Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1947)

«> SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, January 18, 1947 STR West Coast Offices 6777 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood 28. Calif. Telephone Hollywood 2055 STUDIO ROUNDUP Gable Year-Long Screen Hfesenee Broken as 'Hucksters' Stents at MGM with Sydney Greenstreet Borrowed From Warners for Hole; 7 Films in Work at 20th-Fox Biggest news of the past week on the Hollywood production front was the return of Clark Gable to the screen after more than a year's absence. One of Filmland's most consistently popular names at the box-office, Gable started work on "The Hucksters," only his second film since his release from the Army Air Forces. Metro also distinguished itself on the picture by borrowing Sydney Greenstreet from Warner Bros., for the first time in many moons, to play an important role; and the film co-stars Deborah Kerr, one of England's top draws, in her first American-made production. This filmization of the best-seller gave MGM five pictures before the cameras, topped only by Warners' half-dozen and 20th-Fox's seven now shooting. Gable Film Cast Complete MGM is shooting the works on "The Hucksters," which has finally received the jumpoff signal. Keenan Wynn was picked for the brokendown radio comic after quite a bit of trouble developed in getting a suitable player for the role. Sydney Greenstreet comes over from Warners, and Adolphc Menjou acts at MGM for the first time in his long career. Edward Arnold plays his second role in a Gable film, the first being back in 1938. Jack Conway directs for producer Arthur Hornblow, Jr. "Green Dolphin Street" now has five technical advisers, the latest being Fathers John Devlin and Francis Keane of West Hollywood. They will supervise religious scenes in the film. Shirley Johns, "cover girl," has been cast in a glamor role for "The Rich, Full Life," playing the love rival of Elizabeth Taylor. 'Panic' Starts at Monogram "Panic" reigns at Monogram, where producer Jan Grippo is making the latest Bowery Boys' picture. Bill Beaudine is directing "Panic," which started Jan. 15. Leo Gorcey is again starred, with the rest of the gang. "Land of the Lawless," Johnny Mack Brown western, has been completed, with Christine Mclntyre sharing feminine honors with June Harrison. Raymond Hatton was featured. Miss Harrison did something different in this Brown film, which usually contains no singing. She handled a new tune by Lou Herscher called A Gal a Man Loves to Kiss. "Tragic Symphony" was supposed to start last week, but has again been postponed. Shooting may get under way momentarily. "Black Gold," Cinecolor racehorse drama, was completed after extensive camera work at nearby tracks. Aztsell's Distribution Plan Louis Ansell has finished his and his brother's personally financed "Women in the Night," made in Mexico, and will embark upon a unique method of arranging distribution. Ansell plans to try the film first in his own chain of houses in the St. Louis area; if it gets across, he hopes to make a better deal for distribution. Thus far, no releasing arrangements have been made. The picture, which was made in Mexico, featured William Henry and Tala Birell. Tough Luck for E-L Eagle-Lion's "Repeat Performance" hopes the performance given last week by Peggy Ann Nilsson will not be repeated. Miss Nilsson broke her leg while playing badminton, but the studio has arranged for her to finish her role in a wheelchair ! Valli Arrives for SRO Billed modestly as "Europe's most beautiful woman," Valli arrived in Hollywood last week to begin her American film career. The woman with just one name started work in David O. Selznick's "The Paradine Case," only 24 hours after her arrival. She is costarryig with Gregory Peck, and although this is her initial visit to the United States, the lady speaks perfect English. Illness Delays Film Start Lilli Palmer, co-starring with John Garfield in "Body and Soul," delayed the start of the film for Enterprise when she contracted food poisoning on Jan. 7. This was a day before the film, to be released by United Artists, was supposed to go. Flowever, she recovered sufficiently to allow a start later in the week. Enterprise signed Joan Barton, actress-singer, for the part of a torch songstress in "The Other Love," now nearing the end of three months' shooting. Dubbing was started on Producer Harry Sherman's "Ramrod," with final cutting completed. Producers Buddy Rogers and Ralph Cohn started "Stork Bites Man" on Jan. 15 at Hal Roach Studios. Their other Comet features, part of UA's output, have been shot elsewhere. Marjorie Reynolds replaced the injured Helen Walker in the role of the dance-hall girl in the Seymour Nebenzal production, "Heaven Only Knows." Miss Reynolds secured her release from Paramount, and this will be her first film as a free-lance artist. Crew Back from Location A crew of 87 returned Jan. 15 from location filming for Pine-Thomas' "Albuquerque," their first color production, to be made for Paramount. The two Bills, Pine and Thomas, and Director Ray Enright, headed the migration. The film is now being shot, with George "Gabby" Hayes, Catherine Craig and Lon Chaney in leading roles. By far P-T's most ambitious undertaking, more than 200 trained horses will (Continued on Page 42) Republic Ussigns Six Color Musical Westerns Associate Producer Sidney Ricker and Director R. G. Springsteen have been assigned at Republic to produce and direct a series of six musical westerns in Trucolor, to star Monte Hale, during 1947. "Along the Oregon Trail," currently being written for the screen by Earl Snell, has been set as the first in the series, and -is scheduled to go before the cameras early in February. Others in the series will be: "Heart of the Rockies," "Moon Over Mexicala," "Under Colorado Skies," "Nighttime in Nevada" and "The Timber Trail." Rudlo Pictures Enters 35 -mm. Production Field Audio Pictures, which has' been making 16-mm. commercial, educational and documentary-type films, last week entered the 35-mm. field, with its first picture, "Crisis of Dirk Diamond," scheduled to be released through Screen Guild. It is hoped to get the picture under way in March. Meanwhile, Audio is making its first entertainment film in 16-mm. form, a two-reel eomedy. Heading the company is Dr. Ferenc H. Fodor; other executives include Louis Brandt, production chief, and Delia Josephs. Buys Paratrooper Story "Daredevils of the Sky," an adventure story of paratroopers who banded together to help the victims of mishaps in remote parts of the world, has been purchased by Republic and assigned to Associate Producer William J. O'Sullivan to produce. Royal Cole has been assigned to write the screenplay for this original story, and film is slated to go before the cameras in March. To Star in 'Finger Woman' Janet Martin, young contract player at Republic, has been cast for the lead in the company's melodrama, "The Finger Woman," the studio announced last week. George Blair will direct this story concerning a newspaper publisher from a script by Dorrell and Stuart McGowan. Production starts Feb. 5. Col. Sets 'Mother for May' Maurice Adler will produce and Alexander Hall direct the Columbia production of "A Mother for May," the studio has announced. Story is a comedy of the early 1900's written by James Edward Grant. Mono. Borrows Rasumny Mikhail Rasumny has been borrowed by Monogram from Paramount for a role in its biographical film of Tschaikovsky, "Tragic Symphony," the studio announced last week.