Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1947)

SIUOIO SIZE-UPS PRODOCIIOn SfCTl NOVEMBER 24. 1947 Behind the Scenes of Film Production COLUMBIA Still Concentrates On Quickies J~^ESPITE THE RECENT spurt of extravagance here, the concentration is still on the quickie product, particularly the series films. That's where the money comes from to pay for splurges like "Anna Lucasta" and "Born Yesterday." At the moment, there are seven active series participating in the 1947-48 schedule. Last year there was some talk of all of these being dumped (Columbia was through with B's, they saidl but boss Harry Cohn insisted on one more year at least. Not that anyone ever believed this outfit was serious about the n'!atter, anyway. The series are: "Blondie." now in its 23rd film, with two scheduled for this year, "The Whistler," "Crime Doctor," "The Hoosier Hot Shots Action Musicals," "Rusty," "Boston Blackie" and the "Durang-o Kid." This is Columbia's stock merchandise, made inexpensively and sold solidly, they acco^int for a good chunk of the profits in this and any other year. SIX IN WORK HERE "The Loves of Carmen" got under way last week with Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford and Luther Adler, the only cast members working so far. Charles Vidor is directing this one again and all is peace and quiet so far. 'My Dog Rusty" (Ted Donaldson-Rusty) and "Blazing Across The Pecos," a Durango Kid epic, (Charles Starrett-Smiley Burnette), also went before the cameras. Continuing in work are: "Lulu Belle" (Dorothy Lamour-George Montgomery), "The Eternal Melody" (Jan Kiepura-Marta Eggerth) in Italy, and "The Fuller Brush Man" (Red Skelton-Janet Blair). EAGLE-LION Wanted: Independents! 'TMIS COMPANY TOOK opportunity from the final closing on the Walter Wangcr deal to emphasize its new policy of lining up strong indie producers to release through its channels. All the way from top man Robert Young came the word that company participation in financing independent production is the order of the day. The purpose of this move is to supply much needed "end" money to first class producers who will elevate the general standing of E-L product. So far, despite the invitation from E-L, Wanger is the only top-name producer who has definitely signed. He is setting up a complete production unit on this lot and at least two of his four pictures will be made here. The other two may go on the Hal Roach lot, where Wanger has a lease on space. It will be at least six months before E-L has a finished Wanger picture to use. Right now the producer is in the thick of production of "Joan," the Ingrid Bergman film being made by Sierra Films for RKO release. His present plans call for a Janiiary start for "Dynasty" which will be the first of the quartet he will do for Eagle-Lion. Three productions are going here now. Aubrey Schenck, in charge of production, started "The Noose Hangs High" (AbbottCostello) and "Corkscrew Alley" (Dennis O'Keefe-Claire Trevor). "Mickey" (Lois Butler-Bill Goodwin) continues jn work. Eagle-Lion's "poor relation" has little to report these days. They just finished an Sdclie Dean western and there's nothing ahead for a month. But Ben Stoloff is preparing a murder mystery based on the new hypodermic gadget that has just hit the news. And the one PRC is really exciteti about is the story being prepared on Jackie Robinson, great Negro baseball star. That one comes in January. M-G-M Expect Changes Here '^JTHE PRESENCE OF Loew's v.p.-treasurer Charles C. Moskowitz at the studio has been presumed to foreshadow a pretty thorOTigh overhauling of the M-Ci-M production setup. However, at this writing, the only evidence of Moskowitz's sharpened knife has been the lopping off of 40 or 50 small-fry help. It is doubtful, though, that the N. Y. exec will leave town without dropping some of the high priced producers and directors who have contributed little to Metro's product or prestige in the past couple years. Since this studio carries some of the most expensive deadwood in all this fabulous town, and in view of the dearth of strong films from here during the past year, .some radical changes are in order and are generally expected. There has been a lot of speculation out here about how this trip of Moskowitz's will .affect tlie status of production chief L. B. Mayer. While the Hollywood bigwig has come in for some considerable criticism in recent months because of the poor quality of some Metro product, we doubt that Mayer's wings will be clipped at the present time. However, unless there is a sharp pickup in the boxoflfice strength of Leo's features within the next year, no one will be shocked to find the hitherto-omnipotent Mr. Mayer out. WANT NO REDS M-Cx-M wants no Communists in its fold, Mayer told the studio family last week, formally asking for the resignation of any member of the staff who felt obliged to espouse the cause of Communism. Mr. Mayer's statement cama at a meetin,s4 of the studio heads at which it was arranged to call frequent "unity" meetings for the purpose of "letting the left hand know what the right hand is doing." One of the reasons for the problems at this studio has been the complete lack of knowledge on the part of many of the important executives on the lot as to the status of things. Producers were going on blithely in the established extravagances typical of this company apparently without realizing that gros.ses had fallen sharply. When an economy was effected on one hand, it was more than off-set by a story buy or a foolish signing of an expensive writer on the other. All this is to end now. Management and employees are to cooperate closely to lick the problems now facing the studio and the industry. The studio chief further urged that politics be forgotten. The current "Lassie" picture which started as "HiUs of Home" will come out as "Master of Lassie." NOVEIVIBER 24, 1947 11