Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1945)

20th CENTURY-FOX Because of the reception by the public of "The Fighting Lady," IJarryl F. Zanuck has announced plans for two major films both pased entirely on fact to be made into factual dramas. Louis de Rochemont has been assigned production duties on 'Now It Can Be Told," the first story of the FBI's counter espionage activities, and "Boomerang" from the story by William Chambliss which is a narrative of civilian adaptation to naval warfare. It is planned to use box-office personalities in the key roles but f.hey will be handled as if they were unknowns selected to tell the ptory of the piece in a factual and unaffected fashion. Eighteen directors are currently working on this studio's busy production schedule. In addition to the films already going, the following are being prepared for early starts: "Fallen Angel" 'Anne Baxter-Linda Darnell), to be directed by Otto Preminger; >" Victor Hugo," with John Brahm directing; "Leave Her to Hea/en," John Stahl directing; "High School Heroes," for James Tining, and "Command to Embezzle," assigned to Louis King. I Another indication of the busy schedule ahead for 20th Cen|Ury-Fox is in the fact that 45 stories are in preparation under Ihe guidance of 16 producers. Darryl F. Zanuck is preparing [One World;" William Pearlberg has "Cameo Kirby," "Jean Valean," "Bandwagon," "Forever Amber," "Claudia and David," and ;' Another Claudia," on his list; George Jessel names "Kitten on he Keys," "Two Arabian Nights," and "Late Date;" Ernst Lubitsch is working on "Typhoon" and "Cluny Brown;" Otto Preminger has "Fallen Angel," "Centennial Summer," "Romance with Music," and "The Gift of the Magi;" Louis Lighton is handling "Anna and the King of Siam," and "Down to the Sea in ;hips;" William LeBaron is preparing "Riocabana," "Bird of Paradise," and "Shocking Miss Pilgrim;" Lamar Trotti is readyBig "Victor Hugo" and "Razor's Edge," both to be sold as specials; JVilliam Bacher has "The Gay Illiterate" and "Leave Her to keaven;" Andre Daven will produce "Our Moment Is Swift" and 'Red Quarter;" Walter Morosco is planning "Enchanted Voyage," Maggie," "Command to Embezzle," "The First Year," and "The kittle Horse;" Gregory Ratoff has "Music in the Air;" Irving Starr is planning "The Rebirth of Flower McCoy," and "No Place Like Home;" William Gerard will produce "High School Heroes," "The Black Mart," and "Angel in White;" Ben Silvey will handle "The Ipider;" Aubrey Schenck is preparing "Shock" and "Johnny Comes ^lying Home." "High School Hero" is the new name for "The Jungle larines." In a suit against Harry M. Popkin for $10,000 damages. Realtor lerman Sims charged that 20th-Fox and Fox West Coast Theatres ised their influence to halt the sale of two local theatres to Joe Jlumenfeld, a San Francisco operator. It is asserted that Popkin efused to conclude the deal involving $110,000 for the two theatres ecause of inducements and proposals made by the theatre circuit nd the producing company. Sims is sueing for his fee. Popkin, who is the producer of "Ten Little Indians," is reiasing his product through the agencies of 20th Century-Fox, lthough originally the picture was set for United Artists release, 'he picture which is already completed has a cast including Barry fitzgerald, Walter Huston, Louis Hayward, Roland Young, June )uprez, Sir C. Aubrey Smith, Judith Anderson, Mischa Auer, lichard Haydn and Queenie Leonard. Rene Clair directed. The ulk of the advertising budget has been ear-marked for the trade res/s inasmuch as the story itself has been so well popularized y magazine serialization, and seven printings of the novel as well s successful stage presentations throughout the country. The sale of 42,000 shares of 20th-Fox common, no par value, vas reported by the SEC recently with Darryl F. Zanuck as the eller. According to the record, Zanuck retains 130 shares of the tock. UNITED ARTISTS Mary Pickford is the first independent producer to get .the go ahead" from the War Production Board on raw stock supply, 'he picture, "One Touch of Venus," will be done in Technicolor, t is hoped that this act will establish a precedent on which other "•dependent producers can rely in requesting their own supplies f raw film. Miss Pickford has secured Mainbocher to design the resses and costumes for the $2,000,000 production of the recent Jroadway success. Mary Martin will star. Agnes De Mille will o the dances. Additional music will be done by Kurt Weill with am Coslow on the lyrics. Another potential project announced by Mary Pickford is the emake of "Coquette." She is trying to borrow the services of hirley Temple from David O. Selznick to play the title role. Lester Cowan is expanding his publicity department as well s sales and exploitation divisions. George J. Schaefer has joined ie production unit as chairman of board in charge of world-wide sales. The increase is being planned to nandle the releasing of "Tomorrow the World" and "G. I. Joe," in which Schaefer has also acquired an interest. The new sales chief was formerly president of RKO and, earlier, headed UA and Paramount sales. Edward Small has signed Director Max Nosscck to a term contract and his first assignment will be "The Return of Monte Cristo" in which Louis Hayward is set for the title role. Andrew Stone is set on the production of "Petticoat Lane" at a reported budget of $900,000. The second picture on his schedule will be "Sensatl ons of 1946" which will have a South American background. UNIVERSAL Five productions are scheduled for March production at this studio. "Serenade for Murder" (Lois Collier-Jess Barker), "Once Upon A Dream" (Susanna Foster-Robert Paige-Louise Allbritton), "Hear That Trumpet Talk" (no final cast set), "Secret Agent X-9," a serial suggested by the comic strip of the same name; "Uncle Harry," the play by Thomas Job, will be produced by Joan Harrison with George Sanders, Geraldine Fitzgerald and Ella Raines. Frank Shaw, who has worked on the Durbin pictures since 1941 has been transferred to work with Producer-Director Frank Ryan in the preparation of the Pirandello play, "As It Was Before," in which Merle Oberon and Charles Korvin start next month. Howard Christie, assistant director on the lot for the past 8 years, will take over for Shaw and work with Felix Jackson in the Durbin unit. Howard Deighton is the newly named casting director, succeeding Robert Spears, who was made a member of the new Advisory Board as executive in charge of players and directors. Deighton has been working in the studio casting department for five months; prior to this, he worked with the Hollywood Victory Committee and USO Camp Shows. Travis Banton, well-known Hollywood designer, has been signed to an exclusive contract by the studio. His first assignment will be for Geraldine Fitzgerald on "Uncle Harry" and Merle Oberon on "As It Was Before." Peggy Ryan and Lon Chaney have been optioned for another year by the studio. George Waggner, producer-director, and Charles Korvin, newcomer, also had their contract options picked up for another year. WARNER BROS. Following as quickly as possible on "Hotel Berlin," which has received a hangup exploitation program, Warner Brothers are planning another of its "timely" adventures. This one will be "The Ghost of Berchtesgaden." Faye Emerson, Helmut Dantine and Andrea King of the "Hotel Berlin" cast will also be featured in this. After the strong protest from exhibitors, the plan to drop the "Janie" series has been cancelled. Production will resume on the series with Joan Leslie being given the coveted role that should do much to establish her career more firmly — that is, if successive pictures live up to the appeal of the first. Screen tests as well as the composite opinions of letterwriters seemed to cinch the job for Miss Leslie. The next film, now in progress, is "Janie Gets Married," with Robert Hutton as the romantic lead and Robert Benchley, both veterans of the first in the series. The Cutting Department of the studio has six pictures being readied for release. They include: "The Big Sleep" (Humphrey Bogart-Lauren Bacall), "Mildred Pierce" (Joan Crawford-Jack Carson), "San Antonio" (Errol Flynn-Alexis Smith), "Pride of the Marines" (formerly called "This Love of Ours" — John GarfieldEleanor Parker-Dane Clark), "Three Strangers" (Sydney Greenstreet-Peter Lorre-Geraldine Fitzgerald), "Too Young To Know" (Joan Leslie-Dolores Moran-Robert Hutton). Rosalind Russell has purchased the stage rights to Louise Randall Pierson's next book, "Why Was I Born?" It may be that Miss Russell plans a stage play or perhaps she's gotten the producer's bug which has suddenly taken Hollywood actresses by storm — witness Bette Davis, Constance Bennett and Kay Francis. Carmen Cavallero and his orchestra have arrived at the studio to work in "The Time, The Place and The Girl," which stars Dennis Morgan, Jack Carson and Jane Wyman. "Objective Burma" in promotional booklet form has been placed on all American Airlines planes as reading material. This is the first attempt at this particular form of exploitation. Dennis Morgan is to be starred in "The Hasty Heart." John Dall, who is to be seen in the Warner production of "The Corn Is Green," will also have a top role in this film. I ARCH 19, 1945