Film Bulletin (1942)

communique, has been bought by Metro from William L. White. Yarn deals with an episode at Manila Bay where a Jap cruiser was sunk... "The Wookey," produced last year on Broadway by Edgar Selwyn with MGM money, has been bought for immediate production .. .They say MGM has bought "Without Love," new Philip Barry play which stars Katharine Hepburn ... Miss H., incidentally, is feuding with her co-star Spencer Tracy despite their successful and friendly collaboration in "Woman of the Year"... A trend to considerable more color on the screen comes with the announcement by MGM that four productions will be filmed in Technicolor within the next few months — "Salute to the Marines." starring Wallace Beery; "Lassie Come Home" (currently in work); "Du Barry Was a Lady," starring Red Skelton and Lucille Ball, and "Kim," teaming Mickey Rooney, Basil Rathbone and Conrad Veidt. . .Willis Goldbeck, writer, has been elevated to a director's berth with "Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant." IN PRODUCTION — "The Man on America's Conscience" (Van Heflin-Ruth Hussey), "Reunion" (Joan Crawford-John Wayne), "Keeper of the Flame" (Katharine Hepburn-Spencer Tracy), "Skyway to Glory" (Franchot Tone-Marsha Hunt), "Presenting Lily Mars" (Judy Garland-Richard Carlson), "Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant" (Lionel Barrymore-Susan Peters). MONOGRAM An unprecedented backlog of completed Monogram features awaits national release, nine productions being scheduled for distribution between August 25 and October 9. In addition, writers are now at work on a number of stories with the Lindsley Parsons unit heading the list with five different stories in preparation — "Here Come the Marines," "Sweetheart of Sigma Chi," "Trail of the Yukon," "Revenge of the Zombies" and "Storm Out of the West". . .Animal stars for outdoor pictures have loomed as a possibility since the beginning of the war. A dog will headline "Silent Witness" which William Beaudine will direct for the Mooney-King outfit. . .James Dunn has been signed for the leading role in "Living Ghost" to be produced by A. W. Hackel with Beaudine megging. IN PRODUCTION— "Bowery at Midnight" (Bela LugosiWanda McKay), "War Dogs" (Billy Lee-Kay Linaker). PARAMOUNT Decidedly incorrect was Studio Size-ups' apparently authentic report that "Wake Island" had encountered opposition from military authorities. Early preview reports label it the first important American documentary drama of the war — a vivid, realistic reenactment of the great defense of the Pacific Isle by a small band of gallant Marines. It is true that the Paramount picture called for a great number of retakes but in the case of "Wake Island" they strengthened an already strong motion picture. We are happy to make this correction. Financial report just issued by Paramount estimates its earnings for the second quarter ending July 4, 1942 at $2,908,000 after interest and all charges including estimated provision for all federal taxes have been deducted ... Paramount and the four other major distribution companies are handling release of the government film, "World at War" ... Preston Sturges is doing his own narration for "Great Without Glory," story of the Boston dentist who discovered anaesthesia. . .Jane Wyatt has been signed for the feminine lead in "Buckskin Empire" opposite Richard Dix.. "Night Plane from Chunking" is Walter MacEwen's initial production since joining Paramount several months ago. Ralph Murphy will direct Robert Preston, Ellen Drew and Albert Dekker in the leading roles. .. "True to Life" is the title of the comedy to star Mary Martin, Dick Powell and Victor Moore. . .James Kirkwood, Jr., 18-year-old son of James Kirkwood, will make his screen debut for Pine-Thomas in "You Can't Live Forever". . .Rene Clair, they say, has done such a magnificent job of direction on "I Married a Witch" that the picture's preview will find him one of the top megaphoners in Hollywood. Easily understood is Paramount's snappy option-lifting which occurred a couple of weeks ago. Clair draws "The Man Who Had No Private Life" as his next assignment. It is an unproduced play by Otto Furth. IN PRODUCTION— "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (Gary CooperIngrid Bergman), "The Crystal Ball" (Paulette Goddard-Ray Milland), "Lucky Jordan" (Alan Ladd-Helen Walker), "Night Plane from Chunking" (Robert Preston-Ellen Drew). PRODUCERS RELEASING Jack Schwartz, head of a mid-western chain of independent theatres, has turned producer at PRC with a specific plan in mind. He feels the public wants westerns with big names and is now out to prove it. Schwartz has an untitled story in preparation and the following players have been lined up to head the cast, Florence Rice, John Litel, H. B. Warner and Jean Brooks. William Dreifuss will direct. Tabulation of completed pictures at PRC discloses that 12 pictures are scheduled for release up to November. IN PRODUCTION— "Miss V from Moscow" (Lola Lane-Noel Madison). NEW RELEASES For details on these pictures see Release Charts in the PRODUCTION RECORD COLUMBIA Talk of the Town August 20 Sabotage Squad August 27 Vengeance of the West September 3 Counter Espionage September 3 Spirit of Sanford September 10 A Man's World September 17 My Sister Eileen September 25 Overland to Deadwood September 25 M-G-M (First 42-43 block) Apache Trail Cairo Panama Hattie Seven Sweethearts Somewhere I'll Find You Tish The War Against Mrs. Hadley A Yank at Eton MONOGRAM Riders of the West August 21 One Thrilling Night August 28 4 11 18 25 Arizona Stagecoach SeptemberKing of the Stallions September Isle of Missing Men September Police Bullets September RKO Bambi August 21 The Big Street September 4 Mexican Spitfire's Elephant September 11 Wings and the Woman September 18 Bandit Ranger September 25 PRODUCERS RELEASING Jungle Siren Billy the Kid in Law and Order . Frontier Marshal in Prairie Pals (42-43) A Night for Crime REPUBLIC Sunset Serenade Bells of Capistrano . . (42-43) The Old Homestead . . Shadows on the Sage Youth on Parade . . . .August 21 . . . .August 21 .September 4 .September 15 .September 4 .September 18 . . . .August 17 . . . .August 24 .September 11 20th CENTURY-FOX Pied Piper Loves of Edgar Allan Poe Orchestra Wives (42-43) Berlin Correspondent Careful, Soft Shoulders . . . Just Off Broadway UNIVERSAL Boss of Hangtown Mesa (42-43) Between Us Girl Give Out Sisters Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror Half Way to Shanghai August 22 . . . .August 29 .September 4 .September 11 September 18 .September 25 . . . .August 21 .September 4 .September 11 .September 18 .September 18 WARNER BROS (42-43) Across the Pacific Busses Roar .September 5 .September 19 16 FILM BULLETIN