Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1946)

THE HOLLYWOOD SCENE Start 'Magnificent Doll ^ At Universal; 31 Films In Work at Studios Hollywood Bureau The shooting index slippedone notch last week to reach a total of 51 pictures in work. Seven films were completed during the week, and six were started. Production activity was most marked at Universal. Two films were brought before the cameras on the home lot, and a third, an Enterprise productin for Universal release, went into work on location at Zion National Park. "The Magnificent Doll," co-starring Ginger Rogers, David Niven and Burgess Meredith, with Pegg}' Wood, and directed by Frank Borzage, is the most ambitious picture so far undertaken by the Skirball-Manning production unit at Universal. Based on an original story by Irving Stone, it is a film biography of Dolly Madison, wife of President James Madison. "Swell Guy," an adaptation of the Broadway play, "The Hero," is a Mark Hellinger production co-starring Sonny Tufts, Ann Blyth and Ruth Warrick. Frank Tuttle is directing. The initial Enterprise production is Harry Sherman's "Ramrod," a top-budget Western starring Joel McCrea, Veronica Lake, Donald Crisp and Don DeFore, with Preston Foster and Arleen Whelan. Chaplin Launches "Comedy Of Murders" for U. A. Charles Chaplin launched "Comedy of Murders" for United Artists release. Chaplin is functioning as producer, director and star of the picture, which marks his first appearance on the screen since "The Great Dictator." The second of Hal Roach's features comedies, "Here Comes Trouble," went into work with Fred Guiol producing and directing. The picture, which will be filmed in Cinecolor, presents William Tracy, Joe Sawyer, Beverly Loyd, Joan Woodbury, Betty Compson, Margaret Roach and Patti Morgan. Producer Sigmund Neufeld brought an untitled Western, starring Buster Crabbe and Al St. John, before the cameras at PRC. Sam Newfield is directing. V Henry King will direct and Tyrone Power will star in the 20th Century-Fox version of Samuel Shellabarger's best seller, "Captain from Castile." Lamar Trotti is cur rently preparing the screenplay, and the studio intends the film to be one of the most ambitious productions on its 1946-47 program. . . . Edna Ferber's novel, "Great Son," will form the basis of Michael Todd's' first motion picture production to be released through Universal. Mike Frankovich has been placed in charge of Republic's serial program, the post formerly held by Ron Davidson. Frankovich will produce three serials a year, the first of which will be "Jesse James," to be followed by "The Black Widow" and "GMen Never Forget." . . . Jeffrey Bernerd has acquired the film rights to "The Maze," a novel by Maurice Sandoz, and will produce it for Monogram. The story is a mystery based on the legend of the famous yew tree maze at Craven Castle in Scotland. Concord Productions, a newly-formed organization headed by Paul Lamesh, John C. Nelson and James Wright, will produce at least 12 full length 16mm films annually for release through Planet Pictures. Currently, the new company is preparing to make "The Long Road Home," a comedy-drama, to be filmed in Kodachrome. "Fool's Gold," an original screenplay by Doris Schroeder, will be the second in the new series of "Hopalong Cassidy" Westerns starring William Boyd. George Archainbaud, who directed the first of the series, has been signed to direct three more, of which "Fool's Gold" will be one. Jeanne Crain and Mature to Co-Star in 20th-Fox Film Jeanne Crain and Victor Mature are set for co-starring roles in "No Wedding Ring," a story by Gene Markey, which the latter will produce for 20th Century-Fox. . . . Robert Hutton has been assigned a top role in "Remember the Hour," romantic postwar drama which William Jacobs will produce for Warners. . . . Mark Hellinger has acquired the screen rights to Don Tracy's novel, "Criss-Cross," and will produce it for Universal. . . . Jerry Fairbanks has signed Bob Burns to start in a feature to go into work soon. Priscilla Lane, after three years of retirement, will return to the screen in a co-starring role opposite Eddie Bracken in Andrew Stone's next United Artists production. "Strange Bedfellows." . . . Gregory Peck has been selected as the star of "Foxes of Harrow," a novel by Frank Yerby recently purchased by 20th Century-Fox. . . . "Millionaires for a Day," an original story by Ernest Lehman and Gaza Herozeg, has been acquired by Republic, and assigned to Alfred Santell, who will produce and direct the screen adaptation of the story. Charles Barton to Direct Comedy for Universal Charles Barton is slated to direct "White Tie and Tails," forthcoming Universal comedy, which will co-star Dan Duryea, Ella Raines and William Bendix. . . . "Paid in Full," a factual article by Dr. Frederic Loomis, which appeared in a recent issue of the Reader's Digest, has been purchased by Hal Wallis Productions to form the basis of a film for Paramount release. . . Phillip Perry has been engaged by RKO Radio for the romantic lead opposite Frances Langford in "Beat the Band," screen adaptation of the George Abbott musical in which Gene Krupa, Ralph Edwards and June Clayworth have top roles. Sol Lesser has engaged Kurt Neumann as associate producer and also to direct "Tarzan's Dangerous Game," which will star Johnny Weissmuller, Brenda Joyce and Johnny Sheffield. . . . Lillian Wells has had her Columbia contract extended. . . . Ray Enright has been signed by RKO Radio to direct "Trail Street," screen version of a novel by William Corcoran, which will be produced by Nat Holt as a top-budget outdoor drama with Randolph Scott in the leading role. Roberts Named Producer For Enterprise R. T. Roberts has joined Enterprise as producer, and is currently preparing the first film in which John Garfield will appear for Enterprise, "The Burning Journey," based on the life of Barney Ross. . . . Cornel Wilde has been chosen for the lead role in "The Black Rose," film version of John B. Costain's novel which Louis D. Lighton will produce for 20th Century-Fox. . . . Gail Russell has had her Paramount contract extended. The cordial boxoffice reception afforded Republic's series of Trucolor musical Westerns starring Monte Hale has led the studio to add two more of these films to its 1946-47 program, thus expanding the total to six. . . . Gerald Mohr, Broadway stage actor, has been signed by Columbia to make two pictures a year. His first will be "The Lone Wolf's Invitation to Murder," which Ted Richmond is slated to produce. . . . Henry Wilcoxon has been engaged by Cecil B. DeMille for a top role in his next Paramount production, which has been titled "Unconquered." 42 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JUNE 15, 1946