The Independent Film Journal (1953)

Virginia Mayo, Rex Harrison in "King Richard and the Crusaders," CinemaScope-WamerColor. Judy Garland, James Mason, Jack Carson in "A Star Is Born," CinemaScope-TechnicoIor. Top Warner Bros. Films Await Exhibition In Months To Come Launching what Jack L. Warner, studio production chief, termed ‘ 1 the most impres¬ sive production schedule of his company ’s his¬ tory, ’ ’ details have been released on forth¬ coming Warner Bros, product. Ben Kalmenson, vice-president in charge of distribution, called it the “most costly” schedule, explain¬ ing that no expense has been spared in secur¬ ing and producing properties. The studio lias 12 productions slated to go before the cameras during spring and early summer, Warner disclosed, with others sched¬ uled to follow as scripts are completed and casting set. Leading the list budget-wise is a Cinerama production of 1 1 Lewis and Clarke, ’ ’ the first, feature in the new medium to concen¬ trate on a definite plot line. Film wTill be bud¬ geted * ‘ as the greatest production over con¬ ceived by the studio. ’ ’ Banking high in the studio ’s expectations is the CinemaScope-TechnicoIor “A Star Is Born,” starring Judy Garland, James Mason and Jack Carson. George Cukor directed from a Moss Hart script, with a score by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin. Other films completed and scheduled for early release are : ‘ ‘ Lucky Me, ’ ’ Cinema¬ scope WarnerColor musical, produced by Henry Blanke, directed by Jack Donohue, and starring Doris Day, Robert Cummings and Phil Silvers; “Dial M for Murder,” 3-D WarnerColor version of the stage hit, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and starring Ray Milland, Robert Cummings and Grace Kelly. Also, “Ring of Fear,” a WayneFellows CinemaScopeWarnerColor circus tale, pro¬ duced by Robert Fellows, directed by James Edward Grant, topcasting Clyde Beatty, Mickey Spillane and Pat O ’Brien ; ‘ ‘ The High and the Mighty,” a WayneFellows CinemaScopeWarnerColor production, pro¬ duced by Fellows, directed by William A. Wellman, starring John Wayne and Claire Trevor. Other pictures completed include “Them! ” science-fiction tale produced by David Weisbart, directed by Gordon Douglas, starring Edmund Gwenn and James Whitmore; and ‘ 1 King Richard and the Crusaders, ’ ’ CinemaScopeWarnerColor adaptation of a Sir Wal¬ ter Scott novel, produced by Blanke, directed by David Butler, toplining Rex Harrison and Virginia Mayo. Currently filming is ‘ ‘ Battle Cry, ’ ’ CinemaScope-WarnerColor, directed by Raoul Walsh, starring Van Heflin and Aklo Ray. Ready to go are “Helen of Troy,” CinemaScopeWarnerColor, to be filmed in Italy under Robert Wise’s direction, starring Rossana Podesta and Jacques Sernas; “Land of the Pha¬ raohs,” CinemaSeope-WarnerColor, from a script by William Faulkner, to be produced and directed by Howard Hawks, starring Jack Hawkins. Also ready for production is ‘ ‘ Dragnet, ’ ’ in WarnerColor, based on the TV-radio show, a Mark VII production, to be produced by Stanley Meyer, starring Jack Webb, who will also direct. Scheduled for a June start are three Cine¬ maScopeWarnerColor productions : ‘ ‘ The Sil¬ ver Chalice,” to be produced by Victor Saville, starring Virginia. Mayo ; ‘ ‘ Strange Lady in Town,” to be directed by Mervyn LeRov, starring Greer Garson ; and ‘ ‘ East of Eden, ’ ’ based on the John Steinbeck novel, to be pro( Continued on page 31) Doris Day, Phil Silvers, Nancy Walker in "Lucky Me," CinemaScope-WamerColor. John Wayne, Claire Trevor, Laraine Day in "The High and the Mighty," CinemaScope-WamerColor. James Arness, Joan Weldon in "Them!" Robert Cummings, Grace Kelly, Ray Milland in "Dial M for Murder," 3-D, WarnerColor. Pat O'Brien. Clyde Beatty, Mickey Spillane in "Ring of Fear," CinemaScope-WamerColor. Van Heflin, Aldo Ray on location for "Battle Cry," CinemaScope-WamerColor. 4 THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— May 1. 1954