Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1948)

siooio mim SRO BALLYHOO STARTS FOR 'BIGGEST SHOW ON EARTH' Tt is practically a maxim in tliis business that David O. Seiznick can always be counted on for the unexpected. Here's another example of his refusal to conform. With the whole industry bowing in complete submission to the new god, Economy, this producer last week announced that "The Greatest Show On Earth" will be the most expensive picture he, or anyone else in Hollywood, has ever made. This one goes in Technicolor with an all-star cast PLUS the Barnum and Bailey and Ringling Brothers circus. Of course, this story, intended to startle the industry, was given to the press as a counterirritant against the story that Seiznick was retiring from production and would concentrate on his Television project and the handling of his personal stable of stars. So it may be that the Seiznick sense of drama was a little overemphasized. The fact is that the picture is not scheduled to go into production until January. Between now and then, much can happen. Meanwhile, Seiznick is proceeding with his plans for producing four pictures in affiliation with Alexander Korda. The first of these. "The Third Man," goes into production in the late Fall in X'ienna witli Joseph Gotten in the star role. 20th CENTURY-FOX 4 SHOOTING: NEW PRODUCT AWAITS RETURN OF ZANUCK POUR pictures continue in production on this lot: "Three VV'ives" (Jeanne Grain-Jefifrey Lynn), "Ghicken Itvery Sunday" (Dan DaileyCeleste Holm), "Sand" (Mark Stevens-Coleen Gray) and "The Fan" (Jeanne Grain-George Sanders-Madeleine Garroll). Darryl Zanuck is sfil! in P-urope settiiig his production program o\ er there and it is unlikely that very much new will get started here before his return. Gene Markey, who has been in a producer's berth at Fox for twelve years, last week resigned the spot to devote his entire time to his new independent project. He and his wife, Mvrna Loy, have formed their own coinpany called Gharter Films and their first film will be. "Mrs. Kelly From Gairo." Before they start this one in October, however. Miss Loy will star in an .Alexander Korda picture called ".'\utumn" which is now in production in Roine. 20th's Peggy Gummins is also featured, ^farkey did the script for this one. Another Markey project is a co-production job with Douglas Fairbanks Jr. on "\ World of Women," which is also a Markey original. jriHXSON FOR WILDE Cornel Wilde balked when he was pulled (int of the cast of "Mother Was .A Freshman" and replaced by V^an Johnson, borrowed from MGM. When the studio handed him another script, he said he was exhausted and would need a short rest period. It seems likely that he will go on suspension, although, in all fairness, he has been working steadily and probably needs the rest. Sam Engel is a busy producer on this lot at the moment. He is about ready to start the sequel to the successful "Sitting Pretty." This one is called "Mr. Belvedere Goes to GoUege" and again stars Glifton Webb. In addition to this comedy piece, he has been handed a new Book-of-the-Month novel, "Fire," just l^Jrcliased, for early production. Engel is planning this one in a semi -documentary tone and will work with tlie U. S. Forestry Service for authentic background material. Linda Darnell has been handed the starring role. UNITED ARTISTS EXECUTIVE SHIFT OR SALE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS FOR UA T^here is little new here these days, with only two productions in work ("Blondes Up" and "The Lucky Stiff") and the usual problems .■.inimering just below^ tiie surface. UA's great need is good product. That, of course, is a universal need in the industry, but this company, which exists only as a releasing unit, is not in the same position of a producing and releasing outfit. It must rely on others for its product and it must offer a sound distribution and advertising set-up to attract the right kind of producers. In the past two years, the (|ualily of the product here has suffered badly from the internal bickering and the indecisive policies of the owners and the managing heads. We look for some radical changes here within the next few months — or a sale. The loss of the Enterprise unit was the tip-of? that no topflight producing unit can stay with UA as it is presently constituted. UNIVERSAL-INTERNAT'L LESS CLASS, MORE MASS, PRODUCT U-I'S PROBLEM j^OMENTOUS meetings of the top echelon have been taking place at this studio during the past two weeks, with no <lefinite announcements yet to clear the air of the l)uzzing rumors that important changes would be made in tile production management. Despite denials of the reports that the top command would be overhauled before cameras roll again here, it is understood that there are strong differences of opinion between the distribution and the production branches of U-I and these must be resolved by a change in production policy, or a change in management. The "class" product of tin's lot has tii}t held up at the boxoffice. Sales chief Bill Scully has met with stiff exhibitor resistence to top terms for fancy productions that have not appealed to the moviegoing masses, and he is believed to be among those calling for a return to less pretentious pictures that fill the exhibitor's wants. This is particularly true with the dropping off of grosses in deluxe first-runs and the greater relative importance of subsequent-run houses. "All My Sons" (a fine film), ".Another Part of the Forest," "Letter From An Unknown Woman" and "A Double Life" (despite Colman's -Academy .Award) gave disappointing perf( nwances at the boxoffice. Less of this type ,>f product is wliat the Eastern end of U-I's organization wants. Whether or not a change will be made in Bill Goetz's operation of the studio depends on his response to the distribution department's complaints. .At this writing, it's touch-and-go. (,OETZ SETS DATE luen as the axe continued to fall in every cki>artinent, Goetz had little to say to the press, except that production would be resumed come September 13 wit!) a Maxwell Shane picture tagged ".Amboy Dukes.'' Three others are scheduled for September production and further Mr. Goetz would not say excejit that everything was all right. Others to go, if plans go through as Mr. Goetz says, are: "The Life of Riley," Robert Buckner's "Night Watch" and one, or possibly two, more. ■\ ENUS' LOOKS GOOD -After all the trouble that dogged the produc tion of "One Touch of \'enus," Lester Cowan, who finally produced it, has come up with what looks like a sure-fire boxoffice hit. He has softened the slightly sophisticated original play into good meat-and-potato comedy that is sure to please all types of ticket buyers. This one comes up as a personal triumph for the beautiful -Ava Gardner, who undoubtedly now will take on star rank at Metro, where she is under contract. Unfortunately for U-I, the compr.ny has only a 25 per cent deal on this one They could well use a larger hunk of the money this film will nal» at the b )x iffices all over th j country. D'Ugias Fairbanks Jr. has checke 1 orf this lot, thereby ending a not-too-successful product on ariangtment with U-1. His last film under Iris contract was "The O'Flynn," now fully com])'.c ted. WARNER BROS. WALD CARRYING LOAD FOR WARNERS; TEN ON SCHEDULE Jerry Wald is the big news at this studio. First, there was a rumor that he wanted out of his contract with Warner Brothers. But that story faded when Wald announced that he would start the Danny Kaye picture, "Happy Times," and the Joan Crawford picture, "P'lamingo Road," practically sinniltaneously. It is not likely that Warners will quarrel with Wald at this point when he has three pictures riady for production and seven more in work. They need him badly and any differences in opinion are sure to be worked out Without him the Warner lot would really be in a bad way. Wald's Current project, according to a statement directly from him, is trying to get Garbo to return to the screen in a re-make of "Farewell To Arms," with Humphrey Bogart as her co-star. He will have John Huston as his director, if and when this project goes through. Wald is an astute showman and if he pulls it off, he is sure to lick whatever script adjustments w( uld have to be inade to fit this pair. So far, tilt Garbo answer is in the negative. Wald apparently ironed out his differences with Mike Curtiz on "The Flamingo Road" script, because Curtiz (a producer in his own right) is going to direct this film for Wald. Wald has the reins now and he is probably going ti) set Lew .Ayers and Burt Lancaster in the male roles supporting his star, Joan Crawford. "The House -Across The Street" (Wayne Morris-Janis Paige) and "Somewhere In The City" (Viveca Lindfors-Pxlmond O'Brien) are in productioti and with the two Wald pictures, plus "Two Guys and -A Gal" ready to go, this studio will have seven pictures in production before the end of -August. "Homicide" is the new title of the meller formerly known as "Night Beat." INDEPENDENTS FILM CLASSICS Prcxlucer W. Lee Wilder started "A Date With Murder" last week with John Calvert (in on the production end, too) and Catherine Craig co-starred. Jack Bernhard is directing. SCREEN GUILD A pair of the Lash I^aRue-Fuzzy St. John series started production rolling here again with three more under the personal guidance of President Robert L. ''ippert scheduled for -August starts. Lippert's first will be "Last of the Wild Horses" which will be shot up in Oregon on a budget of $300,000. He will then do a sequel to his moneymaker, "My Dog Shep," tagged "Shep Comes Hoine." The third will be "Green Gold," with William Stevens producing and George Reeves and Ralph Byrd cast in the major roles. AUGUST 16, 1948 17