Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1941)

Page 26 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW October 25, 1941 STR West Coast Offices Guaranty Building 6331 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, Calif. Telephone, Hollywood 1390 PROGRAM NOTES FROM THE STUDIOS Casting Completed for' Syncopation Oakie Back at20th\Fox Lombard Opposite Benny/Watt to Film Annual Cattle Drive Director Sam Wood, now studying fortyodd tests made for the leading roles in Paramount's "For Whom the Bell Tolls," expects to get his first camera unit working on exterior backgrounds within the next week. Wood has just received the final screenplay, which was completed a few days ago by Louis Bromfield. Broderick Crawford has been borrowed from Universal by Warner Bros, for one of the top roles in the Edward G. Robinson starrer, "A Night Before Christmas." The picture, which will be directed by Lloyd Bacon, starts November 3. Alan Baxter and Florence Rice head the cast of Monogram's "Borrowed Hero," which Lewis Collins directs. Other important roles are played by John Hamilton, Selmer Jackson and Constance Worth. Adele Mara, singing and dancing discovery from the orchestra of Xavier Cugat, has been chosen for the romantic lead opposite Joe E. Brown in Columbia's "I'm No Cowboy," forthcoming musical to be produced by Robert Sparks. Signing of George Bancroft, Frank Jenks, Mona Barrie and Jessie Grayson for RKO's "Syncopation," virtually completes casting of the picture, according to Producer-Director William Dieterle. The cast is headed by Adolphe Menjou, Bonita Granville, Jackie Cooper and Robert Benchley. "Rio Rita," MGM's Pandro Berman production starring Abbott and Costello, is expected to go before the cameras within the next three weeks. The comics finish their roles in Universal's "Keep 'Em Flying," before the end of the month. After a week's lay-off, Jack Oakie reports Meet Snuffy Smith Ernie Westmore, make-up expert, talks to Bud Duncan, made up as Snuffy Smith, the role he will play in the Monogram series, "Barney Google and Snuffy Smith," which Ed Gross (second from right) will produce. Trem Carr (right) head of Monogram production, closed negotiations for the series, the first of which will be "The Yard Bird." back to 20th Century-Fox for added scenes in "Rise and Shine." Oakie's next will be "Song of the Islands." Dorothy Burgess, Montagu Love and Patricia Knox have been signed by Republic for featured roles in "Lady for a Night," which has a cast headed by Joan Blondell, John Wayne, Ray Middleton and Blanche Yurka. Leigh Jason is directing. Bela Lugosi will have a featured role in Universal's "Destiny," together with Maria Ouspenskaya and Claude Rains. George Murphy, MGM star, is being sought by Paramount for a one-picture loanout. Murphy is now at RKO on his third loanout to that studio this year, for one of the top roles in "The Mayor of 44th Street." King Brothers have announced that "A Million Spies" is slated as their next Monogram production, due to start next month. Shooting has just finished on "I Killed That Man," which Phil Rosen directed with Ricardo Cortez in the lead. James Ellison, Henry Wilcoxon and Patric Knowles are in line for the title role in "The Saint Overboard," which Leslie Charteris will produce independently from his own novel. As soon as the lead is assigned, a releasing deal will be announced. Testing of the actors starts immediately. The signing of Carole Lombard by Alexander Korda for the feminine lead opposite Jack Benny in Ernst Lubitsch's "To Be Or Not To Be," moves the filming up to a November 1 start. It is an Alexander Korda production, released through United Artists. "Yankee Doodle Dandy," forthcoming Warner Bros, production based on the life of George M. Cohan, will start upon the return of James Cagney, currently on vacation at Martha's Vineyard, Mass. Stanley Givens, ex-filling station attendant "discovered" by MGM Scenarist Bradbury Foote, has been tested for one of the important roles in "Out of the Frying Pan," which Edward H. Griffith will direct for Paramount. Nate Watt, producer-director of Sunbeam's "Hashknife Hartley" series, checked out for Sonora to film the annual cattle drive. Watt has secured exclusive rights to photograph the huge drive for incorporation in future "Hashknife Hartley" films. Robert Warwick was added to the cast of "Cadets on Parade," featuring Jimmy Lydon and Freddie Bartholomew at Columbia. Lew Landers is directing. Wallis Assigns Blanke Two Important Warner Productions Two of Warner Bros, most important forthcoming productions have been assigned to Henry Blanke by Hal B. Wallis, as a reward for his guidance of "The Maltese Falcon," currently setting box office records in its first pre-release engagements. Productions on which Blanke will be associate producer are "Rhapsody in Blue," life story of George Gershwin which Ira Gershwin and Katherine Scola are scripting, and "Treasure of the Sierra Madre," from the novel by B. Traven. Monogram Completes One-Third Of Its 1941-42 Program of 48 With cameras grinding next week on "Boy of Mine," John Boles starrer, Monogram will be at work with the sixteenth of its pictures for the 1941-42 program, thus completing exactly one-third of its year's production, early in November. Five more pictures, all scheduled for November filming, are "Freckles Comes Home," "Forbidden Trails," "The Yard Bird," "Rock River Renegades" and "Boys on Parole." Further evidence of the strengthening of Monogram's position, is witnessed by the fact that the company has paid off entirely, its $110,000 obligation to Pathe Laboratories, according to a statement by W. Ray Johnston. Pascal Seeks Donat Producer Gabriel Pascal has solicited the assistance of George Bernard Shaw in seeking the services of Robert Donat for the starring role in one of the six pictures he will produce and direct for RKO. Pascal is currently preparing "Arms and the Man," starring Ginger Rogers. Cummings Back at Desk Irving Cummings has reported to 20th Century-Fox for his first assignment in his recently signed four-picture contract, and has been handed several stories from which he will select his first production. Cumming's last was "Louisiana Purchase," Technicolor musical for Paramount, which will be released shortly. Keene Signs for New Mono. Series Following the completion of four Western pictures starring Tom Keene, Monogram has signed the cowboy star for an additional series of four, to form a part of the 1941-42 program. Keene's first under his new contract will be "Lone Star Law," in which he will be supported by Betty Miles and Sugar Dawn. The picture will be produced and directed by Robert Tansey. Cast Set for "Law of the Timber" Producer-Director B. B. Ray has set Marjorie Reynolds, Hal Brazeal, Jack Holmes, Earle Ebe, Hugo Borg, George Humbert and Milt Morani for the top roles in PRC's "Law of the Timber," which is now in production at Big Bear.