Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1947)

40 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, January 4, 1947 HOLLYWOOD STUDIO ROUNDUP (Continued from Page 39) romantic lead opposite Adele Mara. Ricardo Cortez plays the top "heavy" in the mellerdrammer. Lesley Selander is directing for associate producer William J. O'Sullivan. Roy Rogers finished his "Bells of San Angelo," done in Trucolor; but Gene Autry rode up in time to keep a top western name going. Gene starts "Twilight on the Rio Grande" on Jan. 7, with Frank McDonald directing and Armand Schaefer producing. PRC Finishes Three PRC is turning out pictures at a good clip. This week finds three more completed and in the editing stage, where cutters will ready them for imminent release. "All in the Game," produced by Marvin Stahl, was finished, taking advantage of the seasonal basketball craze. James Brown, Noreen Nash and Sheila Ryan were featured, while James Flood directed. The third "Philo Vance," starring Will Wright, with Leon Belasco, Terry Austin and Ramsey Ames, was also ended. Howard Welsch produced and Bill Beaudine directed. Youthful producer Jerry Thomas brought home "Border Feud," second of the new Al LaRue-Al "Fuzzy" St. John series. Several Get Gun at RKO Eddie Cantor started "If You Knew Susie," in which he stars as well as produces, on Jan. 3. Joan Davis is co-starred. Another RKO feature being started is "Indian Summer," romantic comedy co-starring Alexander Knox and Ann Sothern. The picture, which is scheduled to roll Jan. 6, will be directed by Boris Ingster. George Tobias plays the second male lead, as a genial truck driver. Michel Kraike is producing under the executive supervision of Sid Rogell. Other features going are "Out of the Past," in its third month ; "Magic Town," a Robert Riskin Production starring Jimmy Stewart and Jane Wyman; and "The Fugitive," tentative title for Argosy Pictures' dramatic offering being filmed in Mexico. This last is a unique experiment, with a predominant Mexican crew handling the film, including assistant director, photographer and art director and most of the cast. Six Going for 20th-Fox One of the busiest lots in Hollywood now is 20th-century Fox, with six films being shot. Antonio Moreno, screen idol of the silents, completed his top supporting role in the Tyrone Power starrer, "Captain from Castile." Fritz Leiber was signed for one of the principal parts in "Forever Amber," filmization of the Kathleen Winsor best-seller that 20th is making in Technicolor. Four other flickers are also rolling. Preston Sturges, recently ousted by Howard Hughes from a United Artists picture, was taken on by Fox for a one-picture deal as director-writer. Elia Kazan, who recently completed "Boomerang," now being readied for release, had his term contract option lifted. Nancy Guild, who just completed "The Brasher Doubloon," also had her option exercised. U-I's Pat Quartet Universal-International stands pat with its four films, all of which have been going at least a month. This emphasizes the newly formed company's policy of bigger pictures with longer shooting schedules than in the old Universal days. "The Egg and I," for instance, has been rolling for over 83 days. "Buck Privates Come Home," Abbott & Costello starrer, has been shooting six weeks. "Time Out of Mind," introducing British star Phyllis Calvert in her first American-made picture, has been before the lensmen more than five weeks. Latest addition to the cast of the Sam Wood Production, "Ivy," being produced by William Cameron Menzies, are Paul Cavanaugh, Lumsden Hare and Gavin Muir. 'Burning Journey' Starts After several postponements, Enterprise started its John Garfield starrer, "Burning Journey," on Jan. 6. The same day saw two weeks of retakes beginning on "Arch of Triumph." Most recent addition to "Burning Journey" is Canada Lee. Garfield will don newly-designed plastic facial appliances in the form of scars and simulated tissue growth necessary to transform him into a veteran boxing champ. Inna Gest filled the one remaining important role in "The Other Love," David Lewis production, as Barbara Stanwyck's French maid, Margo, in the picture's Monte Carlo sequences now being filmed. Four other films for United Artists release are being made. Lurene Tuttle, radio star was signed by producer Seymour Nebenzal for her film debut in "Heaven Only Knows." She plays the mother of eight-year-old Gerald Perreaux, borrowed from Hal Roach. Edgar Kennedy, the famous slow-burn comedian, is covering his bald pate with a wig for his role of the town drunkard. The picture is on schedule, despite weather handicaps. Director Al Rogell has maintained a steady production pace. Howard Hawks' "Red River" is now over the 100-day mark in shooting time, while producer Sam Coslow has his "Copacabana" into its second month. Columnists Earl Wilson and Louis Sobol were scheduled to arrive from New York to handle bits in the picture, on which David Hersh is serving as executive producer. The other UA flicker is the long-suffering "Vendetta," which has been going a month under its new regime, following the Sturges trouble. SCP Makes Headway When Joseph C. Ansel 1 came over to Ensenada, Mexico, from his home town of St. Louis to view rushes, both he and his brother Louis decided to increase the budget of the initial production, "Women in the Ni0ht," by $250,000 and lengthen the shooting schedule by 15 days. The film, which is being made for Southern California Pictures, newly formed venture by the brothers Ansell, stars Bill Henry, Tala fiirell and Virginia Christine and is being directed by William Rowland. It is being produced at the luxurious Playa Ensenada Hotel, a sumptuous gambling casino. The Ansell brothers, operators of a large independent theatre circuit in St. Louis, have not revealed their distribution plans. Selznick Gets Advice David O. Selznick, currently in the throes of suits and counter suits with United Artists, is nevertheless making progress with the first film under the new aegis of the Selznick Releasing Organization. "The Paradine Case," be ing produced by D.O., himself, has been shooting several weeks. Alfred D. Burt, Head Keeper of London's famed Old Bailey for the past 25 years, one of the best known criminal courts in the world, is on his way to Hollywood on a three months' leave to act as technical advisor. Alfred Hitchcock directs. SG Increases Budget Screen Guild's "Shoot to Kill/' made by Bill Berke, came in under the wire Dec. 24, with a budget claimed as 50 per cent higher than when the film started. The Screen Guild officials maintain that this is the costliest picture they have made, costing a reported $265,000. Berke has now produced three features for SG and is readying a fourth. 'Lest Kingdom' Next in Lesser's Tarzan Series "Tarzan and the Lost Kingdom" has been announced by Sol Lesser as his next film in the Tarzan series based on the Edgar Rice Burrough character. Johnny Weissmuller will play Tarzan, Brenda Joyce will be Jane, and Johnny Sheffield will play the son. Production is scheduled for next June, with RKO Radio to distribute the film early in 1948. "Tarzan and the Huntress," recently completed by Lesser, will be distributed this year. The films are the first two under a new 20year contract between Lesser and Burroughs, giving Lesser exclusive screen rights to the Tarzan name. Burroughs will receive $25,000 per picture as royalty, plus 20 per cent of the profits. De Rochemont to Make 'Spoonhandle' for Fox Ruth Moore's novel, "Spoonhandle," has been purchased by 20th Century-Fox and assigned to Producer Louis de Rochemont, who will film the picture in his usual on-the-spot location and factual technique. Mark Stevens is under consideration for one of the star roles. Miss Moore, a New England woman, composed the story around two families living on two islands named "Little Spoon" and "Big Spoon." De Rochemont has produced three pictures in his on-the-spot location technique, "The House on 92nd Street," "13 Rue Madeleine" and "Boomerang." 300 Extras Work in Two Monogram Films A total of 300 extras reported to Monogram last Monday morning for scenes in the Cinecolor production, "Black Gold," and "Violence." Half the group reported to "Violence" in street clothes for a riot scene. Remainder donned formal dress for a drawing room sequence at Churchill Downs for "Black Gold." To Be Technical Adviser Francois Villiers, brother of actor Jean Pierre Aumont, is in Hollywood from France to serve as technical adviser on "Atlantis," Producer Seymour Nebenzal's production for United Artists, which co-stars Aumont and his wife, Maria Montez.