Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1944)

74 STR West Coast Offices 6777 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood 28, Calif. Telephone, Hollywood 2055 PRODUCTION NOTES FROM THE STUDIOS RKO Radio Buys 'Portrait of a Lady' for Rosalind Russell/ 'Notorious' Set for Bergman/ Errol Flynn to Do 'Don Juan' ►MGM will endeavor to explore the subject of the readjustment of fighting men to civilian life in a postwar world in "New Horizons." Adapted for the screen by Robert Peel Noble from a play by Robert Ardrey, the picture will be produced by Samuel Marx. No production date has been scheduled. ►The killing of "John Dillinger" on the set at Monogram had much less influence on the picture they are producing by that title, than the burning of Edmund Lowe's hand by the accidental firing of a blank cartridge while he and Lawrence (John Dillinger) Tierney were struggling for possession of a gun. ►Dennis O'Keefe and Rita Johnson were signed by Hal Wallis for two of the most important roles in Paramount's "The Affairs of Susan." William Seiter is directing the picture which stars Joan Fontaine, with George Brent, Walter Abel and Don De Fore in support. ►Republic has a record number of 16 pictures in the cutting and dubbing rooms. The latest to reach the editing stage are "A Vampire's Ghost" and "A Song for Miss Julie." ►"Portrait of a Lady," unproduced play by Alexander King and Chester Erskin, has been purchased for Rosalind Russell by RKO. Robert Fellows, who will produce it, has started preparations for its filming, with Bess Taffel screenplaying. ►"Bon Voyage," from a novel by Josephine Lawrence, has started shooting right on schedule at 20th Century-Fox. In it Jeanne Grain attains the rank of stardom as a reward for her work in "Home in Indiana" and "Winged Victory." She shares billing with Sir Aubrey Smith, Joan Blondell and Lynn Bari. It will also be the first solo production for William Bacher, and the first directorial effort of Lee Strasberg. ►Ingrid Bergman's next starring vehicle will start in February and will be "Notorious" an original story by Lois Anderson which was bought by David O. Selznick especially for his star. Studio is keeping plot of story secret. Selznick has also purchased "The Scarlet Lily" for Miss Bergman. ►"Romance, Incorporated" has been set as the next Allan Jones picture for Universal, with Reginald Le Borg directing for Associate Producer Bernard Burton. Production is slated to get under way this month. ►Robert Florey has been assigned by Warners to direct "Don Juan," which will star Errol Flynn and be produced by Jerry Wald as soon as Flynn finishes his current Technicolor special, "San Antonio." ►Jay Gorney, one of the producers of the original "Meet the People," was named by Columbia as producer on its Latin American musical "Fiesta Town," which is expected to go into production early in December. ►Jay Livingstone and Ray Evans have written a special song. Stop the Hubbub, Bub, for Judy Clark to sing in PRC's "The Kid Sister," being produced by Sigmund Neufeld and directed by Sam Newfield. ►W. R. Frank has signed Irving Fineman to develop an original human interest story as yet untitled for his next production following "A Boy, a Girl and a Dog." Herbert Kline will make the picture, the cast of which will include Harry Davenport and eight-year-old Jerry Hunter. ►Director Raoul Walsh took a camera crew to Hollywood Park when horse racing officially returned to Southern California, and filmed additional turf scenes for Paramount's "Salty O'Rourke." The principals, Alan Ladd, Gail Russell and Stanley Clements, have been working with 300 extras. ►John Collier is working on a treatment of "The Healers," next Vera Hruba Ralston picture at Republic, which Steve Sekely will produce and direct. ►Roger Pryor, Vicky Lane and Anthony Ward have been signed for supporting roles in "The Cisco Kid Comes Through," second in the Monogram series starring Duncan Renaldo with A'lartin Garralaga. Philip Krasne produces. ►Captain Burgess Meredith will portray Ernie Pyle in the Lester Cowan production for United Artists "GI Joe," based on Pyle's book "Here Is Your War." ►Harold Young put his signature to a contract for the direction of "Song of the Sarong" which associate producer Gene Lewis will make for Universal. ►Warners have assigned Irving Rapper to direct "Silver Lining," the story of the life of Marilyn Miller which Jerry Wald will produce. ►Ca meras have started grinding on Columbia's picturization of the radio program "'I Love a Mystery." The thriller will be directed by Henry Levin, with the cast including Jim Bannon, Nina Foch and Carole Matthews. ►Jerome Cowan gets into the fog over at PRC in "Fog Island," which is being directed by Terry Morse. ►Producer Robert Sisk has set "The Hidden Eye," adapted from "The Last Express" by Baynard Kenrick, as his next MGM production scheduled for a November starting date. The picture will be directed by Richard Whorf and features Edward Arnold in the lead as a blind detective with a seeing-eye dog. ►Arthur Rosson has brought back some 3000 feet of 16mm. color film showing sites in Mexico for Paramount's "The Flame." ►In an effort to get reaction to a picture title before it is assigned. International Pictures is polling 1250 movie editors and critics in behalf of Gary Coper's first production for the company. Loretta Young plays opposite Cooper in the expansive western, with William Demarest as his saddle pal. Dear Mr. Exhibitor's Wife: Today we're going to the motion picture version oi a roadhouse which Republic is using for a scene in "A Daring Holiday" which stars Gladys George and Edward Everett Horton. The Jungle Club, as it's called, has been put together with realistic jungle trimmings, like grotesque masks, bamboo posts, stuffed animals (some of them supposedly climbing the banister), and huge seashells nailed all over the walls. At the right of the set is a large semicircular window that looks like an enlarged wagon wheel; to the left is the bar, behind which are the stairs that lead to the floors above. In the centre of the room is a table around which today's action takes place. Seated there are Horton, Gladys George, Lola Lane and Paul Hurst. They're rehearsing the next scene. According to the story, Horton is a straight-laced judge in this little town outside New York City and Miss George is his wife. The other two are the owners of the place. Horton has been trying to straighten the other two out ; they're petty thieves. In order to do so he has become involved to the extent of helping them rob his own home. Now they're all celebrating the occasion, with the host calling for champagne. Director Alexander Esway (a Frenchman making his first American picture) starts the rehearsal with the command for "quiet." At the sound of the buzzer Miss George starts to speak. She smacks her lips over the food, remarking that "it's simply delicious." Hurst picks up the conversation by ordering a bottle of champagne, at which Miss George responds: "Champagne, whoopee" (she's a little high, you see). But Horton refuses the champagne saying "he'd rather have something of his own," and proceeds to take 3 bottle of bicarbonate from his pocket. Several rehearsals are needed before it's a "take." All this time we'd been craning our necks trjring to get a look at what Miss George is wearing. We can see the mink coat thrown over the back of her chair, but not much of what she has on, except that it's a lovely shade of green. Now, as she stands up to come towards us, we see that it's a two-piece woolen dress, with bag and shoes to match. Visiting with Horton is most enjoyable, for he's exactly the same off the screen as on. Miss George chats with us for some time too; that is, until they're both called back to work. Then we leave. Until next week. Ann Lewis Second Music Chore for Gould Morton Gould has been signed for another picture by United Artists producer Charles R. Rogers. Gould composed and arranged the musical score for "Delightfully Dangerous" and led his 8S-piece orchestra in several sequences with Constance Hope and Jane Powell. He also played a part in the picture. Odets to Script 'Sister Carrie' Clifford Odets, who directed "None But the Lonely Hearty" has been assigned by RKO Radio to write the screenplay for "Sister Carrie," from the novel by Theodore Dreiser. New Musical for Jane Frazee Jane Frazee will star in the new Columbia musical, "Sing While You Dance," to go into production in mid-November.