Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

Page 66 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW June 3, 1939 Dual Bills It All Came True" with James Stewart, Ann Sheridan and Humphrey Bogart; "Dust Be My Destiny" starring John Garfield; "Disraeli" featuring Claude Rains; "The Desert Song"; "The Story of Dr. Ehrlich" starring Edward G. Robinson; "The Adventures of Don Juan" starring Errol Flynn; "Eyes of the Army"; "We Are Not Alone"; "Give Me a Child" with Geraldine Fitzgerald; "Forgive Us Our Trespasses" with John Garfield; "Three Cheers for the Irish" with Pat O'Brien; "The Dead End Kids at College"; "The Story of John Paul Jones" starring James Cagney; "Burning Daylight" from the Jack London story; "The Bishop Who Walked with God"; "Career Man" with Jeffrey Lynn and Ann Sheridan; "The Tanks are Coming" and "The World Moves On" starring James Cagney. In addition there will be four "Torchy Blane" pictures; four "Nancy Drew" stories with Bonita Granville and Frank Thomas, Jr.; and four "Secret Service" pictures featuring Ronald Reagan. These will be the only program attractions. Jack Warner Supervising Each film will be given the utmost in production effort, and will be produced under the personal supervision of Jack L. Warner, vice-president in charge of production, and Hal B. Wallis, Executive Producer. Many of the films set for next year are already in work, so that they may have the advantage of a long and careful production, rather than he rushed through to meet a release schedule. The Warner line-up for the 1939-40 season will be literally 'bench-made' and no effort will be spared to make them the finest pictures on the market. ''MIDNIGHT" WB Seeks To Oust WARNER BROS, decision to make forty-eight pictures for next season rather than fitfy-two is laid to the company's plan to aid in the gradual elimination of the dual feature bill. This problem of double features is being met by the production of a substantial number of shorter features of the highest quality along the lines of the Technicolor subjects which the company has been releasing in its patriotic series of films. These shorter films will have at their disposal the best writers, directors and players and are planned as second features or added attractions. Each subject will entail at least as high a production budget as the average full-length 'B' film. They have already demonstrated their value to exhibitors over the country and the public acceptance of them as an appropriate accompaniment to 'A' pictures confirms the belief of Warner Bros, that they will eventually afford the answer to the problem of the double bill. Plenty of Action Scheduled Warner Bros, during the 1939-40 season intend to be more than ever a company of action. The very best talent and material will go into the making of the pictures scheduled. The era of the 'assembly-line' feature film is over, the company believes, and every Warner feature will be 'bench Jack L. Warner made' by the most skilled and conscientious artisans. The program calls for 48 pictures, 36 of which are classified as 'A' productions and 12 as 'B's'. Twenty-four of the 'A' productions will be top bracket pictures. Paul Muni's next starring picture will be "The Life of Beethoven." There will be at least three starring vehicles for Bette Davis, three for James Cagney, three for Edward G. Robinson, three for Errol Flynn and three for John Garfield. Among the borrowed stars who will appear in Warner Bros.' pictures are Zorina, George Raft, James Stewart, Fred MacMurray, Jean Arthur and Miriam Hopkins. Complete Product Lineup The full lineup of pictures announced is as follows: "The Life of Beethoven," starring Paul Muni; "The Sea Hawk," starring Errol Flynn with Olivia de Havilland; "The Lady and the Knight" starring Bette Davis and Errol Flynn ; "All This and Heaven, Too" starring Bette Davis with George Brent; "The Old Maid" co-starring Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins; "Brother Orchid" starring Edward G. Robinson; "The Moon and Sixpence" starring Edward G. Robinson; "Four Wives" starring the Lane Sisters, Gale Page, Jeffrev Lynn, Claude Rains, May Robson and Frank McHugh; "20,000 Years in Sing Sing" starring John Garfield and Ann Sheridan; "The Life of Knute Rockne"; "The Angels Wash Their Faces" with the Dead End Kids; "Episode" featuring Priscilla Lane and Jeffrey Lynn. "On Your Toes" with Eddie Albert and Zorina ; "You Can't Escape Forever" ; "And