Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1951)

STUDIO SIZ6-UPS (.Continued from Page 32) production high-water mark since he assumed control of the studio, and, judging from the question-mark calibre of the majority of films in the backlog, it's high time the cameras started grinding at top speed on some features which can compete with the generally improved quality of pictures on the present market. First to roll on the accelerated production program are: "Behave Yourself," the initial film from the new Wald-Krasna unit. George Beck is directing for associate producer Stanley Rubin, with Shelley Winters and Fraley Granger heading up an imposing cast. In addition, "The Half Breed," which rolled earlier in the month on location at Sedona, Arizona, returns to the lot for several days of interiors. It stars Robert Young, Jack Beutel and Janis Carter, and' is directed by Edward Ludwig, produced by Irving Starr. "The Las Vegas Story" tees off on location, with Robert Stevenson directing for Producer Robert Sparks, to follow "Behave Yourself." And during the first week in April, Wald-Krasna will launch their million dollar dramatic feature, "The Blue Veil," a Jane Wyman starrer to be directed by Curtis Bernhardt. The Edmund Grainger inde unit launches "The Racket" on April 2, also with John Cromwell directing, and Robert Milchum, Lizabeth Scott and Robert Ryan starring. Also slated for an early April start are: "High Frontier," with Robert Sparks producing and'H. C. Potter directing, and "Return of Zorro," in which Producer Irving Starr has set Robert Dolenz to star. Both "Zorro" and "Frontier" are under the wing of executive producer Samuel Bischoff. '» * Winding up the group of pictures scheduled to start withintthe aiext 30 days is Gabriel Pascal's production of "Androcles and the Lion," which already has Alan Young, Jean Simmons, George Sanders, Robert Newton and James Donald in top spots. No director has as yet been set. 20th CENTURY-FOX FOX SOLE STUDIO MAKING 'A' PICTURES EXCLUSIVELY AN EXCLUSIVE FILM BULLETIN survey of all productions placed before the cameras since the first of the year, reveals that 20th Century-Fox is the only studio in town which has not gone in for the making of at least a minimum of low-budgeted pictures, interspersed with the strictly Class A fare. The studio consistantly filmed all pictures on the longest shooting schedules in town, has budgeted all productions in excess of $350,000, and has assigned top writing, directing, producing and acting talent right down the line. This 'A' mentality undoubtedly largely accounts for the many awards accorded the studio this year -among them, the coveted citation as "Studio of the Year." Darryl F. Zanuck, the company's production chief, declares that Fox will have no run-ofthe-mill pictures this year — and it's beginning to look like he will make good that promise, at least insofar as its ownmade products' is concerned. The few indo films on the release scheduled, however, may fall into the programmer category. In the last fortnight two pictures have been placed in the cans following prolonged periods before the camera. On March 3, producer Robert Bressle.r and director Lewis Milestone brought in their Technicolor picture, "Kangaroo," which first went before the cameras on November 10, with Maureen O'Hara and Peter Lawford in the starring roles. Two days later producer Frank P. Rosenberg and director Michael Gordon delivered the final scenes for "The Secret of Convict Lake' (Glenn Ford-Gene Tiernev-. Ethel Barrymore), after 32 days of shooting. During the same period, two more high budgeters were put into work on the soundstages. The first was Darryl F. Zanuck's personal production, "The Dr. Praetorius Story," which Joseph L. Manckiewicz wrote and will direct. Cary Grant and Jeanne Grain are starred in the film. The second new entry' is a Clifton Wedd comedy, "Mr. Belvedere Blows His Whistle," which Henry Koster is directing for producer Andre Hakim. Coming up in the next ten days is "The Dessert Fox," film biog of Gen. Rommell, which will bring the total number of films shooting to six, in addition to Fidelity Pictures production of "ChuckA-Luck" (Marlene Dietrich) which producer Milton Kosloffis filming for Fox release, "Desert Fox" is being produced by Nunnally Johnson and directed by Henry Hathaway on a 46 day schedule, and stars James Mason. UNITED ARTISTS MORE BIG-TIME INDIES SEEN HOPPING ON UA BANDWAGON TF CURRENT rumors making the rounds A prm out, Arthur Krim's arrival in Hollywood bodes some surprising announcements concerning new and important inpendent production units swinging over to UA. One reason that the independents are suddenly looking upon UA with such favor is the company's new financial setup which makes production money available to the producers, and thereby eliminates one of their biggest headaches. Although Krim was not available for a statement at this writing, there are reports that UA is planning to boost distribution rates. But even this doesn't seem to chill the producers' new enthusiasm for the reorganized company. According, to the best available information, the boost in distribution rates would range up to 35% domestic and 40 to 50% foreign. This compares with UA's previous rate of 25 to 27% domestic, and up to 40% foreign. The increase would not affect pictures to be delivered under contracts made by the old management. This latter group includes: Stanley Kramer, who still has one more picture to deliver under his old pact; Sam Spiegel, Cagney Productions, Harrv Popkin, Robert Stillman and Robert Steifel. Local representatives of the new company have been informed by the New York offices that 10 releases have been set for the next three months — a fact which surprises many Hollywoodites, in view of the prolonged tie-up of production under the old management. Harrv Popkin's "The Second Woman" tees off the schedule this week, to be followed by I. G. Goldsmith's "The,. Scarf," April 6; Robert Sti'lman's "Ouee/i For A Day," April 13, and Bob Roberts' ,"He Ran All the Way," on April -27. r May releases include: Douglas Sirk's "The F^rst Legion"; Irving Allen's "New Mexico"; S. P. Eagle's "The Prowler"; and "Fabiola, ' produced bv Jul^s Levev overseas. June releases are: Ed Gardner's "The Man With My Face," which was switched from ELC to UA release in one of the surprise developments of recent weeks, and W. Lee Wilder's "Three Steps North." UNIVERSAL-INTERNAT'L FIVE BIGGIES, TWO HUED SET FOR MONTH'S SHOOTING TTHE next two weeks will find Universalx International plunging into one of its heaviest production upsurges in many months — ending a four week lull, during which only one picture was before the cameras. Within a ten day period, no less than five top budget productions — two of them in Technicolor — get the go-signal, with at least three more to follow during April, all of them filled with more than ordinary promise. Casts on the five new pictures about to roll include such "name"' stellar talent as: Ethel Barrymore, Linda Darnell, Dick Powell, Alexis Smith, Macdonald Carey, Josephine Hull and Ronald Reagan. The scripts, by and large, have fresh, new story twists that lift them above the average. First of the new starters is "You Never Know" a light comedy based on reincarnation, starring Dick Powell and Peggy Dow, written and directed by Lew Breslow, and produced by Leonard Goldstein. Following two days later is another Goldstein production, "Fine Day," (Josephine Hull-Ronald Reagan) a Technicolor comedy which Joseph Pevney is directing; Walter Castle is directing "The Cave." (Alexis Smith-Macdonald Carey), another Technicolor production, with a western background. On April 2, two new features are to be launched: "The Ladv Pays Off" (Linda Darnell-Stephen McNally) and "Oh! Baby," (Ethel Barrymore-Tom Ewell-Julia Adams). Frederick de Cordova will direct "Baby" for Leonard Goldstein, but no director has yet been set for Albert J. Cohen's production of "Lady," his first for U-I. All of the new starters are to be shot on schedules ranging from 24 to 40 days. WARNER BROS. SHOOTING PACE STEADY BUT PRODUCT LOOKS SPOTTY PRODUCTION continues to hold the *■ level it has maintained here for the past several weeks, with two to three pictures shooting simultaneously. And, as has also been the case for quite some time at Warner Brothers, the potential of the productions varies greatly — ranging from glowing promise to some strictly routine programmers. The most recent starter, and one which augurs well for the studio, is "Force of Arms," an Anthony Veiler production, directed by Michael Curtiz, and starring William Holden and Nancy Holden. The picture is budgeted in excess of a half million dollars, and is scheduled to continue filming through the month of April. "Painting the Clouds with Sunshine, (Virginia Mayo-Dennis Morgan), the only other picture shooting at the present time, has been split into three units in preparation for filming three of the major musical sequences in the Technicolor film. The musical, which has been before the cameras since January 26, is being directed by David Butler for producer William Jacobs. FILM BULLETIN