Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1951)

STUDIO SIZ6-UPS (Continued from Page 19) means of reestablishing United Artists as a top-flight distribution organization. Clarence E. Greene and Russell Rouse, who are committed to make three pictures for Harry Popkin to be released by UA, will launch their first, "The Thief," on January 4. Greene will handle the production chores, with Rouse behind the megaphone. As of this writing the cast has not been announced. As soon as "The Thief" gets underway, Greene will immediately launch the second ARTHUR KRIM Plans Star-Participation Deals of the three pictures for which Popkin is committed, with Leo C. Popkin moving in to take over the direction. Also slated for a late January start is "The Mark of Monte Cristo," which Eugene Frenke will produce, from an original screenplay by Harold Young. The picture will be filmed in Cinecolor. No director or cast has been set. UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL Year-Long Fete To Observe U's 40th Anniversary As Major Universal-International will observe the 40th anniversary of Universal Pictures as a major producing and distributing company with a year-long celebration, keynoted by "the most ambitious production program" in the organization's history. Heavy use of Technicolor and big star names will be a feature of the celebration. Undoubtedly profit participation deals will be worked out in increasing numbers, in order to corral the "name" talent. The slate for 1952 calls for the production of 36 features, with more than half of them earmarked for color processing. Distribution-wise, the company will back its 1952 releases with the biggest promotional effort in U-I history. Not only will there be a record budget for newspaper, radio and magazine advertising, but plans are being formulated to stage a one-company "Movietime U. S. A." campaign, with numerous personal tours featuring U-I players. The studio wound up 1951 in a blaze of production activity second only to 20th Century-Fox. In all, five pictures were before the cameras during the final days of December. They were "The Duel at Silver Creek" (Technicolor), with Don Seigel directing, Leonard Goldstein producing, and Audie Murphy, Faith Domergue and Stephen McNally starred; "Scarlet Angels" (Technicolor), with Leonard Goldstein producing, Sidney Salkow directing, and Yvonne DeCarlo and Rock Hudson starred; "The Untamed" (Technicolor), with Leonard Goldstein producing, Hugo Fregonese directing, and Joseph Cotten, Shelley Winters and Scott Brady starred; "Francis Goes to West Point" (Donald O'Connor-Lori Nelson), Arthur Lubina directing for producer Leonard Goldstein; and "Lost In Alaska" (Bud Abbott-Lou Costello), Howard Christie producer, Jean Yarbrough director. Three new features will roll in January: "Against All Flags" (Technicolor), an Errol Flynn Maureen O'Hara starrer to be produced by Howard Christie and directed by George Sherman, starting January 4; "Sally and Saint Ann" (Ann Blyth), Rudolph Mate directing for Leonard Goldstein, starting January 10; and "My True Love" (Tony Curtis-Piper Laurie), Douglas Sirk directing for producer Ted Richmond, starting January 15. WARNER BROTHERS WB To Produce 47 In '52; Ask Exhibitors' Cooperation Jack L. Warner, in a late December announcement to the Hollywood press, disclosed that his studio will produce the nearrecord breaking total of 47 pictures during the year, and urged the fullest cooperation of theatremen in selling the industry's product in the New Year. "Never before has there been such a vital need for a program of close cooperation between the producers and those who exhibit their pictures," Warner said. "We are determined to work closer than ever before with the exhibitors, and we shall accept their guidance in production planning. In return, we only ask that our customers show an equal willingness to extend all-out efforts in selling this merchandise." Exhibitors, of course, will be watching with keen interest what effects this production spree will have on the quality of the Warner product. There are those out here — and elsewhere in the industry — who argue that quantity is not the answer to TV. Following are the 47 films which Warner announced for 1952, along with their producers: Robert Arthur: "The Story of Will Rogers," "The Sea Chase," "Getting Mother Married," 'Here Come the Girls," "Marriage '52," "Handle With Care," and "The Helen Morgan Story." Sam Bischoff: "The System" and "The Torquoise." Henry Blanke: "The Flame," "Broadway Re visited," "The Iron Mistress," "Green Light," "The Grace Moore Story," and "We Came Out Fighting." William Cagney Productions: "A Lion Is In the Streets." Louis F. Edelman: "Four Chaplains," "The Jazz Singer," 'Career Girl," "Come on, Texas," "At the End of the Rainbow," "Springfield Rifle," and "Stop, You're Killing Me." Rudi Fehr: "The Desert Song," "Burning Daylight." Bryan Foy: "Alexander, the Big Leaguer," "The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima." William Jacobs: "April In Paris," "Sally," "When Old New York Was Young," "Miss America," "By The Light of the Silvery Moon," "Hobby Horses" and JACK L WARNER Urges Fullest Cooperation "Calamity Jane." Norma Productions: "His Majesty O'Keefe." Melville Shavelson: "The Winning Team." Robert Sisk: "The Story of Sam Houston," "Top of the World," "Serenade," "Man With A Gun," "Target Zero" and "Pawnee Bill." Sidney Skolsky: "The Story of Eddie Cantor." Milton Sperling's United States Pictures Productions: "Dream Street" and "Blowing Wild." David Weisbart: 'Golden Trail," "Rear Guard." Only two pictures are currently in production. "Alexander, the Big Leaguer" (Doris Day-Ronald Reagan-Frank Lovejoy), biopic of Grover Cleveland Alexander, started December 12 with Lewis Seiler directing for producer Bryan Foy. Robert Sisk's production of "Man With A Gun" (Randolph Scott-Patrice Wymore), went before the Technicolor cameras on December 17 with Felix Feist directing. Five pictures wound during December: "The Crimson Pirate" (Burt Lancaster), directed by Richard Siodmak "She's Working Her Way Through College" (Virginia Mayo -Ronald Reagan-Gene Nelson), in Technicolor, directed by Bruce Humberstone for Producer William Jacobs; "You Can't Stop the Marines" (Frank Lovejoy-Richard Carlson), Joseph Lewis directing, Milton Sperling producing; "This Woman is Dangerous" (Joan Crawford-Dennis Morgan), directed by Felix Feist director, produced by Robert Sisk, and "Mara Maru" (Errol Flynn-Ruth Roman]f, George Douglas directing. 23 FILM1 BULLETIN