Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1944)

June 3, 1944 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 73 STR West Coast Offices 6777 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood 28, Calif. Telephone, Hollywood 2055 Director Gregory Ratoff (right) finds it necessary to emphatically point out how he wishes June Haver and Dick Haymes to enact a scene for 20th Century-Fox's film, "Irish Eyes Are Smiling." Dear Mr. Exhibitor's Wife: Over at MGM they're teaming Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon in another picture called "Mrs. Parkington." How about visiting there today? We'll get a chance to meet two o£ our top favorites and also see what Miss Garson looks like in the black wig she wears for this picture. Story is about a rich, flamboyant major (Pidgeon) who marries the beautiful daughter of a boarding house keeper and tries to bring her into society ; of her life with him and of her efforts to keep the world from knowing of his constant philandering. Ensconced in a magnificent mansion, they're giving an anniversary party to which all the socially elect have been invited. And today the production staff is shooting the dining room scene, with the table all set for the expected guests. It's the early 1900s with its swelegant furniture, lace tablecloth, extra special dishes and glassware and huge candelabras at each end of the table. There's even a fireplace in this room, with a huge portrait of the major over it. We wait while they set up to make ready for Miss Garson's appearance. At a command from Director Tay Gamett, everyone takes his place and Miss Garson comes forward from her dressing room. She looks exquisite in a cherry-red velvet hour-glass figure dress ... on top of her black wig she wears a greyish rose satin hat, which sits forward over her forehead (like ours) . . . with veiling and velvet bag to match. Pidgeon is right behind her. They've just learned that very few of her guests are showing up, so he in his rage invites the help to fill the empty seats at the table. Director Gamett goes over the scene between them several times; Pidgeon threatening financial ruin for all those guests who did not appear. The final "take" releases both of them from their duties for a few moments, giving us the chance we'd been seeking. We visit until they're called back to the set for the next scene . . . then we leave. Until next week. Ann Lewis Gets Character Lead Rose Hobart has been signed by Columbia for the character lead in the psychological mystery film, "Death Walks Alone" (tentative title). PRODUCTION NOTES FROM THE STUDIOS A\an Marshall, Dorothy McGuire for ^Enchanted Cottage^/ Roy Rogers to Kiss the Girl/ MGM Plans 'Secret Heart' ►"Secret Heart," based on an original story by Rose Franken, creator of the "Claudia" stories, is scheduled to be one of MGM's important stories for 1944. Whitfield Cook will prepare the screenplay for Edwin Knopf, who will produce. ►Time \\ ill Tell, sung by Connie Haines and played by Freddie Rich's orchestra in the Edward Sherman production "A Wave, a Wac Sc a Marine," directed by Phil Karlstein. will be published by Alills Music Company. Picture has a Monogram release. ►Roj Rogers will kiss his sweetheart for the first time in the 43 pictures which constitute his screen career, in his forthcoming Republic film, "San Fernando Vallej'." Dale Evans will receive the kiss under direction of John English and production reins will be by Eddy White. ►Alan ^Marshall will co-star with Dorothy McGuire in Harriet Parsons' production of "The Enchanted Cottage" at RKO and John Cromwell will direct. Film will be !Miss Parsons' first at RKO, and will be made under supervision of Jack Gross. ►Dick Haj-mes will be Betty Grable's leading man on her return to the screen as the star of Billy Rose's "Diamond Horseshoe," a spectacular musical which William Perlberg will produce. ►Murder, greed and a plot to drive a young girl 'insane provide the ingredients for "Dark W aters," which Benedict Bogeaus is putting into production for United Artists release. >Martha O'Driscoll and Xoah Beery, Jr.. will be teamed for the third time in Universal's domestic comedy, "Be It Ever So Humble," which is scheduled for production this month. "Allergic to Love" was their last picture together. ►"Christmas in Connecticut" has started at Warners. Picture co-stars Barbara Stanwyck and Dennis Morgan, with S}^dney Greenstreet and S. Z. Sakall heading the principals. Peter Godfrey is directing for Producer William Jacobs. ►Florence Bates and Ernest Cossart have been signed by Columbia for two of the top character roles in "Tonight and Every Night," Technicolor musical co-starring Rita Hayworth. Janet Blair and Lee Bowman at Columbia. ►PRC has signed Warren William to play the role of Brett Curtis in "First Illusion.'" the Fritz Rotter yarn by Milton Lazarus, which goes before the cameras early in July. Edgar Ulmer will direct. ►MGM is reproducing on the Culver City lot New York's famous landmarks for scenes in the forthcoming Judy Garland starrer, "The Clock," which Arthur Freed will produce with Jack Conway directing. Studio is building sets for the Pennsylvania Station. Metropolitan Museum, Times Square. Astor Hotel, ^klall in Central Park, and interiors of the City Hall. ^George Archainbaud, who recently completed direction of ".\laska," Monogram drama produced by Lindsley Parsons, is now reading the script of "Army Wives," based on an original story outline by Sgt. Joel Levy. Parsons will again be producer. ►John Waj'ne will return to his home studio, Republic, in July to star in "Flame of the Barbary Coast," which Joseph Kane will produce and direct. Story will be of San Francisco in its most colorful era. ►Shooting has started on "The Master Race," the Edward .\. Golden production which Robert Golden is producing for RKO release. An unusually large cast of featured players is headed by George Coulouris, Stanley Ridges, Osa Massen, Carl Esmond, Xancy Gates, Morris Carnovsky, Paul Guilfoyle and Gavin iluir. Herbert J. Biberman, who collaborated on the screen play, is directing. ►Six-year-old Bobby Driscoll has been cast in "The Keys of the Kingdom," which is now in its fourth month of shooting at 20th CenturyFox. The top roles are being presented by Sir Cedric Hardwicke and Gregory Peck. ►Angeles Pictures has announced the signing of Dona Drake to a four-3-ear contract, providing for at least one starring vehicle per year for her. Signing followed special tests by Director Douglas Sirk. on whose recommendation the deal was made. "Summer Storm" is their most recent United Artists release, and the company figures on releasing their future films through that company. ►June Vincent has been set by Producer Felix Jackson for the second feminine lead in the next Deanna Durbin-Robert Paige Technicolor starrer at Universal, "Can't Help Singing," which goes into production this month with Frank Ryan directing. ►Mildred Dunnock has been signed by Warners for^the same role on the screen in "The Corn Is Green" as she played on the stage. The Bette Davis_ starrer is scheduled to start before the end of the month, with Ir^-ing Rapper directing for Producer Jack Chertok. ►Glenn Trj-on will direct "Meet :Miss Bobby Socks," Columbia musical that will star Bob Crosb}', with Lynn Merrick in the feminine lead. Louis Jordan and his band, and the Kim Loo Sisters are penciled in for specialties. ►Earmarked as an all-star drama to spotlight virtually every major player on the MGM lot, "Xor All Your Tears," a story of human conflicts, is being readied for production by Carev Wilson. Screenplay will be by Charles Tacksoii. author of the best-seller. "The Lost Weekend." ►With "Sensations of 1945" in final stages of preparation before release, Producer-Du-ector .\ndrew L. Stone has begun to line up talent for its successor on next year's L^nited Artists program.