Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1949)

24 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, November 26, 1949 Hollywood Newsreel West Coast Offices — 6777 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 28, Colli — Ann Lewis. Manager PRODUCTION PARADE By Rnn Lewis niHiiieiiiiiiiiHiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin^ The first term deal ever offered a player by Lippert Productions was given to Sid Melton, diminutive comedian. Contract for five years was signed after Melton appeared in three of the company's films. Seton I. Miller, producer and writer, will be associated with Robert Stillman in his new independent producing company. With some fine credits behind him at Warners and Paramount, Miller's first work for Stillman will be to write the original screenplay for "Queen for a Day." Then he will produce "The Condemned" as well as "Queen." Joe Kaufman, who made Allied Artists' "The Babe Ruth Story" with Roy Del Ruth, has formed Joe Kaufman Productions, Inc., and has acquired "Male and Female" for independent production next year. Kaufman hopes to get Gloria Swanson for one of the top roles, for she played in the old DeMille picture of the same name back in 1919. Producer Jerrold T. Brandt's RKO Technicolor picture, "The Sons of the Musketeers," co-starring Cornel Wilde and Maureen O'Hara, will have Lewis Allen directing. Present plans are to launch the film early in December and Edward Stevenson has been borrowed from 20th Century-Fox to design the costumes. * * * Milton Berle will make another picture for Warner Bros, as a result of the reception accorded "Always Leave Them Laughing" in all openings. Berle expects to report to the studio next summer at the conclusion of his present television series. * * * Cy Howard, creator of "My Friend Irma," has signed a writer-director pact with Hal Wallis Productions. Howard and Parke Levy scripted the Paramount picture now in release and are presently at work on a sequel titled "My Friend Irma Goes West." His directorial assignment becomes effective after completion of his present task. ^ ^ ^ William Eythe and Marjorie Reynolds will be teamed in Columbia's "Custom Agent," story of the Treasury Department's war on smugglers, which Producer Rudolph Flothow will place before the cameras the end of this month, with Seymour Friedman directing. Commentators Gabriel Heatter and George Fisher will play themselves in "Champagne for Caesar," Producer Harry M. Popkin's Ronald Colman-Celeste Holm co-starrer, for UA release. Heatter's scenes are to be filmed in Miami, while Fisher's are being photographed in Hollywood. ^ * ^ Arthur Loew, Jr., who recently turned actor in "Ambush," was signed to a contract by MGM, and assigned to a dancing-acting role as Gene Kelly's pal in "Summer Stock," teaming Judy Garland with Kelly. Producer Joe Pasternak put the Technicolor musical before the cameras this week. Charles Walters is directing. Warner Bros, purchased an original story, "The Feature Syndicate Story," by Charles Grayson and immediately engaged the writer to do the screenplay. Production was put on Everett Freeman's slate. * * * Louis Hayward has been signed for a second Columbia picture to be produced by Harry Joe Brown. He is presently working in that studio's "Fortunes of Captain Blood," co-starring Patricia Medina, which Gordon Douglas is directing. -^^ ^ Lucille Barkley, Rochester, N. Y., girl, was signed to a seven-year contract by UniversalInternational. Actress is the tenth newcomer to be added to the U-I contract roster this year. Half oi Monogram Cinecolor Films Ready With Producer James S. Burkett having delivered the final print of "Young Daniel Boone" to Monogram, half of the company's four special Cinecolor productions on the 1949-50 schedule have been completed. "Blue Grass of Kentucky," produced by Jeffrey Bernerd, is the other Cinecolor film awaiting release. "Hiawatha" and "County Fair," to be made in Cinecolor early next year, round out the four-color commitments. 'Edge of Doom* Starts; Goldv/yn's 4th This Year Samuel Goldwyn gave the starting gun this week to "The Edge of Doom," the producer's fourth and last picture on his 1949 schedule. Other Goldwyn films completed this year were "Roseanna McCoy," "My Foolish Heart" and "Our Very Own." Brown Buys 'Brothers' As Scott Starrer "All the Brothers Are Loyal," a novel by Louis Stevens, has been purchased by Harry Joe Brown for Producers-Actors Corp., which will make the film version for Columbia with Randolph Scott starred. Kenneth Gamet is preparing the screenplay. 'Shane/ Schaefer Novel, Acquired by Paramount Described as the character study of a western badman, "Shane," a new novel by Jack Schaefer, has been purchased for the screen by Paramount. The leading role will not be cast until the screenplay has been developed. Scott to Co-Star With Scott in 'Colt 45' Zachary Scott will co-star with Randolph Scott in Warners' "Colt 45," which went into production last week with Edwin L. Marin directing. Ruth Roman gets the leading feminine role. Bob Richards Revising 'Bunco Squad' Script Bob Richards has been called in by RKO Radio Producer Louis J. Rachmil to make some revisions of the script of "Bunco Squad," which goes into production early in 1950. George Callahan wrote the screenplay. Brown Honor Guest At Boys' Day Activities Johnny Mack Brown, Monogram western ^tar, was guest of honor last Saturday at the San Diego celebration of National Boys' Day, which was sponsored by the Kiwanis organization for underprivileged children. Urges Closer Producer-Exhibitor Relations "The days when an exhibitor could isolate himself are over," declared Robert Fellows, Paramount producer, whose latest picture is "Let's Dance," starring Betty Hutton and Fred Astaire. "In order to operate his theatre in these changing times, he must keep abreast of all facets of the industry." "And we on this end have an equal responsibility," he added. "The producer should not confine himself to the limits of Hollywood, but should get out into the field. In the present market each picture must stand alone on its own merit, and the exhibitor must know the range of available product to buy intelligently. On his part, the producer will have to make pictures that can be counted on to play profitably for the exhibitor." Fellows presents his ideas against a broad background of accomplishment. "The Spanish Main," which he made for RKO, is that studio's biggest grosser to date, and his current Paramount "Chicago Deadline," starring Alan Ladd, is doing top business in all key city bookings. His record shows that the producer evidently has a keen sense of "what's wanted." Continuing, he said, "I believe these days of keener competition will benefit the industry. Pictures will be better and more diversified. The makers of small-budget pictures should begin to make use of the mass of story material available in the public domain, and turn out a variety of good original films, rather than weak imitations of more impressive productions." Robert Fellows