The Independent Film Journal (1954)

Philip Dunne Finds An Intriguing Situation At Fox In Assembling Cast For ‘Players’ By Richard Bernstein “I do not like calling a picture like this a ‘biopic’,” producer-director-writer Philip Dunne said in his 20th Century-Fox office of his next film, “The Prince of Players.” “IPs a drama and a love story.” “The Prince of Players” deals with the Booth family, the father Junius, and the sons, Edwin and John Wilkes. It deals with the conflict between the brothers. The film is based on the novel by Eleanor Ruggles of the same name published by W. W. Norton with screen play by the noted playwright Moss Hart. “I am happy that I am directing from a Moss Hart script,” Dunne stated. “I would later like to direct one of my own scripts.” “The Prince of Players” will be the first directorial effort for Dunne, who has pro¬ duced another film, “Way of the Gaucho.” Dunne, who screen played “The Robe,” is considered one of the industry’s top writers. Spent Two Months Dunne has spent two months preparing the feature, which will have Shakespearean sequences blended into the story. Richard Burton has been signed for the title role. Dunne explained the choice of Burton with, “Richard Burton is one of the outstanding Shakespearan actors now alive. Pie has just finished a year at Old Vic.” Dunne also believes that Burton is en route to becoming one of the top box office motion picture stars. “The film is the story of an actor playing Shakespeare. The story will be alive. The picture will be shot so you are aware of the settings and the play and the audience,” Dunne continued. He further explained that a great deal of time had been spent researching for the film, which will be shot in color and CinemaScope. Cast for the film is an intriguing one Avith John Derek as John Wilkes Booth, Charles Bickford as Dave Prescott, the manager of EdAvin Booth. Six Main Players 'There are six main characters in the pic¬ ture and only one is not named Booth. Dunne cited the fact that a lot of people only know John Wilkes Booth as the man who shot President Lincoln ; but he also wTas a matinee idol. He Avas famous for his Marc Antony while Edwin was famous for his Brutus. Shooting schedule for “The Prince of Players” is 38 days. Dunne stated that Maggie MacNamara has been set as the femme lead, the part of Mary Devlin, who has so much to do Avith the path of Edwin Booth’s life. “The biggest problem after getting the script is casting,” Dunne said. “A writer has intimate knowledge of Avhy a scene wms written and can give good advice on all phases of production. Everybody making a picture should be in on eA7ery phase of it.” Dunne stated that a director should be in on the preparation of the script. Dunne believes in good titles for films. The right title helps in his opinion, just like the right actor for a particular part helps. PHILIP DUNNE He is also enthused about the use of CinemaScope on the production. “It gives scope, it gives the scope of the stage, which we are trying to capture in this picture,” he said. Dunne believes that the shortage of pic¬ tures will ease. “The law of supply and demand will help see to it that more pic¬ tures will be made.” Dunne entered the motion picture business in 1931 when he served with the old Fox company until 1933. The three years that folloAved found Dunne writing for the screen at Universal, United Artists and Metros GoldAvyn-Mayer studios. He joined 20th Century-Fox writers in 1936. From 1941-45, as chief of motion pic¬ ture production, Dunne worked for the Office of War Information Overseas Branch. Some of his screen credits are “Stanley and Liv¬ ingstone,” “Suez,” “The Rains Came,” “Johnny Apollo,” “How Green Was My Valley.” “The Late George Apley,” “Pinky,” “Lydia Bailey,” “David and Bathsheba,” “Demetrius and the Gladiators” and “The Egyptian.” He will also produce “Saber Tooth,” which will be directed by Samuel Fuller from Fuller’s own screen play. “Saber Tooth” is the story of an expedition that goes to find a still existing prehistoric Avorld. An unhappy marriage problem is solved. Title Changes Hecht-Lancaster: "The Kentuck¬ ian" is the new title for “The Gabriel Horn." (Stars Burt Lancaster; Harold Hecht produces). M-G-M: "Boulevard in Paris" is the new title for “Paris Story." (Stars Anne Baxter, Steve Forrest and Jean Gabin; Henry Berman produces). HOLLYWOOD... career Avith a starring part in an upcoming production. Miss McLaine is the young un¬ derstudy who stepped into Carol Haney’s hit role in “The Pajama Game’’ and got terrific reviews. . . . John Farrow Avill direct John Wayne in “The Sea Chase,’’ which Warner Bros. Avill make. The film will be shot in CinemaScope and WarnerColor. . . . Columbia signed Vince Edwards to a term contract. Edwards starred in Allied Artists’ “Hiawatha” and just finished the heaAry role in “Rogue Cop” at M-G-M with Robert Taylor. * * * Because of an unforeseen conflict in schedules, U-I set George Nader to replace Jeff Chandler in the male lead opposite Maureen 0 ’Hara in ‘ ‘ Lady Godiva of Cov¬ entry. “ Arthur Lubin is directing the Tech¬ nicolor semi-historical feature with story by Oscar Brodney. It is set in the reign of King Edward I. Robert Arthur is producing. * ¥ * “Quest For A Lost City,” feature-length Eastman color adventure film starring the husband and wife explorer team, Dana and Ginger Lamb, will be distributed by RKO, according to a joint announcement by J. R. Grainger, president of RKO, and Sol Lesser, president of Sol Lesser Productions. The picture tells the story of the explorers’ quest for the last stronghold of the ancient Mayans in the deepest recesses of the jungles of Guatemala. The film was two years in the making and has been assembled from a total of 75,000 feet of film shot by the Lambs while on their 10,000 mile jour¬ ney. Tom Harmon narrates the foreword. * * * Norman Panama and Melvin Frank will roll “The Court Jester,” which stars Danny Kaye, on Oct. 22 for Paramount release. . . . Delbert Mann will direct Hecht-Lancaster’s “Marty,” which will star Ernest Borgnine. Starting date for the film is Oct. 1. . . . Charles Feldman and Billy Wilder will produce “The Seven Year Itch,” based on the hit play, for 20th Century-Fox release. Wilder will direct the film, which will start Sept. 8. * * * Stanley Kramer’s “Not As A Stranger,” which he will produce and direct for UA release, will roll Sept. 27. . . . Alexander Paal is shooting “Dance in the Sun” in Germany with Cecile Aubry starring. Geza von Cziffra is directing the film which is being shot for wide-screen and Gevacolor. . . . Anthony Quinn will star in “The Num¬ ber One,” a bullfight story, which will roll in Mexico City about Sept. 25. * * * Frank Ross will start second unit pho¬ tography for his next feature for 20th Century-Fox, “Alexander The Great,” in India this winter. . . . Vera Miles plays the femme lead in “Tarzan’s Hidden Jungle,” opposite Gordon Scott, which Sol Lesser is producing and Harold Shuster directing. . . . Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis’ next film for Paramount will be “You’re Never Too Young.” Paul Jones produces and Nor¬ man Taurog directs. . . . Lex, Barker Avas assigned the lead in “Justice Comes To Tomahawk,” at U-I. It rolls Sept. 15 under the direction of Jack Arnold. It wdll be produced by Howard Pine. The film is set in Arizona territory in 1880. 28 THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— September 4. 1954