The Independent Film Journal (1954)

Sally Forrest and Dale Robertson in "Son of Sinbad, SuperScope-Technicolor, for November 27 John Wayne and Janet Leigh in "Jet Pilot," SuperScope-Technicolor, for November 13 The Conqueror Susan Slept Here The Big Rainbow Faith Domergue and Linda Darnell in "This Is My Love," Pathe Color, for September 25 Son Of Sinbad Jet Pilot This Is My Love John Wayne and Susan Hayward in "The Con¬ queror," CinemaScope-Technicolor, for mid-January release Dick Powell, Anne Francis and Glenda Farrell in "Susan Slept Here," Technicolor, currently in release Gilbert Roland, Richard Egan and Jane Russell in "The Big Rainbow," SuperScope-Technicolor, for December 25 RKO Pictures Schedules 12 Color Films For Release; Every Wide-Screen Process Utilized In New Line-Up RKO has followed up the recent announce¬ ment of a releasing schedule of 12 color pro¬ ductions with the information that it is utiliz¬ ing all the available wide-screen processes for pictures on its roster. All the productions which RKO has selected for extra-size presentation are in Technicolor. According to James R. Grainger, presi¬ dent, this is “the strongest array of saleable product RKO has ever offered to the exhibi¬ tor and the public.” These 12 films “repre¬ sent the kind of entertainment we know the public wants,” the executive declared. Grainger added that while the cost of each production has been carefully watched, “never-the-less we have allocated the largest budgets in RKO’s history to two of our forthcoming films — Howard Hughes’ ‘The Conqueror’ and ‘Jet Pilot’— because we are certain that these films will be ‘evergreens’ in the sense that each will be like a ‘Gone With the Wind.’ ” Grainger disclosed that negotiations by RKO are currently underway for certain additional top-level films to be released during this period. The most recent developments of the CinemaScope lenses are being used for Howard Hughes’ epic depiction of the early life of the notorious Genghis Khan, “The Con¬ queror.” One of the biggest budgeted pictures in the post-war era to be made completely in this country, “The Conqueror” will cost $6,000,000 and will star John Wayne, Susan Hay¬ ward and Pedro Armendariz. Producer-Director Dick Powell is making his debut as a producer with this Technicolor production. He directed a previous picture for RKO, “Split Second.” Another much-talked about production, “The Americano,” will utilize SuperScope, developed by the Tushinsky brothers on the RKO lot. A Robert Stillman production, this South American adventure stars Glenn Ford, Ursula Thiess, Cesar Roiqero and Frank Love joy. Curently shooting in SuperScope at Glacier Park, Montana, is Benedict Bogeaus’ “Cattle Queen of Montana,” in which Bar¬ bara Stanwyck and Ronald Reagan are costarred. This RKO release offers a switch in casting, presenting Ronald Reagan as a hired killer. Rosalind Russell’s initial screen musicalcomedy, “The Girl Rush,” will be the first RKO picture to employ VistaVision. Pro¬ duced by Frederick Brisson, Miss Russell’s husband, “Girl Rush” will shoot many of its scenes on location in Las Vegas and nearby ranches. The Tushinsky process of SuperScope projection will be utilized for three widely publicized RKO productions: “Jet Pilot,” “Son of Sinbad” and “The Big Rainbow.” The first, a Howard Hughes production, stars John Wayne and Janet Leigh. “Son of Sin¬ bad,” a musical adventure, co-stars Dale Robertson, Sally Forrest, and Dili St. Cyr. In “The Big Rainbow,” Jane Russell and Gilbert Roland, who scored successfully in RKO’s current “The French Line,” are re¬ united in a sea adventure concerning diving for buried treasure. The release schedule, with dates, follows : “Susan Slept Here,” currently in release, co-stars Dick Powell and Debbie Reynolds with Anne Francis, in Technicolor. “Pas¬ sion,” Sept. 11, co-stars Cornel Wilde and Yvonne de Carlo, in Technicolor. A Benedict Bogeaus Production. “This Is My Love,” Sept. 25, starring Linda Darnell, Rick Jason, Dan Duryea and Faith Domergue, Pathe Color. An Allan Dowling Production. Also, “Africa Adventure,” Oct. 9, Robert C. Ruark’s filmed-in-Africa story of his safa¬ ri, in color. An RKO-Pathe production. “The Americano,” Oct. 23. “Jet Pilot,” Nov. 13. “Son of Sinbad,” Nov. 27. “Cattle Queen of Montana,” Dec. 11. “The Big Rainbow,” Dec. 25. “The Conqueror,” mid-January, 1955. “The Girl Rush,” mid-February, 1955. “The Sea Is A Woman,” mid-March, 1955, with an all-star cast in Technicolor. 24 THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— August 7, 1954