Showmen's Trade Review (1945)

October 13, 1945 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 63 'Florida' and 'Conover Girl' Set For Production at Republic Plans were made at Republic studios last week for the filming of two important properties. Allen Wilson, vice-president of the studios, arranged for the production of "Florida" as an unlimited-budget Technicolor musical to be produced in the late spring of 1946 for release nationally in next year's production group. William Saal, assistant to Herbert J. Yates, Sr., president of Republic Productions, has received cooperation from Florida for the filming of the picture virtually in its entirety in that state. Also last week President Yates arranged for the full cooperation of the Harry Conover modeling agency in New York in the production of "The Conover Girl," an unpublished romance by Ursula Parrot based on the activities of the Conover organization. The picture will go into production some time in December as the musical special of Republic's current lineup. While no principals have been cast, it is understood that the title role will go to the most outstanding Conover "cover girl" model of the year, following a series of screen tests to be made in New York at the agency. Gerard and Cline to Make Jiggs and Maggie' Comedies Two "Jiggs and Maggie" comedies per year will be produced by Monogram, according to the terms of an agreement completed between Trem Carr, executive producer, and King Features, distributors of the famous cartoon strip on which they will be based. The films will be produced by Barney Gerard, former burlesque comedian who later became a producer of burlesque and legitimate shows, and the director will be Eddie Cline, noted Hollywood comedy figure who began his screen career in Keystone Comedies. Gerard and Cline are now at work on the first story, which is expected to enter production in January. 80% to Be Filmed Outdoors More than 80 per cent of Paramount's Technicolor production, "California," will be shot outdoors under the schedule set by Producer Seton I. Miller and Director John Farrow. Only a few sets, including interiors of the early California Assembly building and the Presidential offices in Washington, will be constructed in the studio. Ray Milland, Barbara Stanwyck and Barry Fitzgerald will play the starring roles in the picture. 'Face of Marble' Lead Claudia Drake has been signed for the feminine lead in "The Face of Marble," Monogram drama directed by William Beaudine for Producer Jeffrey Bernerd. At the same studio, Miss Drake is just finishing her role in "Stepping Around," first of the Bowery Boys series. RKO Buys 'Girl From Memphis' "That Girl From Memphis," current bestseller by Wilbur Daniel Steele, has been purchased by RKO Radio. It is a historical romance laid in Arizona from 1855 to 1934. Signed for Columbia Lead Ruth Warrick has been signed to team with Pat O'Brien in "Perilous Holiday," which Phil L. Ryan is producing for Columbia. Edward Griffith will direct. Bonanova in 'Beaucaire' Fortunio Bonanova has been cast by Paramount as Don Carlos in the Bob Hope picture, "Monsieur Beaucaire," which George Marshall is directing. TALKING IT OVER. Walter Wanger (left), Joan Bennett and Fritz Lang, heads of the newly formed Diana Productions, discuss the problems of filming "Scarlet Street" at Universal Edward G. Robinson and Dan Duryea play leading roles in the new melodrama. Studio, a> ttaliitif Dear Mr. Exhibitor's Wife: Joan Fontaine is our "star" for today. We're going to drop around to the set of "From This Day Forward" at RKO, where she's working, to say "hello." The picture is about the complexities of life a young couple encounter as they try to plan their future together, with Joan Fontaine playing the girl and Mark Stevens the boy. Story starts in 1937, and today's scene is the rally being held in a reception hall for a tinhorn politician (Moroni Olsen). Joan's cousin (Henry Morgan) who works for him, has brought Joan here to see if Olsen can do something for Stevens-. It's a fairly large room, with chairs lining the sides and a platform up front for the speaker and music. All types of posters have been tacked up here and there, among them one reading "Your Host Is Happy Tim" . . . and you can't help knowing who Tim is, for his picture covers the entire backdrop on the stage. Joan looks very lovely in a simple navy crepe dress that has a square yoke of pink lace, and her soft blonde hair is piled high on her head in ringlets. At the moment she's standing next to Olsen and Morgan, waiting for rehearsal to start. Director John Berry has them in position for the forthcoming scene, which takes place near the door, where Olsen is to greet all comers. Dancers are called and when they get out on the floor, the command is given for rehearsal. This starts with Morgan trying to talk to Olsen between interruptions of hand-shakes, handing out cigars and other "political gestures" used to get the votes. Just as Morgan starts to introduce Joan, a big, hefty blonde squeezes between them, asking for a cigar for her boy friend. For a moment Olsen thinks she's the one Morgan's been speaking of, but his face changes when he realizes his mistake . . . and he immediately invites Joan to dance . . . which ends the scene. Several times Berry stops the action to make a suggestion. He finally acts it out in order to "show" exactly what he wants. This man, Berry, is a new director in Hollywood. He's done several unreleased pictures, but he has plenty of background and experience from the legitimate stage, and seems to know what he wants. Our opportunity to say "hello" to Joan arrives as soon as the scene is over. And we visit with her between interruptions from autograph seekers and preparations for her next scene. Most of the autograph seekers are the extras on the set and (need I tell you?) those of her fans among us. When Joan answers the director's call, we leave. Until next week. Ann Lewis Yordan Completes Belita Script Philip Yordan, author of "Dillinger," and the New York stage play, "Anna Lucasta," has turned in the completed original screenplay on "Glamor Girl," Belita's next Monogram starring vehicle, to be produced by King Bros. Rehearsals under Director Frank Tuttle are now under way at Westwood Ice Rink, and actual shooting starts November 1. Nick Castle is staging the dances and skating numbers. Several Literary Properties to Be Brought to Screen by MGM With three screen adaptations of well-known novels already in production (Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' "The Yearling," A. J. Cronin's "The Green Years" and James M. Cain's "The Postman Always Ring Twice"), and with preparations being made to film two of the company's Annual Award books ("Green Dolphin Street" and "Before the Sun Goes Down"), MGM has several other literary properties to be brought to the screen. . The company now owns screen rights to "Cass Timberlane," by Sinclair Lewis ; "High Barbaree," by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall; "Christian of the Bounty," now being written by Nordhoff and scheduled for Clark Gable; "Green Mansions," by William Henry Hudson; "Image of Josephine," by Booth Tarkington; "Romance of Rosy Ridge," by MacKinlay Kantor^ "If You Ever Need Me," by Blair Treynor; "The Lady in the Lake," by Raymond Chandler; "Army Brat," by Thomas D. Wadleton and Joseph Harrington; "Now That April's There," by Daisy Neumann; "Red Shoes Run Faster," by Henry Bellamann; "Silly Girl," autobiographical novel by Angna Enters; "Young Bess," by Margaret Irwm; "Three O'Clock Dinner," by Josephine Pinckney; and "Joe, the Wounded Tennis Player," by Morton Thompson, with a picture to be based on one of the chapters, "Louie, My Brother Who Talked to Horses." Currently in release is "Our Vines Have Tender Grapes," based on the novel by George Victor Martin. Scheduled for release in the near future are "They Were Expendable," from the best-seller by W. L White, and "Dangerous Partners," adapted from "Paper Chase" by Oliver Weld Bayer. To Do Russian Language Film Adolphe Menjou, who speaks ten foreign languages fluently, disclosed on the set of the Hakim-Wood production, "Heartbeat," which stars _ Ginger Rogers, that he will make a Russian language film. Menjou, who has signed to do two pictures for an English motion picture company, will be the first American actor to work in the Paris studios since the war. The two pictures which are to be made in English and French, will be done in Russian with Menjou playing his original roles in these versions. Raft to Star in 'Nocturne' George Raft has been signed by RKO Radio to star in "Nocturne," an original screen story by Frank Fenton and Rowland Brown. He will portray a detective on the Los Angeles police force who solves one of the city's most baffling crimes, the murder of a noted composer. Edwin L. Marin has been assigned to direct. Paramount to Produce 'Saigon' "Saigon," an original story based on the current situation in Indo-China has been announced for production by Paramount as a topbudget film. Wells Root has been assigned to write the screenplay and produce the film. O'Hara Set for 'Sinbad' ^ Maureen O'Hara will star in "Sinbad the Sailor," Technicolor picture to be produced for RKO Radio by Stephen Ames. FOR SAME DAY SPECIAL TRAILER SERVICE PDQ and PERFECT, too FILMACK TRAILER CO. 1325 S. WABASH CHICAGO 5, ILL. a a What Are Your Needs? Joe Hornstein Has It