Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1944)

December 16. 1944 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 35 Dear Mr. Exhibitor's Wife: Come on fans, we're going to meet Gene Tierney, John Hodiak and William Bendix, all working in 20th Century-Fox's "A Bell for Adano." And I've gotten permission for us to go on the set. We'll see the Italian village the studio built for the picture. The story, laid in a small Sicilian town, is taken from the best-seller by John Hersey, a correspondent who witnessed many of the happenings he wrote about. Miss Tierney bleached her hair blonde for the part of the local fisherman's daughter. She meets John Hodiak, who as a major in the U. S. Army, is placed in charge of the Allied Military Government when they take over the liberated town of Adano. Most of the story revolves around the "bell," which had a traditional tone for everyone. The people ate by it, worked by it, prayed by it, slept by it. And when it was destroyed by the bombings, it upset their lives more than the destruction of their homes. Hodiak has called a meeting of the important townspeople, and we arrive as they start to shoot the scene of the meeting in the Civil Affairs Committee Room. Director Henry King has them all seated around a table; and when he gives the word, Hodiak starts to read the General's announcement about the closing of the main road. After trying it several times, Mr. King stops the shooting. He isn't satisfied with the reaction they're showing to this order. He points out the significance of what it means: there are no other roads to Adano, and if the main road is closed to the townspeople, it means no food, no water and no other essentials. They must be terribly shocked — it means their lives. They try the scene again. This time Mr. King gets just what he wants, so they film it. When they're finished, and discussions are going on about the next scene, we visit the village. A most interesting sight, for such things as carts with holy scenes painted on them and other things of local color greet our eyes. Of course, it's not in its original state, for the place has already been bombed and rubble fills the streets and there are the remains of buildings. We meet Miss Tierney on our way back to the set. She's working without makeup and she tells us how she convinced the director she didn't need any. Then we meet Hodiak and Bendix, both with GI haircuts. After that, we leave. Until next week. Ann Lewis Bogart Borrowed From Warners Humphrey Bogart has been set to star in a picture for Columbia under the terms of an exchange agreement between Warner Bros, and Columbia. In return for Bogart, Columbia turns over t© Warners its current commitment with Cary Grant for one picture. The deal for Bogart brings him to Columbia for the second time in less than two years. He was borrowed early last year to play the starring role in that company's "Sahara." Stanwyck Signs Wallis Pact Barbara Stanwyck has signed an agreement with Hal B. Wallis to make one picture annually for him over a period of years. Wallis, who currently has "The Love Letters" and "The Affairs of Susan" in production at Paramount Studio, will share the star's contract with Warner Bros. Studio, where he was production head for many years. Seven Getting Acting Experience Seven young contract players are gaining valuable acting experience under John Cromwell's direction in RKO Radio's "The Enchanted Cottage," which Harriet Parsons is producing. The seven are Eden Nicholas, Virginia Belmont, Robert Clarke, Nancy Marlow, Bill Williams, Martha Holliday and Carl Kent. Principals are Dorothy McGuire, Robert Young and Herbert Marshall. WB Sets Record in Readying 'Hotel Berlin' for Jan. Release In order to have "Hotel Berlin" ready for general release early in January if sudden developments warrant, Warner Bros, expect to establish a speed record in time required between finishing" shooting on the picture and e.x'hibiting it to the public. According" to present plan, studio will preview the film two weeks after camera work is completed, about the first of the year. A week later it will be ready for national release. To accomplish this, each reel now being shot is rushed to the dupe room for scoring and sound effects immediately after it has been assembled by Dick Richards, cutter. Production already is two days ahead of schedule. 'Forever Amber' to Perlberg Twentieth Century-Fox has assigned the Kathleen Winsor novel "Forever Amber" to Producer William Perlberg, who brought another best-seller, Franz Werfel's "The Song of Bernadette," to the screen for the same company. "Forever Amber," recently published by Macmillan, has headed every best-seller list since its publication a month ago. Borrows Actress for 'Letters' Gladys Cooper, English actress whose performance as Bette Davis' mother in "Now Voyager" contended for an Academy Award, has been borrowed by Hal B. Wallis from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for one of the top character roles in "The Love Letters," his current Paramount production. 20th-Fox Plans Hammerstein Musical Otto Preminger will direct and co-produce with Oscar Hammerstein II, "Romance With Music, ' for 20th Century-Fox, life of Hammerstein's famous grandfather who was one of the most colorful figures in the world of entertainment. Oscar Hammerstein II will write the screen play. WB to Film John Huston Story Geraldine Fitzgerald, Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre have been assigned the title roles in "Three Strangers," original by John Huston, with screenplay by Howard Koch. Wolfgang Reinhardt will produce, with Jean Negulesco directing. Lighton to Produce 'Anna' Louis Lighton who recently completed production of Betty Smith's "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" for 20th Century-Fox, has been handed another Literary Guild selection, Margaret Landon's "Anna and the King of Siam," as his next assignment. Call for 500 Chinese Extras A call for 500 Chinese extras and several hundred Filipinos went out recently from RKO Radio for use in "The Invisible Army," story of the guerilla fighters who continued to battle the Japanese after Bataan fell. John Wayne is starred. Cotten to Co-Star With Bergman David O. Selznick has signed Joseph Cotten to co-star with Ingrid Bergman in "Dawning," first picture on the Selznick-International 1945 schedule for United Artists release. Production is scheduled to start Jan. 4 with Dore Schary, who is also writing the script, producing. THE AFFAIRS OF SUSAN (Para.) Comedy-Drama. Principals: Joan Fontaine, Walter Abel, Don DeFore, Dennis O'Keefe, George Brent, Rita Johnson. Director, William A. Seiter. Plot: An actress about to be married reviews with her fiance the men in her life. To avoid past mistakes and thus save their romance, the fiance invites the three men to dinner. There, as they tell him their stories, they all realize they're still in love. They rush to propose over again, with the winner turning out to be the lady's first love. THE CLOCK (MGM) Drama. Principals: Judy Garland, Robert Walker, Jan"ies Gleason, Lucille Gleason, Keenan Wynn. Director, Vincente Minnelli. Plot: A timely story about a soldier with 48 hours leave, who accidentally meeets a girl in New York's vast Pennsylvania Station. From the moment they meet, they are constantly fighting the passage of every hour. But when the hours are up, it isn't time that has conquered, but the courage of two young people who met, fell in love and were married, refusing to let anything stand in their way. THE LOVE LETTERS (Para.) Drama. Principals: Joseph Cotten, Jennifer Jones, Byron Barr, Ann Richards, Cecil Kellaway. Director, William Dieterle. Plot: Through love letters written by a brother British officer, a young lieutenant weds Victoria. The (Continued on Page 43) WB Buys 'Confidential Agent' As Buildup for Eleanor Parker "Confidential Agent," mystery adventure iiovel by Graham Greene, has been bought by Warner Bros, as a planned starring vehicle for Humphrey Bogart and Eleanor Parker. Miss Parker, recently elevated to stardom as a result of her work in "The Very Thought of You," will be given a buildup similar to Lauren Bacall with Bogart in "To Have and Have Not." Herman Shumlin, who did the screen version of "Watch on the Rhine," has been set to direct "Confidential Agent." Three-Hour Makeup Job Three hours are required each day to apply the intricate makeup occasioned by Robert .A-rmstrong's role of General Hideki Tojo in William Cagney's production, "Blood on the Sun," the United Artists release co-starring James Cagney and Sylvia Sidney. The actor niust arise every morning at five o'clock. Russell in Screen Debut Lewis Russell, Broadway actor who was Ethel Barrymore's leading man in "The Corn Is Green," has been signed by Paramount to make his screen debut in "The Lost Weekend," picturization of Charles Jackson's novel being directed by Billy Wilder with Charles Brackett producing . Ray Milland and Jane Wyman are co-starred. ADV. What Are Your Needs? Joe Hornstein Has It