Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1952)

studio size-ups (Continued from Page 18) working out the final details of such a plan in an effort to bring about a more efficient and effective production formula for the studio. Henceforth, Hart man, plans to have his writing staff sit in on conferences with foreign and home office executives, view all screen tests, follow the daily rushes on pictures in production, and attend talent auditions to assist the casting department in its selection of players. The high production pace which has been maintained on the Paramount lot since last fall, is slackening off a bit at the present time albeit there is no let up in the standard of production. Only three or four pictures have been shooting simultaneously during March, whereas a couple of months ago the average ran as high as seven and eight. Now shooting are: "Stalag 17" (William Holden-Don Taylor), a Billy Wilder producer-director chore, before the cameras since February 4; Hal Wallis' "Come Back Little Sheba" (Burt Lancaster Shirley Booth), which director Daniel Mann teed off on February 18; and Pine-Thomas' "Tropic Zone" (Ronald Reagan-Rhonda Fleming), which director Lewis R. Foster put before the Technicolor cameras on March 17. Next to roll will be a new untitled Martin and Lewis comedy, which Hal Wallis is Keeping wrapped in secrecy. Barring last minute changes in plans, it will start shooting this week (March 31). The only other April starter scheduled at this time, is "Road to Bali" (Bob Hope-Bing Crosby-Dorothy Lamour). This new "Road" production (the first in 5 years) will be directed by Hal Walker and produced by Harry Tugend, with an April 17 starting date. Pictures completed since the last Size-Ups report were: "Botany Bay" (Alan LaddJames Mason), filmed in Technicolor; "Military Policeman" (Bob Hope-Marilyn Maxwell), and "Hurricane Smith" (Yvonne De Carlo-John Ireland), also in Technicolor. Crosby is slated to make a film in France in the fall. It will be "Little Boy Lost," a dramatic story (with a few songs) dealing with a war veteran father's search for his lost boy. William Perlberg and George Seaton will produce. REPUBLIC Four-Per-Month Schedule Launches Big Spring Pickup With the tee-oft of four pictures during March, Republic has launched a heavy Spring production slate that calls for 12 features to no into production by the end of May. This Schedule will be carried out at the rate of four new productions each month. The Spring activity led off with an oater, "Old Oklahoma Plains" (Rex Allen), on March 8, Bill Witney directing for associate produced Edward J. White. Two days later, .,n March 10, director U. G. Springsteen and associate producer Sidney Picker grecn 20 lighted "Toughest Man In Tombstone" (Vaughn Monroe-Joan Leslie-Jean Parker). Filming on another western, "Thundering Caravans" (Rocky Lane), got underway on March 18— Harry Keller directing for associate producer Rudy Ralston, and "Ride the Man Down," which was not yet cast at this writing, was scheduled to hit the tape on March 26, under the direction of producer Joseph Kane. The quartet slated for April includes "Citizen Soldier" with John Auer as associate producer-director; "Flight Nurse," to be directed by Alan Dwan;"The WAC From Walla Walla" (Judy Canova), which R. G. Springsteen directs for Sidney Picker, and a serial, "Zombies of the Stratosphere." Scheduled May starters are: "The Great A Bomb Robbery," to be produced and directer by Joseph Kane; "Storm Out Of China;" and two westerns, "South Pacific Trail" (Rex Allen) and "Desperadoes Outpost" (Rocky Lane). Policy-wise, the studio's executive personnel, is mulling plans to eliminate all strictly filler fare from its upcoming production slate. Working toward that end, boss Herbert J. Yates has inaugurated a gradual switch-over of some of the producers and directors working on the low-budgeters. Rudy Ralston, for example, moves up from the Michael Chapin-Eilene Janssen oaters — which, incidentally are being dropped entirely— to produce the Rocky Lane westerns. Harry Keller, in turn, relinquishes his production post on the latter series, to become a director. RKO One Film Tees Off In March RKO has been resting on its backlog during most of March, with little or no productive activity. Only the start of "A Son« Forever " (Tony Martin), on March 24, kept the studio from going into a complete lull. Even the independents who release through the company were comparatively inactive, with only Samuel Goldwyn's "Hans Christian SAMUEL GOLDWYN A Switch to II A? Andersen," (Danny Kaye Jeanmarie), and Joseph Kaufman's "Sudden Fear" (Joan Crawford-Jack Palance-Gloria Grahame) before the cameras. "Andersen," which Charles Vidor is directing, has been shooting since January 21, and is due to wind up easily in April. David Miller is directing "Fear," and should likewise bring it in during the early days of *he new month, barring further delays due to illness, which have plagued the company ever since the picture started on January 28. The Wald-Krasna unit is out of commission for two reasons: (1) ill health and (2) differences with bossman Hughes about scripts. It is generally believed that the production duo will not remain at this studio much longer. Despite this sluggish production pace, RKO is in no danger of facinpr a product shortage. Even without the new 1952 productions which are being readied to go before the cameras later in the spring, RKO has enough pictures in its backlog to maintain a high release rate up to the first of August. By that time, the company will have placed 20 pictures in release since the start of the new year. 20th CENTURY-FOX Two $100,000 Story Buys Key Zanuck Stress On Script "The story's the thing," seems to be the keynote of Darryl F. Zanuck's production planning for his 1952 slate. More and more the Fox studio seems to be leaning towards important properties on the story market, outbidding al! of the other majors on popular novels, plays and originals by topflight writers. Few of the properties purchased by Fox in recent weeks have gone below the $15,000 mark, which is about the ceiling level for a majority of the other companies. On the other hand, Zanuck has forked over $100,000 on at least two new acquisitions. Bob Ardrey's "Brotherhood of Fear," for example, has just been added to the Fox stockpile, for the hundred grand figure. Robert Sherwood's "International Incident," also has been acquired at a similar figure, and will soon be adapted for movies, under the title, "Man On the Tightrope." Two new features have gone before the cameras since the last Size-Ups report, bring to three the total number of pictures filming during March. The new entries are: "Darling, I Am Growing Younger" (Cary GrantGinger Rogers-Marilyn Monroe), directed by Howard Hawks and produced by Sol C. Seigel; and "Pony Soldier" (Tyrone PowerPenny Edwards), Joseph Newman directing for producer Samuel G. Engel. The other picture now filming is "The Snows of Kilimanjaro," Darryl F. Zanuck's personal production, which rolled on February 11. Ava Gardner has replaced Anne Francis as costar with Susan Hay ward and Gregory Peck. Henry King directs the Technicolor feature. April will witness a considerable stepping Up in the company's production pace, with (Continued on Page 21) FI LM BULLETIN