Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1936)

46 MOTION PICTURE HERALD August 8, 1936 ITALIAN STUDIOS ACTIVE (Continued from preceding page) film of spectacular character glorifying the Italian cavalry. ITALIA ("Italy") ; temporary title; producer, Artisti Associati ; director, Mario Camerini ; a subject of present colonial life which will be taken partly in East Africa. LA MASNADA DEI 13 ("The Band of 13"); producer, Forzani Film; director, Giovacchini Forzano ; a thriller. I DUE SERGENTI ("The Two Sergeants"); producer, Mander Film; director, Nunzio Malasomma; a popular type of film suitable also for foreign markets. LOS MEMERATO ("Forgetful") ; a comical film to feature Angelo Musco. L'ANTENATO ("The Ancestor") ; producer, Tiberia Film ; director, Guido Brignone ; taken from the wellknown play by Carlo Veneziani. LE BANDENERE ("The Black Gang") ; producer, Consorzio Tobis-Enic ; director, Luigi Trenker ; a great film made in two versions, Italian and German, of important historical significance. The second group was to be started during July. It includes : SCIPIONE L'AFRICANO ("Scipio, the African"); producer, Colombo Film; director, Carmine Gallone ; the ethical and artistic importance of which it is superfluous to illustrate. CORSARO NERO ("Black Pirate") ; producer, I. C. I. ; director, Amleto Palermi ; taken from the novel bv Emilio Salgari. VOGLIO L'AUTOMOBILE ("I Want An Automobile"); temporary title; producer, Mercurio Film ; director, Alessandro Blasetti ; a sporting film. LA DAMIGELLA DI BARD ("The Lady of Bard") ; producer, I. C. I. ; director, Mario Mattoli ; taken from the play by Salvatore Gotta. MADAMA BONAPARTE ("Madam Bonaparte") ; to be made at Tirrenia in French version only ; taken from the subject by Gino Rocca for Elsa Merlini ; to be produced by Consorzio E. I. A. To Start in August Films to be started in August include: LA MALIBRAN ("Malibran") ; producer, Fauno Film ; from the subject of Gino Rocca and E. Margadonna; ETTORE FIERAMOSCA ; producer, Giulio Maneriti Film ; director, Alessandro Blasetti ; two films, Pirandello subjects, one the very important, FU MATIA PASCAL; producer, Ala Film ; director, Pierre Shenal, and DOVE ROMOLO EDIFICO, written expressly by Pirandello for Roma Film. The schedule for September and October lists : E'TORNATO CARNEVALE ("Carnival Returns") ; producer, Astra Film; taken from the plav by Giulio Cantini. NON PIU' NOMADI ("No More Nomads") ; producer, Aprilia Film; colonial subject bv Corrado Sofia. LA VITA DI LUIGI CAROLI ("The Life of Luigi Caroli") ; producer, Aprilia Film ; historical subject of Garibaldian times by Adele Zanchi. 'MADDALENA ("Magdalene"); pro ducer, Tiberia Film ; taken from a play by Giudo Cantini. A film of lyrical character from a subject of Raffaele Calzini, having La Scala theatre as a background to be produced by Aprilia Film. A racing film by Mario Buzzichini. Three films without definite title, one for Elsa Merlini by Consorzio E. I. A. ; one by Vittoria Film and one for the De Filippo Brothers for which a new producing company is being formed. Another Group in Preparation Organization and preparation of still another group is in work, but details will be discussed before production is decided upon. In this group there will be : SANTA CATERINA DA SIENA ("Saint Catherine of Siena") ; an important film on which Giovanni Papini is now working ; producer, Tiberia Film Sangraf . VILLA CONFALONIERI ("The Confalonieri Villa") ; from the romance of Richard Voss, to be made in two versions, Italian and German and produced by Astra Film. LA DAMA DI PICCHE" ("Queen of Spades"); from the novel by Puskin; producer, Manenti ; director, Corrado d'Errico. Also CRISTOFORO COLOMBO, FRANCESCA DA RIMINI, UN PEZZO DI TERRA ("Christopher Columbus"), ("Francesca of Rimini") and ("A Piece of Earth.") To all the above must be added another film which is exceptional and most important, a re-edition of Cabiria, undertaken by an American group and for which there are extensive preparations. Bolognino and Springer Buyers Laurence Bolognino and Jack W. Springer will do the buying for the Leff-Meyers circuit in New York, in which they have just purchased a half interest, it was revealed in Manhattan this week. The physical operation of the circuit, however, will be continued by Abe Leff and Louis Meyers. Reid Retained RKO-Radio has exercised its option on Cliff Reid, producer, and assigned him two features for early production. Reid was credited with production of "The Informer." Midwest To Convene The Fox Midwest Theatres annual convention will be held August 11-12 at Excelsior Springs with 90 theatres represented. Business, golf and a banquet are on the schedule. New Serial Scheduled Ralph Graves has been signed for the leading male role in "The Black Coin" a new 15-episode Weiss-Mintz serial which was to go into production this week. Powers National Theatres Buyer William T. Powers has been named successor to E. L. Alperson as head of film buying for National Theatres, Spyros Skouras, operating head, stated last weekend. The appointment in no way affects the standing of J. J. Sullivan, F. W. C. buyer. Mr. Powers already has assumed his new post. George Balsdon, who up to now has been exclusively handling short subject purchases, has been appointed first assistant. Milton Hossfeld, recently on the F. W. C. staff, will be permanently located in New York. During the past few months Mr. Hossfeld has been spending most of his time in the field. Miriam Detlefs also will assist in the buying. Miss Detlefs for years was New York exchange booker for First National and Warners. She has been with National for about three years. Edward Zabel, assistant to Mr. Skouras, will act as "adviser" to Mr. Powers and his staff. He recently returned from the coast where he spent a year. His post in Los Angeles has been taken over by Larry Kent, brother of the president of Twentieth Century-Fox. Prior to his being transferred to the coast, Mr. Kent was assistant to Edward Peskay, who resigned July 1 as buyer for Skouras Theatres. National Theatres and its subsidiaries operate more than 400 houses throughout the country. Among National subsidiaries are F. W. C, Evergreen States, Intermountain, Fox Midwest and Fox Wisconsin circuits. Mr. Sullivan, who was compelled to return to the coast about two months ago due to illness, is back to resume negotiations on pending deals. Harry Cohen, RKO western division sales head, has been in the east since the company's convention working on final details of a deal with the circuit. The talks are expected to wind up in a few weeks, following which the National buyers will start discussing U. A. product terms. Irving Barry, secretary to Mr. Skouras, has gone to Milwaukee on a three weeks' assignment. O'Rourke Rejoins Exhibitor Group Ray O'Rourke, operating the Doris theatre, Philadelphia, has been reinstated a member of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Eastern Pennsylvania. Buy Oliver Supply Company L. P. Langford, former National Theatre Supply manager in Cleveland, and Ernest Forbes, formerly of Theatre Equipment Company at Detroit, have bought control of the Oliver Supply Company, Inc., in Cleveland. Earl Carroll To Produce Earl Carroll, New York stage producer, has signed a long term contract with Twentieth Century-Fox as a producer and his first picture will be "The Twentieth Centurv Follies." Sparks Joins Republic Paul Sparks has joined Republic Studios as assistant to Harold Dodds, casting director. D'Arcy Signs With Warner Alexandre D'Arcy, French film actor, has signed a long term contract with Warner Brothers.