Showmen's Trade Review (Jul-Sep 1940)

Page 34 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW August 24, 1940 STR West Coast Offices Guaranty Building 6331 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, Calif. Telephone, Hollywood 1390 . . . Program Notes From the Studios . . . With Richard Carlson signed for the male lead, "No, No, Nanette," new starring vehicle for Anna ^Neagle, has gone before the cameras at RKO. Herbert Wilcox is producing and directing the screen version of the famous Broadway musical. The cast includes Helen Broderick, Tamara, Roland Young, ZaSu Pitts and Aubrey Mather. Sterling Halloway, Donald McBride and Barnett Parker are the latest additions to Republic's super-musical, "Hit Parade of 1941," now shooting under the direction of John Auer. Kenny Baker and Frances Lancford have the leads. The Merrill Abbott dancers arrived in Hollywood for roles in Paramount's 'Tove Thy Neighbor," the Jack Benny-Fred Allen co-starrer with Mary Martin in the top feminine role. Producer-director Mark Sandrich used the Abbott dancers in "Man About Town" and "Buck Benny Rides Again," both Benny starrers. Ronald Reagan, currently portraying the youthful George Custer in Warner Bros.' "Santa Trail," has been assigned to a leading role in "Fifty Thousand Fliers," forthcoming picture dealing with Uncle Sam's campaign to train young pilots. Dennis Morgan, Brenda Marshall and Wayne Morris are also in the picture. "Red" Skelton, radio comedy star, will make his screen debut in MGM's "Flight Command," now before the cameras under the direction of Frank Borzage. Robert Taylor is starred, with Walter Pidgeon, Ruth Hussey and Paul Kelly in the cast. Tex Ritter, Monogram's singing Western star, is scheduled to begin production on his next picture September 15. He is returning to Hollywood shortly, after an extended personal appearance tour. With the signing of Margaret Lindsay for the feminine lead in the "Ellery Queen" series, producer Larry Darmour has lined up an excellent cast. Miss Lindsay will play opposite Ralph Bellamy, who portrays the role of Queen, Charles Grapewin and James Burke have the top supporting roles. Director Edward Sutherland gave the "go" signal to Universal's "Riviera," with an all star cast including Allan Jones, Virginia Bruce, Robert Cummings and Abbott and Costello. Sutherland's last assignment was the current boxofiSce sensation, "The Boys From Syracuse." Horace Heidt has arrived in California to launch his movie career under the James Roosevelt banner. Heidt's "Pot O' Gold" radio program will form the nucleus of a production to be released through United Artists. George Marshall has been signed to direct, with production set for early in September. Keeping right up with the news, Clarence Brown has changed the script of his forthcoming directorial chore, MGM's "Come Live With Me," the story of a refugee girl who marries an American citizen, so that the recently decreed fingerprinting of aliens becomes an important part of the story. "Ghost Guns," starring Bill Elliott, was started at Columbia a few days ago with Lambert Hillyer directing. Evelyn Keyes has the feminine lead and Walter Dub Taylor and Black Jack Ward have featured roles. Plans for the introduction by 20th Centurj'Fox of a new western star were revealed with the announcement that George Montgomery will be starred in Zane Grey's "Last of the Duanes." The picture will go into production in September and will be directed by Norman Foster. Montgomery last appeared in "Charter Pilot." "Flotsam" Loew-Lewin production for United Artists, went before the cameras under the direction of John Cromwell. The picture co-stars Fredric March and Margaret Sullavan with Glenn Ford, Eric von Stroheim, Leonid Kinsky and Toni Noviska heading the supporting cast. Jack Carson, who recently delivered a knockout performance in RKO's "Lucky Partners," has been signed for one of the important roles in Universal's "Fireman Save My Child," current Baby Sandy feature. Records Shattered Here are some of the 25 singing messenger boys who warbled greetings to Cecil B. DeMiLLE on the pioneer Paramount producerdirector's 59th birthday. The parade began at 9 AM. and swelled to this mob scene when a batch of messages was unloaded in the Hollywood office of the telegraph company all at once. Nine New Pictures To Be Made In Technicolor Nine new pictures are scheduled for Technicolor this fall, in addition to four now before the cameras. In preparation for early shooting are: "Aloma of the South Seas," Paramount; "Bambi," Disney; "Blood Will Tell," RKO; "Chad Hannah," 20th CenturyFox; "Reap the Wild Wind," Paramount "Shepherd of the Hills," Paramount; and "Western Union" 20th Century-Fox. The four currently in production are, 'Bittersweet," MGM; "Down Argentine Way," 20th Century-Fox; "Fantasia," Disney; and "Virginia," Paramount. High boxoffice returns on pictures photographed in Technicolor, and the recent reduction in price of Technicolor prints which went into effect August 1, are said to be responsible for the big spurt in business. Gala Del Mar Preview of Par's "Rhythnn on the River" The first press showing of Paramount's "Rhythm on the River," was held at Del Mar race track to a select crowd of Hollywood newsmen and film celebrities and the report shows that the studio has a swell piece of boxoffice fare, one that will click in a big way. Screened in the open air on the race track, after a day which includes lunch, an afternoon at the track, a radio broadcast, dinner and a cocktail party, the picture proved to be a revel in song and comedy, remarkably clever m every respect. Of the six song numbers, five are the kind that will hit first place' on the "Hit Parade." Applause to Victor Schertzinger for an excellent picture and to Cliff Lewis and his publicity staff for a perfect day, even though the horses didn't run the way we picked them. Colunnbia May Sign Nona Massey Columbia is angling for Ilona Massey for the top role in the remake of "One Night of Love," which was Grace Moore's first and most successful picture during her Hollywood career. Miss Massey is now freelancing since her MGM contract expired. Victor Schertzinger, now under contract to Paramount, directed the original which was released in 1934. "Victory" Authors on Way Rose Franken and Willtam Brown Meloney, authors of "Strange Victory," are enroute by motor for Hollywood where they will do the screenplay for the Sol Lesser production. Martha Scott is set for the starring role in the picture, Lesser's second film for United Artists release. Koster Completes "Spring Parade" After seventy-five days of shooting, Director Henry Koster completed the final ' shots on Universals "Spring Parade," current Deanna DuRBiN starrer. The supporting cast in the picture,^ which was produced by Joe Pasternak, includes Robert Cummings, Mischa Auer, Butch and Buddy, Anne Gwynne, Henry Stephenson, Walter Catlett, S. Z. Sakall, Samuel S. Hinds, Allyn Josl'yn and Reginald Denny.