Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1948)

sTuolo sizf-yps preparing is called "The Demi-Widciw" It's a story she herself wrote years ago and at that time it was set against a World ^\'ar I background. Now, the background will be moved up to World War II and the story of an American war bride who is left a widow in Paris will remain the same. Miss Pickford"s prime purpose for making her picture in Europe is to use some of the frozen funds she has there. Is this a good enough reason ! Buddy Rogers' company. Comet Productions, which only delivered four of six pictures promised to U.A, has abandoned all its own production plans. Commitments on tlie pair still due will be absorbed by rights to an English film, "Higli Fury."' whicli Comet recently secured and by an independent production to be made by Mart.\Sperber for Comet to be released through UA. The Marx Bros, new \ehicle, "'Blondes Up" was slated to roll late in the week. Ilona Massey and \'era Ellen appear with the boys, David Miller directing. James Xasser has set September 1 as the release date for ''An Innocent .^fTair" (Madeleine Carroll Fred MacMurray). An advertising budget of S300.000 has been set up and the producer's plans include a simultaneous premiere in six key cities. Newest indie unit to join UA is the combine of Bud Abbott, Lou Costello and William and Edward Xassour. The group is planning an Abbott Costello feature to be made in Cinecolor on a budget of S700,000. This is the one outside picture per year that the comedy team's contract with U-I permits. Production starts in October. Philip Krasne's "Gay .A.migo," the first in his Cisco Kid series for leads off a busy six-week period here. Krasne will follow this one, now currently shooting, with another Cisco Kid yarn. Then will come .Amusement Enter prises' "The Lucky Stiff," Hunt Stromberg"s ■"Too Late For Tears," Harr\ Popkin's "Impact," Edward Small's "Leatherstocking Tales," Sam Coslow's "Music City," Lester Cowan's "Hearts and Diamonds." Most of these are without castings thus far, although Stromberg lias announced Lizabeth Scott and Christine Miller for his film and Coslow's "Music City" will feature Jo Staffo d, Peggy Lee, Andy Russell, Frankie Laine, King Cole Trio and other music figures. .\11 of these sliould be r; lling by August 15. UNIVERSAL-INTERNAT'L More B.O., Less Prestige Is Exhibs' Hope From U-I '"'T'HE four films now before the cameras will be the last to be done on this lot for a ten-week period. As reported in the last issue cf Studio Size-Ups. Chief William Goetz and the other executives decided to experiment on c ncerting its lay-off and vacation period into one stanza, as far as possible. Bolstered by a back-log of 20 completed pictures, the studio heads felt safe in knocking off for a while. The full close-down will begin August 1. when the current films will be finished and will continue into mid-September. At that time, it is reported, there will be a rush back to the scund stages with four top-budget films already marked for September starts. Exhibitors, meanwhile, are hoping that U-I will concentrate ite efforts on boxoffice product and leave some of the so-called ''prestige" pictures to the other studios. The company has acquired the film rights to "The Night Watch." a story set against the current Palestine background, and Robert Buckner, who authored the book, has been signed tc the production spf)t. Buckner spent many months as a correspondent in Palestine. WARNER BROS. Employment At Peak, Problem Here Is Quality jgKING unable to regain its touch f<ir making the kind of topflight fihiifare that zoomed til's company into the front ranks of filnidom, Warners appears to be operating now on the theory tiiat volume might be the answer to its troubles. In the face of shutdowns and pers nncl slashes at most other studios, this outfit is currently functioning at a ten-year peak of production. In line with Jack L. Warner's stattnient of a few weeks ago, calling upon the industry to lick the slump by stepping up production, this lot has increased its employment rolls some 42 percent in the past three months, and no less than eight features were in work at one time recently. In December 155 players were at work here, today the total is o\er 1,000. The big question, from the exhibitor's standpoint, is: What kind of product will result from lliis mass production program at WB? It became apparent at the end of last year that this studio was embarking on a plan of turning out a quantity of pictures of the despised (don't mention the word) "B" calibre. Strenuous efforts were made to pretend that no such thing c luld happen on the Warner lot, but the fact remains that quite a few programmers are. being ground out. Why Warners should be ashamed to admit it is something we fail to understand. Exhibitors need some program pictures and making believe that B's are A's won't fool anybody. The big problem at this plant is making the .\'s look like A's ! When Warners are able to do that again, they will find tliat exhibitors and the public will respond with appreciation and enthusiasm. .JULY 19, 1948 21