Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1947)

THE HOLLYWOOD SCENE Studio Index Off to 45; Summer Shooting Plan Revised at 20th-Fox Hollywood Bureau With but one new picture going before the cameras during the week, while seven were sent to the cutting rooms, the production index dipped to 45 from the year's high of 51. Republic had the only starter, producer Edmund Grainger's "The Fabulous Texan," which began filming on a Texas location. With Edward Ludwig directing, the cast is headed by William Elliott, John Carroll, Catherine McLeod, Andy Devine, Albert Dekker, Jim Davis and Ruth Donnelly. Zanuck Revamps 20th-Fbx Summer Film Schedule Planned new pictures at 20th-Fox, which call for shooting on locations, are to take precedence on the schedule of that studio in order to reap full advantage from the next few months of seasonal weather. In a rearrangement of the summer shooting schedule, Darryd F. Zanuck has postponed filming of the Technicolor drama, "Julie," until next year. In its place on the new schedule goes "The Flapper Age," starring Jeanne Crain, which will be almost entirely filmed on location in Illinois and Ohio. Fred Kohlmar is the producer. Four others getting an earlier green light because of location demands will be "Call Northside 777," to be directed by Henry Hathaway; "Missouri Waltz," which Mack Gordon is to produce ; producer Sam Engle's "Spoonhandle," and "Chicken Every Sunday," to be directed by George Seaton with William Perlberg as producer. Universal has closed a pre-production filming deal with playwrights Irwin Shaw and Peter Viertal on their forthcoming stage drama, "The Survivors." An original \ story by Viertal, "The Children," a drama of Europe's displaced small fry, has been purchased by United States Pictures. It will follow their "Ever the Beginning" as a Warner release, with Lilli Palmer and Sam Wanamaker co-stared. . . . Paramount has acquired the screen rights to Roy Chanslor's new novel, "Hazard," to be published later this .year. An exhibitor board of judges, which will pass on all future screen scripts for Somerset Pictures, is being set up by that company. Twelve veteran theatre owners and managers, selected from all classes of houses throughout the country, will comprise the panel. Cary Grant, Korda Form New Producing Company An international company, for production in various countries of the world, is being organized by Cary Grant and Sir Alexander Korda. The idea is to promote international amity and understanding by using actual cities and people of foreign lands as backgrounds for a series of screen comedies, first of which is to be filmed in Istanbul, Turkey, according to Grant. . . . In a reversal of production policy, which gave the screen such films as "Dillinger" and "The Gangster," King Brothers plan to glorify the upholders of law in a forthcoming picture. They have purchased an original yarn, "Behind the Star," dramatizing the heroism of the American policeman. . . . Bryan Foy announces filming of Eagle-Lion's top budget picture to date, "Rainbow Ridge," with an estimated production budget of $2,000,000. Filming is set to start in July, with Al Rogell directing and David Hersch as producer. Warners has handed the directorial chore on "Young Man With a Horn" to Jean Negulesco, who is also preparing "The Adventures of Don Juan" for autumn filming. "Young Man With a Horn" is from Dorothy Baker's novel of jazz musicians of the early 20's. Jerry Wald is producer. . . . Ethel Barrymore has been cast in a top role, with Joseph Cotton, in Selznick's "Portrait of Jennie," which William Dieterle is directing for producer David Hempstead. . . . Ray Millard's next starring role will be in Paramount's "The Sealed Verdict," from a yet unpublished novel. . . . Sol Lesser announces that Lon McCallister will be starred in a forthcoming picture to be based on Robert Louie Stevenson's "Kidnapped" and its sequel, "David Balfour", to be filmed later this year. Ann Sheridan Gets New Starring Role The next starring role for Ann Sheridan will be in Warners' "Scandalous," a Norman Krasna comedy which Jerry Wald will produce. Vincent Sherman is to direct. . . . The same studio has also signed Robert Hutton and Joyce Reynolds to new seven-year contracts. . . . John Carroll and Ilona Massey draw the co-starring assignment in Republic's "Monterey," which Joseph Kane will direct and produce. . . . Samuel Goldwyn has signed Benny Goodman and Felix Bressart for his Technicolor "That's Life," starring Danny Kaye. . . . The role of a psychiatrist in the PickfordRogers-Cohn Triangle film, "Sleep My Love," goes to veteran actor Ralph Morgan. . . . Alexander Knox returns to Columbia, after two loanout roles, to co-star with Susan Peters in "The Sign of the Ram". Jackie Searles, one time child star of the screen, now in his early twenties, will return to acting after five years in the Army. He will make his comeback in a feature COMPLETED COLUMBIA The Last Round-Up Prince of Thieves MGM Alias a Gentleman PARAMOUNT Whispering Smith RKO RADIO The Bishop's Wife REPUBLIC Driftwood UNITED ARTISTS Intrigue STARTED REPUBLIC The Fabulous Texan SHOOTING COLUMBIA When a Girl'a Beautiful Last Days of Boot Hill The Mating of Minnie McGonigle The Sea Hound I Love Trouble It Had to Be You The Man From Colorado EAGLE-LION Adventures of Casanova , ENTERPRISE They Passed This Way MGM Killer McCoy On an Island With You If Winter Comes Cass Timberlane The Kissing Bandit The Pirate PARAMOUNT Big Town Scandal (Pine-Thomas) Dream Girl RKO RADIO Mourning Becomes Electra Return of the Bad Men Memory of Love I Remember Mama REPUBLIC The Red Pony SELZNICK Portrait of Jenny 20TH CENTURY-FOX Green Grass of Wyoming Roses Are Red (Wurtzel) Foxes of Harrow Gentleman's Agreement Nightmare Alley Off to Buffalo UNITED ARTISTS The Time of Your Life (Cagney) Sleep My Love Without Honor (Hopalong Cassidy) UNIVERSALINTERNATIONAL Tap Roots (WangerMarshall) Adventures of Black Bart Imagination (Kanin Productions) Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap The Exile Ride the Pink Horse WARNERS Mary Hagen Romance in High C (Curtiz) Love at First Sight Ever the Beginning Silver River Treasure of Sierra Madre 30 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JUNE 21. 1947