Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1947)

42 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, February 22, 1947 HOLLYWOOD STUDIO ROUNDUP (Continued from Page 41) You Knew Susie"; and "Tycoon," the studio's three-million-dollar Technicolor special, is ready for a short location jaunt 'Miracle' Still Going "A Miracle Can Happen," the Benedict Bogeaus-Burgess Meredith production for United Artists which started long ago but has been halted a half-dozen times because of its episodic nature is still going. The last episode, which features Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda and Harry James, is now being filmed. Others who already have worked in the picture include Paulette Goddard, Meredith, Charles Laughton, Fred MacMurray, William Demarest and Hugh Herbert. George Stevens is now directing. With "Heaven Only Knows" finished, Producer Seymour Nebenzal teed off Feb. 17 on the latter part of his $10,000,000 production program for 1946-47, with "Atlantis" going before the cameras. Arthur Ripley is directing. Other UA pictures rolling include "Vendetta" and Enterprise's "Body and Soul." Wallis Film on Location Hal Wallis' "I Walk Alone" troupe went on location to Pasadena last week to film scenes on an old estate there. Lizabeth Scott, Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas worked under the direction of Byron Haskins. On Lancaster's final day in the film, he fought with 238-pound Mike Mazurki, working without doubles. Walter "Tony" Merrill, who played leading roles in 50 Army training films during the War, resumed his career as a character actor in the film. Uncertain weather sent Clarion Productions' "Albuquerque" company into sound stages at the new Nassour Studio, the first picture to work there. This Paramount color release had been on location for three weeks, 35 miles out of Hollywood. When the weather cleared, the troupe was scheduled to return to location. U-I Starts 'Brute Force' "Brute Force," Mark Hellinger's third production for Universal-International release, started Feb. 17, with Jules Dassin directing Burt Lancaster, Hume Cronyn and Charles Bickford in the starring male roles. Anita Colby, nationally famed beauty, joined Ann Blyth, Yvonne DeCarlo and Ella Raines as one of four feminine leads. Dr. Miklos Rozsa was set as musical director on "Secret Beyond the Door," Diana Production for U-I, produced and directed by Fritz Lang. Joan Bennett and Michael Redgrave are starring. Barbara O'Neill, Broadway character actress, was signed for a role in the film. Vincent Price, who recently inked a U-I term deal, checked into the studio to prepare for his initial assignment in "Jeopardy," in which he shares top billing with Ella Raines and Edmond O'Brien. The picture is supposed to start Feb. 24, with Michael Gordon directing for Producer Jerry Bresler. William Bendix is the latest named addition. Blair Directing 'Trespasser' Republic's big effort, "Finger Woman," has been retitled "The Trespasser." George Blair is directing Dale Evans, in her first non-Western picture for the lot, and Janet Martin, Warren Douglas, Adele Mara, Douglas Fowley and Grant Withers. The other studio picture in work now is "Springtime in the Sierras," Trucolor Roy Rogers starrer. Edward J. White is associate producer for the production, which also includes Andy Devine and Roy's new leading lady, Jane Frazee. Supporting cast is Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers, Stephanie Bachelor, Roy Barcroft and Harry Cheshire. William Witney directs. SR.® Uses Costly Art One of the nation's outstanding collections of art has been rented by David O. Selznick for his Selznick Releasing Organization picture, "The Paradine Case." The collection forms a background for scenes featuring Gregory Peck, Ethel Barrymore and Charles Laughton and is valued at more than $25,000. Four more actors were signed for roles as court officials in the Old Bailey sequences : Lumsden Hare, Edgar Norton, Colin-Keith Johnson and James Fairfax. After 85 days of construction, the Old Bailey criminal court set was completed. It will serve as background for important scenes involving Peck, Miss Barrymore, Laughton, Ann Todd, Charles Coburn and Selznick's two new discoveries from abroad, Louis Jourdan and Valli. Mo Change in M@M Setup As far as production is concerned, the once Roaring Lion is down to a mere whisper these days, with nothing altered in the two-picturesat-work situation. "The Hucksters" moves into its seventh week of action under the directorial guidance of Jack Conway; while "Song of the Thin Man" is only a week shorter in shooting time. Eddie Buzzell, himself a former comedian, is directing this latest detective release for Producer Nat Perrin. 'Performance' Moves Along Although other pictures are being shot at the Eagle-Lion lot in Hollywood, meaning its cousin, PRC, only one feature remains constantly on the shooting agenda for E-L, itself. This, of course, is "Repeat Performance," which has been before the lensmen some two months. Nothing else is planned at the moment for a camera start by E-L. Buys Story As ¥ehiele for Raft Samuel Bischoff, who' this week established independent production headquarters at the General Service Studios with "The Pitfall," starring Dick Powell, as his initial feature, has announced the purchase of a second story property, "Intrigue," an original by George Slavin, in which George Raft will star. The Powell and Raft vehicles are the first of four which Bischoff will produce for United Artists release. New Mirrophonic Sound JOE HORNSTEIN has it! 'Virtuous' Wright's Next MGM has assigned William Wright to produce "Virtuous," new title of the screen story by Al Beich formerly known as "Bedtime Factory." Story deals with the publishing of books for children. MGM has owned the rights for a year. Mayer Heads Warner Talent Dept. in East Jack L. Warner announced over the weekend that Harry Mayer has been appointed talent director in charge of all company talent activities out of New York City. In his new post, Mayer will continue his present duties , as head of the talent booking department for Warner Theatres and, in addition, will take over the supervision of scouting operations for new screen talent on behalf of the Warner studio in United States, Canada, England and European capitols. The new department, Warner stated, has been created with a view to intensifying the company's search for new talent both in this country and 'abroad. More thorough coverage will be given all possible sources of new acting material, including stage, radio, night clubs, summer theatres and community and college theatricals. Mayer has been with the Warner Theatre talent booking department for the past 20 years. He joined the staff as booker after long association with the old Keith Vaudeville regime, and subsequently was promoted to head of the department. Eight Urt Directors Busy on 10 WB Films With assignment of Robert Haas as art director on "The Voice of the Turtle," Warner Bros, report eight art directors working under Supervising Art Director Bertram Tuttle on ten films in various stages of presentation and completion. Anton Grot is working on the initial Michael Curtiz production, "The Unsuspected" ; Leo Kuter on "The Unfaithful," and Hugh Reticker, "Wallflower." All three films are currently before the cameras. On pictures scheduled to roll this spring, Edward Carrere has "Two Guys from Texas" ; Stanley Fleischer, "The Apple Orchard" ; John Hughes, "The Treasure of Sierra Madre"; and Ted Smith, "The Frontiersman," "The Forty Niners," and "Nothing But the Night," the latter a Milton Sperling production for Warner Bros, release. Pressburger to Film Maugham's Latest Novel "Then and Now," Somerset Maugham's latest novel, is next on the British schedule of Arnold Pressburger, who has signed with J. Arthur Rank's Two Cities Films to make the screen version. Pressburger bought screen rights to the novel last summer and engaged George Sanders for the role of Nicolo Michiavelli, the Italian prince about whom the renaissance novel revolves. Marjorie Deans has been signed to prepare the screenplay. Postal Inspection Theme The United States Postal Inspection Service will be the subject of a motion picture to be produced in 1947 by Benedict Bogeaus for United Artists release. The picture will be based upon important case histories from the files of the Postal Inspection Service. Huxley Story Bought Universal-International has purchased "The Mortal Coil," adapted from Aldous Huxley's story "The Giaconda Smile," and has signed Zoltan Korda to direct the picture.