Variety (Apr 1939)

Wednesday, April 12, 1939 PICTURES VARIETY 23 ley, Sidney Blackmer, Philip Warren, Louise Carter, Kathryh Bates, Sarah Edward?, Gordon Hart. •HOTEL BHPEBIAL,' directed by Robert Florey; screen play by Gilbert Gabriel and Robert Thoeren; based on a play by Lajos Biro: photographed by William Mellor. Cast: Isa Miranda, Ray MlUand, Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart, J. Carrol Naish, Curt Bois, Michel Werboff, Henry Victor, Spen- cer Charters, Bodll Rosing, Betty Compson, Wolfgang Zilzer, Egon BreSier, Bert Roach, Augustino Borgato, Paul Everton, George Magrill, Lee Shum- way Davison Clarlc, Harry Tenbroolc, Paul Kruger. Don Cossack Chorus, Robert Middlemass, Ernst Verebes, Albert Dekker, William Bakewell, Nor- man FhiQips, Robert Frazer, Sheila Darcy, Norah Gale, . Paula de Cardo, Judith King, Russell Hicks, George MacQuarrie, Arthur Cernitz, General Savltsky, Joseph Marievsky, Andre Marsaudon, F. Schumann-Heink, Bull Anderson, Marek Windheiun. Gustav Von Seyftertitz, Harry Holman. 'QBAND JVnY SECBETS,' produced by Sam Engel; directed by James Hogan; screen play by Irving Rets and Robert Yost; based on a story by IrvW Reis and Maxwell Shane; photographed by Harry Fischbeck. Cast: John Howard, William Frawley, Gail Patrick, Jane Darwell, Porter Hall, Harvey Stephens, John Hartley, Morgan Conway, Elisha Cook, Jr., Jack Norton, Richard Denning, Gordon Jones, Charles Jackson, Kitty Kelly, Tom Kennedy. •GBACnE ALLEN MOKDEB CASE,' produced by George Arthui'; directed by AUred E. Green; screen play by Nat Perrin; based on novel by S. S. \4n Dine; photographed by Charles Lang. Cast: Gracie Allen, Warren William, Kent Taylor. Ellen Taylor, Ellen Drew, Jerome Cowan, Judith Barrett, Donald MacBride, H. B. Warner, Horace MacMahon, WiUiara Lemarest, Al Shaw and Sammy Lee, Lillian Yarbo, Walter Soderling, Lee Moore, Harry Tyler, James Flavin, Tiny Newlan, Willie Fung, Don Brodie, Jack Baxley, Rub<! Demarest, Jim Kelso, Helen MacKellar, Edgar Dearing,. Esther Howard. •HAN ABOUT TOWN,' produced by Arthur Hornblow; directed by Mark Sandrich: original screen play by Morrie Ryskind; photographed by Ted Tetzlaff. Cast: Jack Benny, Dorothy Lamour, Edward Arnold, Blnnie Barnes, Phil Harris, Eddie Anderson, Monty Woolley, Leonard Mudie, Her- bert Evans, Clifford Severn, Cyril Thornton, Kay Linaker, Isabel Jeans, Betty Grable, E. E. CUve, Harriette Haddon, The Pina Troupe, Theo E. Roebuck. Cecil Kellaway, Norman Ainsley; Wesley Barry, Charles Irwin, Charles Hall, Charles Coleman, Colin Kenny, Bernice Steward, Patti Sacks, Matty Malneck's ork, Merriel Abbott Dancers, Bert Roach, Leon Belasco, Adolph Milar, Dorothy Dayton, Alphonse Martel. 'BCB. AND MBS. BULLDOG DRUMMOND,' meller; associate producer, Stuart Walker; directed by James Hogan; screen play by Stuart Palmer and Garnett Weston; based on 'Bulldog Drummond and the Oriental Mind' by H. C. (Sapper) McNeile; photographed by Harry Fischbeck. Cast: John Howard, Heather Angel, H. B. Warner, Reginald Denny, E. E. Clive, Eliza- beth Patterson. Eduardo Clannelll, Gerald Hamer, Adrienne D'Ambricourt •THE MAGNIFICENT FRAUD,' produced by Harlan Thompson; directed by Robert Florey; screen play by Gilbert Gabriel and Walter Ferris; adapted from story by Charles G. Booth; photographed by William Mellor. Cast' Akim Tamiroft, Lloyd Nolan, Patricia Morison, Steffi Duna, Robert Warwick, Frank Beicher, Donald Gallaher, Mary Boland, Ernst Verebes, Barbara Pepper, Virginia Dabney, Edward McWade, Julius Tahnen, Nestor Paiva, John Sheehan, Roger Gray, Ernest Cossart, Ralph Forbes, Abner Biberman, George Zucco, George Nardelli, George Magrill, Andre Mar' saudon. Count Stefenelli, Ralph Norwood, INVITATION TO- HAPPINESS,' produced and directed by Wesley Ruggles; screen play by Claude Binyon, based on story by Mark Jerome; ihotographed by Leo Tover. Cast: Irene Dunne, Fred MacMurray, Charlie ^(uggles, Billy Cook, William Collier, Sr., Burr Carruth, Charles Ran- dolph, Allen Wood, Don Latorre, Bob Evans, Mack Gray, Billy Newell, Marion Martin, Heinle Conklin, Jack Roper, Franklin Parker, Jack Gargan, Joe Franz, Wheaton Chambers, Bob Stevenson, Jack Knoche, Eddie Hogan, Doodles Weaver, I<ee Moore, Virginia Brissac, Myra Marsh, Oscar O'Shea, William Orr, Jerry Fletcher, Emerson Treacy, Bill Knudsen, Harry Hayden, John Conte, Hank Hankinson, Buss Clark, Joe Cunningham, Guy Usher, Gordon Jones, Joe Cato. 'SOME LIKE-IT HOT,' associate producer, William C. Thomas; directed by George Archainbaud; screen play by Lewis R. Foster and Wilkie C. Mahoney; based on play by Ben Hecht and Gene Fowler; photographed by Karl Struss. Cast: Bob Hope, Shirley Ross, Gene Krupa, his drums and his orchestra, Una Merkel, Rute Davis, Bernard NedeU, Wayne 'Tiny* Whitt, Harry Harris, Frank Sully. Clarence H. Wilson, Dudl^ Dlckerson, Richard Denning, Pat West, Lillian Fitzgerald, Sam Ash, Harry Bailey, Bernadene Hayes, Jack Smart, Eddie Kane, Allen Fox, Jack Chapin. •UNION PACIFIC.' produced end directed by Cecil B. DeMlUe; asso ciate producer, William H. Pine; location director, Arthur Rosson; screen play, by Walter DeLeon, C. Gardner Sullivan and Jesse I,asky, Jr., based on an adaptation by Jack Cunningham of a story by Ernest Haycox; photo- graphed by Victor Milner and Dewey Wrigley. Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Joel McCrea, Robert Preston. Akim TamirolT. Brian Donlevy, Lynne Over- man, William Haade, Regis Toomey, J. M. Kerrigan, Harry Woods, Fuzzy Knight, Hugh McDonald, Mala, Noble Johnson, Anthony Quinn, Joseph Sawyer, Harold Goodwin, Sheihi Darcy. May Beatty, Nora Cecil, Julia Faye, Ruth Warren, Evelyn Keyes, Mike DriscolL Paramoimt Fix Now In Predactlon 'BEAU GESTE* (1939-40 release), produced and directed by William A. Wellman; screen , play by Robert Carson: from story by P. C. Wren; photographed by Theodor SparkuhL Cast: Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, Rob- ert Preston, Susan Hay ward, J. Carrol Naish, Broderick Crawford, Brian Donlevy, Donald MacBride, James Stephenson, Charles Barton, G. P. Huntley. Heather Thatcher, James Burke, Albert Dekker, Arthur Ayles- worth, Harry Woods, Harold Huber. Stanley Andrews, Donald O'Connor, David Holt, Martin Spellman, Ann Gillis, Hai-vey Stephens, Duke Green, Henry Brandon, Barry Macollum, Ronnie Rondell, George Chandler, Thomas E. Jackson, Joe Whitehead, Jerrie Storm, Joe Colling, Harry Worth, Francis McDonald. 'GEBONIMO,' formerly titied 'GREAT ENEMY' (1939-40 release), his torical western. General manager's office production; directed by Paul Sloane; no writing credits released; photographed by Henry Sharp. Cast Chief Thundercloud, Preston Foster, Ralph Morgan, Andy Devine, William Henry, Harry Templeton, EUen Drew, Pierre Watkin, Jack Chapin, Richard Denning, James Glines, Frank Cordell, Cecil Kellogg, Carl Sepulveda, Tom Coats, Ted Wells, Lee Shumway. 'ISLAND OF LOST MEN,' formerly titled 'NORTH OF SINGAPORE,' meller; associate producer, Eugene Zukor; directed by Kurt Neumann; no writing credits released; photographed by Karl Struss. Cast: Anna May Wong, J. Carrol Naish, Anthony Quinn, Eric Blore, Ernest Truex, Rudolph Foster, William Haade. THE CAT AND THE CANARY' (1939-40 release), mystery-cOmedy; pro- duced by Arthur Hornblow, Jr.; directed by Elliott Nugent; no writing credits released; photographed by Charles Lang, Cast: Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard, John Beat, Douglass Montgomery, Gale Sondergaard, Nydia West- man, George Zucco, Willard Robertson. "WHAT A LIFE' (1939-40) release), comedy-drama; G.M.O. production; directed by Theodore Reed; no writing credits released; photographed by Victor Milner. Cast: Jackie Cooper, Betty Field, John Howard, Janice Logan, James Corner, Vaughn Glaser, Lionel Stander, Hedda Hopper, Dorothy Stickney, Sidney Miller, Roberts Smith, Betty McLaughlin, Janet Waldo, Douglas Fahy, Leonard Sues^ Kathleen Lockhart, Lucien Llttle- fleld, Eddie Brian, Rita Owin, Charles H. Bookout. Betty Blair, Bennie Bartlett, Kay Stewart, Inna Gest, Lois Ranson, Fay McKenzie, Muriel Kearney. RKO-Radio N«w Balance t« Number Number Now in Be Placed St«rles in e( Fix Com- Shoot- CatUnr Before Prepara- Promlsed pleted Ine Bombs CamenM tton Stadlo M 27 2 5 IS 1< Sol Lesser 3 t t • • • Herbert Wilcox... .1 1 • t • • TeUI 54 31 2 S 16 16 Pictures now in the cutting rooms or awaiting-previews are: THE SECOND SHOT,' comedy drama; produced by Cliff Reid; directed by Jack Hively; screen play by Michael Kanin from original by Garrett Fort; photographed by Roy Hunt Cast: Lucille BaU, Allan Lane, Steffi Duna, Evelyn Brent, Donald Briggs, Bernadene Hayes, Abner Biberman, wiUlam Pawley, Earle Hodgins. , , ^. . ^ ^ 'GIBL FROM MEXICO,' comedy; produced by Robert Sisk; directed by Leslie Goodwins; screen play by Lionel Houser and Joseph Fields from original by Lionel Hous6r; photographed by Jack McKenaie. Cast: Lupe Velez, Donald Woods, Leon Errol, Donald MacBride, Linda Hayes, Edward RaqueUo, Elisabeth Rlsdon, Ward Bond. •O-DOG,' meller; produced by Bert Gilroy; directed by David Howard; Bcreen play by Morton Grant from original by Earl Johnson and Guy K. Austin; photographed by Harry Wild. Cast: Tim Holt, Virginia Weidler, Janet Shaw, Frank M. Thomas, Robert E. Keane, Monty Montagu^, Don Brody, Ralph Harolde, Muriel Evans 'SOBOBITY HOUSE,' produced by Robert Sisk; directed by John Farrow; screen play by Dalton Trumbo- from play by Mary Coyle Chase; photographed by Nick Musuraca. Cast: Anne Shirley, James Ellison. Helen Wood, Margaret Armstrong, Barbara Read, Doris Jordon, Adele Pearce, June Storey, Elizabeth Risdon, Sherrie Overton, ChiU WUls, Phyllis •FtSEB DUGAN.' formerly titled 'WHAT'S A FEXEB FOB,' produced by Cliff Reid; directed by Lew Landers; screen play by Paul Yawitz and Bert Granet; photographed by Roy Hunt Cast: Lee Tracy, Peggy Shannon, Virginia Weidler, Bradley Page, Edward Gargan, William Edmunds, Rita La Roy, Jack Arnold, Edythe Elliott Irene Franklin, John Dilsoh, Murray Alper, Netta Packer. RKO-BadIo Pictures Now in ProdncUon 'LITTLE MOTHER,' drama; produced by Buddy De Sylva; directed by Garson Kanin; screen play by i^orman Krasna from play by Felix Jack- son; photographed by Robert De Grasse. Cast: Ginger Rogers, David Niven, CharlesCobum, Frank Albertson, Baby Elwood, Elbert Copeland, Jr, Ernest Truex, Ned Glass, Paul Stanton, (Serald Oliver Smith, Bessie Thomashefsky, Leona Roberts, Denny Moore. •FIVE CAME BACK,' meller; produced by Robert Sisk; directed by John Farrow; screen play by Jerry Cady and Dalton Trumbo; original by Rich- ard Carroll. Cast: Chester Morris, Wendy Barrie, Lucille BaU, John Car- radine, Joseph Calleia, C. Aubrey Smith, Elisabeth Risdon. Now Balance to Number Nnraber Now in Be Placed Stories , in of Hx Cmb- Shoot- Cattlog Before Prepars- Proralscd pleted iDf Booms Cameras tlon Total 59 3» 1. 5 23 23 Pictures in the cutting rooms or awaiting previews: •MAN OF CONQUEST,' formerly tiUed 'WAGONS WESTWARD.' pro- duced by Sol C. Slegel; directed by (decree NichoUs, Jr.; screen play by Wells Root E. E. Paramore, Jr., and Jan Fortune; original story idea by Harold Shumate; photographed by Joseph August - Cast: Richard Dix, Gail Patrick, Joan Fontaine, Edward Ellis, George Hayes, C. Henry Gordon, Max Terhune, Victor Joiy, Robert Barrat Robert Armstrong, Ralph Mor- gan, Janet Beecher, Jason Robards, Kane Chandler, Ferris Taylor, Charles Stevens. 'STREET 07 MISSING MEN,' produced by Armand Schaefer, directed by Sidney Salkow; screen play by Leonard Lee and Frank Dolan; original by Eleanore Griffin and William Rankin; photographed by Ernest Miller. Cast: Charles Blclcford, Harry Carey,. Tommy Ryan, Gulnn Williams, Mabel Todd, Nana Bryant, John Gallaudet 'BLUE MONTANA SKIES,' musical western; produced by Harry Grey; directed by Breezy- Eason; screen play by Gerald Geraghly from original by Norman Hall and Paul Franklin; photographed by Jack Marta. Cast: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, June Storey, Tully Marshall, Dorothy Granger, Jack Ingram, Harry Woods, Edmund Cobb, Colorado Hillbillies. 'THBEE TEXAS STEERS,' western; produced by William Berke; directed by George Sherman; original screen play by Betty Burbridge and 'Stanley Roberts; photographed by Ernest Miller. Cast: John Wayne, Ray CorrigEui, Max Terhune, Carole Ijandis, Ralph Graves,-'Roscoe Ates, BUly Curtis, Ck>llette Lyons, Stanley Blystone, Ted Adams, David Sharpe, Lew Kelly. "HEROES OF THE .DESERT,' produced by William Berke; directed by (Seorge Sherman; no writing credits released; photographed by Jack Marta. Cast: John Wayne, Ray Corrigan, Max Terhune, Ruth Rogers, Doreen Mc- Kay, George Douglas, Walter Wills, Sammy McKim, Tom Tyler, Kermit Maynard. Republic Fix Now In Prodacfion •DABEDETILS OF THE BED CIRCLE,' adventure serial; produced by Robert Beche; co-directed by Jack English and William Witney^ original screen play by Barry Shipman, Franklyn Adreon, Rex Taylor and Sol Shor; photographed by William Nobles. Cast Charles Quigley, Carole Landis, Herman Brbc, David Sharpe, Miles Mander, Charles Middleton, Snowflake, Ben Taggart Ray Miller, C. Montague Shaw. 20tli Cefltnry-Fox Now Balance to Number Nnmber Now in Be Placed Stories in •f Fix Com- Shoot- CntUnr Before Frepara- Promised pleted Inr ' Booms Cameras tlon Total 55 34 4 9 8 8 Pictures in the cutting rooms or awaiting previews are: 'GIRL FROM BROOKLYN,' formerly titled 'BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT* (for 1938-39 season), produced by Edward Kaufman; directed by Gregory Ratoff: original by Gene Markey; photographed by Karl Freund. Cast: Warner Baxter, Alice Faye, Charles Winninger, Keye Luke. Arthur Treacher. Willie Fung, Doris Lloyd, Leonid.Snegoff. THE BETUBN OF THE CISCO KID,' produced by Kenneth Macgowan; directed by Herbert I. Leeds; no writing credits released; photographed by Charles Clarke. Cast: Warner Baxter, Lynn Bari, Henry Hull, Cesar Romero, Kane Richmond, C. Henry Gordon, Harold Huber. •ROSE OF. WASHINGTON SQUARE,' associate producer, Nunnally Johnson; directed by Roy Del Ruth;.no writing credits released; photo- graphed by Karl Freund. Cast: Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, Al Jolson, Marie Wilson, Douglas Fowley, Hobart Cavanaugh, Moroni Olsen, E. E. CUve, William Frawley. THE GORILLA,' produced by Harry Joe Brown; directed by Allan Dwan; no writing credit<; released; photographed by Edward Cronjager. Cast Ritz Brothers, Bela Lugosi, Anita Louise, Lionel Atwill, Edward Nor- ris. Patsy Kelly, Wally Vernon, Joseph Calleia. •SUSANNAH OF THE MOUNTIES,' produced by Kenneth Macgowan; directed by Walter Lang; no writing credits; photographed by Arthur Miller. Cast: Shirley Temple, Randolph Scott, Margaret Lockwood, Mar- tin (Soodrider, Moroni Olsen, J. Farrell MacDonald, Maurice Moscovich, Victor Joiy. Lester Matthews, Herbert Evans, Leyland Hodgson, Jack Luden, Charles Irwin. 'CBABLIE CHAN IN RENO.' produced by John Stone; directed by Nor- man Foster; no writing credits released; photographed by Virgil Miller. Cast: Sidney Toler, Sen Ypung, Phyllis Brooks, Rlcardo Cortez, Kane Rich- mond, Slim Summerville, Pauline Moore, Robert Lowery, Kay Linaker, Louise Henry. Iris Wong. •NEWS IS MADE AT NIGHT,' produced'by Edward Kaufman; directed by Alfred "Verker; original screen play by John Larklh; photographed by Ernest Palmer. Cast: Preston Foster, L^nn Bari, Cieorge Barbier Eddie Collins. RUsseU Gleason, Paul Harvey, Minor Watson. Charles Halton. •BOY FRIEND.' formerly UUed 'POLICE SCHOOL.' produced by John Stone; directed by James Tinling; no writing credits released; photo- graphed by Lucien Andriot. Cast: Jane Withers, Arleen. Whelan, Richard Bond, Douglas Fowley, Robert Shaw. Robert KeUard, George Ernest Minor Watson, Ted Plerson, Warren Hym er. 'JONES FAMILY IN HOLLYWOOD.' associate producer, John Stone; directed by Mai St CHair; no writing credits released; photographed by Edward Snyder. Cast: Jed Prouty, George Ernest, June Carlson, Spring Byington, Florence Roberts, Kenneth HoweU, June Gale, Billy Mahan, Marvin Stephens, Matt McHugh. William Tracey. 20th-Fox Fix Now in Frodnctlen ■STANLEY AND LIVINGSTONE,' produced by Kenneth Macgowan; directed by Henry King; ho writing credits released; photographed by George Barnes. Cast: Spencer Tracy, Richard Greene, Nancy Kelly, Walter Brennan, (Tharles Coburn, Henry Hull, Sir Ccdric Hardwicke, Henty Travers, Hasson Said YOUNG MB. LINCOLN,' historical drama; produced by Kenneth Mac- fowan; directed by John Ford; no writing credits released; photographed y Arttiur MiUer. Cast*. Henry Fonda, Mariorie Weaver, Arleen Whelan, Richard Cromwell, Eddie Collins, Pauline Moore, Eddie QuUlan, Dorris Bowden, AUce Brady, Fred Kohler, Jr., Francis Ford, Ward Bond, Spencer Charters. Milburn Stone. SECOND FIDDLE,' musical roman.ce; produced by Gene Silarkey; di- rected by Sidney Lanfleld: no writing credits released; photographed by (Continued on page 25) ■ -n i. Cause dfm War cm Coast Los Angeles, April 11. Admission price war, first this area has known in past half a dozen or more years, will be precipitated by Fox West Coast (12) when gate at first of six Los Angeles nabe houses will be slashed to 15c. Dras- tic price .cuts are claimed forced by P-WC execs because of unpre-' cedented orgy of theatre building by indie operators! with estimate of 100,000 new seats added to local area in past few. years. First of the F-WC houses to be cut wiU be the Mesa, which drops from 35c to 15c. This will be followed (16) by reopening of long-darkened' Rivoli as another 15c grind Other ace nabes scheduled for 15c gate after current Week are the Melrose, Embassy, Apollo and Paramount (Hollywood). In face of these cuts, circuit has boosted admission price from' .35e ' to 40c in three of its Saa Fernando vaUey theatres, houses being the..lA- Reina, El Portal and Van Nuys. Heavy buUding of projeieted 15c to 20c houses ' by indies in recent months, and plan of olbers to erect theatres in near future, prompted F-WC execs to drop the scale in all situations where new competition is promised. Several indie operators have lowered admissions five or 10c during last six months, and other unaffiliated operators are expected to get into the fight Metro is first distributing organ- ization to throw its weight against promiscuous theatre buUding -by re- fusing to permit its sales representa* tives locally to enter into any prod- uct discu^ions or to seU any nms to theatres not already built Posi- tion of M-G, through George Hickey, western sales supervisor. Is that one of principal functions of distributing organizations is to work, construc- tively for the industry, and not en- courage orgy of cut-throat buUding opposition by holding out product promises to would-be builders, many of whom use a picture contract as ialt for. securing bank loans with which to enter exhibition fiel4 ' Exhibitors are alarmed over ad- mission price Cutting by F-.WC, and there's no telling to what limits some of them wiU go with dog days of summer approaching. Detroit's New Esqnlre Detroit, AprU 11. New Esquire theatre, located in suburban (Crosse Poihte, is expected to. open latter part of this month. Spot with 1,200 seats, is. backed by group of East Side business men, in- cluding Ralph Lane and Anthony Lubinski. New Fhllly Houses Philadelphia, AprU 11. New 750-seater going up in Ches- ter, Pa„ with backing of Lew M^' tin and Tom Dougherty, vet opera- tors, for early autumn. A. W. Hill erecting new 600-seater in Woodbury, N. J. Eugene Mori also announced recently he would build there. William Goldman planning an ad- dition to his circuit in Chestnut Hill. It's now before zoning board. Board is holding up Sablosky house in Ger- mantown foUowing comt^aints of nearby residents. Movietonews' Plans, If a War Breaks Oat Fox Movietonews organization is planning to move its headquarters from Germany, France, Austria and Italy to some place in Scandinavia, should a European war break out Russell Muth, European director of Movietone, is prepared to concen- trate activities in Norway,. Sweden or Denmark, although Truman Tal- ley, Movietone head, does not con- sider it advisable to assemble his or-, ganlzation in one place unless abso- lutely necessary. AU ncwsreel companies wUl have representatives attached to the head- quartej-s staffs of the Intelligence Service of each country, but It is ex- pected that most war scenes will 'be contributed by Signal Corps camera- men to the newsreels. Talley sails for London on AprU 21 to lay plans for annual Movie- tone convention in Paris. If hostili- ties break out he will remain abroad IndeAnitely. Sir Gordon Craig, gen- era] manager of British Movietone, also sails from New York for Lon- don 'on April lii' '