Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1950)

STUDIO SIZE-UPS Behind the Scenes of Film Production COLUMBIA MEAGER TALENT, CASTING SNAFUS, SNARL PRODUCTION PRODUCTION has been .it a near standstill here since the first of the year, due to casting snarls resulting from the company's sorely depleted talent roster. The situation wasn't brightened any, the other day, by the calling off ■ — by mutual consent — of John Ireland's term pact, which still had five years to run. Xreland, who has just been nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in "All the King's Men" is considered by many in Hollywood to be on the verge of top stardom, and could have done much to bolster the drawing power of Columbia's future product. Under terms of the split, 25 percent of everything grossed by the actor during the next five years, will become the property of Columbia. However, even such a lucrative arrangement cannot compensate for the loss of his services at a time when the studio so seriously needs them. Both "The Brave Bulls" and William Dozier's "Lady of the House" have been delayed due to the difficulties the company is encountering in lining up casts. Furthermore, there is a possibility that "Prowl Car" (Edmond O'Brien-Mark Stevens), may also have to be given a later starting date. All three films were originally scheduled to roll during February, but have now been set for March. Viveca Lindfors, however, has just been handed a new six year deal with the company, replacing her previous optional contract. Cohn is known to have ordered his story department to be on the lookout for suitable screen material for the Swedish star. Something new in the line of "testing" ; has just been tried out here, that might well be emulated by other studios. In lining up a cameraman for Joan Crawford's commitment to the studio, various lensmen were tested, in much the same manner that costumes, sets, makeup — and even the players themselves — have been in the past Such an arrangement might well eliminate the botched job some of the men behind the cameras ' have been doing on Hollywood glamour 'girls, .recently. There's no question that some of the actresses who require special handling in front of the cameras, have suffered at the boxoffice because of ill-advised and sloppy lens work. EAGLE LION 'ROBINSON STORY" SHAPING UP, MAY BE SURPRISE B.O. PIC JF EXHIBITORS and the public share the enthusiasm of Eagle-Lion executives over the George Pal production of "Destination Moon," there should be good news in the announcement that Pal is starting work on another science-fiction HOLLYWOOD EDITORIAL The Home Market Hollywood is full of ironies, but no.ic mors pointed than the current, frantic drive to bolster foreign markets when, at the same time, mos: industry heads are doing little beyond fretting over the lagging bo:; office on the home-front. According to a recent nation wide survey, there are 65,000,000 persons in the United State? who either stay away fro_:i theaters entirely, or go too seldom to be counted as assets by the industry. Yet, with the possible exception of 20th Century-Fox, which has just announced a door-to-door survey to assay the customer's likes and dislikes, practical5y nothing is being done to woo these 65,000,000 American stayaways into the theaters. What, then, could you call it, if not ironic, that these same industry leaders are literally bursting at the seams with eagerness to win foreign markets? Surely they must realize that a large portion of their foreign revenues will be frozen by government decrees. Every effort is made to find out the screen preference of regular movie fans; their wants are deferred to, nine times out of ten in choosing stories for filming and in selecting stars. Yet, with the possible exception of Fox, little effort is being exerted to find out why 65,000,000 Americans are not good customers. Obviously they want something from pictures that they're not getting; and equally obviously they're not going to shell out their admission fees until they do get it. But the producers can't tell you what it is they want because — by and large — they've never bothered to find out. Wouldn't it be smarter for Hollywood to stop worrying about foreign markets and try to mend its fences right here at home? JAY ALLEN. yarn, 'When Worlds Collide." Musical scoring on "Moon" is now in the final stages, and Pal expects to deliver the completed negative to the company for a mid-March release. His new feature is based on a story first published ten years ago. Rushes on "The Jackie Robinson Story," currently before the cameras, indicate that the baseball star's histrionic ability far surpasses even the wildest hopes of the backers responsible for the produc tion. Co-starring with him is Ruby Dee, the highly successful star of "Anna Lucasta" during its three year Broadway run, The drawing power of the two names, plus a superior biographical script, should build the picture into a grossing bracket that may pay big dividends to the various employees of E-L who have invested their mony in the independent venture. Despite the fact that production by the company itself still appears to be in the distant future, there is encouragement in the announcement, the other day, that Lois Butler has just been handed a new pact. During the three years the 19-yearold actress has been under contract to the studio, she has appeared in three films. METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER SCHARY PUTS ACCENT ON COMEDIES, READIES 8 MORE ^S A RESULT of the boxoffice success of "Adam's Rib," Metro will concentrate heavily on comedies in the coming year's production schedule, Dore Schary tells FILM BULLETIN. Seven of the laugh-provokers are currently in various stages of editing, shooting or scoring, and Schary has just given the green light to prepare eight more for production during the next six months. Properties lined up are: "Strictly Dishonorable," "The Tender Hours," "Darling, I'm Stuck," "Excuse My Dust," "Just This Once," "Europa." "The Carnival Story," "Grounds For Marriage" and one more, as yet untitled. "Father of the Bride" ( Spencer Tracy Elizabeth Taylor Joan Bennett), is now before the cameras. In the can are: "The Yellow Cab Man," "The Skipper Surprised His Wife," "The Reformer and the Redhead," "Dink Stover," "The Big Hangover," and "Please Believe Me." Schary also has made known that his company will release its entire backlog of 26 films between March 1 and the end of October. This includes even those pictures now being edited, and those before the camera, with the one exception of the Errol Flynn starrer, "Kim." The latter is being held for a Thanksgiving release. The number of films going out during the seven month period is the greatest of any like period in the past several years, and represents an increase of approximately 60 percent over the same span last year, when only 15 films were released. In order to maintain a backlog of 10 to 12 pictures at all times, this increased release tempo, will necessitate a pick-up in production, also. Any question that "Quo Vadis" might never reach the cameras, has now been removed, with the announcement that May 21 has been set for the actual starting date. The budget has been set al $5,000,000, with Robert Taylor in the male starring role, and Mervyn LeRoy to direct. No femme star has been set, although it is expected that an announcement will be forthcoming at any time. r r. : r u a r y 27. 1 9 5 0 19