The Independent Film Journal (1955)

No Writer Shortage At Metro Under Schary’s Broad Plans Hollywood. — Studio Head Dore Schary announced this week M-G-M’ s roster of top writing talent is at an eight-year high, with 51 writers currently at work on 41 major motion pictures, or under contract for future commitments. This product represents the greatest budget expenditure ever allotted a group of big-scale films. Thus the company began its 1955-56 fiscal year on September 1 with over-all creative manpower at peak level for recent years. Ten pictures are completed and in various stages of editing and scoring, and six are in current production. This product constitutes M-G-M’s releases into the Spring and early Summer of 1956. The majority of scripts now in preparation are planned for production and release during the next two years. “Our long-range program of building up a backlog of important story properties has made it possible to attract the most experienced and proven writers available,” Schary said. “At the same time, we are constantly looking for and developing promising new writers.” Films Underway “The Swan,” Femec Molnar’s romantic stage comedy, adapted by John Dighton, starring Grace Kelly, Alec Guiness, Louis Jourdan, Brian Aherne, Agnes Moorehead, Jessie Royce Landis, Leo G. Carroll and Estelle Winwood, produced by Dore Schary and directed by Charles Vidor. “Fearful Decision,” written by Cyril Hume and Richard Maibaum, suspense drama of a father’s gamble to save a kidnapped son, also went into production, starring Glenn Ford and Donna Reed, produced by Nicholas Nayfack and directed by Alex Segal, top television director. Also underway is “Gaby,” romance of youthful love against a ballet background, written by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, and Charles Lederer, starring Leslie Caron and John Kerr, produced by Edwin H. Knopf and directed by Curtis Bernhardt. Lederer, who collaborated with Luther Davis on the screenplay of “Kismet,” also completed a treatment of “S2nd Day,” to be produced by Knopf, and will collaborate with Ben Hecht on “The Old Army Game,” comedy also to be produced by Knopf. “The Rack,” written by Stewart Stern, will be Glenn Ford’s next following “Fearful Decision,” and will start in November. Story of a Korean War hero’s court martial, Arthur Loew, Jr., will produce, Arnold Laven direct. Stern is now assigned to the screen play of “Bridge of Fire,” drama of R.A.F. operations in the South Pacific. Schary pointed out that M-G-M will bring more big-scale productions to the screen than in any previous year of the studio’s history. “Ben Hur,” written by Karl Tunberg from the Lew Wallace classic, is to be filmed in Italy as the most spectacular drama of all time, produced by Sam Zimbalist, directed by Sidney Franklin. “The Teahouse of the August Moon,” adapted by John Patrick from his Broadway success, will be made in Japan, starring Marlon Brando, Glenn Ford and Louis Calhem, produced by Jack Cummings, directed by Daniel Mann. An untitled romantic modern musical comedy, the score being by Cole Porter, with Frank Sinatra, first to be named of an all-star cast, is one of five screen plays to be written by Patrick for production by Sol Siegel. “Cat On a Hot Tin Roof,” Tennessee Williams’ provocative New York stage hit, will be produced by Pandro S. Berman, with a top writer to be assigned to the screen play in the near future. “Something of Value,” Robert Ruark’s best-seller, will be written and directed by Richard Brooks, who both wrote and directed “The Last Hunt” and “Blackboard Jungle.” The picture will be filmed in Africa with Grace Kelly and an all-star cast. “Tea and Sympathy” is another case in which a noted playwright, Robert Anderson, wrote the screen play of his New York success. “Tea” will star the co-stars of the original Broadway cast, Deborah Kerr and John Kerr. Pandro S. Berman will produce and Vincente Minelli direct. “Raintree County” is being adapted by Millard Kaufman from Ross Franklin Lockridge, Jr.’s, bestseller tpic of an American era, with Elizabeth Taylor to head an all-star cast, David Lewis producing. “Designing Woman,” a modern romantic comedy is being written as a co-starring vehicle for James Stewart and Grace Kelly by George Wells, who also will be associate with Dore Schary in the production. “Wings of Eagles,” dramatic story of Commander Frank “Spig” Wead, one of Hollywood’s outstanding writers, and a naval hero of World War II, is being written by Frank Fenton from an original treatment by Admiral John Dale Price and William Wister Haines. Robert Taylor will star as “Spig” Wead, Charles Schnee producing, Richard Thorpe directing. “Opposite Sex,” a gay musical comedy, is being written by Fay and Michael Kanin for an all-star cast, with Joe Pasternak producing. Typical of the opportunities being given new writers is “Trial,” the first screen play by Don M. Mankiewicz, adapted from his Harper’s prize novel. Mankiewicz has been assigned to write “The Big Sin,” to be produced by Nicholas Nayfack. “Somebody Up There Likes Me,” biography of fighter Rocky Graziano, is being scripted by Ernest Lehman, whose first major screen credit was “Executive Suite.” Charles Schnee will produce with Robert Wise directing. “The Red Car,” a dramatic story of juvenile irresponsibility on America’s highways, to be produced by Dore Schary with Walter Reilly as associate, is being adapted from a Saturday Evening Post original by Rod Serling, who has won wide attention for his provocative TV dramas. “Reluctant Debutante,” London’s current comedy success, will bring Douglas Hume to Hollywood to work a screen treatment of his play, which will star Debbie Reynolds, with Pandro S. Berman producing. “I Put My Right Foot In” is the first M-G-M assignment for Harry Essex, writing the screen play of his novel of the same title. John Champion, newest addition to the studio’s producer staff, will produce. Another new writing addition is Nathaniel Benchley, son of the famous Robert Benchley, who will write “The Little Leaguer,” to be produced by Henry Berman. 'For Every Taste': Schary “Anna Christie” in being written by Dorothy Kingsley as a dramatic musical starring Ave Gardner and Howard Keel, to be produced by Jules Schermer. Miss Kingsley recently completed the screen play of “All Our Yesterdays,” which will be James Cagney’s next starring film after “Tribute to a Bad Man,” Schermer also producing. “Wonderland” a cavalcade of Cole Porter music, is being written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green to star Gene Kelly, with Arthur Freed producing; Christopher Isherwood is writing “The Wayfarer,’ inspiring story of Buddha, to be produced by Edwin H. Knopf. Laslo Vadnay is writing “Ten Thousand Bedrooms” for Joe Pasternak; Isobel Lennart is writing “Protection For A Tough Racket,” also for Pasternak; Leonard Spigelgass is writing “International Revue,” to be produced by Pasternak, directed by George Sidney. Sonya Levien is writing “Raquel,” to be produced by Lawrence Weingarten; Christopher Knopf is writing “Running Of The Tide,” Edwin H. Knopf producing; Ruth Brooks Flippen and William Ludwig are writing “The Amazing Nellie Bly,” to star Doris Day, Rogers Edens producing, Stanley Donen directing. Gore Vidal, prominent TV writer, is adapting the Paddy Chayefsky play “The Catered Affair,” which Sam Zimbalist will produce. 10 M-G-M Films Ready For Release Among the important pictures completed and in final preparation for M-G-M release are : “Trial,” starring Glenn Ford, Dorothy McGuire, Arthur Kennedy, and John Hodiak, produced by Charles Schnee, directed by Mark Robson, with screen play by Don M. Mankiewicz. _ “Quentin Durward,” starring Robert Taylor, Kay Kendall and Robert Morley, produced by Pandro S. Berman, directed by Richard Thorpe, with screen play by Robert Ardrey. “The Tender Trap,” starring Frank Sinatra, Debbie Reynolds, David Wayne and Celeste Holm, produced by Lawrence Weingarten, and directed by Charles Walters. “Kismet,” starring Howard Keel, Ann Blyth, Dolores Gray and Vic Damone, produced by Arthur Freed, directed by Vincente Minnelli, with screen play by Charles Lederer and Luther Davis. “I’ll Cry Tomorrow,” starring Susan Hayward, Richard Conte, and Eddie Albert, produced by Lawrence Weingarten, directed by Daniel Mann, and screen play by Helen Deutsch and Jay Richard Kennedy. “Diane,” starring Lana Turner and Pedro Armendariz; produced by Edwin H. Knopf, directed by David Miller, with screenplay by Christopher Isherwood. “The Last Hunt,” starring Robert Taylor, Stewart Granger, Lloyd Nolan, Debra Paget and Russ Tamblyn, produced by Dore Schary, written and directed by Richard Brooks. “Forever, Darling,” starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, James Mason and Louis Calhern, produced by Desi Arnaz, directed by Alexander Hall, screenplay by Helen Deutsch. “Bhowani Junction,” starring Ava Gardner and Stewart Granger, produced by Pandro S. Berman, directed by George Cukor, with screen play by Sonya Levien and Ivan Moffat. “Forbidden Planet,” staring Walfer Pidgeon and Anne Francis, produced by Nicholas Nayfack, directed by Fred Wilcox, with screen play by Cyril Hume. “Invitation To The Dance,” starring Gene Kelly, Tamara Toumanova and Igor Youskevitch, produced by Arthur Freed and directed by Gene Kelly. Currently in production are: “Lust For Life,” starring Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn, produced by John Houseman, directed by Vincente Minnelli, written by Norman Corwin. “Tribute To A Bad Man,” starring James Cagney, Don Dubbins, Stephen McNally, Vic Morrow and introducing Irene Papas, produced by Sam Zimbalist, directed by Robert Wise, written by Michael Blankford. “Meet Me In Las Vegas,” starring Dan Dailey and Cyd Charisse, produced by Joe Pasternak, directed by Roy Rowland, written by Isobel Lennart. Other screen plays or treatments in active preparation are “The Painted Veil,” being written by Arthur Laurents, to star Ava Gardner, with David Lewis producing. Norman Corwin is writing “Prisoner In Paradise,” to be produced by Jules Schermer; Allen Rivkin and Corey Ford are writing “Air Force Story,” based on the first class to enter the Air Force Academy, to be produced by Henry Berman. Herbert Baker is writing “Largely a Question of Love,” to be produced by Michael Able; Robert Ardrey is writing “The Power And The Prize,” to be produced by Nicholas Nayfack. Reporting to M-G-M shortly to complete final screen plays are Lenore Coffee, who is writing “Mary Anne,” Daphne du Murier’s best-selling novel, to star Elizabeth Taylor, with John Houseman producing; John Lee Mahin to write “The Female” to star Ava Gardner, George Cukor directing, and Leonard Gershe, writing “Wedding Day” to star Carol Haney, with Roger Edens producing. The Five Goldwyn “Dolls," touring on behalf of M-G-M's release of "Guys and Dolls" met Garfield Cass, M-G-M branch mgr. at Toronto, before presenting this blanket to the winning racehorse at Woodbine racetrack. THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— October 15, 1955 13