The Independent Film Journal (1953)

HOLLYWOOD-ON-THE-WIRE Hollywood Offices: 422514 Lockwood Ave., Hollywood 29. Tel.: Normandie 2-6494 RICHARD BERNSTEIN, Editor Film In Denmark Slated By Heard For 3-D, Color Producer Paul Heard, head of Paul Heard, Inc., is branching out into the thea¬ trical field. Heard, one of the top producers of religious films in the world, will make his first feature film for general release in Copenhagen, Denmark. It will be the first major American feature production made in Denmark. Heard will bring his own director abroad with him, as well as an American star. The film will be a comedy, which Heard describes as being “the Lubitsch type.” The Royal Danish ballet will take part in the picture, which will be lensed in color and 3D. Heard plans to do more films after this initial venture for general theatrical release. His film, “Prejudice,” was theatrically re¬ leased, but it was originally made as a religious film. As one of the reasons for his entry in the new market, Heard, who has made about 30 religious films and produced the TV series, “What’s Your Trouble,” ex¬ plained, “people have discovered they can see as many bad pictures on TV as they care to and have demanded good pictures when they go to the theatre. Movies have an excellent future for higher quality films.” Like American Movies Heard’s feature will be a high budget af¬ fair, he emphasized. He spent two weeks at the Ballet Festival in Denmark. He reports that a top budget film for the Danes is about $100,000. There are three or four studios there, the outstanding of which are Nordisk and Palladium. He also reported that American films are veiy popular in Denmark. Heard, who will also produce a series of dramatizations on a public service basis of Dr. Peale’s best seller, ‘ ‘ The Power of Posi¬ tive Thinking,” with Dr. Peale playing him¬ self, will work out his own distribution deal on the film he will make in Denmark. He will also try to blend his actors with the real people in the background for authenticity. Heard’s film, “We Hold These Truths,” was an award winner at the Stam¬ ford Film Festival. Nord Single Film System Shown For Coast Exhibs Hollywood. — Demonstration of the Nord Process, single-film 3-D projection system recently shown in the New York area, took place this week in the Picfair Theatre, Los Angeles. Meanwhile, a new financial in¬ terest entered the project when Dan Elman, production executive, acquired substantial stock in the venture. While showings so far have included only black-and-white footage, Elman stated that certain studios are transferring two-strip 3-D color films to the Nord single-strip sys¬ tem. When the film is ready, a demonstration in color will be held, he stated. At the question-and-answer period follow¬ ing the demonstration, the west coast exhibi¬ tors were told of the inexpensive Nord “kit,” which can convert any theatre for 3-D at a relatively inexpensive cost. They also heard of the other advantages supposedly gained by using this system. Judy Holliday will essay her first film musical at the head of an all-star cast for “My Sister Eileen,” to be made in Tech¬ nicolor, as one of Columbia’s toil musical productions, under arrangements completed by Columbia President Harry Cohn. A ten¬ tative starting date of Nov. 1 has been set by executive producer Jerry Wald. Fred Kohlmar will produce. Although this is her first film musical, Miss Holliday was known for song-and-dance performances on Broad¬ way before she turned to dramatic roles. * * * Lori Nelson, U-I star, had her option lifted by the studio. . . . Peruvian songstress Yma Sumac has been signed by Paramount for her screen debut in “Legend of the Inca.” The story is set in Peru and the backgrounds have already been photo¬ graphed high in the Andes. Viveca Lindfors and Wendell Corey co-star with Charlton Heston in this Technicolor film which Di¬ rector Jerry Hopper will put back before the camera for principal photography in the near future. Mel Epstein produces. . . . Gale Storm, Eleanor Parker and Pat O’Brien will be among those representing the en¬ tertainment industry on the judging com¬ mittee of the fifth annual Roy Rogers Na¬ tional School Safety Awards program. # *• * Cecil B. DeMille has signed a contract to write his long awaited autobiography, it was announced by Prentice-Hall, prominent New York publishers. Mr. DeMille will start work on the book with a tentative publication date set for 1955. . . . “Bronco Apache” will be the first film that Producer Harold Hecht of Norma Productions will deliver to United Artists under his Norma banner. Hecht has a two-picture releasing deal with UA. The second film will be “Vera Cruz.” Burt Lancaster stars in “Bronco Apache. ” * * * Herman Cohen, president of Abtcon Pic¬ tures, Inc., has announced a change in schedules, and has begun production with his picture, “River Beat,” Sept. 4, to be shot in London. Film stars Phyllis Kirk and Donald Houston and will be directed by Guy Green. When Cohen returns from Eng¬ land, his picture, “Target — Earth” will start shooting at the California Studios Oct. 28 with Sherman Rose directing. . . . Dan Duryea signed a two-picture contract with Universal-International. First assign¬ ment under the new pact will be a starring role in “Fort Laramie,” with John Payne and Mari Blanchard as co-stars. Ted Rich¬ mond is producing and Jesse Hibbs direct¬ ing the feature, which is being lensed in Technicolor. -* * * Ann Sheridan is currently negotiating with a group of Mexican industrialists to star in six films to be made during the next three years. All pictures would be made in English with additional top American stars and would be shot in Mexico and the U.S. It is understood that at least one B. Traven property is involved in the deal, with Miss Sheridan given free rein in selecting the films. She will also continue her Hollywood films and TV activities. # * * Sterling Hayden was signed to star in “Arrow In The Dust,” which producer Hayes Goetz will put before the color cam¬ eras for Allied Artists Sept. 17. Lesley Selander has been set as director. . . . Warner Brothers has signed John Wayne to star in “The Sea Chase,” based on the novel by Andrew Geer. The film will be directed by John Farrow. Wayne will play a skipper whose ship is involved in a thrilling chase over war-menaced seas. . . . Frank Seltzer will produce “The Big Kill” with Joe New¬ man as director and has signed Ed and Edna Anhalt to do the screen play. It is a modern story concerned with the fight against hoof and mouth disease in cattle. Seltzer will go into production in Mexico in January. Working from an original idea by himself and Newman, Seltzer has the co¬ operation of the Mexican Government and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He will film using one of the wide screen sys¬ tems and stereophonic sound. * * Danny Kaye will co-star with Bing Crosby in Paramount’s “White Christmas.” Kaye will take over the role originally an¬ nounced for Donald O’Connor, who has been forced by his sudden illness to with¬ draw from the film. Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen are the femme stai's of the mu¬ sical, which will be directed by Michael Curtiz with Robert Emmett Dolan produc¬ ing. . . . “The Three Sons of Zante,” an origi¬ nal story by Thelma Robinson, was bought by Universal-International. It was assigned to Richard Wilson to produce. . . . J. E. MacDougall has joined Cap Palmer Productions as associate producer. ... Ray Jones, head portrait photographer at U-I, signed a new one-year contract with the studio. Contract marks his 26th year with the studio. * * * World rights to “Queen of Sheba,” $1,000,000 spectacle produced by Laura Film in Rome, have been acquired by Bernie Luber and William Pizor. Luber, recently returned to Hollywood after dubbing the film in English in Paris, is now working out releasing arrangements. Cast of the film is headed by Gino Cervi and Marina Berte, who appeared in “Quo Vadis.” It was di¬ rected by Pietro Francisci. Luber produced “The Man From Cairo” in Rome with George Raft, and “I’U Get You” in Lon¬ don, with Raft and Sally Gray. Both pro¬ ductions are for Robert L. Lippert release. . . . Nick Ray checked onto the Republic lot to begin final preparations for “Johnny Guitar,” the Joan Crawford starrer, which Ray will produce and direct. The wide screen outdoor adventure yarn marks Miss Crawford’s initial oater, which will be filmed in color. Ray plans to give the film the “go” signal in late September and is currently negotiating for two top male stars to co-star with the actress. ( Continued on next page ) THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— September 5. 1953 31