Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1938)

9uda>e*ukttt iXHlftHOFK FILM BULLETIN Size-Ups (Continued from page 7) party's negotiations with the humorist go through. . . . Persons in Hiding is a B melodrama. . . . This studio recently outbid the other majors for the film rights to the new Lloyd Douglas novel Disputed Passage at a price reported to be in the neighborhood of $50,000. It is also reported dickering for rights to the Kaufman-Gershwin musical Of Thee I Sing as a Jack Benny vehicle. MGM was mentioned in this connection some lime ago but apparently the deal fell through. We wonder if this may be accepted as an indication of a change in policy for Paramount. This studio in recent years has seldom gone in for outside story buys, but has concentrated on stories developed from originals by contract writers. There is a school of thought in Hollywood which considers this the only proper way to create screen entertainment. It is unquestionably less expensive, but we cannot agree to its perfection. We attribute the weaknesses in last season's Paramount product solely to story deficiencies, ninety percent of which were originated and developed by studio writers. Originals should be encouraged, by all means — and many of them make excellent filmfare, but no studio is equipped with enough writing talent to rely solely on originals. Purchase of established novels and plays is a necessary adjunct to the work of the contract writers. Paramount is apparently realizing this end and it is to the company's credit that it is now rectifying its mistakes of the past. ... A rumor making the rounds concerns Harry Sherman's releasing deal with Paramount. It is reported that the company will not renew its contract with Sherman following completion of his final Hopalong Cassidy picture for the '38-'39 program. This is attributed to the fact that his series and other more expensive westerns are not bringing profitable returns at the boxoffice. The public's taste for super horse operas is said to be waning. It is quite probable that if Sherman concludes his reported deal with Columbia, his Hopalongs will be made on a more modest scale. . . . Figuring the jitterbug craze might be over by the time a picture based on the fad could be completed, company executives here have called off a talked-of deal with Benny Goodman to appear in a picture based on his life and association with swing music. ... A new policy to be adopted here concerns the air appearances of Paramount stars and feature players. Rubey Cowan, who heads the studio's radio department, will become air-lane "policeman," whose duties will embrace making sure that Paramount players are properly cast in a manner that will not react against their screen careers. Exhibitors will also be protected by Cowan, who will be required to supervise all Paramount exploitation, see that it is handled judiciously and, what is more important, make certain that "previews" of forthcoming films are not broadcast to the detriment of the boxoffice. REPUBLIC Republic has three pictures shooting at this writing — two westerns and Orphans of the Streets with Robert Livingston and Tommy Ryan, the "find" of Tenth Avenue Kid. . . . Activity will continue here at a fast clip. 31 writers are working on 25 scripts for fall and winter production. . . . Negotiations with James Gleason are proceeding smoothly to the extent that Jack Townley has been assigned the screenplay for the second picture of The Higgins Family series Production will be rushed on Republic's new serial The Lone Ranger Returns to meet January 1 release date. . . . Doctors Don't Tell, top Republic feature on the '38-'39 program is scheduled for production in about three weeks. Frieda Inescourt will be prominently cast. . . . Herb Yates will visit the Coast later this month, at which time there may be an important executive change. RKO-RADIO This issue finds four features filming here — each a top attraction — giving RKO a far better line-up than it has enjoyed in some time. In addition to Love Affair and Gunga Din, production has started on P. J. Wolfson's feature Saints Without Wings and The Great Man Votes, which stars John Barrymore and marks the screen debut of young Peter Holden. . . . The administrative side of the company is still very much up in the air. With the resignation of George Schaefer from United Artists, film circles are rife with all sorts of rumors concerning his association with RKO. One substantial report has it that Schaefer, will be instrumental in bringing the Jock Whitney-Selznick group into the RKO set-up. Official announcement of exactly what will take place is expected shortly. Official confirmation of the company's reorganization plan is now set for October 25. . . . Meanwhile, talk of unit production is being revived at the studio. Schaefer is known to be a believer in the United Artists formula and he may be responsible for establishing something similar on the RKO lot. 201h CENTURY-FOX With eight pictures working simultaneously, production facilities of this studio continue to be taxed to the utmost. All features now shooting were commented upon last issue. . . . The Sol Wurtzel unit will start next week on Charlie Chan In Honolulu (Sidney Toler as Chan), which is the first of six programmers to be turned out in that many weeks. ... In line with the revived interest in horror pictures, 20th Century has secured rights to Conan Doyle's most famous mystery story The Hound of the Baskervilles. Heavy price was paid for the yarn, which will be handled by producer Gene Markey. . . . Don Ameche, who was to have gone to Paramount on a loan-out assignment for the male lead in Hotel Imperial, will remain on his home lot because studio execs felt the role unsuitable. . . . Up the River, a Wurtzel programmer, will get added scenes, and be released as an A offering. Zanuck ordered this classification after viewing the rushes. . . . An upward budget is also in order for the Rilz Brothers' version of The Three Musketeers. Insiders who have seen the rushes of this are most enthusiastic in their praise. All agree the comics have found their best element in this type of burlesque story. UNITED ARTISTS With production completed on Goldwyn's Cowboy and the Lady, Wanger's Trade Winds and Roach's Topper Takes A Trip, only two features remain on this company's immediate scedule, Made For Each Other and Duke of West Point. . . . No other production is scheduled until November, when Wanger will begin Stage Coach. Later in the month Goldwyn will begin filming of Wuthering Heights and The Last Frontier. Further plans of the other producers remain unknown. . . . Director Howard Estabrook has been released from his director's pact with Goldwyn. The former ace Columbia writer, Jo Swerling, is an addition to the Goldwyn staff. . . . Goldwyn, incidentally, is still talking to Frank Capra regarding a deal. . . . David Niven, whose work as a supporting player has always been outstanding, will find his efforts rewarded if Samuel Goldwyn's plans for him materialize. Goldwyn contemplates starring him in a remake of Raffles, the Ronald Colman vehicle of 1930. . . . Releasing plans of Selznick-International again is in the forefront with the revelation that the verbal deal between Selznick and UA for the production of two extra pictures has been called off. This makes Made For Each Other, which finishes production shortly, the last S-I release definitely set on the UA program. Jock Whitney gets into town soon, at which time it is possible the ramifications which have confused S-I's position for the past year may be finally straightened out. (Continued on page 15)