Showmen's Trade Review (Jul-Sep 1945)

34 S H O W M E N ' S T R A D E R E V I E W September 29. 1945 STR West Coast Offices 6777 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood 28, Calif. Telephone. Hollywood 2C65 PRODUCTION NOTES FROM THE STUDIOS Thorpe to Direct, Cummings to Produce ^Fiesta' for MGM/ 20th-Fox Lifts the Option of Producer Louis de Rochemont ►Director Richard Thorpe, who scored with two of the year's major hits, "Two Girls and a Sailor" and "Thrill of a Romance," has been assigned by MGM to direct the Technicolor extravaganza, "Fiesta," starring Esther Williams, which Jack Cummings will produce. ►Jim Bannon, who portrayed the lead role in the first of Columbia's "I Love a Mystery" series, will head the list of talent in "The Head," second of the series, which is scheduled to start in October. Henry Levin will direct and Wallace MacDonald produce. ►Ray Milland, Barbara Stanwyck and Barry Fitzgerald will have the leads in "California," Paramount's forthcoming lavish Technicolor drama of the gold rush days, to be produced by Seton L Miller and directed by John Farrow. The studio has signed E. Y. "Yip" Harburg, famous for his work in many of Hollywood's big musicals, and Earl Robinson, of "Ballad for Americans" fame, to write special music and songs for large choral groups and three elaborate music montages. ►"Caravan Trails," starring Eddie Dean with Al LaRue and Emmett Lynn, third in the color series of westerns being produced by PRC, is currently before the cameras with Robert Emmett producing and directing. ►Republic has purchased an original story "Move Over, Dear," by Gerald Adams and 'Richard Sokolove, which centers about a returned veteran whose wife has been running his business. William O'Sullivan will be executive producer. ►Isabel Jewell draws one of the finest roles of her career in RKO's "Badman's Territory," starring Randolph Scott. She will portray Belle Starr, notorious bandit queen and ex-Confederate spy. Ann Richards, as Scott's leading lady, lieads the supporting cast which includes Lawrence Tierney, James Warren, Morgan Conway and George "Gabby" Hayes. Tim Whelan is directing and Nat Holt produces. ► Ivan Kirov has been signed by Ben Hecht for the male starring role in Republic's "Specter of the Rose." Hecht, who is writing, producing and directing his own film production, expects to announce the selection of a girl dancer to co-star in the film shortly. Kirov starred in the road company of "Oklahoma" and was a featured dancer in the musical stage revue, "Song Without Words." ►T(j .Martha O'DriscolI goes the feminine lead in Univcrsal's super-horror film, "House of Dracula," opposite Lon Chaney. Others irj the cast are John Carradine in the title role, Poni Adams, Onslow Stevens, Lionel Atwill, Glenn Strange and Ludwig Stossel. Erie C. Kenton will direct for Producer Paul Malvern. ►James Craig and Frances Gifford have been selected by MGM for the romantic leads in the forthcoming ".Army Brat," which features "Butch" Jenkins and Sharon McAlanus. Film is scheduled for early production with Fred Zinnemann directing and O. O. Dull producing. ►Twentieth Century-Fox has lifted the option of Producer Louis de Rochemont for another year. I3e Rochemont's current picture is "The House on 92nd Street." ►Barbara Brown is the latest addition to the cast of Warners' "The Man I Love," Ida LupinoRobert Alda starrer which Raoul Walsh is directing and Arnold Albert producing. Player won Warner contract for strong performance in "Mildred Pierce," the Joan Crawford-Jack Carson starring vehicle. ►Queenie Smith and Rennie MacEvoy are added to the cast of "From This Day Forward," RKO's Joan Fontaine starrer. They play two of the numerous in-laws of the young couple portrayed by Miss Fontaine and her leading man, Mark Stevens. Other "in-laws" are played by Rosemary DeCamp, Henry Morgan, Arline Judge and Wally Brown. John Berry directs with William Pereira producing under the executive supervision of Jack Gross. >"The Madonna's Secret" with Francis Lederer, Gail Patrick, Ann Rutherford and Edward Ashley, is presently before the cameras at Republic. William Thiele directs. ►Robert Paige gets the male lead and co-starring role opposite Maria Montez and Sabu in Universal's top budget spy drama, "Tangier," now in production with George Waggner directing and Paul Malvern producing. ►Dick Erdman, who played the role of Scooper in "Janie," has been given a featured role in Warners' Technicolor musical "Night and Day," which Michael Curtiz is directing and Arthur Schwartz producing, with Cary Grant in the starring role. i^Marshall Thompson gets his first lead in the MGM picture, "Star from Heaven," to be directed by Andrew Marton. Based on an unpublished novel by Lt. Marvin Park, the picture will be produced by Harry Rapf. ►Phil Karlson will direct "Stepping Around," first of Monogram's new Bowery Boys series to be produced by Jan Grippo. Huntz Hall, Leo Gorcey and Billy Benedict head the cast. ►Felix Bressart has been signed by Producer Henry Brash for an important role in the PRC production "Once and for All" in which Nancy Coleman stars, with Margaret Lindsay and Philip Reed in t(jp featured roles. Edgar Ulmer will direct. Musical Director on New Series Edwai'd Kay has been appointed musical director for the entire series of Bowery Boys films, new group at Monogram. Jan Grippo produces, and the casts will include Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall and Billy Benedict. 43 Pictures in Various Stages of Production Announced by UA A total of 43 pictures have either been completed and are awaiting release, or are being edited, or are being shot in the studios, or are definitely or tentatively in preparation, United Artists has announced. A number of pictures made in England are included. Pictures awaiting release are: "Blithe Spirit" English), '-Spellbound," "Captain Kidd," "The Outlaw," 'Caesar and Cleopatra" (English), "Paris Underground," "Htenry V" (EngUsh), "This iHappy Breed" (English) and "2000 Women" (English). Pictures being edited include : "The Diary o£ » Chambermaid," "Duel in the Sun," "Young Widow," "Getting Gertie's Garter," "Whistle Stop" and "Abilene." Features shooting include : "Tom Breneman's Breakfast in Hollywood," "The Sin of Harold Diddlebock," "A Night in Casablanca" and "Scandal in Paris." Soon to go before the cameras is "There Goes Lona Henry." Pictures in preparation include : "A Lion Is in Streets," "The Stray Lamb," "Only the Valiant," "Bugles in the Afternoon," "Angel on My Shoulder," "My Wild Irish Rose," "The Varga Giri," "The Ghost of Monte Cristo," "Bella Donna," "Dishonored Lady," "Glamor Girl," "Strange Woman," "Petticoat Lane," "One Touch of Venus," "Champagne for Everybody," "Bluebeard," "Bel Ami," "Civilian Clothes," "Alarum and Excursion," "Suddenly It's Spring," "Katie for Congress," "Look Homeward, .\ngel" and an untitled film based on the life of Samuel Colt, inventor of the revolver. 20th-Fox Buys 'George Apley' Twentieth Century-Fox this week announced acquisition of the Broadway hit, "The Late George Apley," by John P. Marquand and George S. Kaufman. Other 20th-Fox story properties include: "Fallen Angel," by Marty Holland ; "Forever Amber," by Kathleen Winsor ; "Captain From Castile," by Samuel Shellabarger ; "Cluny Brown," by Margery Sharp ; "Enchanted Voyage," by Robert Nathan ; "Anna and the King of Siam," by Margaret Landon ; "Leave Her to Heaven," by Ben Ames Williams ; "The Razor's Edge," by Somerset Maugham; "Dragonwyck," by Anya Seton; "Centennial Summer," by Albert E. Idell ; Louella Parson's autobiography ; "Gay Illiterate" ; "Mother Wore Tights," by Miriam Young; "Party Line," by Louise Baker ; and the Jules J. and Philip G. Epstein Broadway stage hit, "Chicken Every Sunday," from the novel of the same name by Rosemary Taylor. Russell for Disney Feature Andy Russell will sing a love letter. Without , You, in Walt Disney's new Technicolor feature, "Make Mine Music," thus joining a list of celebrities who will "ghost-star" in this picture which RKO Radio will release. Other favorites signed include Nelson Eddy, Benny Goodman and his band, Dinah Shore, Andrews Sisters, Kings Men, Jerry Colonna, Lichine and Riahouchinska. Spade Cooley and his band. Nigh to Direct Lum and Abner William Nigh has been signed to direct "Partners in Time," new Lum and Abner picture scheduled to go into production October 29 with Ben Hersh producing for Jack Votion Productions. RKO Radio will release. Signed for 'Swamp Fire' Virginia Grey has been signed by William Pine and William Thomas for one of the leads in "Swamp Fire," drama of the Louisiana bayous which they will produce for Paramoimt