Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1952)

STUDIO SIZ6-UPS ontinued (rem Page 14) UNITED ARTISTS A Seen Going Into roduction As Krim Buys Story Hollywood is convinced that it's only a later of time until United Artists will turn ; production in order to fill the demands of \ releasing schedule. Speculation along pse lines received an added impetus this Inth with the disclosure that UA prcxy tthur Krim lias purchased "The Story of Rthcr," by Frank and Doris Hurslcy. I'his marks the first time that the new Inagement of UA has invested in a property Furthermore, Krim has lost no time in iVotiatitiK for stellar talent to cast the 5 ry, which probably will be shot in Europe. A the present time, Glenn Ford and Hedy marr appear the most likely choices to e over the starring roles. \natole Litvak's first independent protion, "The Girl on the Via Flaminia" will released through Litvak, who will proe and direct the picturization of the besting Alfred Hayes novel in association w^li Benagoss Productions, has scheduled duction for the early Fall of this year, 1 release to follow on United Artists' 53 program. Georges Maurer will be >ciate producer, he Girl on the Via Flaminia" will be ed in Italy and in France, marking Litfirst production in that country since when he made his now classic "MayerSince his arrival in this country in Litvak has been associated with the studios, such as RKO, Warner thers. Paramount and most recently 2()th tury Fox. He has won enduring recog-l^jn for his screen achievements in the ent "Decision Beore Dawn," in "Sorry, i A >ng Number," "The Snake Pit" and many t,»t :r quality films. nother important deal that is near the ng stage will bring Albert Zugsmith's V crican pictures productions into the UA ising fold. The deal calls for the release f hree pictures, starting with "Invasion — I V* which is scheduled to roll in mid•flch. It would be delivered to UA no than the end of June. Second on the is "Crosstown," or which Sterling den and Paul Douglas may possibly The third is "One Woman's Story," will likely star Gloria Swanson. be Nassour Brothers also are ready to &mch a slate of nine pictures, which probaIjwill end up with a UA release. First of e to go before the cameras will be ad," set or an April 20 start, in England. Price will direct his wife, Maureen ara, in the lead role. though there no pictures now in profUjjon definitely tagged for a UA release, MKing Brothers have just completed film>(bn "The Ring" (Lalo Rios-Rita Marino), 1 h is to be turned over to the Krim cornel after final editing. Kurt Neuman di•d the feature for the Kings. BRUARY 25, 1 952 EH is i l«7 n B UNIVERSALINTERNATIONAL U-l Takes Lead In TV Film Output, 13 Set For Cameras New York executives of Universal-International, along with their new partners in Decca Records, converged on the studio this month to get U-I's television subsidiary, United World Films, into full-scale production. It is understood that the new vidpix company, with James Franey at the helm, has a total of eleven 30-minute scripts completed and ready for filming, which puts U-I far out in front in the Hollywood race to convert a part of the motion picture industry into television production. No starting date has been set for the camera work, but sources close to the heads JAMES FRANEY of the parent organization believe it is only a matter of weeks until production is launched. After a temporary slowdown in U-I's own movie production early this month the pace has steadily been picking up, to a point where it is now levelling off at the rate of five to six pictures shooting simultaneously. February starters are: "The Texas Man" (Robert Ryan-Julia Adams), a Technicolor action feature, directed by Budd Boetticher and produced by Leonard Goldstein; "Yankee Buccaneer" (Jeff Chandler-Scott BradySuzan Ball), also in Technicolor, and directed by Frederick De Cordova for producer Howard Christie; "Ma And Pa Kettle At Waikiki" (Marjorie Main-Percy Kilbride) Lee Scholem directing for producer Leonard Goldstein, and "It Grows On Trees" (Irene Dunne-Dean Jagger-Joan Evans). In addition to the four pictures just mentioned, "Just Across The Street" and "Sally and St. Anne," both of which started in January, are still before the cameras. "Street" (Ann Sheridan-John Lund) is directed by Joseph Pevney and produced by Leonard Goldstein, and "Sally" (Ann BlythEdmund Gwenn) is another Goldstein production assignment, directed by Rudolph Mate. WARNER BROTHERS 'Streetcar' Team Reunited In New One-Picture Deal Elia Kazan has just been given an independent producer-director status under » one-picture deal with Warner Brothers, which will reunite Kazan and TetlMMec W illiams ("Streetcar Named Desire") in the making of "Mississippi Woman", due to roll in April. Warners will completely finance the independent venture in return for the releasing rights. The film figures to be one of the company's biggest projects of the year. Special emphasis will put on Kazan's and Williams' teaming for "Streetcar" in exploiting the finished product. The studio is also veering heavily toward musical production, as the result of the success of another recent release, "I'll See You In My Dreams." Present returns indicate that the Doris Day-Danny Thomas starrer may be the company's binncst grosser of the year — toping even "Streetcar." Among the musicals thus far tabbed for 1952 production arc a remake of "The Desert Song" (Gordon MacRac) and "Rainbow," the granddaddy of all western stage musicals. The latter has a score by Yinccnt Youmans and Oscar Hammerstein II, and was purchased by Warners in 1928. Another big project on tap for 1952 is "The Miracle," Max Reinhardt's religious sta^c spectacle which the studio acquired almost a decade ago. The project has been given a preferential rating and will go into pre-production planning immediately, as one of the year's top projects at the Burbank lot. Two Warner productions and one independent, slated for WB release, are currently in front of the cameras. The two home productions are: "The Miracle Of Our Lady Of Fatima" (Gilbert Roland-Susan Whitney), directed by John I'rahm for Bryan Foy, and " The Story Of Will Rogers" (Jane WymanW ill Rogers; Jr.). produced by Robert Arthur and directed by Michael Curtiz. The independent picture is "Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kid," with Charles Laughton in the co-starring spot. Actual filming of the latter starts this week, with Charles Lamont directing for Alex Gottlieb. One other picture, in production during most of February, was turned over to the editing department last week. It was "Man With A Gun" (Randolph Scott-Patrice Wmore), directed by Felix Feist and produced by Robert Sisk. Next to go will be: "April In Paris" (Doris Day-Ray Bolger), Technicolor musical to be directed by David Butler and produced by William Jacobs. Filming is slated to start during the second week of March "The Last Train West," saga of the early west, has been placed on the schedule of producer Bryan Foy. From an original story by Jack DeWitt and the late Horace Jackson, the film centers around the fracas that developed when the railroad companies sent settlers out west to develop the country. Jack DeWitt is writing the screenplay. 15