will mark the first production venture at this studio since the details of the reorganization plan were consumated. The Franklyn Warner organization and probably one or two of the other affiliated producers will bear the bulk of the production burden for the next few weeks. For, although certain outstanding creditors have been paid off and money supplied for the operation of the company's exchanges, there is still a need here for cash to handle G-N's production program. To this end E. W. Hammons and Sam Berkowitz are en route to England where, it is assumed, the former will negotiate for some British capital. Security will probably be given in the form of distribution rights for Great Britain. Lower budgeted pictures click consistently there and the demand for them often exceeds that of this country, which leads one to believe that the Hammons' money quest should be a fruitful one. . . . Eugene Frenke is preparing production for the Anna Sten starrer Exile Express. It is believed Alan Marshall has been secured from David O. Selznick for the male lead. . . . Another of the many rumors making the round about this outfit concerns George Hirliman who, it is said, has called off his releasing deal with G-N because of his and the company's inability to get together on terms. Hirliman was to make six Preacher Devlin pictures. . . . Educational's eastern production activity will be moved here with Al Christie continuing to produce and direct the two reelers as before. Christie is already on the Coast making arrangements. METRO-GOLD WYN-MAYER Production at this plant is moving at top speed. Eight pictures are currently occupying studio space, each giving evidence of becoming a top box-office attraction. Recent additions to the line-up are The Wizard of Oz (Garland), A Christmas Carol, Ice Follies (Crawford, Stewart, Ayres) plus Stand Up and Fight (Taylor), Katherine the Last (Tone and Franciska Gaal), New York Cinderella (Tracy, Hedy Lamarr), under the directorial guidance of Josef von Sternberg, and Idiot's Delight (Shearer and Gable). . . . M-G-M's '38-'39 program so far has not been quite as auspicious as expected. However, with the opening of Sweethearts later this month, Leo will be entering the winter season with a score of potent boxoffice attractions such as The Great Waltz, Dramatic School, and Shining Hour, to be followed by those biggies now before the cameras. By all standards, MGM product will soon be far in the lead. . . . This studio has long toyed with the idea of turning out several big budgeted westerns, but, with the exception of last season's Bad Man of Brimstone, the idea has remained in the conference room. Decision of company executives to star Nelson Eddy in Let Freedom Ring, a de luxe outdoor yarn, may presage actual working out of this plan. It seems a rather odd move in view of the fact that other companies are planning to curtail such extravagent productions inasmuch as the super-westerns are reported faltering al the turnstiles (See Paramount size-up). . . . Before leaving for South America, independent producer David Loew completed a releasing deal with MGM for distribution of his final Joe E. Brown comedy Flirting with Fate. . . . Franchot Tone is again talking a new contract with the studio. MONOGRAM With the completion of the E. B. Derr production Gang Bullets, this outfit will have completed 10 of the 42 picture commitment on its 38-39 program. Next to start will be a Tex Ritter western titled Little Tenderfoot. This will be followed by another Derr offering I Am A Criminal to star John Carroll. It is expected that seven additional features will be canned before the first of the year, cleaning up half of the scedule. . . . According to W. Ray Johnston, who is in Hollywood, his company shows an increase of almost 44% in sales over last season. 896 new accounts have been added in recent months bringing the total of Monogram outlets to a figure of 4,000 theatres. Mr. Wong, Detective and Gangster's Boy both benefited by this increased revenue and other scheduled features will also be turned out at upped budgets. The advertising department will also be aided by the appropriation of added funds for advertising and exploitation. PARAMOUNT After many weeks of working at high speed, production at this studio has slowed down to the point where we find only three pictures currently occupying attention. In addiion to Ambush, which is rapidly approaching completion, the shooting schedule consists of Persons in Hiding and Cafe Society. The latter co-stars Madeleine Carroll and Fred MacMurray. It may also feature Al exander Mfoolcotl, if the com (Continued on next page)