Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1944)

Rank Will Make Story Supp*y Service f Of Mary Magdalene Expanded by RCA \) Del Giudice Is Producer; Leader Plans Version of 'Pilgrim's Progress" London Bureau Long known as a subject near to his heart, and one whose merits he has often commended, J. Arthur Rank's "Mary Magdalene" seems now to be approaching production stage. Mr. Rank's pre-occupation with sacred themes is well known. Long before he created his present organization he financed a little film — it was his first known association with the motion picture — called "Thy Words Were a Lamp Unto My Feet." The film, amateurishly made, was produced by the Religious Film Society. It told the story of a last-war prisoner, escaping from a Turkish prison camp, making his way across the Holy Land guided only by the names of villages recorded in the Old Testament. The Rank advisers, acknowledging the dramatic potentialities of the story of the Woman of Magdala, had forebodings of reactions in religious circles. Rank Persisted in Plan Mr. Rank persisted, however, arguing that such ventures, for example, as the Passion Play at Ober-Ammergau, was ample justification of his belief. Several authors were set to the job of producing provisional treatments of the story, but none developed satisfactorily. Under the scheme devised by the British Film Producers' Association on prospective film subjects, the title "Mary Magdalene" was registered a year ago in behalf of Gabriel Pascal. The association maintains three separate tables of registration : original titles, copyright titles, titles in public domain. The "Magdalen" film fell into the last, but it appears that not Mr. Pascal but Filippo del Giudice's Two Cities organization presently will undertake to make the sacred subject. Mr. Del Giudice lately has been in continual conference with Clemence Dane, famed novelist, dramatist and scenarist, in regard to the "Magdalen" film. Miss Dane is currently engaged on a treatment of the story whose outlines at least commend themselves not only to Mr. Rank but to other persons of influence whose views have been sought. To Make "Pilgrim's Progress" There's another Rank project well under way, a filming of John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress." Humphrey Jennings — rapidly climbing script writer — highly regarded by Mr. Rank himself, was put to doing a script of the Bunyan classic. Other people have essayed that hazardous enterprise in the past. Mr. Jennings has delivered his script, which is now the subject of debate among art directors, production managers, publicity experts and the like. But Mr. Rank has ordered the film made. Symptomatic, maybe, of his concern with sacred subjects is the circumstance that Mr. Rank lunched recently with the Archbishop of Canterbury. There's an organization over here — born of war, fostered in the current grave anxiety of the nation — known as the Christian Forward Movement. Its announced function is to promote discussion of secular develop ments. Inevitably the motion picture came on the Movement's agenda. The organizer, Michael Clarke, headmaster of Repton School, was bidden by the Archbishop to produce for debate with him the two most formidable experts in films. Mr. Clarke brought Mr. Rank and Sir Alexander Korda. It is said Sir Alexander shone in wit on the occasion. But Mr. Rank, telling Dr. Temple (the Archbishop) of his production plans, was the more impressive. Air Film Next for Two Cities Next Two Cities picture definitely to go on the floor is Anatole de Grunwald's effort, variously known as "For Johnny" and "Rendezvous." It's a tale of Anglo-American cooperation in the air, written by dramatist Terence Rattigan, to be directed by Anthony Asquith. The film will be the first of the Two Cities films to occupy the stages at Gainsborough's Shepherd's Bush plant, under the new arrangement whereby the Maurice Ostrer facilities are placed at the disposal of Del Giudice. Trouble has arisen in the case of two early hoped-for productions : "Two Cities" and "Six Men of Dorset." As previously reported "Two Cities" is another tale of Anglo-American endeavor in the war. It was planned by John Sutro to make a picture of the perilous conflict between the British matlow (matelot) and the American sailor. Half the picture was to be done in America, the other in England. And both the British Admiralty and the U. S. Navy Department had promised to help. But the invasion has halted the plan. Similarly, "Six Men" — tale of Britain's earliest trade union martyrs — is held up by the exigencies of war, with Roy Boulting named as director, a captain in the Army editing film chronicles of battles. Portman Set for "Two Worlds" In revising their schedule, Mr. Rank's production people have ample scope. Next following "For Johnny" (or "Rendezvous") will be "Man of Two Worlds," the story of the African Negro and his tragic entry into the world of the whites. Eric Portman, now regarded as Britain's foremost star, will figure in this. Mr. Portman is scheduled also to play Byron in the piece of that name which Mr. Rank has been prevailed upon to let be produced immediately "Two Worlds" is completed. Then comes Duff Cooper's "Talleyrand" and the screening of Winston Churchill's story of his great ancestor, Marborough. There is a feeling here that both those last mentioned tales will be made in Hollywood by Two Cities under the Rank-Skouras plan of joint production. Miss Dietrich Lauds Films' Value on Fighting Front Marlene Dietrich returned to New York after a 10-week tour of Italian and African war theatres, under the auspices of USO-Camp Shows and the Hollywood Victory Committee, and reaffirmed the importance of films to the morale of the men on the fighting lines. Miss Dietrich will return to Hollywood shortly to discuss plans for her next MGM picture. A broad expansion of equipment service to ex-U. hibitors was disclosed by the RCA Victor division ' of the Radio Corporation of America with the announcement that a complete line of theatre equipment would be offered exhibitors in the immediate post-war period. Homer B. Snook, -sales manager of the company's theatre equipment section, declared that in addition to a full line of RCA sound reproducing systems, Brenkert projectors, and RCA screens,^ the equipment to be offered under the new expanded policy included nationally known lines of power supply equipment, chairs, carpets and other accessories. Distribution of the new equipment lines will be handled in the field by RCA's nationwide organiza-'* tion of independent theatre supply dealers, many of whom have formerly distributed these same prod ucts. I si I ad ft Print Processing Lags in Britain The extremely limited color film processing facilities available in England as the result of needs of government and army film units is causing aj, severe distribution problem for commercial films,, je ; the Kinematograph Renters Society general coun 3 cil was informed last week. Topical films in Technicolor awaiting distribu tion in London, among them Paramount's "The Story of Dr. Wassell," were in a particularly delicate position, inasmuch as prolonged delays in color print processing might lead to loss of topical value at the box office, it was said. As a result of the situation methods were dis-E cussed by the KRS general council of grantin processing priorities for limited color facilities available to new and important features and tq Walt Disney short subjects over reissues and the. dubbing of foreign versions of British films. i id i o pi vher Irani he i isl : lb Sfoc Mexican Producers Not Opposed to Dubbing Despite protest of the film players' union and studio and theatre workers over exhibition ir Mexico of Spanish-dubbed American product, the Mexican Producers and Distributors Association isj, not opposing the practice, according to Salvador t Elizondo, president. "I consider the Mexican industry will not be af fected in the least with such dubbing and, there fore, in behalf of the Mexican producers, do no see any inconvenience. if American producers earn out their plan and use for that objective Mexicai artistes and technicians if they believe that is con venient. American pictures dubbed in Spanish," h states, "never can prejudice the distribution . o' Mexican pictures, inasmuch as the success of thes pictures is due not to the language but to the at mosphere and the fact that they have already bee: enthusiastically accepted by all the Spanish-speak ing public on the American continent." Improve Film Delivery To Troops in France Under arrangements approved by the Kinema tograph Renters Society general council in Eri gland, American troops in France soon will b able to see the same films concurrently with thei showing to the military in camps in England. Lor don distributors will supply the films at toke' royalty terms agreed upon with the British Joir Ordering Board and the army will fly them. Columbia Declares Dividend Columbia Pictures Corporation has declared a quarterly dividend of 68)4 cents per share on the $2.75 convertible preferred stock. Industry Gives $34,706 To New York Fund The industry and its employee groups contrit uted $34,076 to the Greater New York Fund dui ing the period of the 1944 appeal, it was announce at the Fund's third report luncheon last week. 28 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JULY I, I9<4'|l!0l