Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1950)

SIUOIB STOPS An example of what Mr. Zanuck neans by "unusual types of stories," is 51 Degrees North," an original novelette jy Sy Bartlett which has recently been Durchased by Fox as a Gregory Peck starrer. The story deals with a psycholeurotic G. I. who is influenced in odd vays by his war experiences. Zanuck las assigned the story for joint production by Bartlett and Henry King, with ,£ing also handling the megging chores. ?his will re-unite the same star, writer nd producer of Zanuck's recent hit, Twelve O'Clock High." "ormula Plots Fail . In looking over the few hits of the >ast season which have made any real ■npression at the boxoffice, it is all too vident that Mr. Zanuck has the correct rescription for curing the industry's urrent ailment. Few of the old formulate pictures have more than paid their ay, of late, and only those distinctly ifferent in story background have enjyed any appreciable success. Fortuately, Zanuck is one producer who is nwilling to compromise with the half'ay efforts of most of the current crop f Hollywood writers. For that reason, seems fair to assume that we may exact some distinctive types of motion .ictures from the Westwood studio withl the next few months. Lloyd Bacon secured release from his o'umbia contract, this month, and check1 back into Fox, which he left two years *o to start a seven-year ticket with :arry Cohn. He still had one year to ) at Columbia, where he recently cometed "The Fuller Brush Girl." His first isignment at Fox following his return :ill be "Call Me Mister," which Proicer Fred Kohlmar launches June 19 I; a Technicolor musical. UNITED ARTISTS A SUIT VS BISCHOFF IEVEALS SECRET DEAL JOLLYWOOD GOT QUITE a little surj prise earlier this month, when Uniti Artists brought suit against Sam Ischoff's Moroccan Pictures Inc., for 37,000 allegedly due the company in del-red distribution charges on the pict!re, "Outpost in Morocco." This was t? first knowledge most independents Id that UA had been granting such defTnents, and it is generally believed tit the court's decision may have wide rbercussions in the independent product n field. The suit charges that UA agreed to cfer 2% percent of its 27 V2 percent distbution charge on the picture, which it ■r eased last year. According to the comFny's legal eagles, the pay-off is now de, and they are asking the courts to clnand Bischoff to make immediate restitjion. Another interesting innovation in inde p>duction here, was the disclosure that Fpducer I. G. Goldsmith has invested a sjeable chunk of his own coin for two fins he recently completed for UA rel<se. Exclusive of deferment of his on producer fee on the pictures, Golds' ith forked over $150,000 from his own °|ik account on "Three Husbands," and a bther $100,000 for "The Dungeon." The \ney was used for pre-production exit Y 8 , 19 5 0 pense and completion coin, with Joseph Justman financing the balance. The deal also calls for Goldsmith to wait until all other loans are paid off before he can recoup his investment. With Stanley Kramer's next production, "Cyrano de Bergerac," now set to go into rehearsals next month for a July filming, Kramer has taken an option on his next story property, in which he hopes to again star Kirk Douglas. The new property, titled "Dark is the Haven," is Boyle, who has previously penned such well-known scripts as "Theodora Goes Wild" and "Escape to Glory." an original by set designer Edward G. UNI VERS AL-INTERNAT'L U-l SWITCHES FROM ACTION TO COMEDIES IN NEW TREND TTHE PENDULUM SEEMS to be swingA ing away from the heavy preponderance of action pictures used to showcase U-I's abundant roster of male stars and is now rotating more and more toward comedies. Undoubtedly the success of "Francis" is largely accountable for the over-due change of pace. In "Louisa' (Ronald Reagan-Ruth Hussey-Spring Byington-Charles Coburn-Edmund Gwenn), U-I has come up with one of the most refreshing comedies in many a season, and judging from the daily rushes on "Harvey" (James StewartJosephine Hull), the movie stands to create the same sensation that its stage counterpart did a few seasons ago. Now, Leo Spitz has just closed one of the biggest deals of the year with author David Stern, for a sequel to "Francis." Reportedly, Stern will receive $60,000 plus a percentage for the rights to use the "Francis" characterization, plus a flat salary for writing an original screenplay. Howard Christie, unit production manager for the valley lot, has just been promoted to a producer status, and is currently awaiting his first assignment. Christie has been at the studio since 1936 as an assistant director, associate producer and for the last three years as a unit production manager. WARNER BROS. WARNER ECONOMY MOVE CUTS SHOOTING SCHEDULES W7ARNER BROTHERS' RECENTLY realigned production format is beginning to pay off for the studio, with two pictures coming in this month considerably ahead of schedule. Michael Curtiz wound "The Breaking Point" 15 days early, and David Butler brought in "Tea For Two" nine days under schedule. Exhibitors are hoping that the quality of the product from this lot will show a faster trend, too. Although Warners still have not boiled shooting time down to the fourteen and fifteen day records being set by MGM, the new format is proving a great economy measure. One of the most significant disclosures by the studio in many weeks, was the announcement this month that Scripter Ronald MacDougall has just been signed to a new straight three-year ticket at $2,000 per week. The new contract has no options, and is generally considered to be the most lucrative term contract handed any scrivener in Hollywood in a good long time. It is the opinion of this department that Jack Warner et al, are showing great wisdom by focusing so much attention on the script-writing department of movie making. More and more it is becoming evident that it is not the stars, the costly sets, or not even necessarily the established "name" producers and directors that make or break a picture — but rather, it is the story on which it is based, and the script with which it is shot. Bacall Off Again Lauren Bacall has just been handed her sixth suspension by the studio for refusing to play the assigned lead in "Rocky Mountain," with Errol Flynn. At this point, it seems evident that both Miss Bacall and her bosses are acting a bit childish. Miss Bacall obviously wants out of her contract so badly that she will go to any lengths to irritate the studio heads. And they, in return, are so burned up that they won't give her the release out of sheer stubborness. Wouldn't it be to the best interests of all concerned if they would call it quits. INDEPENDENTS FILM CLASSICS Despite the drawn out negotiations in New York over the possible merger of Film Classics and EagleLion, Joseph Bernhard, FC prexy, has allowed no grass to grow under his feet in continuing to line up product for his company. In his latest move, Bernhard has completed arrangements for Edward Leven's E. J. L. Productions to deliver six medium-budget features between now and 1951. The first of the group has just gone before the cameras, and is titled, "The Second Face." The second film of Leven's commitment will roll on June 15, with other features following at the rate of about one per month. Leven will also assemble a stable of contract players, Film Bulletin hears. Recently he signed a six-picture deal with Robert Roark, stage and screen actor, who has been appearing in a recent Broadway hit. LIPPERT PRODUCTIONS With great interest being evinced in the exploitation feature "Rocketship XM," Lippert Productions has just come up with another picture that promises to click solidly with the customers. The new entry is "Motor Patrol" (Don Castle-Jane Nigh-Reed Hadley). At a preview showing of "Patrol" in Hollywood, the other day, the press generally rated it as one of Lippert's best, to date. Meanwhile, so much talk has been going around about "Rocketship" that there appears to be strong likelihood it will end up with booking in the Warner Brother houses. This would be a real feather in the Lippert's hat, and a deserving one. Following his work on Rocketship, Murray Lerner, production vice-president of Lippert Productions, has been handed three additional chores of an executive producer. His next will be "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," slated for production this fall, in color. 19 J