Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1947)

METRO LISTS 42 FEATURES 48 SHORTS NEXT SEASON Mayer Cites Concentration on Best-Sellers, Classics and Stage Properties Metro-Goldwyn-Mayor will undertake 42 features during the forthcoming product year, Louis B. Mayer, vice-president in charge of production, announced Monday from the company's studios in Culver City, Cal. In planning the year's productions, Mr. Mayer said, the studio will concentrate its activities on best selling novels and literary classics with outstanding stage properties and leading composers and song writers combined for the filming of top musicals. Plans Progressing for Shooting in England The company's production plans for England are also progressing rapidly, it was said, and an expanded program has been completed with Ben Goetz, in charge of the MGM British studios. Five stages now are ready for operation in England and indications are that "Young Bess" will be the first to go before 'the cameras, followed by "The Secret Garden," starring Margaret O'Brien. For the coming season's product the studio has enlisted the services of 28 stars, 67 featured players, 18 producers and 18 directors, and 84 writers. In addition to the features MGM will also produce 48 short subjects during 1947-48. The short subject list includes 16 one-reel cartoons in color, 10 Pete Smith specialties, six John Nesbitt Passing Parade subjects, 12 FitzPatrick Traveltalks and four two-reel dramas. The continued emphasis which MGM is placing on important literary works for its future feature releases, Mr. Mayer said, is seen in its recent purchases of stories on the best-seller lists, and in the pictures now in production and preparation. Three Best-Sellers Cited On Year's Program Three current best-sellers are included in the coming year's program : "The Hucksters," by Frederick Wakeman, which stars Clark Gable and Deborah Kerr ; Sholem Asch's "East River," with Gene Kelly and June Allyson, and J. P. Marquand's "B. F.'s Daughter," which will have Katharine Hepburn in the title role. Sinclair Lewis' "Cass Timberlane" is scheduled to star Spencer Tracy and Lana Turner. According to plans for the year, announced by Mr. Mayer, both the second and third year winners of the MGM annual novel contest will be filmed in 1947. These are "Before the Sun Goes Down," by Elizabeth Metzger Howard and the third year winner "Return to Night," by the English novelist, Mary Renault. The first winner of the company's prize novel contest, "Green Dolphin Street," by Elizabeth Goudge, and starring Lana Turner, Van Heflin, Donna Reed and Richard Hart, is now being edited for release this season. Another of John P. Marquand's novels, "So Little Time," also on the best-selling list, is on the new schedule, and is to be filmed with an all-star cast. Titles Announced for New Season Release Other pictures indicated by MGM for the forthcoming product season, according to the announcement, are: Speak To Me of Love, adapted from Mar jorie Sharp's novel, "The Nutmeg Tree," to co-star Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon. Three O'Clock Dinner, by Josephine Pickney, starring Lana Turner. Homecoming of Ulysses, by Sidney Kingsley, starring Clark Gable. Angel's Flight, by the English novelist Edward Hoestius, also to star Clark Gable. Red Danube, a novel of present day Vienna by Bruce Marshall. Lust for Life, Irving Stone's fictional biography of the artist Van Gogh, starring Spencer Tracy. Robinson Crusoe, the Defoe classic, to he filmed in Technicolor. The Kissing Bandit, starring Kathryn Grayson and Frank Sinatra. Big Jim, starring Wallace Beery. Daddy Is a Wolf, starring Walter Pidgeon, Jane Powell, Lauritz Melchior and Xavier Cugat. Brothers of the East Side with Margaret O'Brien, Van Heflin, Karin Booth and Danny Thomas. Killer McCoy, starring Mickey Rooney. If Winter Comes, the A. S. M. Hutchinson novel of ideals and injustices. Chimes of Bruges, a European classic by Georges Rodenbach, starring Greer Garson. The Fortunes of Richard Mahoney, a story of the gold fields by the Australian novelist, Henry Handel Richardson. This will star Greer Garson and Gregory Peck. Family for Jock, an unpublished novel by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, author of "The Yearling." This will be filmed late in the season, co-starring Claude Jarman, Jr., and Lassie, MGM's dog star. Coquette, adapted from the stage play, starring Lana Turner. Move Over, This Is Love, an original story to star Robert Taylor. Three Musketeers, a screen adaptation from the famous novel, with Robert Walker heading an all-star cast. The Life of Monty Stratton, with Van Johnson playing the role of the heroic ball-player. Bedevilled, a murder mystery, starring Robert Taylor. The House Above the River, starring Katharine Hepburn. International Venus, starring Esther Williams. Brothers Karamazov, to be adapted from the dramatic classic, starring Spencer Tracy, Robert Taylor and Van Heflin. Tod Sloan, in which Mickey Rooney will portray the famous jockey. On An Island With You, to be filmed in Technicolor with Esther Williams, Peter Lawford, Cyd Charisse and Xavier Cugat. Life of Her Own, a story of a criminal attorney who sacrifices his reputation for his daughter, starring William Powell. Annie Get Your Gun, the current Broadway stage success which will star Judy Garland and feature the music of Irving Berlin. Easter Parade, based on the nostalgic song of that title. All the film's music and songs will be written by Irving Berlin and the picture will star Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly and Red Skelton. The Pirate, S. N. Behram's play which is already before the cameras. The film is to be highlighted by Cole Porter's music and the cast will be headed by Judy Garland, Gene Kelly and Walter Slezak. Good News, a Broadway musical production by Larry Schwab and Buddy De Sylva. This recently went before the cameras, starring June Allyson and Peter Lawford. Good Old Summertime, a story of the early days of baseball, co-starring Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly. The Story of Rodgers and Hart, a musical with an all-star cast. Reunion in Vienna will be filmed as an operetta with Kathryn Grayson starred. Oppose Massachusetts Bill for Censorship Massachusetts Senate bill to give state and local censors the power to "protect" the public against immoral, indecent and bad habit-forming suggestions in films as well as other forms of licensed attractions and literature, was protested early this week by the newly-formed Motion Picture Coordinating Committee, which is headed by Frank Lydon. 12 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MARCH 29, 1947