The Independent Film Journal (1952)

'I| j^evel Of Audience Intelligence fVery High’: Producer Jones || By Richard Bernstein ■ I One of the most versatile producers in Hollywood is a gentleman on the iParamount Pictures lot named Paul Jones, a producers’ producer, because jlhe is mainly interested in producing movies. “I’m interested in stories, actors. j writers and getting a good picture on the screen,’’ says Jones. i In these days of motion picture uncertain¬ ty, a man that makes and wants to keep making good motion pictures is a good man to have around. Paul Jones has been with iParamount for a quarter of a century. He arrived, an unknown craftsman on a Wallace Reid starring vehicle, and remained Jo become a foremost exponent in laughs and a hit-making producer of note. Praises Clean Humor “We’ll always make movies,” the producer explained in his office. “Audience intelligence Is very high now. Today, pictures don’t have to explain their plot as they used to do. In regard to humor, the public enjoys clean humor.” Jones finds the business of making pictures fascinating and adventurous. He has lots of enthusiasm and each picture is somethingnew to him. It is this enthusiasm that helps him add freshness to each picture and that freshness is what makes his pictures hits. The producer just completed work on “Here Come the Girls,” which stars Bob Hope, Tony Martin and Rosemarj^ Clooney. This is Hope’s first big musical comedy. In this pictui-e, Bob plays the oldest chorus boy in the world. The musical has a strong stoi->q something that Jones believes in. Hope to Sing Story relates the adventures of Hope, rich i one day and the star of the show ; then I kicked out the next and working on a coal wagon; then once again hired and on top of : the world and rich; then out again. At the end of the picture, all’s well : Bob is the star of the show. “Hope sings very well,” Jones said. “Then, ' of course, we have the great talents of Rosejmary Clooney and Tony Martin in the film.” I One of the films recently made by Jones is ■ “Girls of Pleasure Island,” a romantic com¬ edy shot in Technicolor starring Don Taylor and introducing three English girls, Dorothy Bromiley, Joan Elan and Audrey Dalton. ' Public Likes Musicals In regard to the three girls, the producer said : “Paramount thinks that we have somej thing in these three young ladies.” “Girls of Pleasure Island” is the picturization of the popular novel, “Pleasure Island” by William Maier. It was directed by F. Hugh Herbert and Alvin Ganzer. ' Asked about the current trend of major studios to make musicals, the producer answered: “Musicals all make money. The public likes sinking and dancing. The “heart tug” musical is the one that makes real big j money.” The “heart tug” musical is the one that has drama, pathos and sentiment in it. Jones added that a good musical must have a lot of humor in it. In regard to the drop in the number of Broadway shows purchased by Hollywood for filming, Jones said: “They are too ex¬ pensive.” It seems that the asking price on PAUL JONES many Broadway properties i-uns into astro¬ nomical figui-es. “Comedies from the stage are great,” he stated, “They are proven for pictures. I made ‘Dear Ruth’ and was quite happy with it.” Jones’ credits serve to emphasis his ver¬ satility. For Paramount he made “The Great McGinty,” “Christmas in July,” “The Lady Eve,” “My Favorite Blonde,” “The Road to Zanzibar,” “The Road to Morocco,” “Mon¬ sieur Beaucaire,” “My Favorite Spy” and a comedy starring Red Skelton, “The Southern Yankee” for M-G-M. A combination idealist, dreamer and shrewd careerist, Jones has seen top stars and directors come and go. He seems to be able to inject his own sense of humor in the film he produces. He would like to see “The Sad Sack” in production soon. This is the story of the wistful G.I. who always seems to be courting trouble. Jones has a completed script on the film. Title Changes Broder: “Combat!” is the new title for “Steel Bayonets.” (Stars John Ireland and Lon McCallister; Cy Roth directs). R.K.O. : ‘‘The Big Frame” is the final title for ‘‘The Lost Hours.” (Stars Mark Stevens and Jean Kent; David MacDonald directed). Warner Brothers: ‘‘South Sea Para¬ dise” is the new title for “The Ma¬ rines Had A Word For It.” (Stars Burt Lancaster and Virginia Mayo; Arthur Lubin directed). HOLLYWOOD {Continued from preceding page) and Roy Boulting, noted English brother team, have written and will direct the film. At tlie same studio, it was announced that Vittorio Gassman will co-star with Eliza¬ beth Taylor in “Rhapsody.” Film will start lensing next month in Switzerland with Charles Vidor directing. . . . Robert Blees was signed to a long term writing contract by Univei-sal-International and chosen to write the screen i)lay for “Magnificent Ob¬ session ’ ’ as his first chore under the new pact. “Obsession” will be jjroduced by Ross Hunter. * « * ‘‘Jubal Troop,” the best-selling novel by Paul Wellman, is being reactivated by Col¬ umbia Pictures as one of the top produc¬ tions on its 1953-54 schedule. . . . Columbia acquired ‘‘Scalpel,” the best-seller by Horace McCoy, from Hal Wallis Produc¬ tions, and Charlton Heston, borrowed from Wallis, will head the cast of the picture. . . . Lizabeth Scott has been signed for the star feminine lead. Irving Rapper will di¬ rect and William J. Fadiman has been as¬ signed as associate producer under the supervision of Jerry Wald. . . . Anna Maria Alberghetti is en route to Hollywood from Italy to prepare for her co-starring role in Paramount’s musical, ‘‘Red Garters,” with Rosemary Clooney. The film, which will be lensed in Technicolor and Paramount’s new three-dimensional process, Paravision, will be produced by Pat Duggan and directed by Mitchell Leisen. ^ ^ Edward G. Robinson will star in “The Glass Web,” adapted from the Max Erlicli novel of the same name. Anton Leader will produce the picture which has been scrijded by Leonard Lee. Production is scheduled for June. It is the story of an author who is trapped by his own writings after he has murdered a girl who spurned him. . . . Arthur P. Jacobs announced that Robert Reilly, assistant director of publicity at Warner Brothers Studios, will join his pub¬ lic relations office as an associate. . . . Al¬ fred Hitchcock’s next Warner Bros, film will be “The Bramble Bush.” . . . World screen rights to the 1952 Pulitzer Prize play, “The Shrike,” have been acquired by Jose Ferrer, who will film it independently with himself as both star and director. Entertainers Visit Korea A troupe of 10 filmland personalities, headed by Piper Laurie and Johnny Grant, have been scheduled by the Hollywood Co¬ ordinating Committee to take off Apr. 1 for Korea where they will entertain U. S. Armed Forces. Members of the troupe in¬ clude Freddie Browne, Arthur Brunner, Ernest Brunner, Wanda Curtis, Jane Davids, Jean Fowler, Grant, Laurie, Elizabeth Talbot-Martin and Pat Williams. Spillane Movie For 3-D The first feature picture to iitilize the DunJury,” first of Mickey Spillane’s mysterj^violence best-sellers to be filmed, it was an¬ nounced this week by Arthur B. Krim, presi¬ dent of United Artists, which will release, and Victor Saville, the producer. THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— March 21, 1953 33