Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1952)

STUDIO 51Z6-UP5 ( Continued from Page 12 J REPUBLIC Top Price Paid For Story As Rep. Enters Quality Market Bigger and better story properties is the order of the day at Republic, as Prexy Herbert Yates prepares to compete with the majors on the open story market. As the first move in that direction, Yates has just authorized the purchase of "The Lady Wants' Mink," an original by Leonard Neubauer and Lou Schor, at a cost of $25,000. That figure represents the top price which originals are drawing down in Hollywood these days, and is probably one of only a half dozen to be bought at such a figure by any studio in recent weeks. Three other properties in a comparable price range are now in the dickering stage, it was said. Prior to sailing for Europe, the Republic president also gave the green light to another top-budget production for the 1952 slate — a story of the U. S. Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut. Relly Raine wrote the screenplay, and Joseph Kane will produce. Yates tells FILM BULLETIN that six more screenplays have been okayed for production within the next four months. One of them is an untitled top budget musical to be filmed by Allan Dwan. Another, "Storm Over China," is one of Yate's own personal productions, dealing with Red infiltration into Korea. Others are: "Toughest Man in Tombstone," a Vaughn Monroe starrer which rolls next month; "Wac From Walla Walla" (Judy Canova), set for an April start; "The Golden Herd," "Desperadoes' Outpost," and "The Hot Heiress," also earmarked for Judy Canova. Only one Republic picture, "Black Hills Ambush" (Rocky Lane-Eddy Waller), was filmed during February. Harry Keller served as associate producer-director. RKO Studio's Roster Expanded As Hughes OK's Term Pacts For the first time since Howard Hughes took over RKO, the studio is beginning to build up its talent roster, by signing new players to term contracts. Previously, only those actors and actresses placed under personal contract to Hughes were signed to other than part-time deals. Although Hughes was unavailable for comment, sources close to him interpreted this new interest in building up the studio's roster as an indication that production is due for a considerable expansion. Janifl Carter and Arthur Hunnicutt both were handed term pacts this month, and another has been offered to Tony Martin. Miss Carter previously was under part-time contract to RKO, whereas Hunnicutt and Martin have worked on a picture-by-picturc basis. HOWARD HUGHES Production-wise, February has not been a very heavy month for the studio, albeit three independent companies have been working on picture each for RKO release. Heading the list is Samuel Goldwyn's "Hans Christian Andersen" (Danny Kaye-Farley Granger-Jeanmarie), $4,000,000 Technicolor feature, which Charles Vidor is directing. "Andersen" has been before the cameras since January 21, and will not be completed for at least three more weeks. Another independent production of interest is Joseph Kaufman's "Sudden Fear" (Joan CrawfordJack Palance-Gloria Grahame), which has been shooting on the Republic lot, under the direction of David Miller. Wald-Krasna's "This Man Is Mine" (Susan HaywardRobert Mitchum-Arthur Kennedy), completes the February trio. Nicholas Ray directs the latter, and Tom Gries gets the asosciate-producer credit. By March 15, three other independents will get underway: two from Wald-Krasna, and one from American Pictures Productions. W-K's starters will be "Size 12" and "High Heels," both to be produced by Harriet Parsons. American Pictures will launch "Port Sinister" on March 4, with Aubrey Wisberg and Jack Pollexfen producers, and Albert Zugsmith, associate producer. Casts have not been announced on any of the March starters. 20th CENTURY FOX Foreign Locale Films Planned To Utilize Frozen Coins Fox will continue to go in heavily for foreign location filming during 1952, in an effort to stimulate interest in its product through introducing authentic and unfamiliar backgrounds — while at the same time, utilizing frozen coin abroad. As a first step in that direction, production chief Darryl F, Zanuck has handed Frank McCarthy three more producer assignments — all to be made abroad this year. McCarthy, you'll remember, served as co-producer with Anatole Litvak on Fox's "Decision Before Dawn," which has just won an Academy Award nomination for the best picture of | the year. His new assignments are: "Singlehanded," an original by C. S. Forester, to be filmed in London and on the Mediterranean; "Assignment in Stockholm," story of the diplomatic service, to be lensed in Sweden, and "India Project," to be made in that country. The currently filming, "Snows of 1 Kilimanjaro" (Gregory Peck-Susan Hayward), also has a foreign background, utilizing shots made by Charles Clark on his recent six-month junket through Europe and Africa. With the exception of "Snows," which Henry King directs for Zanuck, no new pic-; tures started during February. Nevertheless, the soundstages have been busy with new scenes being added to a trio of completed pictures, as well as the winding up of fea-i tures which carried over from January. "The Girl Next Door," which was interrupted in December, when Dan Dailey was switched to "What Price Glory," was moved back onto the soundstages for the filming of four more dance sequences. "The I Don't Care Girl," biopic of Eva Tanguay, was also sent back for 13 days more of shooting, in order to change the picture from a study of Miss Tanguay, into a big-scale musical production. And "Way Of A Gaucho" (Gene Tierney-Rory Calhoun) was put back before the cameras for an additional week's shooting, after Zanuck viewed the finished film as it was shot in Argentina. Clifton Webb will portray John Philip Sousa in "Stars and Stripes Forever," thej Twentieth Century-Fox Technicolor musical based on the career of the noted "March King." Henry Koster has been chosen ti direct the film, slated to be the studio';! biggest musical production of the year. Jean Negulesco will direct Twentieth | Century-Fox's life-story of impresario So j Hurok, "Tonight We Sing," previously as signed to Henry Koster. Among those signei for important roles are Ezio Pinza, JarJ Peerce and Artur Rubenstein. Negulesco'.' latest film, "Phone Call From a Stranger, is now at the Roxy Theatre. Pictures before the cameras at the presen time, in addition to "Kilamanjaro," are "Condor's Nest" (Cornel Wilde-Constano' Smith), Technicolor feature, directed b; Delmar Daves and produced by Jules Buck and "Dream Boat" (Clifton Webb-Ginge Rogers), produced by Sol C. Seigel and di rected by Claude Binyon. Completed during February were: "\\ ha Price Glory?" (James Cagney-Dan Dailey)) which John Ford directed tor Producer Si C. Seigel, and "Les Miserables" (Michael Rcnnie-Debra Paget-Robert Newton), di rected by Lewis Milestone and produced bj Fred Kohlmar. Starting during the closing days of Februji ary will be: "Darling I Am Growing Voting! er" (Cary Grant-Charles Coburn), Howarl Hawks directing for Producer Sol C. Seigell episode No. 4 of " The hull House," five] pari O. Hem > stories feature, Andre Hakii producing, and Part 5 of " The Full House.b under the production guidance of Seigel. (Continued on Page lb\ FILM BULLETI