Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1945)

No new starters at the studio, but the sound stages continue briskly with seven in production. Elevation to stardom is the goal of Al Lichtman, MGM viceprexy, for Marilyn Maxwell, who is being set for "The Dream Girl" a forthcoming musical. Marilyn's triumph in her recent personal appearance tour brought her to the attention of Metro officials. Producer Joe Pasternak is bringing Pat Kirkwood, British music hall star, to America to be starred in "No Leave, No Love" with Van Johnson. Charles Martin, former radio director and writer, will write the screenplay and direct. . .Arthur Freed will produce the recently purchased literary classic, "Green Mansions" Angna Enters, who wrote the screenplay for "Lost Angel," is back on the lot working on another original, "10th Avenue Angel," which will be produced by Ralph Wheelright, formerly of MGM's publicity department. Pandro Berman, producer of "National Velvet," is preparing "Sea of Grass," story that has been on the Metro shelves for years. The property was originally to be done by Meriam C. Cooper and Louis D. Lighton, but never got to the camera stage... MGM has just signed the former Paramount singer, Johnny Johnston, now clicking big on airlanes and wax. He has a one-picture deal with options and is reported to be receiving $15,000 for five weeks on his first effort which will be in a Pasternak musical called "You're Beautiful." Carey Wilson is looking forward to one of his biggest years as a producer with the following schedule already set: "Green Dolphin Street," the MGM prize-winning novel; "Postman Always Rings Twice," which will co-star Lana Turner and John Garfield; "The Common Sin," a Booth Tarkington Andy Hardy story; a new Dr. Gillespie story and "Violet," a recently purchased property for which the studio is seeking a new actress. Irving Starr has rejoined Metro as a producer in the Seigel unit after asking for his release from 20th Century-Fox because of difficulty on the material assigned him there. Abbott and Costello are kicking over the traces at making pictures at MGM despite a bonus arrangement which brought their earnings per picture up to their percentage level at Universal. The boys are unhappy, preferring to make only three pictures yearly instead of four. They are entering into a new deal with Universal in which they will have a sharing arrangement by way of a capital investment in their pictures. This investment turns their income from each picture into capital gain which is helpful from a tax standpoint. MONOGRAM The musical film bug seems to have bitten Monogram, too. No less than six musical pictures are now in various stages of preparation with the studio claiming top-budget production for all. "Casa Manana," a Latin-American story; "Golden Girl," starring Belita; "Sunbonnet Sue," which will star Phil Regan; "Land of the Sky Blue Water," another Regan starrer; "Dime A Dance" and "Swing Parade" complete the list. April releases scheduled by Monogram are: "China's Little Devils" (Harry Carey-Paul Kelly), "G. I. Honeymoon" (Gale Storm-Peter Cookson) and a Charlie Chan number called "The Scarlet Clue." A list of ten stories ready for early production promises an active schedule at this studio during the coming months. The pictures to go include: "Gregory's Wives," the second Kay Francis picture; "Belle of New Orleans," starring Aquanetta; "Allotment Wives;" "Charlie Chan in China;" one untitled melodrama; one untitled Jimmy Wakeley western, and three of the musicals mentioned above — "Swing Parade," "Dime A Dance," and "Casa MananaJ' This studio, unaffected by the strike, nevertheless, experienced a production lull with only one new starter, "Main Street Ghost," melodrama with Doris Merrick, Robert Lowery, Isabel Jewel. PARAMOUNT Earnings for 1944 recently reported gives an estimated figure of $16,488,000, after interest and all charges and estimated provision for taxes. This figure is an increase over the 1943 figure of more than $300,000. The studio continues its upped program of production with 23 stories in preparation for filming. Soon to come is Irving Berlin's "Blue Skies," which will star Bing Crosby and Paul Draper with Joan Caufield as the girl (what a break for a newcomer!). This is the picture that the late Mark Sandrich was to have done. Lou Harris will produce "California," an epic story of pioneer days. Then, there will be a musical set in the 1870 period with Spain as the background, "Third Avenue," an original, will star Barry Fitz gerald; "Dear Ruth;" "Immortal Wife;" Charles Brackett's production of "To Each His Own;" "Lady Seventeen;" "Calcutta," which will star Alan Ladd; "June Bride;" "The Sun Field" and "The Forgotten Friday." Buddy De Sylva is preparing "The Stork Club," with Betty Hutton, Barry Fitzgerald, Don De Fore, Andy Russell and Robert Benchley. Also on his list is a collection of mystery stories called "After Dinner Story" by William Irish. Hal Wallis, who has made a swift mark with three pictures completed in less than a year, has Lillian Hellman's "The Searching Wind," "The Crying Sisters," "Dishonorable Discharge," and "Whenever I Remember" on his schedule. He is also working on a screen play based upon the life of Tschaikowsky, great Russian composer. In the musical field, Paramount stacks up strongly. There are eleven in all on the slate, six finished, two in work, and three in preparation. Completed are: "The Road To Utopia," "Incendiary Blonde," "Duffy's Tavern," "Masquerade in Mexico," "Out oi This World," and "Bring On the Girls." In front of the cameras are Pine-Thomas' "People Are Funny," and De Sylva's "The Stork Club," soon to go. Getting ready are "Blue Skies," Wallis' Tschaikowsky story and another Spanish-American period piece. Incidentally, Paramount has paid Mr. Berlin $250,000 for the use oi the title and his music. This figure is being charged off against a 20 per cent interest in the picture's profits, which should make the $250,000 only a beginning of Mr. Berlin's take. Paramount seems to be going in for expensive purchases ol material these days. Recently, there was "Dear Ruth" and now comes "Blaze of Noon" by Ernest K. Gann. On the conditional basis deal, total payments for the latter story may reach $150,000 PRC PRC, not too wisely, we believe, is jumping on the musica biography trendwagon. They have in preparation "The Story o Franz Liszt." While plans are just in the formative stage, FI rises to warn Leon Fromkess that weighty subjects of this kin< are not for a small outfit like PRC. It will be smarter to stick t( action and melodrama. PRC's "Crime, Inc.," met the cold "no" of Chicago's censo board and joined Monogram's "Dillinger" on the Chicago blacl list. It would seem that the town that was gangland's happ; hunting grounds in bootlegging days is now too sensitive to stom ach gangster stories. At any rate PRC is appealing the case am may succeed in breaking down the prejudice. Meanwhile, it il good publicity. Three pictures in work here, which is the equal of severs major studio's programs in this fourth week of the strike. "Th Intruder" has Charles Arnt and Veda Ann Borg. "Congo Pongo (are they kidding?) has Richard Fraser, Lionel Royce and Mari Wrixon, and 4'Law of Lead" has Tex Ritter and Dave O'Brie rootin' and shootin' again. There are nine more films on the Apr schedule. The other six are: "Arson Squad," a Buster Crabb western, "Two Tickets to Heaven," "The Gallant Shepherd," "Th Joker," and still another Crabbe sagebrusher. REPUBLIC Speaking of musicals, mark Republic down as a contender i the musical biography parade. Borden Chase's novel, "Concerto! has been bought for a reported $100,000. Frank Borzage, recent! ; signed with the Valley studio, will produce and direct. This wi be Republic's first Technicolor production. Peggy Constance, 1 year-old pianist, is the first member of the cast to be signed tl Mr. Borzage. Another on the list, "Mozart's Trip to Prague Eight of Mozart's most famous compositions will be incorporatf in the picture Herman Millakowsky will produce. This was origi ally planned to mirror just one event in the life of the compose but now takes on the biographical caste and will be called "Tl Immortal." Just look what Warner's and Columbia started wi their Gershwin and Chopin films! In addition to four musicals it has completed, Republic h three others listed on its production schedule. The completed ar "Earl Carroll's Vanities," "An Angel from Brooklyn," "Song Mexico" and "Man from Oklahoma." In preparation are: "Rio Janeiro," "Calendar Girl" and "Mexicana." ^Borzage, who has been given almost free rein in his contra is East now recruiting his own independent stock company for 1 producing unit. He wants two big screen names for "Concert' with New York actors to complete the roster. His Republic c( tract calls for one picture a year and he is already arranging J outside deals using his own production unit. Three westerns are the only films on stages here: "Wagi Wheels Westward" (Bill Elliott), "Bandit of Badlands" (Sun; Carson) and "Union Pacific Scouts" (Carson). ElKO-RADIO RKO, which did so well over a period of years with \ 24 FILM BULLETN