Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1941)

Gail Patrick has been added to the cast of "We Were Dancing" and the studio is reported talking a term deal with the gracious and attractive actress ... MGM is beginning to find it increasingly necessary to go beyond its own contract list for talent and Gracie Allen has been assigned for "Mr. and Mrs. North," the Broadway stage hit which will be directed by Robert Sinclair .. .Virginia Weidler, talented moppet, has been optioned. . .Judy Garland, Ray MacDonald and Marta Eggerth are to be teamed in the film version of Max Gorden's unsuccessful musical of three seasons ago, "Very Warm for May "...One thousand exhibitors are said to have signed up for Metro's second block of pictures offer recently . . . Everyone has a Burma Road story — even Metro. The title of this one is "China Caravan," which will go into production within four weeks. IN PRODUCTION— "Panama Hattie" ( Ann Sothern-Dan Dailey, Jr.), "H. M. Pulham, Esq." (Hedy Lamarr-Robert Young), "Her Honor" (Walter Pidgeon-Rosalind Russell), "Woman of the Year" (Spencer Tracy-Katherine Hepburn), "Steel Cavalry" (Wallace Beery-Mar jorie Main), "Johnny Eager" (Robert Taylor-Lana Turner), "The Vanishing Virginian" (Frank Morgan-Kathryn Grayson), "We Were Dancing" (Norma Shearer-Melvyn Douglas). CASTINGS: Lana Turner in •'.Xothing Ventured" ... Robert Youns in •Moe ^mitli. A tneiican" . . . (Iracie Allen, Felix Bres.sail in "Mr. and Mrs. Nurtli"... ,l.-:in.-i !.■ M^i.I "(iHilcl, \.-ls..n IC.Iilx-. Mona Maris, I'Mwinl ICvc-r.tt lluiiin in "I XHirrl.Ml Aii«.-I". . ..M-iii:i Kagerth in "Yi-ry Warm f..r Msi.v". . ..Mill.m Kiljljee in "Her llonoi " . . . i "h eta Carbo in "Tlie 'I'wn-Faeerl Woman" ... UIBEC'TOB ASSKJNMBNT.S: Victor FleminK to "Tortilla Flat." MONOGRAM Headed by "Boy of Mine" which will mark the return of John Boles to the .screen, Monogram has a taxing schedule of production ahead of it during October. No less than six films are slated to go before the cameras within the month, the five others being "Bullets and Bullion" (Range Busters), "Double Trouble" (Harry Langdon-Charlie Rogers), "I Killed That Man," "Borrowed Hero," "Forbidden Trails" (Buck Jones-Tim McCoy). Monogram has added 200 theatre accounts for its 1941-42 season — indicating anew the increased confidence which exhibitors are showing in this enterprising independent company. PARAMOUNT Cynical trade paper reporters place very little faith in the "one happy family" ballyhoo that is so often tossed out by the studios in discussing their relations with personnel. Paramount is not taking pains to publicize the friendliness and spirit of cooperation that is becoming evident in evei-y facet of the company's operation. All of which adds up to the belief that the reports emanating from the studio about its convivial atmosphere have considerable substance in fact. For instance, a too publicity man brought over from another studio is actually bewildered when the front office takes the pains to thank him for his good work in the studio's behalf. Men are receiving salai-y raises without being comnelled to bombard studio heads with reminders of the increased cost of living. And most important of all, the yards and yards of red tape which formerly propelled the company in a mad, dizzy whirl, are being eliminated. Things have actually reached the point where production men and executives are entitled to use the authority of their positions. Platitudinous as it may seem to the theatre owner faced with the difficult task of filling his theatre every day, this "happiness" gag is pretty important to two thousand people working under the same roof — who are finding for the first time in their studio careers that it is not necessary to be overly solicitous of Mr. Yifniff, because he is the head man's brother or to join a group seeking to discredit Mr. Bloop because the studio manager doesn't like the color of his socks. All this definitely IS important to Mr. Exhibitor, because it very often means the difference between good and poor pictures. Studio politics have been the bugaboo of more than one film plant and anything that contributes toward their elimination should be encouraged. The picture business is, to a great extent, a creative one and those who are a part of it can do their best work with clear, unworried and unharassed minds. Informal, breezy Paramount is making vast strides in this direction and we daresay its effects are being reflected in the ever increasing box-office value of the company's product. "Tomorrow's Admirals" v/as the first victim of President Roosevelt's shooting orders to the Navy and the picture, intended as a sequel to "I Wanted Wings" has been abandoned due to the unavailability of ships and the inability of Uncle Sam to cooperate... Alan Ladd, who has been cast opposite Veronica Lake in "This Gun for Hire" is an unknown protege of Buddy de Sylva. . .Stirling Hayden will return to the screen, despite his playing hard-to-get. . . Dona Drake will be the "victim" of Par's newest publicity build-up ...Jean Parker has been signed by Pine-Thomas for three pictures ...Joel McCrea is testing for the Robert Jordan part in youknow-what. CASTINGS: Barbara Brltton in "The Fleet's In"... Dick Purcell in "Torpedo Boat"... Ann Miller in "True to the Army" ... Eddie Bracken in "Hairbreadth NEW RELEASES (For details on These pictures see Release Charts on Following Pages) COLUMBIA Two Latins from Manhattan October 3 Texas October 10 Blonde from Singapore October 17 Roaring Frontiers October 17 Three Girls About Town October 24 Men in Her Life October 31 M-G-M (October Releases) Feminine Touch Honky Tonk Married Bachelor Smilin' Through MONOGRAM Stolen Paradise October 3 Tonto Basin Outlaws October 10 Spooks Run Wild October 24 Top Sergeant Mulligan October 17 PARAMOUNT Nothing But the Truth October 17 New York Town October 31 Henry Aldrich for President October 3 Buy Me That Town October 24 PRODUCERS RELEASING Jungle Man October 10 Hard Guy October 17 Billy the Kid, Wanted October 24 Mr. Celebrity October 31 REPUBLIC Sailor, Be Good September 30 Mercy Island October 10 Jesse James at Bay October 17 Down Mexico Way (40-41) October 17 Gauchos of El Dorado October 24 RKO Father Takes a Wife Oct. 3 All That Money Can Buy October 17 Gay Falcon October 24 Dumbo October 31 20th CENTURY-FOX Yank in the RAF October 3 Great Guns October 10 Riders of Purple Sage October 10 Weekend in Havana October 17 UNITED ARTISTS (1941-42) New Wine , October 10 Corsican Brothers October 24 Sundown October 31 Niagara Falls October 17 UNIVERSAL Mob Town October 3 Never Give a Sucker an Even Break October 10 Scuth of Tahiti October 17 Burma Convoy October 17 Flying Cadets October 24 Masked Rider October 24 Appointment for Love October 31 Hellzapoppin' November 7 WARNER BROS. Law of the Tropics October 4 International Squadron October 11 12 FILM BULLHTTN