Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1947)

SHCWMEN S TRADE REVIEW, February 22, 1947 STR West Coast Offices 6777 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood 28, Ccdif. Telephone Hollywood 2055 STUDIO ROUNDUP Hollywood Production Still in Doldrums, Despite Accelerated Activity at Some Studios; 20th-Fox Leads in Number of Pictures Before the Cameras 25 Additional Pictures On Republic Schedule With the start during the past week of two features, "The Trespasser" (new title for "The Finger Woman") and the Roy Rogers starrer in Trucolor, "Springtime in the Sierras," Republic studios enters the final third of its production program for 1946-47, with 25 additional pictures slated to be released on this schedule Studio has three top-budgeted deluxe productions being readied for the cameras, the Vera Ralston-John Carroll starrer, "Crime Passionelle," with John Auer as associate producer-director; "Heaven for Jenny," with Allan Dwan as associate producer-director, and "The Fabulous Texan," with Edmund Grainger as associate producer. Additional features on this year's program include: "Down Tahiti Way," "Singapore Sal," "Whispers in the Dark" and "Daredevils of the Sky," to be produced by William J. O'Sullivan ; "The City Slicker," "The Hideout," "Pride of Kentucky" and "Thunder in the Forest," to be produced by Sidney Picker ; four more Rogers' starrers in Trucolor, to be produced by Edward J. White ; the next Gene Autry starrer, "Saddle Pals," to be produced by Picker; six Monte Hale musical westerns in Trucolor, with Mel Tucker as associate producer on this series ; and two serials, "The Black Widow" and "G Men Never Forget," which Mike Frankovich will handle. 'Anna Karenina' Lead To Vivien Leigh The Hollywood represenative of Sir Alexander Korda has announced that the British producer has engaged Vivien Leigh to play the lead in his new version of Leo Tolstoy's famous novel, "Anna Karenina." Cameras are scheduled to begin to grind on April 15 at Korda's London studios following completion of "An Ideal Husband" starring Paulette Goddard. Julien Duvivier, who is under contract to Korda to direct three pictures, will draw "Anna Karenia" as the first assignment under his contract. The Tolstoy opus has been filmed twice before, as a silent picture in 1915 and in sound in 1935 with Greta Garbo and Fredric March. Gardner to Assist Kings Art Gardner, former actor, and assistant director on "Paper Bullets," first film produced by King Bros., has been appointed executive assistant to Frank and Maurice King, to work with them on major production problems connected with "The Gangster," their current picture for Allied Artists. After service in the army> Gardner was recently assistant director on "Suspense." Get Roles in 'Clock' Lloyd Corrigan and ■ Henry Morgan have been signed for featured roles in Paramount's "The Big Clock," which starts soon with John Farrow directing and Ray Milland and Charles Laughton in starring roles. Production in Hollywood remains in the doldrums, but a few studios, including Columbia, PRC, RKO and United Artists, experienced some accelerated activity last week. Every studio in town had at least one feature rolling, except Screen Guild. Twentieth Century-Fox remained in front as far as quantity of production is concerned, with its "Forever Amber" currently the longest-shooting picture of all. "Amber" has been before the cameras over 105 days and still has quite a bit of ground to cover. It is one of three Technicolor films now going; there is also one in Cinecolor and another in Trucolor. Where color was once rampant, it is noticeably lagging these days in actual filming. WB Starts 'Two Guys' Warner Bros, started "Two Guys from Texas" Feb. 18, with Dennis Morgan, Jack Carson and Dorothy Malone. This is the first time Miss Malone has been given such top billing. In Technicolor, the picture is being directed by David Butler, with dance sequences handled by LeRoy Prinz. Also, Forrest Tucker will make his Warner debut in the film, after signing .t long-termer with the studio. Penny Edwards, 18-year-old showgirl, gets her first opportunity in this song-and-dance flicker, too. "Woman in White" has been completed. Edward Arnold was signed for "Wallflower," and Barbara Brown will enact the role of Arnold's wife. Lotte Stein, character actress in Germany before the War, will play the maid. Besides these two, the studio has another duo before the lenses : "The Unfaithful" and Michael Curtiz's "The Unsuspected." 20th Ends 'Moss Rose' Although "Moss Rose" was finished at 20thcentury Fox, the lot still has four films rolling, as high a total as any in this lackadaisical production period. Gene Tierney's accident, which caused a broken foot, held up work on "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" for some time. Ian Keith was announced for the role of Tybalt in the Romeo and Juliet sequences of "Forever Amber" — this is a slight change for the actor, who has been portaraying Vitamin Flintheart in RKO's "Dick Tracy series." Barbara Powers, cigarette girl at one of Hollywood's famous night clubs, was chosen by Director Otto Preminger and Producer William Perlberg for the part of Nell Gwynne, famous actress of the 17th century and King Charles IPs mistress. Miss Powers has been acting two years, but has never quit selling cigarettes at the night spot. PRC Production Steady PRC started "Silent Voice," a mystery drama on Feb. 19. Marvin Stahl is producing the drama, which has a Hollywood studio background. Basil Wrangel is directing. Ben Stoloff will act as executive producer. PRC recently completed "Step-Child" arid finished "Too Many Winners" the same day that "Silent Voice" started, keeping up a steady stream of production. Monogram Starts 'Louisiana' "Louisiana," biographical film starring Gov. Jimmie Davis in the story of his colorful career, went before the cameras at Monogram Feb. 17, with Margaret Lindsay in the feminine lead. Newr castings included John Gallaudet, Mary Field, Lee "Lasses" White and Andrew Tombes. Phil Karlson is directing for Producer Lindsley Parsons Also rolling for the studio is the King Brothers' "The Gangster," being made for Allied Artists, Monogram's high-budget subsidiary. The cast now stacks up as Barry Sullivan, Belita, Joan Lorring, Akim Tamiroff, Henry Morgan, John Ireland and Fifi D'Orsay. Columbia Set for Two More Columbia was scheduled to start two new films last week, with "The Yes Woman" to roll Feb. 17 and "Man From Colorado" on Feb. 19. Lucille Ball and Franchot Tone are cast for the former, which S. Sylvan Simon is producing and directing. A modern comedy, Simon will co-produce with Raphael Hakim ; the two are doing it as an independent venture for Columbia release. Edward Everett Horton is also a recent addition to the line-up "Man From Colorado," in which Glenn Ford, William Holden and Ellen Drew are co-starring, is in Technicolor. Charles Vidor is directing the film, which Jules Schermer is producing. Columbia's serial, "The Vigilante," draws Lyle Talbot as chief villain and Ralph Byrd as the hero. Ramsay Ames has femme honors. It started shooting Feb. 17. "Major Denning's Trust Estate" has been completed, with the last days of work being featured by use of genuine working pari-mutuel machines for racetrack scenes in this Kentucky horse-racing yarn. Change in Cast . Samuel Goldwyn had to make a last-minute substitution in "The Bishop's Wife," being released through RKO. When Teresa Wright's pregnancy became known, Loretta Young was signed as tht replacement. William Seiter is directing the picture, in which Monty Woolley will be seen for the first time in many months. Gregg Toland, who handled photographic chores on Goldwyn's "Best Years," is again the camera chief on this one. Sig Ruman, Fritz Feld and Paul Harvey have been added to Eddie Cantor's musical, "If (Continued on Page 42)