Showmen's Trade Review (Jul-Sep 1945)

September 15. 1945 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 51 STR West Coast Offices 6777 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood 28, Calif. Telephone, Hollywood 2055 PRODUCTION NOTES FROM THE STUDIOS Van Heflin Returning to the Screen in MGM*s ^BridgetsHarold Lloyd to Star in ^Diddlebock^ for Sturges-Hughes Fred Leahy Named Studio, Product-ion Manager of Disney's Fred Leahy, veteran studio executive has 'been named production and studio manager of Walter Disney Productions, according to an announcement by Disney. Leahy's appointment is in line with the expanded activities planned by Disney in the feature field, involving as it will a greater use of live action in combination with cartoons, a process used in "The Three Caballeros." Leahy who assumes his post with Disney's immediately, was connected with the Paramount Studio for fifteen years, holding the position of production control manager when he left the organization to join MGM, where he remained for three years. Republic Signs Allan Dwan to Write, Direct, Produce Own Films Allan Dwan has been signed by Herbert J. Yates and Allen Wilson to a Republic long-term contract whereby he will write, direct and produce his own films. Dwan, who reported to the studio this week, has several stories in mind from which he will select his first production. The signing of Dwan constitutes the third important "name" addition to Republic's growing list within a six-month period, which started with the Frank Borzage pact to produce and direct, followed by the contract signed six weeks ago with Ben Hecht to write, produce and direct on a long-term deal. Lantz Completes Gov't Contract Walter Lantz has just completed his contract with the government for the twenty-two training films his cartoon studio made for the U. S. Navy. One of the most recent was a featurette in Technicolor titled "Enemy Bacteria" and on the subject of bombs alone Lantz produced and delivered fifteen films. Lantz' studio was closed down for two weeks while the entire personnel had vacations. They returned to work last week. MGM Signs Metropolitan's Spadoni Giacomo Spadoni, for the past 10 years chorus master of the Metropolitan Opera Co., and for 20 years prior to that in the same capacity with the Chicago Opera Co., has resigned and joined MGM as an operatic and vocal coach at the studio. Spadoni will have charge of the studio's young singers' training and development for the operatic sequences in which they will be f''atured in forthcoming jjroductions. Tierney, Wilde to Co-Star Gene Tierney and Cornel Wilde will co-star in 20th Century-Fo.x's "Claudia and David," the sequel to Rose Franken's original "Claudia." The screen adaptation was made by the late Tess Slesinger and her husband Frank Davis. William Perlberg will produce. Loew Signs Rumanian Star Lisette Verea, Rumanian film star who recently sang a leading role in "The Merry Widow", has been signed by Producer David L. Loew for a featured role in "A Night in Casablanca," United Artists release starring the Afarx Brothers. >\'an Heflin will be starred in the MGM picture "Bridget," his first screen role since being honorably discharged from the Air ' Corps. "Bridget," an original story by Robert Nathan, will star Heflin as an embittered young composer who is assisted in the fulfillment of his great promise by a mischievous child angel from Heaven, who has been granted temporary corporeal being to perform the deed. Joe Pasternak will produce. Heflin's last picture was "Presenting Lily Mars." He won an Academy .Award "Oscar" in 1941 for his outstanding performance in "Johnny Eager." !>Rita Hayworth, currently starring in "Gilda" at Columbia, has had her option renewed for another year. Her present assignment is Miss Hayworth's first straight dramatic story in several years. With her in the cast are Glenn Ford, George Macready, Joseph Calleia and i.udwig Donath. Charles Vidor directs. >Richard Crane has been signed 'for a featured role in 20th-Fox's "Precinct 33" which is slated to roll shortly. Crane will portray a young police reporter. Robert Bassler will produce, and Otto Brower will direct. 5>Fortunio Bonanova, just returned from screen work in Mexico City studios, has been signed for an important role in "Charlie Chan in Mexico," newest in the Monogram series starring Sidney Toler. Robert Emmett Keane and Mildred Boyd have also been contracted for the cast. Phil Rosen directs for Producer James S. Burkett. ^Republic signed Phil Ford to a seven-year contract as director, as a result of his first directorial chore for the studio, "The Tiger Woman." Ford has been employed by Republic for the past eight years in the capacity of assistant director and unit manager. ^Sidney Biddell, for the past three years e.xecutive assistant to Cecil B. De Mille at Paramount, moves to Columbia on October 1st as a producer. |>Russell Metty has been signed by International to handle cinematography on "The Stranger," starring Edward G. Robinson, Loretta Young and Orson Welles. Welles will also direct. ^Jane Greer has been cast for her fourth straight "other woman" role in RKO's comedy with music, "The Bamboo . Blonde," starring Frances Langford and Russell Wade. Anthony Mann is directing and Herman Schlom produces. i>L,ynn Root will prepare the script ol the planned Marilyn Miller picture, "Silver Lining," which is to be filed in Technicolor with David Butler directing and Jerry Wald producing for Warner Bros. >Jean Yarbrough was set by. Producer Ben Pivar to direct the first of Universal's new Creeper series, "Murder Mansion," which is to feature Rondo Hatton as The Creeper. Picture will go into production shortly. !>Bart .Adams, who has worked with Preston .Sturges on six of the director's past pictures. will serve as his assistant again on "The Sin of Harold Diddlebock." This first venture of the Sturges-Howard Hughes California Pictures Corporation goes before the cameras soon with Harold Lloyd in the starring role. [>Herman Mankiewicz has been assigned to work on the screenplay of "All Kneeling" which is being shaped up as a starring vehicle for Joan Fontaine by Producer William Pereira. "All Kneeling" is an adaptation of the Anne Parrish novel. |>Henry O'Neill was announced by MGM for the key role of the clergyman in "The Green Years." Adapted from the best-seller by A. J. Cronin, the picture features Charles Coburn, Tom Drake and Hume Cronyn. Victor Saville directs, Leon Gordon produces. Cast Assignments Made On Two Films at RKO Bobby Driscoll, Doreen McKim and Patricia Prest have been signed for juvenile roles in RKO Radio's tentatively titled "-All Brides Are Beautiful." Joan Fontaine and Mark Stevens have the top roles. Dure Schary, who is producing "Some Must Watch," signed Sara Allgood, Rhys Williams and James Bell. They support co-stars Dorothy .VlcGuire, George Brent and Ethel Barrymore. Melchior Set for 2 MGM Films LauritK Melchior, Wagnerian tenor, will costar with Jimmy Durante and Esther Williams in MGM's "Gentleman's Gentleman," which is expected to go into production some time next spring. Following that he will make "He Who Gets Slapped," tentatively slated for August, 1946, production. Melchior will average two films yearly from now on and devote much less time to opera and concert performances. 'Face of Marble' to Monogram "The Face of Alarble," original story by Thiele Hartman, with screenplay outline by Frank Wisbar, has been purchased by Monogram, and production will form a part of the 1945-46 program. Jefifrey Bernerd will produce. Jazz Singer' Leads Set Eleanor Parker has been awarded the top feminine role opposite Dane Clark in Warners' forthcoming modernized version of "The Jazz Singer." which will be directed by Michael Curtiz. Two Set for 'Anna' Linda Darnell has been chosen to play the King's favorite wife and Vincent Price will have the role of the Prime Minister in "Anna and the King of Siam," which 20tli Centuryh'ox is filming from Alargaret Laiidon's book, lohn Cromwell will direct for Producer Louis 1 -ighton.