Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1952)

Hollifucod tfcteUck (Continued from Page 13) REPUBLIC As predicted several weeks ago, Republic is about to focus much of its production on tunefilms, which are proving unusually popular on the current market. One highly reliable source at the studio tells FILM BULLETIN that it is not unlikely the company may produce almost as many musicals as sageb'rushers during the final quarter of 1952. The company currently has two pictures shooting, both of them in a budget class far above normal. "Thunderbirds", the story of the 45th division of the National Guard, for example, is shooting on location in Oklahoma, with one of the finest casts employed in a Republic picture in many months. John Barrymore, on loan-out from RKO, and John Derek, borrowed from RKO, hold down starring roles, along with Mona Freeman and Gene Evans. John H. Auer serves as associate producer-director. Equally impressive is the cast of "Ride the Man Down", which) producer-director Joseph Kane launched on April 17 with Brian Donlevy, Rod Cameron, Forrest Tucker, Ella Raines, Barbara Britton, J. Carroll Naish and Chill Wills. 20TH CENTURY-FOX Joseph M. Schenck, executive head of production for 20th Century-Fox, poised the axe over the studio during the past fortnight with the threat that "the deadvvood on the payrooll is going to have to go". The edict was not entirely unexpected, inasmuch as Hollywood has been buzzing with rumors of a big shake-up on the lot for several weeks. The matter is believed to have been fomented by the company's comparatively poor showing in the recent Academy Awards. It is, however, to the credit of the Fox executives, that the axing is starting at the top instead of among the lowsalaried groups, as has so often been the case in Hollywood. Schenck particularly singled out the producer ranks in his warning, advising that "all producers with bad records would be smart to resign". Of the 12 producers under contract to the studio, two have already announced their departure, although they are not necessarily in the "deadvvood" category. Jules Buck checked off the lot almost a month ago, and Fred Kohlmar is due to leave upon the expiration of his current pact late this spring. I k spite the economy wave, Fox will continue to expand its production slate, FILM lU'LLETIN* has been informed. The 1952 schedule of 36 films represents an increase of 50 per cent over three years ago, and plans now arc to expand it even farther in '53. Two new pictures have gone before the cameras since the last issue of FILM BULLETIN, bringing the total number now in production to seven. Three more are definitely set to start in May. The most recent entries are: "Tonight We Sing" (Ezio PinzaRoberta Petert-Ta ma ra Toumanava), di rected by Mitchell Leisen and produced by George Jessel; and "Bloodhounds of Broadway" (Mitzi Gaynor-Scott Brady-Mitzi Green), also produced by Jessel and directed by Harmon Jones. JOSEPH M. SCHENCK "Deadwood Must Go" UNITED ARTISTS United Artists, having narrowly been edged out of the Samuel Goldwyn releasing contract by RKO is about to stage another big drive tc corral top-flight independent production units to lend prestige to the company's releasing slate. Two very important deals are rumored to be near the inking stage at the present time, although UA execs are keeping them very hush-hush lest some of their competitors try to over-bid them. Only one picture committed to UA release is currently in front of the cameras, although the highly touted "Glass Wall" (Vittorio Gassman-Gloria Grahame-Robin Raymond) will roll in early May. The latter is a Tors-Shane Production. A May start is also scheduled for Gene Fowler, Jr.'s, "Father Damien," which is being adapted from John Kneubuhl's play about untouchables. All of the filming will be done in Hawaii, with Tombi Larsen handling the art direction. Larsen has just completed the important art direction work on Samuel Goldwyn's "Hans Christian Andersen". Russell Collins portrays the title role in the picture, which will be shot in Ansco Color. The one picture now in production for UA release is "Morassi" (Martha Hyer-Morassi), a color film produced and directed by the team of Breakston-Stahl. The entire picture is being shot on location in British East Africa. WARNER BROTHERS Keefe Braselle, who left MGM only last month, has been signed to a long-term pact at Warners, and draws the plum title role in "The Eddie Cantor Story", which producer Sidney ("Jolson Story") Skolsky is readying for an early June start. Warners hope it will do for Braselle what "Jolson" did for Larry Parks — and vice versa. In another new contract deal, Richard Bare has been signed to direct six more Joe McDoakes one reel comedies for the studio. George Hanlon will continue in the starring role and Gordon Hollingshead remains on as producer. The first three films to be made under the new program are: "So You Want To Be A Musician", "So You Think You're Wearing the Pants", and "So You're Going to the Dentist". "Springfield Rifle", Warner's important new WarnerColor production starring Gary Cooper, with Phyllis Thaxter and David Brian, got underway April 18 on location at Big Pine, California. The cast and crewmaking the trip comprised one of the largest location units to go out from the Burbank lot in recent years. No less than 16 supporting players and 70 bit people had to be taken there for shooting of important scenes. Other pictures shooting are: "The Iron Mistress" (Alan Ladd Virginia Mayo), Technicolor epic produced by Henry Blanke and directed by Gordon Douglas; "Danger Forward" (Cornel Wilde-Steve CochranKarl Maiden), directed by Lewis Seiler and produced by Blanke; and "April In Paris" (Doris Day-Ray Bolger-Claude Dauphin), Technicolor musical directed by David Butler and produced by William Jacobs. UNIVERSALINTERNATIONAL Production jumped back to normal at U-I, this past month, following a brief slackening during March. As of May 1, there were five J pictures shooting, with a sixth due to go,! before the cameras on May 12. Those alreday shooting are: "Gun Hand" (Rock Hudson-Julia Adams), directed by Raoul Walsh and produced by William Ali land, color by Technicolor; "Magic Lady" (Loretta YoungJeff ChandlerAlex NicolFrances Dee), Albert J. Cohen producing, i Joseph Pevney directing; "Willie and Joe Back At the Front" (Tom Ewell-Harvey Lembeck-Mari Blanchard), George Sherman directing for Leonard Goldstein; "Bonzo Goes To College" (Maureen O'Sullivan-Edmund Gwenn-Charles Drake-Gigi Perreau), Frederick de Cordova directing for producer Ted Richmond; and "City Beneath the Sea" (Robert Ryan-Mala Powers-Anthony Quinn1 Suzan Ball), Bud Boetticher directing for: producer Albert J. Cohen, color by Technicolor. During the past fortnight final shooting was completed on "Against All Flags" (Erroll Flynn-Maureen O'Hara), big Technicolor! production, which required two additional days of shooting, following Flynn's return from Jamaica, where he had flown at the end of the picture's regular shooting schedule. John' Rogers, who was upped to a full producer last March 26, has drawn "Law and Order" as his first production. The film previously was on Carl K. Hittleman's slate before he checked off the lot without having produced any pictures. 14 M AY 5 , 19 5 2