Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1941)

SIZE -UPS (Continued from Page 13) and we have a hunch that "Gesture," a tailor-made story for the director will be one of his biggest successes. United Artists has granted Gabriel Pascal a two years respite from hi? contract. . .The town is packed with rumors concerning the appointing of a new UA president but the straws in the wind have not pointed in any particular direction. IN PRODUCTION — "Jungle Book' (SabuJoseph Calleia), "Shanghai Gesture" (Gene Tierney-Victor Mature). PREPARING— "To Be Or Not To Be" (Korda), "Twin Beds" (Small). t'.\STIN(JS: Ernest Trucx. Binnie Barnf son in "Shanghai Gesture." in "Twin iicils" .Maiilia Stt-i' The most ACCURATE UNIVERSAL Bruce Manning is back at the studio after a series of conferences with the company's New York executives which indicate to the trade that Manning is being groomed as Joe Pasternak's successor. Manning has already been assigned the Deanna Durbin vehicles and it is fairly apparent that he will be eased into the lot's No. 1 production berth. Abbott and Costello have closed a deal to make one picture for Jules Levey's Mayfair organization. They report to him upon the completion of their Metro committment which begins in November. IN PRODUCTION— "Paris Calling" (Elisabeth Bergner-Randolph Scott). "White Savage" (Maria Montez), "Keep 'Em Flying" (Abbott and Costello), "Man or Mouse" (Hugh Herbert-Tom Brown). PREPARING— "Don 'Winslow of the Navy," "North of the Klondike," "Melody Lane." t'.\STIN<iS: Henry Wilccixon in "Wliite Sava.qi-" . . . HIKIOI'TOK AS MKNTS: Harold Youn.? to "Man or Mouse" .. .('harle.s I^.nmuK to "Me'oil>Lane" .. .CONTRACTS: Heni y Koster to S-year producer-director |iact. ADTHENTIC COMPLETE Production News WARNER BROS. Unique for its policy of finding production men within its own organization, Warners this week elevated Robert Buckner to the post of associate producer. No assignment is ready for him yet. Buckner just completed the script on "The Life of Yankre DoocJle" which will have James Cagney in the role of George M. Cohan. We couldn't begin to count the number of times Warners has announced the elimination of B pictures from its program. Another .step in this direction came with the announcement that the studio has authorized substantial increases in all budgets to eliminate lowbracket films from the company's future schedule and to place all pictures in A classification on basis of cast and production values. Hal Wallis and Jesse Lasky have signed Alan Le May and Harold M Sherman to write the screenplay of "The Adventures of Mark Twain". . .Another writer to become a WB producer is Paul Gerard Smith who had done production work previously at Universal.. .Jesse Lasky is off again to attend to the opening ot "Sergeant York" in one of the key cities It is gratifying to note the interest producers are b3ginning to have in seeing that their films are properly unfurled in various parts of the country. Lester Cowan is taking to the road in behalf of "Lidies in Retirement." Walter Wanger is another who finds it advantageous to leave Hollywood for extended periods during the release of each new picture. IN PRODUCTION— "They Died With Their Boots On" (Errol Flynn-Olivia de Havilland), "King's Row" (Ann Sheridan-Ronald Reagan), "Captains of the Clouds" (James Cagney-Dennis Morgan), "The Man Who Came To Dinner" (Bette Davis-Monty Wooley), "All Through the Night" (Humphrey Bogart-Conrad Veidt), "The Male Animal" (Olivia de Havilland-Henry Fonda), "Bridges Built at Night" (Lloyd NolanAlexis Smith), "Wild Bill Hickok Rides" (Constance Bennett-Bruce Cabot), "Remember Tomorrow" (John Garfisld-Raymond Massey), "You're In the Army Now" (Jimmy DuranteJane Wyman). PREPARING— "Juke Girl" (Ida Lupino). CAHTIN(iH: .Jolin 'iardclil in "I{ciMeinlir-r 'l'omr)rro',v" ... Hetty Brewer ia "Wild rSIII Hickok Hiilcs" ... Martin Kosieck. Frank Reiclier. H-jrton Mac1,-in''. Henry S'lctor in "All ThrouKh the NiKht" , . . Hardie AlhriRht in "Cai)talnH of the Clouds" ... [{epis Toomey, OeWolf Hopper, .Ii-. in "You're in the Army Now". ..Ida l.upino In ".Juke (Jlrl". .Bobliy BTrncs in "Tlie Male Animal". . .KdwanI <i. Holdnson in "A .VlKht Before ( 'h ristm is" . . . 1)1 KKC'l'dn ASSKJN.MK.NTS: .lolin Huston to "In Tlo-lr Own LI fe" ... Curtis BernliardI lo "./uke <;irr'...l). Utinn Lederman to "Iceland I'atrol" ... Lloyd Bacon to 'A Night Bafoie ClirlHtmas" . . . Ed ward Sutherland to "Lisbon Clipper." ond Opinions can be found in the BULLETIN Production Section 18 FILM BULLETIN