Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1947)

THE HOLLYWOOD SCENE Six Pictures Started as Three Are Finished; Shooting Index at 41 Hollywood Bureau Production in Hollywood continued to climb last week, as six new films went into work, and three others were completed. By the week's end, the shooting index had reached 41, compared with the previous 38. Robert Young. Robert Mitchum and Robert Ryan have been selected by producer Adrian Scott to co-star in "Crossfire," described as a drama of racial intolerance. Gloria Grahame and Jacqueline White have leading feminine roles. Edward Dmytryk is directing from John Paxton's adaptation of the Richard Brooks novel, "The Brick Foxhole." At MGM, work began on "Good News." a film version of the musical hit of the '20s. It will feature, among other nostalgic numbers, "Lucky in Love," "The Best Things in Life Are Free" and "Varsity Drag." Gene Kelly and Judy Garland share stellar honors ; Arthur Freed produces-; Vincente Minnelli directs. Eagle-Lion Picture Back in Studio for Final Scenes "The Red Stallion," which has been shooting on location in the High Sierras, returned to Eagle-Lion Studios for final scenes which Crane Wilbur will direct, since Lesley Selander is now busy at Republic. Bryan Foy is the producer, and the cast includes Noreen Nash, Ted Donaldson, Jane Darweil, Robert Paige and Guy Kibbee. Selander, meanwhile, has undertaken direction of "Saddle Pals," Gene Autry's latest for Republic. Sidney Picker is the producer; Sterling Holloway and Lynne Roberts are in top supporting roles. Columbia launched an action musical titled "Swing the Western Way," with Jack Leonard and Mary Dugan heading the cast. Colbert Clark produces ; Derwin Abrahams directs. Monogram's new venture is "The Law Comes to Gunsight," a Western starring Johnny Mack Brown with Raymond Hatton and Reno Blair. Barney Sarecky is producing, Lambert Hillyer directing. Incidental News of Pictures and People RKO Radio has acquired from Hal Wallis Productions the screen rights to "The White Swamp," as well as the services of Lizabeth Scott and Burt Lancaster as co-stars, of director Byron Haskin and cameraman Leo Tovar. Bert Granet will produce the picture, a melodrama dealing with the recovery of gold lost in the Bahama Islands. . . . Charles F. Reisner. for many years under contract to MGM. has joined Eagle-Lion as a producer. His first assignment there will be "Corkscrew Alley," planned as a vehicle for Broadway actor Richard Basehart. Michael Curtiz Acquires Two Story Properties Two recent story acquisitions by Michael Curtiz Productions are "Sugarfoot," by Clarence Budington Kelland, and "Shadow of Fear," an original by Frances Marion. The latter, a period melodrama laid in the California wine country, will be directed by Curtiz for release through Warners. "Sugarfoot" is a Western, and will be filmed in Technicolor. . . . George Archainbaud has been engaged by William Boyd and Lewis J. Rachmil to direct a series of seven "Hopalong Cassidy" Westerns scheduled for production this year. Walter Wanger has arranged to borrow Robert Cummings from United California Productions to co-star with Susan Hayward in "The Lost Love," Wanger's next production for Universal-International. Joan Loring is set for a featured role. . . . William Dieterle will direct David O. Selznick's production of "Rupert of Hentzau," for which Valli, Louis Jourdan and Joseph Cotten have been signed. Argosy Plans Five Films Starring Amendariz Phil Karlson will direct "Kilroy Was Here." Monogram film to star Jackie Coogan and Jackie Cooper. . . . Mexican star Pedro Armendariz. who was born in San Antonio and speaks perfect English, will be starred in five films by Argosy Pictures, new producing company headed by John Ford and Merian C. Cooper. . . . Jack Schwarz plans to produce "Western Barn Dance" for Screen Guild release, and has signed B. B. Ray to direct it. Universal-International has signed Robert Montgomery to a three-way contract as producer, director and actor. He will head his own production unit. . . . Irene Dunne and Barbara Bel Geddes will co-star, and Oscar Homolka will have a featured role in "I Remember Mama," RKO's film version of the Broadway play which, in turn, is based on Kathryn Forbes' novel, "Mama's Bank Account." Harriet Parsons is to produce. Walter Lantz has signed a five-year contract with United Artists, under the terms of which he will release 11 cartoons annually through that company, and possibly more when Technicolor facilities become available. Lantz will continue to use the same characters made famous in his Universal cartoons during the past 20 years . . . Diana Lynn will share with Betty Hutton the title roles in Paramount's "The Sainted Sisters," which Mitchell Leisen will direct for producer Val Lewton. Warners Buy Rights to "John Loves Mary" Warners has purchased the film rights to Norman Krasna's current Broadway hit, "John Loves Mary," and assigned it to Jerry Wald for production. . . . Victor McLaglen has returned to 20th Century-Fox for a top role in "The Foxes of Harrow," his first assignment at that studio in five years. . . . Franchot Tone, Janet Blair, Janis Carter and Adele Jergens are set for leading parts in "Double Take," S. Sylvan Simon's next producer-director assignmemt at Columbia. Actors' Guild Resignations Precede New Pact Talks Seven executives of the Screen Actors Guild with financial interests in pictures have resigned to pave the way for contract renewal negotiations with the producers. The group's 10-year contract with the producers, negotiated in 1937 by Robert Montgomery, then serving his third term as president, expires May 15. Those resigned included Mr. Montgomery, president; Franchot Tone, first vice-president ; Dick Powell, second vice-president, and board members James Cagney, John Garfield, Harpo Marx and Dennis O'Keefe. The Guild board accepted their resignations and named Ronald Reagan president. Gene Kelly became first vice-president, William Holden second vicepresident and George Murphy third vicepresident. Producers Honor Price At Farewell Dinner The Independent Motion Picture Producers Association gave a farewell dinner last Wednesday evening to Byron Price, board chairman of the organization, who was to leave Hollywood for New York this weekend to assume his new duties as assistant secretary general of the United Nations. Speakers at the dinner were I. E. Chadwick, president of the IMPPA; Donald Nelson, president of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, and Jean Hersholt, Joseph I. Breen, Samuel Broidy and others. Mr. Price spoke on "Freedom of the Movies." nillllll!lllinilll!lllllllllllll!llllll|l|l|||||||||!l!l||||H IllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllilllllllllllW MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MARCH 15, 1947 31