Variety (Apr 1939)

Wednesday, April 12, 1939 PICTURES VARIETY 25 Advance Production Chart (Continued from Page 23) Leon Shamroy. Cast: Sonja Henle, Tyrone Power, Rudy Vallee, Edna May Oliver, Mary Healy, Lyle Talbot, Brian Sisters. •IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOV,' mystery drama; produced by David Hempstead; directed by Alfred Werker; no writing credits released; photo- graphed by Leon Shamroy. Cast: Gloria Stuart, Stuart Erwin, Raymond Walbum, June Gale, Douglas Fowley. - United Artists Now Balance to Number Nambcr Now . in Be Placed Stories in of Plx Com- Shoot- Catting Before Prepara- Promlsed pletcd ing Booms Cameras tlon Samuel Ooldwyn... 4 2 1 - 0 1 1 Selinlok 2 2 • • • 0 Walter Wanf*r....i 8 2 t • 6 6 Chaplin 1 * • • 1 1 Bbach 8 3 • 1 4- 4 London Films 6 3 6 * 2 2 Edward Small 6 2 1 •. 2 2 Total 33 14 2 1 IS 16 Pictures in the cutting room or awaiting previews are: 'CAPTAIN FUBT/produced and directed by Hal Roach; original screen play by Jack Jevne, Grover Jones, and William de Mille; photographed by Norbert Brodine. Cast: Brian Aheame, Victol: McLaglen, June Lang, Paul Lukas, George Zucco, John Carradine, John Warburton, Claud Allister, Will Stanton, Gibbons Gowland, Charles Middleton, Virginia Field, Luns- den Hare, Margaret Roach, Eddie Brian, Nichols Sussahin, Leonard Willey. VA Pix'Now in Prodoction THE MAN IN THE IBON MASK,' produced by Edward Small; directed by James Whale; screen play by George Bruce; based on the novel by Alexander Dumas; photographed- by Robert Planck. Cast: Louis Hayward^ Joan Bennett, Warren William, Joseph Schildkraut, Alan Hale, Miles .. Mander, Bert Roach, Marian 2^rtin, William Royle, Montagu Love. 'ANGELS MAKING MUSIC,' drama with music; produced by Samuel Goldwyn; directed by Arclue MayO; no writing credits released; photo- graphed by Gregg Tojand. Cast: Jascha Heifetz, Joel McCrea, Walter Bren- nan, Margot Stevenson, Gene Reynolds, Tommy Kelly, Porter Hall. Universal Now Balance to Nnmber Namber Now in Be Placed Stories In of Plx ' Com- Shoot- Catting Beforf Prepara- Promised pleted Ing Booms Cameras tien Featares 4< 27 3 '5 5 S Westerns 12 12 • • e • Seriab 4 4 «. 1 0 * Total B6 43 3 6 5 5 Pictures in the cutting rooms or awaiting previews: 'AfXSTERT OF THE WHITE BOOM,' formerly titled 'MOBDEB IN BUBGfeBT,'Crime Club production; produced by Irving Starr; directed by Otis Garrett; vri|^al story by James G. Edwards, M. D.; screen play by Alex Gottlieb; photographed by John Boyle. Cast: Bruce Cabot, Helen Mack, Joan Woodbury, Mable Todd, Constance Worth, Tom Dugan, Rowland Drew,.Ad'dison Richards, Tommy Jackson. 'OBEGON TBAIL' (1939-40 release), western serial; produced by Henry MacRae; directed by Ford Beebe and Saul Goodkind; original screen play by George Plympton, Basil Dickey, Edmund Kelso and W. W.' Watson; photographed by Jerry Ash. Cast: Johnny Mack Brown, Louise Stanley, Fuzzy Knight, Ed LeSaint, Bill Cody, Jr- Colin Kenny, Jim Toney, Jafck C. Smith, Charles Stevens, Charles Murphy, Roy Barcroft, James Blaine, Charles King, E^orrest Taylor. ■ ' : • 'FOB LOVE'-bB MONET/ comedy; .produced by Max Golden;'directed by Al Rogell; screen .play by Charles Grayson from original by Julian Blausteln, Daniel Tafadash and Bernard Feinsr. photographed by Stanley Cortez. Cast: June I<ang, Robert Kent, Edward Brophy, Richard Lane, Addison Richards, Tony Merrill, ■ Horace MacMahon, Etienne Girardot, Charles Regans Dora Clement 'EAST SIDE OF HEAVEN,' no producer credit; directed by David Butler; screen play by William Conselman; original by 'David Butler and Herb Polesie; photographed by George Robinson. Cast:3ing Crosby, Joan Blon- dell, Mischa Auer, Jerome Cowan, Jane Goude, Sandy Henville, Herb Ashley, Joe King, Lelah Tyler. THE FAMILT NEXT DOOB,' produced by Max Golden; directed by Joseph Stanley; original screen play by Mortimer Offner; photographed by Milton Krasner. Cast: Hugh Hubert Ruth Donnelly, Joy Hodges, Eddie Quillan, Juanlta Quigley, Bennie BarUett, Tom Beck. 'BIG, TOWN CZAB,' produced by Ken Goldsmith; directed by Arthur Lubin; screen play, by Edmund L. Hartmann; original by Ed Sullivan; photographed by Mwood Brendell. Cast: Barton MacLane. Tom Brown, Eve Ardeii, Ed SuUivan, Frank Jenks, Clyde Dilson, Oscar Polk. Vniversal Plx Now in Prbdnetion THE SUN NEVEB SETS,' romahtic drama; produced and directed by Rowland V. Lee; original story by Jeiry Horwin and Arthur Fitz-Richard; screen play by W. P; Lipscomb; photoigraphed by George Robinson. Cast: Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Basil Rathbone, Barbara O'Neil, Virginia Field, Mary Forbes, Arthur MuUiner, John Burton. 'HOUSE OF FEAB,' formerly tiUed 'BACKSTAGE PHANTOM,' mys- tery meller; produced by Edmund Grainger; directed by Joe May; screen play by Peter Milne; original Jjy Thomas Fallon; photographed .by Milton Krasna. Cost: William Gargan, Irene Hervey, Dorothy Arnold, Harvey Stephens, Walter WooU King, Alan Dinehart El Brendcl, Jan Dnggan, Tom Dugan, Raymond Parker, Stanley Hugheis, Don Douglas, Herbert Corthell. 'EX-CHAMP,' drama; produced by Burt Kelly; directed by Phil RoSen; no writing credits released; photographed by Elwood Bredell. Cast: Victor McLaglen,' Tom Brown, Nan Grey, Constance Moore, William Frawley, Donald Briggs. Warners Now Balance to- Nnmber Number Now in Be Placed Stories in of Plx Com- Shoot- Cutting Before -Prepara- Promised pleted Inr Booms Cameras tion Total 62 31 6 . 11 .5 S Pictures in the cutting rooms or awaiting previews are: 'CODE OF THE SECBET SERVICE,' formerly titled 'SMASHING THE MONET BING,' produced by Bryan Foy; directed by Noel Smith; screen play by I^e Katz and Dean Franklin; photographed by Ted McCord. Cast; Ronald Reagan, Rosella Towne, Eddie Foy, Jr., Moroni Olsen, John .Gal- ' laudet, John Litel, June Gittelson, Steffi Duna. 'CNEMT AGENT,' meller; produced by Bryan Foy; associate producer. Mark Hellinger; no writing credits released; dirtcted by Terry Morse. photograi}heiLJiy._Sld_HickQX. Cast: Boris Karloff, Mar garet Li ndsay. Holmes Herbert Marls Wrixoni Bruce L,ester, Leonard "Mudie," eiarence Derwent 'CONFESSIONS OF A NAZI SPY,'' executive producer, Hal B. Wallis; associate producer, Robert'Lord; directed by Anatole Litvak; no wrltmg credits released; photographed by Sol PoUto. C^: Edward G. Robinson, Francis Lederer, Paul Lukas, Dorothy Tree, Joe Sawyer„George Sanders, James Stephenson, Lya Lys, Grace Stafford. •NAUGHTT, BUT NICE,' formerly tiUed 'THE PBOFESSOB STEPS OUT,' formerly tiUed 'ALWAYS LEAVE THEM LAUGHING,' executive pro- ducer, Hal B. Wallis; associate producer, Sam Bischofi; directed by Ray Enright; screen play by Jerry 'Wald and Richard Macauley; photographed by Arthur Todd, Cast: Dick. Powell, Gale Page, Ann Sheridan, ZaSu Mono Pitt Exchange Mgr. Sells Pic Yam Pittsburgh, April 11. Mark Goldman, exchange manager for Monogram here, has just peddled an original story to his studio. It's called 'Happiness Girl' and Dorothy (Mrs. Wallace) Reid is now at work on the. screen play. Picture is slated to go into production in another month' or so, although no cast has been set yet. It's not the first time Goldman has' turned his hand to -screen writing, having sold.a couple of yarns to dif-' ferent studjos back in silent days. He's a veteran in the distribution field and left Gaumont-British here to join Monoj;ram upon death of Dave Selznick, Mono sales chief, last year, Film Reviews Mystery of Mr. Wong Wm Rogers Fund Short Set for Drive April 20 The fihn industry's short for the Will Rogers NaUonal Theatre Week, beginning April 20, has been com- pleted and prints will be furnished gratis to all theatres collecting con- tributions. Spencer Tracy, Deanna Durbin, Lowell Thomas, Robert E. Sherwood and Haymond Massey ap- pear in the film. Picture was produced with co- operation of Metro, 20th, RKO, Uni- versal and Warners. Hollywood se- quences were supervised by Harold Rodner, WB exec, and the New York sequences under A. P. Waxman's supervision. Eastman-Kodak (J. K Brulatour); Dupont-Pathe and Filih- ex'Gevaert contributed the raw stock and National Screen Service will handle shipping of prints. Technicolor Lays Off 80 Hollywood, April 11. Seasonal letdown caused Techni- color to lay off 80 laboratory work- ers, with many more going on short hours. Execs expect plant to I>e running at full blast by July 1. Final 1938-39 features to pass through lab were 'Little Princess' (20th) and the 'Dodge City' (WB). • (Continued from Page 18) rest of the cast notably Dorothy Tree and Craig Reynolds, who shoulder the romantic interest They are wooden .and unimpressive. Lebe- deff is okay as a suspicious guy and Grant Withers-imparts the accepted gruflness to a cop he interprets, A good lesser job is done by Lotus Long, an Oriental. . Holmes Herbert and Morgan Wallace are suitable elders, one a collector of question- able background, the other a crim- inolog ist-murderer; The plot in the main, concerns foul play over a changed will, dis- inheriting a wife, and itchy fingers for a rare Oriental jewel that has been smuggled out of China. It is tied up rather well and sustains the suspense adequately. Char. MAN OF CONQUEST Republic rcleasr o( Sol C. Slenel produc- llon. rrnlurea Rlrhanl DIx. Gall pHtrlck. Hilivnnl filllo. .loiio I<'on(nlnc. Dlrrciril l>y Goorgo .Vlcho'8. Jr. Screenplny by WellH Boot E. 10. l*nrninorc, Jr.. itn<1 Jan For- tune from orlQlhnI story by Hnrold .Sbu- mate and .WellH Hoot; camera, Jnncph it, AuKUsl: editor. Edward Mann. Rcvlcn'oil In nojectton Room. N. Y.. April T, MO. RtmnlDK time: W MINS. HAm Houston RU-hard J>\k Marffatet I.ea Gall Patrick Andrew Jackson: E'ward Kills Ell7.a, Allen Jonn rnntiUnc William Travis A'ictor Jory Davcy OrocKctI Dobcrt llnrrat Lannie UiKhiiriti Ooori;c Hayes Stephen Austin lliilpb Mort^nn Jim Bowie Ilnbtirt ArmnirnnK Santa Ana C*. Henry- (lori^on Mie. Lea-. Janet ncechcr. Oolootcka Pcdm Oe Cordoba 'Dear .tmilh M»x Tci-liunp Mrs. Allen Katblocn- r^c!:hiirt Jonas Lea..: Ferris Taylor John Hoskins Leon Ames Republic, which has specialized on westerns for several years, fallows the current trend of hefty-budget cactusers with this yam about Sam Houston iand the birth of the State of Texas. It's a grown-up boss opera, based on authentic and colorful history, with fairly be- lievable characters, ample action and reasonable suspense. With its emphasis on the patriotic theme, 'Man of Conquest' should rate as a passable solo biller and is O.K for upper spotting in duals. To the fllmgoer with only the nor- Pitts, Maxie Rosenbloom, AUen Jenkins, Jerry Colonna, Halliwell Hobbes, Granville Bates, Ronald Reagan, Helen Broderick. 'HELL'S KITCHEN,' proiluced by Mark Hellinger for the Bryan Foy unit; directed by E. A. Dupunt; no writing -credits released; photographed by Charles Rosher. Cast: Dead End Kids, Margaret Lindsay, Stanley Fields, Ronald Reagari. Grant Mitchell, Frank E. Hjurke, C^iarlle foy, Fred Tqzere. 'WATEB FBONT,' produced by Bryan Foy; directed by Terry Morse;, no writing credits released: Dhotographed by James Van Trees. Cast: Dennis Morgan, Gloria Dickson, Marie Wuson, Sheila Bromley, Ward Bond. Arthur Gardner, George Lloyd, Aldrich Bowker. 'NANCY DBEW, TBOUBLE SHOOTER,' produced by Bryan Foy; directed by William Clemens; from original by Carob'ne Keene; photo- graphed by Lou O'Connell. Cast: Bonita Granville, Frankie Thomas, John Litel, Charlotte Wynters, Aldrich Bowker^ Edgar Edwards, Erville Al- derson. . . 'THE KID FBOM KOKOMO.' formerly titled 'BBOADWAY CAVALIEB,' executive producer, Hal B.' Wallis; associate producer, Sam Bischoff; directed by Lew Seller; screen play by Michael Fessier from original by Dalton Trumbo. Cast: Pat O'Brien, Joan BlondeU, Wayne Morris, Jane Wyman; Maxie Rosenbloom, Max Robson, Stanley Fields, Morgan Conway, Sidney Toler, Ed Brophy, Olin Howland,-Jack Roper, Clem Bevans. 'I AM NOT AFBAID,' formerly titled 'HERO FOR A DAY,' produced by Gordon HoIIingshead for the Bryan Foy unit; directed by Crane Wilbur; no writing credits released; photographed by Arthur Todd. Cast: Charles Grapewin,. Jane Bryan, Henry O'Neill, Elisabeth Risdon, Dickie Jones, John Russell, Fred Tozere, James McCallion. 'THE BOABING CROWD,' formerly tiUed fTHE BOABING BOAD,' ex- ecutive producer, Hal B. Wallis: associate producer. Max Siegel; directed by Lloyd Bacon; no writing credits released; photographed by Sid Hickox. Cast: Pat O'Brien. John Payne,-Gail Page, Ann Sheridan, Frank McHugh, Ronald Reagan, Granville Bates, Regis Toomey. 'JUAREZ,' executive producer, Hal B. Wallis; associate producer, Henry Blanke; directed by William Dieterle; screen play by John Houston, Aeneas McICinzie, Wolfgang Reinant and Aben Finkel; from story by Mrs. Perdila Harding; photographed by Tony Gaudio. Cast: Paul Muni, Bette Davis, Brian Ahern, Claude Rains, John Garfield, Donald Crisp, Gilbert Roland, Joseph; Calleia, Montagu Lov6, Harry Davenport Hienry - O'Neilli Gale Sondergaard, William Wilkinson, Pedro De Cordoba, John Miljan, Hugh Sothem, Robert Warwick, Georgia Caine. Warner Fix Now in Production - 'GANT.BY, THE GREAT,' produced by Bryan Foy; directed by William McGann; no writing credits released; photographed by Ted McCord. Cast Edith Fellows, Jimmy McCallion, Granville Bates, DeWoK Hopper, Frankie Burke, Fred Tozere. 'EACH DAWN I. DIE,' executive producer. Hal' B. Wallis; associate pro- ducer, David Lewis; directed by William Kelghley; original by Jerome Odium; photographed by Arthur Edeson. Cast: James Cagney, Crcorge Raft, Jane Bryan, George Bancroft Willard Robertson, Maxie Rosenbloom^ Victor Jory, John Wray, Stanley Ridges, Louis Jean Heydt, Ed Pawley, Joseph Downing, Alan Baxter, Aldrich Bowker, Fred Tozere, Charles Trowbridge. 'FAMILY REUNION,' formerly titled 'AMERICAN FAMILY,' executive producer, Hal B. Wallis; associate producer, Henry Blanke; directed by Michael Curtiz; no writing credits released; photographed by James Wong Howe. Cast: John Garfield, Priscilla Lane, Gale Page, Jeffrey Lynn, Fay Bainter, Claude Rains, May Robson, Lola Lane, Rosemary Lane, Dick Foran, Frank McHugb.. 'BATTLE OF CITY HALL,' comedy drama; executive producer, Hal B. Wallis; associate producer, Max Siegel; directed by Ray Enright; no writing credits released; photographed by Arthur Todd. Cast; 'Dead End' Kids, Ronald Reagan, Ann Sheridan, Bonita Granville, Frankie Thomas, Berton (5hurchill, Eduardo Ciannelli, Franklin Pangborn, Bernard Nedell, Egon Brecher, Hen ry O'N eil], Minor Watson, Jackie Searle, Marjbrie Main, Sara Padden. ■ 'THE OLD MAID,' drama; executive producer, Hal B. Wallis; associate producer, Henry Blanke; directed by Edmund Gouldlng; screen play by Casey Robinson from play by Zoe Akins; photographed by -Tony Gaudio. Cast: Bette Davis, Miriam Hopkins, Humphrey Bogart, Jane Bryan, Cissy Loftus, Donald Crisp, Jerome Cowan, Frank Darien. 'GIVE ME A CHILD' (1936-40 release), drama; executive producer, Hal B. Wallis; associate producer, Sam Bischoff' directed by Lloyd Bacon; screen play by Robert Rossen; photographed by Charles Rosher. Cast: Geraldine Fitzgerald, Jeffrey Lynn, Gale Page, Eve Arden, Johnnie Davis, Gloria Holden, Spring Byington, Henry O'Neill, Jean Sharron, Nanette Fabares, John LiteL • , -'•II ^ mal smattering of the history of the period this jticture will be accept- ably authentic. With only a few imnecessary incidents and fOotage, it tells of Houston's start In Tennes- see politics under the - tutelage of Andrew Jackson, of his two-time election as governor; his romance, marriage and separation; his journey to Arkansas and adoption by the Cherokee Indians, and finally his part in the Texas-Mexican war and his second marriage. The scriptors - have forttmately avoided schoolbook pompotisness in drawing their characters, making Houston and President Jackson sur- prisingly lifelike figures. Inhere are a few anachronisms, sudi as a news- paper of the early 1800s with mod- em style headlines and news presen- tation. There's also more grandilo- quent talk about freedom and democ- racy than such strenuous campaiiui- ers sesm Jikclv to have spouted. But aU in- all, 'Man of Conquest' Is a reasonably satisfying picture. It should prove decidedly informative to many spectators and -more than passably entertaining to all.. Richard Dix is impressive as Houston without lapsing into exag- gerated heroics and indulging in only a minimum of teeth-clenching. Gail Patrick is somewhat too obvi- ously made up for. a pioneer girl, but she gives a persuasively direct f>nd sincere performance. Edward Ellis plays Old. Hickory without struttinj; Joan Fontaine makes the unsympathetic first wife - t>elievable. Victor Jory demonstrates that he can play sympathetic parts as well rs villains, while Robert Barrat Georae Hayes, Ralph Morgan, Rob- ert Armstrong and C. Henry Gordon top off an unusually capable sup- porting cast Direction is expressive. Picture could still be profitably cut ■ Hobe. Rough Riders' Roundup (WITH SONGS) Republic produrlinn and rolease, Rlnrs Roy Rneeni. renturcs Mary Hurt. Ray- mond Ctntton. nirertfd by Jo!i<>iih Kane. Oriitlnnl screenplay, .lack ^Tattctord; cam- era. Jack Marta: odltnr, TjCstcr Orlcbeck; music. Cy Feuer. At Cnlonlnl, Lincoln, dual. RunninK llnio; iWSH. "•>■•■ Rov Roeera IJorothy.... Mnry Hart ^L"*'" Raymond. Ilalton Tommy uudle Acuff Arliona William Pairley Ro«e Dorathv'He bastion Lannlnit Cenrcc Meeker "■•Tison Jack Rockwell "'"'!'• Guy (leher "•"py., ,. ..QeorKe Cheacbro Yf^i ■ Olenn .Stranice, Alcaiie Punran Renalds From discharge day after, the Spp.nish-AmerJcan fiasco, 'Rough Riders' Roundup' moves immediately to the southwest where ia group of rough riders Is inducted into service with the border patrdl,' From the arrival at the border patrol station, the story takes on the familiar com- plexion of the ranger and his brushes with bad men. For Roy Rogers,, the film is a definite imnrovement over the last couple of starts. Singing does not have too much to do with the story, which concerns the roundup of George Meeker, a cheating mine manager; his girl friend. Dorothy Se- bastian, and William Pawley, who does all the dirty work by robbing stages and exnrcss offices of the gold taken from the mine for three-way splitting. Search for comedy aid for Rogers has evidently come to an end with the signing of. Raymond Hatton as a whiskery and humorous compan- ion. While Rod was scrapping with Gene Autry, Smiley Bumette was thrown into the breach. His funning had not a. little to do with cstablish- ihg Roscrs. wiih the fans. .'When Autry came back, Bui'nctte was rc- asslipted to him. and Rep tried Lulu- belle and Scotty for one picture, which was n.g^'Rough Riders,' with Raymond Hatton, shows possibilities for the team. Familiar western faces, not men- tioned in the binin'( are Hank Bell ond John Morton. It's Dorothy Se- bastian's first start in a long time, and she's hardly reco,'!nizable made up with hluh hair and turn of the century costume. Her Job is mostly to give evidence of a jealous burn ond she does it well. . 'Rough Riders' is good for the av- erage biz of Rogers in any terri- tory. Barn. Carl Brisson Plans Returning as Actor Copenhagen, April 1. Carl Brisson plans to play his first stage part before a compatriot audi- ence next year with his own pro- duction here of the operetta, "The Apache.' Prior to adopting a stage career, Brisson was a boxer here. He was also under contract to Paramount in Hollywood four years ago.