Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1947)

THE HOLLYWOOD SCENE Production Increases As 12 Pictures Start; MGM Suspends One Hoi I y wood Bureau Production shot upward at the studios last week, as work began on 12 films. Five others were completed, and one — MGM's "The Pirate" — was temporarily suspended. Most active of all was Universal-International, where three pictures started. "Jeopardy" co-stars Edmond O'Brien, Ella Raines, William Bendix and Vincent Price, with John Abbott and Maria Palmer in top supporting roles. Michael Gordon is directing for producer Jerry Bresler. Deanna Durbin, John Dall and Donald O'Connor are starred in "For the Love of Mary," with Margaret Wycherly, Jan Peerce, Helena Carter, Jean Adair and Norman Phillips completing the cast. Irving Pichel directs: Joseph Sistrom produces. MacMurray Starred in "Singapore" at Universal Heading the cast of "Singapore" are Fred MacMurray, Ava Gardner, Richard Haydn, Spring Byington, Thomas Gomez, Philip Dorn and George Lloyd. Like "Jeopardy," it is being produced by Jerry Bresler. The director is John Brahm. David O. Selznick's "Portrait of Jennie," a film version of the Robert Nathan novel, went into work on location in New York. Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten are costarred ; David Hempstead is the producer ; William Dieterle the director. "The Big Clock," based on Kenneth Fearing's mystery novel, started at Paramount with Ray Milland, Maureen O'Sullivan, Charles Laughton, Rita Johnson, George Macready, Elsa Lanchester, Dan Tobin, Lloyd Corrigan, Harold Vermilyea and Philip Van Zandt heading the large cast. John Farrow is directing for producer Richard Maibaum. At 20th Century-Fox, work commenced on "Scudda Hoo, Scudda Hay," based on a book by George Agnew Chamberlain. It marks the directorial debut of F. Hugh Herbert, who also wrote the screenplay. The picture stars June Haver, Lon McCallister and Walter Brennan, with Henry Hull, Anne Revere. Natalie Wood and Robert Karnes in supporting roles. Walter Morosco is the producer. Columbia trained cameras on two : "The Man from Colorado," and "The Lady Knew How." The first is a Technicolor action film starring Glenn Ford, William Holden and Ellen Drew. Charles Vidor is directing for producer Jules Schermer. "The Lady Knew How," a Cornell Picture, is produced by Raphael Hakim and S. Sylvan Simon, with the latter directing. Heading the cast of the comedy are Lucille Ball, Franchot Tone and Jonathan Hale. Two Pictures Are Started For Eagle-Lion Release Two new films went into work at EagleLion : "Out of the Blue," and "Love from a Stranger." The cast of the first includes George Brent, Virginia Mayo, Turban Bey, Carole Landis. and Ann Dvorak. Isadore Goldsmith produces; Leigh Jason directs. Richard Whorf is directing "Love from a Stranger" for producer James Geller. Heading the cast are John Hodiak, Sylvia Sidney and Ann Richards. Monogram's new "Teen-Ager" musical is titled "Sarge Goes to College," and its cast includes Freddie Stewart, June Preisser, Alan Hale. Jr., and Noel Neill. PRC's entry is "Gangway for Murder," with Robert Lowery and Anabelle Shaw in leading roles. Buck Gottlieb is the producer ; William Beaudine the director. Incidental News of Pictur es and People Judy Garland is set for the title role in MGM's film version of the Rogers-Hammerstein musical, "Annie Get Your Gun." . . . Michael Curtiz Productions has purchased "Sugarfoot," a western story bv Clarence Buddington Kelland. It will be .filmed in Technicolor for Warner release. . . . David O. Selznick will produce F. Scott Fitzgerald's "Tender Is the Night," with Jennifer Jones in the leading feminine role. Jean Arthur has been engaged by Paramount to star in "Foreign Affairs," a storv laid in post-war Germany, which Charles Brackett will produce and Billy Wilder direct. . . . Arrangements have been concluded whereby Monte Shaff will release his production of "Man Eaters of Kumaon" through Universal-International. . . . Jean Negulesco has been assigned to direct Errol Flynn's next starring vehicle at Warners, "The Adventures of Don Juan." American Eagle Films plans to produce "Zanzibar," a musical with an all-Negro cast. Ethel Waters, Duke Ellington and Mantan Moreland are set for leading roles. . . . Edward Dmytryk, recently returned from England, where he directed the RKORank production, "So Well Remembered," has been signed to a long term contract by RKO Radio. The new pact calls for his services as producer and director. Bischoff Signs Marin to Direct "Intrigue" for UA Samuel Bischoff has signed Edwin L. Marin to direct "Intrigue," one of four independent productions which Bischoff will release through United Artists. George Raft has been signed for a stellar role. . . . Frederick Brisson, head of Independent Producing Artists, has purchased "Lucky Penny," an original by Mindret Lord and Jack Rubin. . . . Cowboy star Eddie Dean has been signed to a new contract by PRC, under the terms of which he will appear in eight outdoor musical action films during the coming year. A story dealing with the United States Postal Inspection Service — the "police force" of the Post Office Department — will be the basis for a production on Benedict Bogeaus' 1947 program for United Artists release. . . . Universal-International has acquired the screen rights to Gabrielle Roy's "The Tin Flute," a romantic novel whose locale is Montreal. . . . Merle Oberon has been signed by RKO Radio to replace Loretta Young in "Memory of Love," which John Cromwell will direct and Harriet Parsons will produce under the executive spervision of Jack J. Gross. "My Own True Love" will be the title of Paramount's film of the Yolanda Foldes novel, "Make You a Fine Wife." Phyllis Calvert is to star in the picture, which Val Lewton will produce. . . . Art Gardner has been appointed executive assistant to Frank and Maurice King, and will work with them on major production problems connected with "The Gangster," the pair's current picture for Allied Artists. Benedict Bogeaus to Borrow Miss Lamour from Paramount Benedict Bogeaus has arranged to borrow Dorothy Lamour from Paramount to star in "Lulu Belle," the rights to which he also obtained from that studio. He plans to film it early this summer. . . . Hal E. Chester, producer for Allied Artists and Monogram, has five films scheduled for completion before the end of the year. The first will be "A Guy Named Joe Palooka;" the second, "Smart Woman," starring Constance Bennett ; the third. "The Big Story," a mystery tale by Craig Rice ; the fourth, another "Joe Palooka film, the fifth and final production 42 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MARCH 8, 1947