Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1946)

STUDIO ROUNDUP Despite the Continued Strike, Hollywood Studios Manage to Adjust Schedules, Permitting Production Activities to Progress Without Too Much Trouble Production is swinging back to something approaching normalcy in Hollywood, with a gain in the number of pictures going before the cameras. The strike is still in progress, but the studios have managed by this time to adjust their schedules to a degree where shooting can progress without too much difficulty. Over 45 films are before the cameras, including every lot in town, large and small. A distinct threat to studio operations was averted when the costumers decided to take new terms and not join the Conference of Studio Unions on the picket lines. Replacing the costumers would have been an extremely tough job. Paramount Starts One A new film, "Deadlock," was scheduled to roll this week at Paramount. With Byron Haskin directing, the cast so far includes Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas and newcomer Kristine Miller. The Hollywood garden party sequence for "Variety Girl" was finished by Director George Marshall, who used all of a huge stage in recreating a garden with swimming pool, orchestra stand, barbecue pit, patio and landscaped terraces. Warners Add to 'Pursued' Robert Mitchum returned November 25 to Warners to appear in added scenes for "Pursued," U. S. Pictures production to be released by the Burbank lot. Another player who came back for more footage was Judith Anderson, who checked in after four weeks in Europe. Arthur Edeson, currently photographing "My Wild Irish Rose," celebrated his 36th year as a cameraman on November 25. Since 1910, he has guided the cinematography of 50 important pictures. It is possible that before the start of December "The Unfaithful" will get the "go" sign. Ernest Haller has been assigned as lensman for the Ann Sheridan starring vehicle, which Vincent Sherman is directing and Jerry Wald producing. Monogram Filming Four Monogram is at a production peak, with a quartet of films before the lenses— a better record than several of the larger studios. Irving Allen, producer-director of "High Conquest," for which he has already photographed 60,000 feet on Switzerland's Matterhorn, returned to Hollywood after three days of scouting locations in the Lake Arrowhead area. The film started November 29. Regis Toomey has been announced as a leading player. Texas multi-millionaire Jack Wrathcr, producing his first picture, "The Guilty," for Monogram release, optioned his director, John Reinhardt for another film. After two-and-ahalf weeks of shooting, young Wrather increased his budget by $100,000, adding nine scenes. Because of the Cinecolor difficulties, "Black Gold" has been called off for the time being. Cleo Ridgely, old-time silent screen star, was added to Walter Mirisch's "Fall Guy." PRC Adds 'Outlander' PRC announced the purchase of a C. and S. C. film for its release called "The Outlander." (See Selling the Picture) President Harry Thomas closed a deal with John Sutherland to produce "Love Lessons," to start at Sutherland's own studio early in December. Meanwhile, "Red Stallion" is winding up a lengthy schedule at Eagle-Lion Studios. Columbia Reveals Secret Up to now it has been impossible to reveal that Columbia's sensational new star, Larry Parks, was secretly making a picture. For reasons best known to the studio, the news was kept quiet. Now it can be told that Parks, Ellen Drew, George Macready, Edgar Buchanan, Ray Collins, Marc Piatt and Michael Duane are all in this Technicolor drama, "The Swordsman." Burt Kelly is producing, while Joseph H. Lewis directs. The latest "Crime Doctor" started November 29, with William Castle directing and Warner Baxter starring. "The Crime Doctor's Vacation" is the title. Just before Thanksgiving, Columbia called 135 extras for courtroom sequences for "Lady from Shanghai," Rita Hayworth-Orson Welles starrer. Carl Frank, former member of Welles' Mercury Theatre, makes his film debut in the picture. The company left for San Francisco the day after Thanksgiving for two weeks location in and near that city. "Assigned to Treasury," which Sidney Buchman is producing for Columbia with Dick Powell starring, goes before the cameras December 2. Jay Richard Kennedy, who wrote the screenplay, is also associate producer. Anne Nagel, former star, was given a supporting role in "Blondie's Holiday," 20th in the series. It is her first screen role in over a year. 2 Careys in UA Film Harry Carey, Sr. and Harry Carey, Jr. are both in Howard Hawks' "Red River," joining John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Walter Brennan and John Ireland. Benedict Bogeaus started a new film for United Artists release, "Christmas Eve," starring George Raft, George Brent, Randolph Scott and Joan Blondell. Bogeaus produces, assisted by Carley Harri(Continucd on Page 38) Pine-Thomas Seek Theatremen's Ideas With the intention of obtaining theatre managers' suggestions for the screenplay of "Albuquerque" and their ideas on how the forthcoming Technicolor film should be publicized and sold, Paramount's Pine-Thomas has sent 100 copies of Luke Short's "Dead Freight for Piute" to managers over the country. The film will be adapted from the book. Twenty-five of the books have gone to selected leading theatres and the other 75 to managers picked at random. They have been asked to send in their suggestions after reading the book. 'Paradine Case' Set for Production on Dec. 9 David O. Selznick has set December 9 as the starting date of production on Alfred Hitchcock's "The Paradine Case." Budgeted at $3,000,000, the picture will have an all-star cast of players including Gregory Peck, Ann Todd, Louis Jourdan, Ethel Barrymore, Charlei Laughton and Charles Coburn. Only the role of Mrs. Paradine remains uncast. Travis Banton, Hollywood designer, is designing the costumes for the feminine stars of the film. Jane Murfin Settles U-I Pact, Leaves Lot Jane Murfin, who was scheduled to produce "Time Out of Mind," Universal-International's screen adaptation of the Rachel Field novel, has settled her contract with the studio by mutual consent and checked off the lot. The picture is scheduled to go into production this week with a cast headed by Phyllis Calvert, Robert Hutton, Ella Raines and Eddie Albert. Robert Siodmak will direct the film under the production supervision of the U-I front office. RKO's 'Close-Up' to Be Filmed in New York "Close-Up," an original story by James Foe whose ancestor was Edgar Allen Poe, has been bought by RKO Radio and will be the first big feature to be filmed entirely in the new RKO-Pathe Studios in New York City. Scheduled for production early next summer, the film's screenplay will be written by Martin Rackin. Nat Holt will produce under Jack Gross's executive supervision. Blondell in Bogeaus Film Joan Blondell has been signed as the first feminine star for the forthcoming Benedict Bogeaus screen production, "Christmas Eve," which United Artists will release. The picture will have as its male stars George, Raft, Randolph Scott and George Brent and is to be directed by Edwin L. Marin.