Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1940)

Motion Picture Daily Monday, April 15, 1940 !20th-FoxWill Revise Setup For New Year {Continued from page 1) to come from England, as in the past. The '4ynpany is considering the distribt^r-j of outside product, in which event ^le program as planned will be revised accordingly. Zanuck and Wurtzel heretofore have shared responsibiilty for 48 pictures, with Zanuck personally producing 24 and Wurtzel the remainder, including lesser budget films and series pictures. Wurtzel now will make some more films in the higher cost brackets. Next season Zanuck will make 18 pictures, and of the remaining eight big-budget films Wurtzel and Lucien Hubbard will make four each. Wurtzel probably will make a total of 13 films. Hubbard formerly was with M-G-M and Paramount and recently joined 20th Century-Fox as an associate producer. Four or five features are planned in color. New Associate Producers Other new associate producers on Zanuck's staff are Ralph Dietrich, Walter Morosco and Fred Kohlmar. There are now 10 associate producers, compared with eight a year ago. The studio now has 43 writers, the largest contract list in its history. The Charlie Chan and Jones Family series, two of 20th Century-Fox's oldest, will be dropped in the new season. One Charlie Chan feature will be made, and also possibly one Jones Family picture, which will end these series. The Jane Withers and "Cisco Kid" films, the latter with Cesar Romero, will be continued in a series of four each. Among films which will be released early in the season are : "Brigham Young," which Wobber said will be one of the biggest pictures in the company's history. Louis Bromfield wrote the story of the Mormon leader. The cast will include Tyrone Power, Dean Jagger, Linda Darnell, Jane Darwell, Mary Astor, John Carradine, Vincent Price, Brian Donlevy and Fuzzy Knight. 'Great Commandment' Listed "The Great Commandment," a spectacle of the time of Christ which parallels today's events in Europe. Tyrone Power will have the lead. "Down to the Sea in Ships," a drama of whaling days. "The Great Profile," with Adolphe Menjou in the role of an actor reminiscent of John Barrymore. "I Married a Nazi," the story of an American girl who married a German. "The Return of Frank James," in color, with Henry Fonda. "Elsa Maxwell's Public Deb No. 1," a story of a spoiled rich girl, with Brenda Joyce, George Murphy, Mischa Auer and others ; directed by Gregory Ratoff. "Down Argentine Way," in color; musical with South American background. Carmen Miranda will be in the cast. "Young People," Shirley Temple film directed by Allan Dwan. This is in production. She also is scheduled to make "Schoolmates." "Fifth Avenue," from 'Tvlanhattan Holiday," novel by Polan Banks. The remainder of the program will be made from stories on hand. Among them are : "Comrade Stalin," story of Red Russia; "How Green Was My Valley," from Richard Llewellyn's novel; "The Great American Broadcast," the history of radio; "Highway 66," scheduled as a story by John Steinbeck; "For Beauty's Sake," by Clarence Buddington Kelland; "Western Union," a Zane Grey novel; "Belle Starr," story of a woman bandit; "Steinmetz, the Wizard," story of the famous scientist; Irving Berlin's "Say It With Music"; Louis Bromfield's "Marching As to War," Salvation Army story. Also, "Brooklyn Bridge," "The Californian," "One Man Army," "Song of the Islands," "The Khyber Pass," "Brothers," "Red Cross Nurse," "Down on the Wabash," "Yesterday's Heroes," "Shadows in the Snow," "Hudson's Bay Company," "Too Much for One Man," "Sun Valley," "Uncensored," "Miss Pilgrim's Progress," "Dance Hall," "Breach of Discipline," "Falling Star," "Strange Bedfellows" and "The Bride Wore Crutches." In addition to associate producers named, those who will assist Zanuck in producing the program are Harry Joe Brown, Raymond Griffith, Nunnally Johnson, Gene Markey, Kenneth Macgowan and John Stone. Players, Directors Named Contract players include: Alice Faye, Tyrone Power, Don Ameche, Sonja Henie, Shirley Temple, Richard Greene, Henry Fonda, Jane Withers, Cesar Romero, Joan Davis, Brenda Joyce, Linda Darnell, Nancy Kelly, John Carradine, Lynn Bari, Jane Darwell, Charlotte Greenwood, Mary Beth Hughes, Ricardo Cortez, Chris-Pin Martin, George Sanders, Robert Shaw, George Montgomery, Marjorie Weaver, Arleen Whelan, Sidney Toler, Jean Rogers, Binnie Barnes, Katharine Aldridge, Ted North, John Payne, Ann Baxter, Dorris Bowdon, Mary Healy, Robert Lowery, Eddie Collins, Bob Conway, Joan Valerie, Frank Swann, and Elyse Knox. Directors under contract are Otto Brower, David Burton, Irving Cummings, Allan Dwan, John Ford, Eugene Ford, Henry Hathaway, Henry King, Walter Lang, Fritz Lang, Archie Mayo, Irving Pichel and Gregory Ratoff. More Color in Shorts Program of 52 Films Twentieth Century-Fox will increase the number of its color shorts, Wobber told the convention. The program of 52 one-reelers will be the same as in the past, in the matter of number and type of subjects. They will be released on a basis of two a week. In addition, there will be the usual semi-weekly releases of Movietone News. Of the 26 Terry-Toon cartoons, 13 are planned in color, an increase of four or five over the number of color cartoons this season. The program was described in detail by Truman H. Talley, producer of Movietone News and short subjects, and his staff comprising Lew Lehr, Lowell Thomas, Ed Thorgersen, Edmund Reek and Vyvyan Donner. Talley said the program has been planned for contraction or expansion, as it becomes necessary, and that the increase in color films was prompted by the additional revenue they have brought in. The program includes : a series of four "Lowell Thomas' Magic Carpet of Movietone" ; six "Ed Thorgersen's Sport Reviews," with three in color ; four Vyvyan Donner's "Fashion Forecasts" in color ; four "Adventures of a Newsreel Cameraman" ; four Lew Lehr comedies ; four "Father Hubbard's Alaskan Adventures," made in cooperation with the "Glacier Priest" ; and 26 cartoons. Higher Admissions Urged by Skouras (.Continued from page 1) Walker's Seattle branch placed second. A total of 24 prizes were won by branches, in feature, shorts, news and ad sales competitions. Among the speakers was Paul Terry, producer of Terry-Toon cartoons, who said that this year, which is his 25th anniversary, he has 114 employes, compared with one when he started. Felix Jenkins, general counsel, discussed contracts. He said the forms for the new season are unprepared as yet. William J. Clark, in charge of short subject sales, told the convention the compulsory pooling of newsreel coverage in the war zones has been abolished and Movietone News is now in a better position to cover war events. William J. Kupper, Western division manager, and other executives discussed sales methods. Sees Foreign Markets At Levels of 1934-'35 With weekly foreign business of the company at present near the $450,000 mark, returns from abroad are comparable with 1934'35 as far as American dollars are concerned, Walter J. Hutchinson, director of foreign distribution, said in reviewing export operations for the sales force. "Based on foreign currency," he said, "business today is greater than ever before abroad, but as far as returns to the company in American dollars are concerned, it is much lower than the past four-year average." Detailing foreign market ratings, Hutchinson said actual business in England today is greater than ever before, but the company's receipts are 5 lower. The same was said to be true of British Empire markets. Central America is rated next to Britain in revenue, with Mexico very good, and South America following. Hutchinson said that in China business in native dollars is 100 per cent ahead of last year and that business in Japan is "fantastic." Finland and Warsaw are doing excellent business despite war conditions, he said. He estimated that only 20,000 feet of film have been lost, although 250 merchant ships have been sunk during the war thus far. Hutchinson will hold sales meetings in Havana next week for the company's Central and South American officials. Associates to Hear Cohen and Rinzler Max A. Cohen, head of the Cinema Circuit, and Samuel Rinzler, executive of Randforce circuit, will address the Motion Picture Associates at a luncheon meeting Wednesday at the Hotel Astor. There will be a discussion of the Associates' move to obtain the support of the major companies for its unemployment and relief fund. Jack Ellis, president, will appoint a committee to solicit the companies. Censor Bans "Cargo" In Subsequent Runs Providence, April 14. — "Strange Cargo" was banned for second run showings here by Police Censor George W. Cowan after having played first run. Cowan said his action was taken as a result of the picture's being placed on the Legion of Decency's condemned list. He was editorially praised by The Providence Visitor, Catholic dio' cesan weekly, for his action. DIM ©LP MUSSOWD WEAVER BROTHERS and ELVIRY