Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1952)

fiekind the £ceheJ Jilm Producthn STUDIO SIZ6-UPS MAY 19, 1952 COLUMBIA Sherman Looms Big in New High Budget Production Slate A considerable upbeat in production is in the offing for Columbia, and Vincent Sherman, recently elevated to a producer-director status on the lot, figures to play an important role in the expansion program. Sherman has been prowling the Broadway market for much of the past month, concentrating mainly on properties which would be suitable vehicles for Rita Hayworth and Judy Holliday. Before leaving Hollywood, C olumbia prexy Harry Cohn reportedly told Sherman that price was to receive secondary consideration in his marketing, indicating that Columbia is now prepairing to slant the major portion of its production nto the uper brackets. One of Sherman's first assignments as both a producer and director will be "Pa! oey", which in itself, indicates to what xtent the company is planning to go in oosening the purse-strings. The popular usical, now being revived on Broadway, is xpected to star Rita Hayworth, and will ost a minimum of one and one-half million ollars. Further proof that Columbia's future roduct is headed upward, can be found in he casting of Jane Wyman to play the staring role in "Happy Birthday", the Rogers nd Hammerstein Broadway hit of a few easons back, which starred Helen Hayes. Vincent Sherman is also set to direct this ajor production, which will roll in early une. On the riot-so-happy side of the ledger, dward Small, one of Columbia's most imortant independent producers, has termilated his partnership pact with the company, ind will henceforth release his product hrough United Artists. Small assures FILM ULLETIN that the parting was amicable. As to pictures now in production or set to tart in the immediate future — there's little o become enthused about. During most of he interim since the last Size-Ups report, >nly one picture has been shooting at a ime. At best, they can only be described s run-of-the-mill Columbia oaters — held to ninimum budgets and shot in less than two veeks. "Panhandle Territory" (Jack Ma■oney-Smiley Burnette) went before the JOSEPH MANKIEWICZ "Caesar" First Chore cameras on May 6, to launch a new series which will replace the old Charles Starrett oaters. Colbert Clark is producing. On May 12, Gene Autry Productions launched "Blue Canadian Rockies", with Autry starred and George Archinbaud and Armand Schaefer holding down their regular director-producer spots. "Jack McCall, Desperado" (George Montgomery-Angela Stevens), a Sam Katzman Esskay production, directed by Sidney Salkow, also was started and completed since the last report here. LIPPERT PRODUCTIONS Lippert Merger Deal Reports Clog Hollywood Rumor Mills Rumors — all of them unconfirmed — continue to fly in Hollywood, regarding possible Lippert mergers with other film makers. Still one of the most popular — and one which neither party will comment on — is a possible Louis B. Mayer-Lippert combine. Another which finds popular support in certain film circles forcasts the joining of forces by Lippert aad Monogram Pictures. Thus far, however, we have been unable to uncover any information which would indicate that either deal should be taken too seriously at this particular time. A new policy of concentrated bookings in key cities is beiiiK put into effect by Lippert this month in a bid to win wider recognition for the company, among the film-going public. San Francisco, Lippert's own stronghold, is the city selected for the initial tryout. On May 22, "Valley of the Eagles" opens at San Francisco's St. Francis theatre, followed on May 29 by "Navajo" at the Bridge, "Loan Shark", which was completed less than six weeks ago and "Stolen Face" will follow at the Paramount. A July 4 national release date has been set for Commander Films' "Hell^ate" (Sterling HaydenJoan Leslie), which Charles Marquis Warren and John Champion completed only last month. This figures to be one of the company's biggest grossers of the year, along with "Valley of the Eagles", which is already winning considerable attention in the nation's press. There are no pictures currently in production for a Lippert release, although the team of Warren and Champion expect to launch their upcoming production of "Man Without A Country" within the next 30 days. METRO-COLDWYN-MAYER Metro Eyes Young Producers; High-Wage Deadwood Due for Ax Despite the fact that MGM has hit a new high in its over-all budget for pictures this year, we can look for a big economy wave to hit the studio in the form of clearing out deadwood in the upper producer brackets. The emphasis is on new, young blood under the Schary regime, with strict orders' to crack down on waste. Whereas in the past, the studio has been overloaded with $150,000 per picture producers, it won't be long until a majority of the product will be turned out by comparative fledglings, working at approximatcly one-third the salary. Shooting schedules will also be sharply pared, except in the really big productions, such as musicals and big action dramas. In line with the economy drive, Schary has instituted a long overdue "get tough" (Continued on Page 14) I AY 19, 1952 13