Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1947)

SIUDIO SlZt-UPS MARCH 17, 1947 Behind the Seems of Film Production COLUMBIA Virginia Van Upp, the .producer who left "The Guilt of Janet Ames" in mid-production beeause of poor health (which might be the answer to the muddled picture that resulted), is back on the lot again after six months in Mexico and Latin America. She has already put into work a story with a South American setting, starring Rita Hayworth, which is pencilled in for a late -.Spring start. No comment was made on the details of Miss Van Upp returning to the lot, but it is assumed that all problems have been satisfactorily settled. Columbia has won in the suit with Andre de Toth and it looks as though the director will have to fulfill his seven-year exclusive contract with the studio unless an outside settlement is made, de Toth, who signed with Columbia in 1943, made one film ("None Shall Escape") and then, according to the studio, refused to make any further films. The studio brought suit and the situation has been in the courts all this time. Now, it looks like Mr. de Toth will have to work for Columbia, after all. The Franchot Tone-Sylvan Simon production unit has set "Double Take" for its next production, with Janet Blair and Janis Carter, assigned the feminine roles. The unit is now winding up its first picture, "Her Husband's Affair," formerly known as "The Lady Knew How." Three new films started on this lot: "The Man From Colorado" (Glenn Ford-William Holden-Ellen Drew), in Technicolor; "Swing The Western Way" (Jack Leonard-Mary Dugan) and "Keeper of The Bees" (Gloria Henry-Michael Duane). With three others already in production, this trio boosts the working total to six, an upswing from recent months. EAGLE LION studio chief Bryan Foy has taken over as his personal chore —the nearly-completed "The Red Stallion." $300,000 has been added to the budget and the film now is reported to cost $1,500,000. Some re-cutting and some additional shooting has been authorized by Foy. Guy Kibbee is being added to the cast which already includes Noreen Nash, Robert Paige, Jane Darwell, Ted Donaldson and Willie Best. A fight scene between a horse and a bear is being expanded with additional footage. With this revision, the film should be ready for release by June 1. Chuck Reisner, veteran of MGM's directorial department, has signed a term contract with Eagle-Lion. Reisner wound up a seven-year termer with Metro last week and moved right over v/ith Mr. Foy. His first assignment is "Corkscrew Alley" which v/ill star Richard Basehart, E-L's nominee for 1947 stardom. Production goes May 1. With the news that the advertising and publicity departments cf Eagle-Lion and PRC have been combined in New York, the rumor rash breaks out again. Now it is being said that PRC will be maintained only until such time as Eagle-Lion is on firm footing and that the absorption process will then be effected. In Hollywood, Ben Stoloff, right hand man to Foy, has been assigned to produce PRC's high budget films, which is also regarded as a significant move. Studio heads continue to deny any merger plans, so the rumors remain just rumors. • Mearwhile, the studio started one of its most important pictures this week with Richard Whorf directing Sylvia Sidney, John Hodiak and Ann Richards in "Love From A Stranger." This is a re-make of the murder-mystery yarn of 1936 in which Ann Harding and Basil Rathbone were starred. METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER Despite this studio's earlier announcement of a curtailment of its production schedule for 1947, the release is being upped to thirty films instead of the twenty-four sold last year. Twenty-two features will go between April 1 and November 30. All of these will be Hollywood made films, but the studio Is planning to con MARCH' 17,1947 tinue its policy of handling one or two foreign releases, as it did last year, as well as two reprints. Despite firm agreement a few months back that there would be no more huge figures paid for Broadway plays or musicals, MGM has dug into its sock and come up with the tidy sum of $650,000 for "Annie Get Your Gun," the Irving Berlin smash hit musical. This, of course, is a percentage deal, as most such deals are, but it is still a lot of money for one investment. Naturally^ it will get the full MGM super-deluxe musical treatment. Judy Garland has been named for the Ethel Merman role, but with production at least a year off, much can happen in casting plans between now and the starting date. Irving Berlin has completed his initial job on "Easter Parade" for Producer Arthur Freed and has headed east again. He will return shortly to take up residence here until the film is completed. "Parade" is another of Arthur Freed's all-star musicals with Garland, Sinatra, Gene Kelly, Kathryn Grayson and Red Skelton already set. Some time back this column reported that Mervyn LeRoy's first job upon his return to Metro was the re-cutting and partial re-filming of "A Woman of My Own," the Greer Garson starrer. LeRoy has completed his job. It is said that the picture in its original form was headed either for the shelf or for Miss Garson's personal files (she offered to buy it from the studio). At this writing, however, the executive oflfice has approved the LeRoy revision and the picture will be released shortly. "Merton of the Movies," the other recent victim of bad direction, is back in for almost complete re-shooting. It is reported that only about 1,000 feet of the original film will be saved; That indicates another 7,000 feet to be made. The film thus far has cost approximately $2,000,000. Gloria DeHaven has been dropped from the cast of "Good News," the musical scheduled for starting last week. The role has been handed to Pat Marshall, whom L. B. Mayer signed from the New York cast of "Day Before Spring." June Allyson is starred. MONOGRAM President Steve Broidy, whose fortright letter in the last issue oi: FILM BULLETIN clarified the Monogram-Allied Artists situation perfectly, reported this week on the backlog which the two companies now have in completed films. Allied Artists has three ready to go: "It Happened On Fifth Avenue," "Tragic Symphony" and The Gangster," produced by the King Bros. Monogram has Jeffrey Bernerd's "Black Gold" (according to Mr. Broidy's report, this may have to go through Allied Artists because it so far exceeded its original budget), Walter Mirisch's "The Fall Guy," Jack Wrather's "The Guilty," "Violence," High Conquest," "Hard Boiled Mahoney," "Trailing Danger" and "Six-Gun Serenade" and two untitled westerns, one with Johnny Mack Brown, the other with Jimmy Wakeley. "Louisiana," the picture starring Governor Jimmie Davis, is also wound up. Meanwhile, production plans for both companies are being stepped up. President Broidy says. "Scareheads" (formerly "The Big Scoop"), a Jan Grippo Bowery Boys production; "A Guy Named Joe Palooka," a Hal Chester production; Jack Wrather's "High Tide" and Dick Irving-Sid Luffs "Kilroy Was Here" are all scheduled for start before April 15. Scott R. Dunlap has been named to handle production on "The Hunted" which has been moved up on the production schedule. The company bought the story from The King Brothers. Belita will be starred. It is rumored that the difference of opinion between Belita and the King Brothers in the current "The Gangster" caused the change in production plans. Dunlap, of course,' will continue as executive assistant to Mr. Broidy, this chore being just an additional task in his work schedule. Jack Bernhard will direct. Production starts next month. Roddy McDowall has been signed by Lindsley Parsons for two features over a 3-year period. The former Metro juvenile star will also act as associate producer on the pictures in which he will appear. 19