Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1943)

May 15, 1943 MOTION PICTURE HERALD I 3 FEWER PICTURES FOR '43-44 DESPITE BIG BACKLOGS Companies Indicate Reduction in Releases, but Production Pace Holds Although production commitments for the 1943-44 season have lagged behind this year because of uncertain producing and selling prospects brought about by the war and by the undetermined fate of the Consent Decree, a study of major company rosters of films completed or in work, those scheduled for release during the summer or those earmarked for probable release next season, indicates that a good portion of the 185 pictures rolled up in Hollywood's backlog will be the opening guns of the 1943-44 season. The line-up of completed or in work films, by companies, is as follows: Columbia, 20; MGM, 28; Monogram, 8; Paramount, 26; Producers Releasing Corporation, 10; Republic, 15; RKO Radio, 14; Twentieth Century-Fox, 14; United Artists, 12; Universal, 18, and Warner Bros., 20. The production index this week increased to 43, as reported in the Hollywood Scene, page 35, compared to 37 last week and 38 the week before. An analysis of Hollywood's musical films or pictures based on the vaudeville or variety theme, in addition to dramas or comedies with music, is reported on page 21. Thus far, Twentieth Century-Fox, United Artists, Republic, PRC and Monogram have made production promises for the new season. Although no commitments have been forthcoming from MGM, Paramount, RKO, Universal and Warner Bros., it is indicated that schedules will be slightly reduced compared to last year to meet the raw stock dictates as well as the holdover playing time which features are receiving. At mid-week Columbia announced a production schedule for 1943-44 of not less than 44 feature pictures. See page 38. 30 to 36 Planned by Twentieth Century -Fox Twentieth Century-Fox plans to release between 30 and 36 features next season, produced on a budget of between $32,000,000 and $35,000,000, Spyros Skouras, president of the company, told the press at New York last Friday. All of the pictures will be in the "large" bracket, he said, with the company dropping its production of secondary "B" product. The company will continue to sell in blocks of five, Mr. Skouras said, with occasional specials to be sold alone. Tom J. Connors, vice president in charge of sales, will release detailed product plans at regional sales meetings to be held in June and July. Among the important pictures set for next season, Mr. Skouras said, are "Claudia," "The Song of Bernadette," "Berlin Diary," "Guadalcanal," "One Destiny," "The Eve of St. Mark," and "Happy Land." "The Life of Eddie Rickenbacker," produced by Wdnfield Sheehan for 20th-Fox release, probably will not be ready for a year, Mr. Skouras added. He announced that the company also was planning to produce a specially written story on labor's contribution to the war effort. In Hollywood, Joseph M. Schenck, who re SELZNICK SIGNS SHIRLEY TEMPLE Shirley Temple, who was the "Little Princess" on the Twentieth CenturyFox lot from 1934 until 1940 and who was No. I Box Office Champion of the Herald Fame poll in 1935, 1936, 1937 and 1938, placing among the top ten in 1934 and 1939, will go to work for David O. Selznick. United Artists announced this week that Mr. Selznick had signed Miss Temple to a long term contract and that her first picture would be "Since You Went Away", scheduled to go into production July 15th. Last year Miss Temple made two pictures, "Kathleen", for MGM, and "Miss Annie Rooney", for Edward Small, a United Artists release. The 15-year-old actress, who was a phenomenally successful child star, is now a sophomore at the Westlake School for Girls in California. "Since You Went Away" is the first Selznick production since "Rebecca" and will be released through UA. turns to the studio as head of production on June 1st, said this week that the 20th-Fox production program would include 26 pictures in the larger special class, with only ten program films scheduled. Also two British pictures may be distributed. While the company has altered its policy to distribute a few pictures produced outside the studio, no definite commitments beyond the Rickenbacker film have been made, Mr. Schenck said. Warner Brothers, with its backlog of 20 completed and in work features, has made no official commitment for the new season other than to indicate the company would maintain an elastic production and distribution schedule dependent entirely on what the market requires. The company plans to keep the studio working at capacity, it was said, and as many as 35 to 40 pictures may be produced during 1943-44. However, present plans point to Warners releasing features next season at the same rate of distribution this year, one or two a month. A minimum of 16 releases for the new season is a probable guarantee. Whatever pictures are completed and go over that figure, in all likelihood would be kept on the backlog until the following season, unless, of course, the market conditions shift to allow the company to release three or four features a month during 1943-44. MGM, with an impressive backlog of 28 films completed or in work, is in a good position for the start of the new season next September, and although no product promises have been announced by the company, it is probable that the 1943-44 schedule will be slightly under this year's. It was indicated that the company will continue to sell in blocks of 12. Although Paramount produced 42 pictures for this season, in all probability its production schedule for 1943-44 will be reduced by at least eight or ten. The company has a backlog of 26 features, completed or in work, including "For Whom the Bell Tolls," which may or may not be released this summer. Paramount, according to present indications, will continue to sell in blocks-of-five, as will RKO. Every major company is banking heavily on the continuation of holdover playing time for its features, particularly the large budget films and the "specials." Sales departments, however, are somewhat disturbed, it is reported, ■ over the fact that holdover bookings are "milking" the product for subsequent-run houses which have not been able to obtain for themselves and for the distributors the revenues expected. On the basis of this season's expenditures on advertising and exploitation campaigns, it is forecast that major companies will appropriate equal, if not increased, sums for newspaper, magazine, trade press and radio advertising for their big budget pictures. A company-by-company line-up of feature films completed or in production, indicating wherever possible those scheduled for June, July or August release and those to be released next season, follows. The listings, however, do not include contemplated productions or those announced as purchases. Columbia With four pictures set for June release, three now in production and 13 completed but not scheduled for release, Columbia has a backlog of 20. Set for June release are: "Frontier Fury," Western, June 24th ; "Two Senoritas from Chicago," comedy with Jinx Falkenberg and Joan Davis, June 10th; "Appointment in Berlin," with George Sanders and Marguerite Chapman, June 29th, and "Crime Doctor," June 24th. The three films in production: "Attack by Night," starring Merle Oberon and Brian Aherne, which may be released late this summer or held for early release next season ; "Without Notice," with Charles Coburn and Marguerite Chapman, probably to be released next season ; "The Clock Struck Twelve," with William Warren and Ann Savage, another probable candidate for the new season, and "Cover Girl." Completed but for which no release dates have been set are the following : "Somewhere in Saraha," starring Humphrey Bogart, which may be released early next season ; "Destroyer," the war action picture with Edward G. Robinson, which was finished some time ago; "What's Buzzin' Cousin?" "Right Guy" and these Westerns, some of which may be released during the summer and the balance held for next season : "Silver City Raiders," "Hail to the Rangers," "Robin Hood of the Range," "Wyoming Hurricane," "The Vigilantes," "Riding West," "The Last Horseman" and "Law of the Badlands." Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Breakdown of MGM's backlog of 28 pictures includes nine in production, eight trade shown but not scheduled for release and nine completed for which no dates have been set. Two other productions are included in the 28 : "Sabotage Agent," MGM's British production starring Robert Donat, which probably will be released next season, and "Hitler's Hangman," produced by Seymour Nebenzel, from the original story by Emil Ludwig and Albrecht Joseph. The latter film may be released by the company sometime this summer. Of the eight films already trade shown but no dates scheduled, it is likely that five will constitute the May block. The eight pictures (.Continued on folowing page)