Showmen's Trade Review (Jul-Sep 1948)

32 .SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, September 14, 1948 SHOWMEN'S SILHOUETTES by Dkk KirschbAmn . PICTURES STARTED LAST WEEK COLUMBIA. Jungle Jim's Adventure — Principals: Johnny Weissmuller, Elena Verdugo, Myrno Dell. Director, William Berke. Blondie's Big Deal — Principals: Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, Larry Simms. Director, Edward Bernds. SCREEN GUILD. Thunder in the Pines — Principals: Greg McClure, George Reeves, Ralph Byrd. Director, R. Edwards. FILM CLASSICS. Daughter of Ramona (Cinecolor) — Principals: Philip Reed, Martha Vickers, Donald Woods. Director, Harold Daniels. UNITED ARTISTS. Too Late For Tears — Principals: Lizabeth Scott, Don DeFore, Kristine Miller. Wendell Corey. Director, Byron Haskii^. WARNER BROS. Flamingo Road — Principals: Joan Crawford, Gladys George, Gertrude Michael. Director, Michael Curtiz. MONOGRAM. Jiggs and Maggie in Court — Principals: Joe Yule, Renie Riano. Director, William Beaudine. TITLE CHANGES "Loser Take AM" (Col.) now LEATHER GLOVES "High Tension" (Mono.) now TROUBLE MAKERS "Outlaw Valley" (RKO) now RUSTLERS portraying a psychoanalyst in a key sequence written into the script of "Caught" at the last moment to clarify relationships between Robert Ryan and Barbara Bel Geddes. Jess Barker, who has been off the screen for two years, resumed his cinematic career in Walter Wanger's "Reign of Terror" at Eagle Lion. Also added to the opus was Isabella Ward, of the National Repertory Theatre, who embarks on a screen career in a top role. Getting back to animals, the last of the wild horses couldn't ..disappear soon enough for the troupe of Lippert Production's "Last of the Wild Horses" while on location in southern Oregon. On the third day of lensing, Mary Beth Hughes had a bad fall from an equine, forcing a shooting schedule revision. On the fifth day, dialogue coach Stanley Price was kicked by a steed when one of the horses overcharged into the camera crew. With two days to go before winding, William Haade, the picture's villain, received a kick on the knee while mounting. Greg McClure, who enacted "The Great John L." in the picture of the same name several years back, won a featured role in producer William Stephens' "Thunder in the Pines," also for SG. The film, started at Nassour Studios Sept. 9, is being made in Sepiatone. Much-delayed "Daughter of Ramona" really got going Sept. 8 in Cinecolor for producer Martin Mooney. Columbia began another in its series of "Blondie" releases last Wednesday. For the initial time in a flock of "Blondies" a new director replaced Abby Berlin, the perennial meg artist for the popular series. He's Edward Bernds. Also, a producer finally gets credit on this lineup. Ted Richmond is the man so honored. Johnny Weissmuller went before the lenses in the second of his new series, in "Jungle Jim's Adventure." Pedro Armendariz was inked for the important part of the Cuban police inspector in "Rough Sketch." Return Engagement Audie Murphy, 24-year-old ex-GI who holds the record for being the most decorated soldier of World War II, last week registered for the draft in Hollywood high school. He will report to Allied Artists late this month for the starring role in "Bad Boy," to be produced under sponsorship of Variety Clubs International. "Branding Iron" to Be Screen Guild Release Robert L. Lippert announced that "Branding Iron," an original cattle yarn, has been acquired for his 1948-49 schedule, making his sixteenth for Screen Guild release. Completed are "Return of Wildfire," "Jungle Goddess" and "Last of the Wild Horses." "Thunder in the Pines," a lumber story with George Reeves, Ralph Byrd and Gregory McClure will roll in September, as well as "Shep Comes Home," a dog story with Robert Lowery, and "I Shot Jesse James," based on an American Weekly tale by Homer Croy. Others slated for early production are "Grand Canyon," "Gringo," "Emergency Ward," "Rimfire," "Trails End," "Police Woman," "Return of the Saint," "Banana Fleet," "The Blackmailers" and "Three Alarm Fire." RKO Readying Fourteen Ten features and four short subjects are being edited at the RKO Radio Studio, according to James Wilkinson, cutting department.. 17 Technicolor Features On MGM Studio Schedule MGM studio last week announced plans for the company's heaviest schedule of color pictures in years. Three Technicolor productions are now before the cameras, eight are completed and six new ones will start soon. Completed but not released are "The Three Musketeers," "Luxury Liner," "Hills of Home," "The Secret Land," "The Kissing Bandit," "Sun in the Morning," "Words and Music" and "The Three Godfathers." Those still to be made are "Annie Get Your Gun," starring Judy Garland ; "Greyfriars Bobby," starring Lassie; "Neptune's Daughter," a musical starring Esther Williams and Red Skelton ; "The Shop Around the Corner," previously made as a dramatic picture and now to be done by Joe Pasternak as a musical ; "It's a Date," also a Pasternak musical, and "The Secret Garden" to be partially filmed in Technicolor and starring iVIargaret O'Brien. Production is in full swing on "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," "The Barkley's of Broadway" and "Little Women."