Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1946)

38 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, November 9, 1946 STR West Coast Offices 6777 HoUrwood Blvd. Hollywood 28, Colli Telephcxie Hollywx)d 2(tei STUDIO ROUNDUP Hollywood Production Still Off Schedule, With 43 Pictures Before Cameras on Lots and on Location; lATSE Replacements Still Man Jobs of CSU Strikers Production is perceptibly off in Hollywood. Instead of the usual 55 or more pictures in work, this week finds production hovering in the 40s. Counting actual films before the cameras, there are approximately 43 at all lots. Of this number an appreciable amount are on location, with Mexico getting more than its past share. Pictures being filmed on the lots are below the average in quantity; lATSE replacements are still manning jobs left by striking CSU workers. In the various laboratories the fight continues between lA workers sympathetic to the CSU and those, said to be in the minority, favorable to Walsh's newly taken-over setup. Schwarz' First £or SG Jack Schwarz started his first venture for Screen Guild, with "Return of Buffalo Bill" going into action this week. Richard Arlen stars, with Bernard B. Ray directing. This is the first of a series of 10 features Schwarz is scheduled to deliver to SG. The screenplay is by Barney Sarecky, who also did the original story. Producer James S. Burkett announced the start of a new film called "Bells of San Fernando." The picture is supposed to roll Armistice Day, with Terry Morse directing. Eagle Lion Shoots One Although the venture has not been publicized, Eagle-Lion has been working on a film for several weeks. The present title is "Alias Mrs. Gray." Starred in the comedy-drama are Franchot Tone, Ann Richards and Tom Conway. Producer is Lee Marcus, with Leigh Jason directing. Executives were shuffled around like a deck of cards at E-L last week, with Albert J. Cohen being released from his executive producer chores and Howard Welsch moving over from PRC to take over Cohen's spot. Leonard Picker, originally from Columbia, was given a producer's contract. Sturges Leaves 'Vendetta' The big news among the myriad United Artists' units last week was the suspension of production for an indefinite period on "Vendetta." Howard Huglies, 51 per cent stockholder in California Pictures, which also made "Sin of Harold Diddlebock," exercised his majority rights to force out Preston Sturges. Reasons given were that "Vendetta" was greatly over schedule and budget. A cast of virtual unknowns is featured in the picture. Hal Roach sneaked his "Here Comes Trouble" at a suburban house and was so pleased that he has brought back the color feature comedy to liis lot for 20 days of added scenes. This is following his original idea of allowing audinicc response to govern length of his films Producer-director Fred Guiol is handling the added footage and among those appearing are William Tracy, Joe Sawyer, Beverly Loyd and Emory Parnell. Irene Rich finished her part in "New Orleans," Jules Levey Production, just before the film was completed ahead of schedule. Howard Hawks' "Red River" is having much trouble on its Arizona location, largely due to bad weather. Hunt Stromberg's "Personal Column" is shooting at Goldwyn ; it was originally set for General Service, which has been dark for some time now. George Zucco is another recent addition to the cast. Wurtzel's Topical Angle Sol Wurtzel, 20th-century Fox's independent action producer, is shooting "The Jewels of Brandenburg," an original screenplay by Irving Cummings, Jr., Robert G. North and Irving Elman. It's inspired by the thefts of royal jewels in occupied European countries, and Wurtzel intends cashing in on the topical angle. James Tinling was originally set for director, but illness forced him out, with Eugene Forde substituting. Production started at Sutherland Studios November 8 with Richard Travis cast at the American secret agent who smashes a jewel thieves' ring. Senor Wences, a ventriloquist, and A. Robbins, who does a banana act, were brought on from New York just for specialty numbers in a Christmas party sequence in Betty Grable's "Mother Wore Tights." Mack Gordon and Josef Myrow are writing the music for the picture, which is being filmed in Technicolor. Dan Dailey, Jr., who has the top male role, started work last week. Lamar Trotti, who is producing, also wrote the screenplay. PRC Location Trouble PRC's big-budget animal drama has been having trouble on its Mount Shasta location. "The Red Stallion" is over schedule because of adverse weather conditions. The studio sent a second camera crew north to help facilitate the ending of the location shooting. Several weeks more are required back in Hollywood before the film is finally finished. It is being filmed in color. Two Start at Republic Two mor^ pictures started at Republic this week, supplementing "Gallant Man." The newcomers are both being shot on location. The Nelson Eddy-llona Massey starrer, "Will Tomorrow Ever Come," has Allan Dwan as associate producer-director. Others in the cast include Joseph Schildkraut, Hugo Haas, Elsa Lanchcster and Tamara Shayne. The other starter is "Marshal of Cripple Creek," with (Continued on Page 40) New Microphone Device Developed at Paramount Described as a revolutionary innovation in film production, a device called the microphone's "fifth and last movement" which was introduced for the first time in the making of Paramount's "Golden Earrings" and which will be used extensively in recording the dialogue of production numbers in "Variety Girl," has stirred keen interest among studio sound engineers. The device, developed by the Paramount sound department, pern»its the microphone operating at the end of the boom to tilt as well as pan in following action accompanied by dialogue. In "Golden Earrings," for instance, it enables the mike to point at Marlene Dietrich while she is seated on the ground, then to tilt up to Ray Milland without compromising on microphone placement or moving the boom arm, which would create shadows. According to the Paramount sound department, sound men find that the new device saves production time, simplifies operation and aids in getting better quality. The four movements available heretofore were boom tilting, panning, extending and micro ] phone panning at the end of the boom. The fifth i and last movement, tilting, in effect consists of ' looking up and down while panning. 4 WB Stars In Short "So You Want to Be in Pictures," next in the series of Joe AIcDoakes comedies being ' directed by Dick Bare for Warner Bros., will have four Warner stars playing brief roles as themselves. Quartet includes Jack Carson, Bob Hutton, Martha Vickers and Janis Paige. Star of the series is George O'Hanlon. His First Since War Dick Hogan has been signed for a featured role in Paramount's "Blaze of Noon," his first picture since his release from service. He will portray a dispatcher on the pioneer airline which provides the background for the film. Faylen Re-Optioned Frank Faylen, who has had featured roles in 26 pictures in the last three years, has been re-optioned by Paramount. His most notable portrayal was that of Bim, the male nurse, in "The Lost Weekend." Ladd in 'Variety Girl' .\lan Ladd has been added to the cast of Paramount's "Variety Girl." He will be teamed with Dorothy Lamour in a sequence in which they sing a deep south harmony number being written for them by Frank Loesser. One for Rank Joan Leslie will make a picture soon for J. -Arthur Rank, her manager said in Chicago ^ last week, where Miss Leslie is making a personal appearance at the Oriental Theatre.