Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1947)

STODIO SIZE-yPS May 29. The Biograph was the house that Dillingcr came out of when he was shot down by FBI agents Roddy McDowall's first vehicle for this outfit will be "Return To Yesteryear" AA's "Tragic Symphony" will be previewed this month, now that scoring has been completed by Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra under the" l)aton of Nat W. Finston. PARAMOUNT Only 1 Feature Shooting •"THE LOT IS QUIET except for "The Big Clock" (Ray Milland-Maureen O'Sullivan) now nearing completion. Several big ones are scheduled to roll in the next fortnight, however. Concentration on novels has been the order this year at Paramount. Of 15 screenplays scheduled to be lensed soon, eight are from novels, five from screen originals and three from plays. Novels forming the basis of .screenplays include the following: "Whispering Smith" is Alan Ladd's first Technicolor film laid in the outdoors. "So Evil My Love," from Joseph Shearing's "For Her to See," will be produced in England, starring Ray Milland, Ann Todd and Geraldine Fitzgerald. Hal Wallis, producer, is already in England readying production. "My Own True Love," from Yonada Foleds' "Make You a Fine Wife," will be filmed with Phyllis Calvert in starring role. Alan Ladd is set for "The Great Gatsby," one of F. Scott Fitzgerald's best novels. Bing Crosby will do an adaption of Mark Twain's classic, "A Connecticut Yankee," with Rodgers and Hart music from the Broadway show of the same name. "Web of Days," a first novel by Edna Lee, will star Paulette Goddard. Other novels being transformed into screenplays are: "The Sealed Verdict," Lionel Shapiro's first novel, and "Jed Baline's Woman" by Evelyn Wells. TWO ORIGINALS FOR HOPE Originals in preparation include the Bob Hope comedy, "Paleface," Alan Ladd starrer; "Comeback," a prize-fight yarn; "Caliph of Bagdad," starring Hope; "The Long Grey Line," by William Wister Haines, and Cecil B. DeMille's "Samson and Delilah." Plays include Elmer Rice's "Dream Girl," Broadway hit, and "Sainted Sisters." Both are vehicles for Betty Hutton, the latter to co-star Sterling Hayden. Novel press introduction was given Hal Wallis newcomer Wendell Corey, player in "Desert Fury" and "I Walk Alone." Rave preview notices on the boy gave Wallis idea of holding press party and introducing him via two reeler made from action clips from the two films. Result: several magazine stories, columns of columns. PRC Marathon to Produce Four nPHREE NEW PICTURES went before the lenses last week, one a western, "Pioneer Justice" (Jack LaRue-Jennifer Holt), one Gashouse Kids comedy, "Gashouse Kids Go West," and a mysterydrama, "Bury Me Dead" (Cathy O'Donnell). "Killer at Large" is the final title set for what was known as "Gangway for Murder." Robert Lowery tops the cast. Arthur Mayer and Harry Brandt are heading new Marathon Productions company with four pictures set to release through Producers Releasing Corporation, according to Harry H. Thomas, PRC president. Since Brandt and Mayer cannot devote time to production, they are putting four men, all under thirty, in charge in Hollywood. Frank Satenstein, former Brodaway producer, will head production, Pete Mayer handles directorial chores. Max Wilk will be in charge of the story department and Robert Joseph will be Associate Producer for the company. REPUBLIC Yates Aiming Up pESULTS OF THE RECENT SALES MEET in New York are having repercussions at this studio, with Herbert J. Yates returning with a firm hand on new policy. The company head is convinced that Republic has its big chance to step into the ranks of the production leaders and is determined to capitalize it. However, Yates told his .sales force in Chicago last week that the company will continue to make B pictures and would, as a matter of fact, produce more features next season than this. Already in effect is the turning of the specials over to independent unit.s such ^s Charles K. Feldman Group Productions and the Frank Borzage outfit. Studio staff will concentrate on less expensive features, hypoint? both modest budget films and Westerns. More careful, long-range planning and thoughtful scrutiny of stories, producers, directors and players is slated here. Casting of stellar personalities continues to be the news from Republic, which recently concluded releasing negotiations for Feldman productions. Myrna Loy (her latest, "The Best Years of Our Lives) and Robert Mitchum (solid hit in "Pursued") costar in John Steinbeck's "The Red Pony," now readying for May 15th shooting date. Lewis Milestone directs, shuttling between Republic with a probable one-a-year and Enterprise for a contracted two-a-year. Second picture in the deal is Orson Welles producing, directing and starring in "Macbeth," set now for an early June start. Welles pushed back his scheduled trip to London for stellar role in Alexander Korda's "Salome" until late this fall. After "Salome," he returns to this lot for the first Technicolor film under the merger, Ben Hecht's "The Shadow." Looks as if Republic may buy top the big yarn of the season, if they conclude negotiations, already well toward termination, for Babe Ruth's life story. ALLA LANE BUILD-UP In line with company policy of dropping Red Ryder series and building its star Allan Lane into a new Western personality, billing planned is Allan "Rocky" Lane and "Black Jack," horse's tag. New series starts build-up with "Wild Frontier," set for camera eye in May. Out-of-court settlement gives Republic two more Gene Autrey flickers, one set for production in April, another in December, leaving him free to start his first Western musical for Columbia on April 15. Arrangement will be carried out no matter what the decision of the California Supreme Court on Republic's appeal from former decision freeing Autrey from commitments to this lot. His last picture for this studio will be "Robin Hood of Texas." No new starters this week. "The Outcast" 'John CarrollVera Ralston) and "Complex" (Albert Dekker-Linda Stirling) are still before the cameras. RKO Koster Handles Goldwyns Next A FTER TEMPORARY PRODUCTION HALT (supposedly induced by clash betv.'een producer Samuel (joldwyn and director William Seiter over story format), "The Bishop's Wife" (topped by Cary Grant-Loretta Young-David Niven-Monty Woolley) resumes shooting on RKO lot with Henrj Koster at directorial reins. Switch indicates what angle the picture will feature, Seiter having stressed comedy line with Goldwyn insisting on dramatic strength. Meanwhile, Howard Hawks, who, we predicted in the last issue, would replace Seiter on "Bishop's Wife" has been signed, instead, to direct Goldwyn's last Danny Kaye musical, "That's Life." Following stint in "The Bishop's Wife," Cary Grant is set to do "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream Castle" at this studio, fol 22 J FILM BULLETIN