Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1941)

Page 42 SHOW-MEN'S TRADE REVIEW November 1, 1941 PROGRAM NOTES FROM THE STUDIOS Pascal May Sign 'Buddy' Rogers/ Rep. to Star Fay McKenzie/ Small to Make 'Up in Mabel's Room'/ Curtiz Directs Cagney Claude Rains, Maria Ouspenskaya, Dick Foran and Lon Chaney, Jr., head the cast of Universal's "Destiny," which George Waggner is directing. Charles "Buddy" Rogers is being considered by Producer-Director Gabriel Pascal for one of the top roles in George Bernard Shaw's "Arms and the Man," which he will make for RKO with Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers co-starring. Jack Oakie checked in at 20th CenturyFox and started work in "Song of the Islands" under Walter Lang's direction. In addition to Oakie the cast includes Betty Grable, Victor Mature, Thomas Mitchell and George Barbier. Edward Everett Horton reported to MGM for his role in the screen version of the hit Broadway musical comedy, "I Married An Angel," which stars Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. Roy Del Ruth is directing. Producer Edward Small has announced the purchase of "Up In Mabel's Room" as a co-starring vehicle for Louis Hayward and Ilona Massey. Production started a few days ago on Paramount's "This Gun for Hire," under Frank Tuttle's direction. Cast is headed by Veronica Lake, Robert Preston, Laird Cregar and Alan Ladd. Richard M. Blumenthal is associate producer. As a result of her work in the Gene Autry starrer, "Down Mexico Way," Republic will star Fay McKenzie in "Women With Wings." an airplane thriller about plane stewardesses. The picture is scheduled to roll within the next three weeks. John Qualen, Harry Davenport and Andrew Tombes have been signed by Warner Bros, for "A Night Before Christmas," gangster comedy that will star Edward G. Field Men Visit Studio Y. Frank Freeman, George Brown, Harry Sherman and Alec Moss — snapped during Harry Sherman's studio party for visiting Paramount field men and executives last week in Los Angeles. Robinson and feature Broderick Crawford. The picture is slated to go into production the first week of November, with Lloyd Bacon directing. Columbia's sixth Bill Elliott-Tex Ritter co-starrer of the season, "The Devil's Trail," finally got the "go" signal after several postponements due to weather conditions. Lambert Hillyer is directing for producer Leon Barsha. Helen Gilbert has been signed by RKO to play the second feminine lead in the next of the new "Falcon" series. She will join a cast headed by George Sanders and Lynn Bari with Allen Jenkins, James Gleason, Ed Gargan, Ward Bond and Willie Fung. With the start of filming on "Riot Squad," Monogram announced the signing of Richard Cromwell, John Miljan, Jack C. Smith and Mary Ruth for important roles. Edward Finney is producing and directing. MGM has closed a deal for the services of the Tommy Dorsey band for the new Eleanor Powell picture, "I'll Take Manila," which Eddie Buzzell will direct. Michael Curtiz draws the directorial assignment of Warner Bros. "Yankee Doodle Dandy," the next James Cagney starrer which William Cagney will produce. Shooting is scheduled to start when Cagney returns from his vacation. Nate Watt, producer-director of Sunbeam's "Hashknife Hartley" series, left for New York where he will test two candidates for the title role. Both actors are appearing in Manhattan legitimate stage attractions. Seeking to get away from light comedy roles, George Murphy has suggested the purchase of Hubert Layton's story, "Gentlemen, Be Seated," to MGM as a dramatic vehicle. For the fourth time this year, Murphy has been loaned to RKO, this time to do a starring part in "Shore Leave," after "Mayor of 44th Street." Director Sam Wood and B. G. DeSylva, Paramount chief, have announced their first definite selection in Vladimir Sokoloff for one of the important roles in "For Whom The Bell Tolls," forthcoming Technicolor production. Complete casting of the picture is expected to be completed within the next two weeks. Evelyn Keyes draws one of the top roles in Columbia's "Martin Eden," with Glenn Ford and Claire Trevor. "Torpedo Boat" Finished With the wind-up of "Torpedo Boat," Bill Pine and Bill Thomas are preparing their next production, "I'll Be Back in a Flash," a Chester Morris starrer. Sketches by Shaw Producer-Director Gabriel Pascal looks over the sketches submitted by George Bernard Shaw for costumes to be used in "Arms and the Man," Pascal's first for RKO. Ginger Rogers and Cary Grant will be co-starred. WANDERING AROUND HOLLYWOOD uuilt tke "&lctUme>i" Looks like we're in for a cycle of woman doctor pictures, starting off with Columbia's "You Belong To Me," and Universal's "Appointment for Love." They're both swell pictures . . . the kind smart showmen can go to town on. We're looking for some very interesting results on Monogram's "Riot Squad," which ex-producer Ed Finney will direct, and exdirector Al Herman will produce. Ever since Glenn Ford made his screen debut, he has had a fist fight in each of the films in which he has appeared. Just to keep the records straight, Glenn's role in Columbia's "Martin Eden," calls for three of them. It's a tough way to make a living, if you ask us. We suppose we should say Sidney Salkow will referee, instead of direct. "Nothing-but-the-best" Goldwyn, better known as Samuel, has signed Sam Wood to direct Bob Hope in "Treasure Chest." Wood, who recently completed "Kings Row" at Warner Bros., reports to Goldwyn after he has finished his current assignment ?t Paramount, "For Whom the Bell Tolls." Should be something worth waiting for. Howard Gets Role at Col. John Howard has been assigned the lead in Columbia's "The Man Who Returned To Life," now being readied for early production at the Gower Street plant.