Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1943)

38 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW October 23, 194S STR West Coast Offices 6777 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, Calif. Telephone, Hollywood 2055 PRODUCTION NOTES FROM THE STUDIO Ginger Rogers to Star in 'Situation Out of Hancl\ Pidgeon Gets Leading Role in 7f Winter Comes'/ Fields in Musical ►Cliarles Barton has been set by Producer Irving Briskin to direct "Beautiful But Broke," comedy with songs starring Joan Davis, which is slated to roll at Columbia this week. Barton has just finished direction of Columbia's "Hey Rookie." ►Producer Jack Schwarz has signed Wallace Fox to direct "Manhattan Rhythm" which he will start soon for PRC. Betty Rowland, "Ballof-Fire" strip tease artist, will make her debut in the picture, doing a burlesque on the art of strip-teasing. ►Walter Pidgeon has been assigned to one of the best dramatic roles of his career, that of Mark Sabre, idealist and dreamer, in A. M. Hutchinson's great novel, "If Winter Comes," to be brought to the screen by MGM. The picture will be produced by Pandro S. Berman, and is scheduled to go before the cameras in December. ►"Wonderland" has been set as the title of Lady Belita's third picture for Monogram, to follow the recently completed "Lady, Let's Dance" as her second starring vehicle on the 1943-44 program. ►William Pine and William Thomas will produce a musical extravaganza of song and dance entitled "Rhythm Ranch." This feature for Paramount will be supplemented by two others which the producers plan with Chester Morris in the starring roles. Both are newly acquired properties, "Tenderloin" and "Hell's Afloat," the first of New York in the mauve decade, the second of a derelict ship. ►Vera Ralston, Republic's skating-acting star, has drawn the feminine lead in "The Monster and the Lady," which George Sherman, producer-director, has just sent before the cameras. The blonde star will be supported by Dick Arlen, Erich Von Stroheim, Helen Vinson and Sidney Blackmer. ►For the first time in her film career, Texas-born Ginger Rogers will play a Texas girl, in "Situation Out of Hand," which RKO has scheduled for her. Slated as Ginger's first starring picture on RKO's 1944-45 schedule, the picture will start early next Summer, following "Tender Comrade," now filming, and "The Gibson Girl" which starts in December. ►Darryl F. Zanuck has announced that writer Dudley Nichols has been signed to collaborate with Lamar Trotti in writing the screenplay for "One World," Wendell Willkie's best-selling book. ►Hunt Stromberg, who has been producing independently for the past year, releasing through United Artists, has gone to New York, announcing at the same time, a policy of production for the next year or so which includes making "Dishonored Lady," "Guest in the House" and "Young Widow," in addition to tw'o musicals, one in Technicolor. Stromberg will continue to build up his contract list. ►Frank Graham, CBS announcer usually heard on the Philip Morris broadcast, has been engaged by Samuel Bronston as radio speaker for a montage sequence in "Jack London," which will be ready for showing soon. ►With Frances Dee and Donald Cook in the parents role, Peggy Ryan will get her man, Donald O'Connor, in their next Universal picture, "Patrick the Great," which Frank Ryan will direct. The four will be supported by Eve Arden, Thomas Gomez, Andrew Tombes and Irving Bacon. ►Raoul Walsh Inas been assigned by Jack L. Warner, executive producer, to direct "The Horn Blows at Midnight," the next Jack Benny picture for Warner Bros. His new assignment will mark the first comedy since he did the successful "Strawberry Blonde." ►Columbia Art Director Lionel Banks and Director Andre de Toth have worked out a military relief map of the Polish village of Litzbark for dramatic invasion sequences in "None Shall Escape," story of post-war trials of Nazi occupation heads. ►Third in the Buster Crabbe westerns in the series of eight being produced by Sig Neufeld for PRC has been titled "The Drifter." Having top roles in the film, shot with Sam Newfield at the helm, are Al St. John and Carol Parker. ►The producer-director combination that brought the highly successful "Thousands Cheer" to the screen will be reunited in an MGM musical, "Anchors Aweigh." Joe Pasternak will produce and George Sidney will direct the picture, which will be made in Technicolor. ►Arrangements have been completed for Monogram to release a musical feature entitled "Broadway Follies," to be produced by RiegerSimmons Productions Company. According to present plans, New York vaudeville acts will be featured, and will be supplemented by a cast of Hollywood name players and a chorus. ►Paramount has opened negotiations with Gregory La Cava to direct the studio's forthcoming "A Medal for Benny." From the first original screen story by John Steinbeck, in which John Wagner collaborated, a screenplay is beingdeveloped by Frank and Caroline Butler, and Wagner. ►"Captain America," Republic's new serial, has gone before the cameras with Elmer Clifton and Jack English co-directing. Featured are Dick Purcell and Lorna Gray. ►Arturo de Cordova was set by RKO for one of the top spots in "The Spanish Main," Technicolor special in which Paul Henreid and Maureen O'Hara -will have leads. ►William Seiter is directing 20th Fox's "Four Jills in a Jeep" which Producer Irving Starr is handling. Story revolves around experiences of four gals who entertained the boys, and stars Kay Francis, Carole Landis, Martha Raye and Mitzi Mayfair. Jimmy Dorsey and orchestra, Dick Haymes and Phil Silvers support. ►Producer-Director Andrew Stone's new musical for United Artists, "Sensations of 1944," will have W. C. Fields in one of the numerous principal roles. ►Olsen and Johnson have been notified by Universal that their next picture will be "Cornzapoppin'." Hugh Wedlock and Howard Snyder will write and produce. Tea Time, Discussion Time Bette Davis steps for a cup of tea and a chat with Director Vincent Sherman between scenes of Warners' "Old Acquaintance" which, already completed, is now awaiting national release. HOLLYWOOD STUDIO ROlJ]^D-UP Production at all studios continues at a high level of activity, the following nine new pictures going before the cameras here this week : COLUMBIA RACKET MAN^Principals : Tom Xeal, Jeanne Bates. Director. D. Ross Lederman. BEAUTIFUL BUT BROKE— Principals : Joan Davis. Jane Frazee. John Hubbard. Director. Charles Barton. RKO RADIO FALCON IN TEXAS— Principals: Tom Conway. Barbara Hale. Director, William Clemens. REPUBLIC MONSTER AND THE LAD Y— Principals : Richard Arlen, \'era Hruba Ralston. Erich von Stroheim. Director. George Sherman. RHYTHM REVELRY— Principals: Jane Withers. James Lydon, Frank Craven. Director, Anthony Mann. UNIVERSAL PATRICK THE GREAT— Principals : Donald O'Connor, Peggy Ryan, Frances Dee. Director, Frank Ryan. HER PRIMITIVE MAN— Principals ; Louise Allbritton, Robert Paige, Edward Everett Horton, Robert Benchley. Director, Charles Lamont. CALLING DR. DEATH— Principals : Lon Chancy, Jr.. Gale Sondergaard. Director, Reginald LeBorg. WARNER BROTHERS ANIMAL KINGDOM— Principals; Ann Sheridan. Dennis Morgan, Alexis Smith. Jack Carson. Director, Peter Godfrey. TITLE CHANGES "Untitled Buster Crabbe" (PRC) now THE DRIFTER. ■•Return of Casanova" (Rep.) now CASANOVA IN BURLESQUE.