The Independent Film Journal (1954)

Colony’s Prestige Up Abroad: Kaye Just back from a world tour for the United Nations, Danny Ivaye said that Hollywood is exerting a greater influence on the world than ever before. Kaye, who was “an am¬ bassador at large,” said that the American film industry is regarded abroad as an im¬ portant means of education and entertain¬ ment. He also stressed that there is the utmost respect for Hollywood’s dignity and maturity. Kaye covered over 40,000 miles on his journey to make a color motion picture rec¬ ord of the United Nations International Chil¬ dren’s Emergency Fund, a branch of the United Nations devoted to providing medical and nutritional care for children in the un¬ developed areas of the world. He came back with 9,000 feet of film. He shot in Johannesburg and surrounding areas, Nairobi, Bombay, New Delhi, Rangoon, Bangkok, Thailand, Hong Kong and Tokyo. The film will be shown in theatres through¬ out the world to educate and interest the pub¬ lic in the work being done by the UNICEF. — R. B. Warner Sales Execs Study Pix On Coast Warner Bros, officials will hold a two-day studio meeting next week at the company’s Burbank headquarters, according to Ben Kalmenson, vice-president in charge of dis¬ tribution. Purpose of the meeting is to give the top sales heads of the company a chance to look at forthcoming product, the distribu¬ tion chief explained. Pictures to be viewed include “A Star Is Born,” “Dragnet” and “Battle Cry.” In addi¬ tion to completed product, the executives will look at advance footage of productions cur¬ rently shooting, he added. These include “Helen of Troy,” “The Silver Chalice,” “East of Eden,” “Land of the Pharaohs,” “Track of the Cat” and “Drum Beat.” Title Changes RIvO-Radio: “This Is My Love’’ is the final title for “Night Without End.” (Stars Linda Darnell, Rick Jason, Dan Duryea; Allan Dowling produced). Paramount: “Three Ring Circus” is the new title for “The Big Top.” (Stars Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis; Joseph Pevney directed). United Artists: “Battle Taxi” will be the title of “Operation Air Rescue.’ ’ ( Stars Sterling Hayden ; Ivan Tors and Art Arthur produc¬ ing). “Down Three Dark Streets” is the new title for “Case File, F.B.I. ” (Stars Broderick Crawford and Ruth Roman; Jules Levey, Arthur Gardner and Edward Small producing) . Univ.-Int’l. : “To Paris, With Love,” is the final title for “Paris Affair.” (Alec Guinness stars; J. Arthur Rank Organization produc¬ ing). HOLLYWOOD ... on the wire RICHARD BERNSTEIN, Editor 1 ' Hollywood Offices: 4225V2 Lockwood Ave., Hollywood 29. Tel.: 9 , Normandie 2-6494 With the signing by Samuel Goldwyn of a more-than-a-million contract for screen rights to the highly successful Broadway musical comedy, “Guys and Dolls,” preliminary steps leading to production of the film were com¬ pleted. Joseph I. Mankiewicz was contracted to write and direct the picture, beginning on the project in September. Rehearsals are ex¬ pected to start Oct. 15 and shooting Jan. 15. Frank Loesser, who Tvrote the score for the musical, will compose additional songs for the picture. * * * William F. Broidy will produce four pic¬ tures for Allied Artists this year and will have an option to produce an additional four during the next 12 months, according to an agreement he concluded with Walter Mirisch, AA executive producer. First film will be “Dynamite Anchorage,” starting July 26; then “Cry Vengeance,” Aug. 23; “Rider of the Ruby Hills,” Sept. 17, and “Desert of the Damned,” Oct. 18. Melville Shavelson and Jack Rose filed in¬ corporation papers for Scribe Productions, their own producing company. The pair also announced that Scribe has entered into a partnership with Paramount and Bob Hope Enterprises for “Eddie Foy and the Seven Little Foys, ” which Rose is producing and Shavelson directing. They also wrote the screen play. Future Scribe features will be “Kitty Hawk,” the story of airplane in¬ ventors Orville and Wilbur Wright, which Rose and Shavelson will wTrite, produce and direct. Corporation directors are Rose, Shavelson, Jules Goldstone and George Ros¬ enberg. * * * Robert Roark was announced for one of the stellar roles in Herman Cohen’s Abtcon Production, “Tar getEarth” for Allied Art¬ ists release. In the other leads are Richard Denning, Virginia Grey and Kathleen Crowley. Sherman A. Rose is directing the feature. . . . Don Siegel was signed to direct “The Annapolis Story” which rolls in Tech¬ nicolor this week with Walter Mirish produc¬ ing and John Derek in the star role. Allied Artists will release the film. * # * Director Mitchell Leisen left for Paris, where he will meg M-G-M’s “Sacred and Profane.” Leisen is meeting with Producer Henry Berman to map out plans for the Anne Baxter-Steve Farrest starrer which will be shot entirely in the French capitol. . . . Barbara Hale joined Fred MacMurrav, Charlton Heston and Donna Reed in the VistaVision production, “Blue Horizon,” which Pine and Thomas will produce for Paramount release. Rudy Mate is directing. * * * Leonard Goldstein purchased an original story, “Young Moses,” by Herb Meadow. This is the story of Moses the youth, Prince of Egypt, general of the armies, fighter, lover and philosopher. . . . Gregg Tallas has left for Europe where he will meet Linda Darnell in Rome on the first stage of a tour of the continent with a view toward setting up inter-hemisphere production deals. Mark Stevens has been given full direc¬ torship on “Ketchikan,” in which he will also star, by Producer Lindsley Parsons. Film rolls July 31. . . . Gene Nelson has started his dance rehearsals for his work in “Oklahoma,” which Fred Zinnemann is di¬ recting. The Agnes De Mille dance routines are expected to be some of the most elaborate production numbers ever filmed. # * * Marge and Gower Champion have been , inked to appear in M-G-M’s “Hannibal’s Woman.” . . . “Bombay Boy,” an original story by Robert Hardy Andrews, was ac¬ quired by U-I and assigned to Stanley Rubin to produce. Robert Presnell has been signed to develop the screen play. . . . Hal Wallis announced that he will bring to the screen the story of the late Gen. H. H. “Hap” Arnold. The film rights to Arnold’s autobiography, ‘ ‘ Global Mission’ ’ were pur¬ chased by Wallis from Mrs. Eleanor P. Arnold, the general’s widow. * * * Robert Pirosh has purchased the book, “The Cliff’s Edge,” by Marie Hackett, and will write his own screen play for inde¬ pendent production. . . . Arwin Productions, Inc., is the new name of Martin Felcher Productions, it was announced by Warner Brothers Studios. . . . Harold Schuster will direct “Dynamite Anchorage,” Dane Clark starrer and the first of four films Producer William F. Broidy will make for Allied Art¬ ists this year. Film is scheduled to roll July 26. . . . Next March, Yul Brynner will report to Cecil B. DeMille for his role of Rameses in “The Ten Commandments.” He will prob¬ ably do the film version of “The King and I” after the DeMille assignment. * * * Richard Basehart has been signed for a starring role with Gregory Peck in John Hus¬ ton’s “Moby Dick,” which is a Moulin Pro¬ duction for Warner Bros, release. . . . Brian Keith, Columbia contractee who recently wound up “The Violent Men,” was assigned the male lead in Columbia’s forthcoming, Dore Schary, M-G-M studio head, and producer Pete Smith hold plaque presented by the Na¬ tional Safety Council for Smith's short "Pedestri¬ an Safety.'' 34 THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— July 24, 1954