Variety (Feb 1937)

1* VARIETY PICTURES Wednesday, February 17* JL937 „. , „ . Hollywood, Feb, 10. Production activity on the Coast took a nosedive last week when total number of pictures before the cameras dropped from 48 to 39, which is slightly below normal. This was accounted for by the hesitancy on part Of the producers to place new pictures in work during the flu epidemic and uncertain weather. Only six new pictures started, while five were taken from the cutting rooms and previewed, .This leaves a balance of 88 in the cutting rooms, which is an increase of five over the preceding week,. More than 40 pictures are hi the final preparation stages; all ot which are tentatively stated to start within the'. 'next four weeks. Three In work, 11 editing, 5 preparing Zn work: THE DEVIL IS DRIVING/ reported Variety, Feb. 10. Started last week: ; 'VENDS MAKES TROUBLE,' produced by Wallace McDonald, directed by ,Gordori Wiles, story and screen play by Michael L. Simmons. Cast: James Dunn, Patricia Ellis, Gene Morgan, Thurston Hall, - Beatrice Curtis, Spencer Charters, Astrid ; Allwyn, Donald Kirk. ., Vv ' Story depicts Dunn as a small town boy. inclined to be promoter, in love with Patricia Ellis, daughter of the town's leading banker. He finds the : town isn't big enough for his operations and moves to N. Y* where he ties '"upvwith photographer who advances him enough money to open an office. . Business is lean when; the girl friend moves in and angels them on a new promotion. This brings them in contact with Venus, notorious sharp- shooting . real estate woman, who sells the boys a strip of land, which groves to;be a swamp.' Finding they are gypped, Dunn decides to save is girl's money by setting up a town on the type of Venice and the day ' is saved. Story is played throughout, for last action farce. 'HONEYMOON PILOT/ produced by Wallace McDonald, co-directed by ,C. Coleman and Folmer Blankstead, story by Jack Cooper, screen play by Owen Francis. Cast; Rosalind Keith, Charles Quigley, Russell 'Hixi John Hamilton, Rita Cansino, Marc Lawrence, John Tyrrell Arthur Loft, Crawford Weaver, Ruth: Hilliard., Lucille Lund, Lester Dorr. Story deals with government: agents assigned to check activities of .a smuggling <ting on Mexican: border. Quigley. is assigned to direct the Operations of several other Federal agents. Disguised as an air pilot he comes in contact with Rosalind; Keith, newspaperwoman assigned to the border to report marriages of celebrated people who go to the Mexican resort for secret weddings. Quigley as pilot of ah airship called the honey- moon express, which specializes i transporting couples .to the Gretna Green, is discovered by the smugglers as an undercover agent The band charters the plane and in midair orders him to land at their ^rendezvous. Newspaperwoman. in the meantime learns of the ruse and comes, to the rescue with a Coast Patrol plane. Smugglers are rounded ;up after an exciting battle on both land and in the air. . Readied to start: "LEAGUE OF FRIGHTENED MEN' and 'BIGHT GUT.' Six In work, T editing, It preparing* In work: 'A DAT AT THE RACES/ .reported VametT, Sept 16; 'CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS/ reported Oct 7; •PARNELL,' reported Nov. 18; 'SONG OF THE CITY' and 'SKIDDING/ reported Feb* 10. - Started last week: , ; 'NIGHT MUST FALL,' produced by Hunt Stromberg, directed by Rich- ard Thorpe, stage play py En-Jyn Williams, screen play, by John van Druten, Cast: Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell, Dame May Whitty, Kathleen Harrison, Merle Tottenham, Mathew Bolton. v. Story, from English stage pjfey, portrays Montgomery as a suave, seduc- tive b ellboy who uses that position to gain confidence of elderly women who pay him to be their companion* After Be cleans the money bags of one, he moves to the next, and if the victim protests, he finds a way to keep them quiet by murder..: Two murders are committed in this manner when he meets up with Rosalind Russell, a much younger girl, who believes that by treating him nice, she can clear him of the murder complex. This does not; work, and when she-is about to be killed by the blucbeard the law steps in. ' V . . •. Readied to start: 'MADAME WALEWSKA/ 'BROADWAY MELODY OF 1917,"THE OLD SOAK.' 'SARATOGA,' THEY GAVE HIM A GUN/ THE FOUNDRY/ -and- *FiBEFLY/~ Paramount Six in work, 5 editing, preparing. In .works 'SOULS AT SEA/ re- ported Variety, Nov. 18; INTERNES CANT TAKE MONEY/ and «WAI- fclKI WEDDING/-reported Dec. 30; /HIGH, WIDE AND HAN DSOM E/ re- ported Jan. 13; THE YEARS ARE SO LONG,' reported Jan. 20; THE GDELL FROM SCOTLAND YARD* and 1 MET HIM IN PARIS,' reported Feb. 3. No new pictures started last week. • : Readied to startT^TURN OFF THE MOON/ *KTO FROM PARADISE,' ^MOUNTAIN MUSIC/ 'EXCLUSIVE/ and *YOU AND ME.' Three In work, 8 edlttag, 5 preparing. In work: ,'JIM HANVEY' and 'GIT ALONG/LITTLE DOGB2,' reported Variety, Feb, 10, . Started last Week:' 'THE HIT PARADE,' produced by Colbert Clark, directed by Gus Melns, original story, Bradford Ropes, screen play b% Ropes and Samuel Ornitz. Ca$t: Phil Regan, Frances Langfbrd, Louise Henry. Pert Kelton, Monroe .Owsley^Max Terhune, Tic Toe Girls, Pierre Watkin, Edward Brophy, J. Farrell McDonald, George. Givot, Peggy Bernier, Lou Fulton, Ed Piatt, PRODUCTION TABLE (This table shows number of features promised to be delivered to exhibitors by ' the major distributing organizations, and the inJe- pendent producers contributing product to their producing organiza- Hons for the 193&-37 season.) Balance' • Fix to be Stories Fix now placed In now In the before prep- in enttlng the axa- werk. rooms, cameras. Won, Producers and contributing companies. Columbia Larry Darmour. METRO. ...... Hal Roach,.,«•.«,•, •'., PARAMOUNT .......... B. P. Schulberg.. "" ; 'Emanuel Cohen... *... Harry Sherman,.... Frank. Lloyd... . .,..... RKO RADIO. .... David Locw.;......... George Hirliman.:..., '-. Sol Lesser............. REPUBLIC. ..... • • •.. .. A. if. llackel.......... StTH CENTURY-FOX.... ' Sol Lesser 4 »4 •«• •«•.•'*'•• UNITED ARTISTS: Samuel Goldwyn...... Walter Wanger..... Sel/nick ■ s Ei Berber Criterion . Korda London....,.. UNIVERSAL Buck Jones.......... WARNERS Number Number new of pix com-: promised, plated* M 8 48 4 48 8 8 6 1 39 2 6 3 56 16 63 6 13 ■'Z 13 23 2 3 2 1 6 1» 1 7 4 1 24 5 22 ■t: 16 5 •4- 4 4 1 9 i 6 1 1 .7 1 1 1 4 1 7 1 • • ■ • ■ l * • ■• • • V> 4 m • • • oeeee ••••«•- t MIIMIMtM 6 1 34 5 1 3 26 Totals 512 4 4 3 1 2 6 21 6 3 over 215 3 over Wiliam Demarest, Sammy White, Duke Ellington .and Eddy Duchin and their bands. Story centers around Phil Regan, agent for radio talent* who discovers Frances Langford, Park Avenue girl seeking career in radio. After he establishes the girl and builds her: to a spot position in the field he is given the air through influence of an opposing agent who is connected with underworld. Regan, secretly in love with his protege, sets to work in freeing her from his influence, which builds :up to battle with gangsters during which workings of radio studio are brought, into play, . Readied to start? 'NAVY BLUES/ 'RHYTHM IN THE CLOUDS/ "EVER SINCE ADAM' and 'LEGION OF THE LOST.' Five. in work, 10 editing, 18 preparing. In work: THE TOAST OF NEW YORK,' reported as 'ROBBER BARONS/ THE WOMAN I LOVE/ reported as USOADRILLE* in Variety; Dec. 23; 'STEP- PING TOES/ reported Jan. 6; 'OUTCASTS OF POKER FLAT/ reported Feb. 3, and 'SATISFACTION GUARANTEED/ reported Feb, 10. Readied to start: 'EASY GOING/ 'BORROWED ItME,' 'MISSUS AMER- ICA,' RADIO CITY REVELS/ 'NEW FACES OF 1937/ "WOMEN ARE POISON/ 'DUNGA DIN/ TAKE Tf EASY/ and 'YOU CANT BE AT LOVE.' 20th-Fox Seven In work, 7 editing, 8 preparing. In work: •SLAVE SHIP/ reported Variety, Dec. 30; 'WAKE UP. AND LIVE,''CAFE METROPOLE,' 'CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OLYMPICS/ *WEE WILLIE WINKLE/ reported Jan. 27; "MIDNIGHT TAXI/ reported Feb. 3. Started l&st •'week* ■ ■ THINK FAST, MR. MOTO/ produced by Sol M. Wurtzel, directed by Norman Foster, Satevepost . story by James P. Marquand, screen play by Norman Foster and Howard Smith. Cast: Peter. Lorre, Virginia Field, Thomas Beck', Sig. Rumann, George Hassell, John Rogers. Story. depicts the exploits of Japanese detective hired by detective agency to nab ring of Japanese diamond smugglers. En route to China, son of the ship line owner whose ships have been heavity penalized, for carry- ing the contraband stones, is on board. The finger is on him until Moto proves differently. Revealing his identity, the ship owner's son works with Moto and they solve the problem. Readied to start: 'ANGEL'S HOLIDAY/ the next, untitled Jones family picture, THIS IS MY AFFAIR,' 'SHE HAD TO EAT' arid 'PRIVATE ENEMY.' ited Artists . None m work, 2 editing, 9 preparing. . Readied to start: In the Walter Wanger unit, «VOGUES OF 1938/ 'CASTLES IN THE ADL'arid'SUMMER LIGHTNING'; in the Samuel Gold- wyn unit are: THE WOMAN'S TOUCH,' 'HURRICANE/ and 'STELLA DALLAS'; in the Selznick-Intertational unit are: 'PRISONER OF ZENDA,^ *LET ME LIVE/ THE WORLD'S OUR OYSTER,' and 'ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER.' UniTersal Six In work, 12 editing, 8 preparing. In work: THE STONES CRY OUT/ reported Variety, Jan. 20; «NIGHT KEY/re- ported Jan. 27; «WINGS OVER HONOLULU' arid 'THE ROAD BACK,' re- ported Feb. 3; 'SMOKE TREE RANGE/ reported Feb. 10. Started last 'AS GOOD AS MARRIED/ produced by E. M. Asher, directed by Eddie Buzzell, no writings credits. Cast: John Boles, Doris Nolan, Walter Pidgeon, Mary Philips, Alan Mowbray. - ... Story concerns successful architect who married his secretary to evade payment of income taxes. While they have agreed to lead their own lives, woman of his past shows up and a younger architect falls in love with the secretary-wife. With, the woman of the past on the scene, the secre- tory-wife becomes jealous of the older architect and runs away. Believing she has disappeared with the younger man* he sets out to find her. Readied to start:-*LOVE JN A BUNGALOW,' *OH, DOCTOR/ "DELAY IN THE SUN/ THE COP,' TRESCRIPTION FOR ROMANCE/ and 'HIP- PODROME/ ' ' s ■ ■ ■ ■ Warners Three In work, 28 editing, 8 preparing. In work: •KID GALAHAD'and THE SINGING MARINE,'-reported Jan. 27; TLY AWAY, BABY/ reported Feb. 10. No new pictures started last week. Readied to start: "MAZURKA/.*MADCAP HED1ESS/ 'STORY OF EMBLE ZOLA* and 'LUCK OF THE BUSH.' . CALENDAR OF FOREIGN RELEASES (Most , of these available with English titles) Abyssinia (Russ) (Amldno). War record. 63 mlns. Ret Dec. 1. Rev. Dec. 16. Alia en Raneho Grande (Sp). Mexican musical. Tito Gulzar.. Dir. Fernando de FuenteB. 90 mlns. Ret Nov. 15. Rev. Dec.-Z Amour de .Tonl, Let (FrV (Metropolis). Heavy .drama. . Jean Renoir. 80 mlns; Ret Nov.^L Rev. Nov. 18. Ail Es La Mojer (Sp). Frothy romance. Dir. Jose Bohr. 70 mlns. -Ret Oct Is. Angust der Starke (G«r) (Casino). Historical drama with music. Michael Bohnen, Lil DagoVer. : Dir. Paul Wegener^ 101 mlns. Ret Jan. 15. Rev, Feb. 3.; v- As UJ Foeldeser (Hung). Seml-hlstorlcal drama. Bela Gaat 90 mlns. Ret Sept 15, ■arattagos Arcot kerek (Hung) (Danubla).Romantic farce, Szoke flzakau. 70 mlns, Ret Oct 1. Barbler de Seville, Le (Fr) (Franco) Rossini's opera. Andre Bauge. Jean Kemm.. 80 rains. Ret Sept.. 15. Barcarole (Ufa) (Ger). Offenbach's opera. Gustav Froehllch. Dir. Eric Neusser. 83 mms. Ret Oct 15. Rev. Oct.' 21. Befehl lit Befehl (Ger) (Casino). Army farce. Weiss Ferdl. , A. Elling. 70 mlns. Ret Nov. 15. Betterstudent, Der (Ger) (Ufa). Millocker's opera. Marikka Rokk. Dir. Georg Jaeoby. 75 mlns. Ret Dec. 15. Rev: Dec. 30. Blrobldjlan (Russ) (Amklno).' Life in Soviet's Jewish colony. Dir. V. Korsch- Sablin. 84 mlns. Ret Oct 1. Rev. Oct. 21. Bolek and Lolek (Pol). Musical , comedy.. Dir. J. 87 mlns. Ret Dec. I; ReV. Dec. 16. Calahdria, La (Sp). Romance of a singer. . Fernando de Fuertes. 60 mlns Ret Oct. 1. Caivario de Una Espota, El (Sp). Mexican sentimental drama. Dir. Juan Orol. '70 mlns. Ret Sept . 15. . Campo Dl Maggio (It) (New World). Story; by Mussolini about Napoleon. D\t G. Forzano 100 mlns. Ret Sept, 1. Rev?' Sept:'16. Capello a Tre Punte. II (It) (New World). Farce. lr. Mario Cameriht TO mins. Rel Sept. 15. Rev. Sept. 30. Clboulette (Fr) (Franco). Operetta. Dir. Claude Lara. 60 mlns. Rel. Sept. 15 Cleca dl Sorrento, La (It) (Nuovo Mondo). From Mastrlanl's classic. Dir. Nunzlb Malasonima. 73 mlns. Rel. Aug. ' 1. Rev. Aug. 5. Ciellto Undo (Sp). Mexican made romance. Dir. R. O'QuIgley. 80 mlns. Rel. Nov. L ' .•- ' (Continued on page 29) Studio Placements . « .Hollywood, Feb. iel Ray Hendricks, Adele St, Maur Thonias> Beck, Think Fast, Mr! Moto,' 20*F< Pedro Regas, Sherry Hall, Jeffry Sayres, Creightpn Hale, Frank Mills' Ed Deering, Paul Stanton, James Flavin, Huey White, ^Midnight Taxi.' 20-F. Eddie. Dunn, JCarl Stockdale, Joe Bernard, Paul Porcafil, That I May Live,' 20-F. Arnold' Frey, Morgan Wallace, Ferdinand Schumann-Heink, Minerva Urecal, Al-Kikume, 'Charlie Chan at the Olympics,' 20-F. Albert Morin, Charles De Ravenne Leonid Snegoff, Helen Westley, 'Cafe Metropole? 20-F. Eric Wilton. Eddie Anderson, Wal- ter Tinnon, Allan Pox, 'Wake Up and Live,' 20-F, * Henry Lehrman, direct 'Jeeves-pic, 20-F. Don Ackerman, Jimmy Netarrb r Emmet O'Brien; Jimmy Wolfe, Gor- don Merrickv : Kenny Williams, Jack. Doyle, Amy Frank> Edna Schbfield: Bene Evans, Alyce Goerlng, Charles Thompson,. Jane HolWay, Loueana Sheehah, Gloria Gould, Cecile Mar- cel, Doris Becker, Mimi Wagner, Dorothy Pressleigh. Elaine Lbhfi. This Is My Affair,' 20-F. Maj.P. J. Kieffer^ Jack Lowe, Capt. C. E. Anderson; Mike De Hagen, Leslie Sketchley, Joe McGuinn, Alexander Dunsmuir, Mary Forbes, Bay Dove, Clyde Cook, Lucky Ball. Bunny Beatty, Jack Pennick, Lionel Briaham, 'Wee Willie. Winkle,' 20-F. Mary Knowlden, The Last Slaver,' 20-F. / . .... . Mary Forbes, Perry Stubbs, Davi Clyde, Richard Goddard,. Pat Kelly, George Cowl, Aubrey Nathan, Alan Marshall, , E, Lv Fisher-Smith, For- rester. Harvey, Phyllis Coughlan, 'Night Must Fall,' MG. Mary Howard, Pauline Craig, June. Wilkihs; Edna Callahan, 'Song of the City/ MG. y-- ;4 . George Sidney, Robert McWade, Henry Colkin, 'The Old Soak/ MG. . Harvey Clark, Forbes Murray, Wil- liam Stack, Charles Middleton, Olaf Hytten, Margaret Dagget, Betty Lo-. rai , . Erin LaBissonere, Virginia Kami, Belle Mitchell, Agnes Ay res,' 'Souls at Sea/Par. James Burke, Fred Warren, Rolfe Sedan, 'High; Wide and Handsome/ Par. : Nina Compana, Harry Vajer, Rob- ert O'Connor, Lalo Encinas, 'Waikiki Wedding/ Par. Geraldine : Fizette, Susan Ridge-. Way, Dorothy Thompson;: Meeri,*'. Marie Body. Virginia Hogan, Marie de Forest, 'The Buccaneer/ Par. Fay Holden, Gloria Williams, Betty Sayles, Eddie Dunn, Jack Raymond, 'Internes Can't Take Money/ Par. Ralph Lewis, Phil Smalley, 'The, Years Are £0. Long/ Bar. Fritz Feld, Randolph Amendt, 'I Met Him in Paris/ Par. Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett,; screen play, Marlene Dietrich pic. Par. Virginia Van Upp, scripting life of Victor Herbert; Par. William Anderson, Tona Marshall, Jack Gardner, Spencer Charters^. Frederick Burton, The Devil'Is'DriV- ing,' Col. .; Beatrice Curtis, Spencer Charters, Astrid Alwyn, Donald Kirk, 'Venus Makes Trouble/Col. Matty Kemp, Jay Eaton, Jane Weir, Ed Featherstone, Robert Fiske, Mar- tha Tibbetts, Russell Heustris, George Ford, Leona Valae, Iris Shunn, Dor- othy McNamee, Gail Goodson, Mary ' Jane Carey, Harry Bailey, Ron Wil- son, Lucille McNamee, . Norman Pabsjt, 'Honeymoon Pilot,' Col. Rita LaRoy, Galahte and Lenardo, Louise Henry, J; Farrell MacDonald. Edward Brophy, 'The Hit Parade/ Rep. Herman Krlpps,. Dean Benton, Richard Beach, Theodore Eltz, 'Jim Hanveyv Detective/ Rep. Chester Clute, 'Navy Blues/ Rep. Wedgewood Nowell, Jay Owen, Rolfe Sedan, 'Steel/ Rep. Oscar and Elmer, Jim Bowie, Maston Williams, George De Nor- mand, Charles King, The Painted Stallion/ Rep; Carleton Young, Sam Lufkin, Lyn- ton Brent> Pascale Perry; Monte Montague; Edwin Parker, William Farnum, 'Git Along . Little Dogie/ Rep. .' Carleton McAvoy, Robert ^Emmett Keane. Lee ShumWay, William Bene- dict; Sam Flint, Charles Williams, 'Special Orders/ Rep! Jack-Mulhall, 'Wings Over Hono- lulu/ U. > Martin Garralaga, .'Smoke Range/ U. : Charles Wilson, Robert Spencer, George Humbert, Ruth Fallows, •Night Key/U. Walter Pidgeon. Mary Phillips, Harry Davenport, 'As Good As Mar- ried.' U. Al Shean, The Road Back/ U. Lewis R. Foster, 'Armored Car/ U. Martha O'Driscoll, Betty Jane Rhoes. "The Stones Cry Out/ TJ. Earl Dwire. Mira McKinney, ' Away Baby/ WB. Al Herman, Talent Scout.' WB. James Burtis, -Public Weddi WB. Max Hoffman, 'Kid Galahad/ WB. Arthur. T. Harman, Artists/ RKO. Margaret Marquis, Horace Murphy, Charles " Irwin, Guy Usher. Joe Cates, Dutch Hendriah, Jack Grey, (Continued on page 31)