Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1939)

10 FILM BULLETIN will use Grand National's distribution facilities. Similarly other independent product will find an outlet available. Thus Grand National now looms as the possible saviour of independent production. Your correspondent has frequently stamped the lack of distribution facilities as the single greatest factor mitigating against the successful accomplishment of the independent production. Studio Size-ups has often commented on the excellence of G-N's distribution set-up. This set-up will need pictures to keep it going. Independent producers can supply them. Because of the government money involved there is less likelihood that they will receive the raw deals that indies complain about when discussing distribution organizations. Now is an opportunity for independent production to take a new lease on life. With G-N's selling facilities enlarged and well financed, stiff competition can be offered the majors if the independents who affiliate with G-N and those who merely use its exchanges will turn out the type of product exhibitors are crying for. METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER Production is slow at this plant with only three productions before the cameras: "Not Too Narrow, Not Too Deep" with Clark Gable, Joan Crawford and Melvyn Douglas— (Exhibitors who have been counting the letters in this title may be assured it will be changed). "Broadway Melody of 1940" (Fred Astaire-Eleanor Powell) and "Earl of Chicago" (Robert Montgomery-Edward Arnold) . . . This activity will be augmented during the next fourteen days when six important MGM films will start filming. They include "Young Tom Edison" (Rooney-Bancroft), "Congo Maisie" (Ann Sothern), "Edison, the Man" (Tracy), "Florian" (Robert YoungHelen Gilbert), "Shop Around the Corner" (Margaret SullivanJames Stewart) and "Lover Come Back to Me" (Mac Donald-Eddy) "I Take This Woman", which was to have gone back into production at this time with Hedy Lamarr and Spencer Tracy in the starring roles, has again been put on the shelf pending settlement of Miss Lamarr's salary dispute with the studio . . . George Cukor has been assigned to direct both "Susan and God" and "Pride and Prejudice". Greer Garson appears definitely set in "Susan" and Norma Shearer will take the leading role in "Pride and Prejudice". Which picture will begin production first is the problem currently confronting Metro officials . . . "The Guardsman", only picture in which Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontaine appeared, will be remade at this studio as a musical. Grace Moore is mentioned for the lead . . . Metro is the Latest studio reported negotiating for the stage play "Philadelphia Story" . . . Kenneth McKenna is en route to New York to scan new plays and story material . . Choice for the title role in "A Lady Comes to Burkbarnett" rests between Myrna Loy and Greer Garson. Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy have been set in the leading male roles. CASTINGS" Ben Webster, Halliwell Hobbes in "Earl of Chicago" .... Robert youne Helen Gilbert, Reginald Owen. Charles Coburn, Rand Brooks, Lee Bowman in "Florian" .... Virginia Weidler, Fay Bainter, George Bancroft. Bobby Jordan in "Young Tom Edison" .... Inez Courtney, Bill Tracy in ■•Shoo Around the Corner" Diana Lewis in "Go West" Forrester Har vfv J M Kerrigan in "Congo Maisie" DIRECTOR ASSIGNMENTS : Fdwin'L Marin to "Florian" W. S. Van Dyke to "New Moon" (formerly "T nver Come Back to Me") Clarence Brown to "Edison the Man" a A p0tter to ■•Congo Maisie" CONTRACTS: Virginia Weidler optioned STORY BUYS: "Escape" by Ethel Vance "Kathleen" by Kay Van Riper.. MONOGRAM "Westbound Stage" (Ritter is in production here Encouraged by the press reaction and first-run play-dates on "Mutiny in the Big House", Monogram is boosting the negative cost on 11 top bracket features. This was decided at a meeting of the Monogram franchise holders held recently in Kansas City. "Rip Van Winkle", which will shortly go into production on a proposed budget of $350,000, is almost ready for the cameras. Jackie Cooper's current season Monogram picture has also been given a $100,000 boost in allocation. Others to be given fifty per-cent boosts in Monogram's drive for first run bookings are "His Father's Son" and "Son of the Navy", which will feature Monogram's young juvenile, Martin Spellm'an; "Under Northern Lights", an operetta suggested by the music of Charles Wakefield Cadman; a horror picture "Haunted House" to star Boris Karloff; "Queen of the Yukon", from Jack London's famous novel, and "Freckles Comes Home", by Jeanette Stratton Porter. PARAMOUNT Production maintains its pace at Paramount, where four features are under way; "The Biscuit Eater'' (Billy Lee-Cordell Hickman), "Buck Benny Rides Again" (Benny-Devine), "Light of the Western Stars" (Victor Jory-Jo Ann Sayres), "Safari" (Madeleine Carroll-Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.) Charles Laughton and Erich Pommer' have definitely decided to reorganize their Mayflower Productions in Hollywood and return to independent production. The reorganization will be effected under the aegis of an American company, but so far the owners have entered into no negotiations, although Paramount is interested in retaining distribution rights. Meanwhile, Paramount is trying to persuade them to do "The Admirable Crichton" in Hollywood. This was to have been produced by Para in London . . . Cecil B. De Mille will follow his Technicolor production of "Northwest Mounted Police" with "The Sun of Glory", a story dealing with the development of the Southwest . . . Paramount is anxious to secure Ronald Colman for the lead in "Triumph Over Pain" to be produced by Arthur Hornblow under Henry Hathaway 's direction Harry Sherman's suggestion that a special Academy Award be designated for Westerns won instant approval in Hollywood and other industry circles. If Sherman's energetic publiciteer, Ed Mills, sustains interest in the plan, it may become an actuality when the next Oscar session comes along . . . "The Great Victor Herbert" will benefit by an exploitation tie-up with the National Federation of Music Clubs recently arranged by the publicity department. Paramount will provide the Federation with studio lists of theatre and exchange contacts, so that all music clubs throughout the country can cooperate with their local theatres showing the picture. CASTINGS: Earl Askam. Allan Ladd, Tom Tyler in "Light of the Western Stars" .... Douglas Kennedy, James Seay in "Opened by Mistake". .. .Jean Cagney in "Golden Gloves". . . .Harry Bradley, Miles Mander, Gaylord Pendleton in "Road to Singapore" .... Judith Barrett, Vaughan Glaser in ••Good Old Siwash". . . .Akim Tamiroff in "Down Went McGinty" CONTRACTS: Andrew Stone, Producer-director, optioned .... Albert Dekker, Robert Paige, Betty McLaughlin, Betty Moran optioned STORY BUYS: "I Wanted Wings" by Lt. Beirne Lay REPUBLIC Only one picture working at Republic: "South of the Border" (Autry) ... Republic swings back into normal production during the next two weeks, with three pictures slated to hit tile cameras: "The Narrow Path" (Charles Bickford), "Money to Burn'" (Gleason Family) and "Days of Jesse James" (Roy Rogers) Republic ii reported negotiating with Raoul Walsh to direct "Dark Command", its next big budget production . . . Buck Jones has appealed his $250,000 damage suit brought against Republic charging the studio with the theft of Jones' clothes, mannerisms and style of riding in its "Lone Ranger" serials . . . Barbara Pepper is up for the leading role in "Lady From New Orleans." Miss Pepper, a young Mae West, is a clever performer who has never been given the right opportunity. CASTINGS: Doris Day, Charles Bickford in "The Narrow Path" .... Gene Autry. Duncan Renaldo, Mary Lee in --South of the Border". . . .DIRECTOR ASSIGNMENTS: George Sherman to "South of the Border"^. CONTRACTS: Weaver Bros, and Elviry to deal. Dollar Fugitive" series by Jack Foster.... STORY BUYS: -Million RKO-RADIO "Distant Fields" (Alan Marshall-Barbara Read) is the single new starter at RKO, shooting in addition to "Swiss Family Robinson" (Thomas Mitchell-Edna Best), "That's Right, You're Wrong", "Vigil in the Night" (Carole Lombard-Brian Aherne) . . Following the studio visit by Ned Depinet and S. Barret McCormick to view shooting product in the company of president George Schaefer, RKO will send three more high budget pictures into work. They are "Irene", to star Anna Neagle, with Herbert Wilcox as producerdirector; "My Favorite Wife", starring Cary Grant and directed by Garson Kanin, and "Primrose Path", which Gregory La Cava will produce with Ginger Rogers and Joel Mc Crea starring . . Franklyn Warner will start his second RKO production, "Land's End", about this time . . . Another independent unit was added to RKO's list when George Schaefer concluded a deal with Lee Garmes for the production of "And So Goodbye ". Garmes, associated with Hecht and Mac Arthur's Eastern production enterprises some years ago, was to have made this film in the east. It has,