Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1941)

T "MAY 3 1, 1941 11 STUDIO SIZE-UPS The Inside on the Important Studios' Activities COLUMBIA An increase in the number of siiort subjects to be produced has b&en announced by Columbia for the 1941-42 season. 104 single reels. 30 two-reel comedies and 6 "International Forums" have been slated. This is an increase of ten two-reelers over the current season. In addition, there will be four serials, one of which will star Jack Holt. The two-reel subjects will consist of 8 Three Stooges comedies; 18 All-Star comedies, with Buster Keaton, Andy Clyde, El Brendel, among others; 4 Glover Slingers and the 6 Forums. The serials will be "Holt of the Secret Service," with -Jack Holt; "Captain Midnight," based on the radio thriller; "Pirate Gold," a yarn about the search for the buried treasure of the Spanish Main, and the fourth will bs "Perils of the Royal Mounted." Eleven series of single reelers will make up the 104 subjects in that group. Shattering all previous records, Columbia hit a production peak this week with 11 pictures before the cameras, necessitating the use of five studios. They are "Mr. Jordon Comes to Town," formerly titled "Heaven Can Wait," starring Robert Montgomery; "Our Wife" (Melvyn Douglas-Ruth Hussey-Ellen Drew). "Texas" (William Holden-Glenn Ford-Claire Trevor). "Tonight Belongs to Us" iLoretta Young). "Ladies in Retirement" (Ida Lupino-Louis Hayward), "You'll Never Get Rich" (Fred Astaire-Rita Hay worth), "Girls from Panama" (Jinx Falkenburg), "Mystery Ship" (Lola Lane-Paul Kelly) and "King of Dodge City" (Bill Elliott). The problem of casting the role of the mad sister in "Ladies in Retirement" played on the stage by Estelle Winwood has been a major one. It was settled finally last week with the s'gning of Edith Barrett, leading actress of the legitimate stage whose "Mrs. Moonlight" will be an eternal theatrical memory... Ann Miller has been signed on a two-picture per year pact. First vehicle will be "Synthetic Lady." There are two new producers at Columbia, both exiles from 20th Century-Fox. Lou Edelman and Edward Kaufman Ellen Drew has become the third side of the triangle in "Our Wife " the John Stahl production starring Melvyn Douglas and Ruth Hussey ...Two national sales conventions will be held by Columbia — the ; ^ '15''?^ °" "^""^ At that time plans for a second confab will be formulated. Vlav au'^'T^ "I""'" "-^t nich"...Ann Mil'er in ■■.4, U ' : ••Tnni^v;. « , ^^''"B^"'' Shephard Stru.lwick. Francrs Evans Bettv M iVs , Sliip". . . ii-N'in.t. Ba f'ln, r,jn-iy Owci Earle Dpwcy. daily .S\ittfin R()l> F'pn-y In "My.stor in Siirii'ty. METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER MGM is having Norma Shearer trouble and the gossip 'round Se s ITdin^S^? l'^'"' ''''' connection with been sSed "Tonight at 8:30" for which she has ooo7h "'^ 'l^"" ^ ^^'^^^ ^^^^ interest in the treatment of the aged dramatic piece, "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hvde." What w th horror cCSef the?e i'i'-'^'^r'^^' '^^'"^ and thl .LS es oSa .nn,n foundation for the thought that unless a new SSc onTt handr'n"^^''"''''^' ^ "problem" pic.uic on It. hands. It appears, now, that the psychological angle of the Robert Louis Stevenson story has been emphasized and that Spencer Tracy, shunning grotesque make-up, is as handsome as the killer Mi-. Hyde as when he plays the distinguished and respectable Dr. Jekyll. Incidentally, the studio reports are most enthusiastic about this Metro offering — calling it one of the finest attractions to come from the plant in months. " At long last a starting date has been set for Garbo's new untitled comedy, June 2. Background shots for the picture have already been completed. . ."The Yearling" company has returned from location work in Florida. . .The "Maisie" series appears to be continuing after all — the studio probably figuring that Ann Sothern's box-office importance will be boosted after "Lady Be Good." George Murphy will be cast opposite the comedienne in the next, "Ringside Maisie". . .This preview situation is really getting involved. Last week Metro was said to have tipped off the scribblers that Universal was holding a preview of "Bachelor Daddy" in the hope that they would pass up the sneak of "Lady Be Good." But the correspondents' own grapevine exposed the trick and they descended in a body to view the Metro musical. The espionage system to track down sneak previews will continue, say the correspondents, until Jock Lawrence and the lads in the Hays office guarantee them that all films will be shown in Hollywood before they are unveiled in New York . . . Still seeking to build newcomers via the "Hardy" series, Metro will introduce dancer Ray MacDonald in the next, "Andy Hardy's First Job"... A rather unusual story buy for a movie company is Claude Brian Davis' well-known "The Anointed." It is a metaphysical novel, dealing with the mind of a keen but uneducated seaman, impressed by the cool logic of the universe, who sets out to discover the Force that lies behind it... "Red, Hot and Blue," the musical that landed on Broadway last season after troubles aplenty has been bought by Metro. Red Skelton. of the original cast, will be spotted in the film version. . .Hurray! A grand assignment is in store for little Virginia Weidler. sturdy miniature warhorse of the Metro lot. who jumped into Shirlev Temple's shoes a few weeks ago and has now replaced Judy Garland opposite Mickey Rooney in "Babes on Broadway." Virainia will both singand dance for the first time in films... "Two Women" is the title of a new novel bought by Metro as a co-starring vehicle for Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford, providing the former stays on the payroll. . .William K. Howard is going to megaphone "New York Story" for Metro on a loan-out deal from WB. . .Metro figures that at least 259^ of its short subjects next season will have LatinAmerican backgrounds. . .Clark Gable and Carole Lombard are back from a vacation and the former begins work shortly on "Honkey Tonk" with Lana Turner. <'.\STIN(;s: ^'il',l;inia O'Hricn. Maxip Ro.senbloom. Natalie Tlioniiison in ' UinR.side Maisie-' ... Fianlj Moi Kan in "Honliy-Tunli" . . .Ann Sotliern in "('omin' At You"... Kay McDonalil in 'Vinmi; .Vmoricans" . . . VirRlnla Weidler in "Babes on Broadway" ... STOKY Itl'YS: "Oomin' At You" l>y Borden Chase. . ."The Anointed" by Clyd. lirion Davis ... "Ued, Hot and Blue" by Cole I^orter. Howard i..indsay, Ru.sseli ('rouse. MONOGRAM We've been hearing tales about Monogram's financial difficulties on and ofl" for the past few months. Tlie crux of the situation seems to be the fact that it is sometimes difficult for Monogram to produce within its budget limitations at prevailing rental rates for the indie company's product. The unit system of production, recently inaugurated at Monogram, was supposed to have ii'oned out this problem to some extent, but In all instances It has not been