Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1941)

Page 20 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW October 18, 1941 STR West Coast Offices Guaranty Building 6331 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, Calif. Telephone, Hollywood 1390 PROGRAM NOTES FROM THE STUDIOS Benny Signed for L ubitsch Film/ Pascal Prepares First for RKO/ Mature Back to Home Lot/ Newcomer Gets 'Kildare' Role Charles "Buddy" Rogers reports back to RKO for his role in "Mexican Spitfire at Sea," which starts shortly under Leslie Goodwins' direction. Rogers recently completed his co-starring role with Jinx Falkenburg in "Sing for Your Supper," a Columbia musical. Paramount is discussing a deal with Irene Dunne to play the stellar feminine role in "Frenchman's Creek," new novel by Daphne Du Maurier, author of 'Rebecca." Glenda Farrell was signed by Edward Small for the second feminine lead in "Twin Beds." The actress replaces Binnie Barnes, who was stricken ill and was unable to report for the assignment. The picture stars George Brent, Joan Bennett and Mischa Auer under Tim Whelan's direction. Columbia's "Martin Eden," with Glenn Ford and Claire Trevor, is being readied for production within the next two weeks with Sidney Salkow directing. Salkow is currently working on tests of other principals, yet to be cast. Carmel Myers returns to the screen in Republic's "Lady for a Night," joining a cast which includes John Wayne, Joan Blondell and Ray Middleton. This marks her first film engagement since 1934. Leigh Jason is directing. Adolphe Menjou and Lynne Overman have been assigned leading roles in "Roxie Hart," William Wellman's first directorial assignment at 20th Century-Fox. "Don't Be Stupid" Bud Abbott disgustedly tells his partner, Lou Costello, when the latter tries to light his cigar from an electrically-illuminated lantern during the filming of the night club sequences for Universal^ new Abbott and Costello-Martha Raye co-starrer, "Keep 'Em Flying." William Post, Jr. has been signed by MGM to play Gracie Allen's husband in "Mr. and Mrs. North." The studio also announced that Rose Hobart, Thomas Conway, Paul Kelly, Millard Mitchell, Henry O'Neill, Virginia Grey, Stuart Crawford, Lucien Littlefield and Felix Bressart, head the supporting cast of the comedy. Edgar Kennedy is the first player to be cast in "The Yard Bird," first of the "Snuffy Smith" pictures which Ed Gross, will make for Monogram. Kennedy will be co-starred with whatever actor is chosen to play the part of "Snuffy." Gabriel Pascal has begun preliminary preparations for his first picture for RKO, George Bernard Shaw's "Arms and the Man," starring Ginger Rogers. Pascal, who made both "Pygamalion" and "Major Barbara," will also direct. Mantan Moreland, Negro comic, checks in at Universal for an important role in "Dr. Rx," currently before the cameras under the direction of William Nigh. The cast of the picture includes Lionel Atwill, Anne Gwynne, Patric Knowles, Mona Barrie, Shemp Howard, Paul Cavanagh, Samuel S. Hinds and Edmund MacDonald. Victor Mature completed his role in Arnold Pressburger's "The Shanghai Gesture," United Artists release, and reports immediately to 20th Century-Fox for one of the top roles in "Highway to Hell," with Pat O'Brien and Carole Landis. "A Night Before Christmas," Edward G. Robinson's next starring vehicle for Warner Bros., is scheduled to go into production within the next two weeks under the direction of Lloyd Bacon. This brings together the same team responsible for "A Slight Case of Murder." Leonid Kinskey has been signed for a comedy lead in Republic's "Lady for a Night,' with Joan Blondell, John Wayne and Ray Middleton in the top roles. Ann Ayars, screen newcomer, makes her film debut in the new "Dr. Kildare" picture with Lew Ayres and Lionel Barrymore, now before the MGM cameras under the direction of W. S. Van Dyke. Camera work started last week on John Hall's first independent production, "The Captain of Koepenick." Richard Aswald is directing. Leading roles are being portrayed by Albert Basserman, Mary Brian, Eric Blore, George Chandler, Herman Bing, Luis Alberni, Sig Arno, Bernard Gorcey and Elsa Basserman. For the third time within a year, George Murphy has checked in at RKO on a loanout from MGM. This time he will co-star with Anne Shirley in "Mayor of 44th Street." The Boss Visits the Set Left to right are Leigh Jason, Herbert J. Yates, Dialogue Director, Allen Henward and Bill Saal on the set of Republic's "Lady for a Night." HOLLYWOOD STUDIO ROUND-UP Things are slowing up a bit, for only six new pictures were started this week: COLUMBIA CADETS ON PARADE— Principals: Freddie Bartholomew, Jimmy Lydon, Minna Gombell, Raymond Hatton. Director, Lew Landers. METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER MR. & MRS. NORTH— Principals: Gracie Allen, William Post, Jr., Paul Kelly, Rose Hobart. Director, Robert Sinclair. I MARRIED AN ANGEL— Principals: Jeannette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy. Director, Roy Del Ruth. PARAMOUNT TORPEDO BOAT — Principals: Richard Arlen, Jean Parker, Philip Terry, Mary Carlisle. Director, John Rawlins. RKO-RADIO SYNCOPATION — Principals : Adolphe Menjou, Jackie Cooper, Bonita Granville, Robert Benchley. Producer-Director, William Dieterle. MEXICAN SPITFIRE AT SEA— Principals: Lupe Velez, Leon Errol, Bud.'y Rogers, Zasu Pitts. Director, Leslie Goodwins. Thorpe Megs "Joe Smith" Richard Thorpe starts preparations immediately for his next MGM directorial assignment, "Joe Smith, American," which will co-star Robert Young and Marsha Hunt. Thorpe has just completed additional scenes for his latest Tarzan opus, "Tarzan's Secret Treasure," his third in this series.