Showmen's Trade Review (1939)

Page 18 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW i July 15, 1939 STR West Coast Offices Guaranty Building 6331 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, Calif. Telephone, Hollywood 1390 Strollin' Thru the Studios Roy Del Ruth, after an absence of several months, returns to 20th Century-Fox to take over the direction of "Here I Am A Stranger", the Richard Greene-Nancy Kelly co-starring vehicle. The picture was started with William Seiter at the megaphone, when filming was suspended because of injuries suffered to Greene. Seiter is now directing RKO's "Alleghany Frontier". Mark Sandrich returns to Hollywood this week, following an extended eastern vacation, to take up his duties under a new Paramount producer-director contract. Sandrich's last picture was the new Jack Benny hit, "Man About Town". George Murphy will replace Dennis O'Keefe in MGM's "Henry Goes Arizona", set to go before the cameras this week. Injuries, which O'Keefe suffered in a recent automobile accident, have not healed sufficiently for him to attempt starting work. The picture is being directed by Edwin L. Marin. Sheila Darcy and Dick Purcell have been added to the cast of Monogram's ''Irish Luck", starring Frankie Darro. This feature will mark the supervising debut of Grant Withers. Howard Bretherton will direct from the screenplay by Mary McCarthy. Miss Darcy was formerly under contract to Paramount. Warner Bros, has scheduled two topbudget productions for shooting this week. They are, "We Are Not Alone", starring Paul Muni with Dolly Haas, and "The Roaring Twenties", with James Cacney starred and a cast including Humphrey Bocart, Priscilla Lane, Jeffrey Lynn and Frank McHuch. After nine months of preparation and four months of actual shooting, Frank Capra filmed the final fadeout for his latest Columbia production, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", early last week. The picture co-stars Jean Arthur and James Stewart with Edward Arnold, Thomas Mitchell and Claude Rains heading the stellar supporting cast. First of Republic's "Three Mesquiteer" features for the new season, "Sons of the Saddle", is scheduled to go into work on August 15, under the supervision of Harry Grey. The new trio consists of Raymond Hatton, Bob Livincston and Duncan Rinaldo. Preston Foster has been signed by Universal for the male lead in "Missing Evidence", scheduled to get the starting gun next week. Phil Rosen has the megaphone assignment on the picture. Harry M. Goetz and Max Gordon have checked in at RKO to start casting for "Abe Lincoln in Illinois", starring Raymond Massey, their first picture for the stu'dio. Robert Sherwood has finished the sreenplay, which will be directed by John Cromwell. Sol Lesser has purchased from Victor Young and Paul Webster, a new song for "Everything's On Ice", which stars Irene Dare. The number is titled "Birth of a Snowbird", and will be used as the theme for an elaborate ice-skating spectacle. Producer Walter Wanger has sent a camera crew and two airplanes to New York to film a spectacular delayed-opening parachute leap from a plane into the bay near the fair grounds. The shots will be used in his current production, "Eternally Yours", co-starring Loretta Younc and David Niven. Alice Faye, Henry Fonda and Richard Greene have been assigned the major roles in "Little Old New York", forthcoming 20th Century-Fox production with Henry King directing. Darryl F. Zanuck revealed that he plans to make the production one of the most lavish and costly vehicles he has ever turned out. Selznick International will launch a new child discovery in Marie Flynn, aged 10, who was signed to make her screen debut in "Intermezzo", now before the cameras under the direction of Gregory Ratoff. She is an accomplished musician and speaks English, French and Russian. Warner Bros, will produce "The Bridge of Sighs", a dramatic story by Charles Perry dealing with the famous little bridge which leads from New York's Tombs Prison to the court house. Humphrey Bogart, Gale Page, Stanley Fields, Jeffrey Lynn and Rosemary Lane will play the leading roles. Charles Lamont has been signed by Universal to a term contract, and his next directorial assignment may be the forthcoming "Sandy" feature. Lamont's last picture on the lot was "Unexpected Father", also featuring "Sandy". Floor Bed After the earthquake hits in Louis Bromfield's novel, "The Rains Came", there's no place for Brenda Joyce to sleep except on the floor. In the photo at the left George Brent says "Goodnight" to her, as instructed by Director Clarence Brown at the left. Miss Joyce won her role when she was picked by ZOth-Fox for the picture out of 57 other girls tested for the part. Off-Stage Terpsichore Zorina does a bit of off-stage swing for the amusement of Leonid Kinsky, featured with her in Warner Bros.' picture "On Your Toes". Ceraldine Fitzgerald to Co-Star With Garfield in "Trespasses" Now on vacation in her native Dublin, Geraldine Fitzgerald will return late in August for her co-starring role with John Garfield in Warner Bros.' "Forgive Us Our Trespasses", picturization of Lloyd Douglas's novel. Miss Fitzgerald was awarded the role because of her outstanding performances in "Dark Victory" and "Wuthering Heights", Fay Bainter and Claude Rains also are slated tentatively for leading roles in the production, which will probably go before the cameras before "Lost Beauty". Carlson in MGM's "Co-Ed" Richard Carlson will have the featured spot opposite Lana Turner in MGM's "Dancing Co-Ed", S. Sylvan Simon's next directorial assignment at the Culver City plant. The picture is the second in which Miss Turner receives top billing. Roy Rogers Returns From P.A. Roy Rogers returns to the Republic lot this week after a month of personal appearances through the middle west and south. Roy's next picture, "Wall Street Cowboy", deals with the adventures of Roy, Raymond Hatton and George "Gabby" Hayes when the trio go to New York on a money-raising expedition.