Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1944)

November 11, 1944 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 33 MGM Seeking Boy Actor, 11, To Head Cast of 'Yearling' Filming of MGM's "The Yearling," from the Marjorie Kinnan Ravvlings novel, will be resumed next spring, with much of the Sidney Franklin production being made in Florida, locale of the story. Seasonal involvements and other factors held up activities on the picture in 1941. Search for a boy to play the leading role will be resumed. A Georgia lad, originally signed for the part, has outgrown it. The successful candidate should be fair-haired, about 11 years old, five feet tall and with a natural affection for animals. Buys Into Fifth B'way Play Paramount has made an investment in the forthcoming Broadway play, "Star in the Window," fifth New York stage production in which it has an interest. Others are "Sadie Thompson," musical version of Somerset Maugham's "Rain" ; "The Perfect Marriage," by Samson Raphaelson ; "Sing Out Sweet Land," by Walter Kerr, and "Sleep My Pretty One," by Oliver H. P. Garrett. New 'Cisco Kid' Locations Locations being utilized by Monogram in filming "The Cisco Kid Comes Through," starring Duncan Renaldo, include Brent's Crags, La Golondrina on Olvera Street, Los Angeles, San Fernando Mission, and an ancient hacienda in San Marino. J. P. McCarthy is directing for Philip N. Krasne, producer. Three for Scott's Production Three topflight RKO Radio films— "Cornered," by Ben Hecht, Herman Mankiewicz and Czenzi Ormonde ; "Who Is My Love," by Ruth McKenny and Richard Bransten, and "Welcome to the City," scripted by Clifford Odets — have been assigned to Producer Adrian Scott. Gottlieb Assigned Three Men' A modernized version of "Three Men on a Horse," first filmed in 1936, heads a schedule of four Warner productions assigned by Jack L. Warner to Alex Gottlieb. Others are "Dangerous Marriage," "Deep Valley" and "Janie Gets Married." Paulette 'Well Groomed Bride' Paulette Goddard will play the title role in Paramount's "The Well Groomed Bride," teaming with Ray Milland. Sidney Lanfield will direct. The original screenplay is by Robert Russell. Picture is scheduled to start January 15. Fay Bainter in 'State Fair' Fay Bainter has been assigned a featured role in the musical production, "State Fair," based on a novel by Phil Stong. The cast will include Alice Faye, Jeanne Grain, Dick Haymes and James Dunn. William Perlberg will produce for 20th Century-Fox. MacLane in Pine-Thomas Film Paramount has signed Barton MacLane for a role in the forthcoming "You'll Be the Death of Me," starring Jack Haley and Ann Savage. William Pine and William Thomas are producing. Buddy Swan has also been added to the cast. A play of emotions is expressed by hands in the development of this scene for Paramount's "Practically Yours" as Director Mitchell Leisen, trying to photograph a warm kiss between co-stars Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray, uses his artistic hands to explain just what he wants. Comstock Lode Discovery Theme of New Lesser Film Effect of the discovery of the Comstock Lode on American history and international affairs will be the theme of a new film tentatively called "The Silver Flame," to be produced by Sol Lesser, made from Harold Shumate's forthcoming novel. Budgeted at $2,000,000, it will be filmed in Technicolor. Lesser plans to spend a year in preparation. Shumate has been signed by Lesser to write the adaptation of his own book, the rights for which were purchased from galley proofs. Production will start around autumn, 1945. Allen Rivkin will be associate producer. Leisen Back From Mexico Mitchell Leisen is back in Hollywood after several weeks in Mexico procuring atmosphere for his next Paramount production, "Masquerade in Mexico." Dorothy Lamour and Arturo de Cordova will co-star with Karl Tunberg writing and producing. Lewton to Produce 'Miracle' "Father Malachy's Miracle," mystical story of a Roman Catholic priest in Edinborough, Scotland, will be produced by Val Lewton for RKO Radio. Lewton also will make "None So Blind," from the Mitchell Wilson novel. Bracken, Lake to Co-Star Paramount will co-star Eddie Bracken and Veronica Lake in "Good Intentions," mystery comedy-drama. George Marshall will direct and Paul Jones produce. Earl to Script Own Story RKO Radio has engaged Kenneth Earl, author of "Bathing Beauty," to do the screen play for his original story, "Travelers Three." Radio Band for Western Columbia has signed the Hoosier Hot Shots, radio band, for "Rockin' in the Rockies," musical western, scheduled to go into production soon. Vernon Keays will direct. GRISSLY'S MILLIONS (Rep.) Mystery. Principals: Paul Kelly, Virginia Grey, Don Douglas, Elizabeth Risdon. Director, John English. Plot: Realizing that grasping relatives are eagerly awaiting his death, a millionaire changes his will just before he dies. His death occurs after he has killed the dissolute husband of his favorite granddaughter. With suspicion pointed at her, the young girl, with the help of the family lawyer, buries both men in ojie coffin. An investigator involved in the case straightens things out and saves the girl's life. FRISCO SAL (Univ.) Drama-'With-Music. Principals: Susanna Foster, Turhan Bey, Alan Curtis, Andy Devine, Colette Lyons. Director, George Waggner. Plot: A young choir singer arrives at the B'arbary Coast seeking information on the reported murder of her brother. Because of a clue that leads her to the owner of a saloon, she seeks a job with him. Between him and the leader of a gang of hoodlums, she has quite a time before she unravels the mystery of what happened to her brother. OUT OF THIS WORLD (Para.) Comedy. Principals: Diana Lynn, Cass Daley, Eddie Bracken, Veronica Lake. Director, Hal Walker. Plot: An all-girl band is having trouble getting bookings until the day the band-leader hears a messenger boy sing, and signs him to a contract. News about him breaks in all the papers; everyone wants the new crooner. Owning his contract is lots of trouble for the band-leader, but she manages to overcome all competitors — eventually winning him for herself. THE GREAT FLAMARION (Rep.) Drama. Principals: Erich von Stroheim, Mary Beth Hughes, Dan Duryea, Steven Barclay and Lester Allen. Director, Anthony Mann. Plot: A famed vaudeville sharpshooter becomes infatuated with his assistant who persuades him to kill her husband while working in their act. She then runs off with another performer. For years, the sharpshooter seeks the girl, becoming a derelict in the process. He finally overtakes and slays her, is himself killed in a fall backstage. (BLONDE FEVER (MGM) Comedy. Principals: Mary Astor, Philip Dorn, Gloria Grahame, Felix Bressart. Director, Richard Whorf. Plot: The story of how the charming wife of a prosperous restaurant owner, who fell victim to the wiles of a flirtatious young girl, saved her marriage from going on the rocks. With the help of a devoted employe she manages to prove to her husband just what the young lady was after. SPELLBOUND (UA) Mystery. Principals: Ingrid Bergman, Gregory Peck. Director, Alfred Hitchcock. Plot: An amnesia patient is suspected of murder. With no memory of the past, he, too, believes he must be guilty. The woman psychiatrist in love with him tries desperately to save him from punishment for a crime which she is blindly-sure he has not committed. Both the mystery of his identity and the solution to the murder are uncovered by psychoanalysis. HITCHHIKE TO HAPPINESS (Rep.) Drama. Principals: Al Pearce, Dale Evans, {Continued on Page 41) ADV. What Are Your Needs P Joe Hormtein Has It