Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1952)

Hollywood Shows Sharp Upturn in Production by WILLIAM R. WEAVER Hollywood Editor The production upturn predicted a week ago in this space arrived on schedule. The Hollywood studios started 10 pictures during the week, completing shooting on eight others the while, which brought the number of films in camera stage up to 30. That is still somewhat lower than is considered good for the production branch of the industry, which thrives on activity and does its best work when thriving. Three of the new undertakings are being shot in color by Technicolor. “The Prisoner of Zenda,” Technicolor, is a big-scale production of this sturdy old story which MGM seems to feel, and with box office justification, rates a new production about every time a new generation comes of age. This one, the third, is produced by Pandro S. Berman and directed by Richard Thorpe, and the principal role, played the first time by Lewis Stone, is being performed by Stewart Granger. Others in the cast are Deborah Kerr, James Mason, Jane Greer, Louis Calhern, Robert Douglas and (to be sure) Lewis Stone. “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” Technicolor, is being produced by Lamar Trotti for 20th-Fox, with Henry Koster directing a cast headed by Clifton Webb, Ruth Hussey, Debra Paget and Robert Wagner. "The Iron Mistress,” Technicolor, is a Warner Brothers project, produced by Henry Blanke and directed by Gordon Douglas, with Alan Ladd, Virginia Mayo, Joseph Calleia and Ned Young in the cast. Robert Bassler is producing “My Wife’s Best Friend,” 20th-Fox, which has Anne Baxter, Macdonald Carey, Cecil Kellaway, Frances Ravier and Leif Erickson in the cast and is being directed by Richard Sale. Producer Bassler simultaneously is producing “Night Without Sleep,” directed by Roy Baker, with Linda Darnell, Gary Merrill, Hildegarde Neff and Joyce MacKenzie in principal roles. Bonzo the Monkey to Have High Powered Support “Bonzo Goes to College” is, of course, an extension of Universal-International’s monkey-picture experimentation, which has worked out so profitably thus far. Ted Richmond is producing this item, Frederick De Cordova directing, and Maureen O’Sullivan heads a cast that includes Charles Drake, Edmund Gwenn, Gigi Perreau and Gene Lockhart, which is about the most distinguished supporting cast any monkey ever had. Republic Pictures went to work on “Ride the Man Down,” with Joseph Kane functioning as producer and director. This talentladen project has Brian Donlevy, Rod Cam eron, Ella Raines, J. Carrol Naish, Chill Wills, Jim Davis and Barbara Britton. Producers Albert Zuggsmith and Robert Smith, of American Picture Productions, Inc., began filming “Invasion U. S. A., directed by Alfred Green. The players include Gerald Mohr, Peggie Castle, Dan O’Herlihy, William Schallert and Edward G. Robinson, Jr. Intercontinental Films, which releases through Lippert Pictures, started shooting “Lady in the Fog” in London, with the American director, Samuel Newfield, directing Cesar Romero, Lois Maxwell and a partially British cast. Armand Schaefer began filming “Wagon Team,” a Gene Autry feature for Columbia release, with George Archainbaud directing and with Pat Buttram, Gail Davis and Dick Jones in the cast with Autry. New Wage Scale Set for Screen Extras Guild Production costs, which have been rising conspicuously in recent months as new contracts negotiated last fall began going into effect, were given another lift during the week when the Screen Extras Guild and major studios finally came to agreement on new wage scales and working conditions. The general extra rate goes up from $15.56 to $18.50 per day, which isn’t much from the point of view of the extra, who gets very few days of work annually, but is considerable from the point of view of the budget maker. The new contract also gives the extra player “fringe benefits” which are tantamount to money, from the budget maker’s point of view, and tbe contract with the majors will be offered to the independents in due course. THIS WEEK IN PRODUCTION: STARTED (10) COLUMBIA Wagon Team INDEPENDENT Invasion U.S.A. (American Pictures Prod.) Lady in the Fog (Intercontinental Films — London — Lippert release) MGM Prisoner of Zenda (Technicolor) REPUBLIC Ride the Man Down 20TH CENTURY-FOX Night Without Sleep Stars and Stripes Forever (Technicolor) My Wife’s Best Friend UNIVERSAL-INT'L Bonzo Goes to College WARNER BROS. The Iron Mistress (Technicolor) FINISHED (5) COLUMBIA The Kid from Broken Gun Tke Pathfinder MGM The Devil Makes Three MONOGRAM Arctic Flight (Lindsley Parsons Prod.) RKO RADIO Sudden Fear (Joseph Kaufman Prod.) SHOOTING (20) COLUMBIA Strange Fascination (H.H. Prod.) The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T. (Kramer Co. — Technicolor) INDEPENDENT Hellgate (Commander Films Prod.-Lippert release) MGM You for Me Letter from the President Plymouth Adventure (Technicolor) Lili (Technicolor) Everything I Have Is Yours MONOGRAM The Rose Bowl Story (Cinecolor) PARAMOUNT Tropic Zone (Technicolor) RKO RADIO Hans Qiristian Andersen (Goldwyn Prod. — Technicolor ) 20TH CENTURY-FOX Monkey Business (formerly “Darling I Am Growing Younger”) Pony Soldier (Technicolor) The Snows of Kilimanjero (Technicolor) UNIVERSAL-INT'L City Beneath the Sea (Technicolor) It Grows on Trees WARNER BROS. April in Paris (Technicolor) Danger Forward The Story of Will Rogers (Technicolor) The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima MOTION PICTURE HERALD, APRIL 19, 1952 35