Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1946)

SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, October 19, 1946 37 HOLLYWOOD STUDIO ROUNDUP 'Return of Badmen' On RICO Schedule "Return of the Badmen" has been placed on the RKO Radio production schedule as a vehicle for Randolph Scott and George "Gabby" Hayes, who starred in "Badman's Territory" and the recently completed "Trail Street." Associated in the sequel will be the same production team responsible for the two preceding films, Jack J. Gross as executive producer and Nat Holt as producer. Bad men to be seen will be the James Brothers, the Dalton Boys, Billy the Kid, Bill Doolin and many of the women outlaws of the period. Carrie Nation, the original prohibitionist, also plays a prominent part in the story. Production is scheduled to start around the first of the year. Mercury Players Cast in Welles-Hayworth Starrer With the exception of Rita Hayworth's role, every line spoken in English in "The Lady from Shanghai," will be uttered by a Mercury Theatre player, Orson Welles has disclosed. Welles wrote the script, and is directing, producing and co-starring with Miss Hayworth for Columbia release. Two top supporting roles will be filled by Everett Sloane and Ted de Corsia, both Mercury veterans and long-time performers on the New York stage and national radio networks. Fontaine Opposite Peck In 'Earth, High Heaven' Through arrangements concluded with Rampart Productions, new producing organization controlled by William Dozier and Joan Fontaine, Samuel Goldwyn has borrowed Miss Fontaine to play the role of Erica opposite the Marc of Gregory Peck in the forthcoming Technicolor screen version of Gwethalyn Graham's controversial novel "Earth and High Heaven." Howard Koch, who is doing the screenplay, recently visited authoress Graham in Montreal, locale of the story, going over scenes to be recreated in the picture, much of which will be photographed in Canada. Production will probably commence in the late spring of 1947. Salkow Directs 'Millie' Sidney Salkow has been signed by Columbia to direct "Millie's Daughter," in which Gay Nelson makes her film debut as the feminine lead. William Bloom will produce the picturization of the novel of the same name by Donald Henderson Clarke. Contacting Exhibitors Nat Holt, who recently completed "Trail Street" for RKO Radio, is taking a vacation motor trip through the southwest visiting exhibitors in 25 various locations. Once a theatreman himself, Holt likes to keep in personal touch with that branch of the industry. Bennett Promoted Spencer Bennett, who has co-directed serials for Republic for the past several years, has been promoted to feature director and has been assigned to direct the forthcoming Trucolor musical western, "Along the Oregon Trail," which stars Monte Hale and Adrian Booth. (Continued from Page 35) after which it goes to another outdoor site, where a complete Corsican village has been constructed. Howard Hawks was forced to cliange his feminine lead in "Red River," on location in Arizona, when he discovered lor the first time that Margaret O'Sheridan — a recent discovery — was going to have a baby. Joanne Dru, Dick Haymes' wife, was rushed in as a substitute. Hal Roach is shooting "Who Killed Doc Robin?" Paramount Lessens Activity Paramount is a little off of its strong pace of tiie past month or so, with a quartet of films rolling. "Dear Ruth" was comijieted witn buuoui.g 01 New lork subway sequences. John Mil j an went into Cecil B. DeMille's "Unconquered" as court prosecutor. The Hal Wallis Production, "Desert Town," moved again on its numerous location hops, where exteriors for the Technicolor picture are being made. The young players, Roberta Jonay and Janet Thomas, were added to "Variety Girl," both to portray just what they are— aspiring actresses. The first addition to the cast of "The Big Haircut" since it started a month ago, is Gaylord Pendleton. 'Amber' on Fox Horizon A tentative starting date of October 21 has been announced for the renewed version of "Forever Amber," which failed to connect on its initial start some months ago. When it does get rolling. Otto Preminger is scheduled to direct the William Perlberg production. Cast so far for the second start includes Linda Darnell, replacing Peggy Cummins as Amber ; Cornel Wilde, Richard Greene, George Sanders, Glenn Langan and John Russell. "Boomerang" continues at Stamford, Conn., with a constant flow of New York stage talent reinforcing the cast. On the home lot, "The Home Stretch" and "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" are shooting. Less Action at MGM Metro has had the heat taken off its back by the continuous chain of incidents relative to the strike, with the issuance of an injunction that has kept picketing to a mere token force. But with the completion of another film, the Culver City lot is lessening its activity. "This Time for Keeps" has been finished, in time for star Esther Williams to rest until her blessed event occurs. Van Heflin and Donna Reed were reunited for the first time in four years when they made their screen tests together. They are together again in "Green Dolphin Street," in which Lana Turner and Richard Hart are also starred. Victor Saville directs. Nearly Quiet on WB Front Warners, one of the first studios to get hit by the CSU, has settled down to a comparatively quiet phase. "Pursued" is being completed this week, with director Raoul Walsh bringing home the Milton Sperling U. S. Pictures production. "The Woman in White" lias been rolling almost a month, with Henry Blanke producing. Blanke is also producing "Deep Valley," with Dane Clark, Ida Lupino and Wayne Morris. Next film for Warners to start will probably be "Deep Passage," Saturday Evening Post yarn for which the studio paid $35,000. Humphrey Bogart is set to star in this first film under his new long-term deal. Picture will possibly jump off on location at San Francisco, where most of the action takes place. Moroni Olsen is a busy guy. Just added to an RKO picture, he is also doing the part of a famed theatrical producer in "My Wild Irish Rose," which William Jacobs is producing. Republic Starts Two Republic, which has been the very recent scene of so much violence and strike difficulty, nevertheless succeeded in completing "Hit Parade of 1947" and "Outlaws of Sioux City," the latter a Red Ryder. "Web of Danger," long-delayed action drama, was scheduled to start, with Adele Mara, Bill Kennedy (former Warner Bros, player), Damian O'Flynn (last seen in "Bachelor's Daughters") and Richard Loo. Another likely starter is "Along the Oregon Trail," Trucolor Monte Hale-Adrian Booth starrer. Ron Davidson, who used to produce serials, is writing screenplays. His current opus is "Daredevils of the Sky." 'Egg' Begins at U-I Universal-International, where Deanna Durbin's "I'll Be Yours" is in production, started another, "The Egg and I," starring Claudette Colbert, Fred AlacMurray, Louise Allbritton, Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride. PRC Shoots 'Stallion' Up by Mount Shasta, PRC continues with its first extra-budget effort, "The Red Stallion," which Eagle Lion producer Ben Stoloff is reining. The outdoor, animal story is being directed by Lesley Selander, with a cast headed by Noreen Nash, Robert Paige, Ted Donaldson and Jane Darwell. Lucille Ball to Co-Star In Stromberg Production Lucille Ball, on loan-out from MGM to Hunt Stromberg, has been set to co-star with George Sanders in Stromberg's latest production, "Personal Column." Miss Ball will be the only American to appear in the picture, which will utilize an all-star British cast. A camera crew will be dispatched to England shortly to photograph authentic English scenes in and around London. Production is scheduled to start late this month, with Douglas Sirk directing. Welcome Home, June June Harris, who deserted Hollywood two years ago for Broadway, has returned to the cinema city and signed a contract with Paramount. The hazel-eyed brunette has appeared in a number of films, including Paramount's "Incendiary Blonde" and "Bring on the Girls." She interrupted her screen career to study in New York at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and worked as a Conover model in her spare time. New Ideal Theatre Chairs JOE HORNSTEIN has if/