Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

Page 28 June 10, 1939 STR West Coast Offices Guaranty Building vv^,#.«* # n^' 6331 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, Calif. Telephone, Hollywood 1390 Strollin' Thru the Studios Monogram's next Boris Karloff feature rolls this week with William Nich directing and W. T. Lacky producing. This is the third in the "Mr. Wong" series and is titled "Mr. Wong in Chinatown". Grant Withers has been signed for one of the leading roles. Rowland V. Lee's next producer-director assignment at Universal will be "Friday the Thirteenth", a mystery-chiller now being scripted by Willis O. Cooper. There is a possibility that Bela Lugosi will go into the cast. Gene Towne and Graham Baker, who will produce four pictures a year for RKO, are writing the screenplay for "African Intrigue" as their initial production. "Swiss Family Robinson" is slated for their second. Robert Buckner, Warner Bros, writer who has been working on "The Spirit of Knute Rockne", left Hollywood for South Bend, Ind., to submit the script to Notre Dame University for its approval. Wayne Morris, Pat O'Brien, Ronald Reagan and John Payne are tentatively slated to appear in the picture. Alexander Grenach, who is featured in "William Tell", refugee play now in progress at the El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood, has been set for the comedy role in MGM's "Ninotchka", which stars Garbo. Grenach was spotted in the play by Sidney Franklin, who is producing the picture, and immediately signed. Harry Sherman has assigned The King's Men for his next "Hopalong Cassidy" production "Argentina", starring William Boyd. The picture is set to go before the cameras on June 15, with Nate Watt directing, on location at Lone Pine. Marie Wilson, popular screen comedienne, has been borrowed from Warner Bros, for the leading feminine role in "Should Husbands Work?", third in the "Higgins Family" series at Republic. James, Lucile and Russell GleaSON play realJife roles of father, mother and son. Gus Meins is directing. Assignment of Edward Norris to play one of the major roles in "Here I Am A Stranger", was announced by 20th Century-Fox. Richard Greene and Nancy Kelly will be co-starred in the production, which has been held up due to the illness of Greene. The picture will be directed by William A. Seiter. Continuing her abandonment of gay comedy roles, Carole Lombard has been signed by David O. Selznick for the top spot in "The Flashing Stream", which will be Director Alfred Hitchcock's second pictu're for Selznick International. Sol Lesser has set June 15 as the starting date for the forthcoming Irene Dare starring picture, "Everything's on Ice", with Erle C. Kenton as director. For the past four months little Irene has been rehearsing dancing and skating routines under the direction of Dave Gould and Leo McDonald, and has eight routines for the film. Edward Dmytryk, former Paramount film editor who directed "Million Dollar Legs", was awarded his second directorial assignment, "The World On Parade", in which William Henry and Janet Waldo will be featured. Dmytryk has been in the cutting department for the past ten years. Fra NKLYN W^arner's Current Cosniocolor production, "Isle of Destiny", first Fine Arts production in some time, will not be released by Grand National unless the new GN financial set-up is okayed by Warner. It is believed that a new major releasing deal is under way for Fine Arts product. "Royal Box", the picture which forced Reinhold ScHUNZEL to flee Germany, has been acquired by Boris Morros Productions. Nat Wachsbercer will be associate producer as his first picture under the new recently made deal. The film will be made in English for worldwide distribution. Jane Wyman has been cast as John Payne's leading lady in "Kid Nightingale" at Warner Bros. Miss Wyman recently completed "Playing With Dynamite", in which she assumes the mantle of "Torchy Blane", demon girl detective, for the first time. Every evening, when Columbia's "Golden Boy" company is dismissed for the day, William Holden reports to Morris Stoloff, musical director, for a violin lesson. Barbara Sta NWYCK, AdOLPHE Menjou and Holden play the leading parts. Visiting Dad Like father, like son! Ricky Arlen, 5-yearotd son of Richard Arlen, demonstrates the use of a toy gun ivh.il e visi ti n g his father on the set of "Mutiny on the Black Hawk" at the Universal Studios. Left to right are Guinn (Big Boy) Williams, director Christy Cabaune, Ricky, his father and Regis TOOMEY. Stopping for a Moment Director Elliott Nugent, now making Paramonnt's "The Cat and the Canary", takes a moment out to light a cigarette for Paulette Goddard zvho is starred with Bob Hope. Gale Sondergaard, also in the picture, looks on. Victor McLaglen Gets Top Role in RKO's "Full Confession" Victor McLaglen, who last appeared for RKO in "Gunga Din", will have the top role in the studio's fortlrcoming "Full Confessions", an original by Leo Birinski, it was announced by production chief Pandro S. Berman. John Farrow has been assigned to direct under the production supervision of Robert SiSK. Picture is scheduled to go before the cameras early in July. Joseph Calleia and Lucille Ball will also have important roles in the picture, with Miss B.^ll's assignment a tentative one, depending on her complete recovery from her rejcent appendectomy. Ratoff to Direct "Intermezzo" Gregory Ratoff, who deserted the acting ranks for the production end of motion pictures, was signed by David O. Selznick to direct "Intermezzo", which goes before the cameras this week. William Wyler, who was scheduled to direct, had a prior contract to start a picture on July 1, so withdrew rather than start "Intermezzo" which could not be completed by then. Ratoff has just completed "Hotel For Women" for 20th CenturyFox. Rogers Signs New Singing Find Charles R. Rogers will star Linda Ware, his fourteen-year-old singing find, in "A Star in Manhattan", following her current "The Star Alaker", which Rogers is producing for Paramount with Bing Crosby starring. The story dealing with autograph hounds is now being scripted by Dorothy Kilgallen and Jerry Horwin. The picture is slated to go before the cameras the early part of July.