Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1941)

llaiT.v". . .DIKKCTOK ASSKJNMENTS: Albert S. Rosell to "True tn the Army" .. .Anton Hiinilsnann to "Doctor Broadway" .. .STOKV Hl'YS: "Frenchman's Creek" by Daphne du Maurier. REPUBLIC Nothing new here, except the news that Republic has the following Dictures in production: "The Devil Pays Off" (Margaret Tallichet-Osa Massen), "Dick Ti-acy vs. Crime Inc." (Ralph Byrd), "Sierra Sue" (Gene Au try-Smiley Burnette). In preparation are "Lady for a Night" (Joan Blondell-John Wayne-Ray Middleton), "Missouri Outlaws," "Marines on Parade." CASTINCiS: .\bnor Hib.rnian in "Tlie Devil Pays OIT"...l,ynn Meiiack in ".Missouri I lutlaw" , . ..loliii Waxn. in "Atlantic I'atrol" Mac I'larke in "Auny .X'ursc" . . . hconi.i l<insk\ in "l>a,l,\ foi^ a X m li I , S'I'OKY ItrVS: "Atlantic I'atroi" 1)> .Martin W'illianis. . . "Army .\ursc" liy Margaret Fi>\vler. RKO-RADIO With the search for an actor to play the title role in Samuel Goldwyn's life of baseball hero Lou Gehrig still going on, the producer has ah-eady begun filming baseball and pick-up shots for the show. Mention jazz these days in Hollywood and, at the drop of a hit, you have a producer planning a cavalcade. Blame "Birth of the Blues." William Dieterle is planning one in "Syncopation" and now comes Orson Welles with the idea of filming a yarn featuring an all-colored cast and depicting the contributions of Negroes to the distinctive American type of music. Canada Lee (stage star of "Native Son") and Duke Ellington are mentioned in connection with the contemplated Welles venture. Another Orson Welles item reveals that Tim Holt will play a leading role in "The Magnificent Ambersons." Others in the cast are Joseph Gotten, Ray Collins and Agnes Moorehead. No decision has been reached as to whether Welles will act in the film himself. Norman Krasna and Frank Ross, producers of "The Devil and Miss Jones" have committed themselves to make two more pictures for RKO release. . .That matter of showing "Citizen Kane" in the Los Angeles area is still up in the air with both of RKO's first run houses booked until early in November and no independent takers at the 507, terms being asked by RKO. . .Gabriel Pascal, granted a two years release from his UA contract, has been signed to make between four and six pictures for RKO within that time. This deal appears set, but Pascal is an unpredictable chap. . .Lesley Selander, Harry Sherman's fine director on the "Hopalong Cassidy" westerns, is taking charge of Tim Holt's new sagebrush drama, "Thundering Hoofs". . .Eddie Albert, supposed to have been blacklisted, has been signed to a term contract at RKO . . . RKO's scripting staff is hard at work to give the company some sort of backlog of product — something it hasn't seen in years. IN PRODUCTION— "Ball of Fire" ( Gary Cooper-Barbara Stanwyck), "Joan of Paris" (Michele Morgan-Paul Henreid), "Thundering Hoofs" (Tim Holt-Ray Whitley). PREPARING — "Why Worry," "Magnificent Ambersons" (Orson Welles), "Syncopation" (Jackie Cooper-Bonita Granville), "Mexican Spitfire at Sea"" (Lupe Velez). CVSTIXCiS: Harry FTolman in "Call Out the Marines" ... Kay Kv.ser and orcliestra in "My Favorite .Spy" . . . DIBECTOB ASSIGNMENTS: .Jack Hively to "Why Worry." 20th CENTURY-FOX 20th Century ha.s more talent under contract to it than at any other time in its history. 79 players are held on either term or picture commitments, 16 are on the stock list. Another picture slated for Tyrone Power is "The King's Secret" ...Sonja Henie was a mighty sore Norwegian when "Sun Valley Serenade" was ushered through the production mill with the speed of a Sol Wurtzel quickie and only one big ice number. Quick to recognize the error of their ways when "Serenade" began clicking at the box-office, 20th Century executives, skating on thin diplomatic ice, managed to lure Miss Henie back into the fold with a new and profitable long term contract. . .A. M. Botsford has succeeded Charles E. McCarthy as director of advertising and publicity... Bryan Foy's first stint in Westwood will be titled "Over the Burma Road" and as the title imolies it will deal with the vicissitudes encountered along China's vital supply lines. ('.\STIX(;S: .Man Mowbra.v in "Tlu. I'.nccl .Snob." UNITED ARTISTS Although Tney have been alternately good and bad, Hal Roach has sufficient confidence in the shrewdness of his scheme to make "streamlined" features pay at the box-office to announce increased budgets for his second group of five "shorties" for UA release. Goldwyn studios will henceforth be known as Goldwyn-Selznick, which very obviously indicates that Margaret Mitchell's pal has taken up quarters at the Goldwyn plant. Some Hollywoodites say this may presage a deal between the two distinguished producers which will result in the formation of an independent releasing organization for their mutual benefit — this to follow the completion of their respective commitments to UA and RKO. Anyone who .writes a book or produces little theatre shows manages to get his name in the local trade papers as a potential United Artists producer. But somehow the truth of the old saying, "many are called but few are chosen" adheres. The latest to be mentioned is Louis Bromfield, scenarist and novelist. According to FB's private grapevine, Edward Small's "Corsican Brothers" has the makings of a hit and is agreed to be the best picture produced in Small's lengthy career. IN PRODUCTION— "Shanghai Gesture" (Gene Tierney-Victor Mature), "Jungle Book" (Sabu), "Twin Beds" (George BrentJoan Bennett) . UNIVERSAL Henry Koster will henceforth head his own producing unit at Universal. The company has exercised three annual options in Koster's contract, giving the director a straight three-year deal with options extending over another five years. Two stories already have been scheduled with Koster as producer-director. The first is untitled, but the second will be "The Phantom of the Opera," to co-star Durbin and Laughton and to boast the largest budget ever expended by Universal. The Koster promotion is well deserved and there are few in Hollywood who will not agree that in his new enlarged capacity of producer-director, Koster should continue to be one of the town's most important production men. Universal's Billy Scully and Fox West Coast have buried the hatchet and a deal between the two is in the making. . .After a temporary production lull, U is planning a capacity schedule for the next few weeks... The Merry Macs are to be starred with Baby Sandy in "Melody Lane." IN PRODUCTION— "South of Tahiti" (Maria Montez-Brod Crawford), "Keep 'Em Flying" (Abbott and Costello), "Melody Lane" (Baby Sandy-Merry Macs). PREPARING— "Fifty Million Nickels," "Dr. RX," "North of the Klondike." C.V.STlNCiS: Harriet Milliard, Ken Murray, Donald Douglas. Iris .\drian. Milton Heath in "Fifty Million Xickels" . . . Patrie Knowles, Anne Gwynne, Lionel Atwill in "Dr. Rx"... Evelyn .\nkers in "North of the Klondike." WARNER BROS. On many occasions Studio Size-ups has commented, with considerable pleasure, on the fact that the Warner studio leads the pack in its willingness and readiness to give untried talent within its own ranks the opportunity for more ambitious endeavor. Last week, the trade press greeted with great enthusiasm the work of director Irving Rapper and the dual accomplishment of John Huston. Rapper, who megaphoned "One Foot in Heaven" as his first important picture, has for many years been a busy dialogue director on the Warner lot. Huston, son of actor Walter Huston, has been a topflight scenarist with an urge to direct, who was finally given an opportunity to do both in the very thrilling and exciting mystery picture, "The Maltese Falcon." In these two pictures. Rapper and Huston display enterprise and imagination that ranks with the best work being done in Hollywood today. Overnight they have been stepped up as masters of their craft — production men whose futures will be watched closely for further signs of the great promise evident in every phase of their work. The Brothers Warner are to be congratulated for giving these two men a chance — for being willing to expend great sums of money that new blood might enter the portals of fame. The result well warrants the effort and we have not the slightest doubt that the studio will be amply repaid for its initiative and courage. Men. trained from the bottom and ready to step into more important studio posts, are too often overlooked in Hollywood while greenhorns and outsiders are permitted to step in and indulge in costly exiDerimentation. The production men who have endured longest are those who have walked the hard, disillusioning path and usually it has been necessary for them to seek out studios other Uian their own in order to gain attention and recognition. Pj-oduction talent is not so plentiful that studios can afford to overlook any bets. The success of Warners in graduating men step by step to responsible positions within its organization should serve (Continued on Page 18) OCTOBER 4, 1941 13