Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1945)

Astaire-Rogers musicals, now has 14 song-and-dance shows on its .list. Completed are: "George White's Scandals of 1945" and "Sing Your Way Home." In work are: a new Eddie Cantor show, 'Radio Stars on Parade," "The Magnificent Tramp," "Sweet Georgia Brown," "Beat the Band," "Bar of Music," "Ding Dong Williams" and "Riverboat Rhythm." Independent producers releasing through RKO contribute four more musicals. Samuel Goldwyn's "Wonder Man" starring Danny Kaye is ready and he is preparing "The Kid from Brooklyn." William Goetz has "It's A Pleasure" completed and "Countess of Monte Cristo" preparing — both starring Sonja Henie. Burgess Meredith and Paulette Goddard have signed a package deal with Charles Koerner of RKO, the first of its kind. Meredith will produce and Miss Goddard will star in "The Diary of a Chambermaid." Jean Renoir will direct this film which is scheduled to start May 1. Susan Hayward, her newly-born twins thriving, returns to the 3creen in "Deadline at Dawn," by William Irish. The star is being sorrowed from Paramount for the lead. Paul Lukas will have the lead opposite Miss Hayward. Harold Clurman will direct and Adrian Scott is the producer. The story is a mystery yarn. After months of conjecture, Cantinflas, Mexico's great comedy star, has arrived at RKO to begin his first feature, "The Magnificent Tramp." Both English and Spanish language versions will Se filmed simultaneously. Following, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's lead, RKO has signed with two Mexican film outfits to handle worldwide distribution of John Steinbeck's feature, "The Pearl." Here too is another trend — an important one — that will be worth matching as it develops. Nunnally Johnson has been assigned to script and produce 'The Dark Mirror," recently purchased by International for early 'all production. The producer urged the buying of the mystery novel since he feels it has the same flavor that "Woman in The Window" possesses. Sam Goldwyn, recently returned from Europe, made some nteresting comments about that trip at a press luncheon. He pointed out that the industry simply could not conceive the value ind importance of their product in the war effort. He urged strongly that Germany be prohibited from producing pictures for a long time, because over a period of ten years prior to the war :he sole purpose of its commercial product was as propaganda, it is Mr. Goldwyn's opinion that commercial pictures should be made for entertainment only and his first-hand view of the destruction wrought by the German Frankenstein, not without the ud of its film industry, only sharpened his convictions on that score. Incidentally, Goldwyn's "Wonder Boy," in which Danny Kaye s starred, having been viewed by this reporter, can be recomnended heartily as sure-fire entertainment. Kaye outdoes his first effort in "Up In Arms" and proves himself a competent actor as well as a great comedian. The one new entry rolling on this lot is "Radio Stars On Parade" (Wally Brown-Alan Carney-Frances Langford). 20th CENTURY-FOX I This is the studio that competes with MGM for first place in he musical field and so, of course, their product in this field is luite considerable. They have 20 on their list. "State Fair" is Completed, as are "Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe," "Where Do We Go From Here?" and "Nob Hill." Preparing are "Centennial Summer," "Two Arabian Nights," "Romance with Music," "Kitten On the Keys," "Riocabana," "New Orleans," "Mexico City," "BowI'ry After Dark," "Music in the Air," "Bandwagon," "Dancing Through," "Chico Chico," "Laredo" "Shocking Miss Pilgrim," and 'The Gift of the Magi." Alice Faye is due back on the lot, after almost two yeare of •etirement, to go into the lead of "Fallen Angel." Otto Preminger -11 direct and produce. Linda Darnell is also named for the cast. Financial report for 53 weeks ending December 30, 1944, shows his studio with a net profit of $12,400,000 which is an increase of ■nore than a million and a half dollars above the 1943 figure. Joan Blondell has had her contract extended for another year, ^er last appearance was as Aunt Cissie in "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." Mike Todd will have as his production effort at 20th, Edna Berber's "Great Son." The picture budgeted at $3,000,000 will be |one in Technicolor and the producer would like to get Clark ->able for his leading role. Months of preparation are planned so ictiye shooting will probably not start until next year. Todd has l" 18~month lea-se on the screen rights with an option for seven "lditional years. This neat little deal cost him a neat $200,000. Lloyd Bacon has been set as the director of "The Enchanted voyage" 'which will be done in Technicolor. Production is sched APRIL 16, 1945 .vi: uled for June 1 with Walter Morosco as producer and June Haver in the lead. William LeBaron who had been announced as producer on "Riocabana," has left the studio after four years of association with the shelving of plans to produce the film. Discontinuance was blamed on the inablnty of cast and crew to travel to boum America during war-time limitations. Harry James' new contract at the studio calls for $168,000 for he and his crew for their first picture. Harry's price at Metro for he and his gang was a mere $92,000. No new starters on the 20th lot. Continuing in production are "The Dolly Sisters" (Betty Grable-John Payne) and "Dragonwyck (Gene Tierney-William Eythe). UNITED ARTISTS . Edward and Robert Golden have formed a new producing company with Sam Dembow, Jr., to release through United Artists. Their first picture will be "Breakfast in Hollywood," featuring Tom Breneman in his radio show specialty. Lester Cowan's next will be "Free Press," a story of the newspaper profession as climaxed by the work of combat correspondents all over the world. David O. Selznick is changing the title of his "Spellbound" for release in Great Britain. The picture will be titled over there by its original tag, "The House of Dr. Edwardes." The San Francisco Press Club has chosen the new Cagney picture, "Blood on the Sun" to premiere at the World Security Conference. Timeliness of the subject material is the principal reason for the group's choice. Trouble continues to pursue Mary Pickford in her proposed production of "One Touch of Venus." Most recent flare-up is in the directorial division, Gregory LaCava as the latest casualty due to disagreement with Miss Pickford. The Hunt Stromberg picture, "Young Widow," is having script trouble. Fact is there just isn't any script, at least none that seems visible. Ida Lupino's appearance in the leading role, opposite her former husband, Louis Hayward, still dubious according to some sources. Presently, Richard Macaulay and Aben Finkel, two expert screenplay writers, are at work on a re-writing job. It seems Miss Lupino objected to the script and Producer Stromberg is now trying to have it tailored to her pleasure. Delays of this sort are costly, indeed, particularly to an independent producer. Mr. Stromberg has his entire cast, save for Miss Lupino, lined up and William Dieterle is under contract to direct. At last report, Marie McDonald was off at Palm Springs, resting and waiting for a decision to be reached. Two films continue in the shooting stage: Selznick's "Duel In the Sun" (Jennifer Jones-Joseph Cotten) and the aforementioned "Young Widow." UNIVERSAL Unprecedented is the suit which Harold Lloyd has brought against this company charging piracy on three counts and asking for $1,700,000 damages plus $115,000 attorney's fees and costs. In addition, the ex-screen comedian is demanding that all prints of the three motion pictures in question be destroyed or at least impounded against release. The pictures involved are: "She Gets Her Man," current Joan Davis starrer; "Her Lucky Night," which went into release on February 9, and which stars the Andrews Sisters, and "So's Your Uncle," starring Billie Burke. Three separate claims were filed charging that Clyde Bruckman and Warren Wilson, formerly employees of Lloyd, have infringed copyrights belonging to the comedian. The complaint asserts that large por-. tions of material in the three named pictures were taken, in some instances almost verbatim, from "The Freshman," "Movie Crazy" and "Welcome Danger," three Lloyd hits. It's too early to know yet how valid his claims are, but regardless of the decision, it's not a pretty thing for any one concerned. Universal seems to have more than its share of litigation, one way or another. Not long ago they lost out in their suit against actor Robert Cummings to the tune of some $800,000. Following up the musical trend at Universal, we discover seven on the list. "Serenade for Murder" is editing, "Lady On a Train" is in work, "Once Upon A Dream," "Catherine the Last," "Hear That Trumpet Blow" and two untitled features for Susanna Foster complete the list. Jane Murfin has just been handed a writer-producer deal at this studio. Miss Murfin, author of such screenplays as "Dragon Seed," "The Women," and "Pride and Prejudice," has been a Hollywood writer since 1927. But this will be her first effort at production. She joins Joan Harrison in the female producer's class at Universal since Miss Harrison is actively engaged now in production. The next Walter Wanger production at Universal will be "La Chienne," re-titled "Scarlet Street." Joan Bennett, Edward G. ( Continued on Page 30)