Variety (Oct 1939)

1« VARIETY PICTURES Wednesday, October 25, 19.')9 Advance Production Chart CContinued from page 16) photographed by Henry Sharp. Cast; Albert Dekker, Janice Logan, Thomas Coley, Charle? Halton, Victor Kilian, Frank Yaconelli. 'DIAMONDS ABE DANGEROUS,' GMO production; directed by George Fitzmaurice: screen play by Leonard Lee and Franz Schiilz; based on story by Frank O'Connor; photographed by Charles Lang. Cast: George Brent, I«i Miranda. John Loder, Nigel Bruce, Elizabeth Patterson, Matthew Boul- ton, Rex Evans, David Clyde, Rex Downing, Douglas Gordon, Harry Stubbs, Norman AinsKy, Guy Bellis, Nikolayeva. Hi Roberts, Walter Kingsford, Ralph Forbes, Gerald Rogers, Janet Waldo, Major Sam Harris, Roger Gray, Tony Marsh, Ed Gargan, Bobby Hale, Vera Lewis, E. E. Clive, Keith Kenneth, Wilfred Roberts, Susan Paley, Jack M. Lee. Ernest Truex, Charles Irwin, Charles Bennett, John Ward. 'UNTAMED' (Technicolor); oroduced by Paul Jones; directed by George Archainbaud; screen play by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan and Frank Butler; based on 'Mantrap' by Sinclair Lewis; photographed by Leo Tover. Cast: Ray Milland. Patricia Morison, Akim Tamiroff, William Frawley. Eily Malyon, J. M. Kerrigan, Elsther Dale, Jane Darwcll, Bahe Dcnetdeel, Charlene Wyatt. Gertrude Hoffman, J. Farrell MacDonald, Sibyl Harris, Clem Bevans, Fay Helm, Darryl Hickman, Roscpe Ates. 'REMEMBER THE NIGHT,' drama; GMO production; directed by Mitchell Leisen; original screen play by Preston Sturges; photographed by Ted Telzlalf. Cast: Barbara Stanwyck. Fred MacMurray, Beulah Bpndi, Elizabeth Patterson. Snowflake, Tom Kennedy, Sterling Holloway, John Wray, Georgia Cainc, John Beck. Thomas W. Ross, Virginia Brissac. 'EMERGENCT SQUAD,' GMO production; associate producer, Stuart Walker; directed by Edward Dmytryk; no writing credit.<! released; photo- craphed by Harry Hallenberger. Cast: William Henry,. Louise Campbell, Robert Paige, Richard Denning, Anthony Quinn. 'KNIGHTS OF THE RANGE,' western; produced by Harry Sherman- associate producer. Joe W. Engle; directed by Les Selander; screen play by Norman Houston, based on a story by Zane. Grey; photographed by Russell Harlan. Cast: Russell Hayden, Jean Parker. Harry Humphrey. J. Farrell MacDonald, Rad Robinson. Britt Wood, Victor Jory, Morri Ancrum, Ethel Wales. 'THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER,* comedy-drama; associate producer, Wil- liam Thomas; directed by. James Hogan; no writing credits released; pho- tographed by Leo Tover. Cast: Martha Raye. Charles Ruggles, William Frawley, Richard Denning, Gertrude Michael, William Duncan, Ann Shoe- maker, William Demarest, Inez Courtney, Lorraine Krueger, Betty Mc- Laughlin, Anne Harrison. Tom Dugan, Jock Norton, Benny Baker, Bill Boggess, Bert Hanlon, Grace Hayle. Wanda McKay. WiUred Roberts, John Hartley, Darryl Hickman, Pat West, Jane Webb, Si Jenks, Sam Ash. Eddie Borden. 'WOMEN WITHOUT NAMES,' formerly titled 'STRANGE MONET,' drama; associate producer. Eugene Zukor; directed by Robert Florey; no writing credits released; photographed by Stuart Thompson. Cast: Ellen Drew, Robert Paige, Judith Barrett, John McGuire, .Thomas E. Jackson. Warden M. Thomas, Joseph Sawyer, James Seay, Louise Beavers, John Miljan, Charles Williams, Esther Dale, Marjorie Main, Charles Waldron, Cy Kendall, Weldon Heybum. 'FOUR ACES.' formerly titled 'GUN CHORES,' Hopalohg Cassidy west- ern; produced by Harry Sherman; directed by Howard Brethertoh; screen play by Harold and Daniel Kusell; original story by Jack Jungmeyer; photographed by Russell Harlan. Cast: William Boyd, Russell Hayden. Britt Wood, Morris Ankrum, Jane Clayton, Wright Kramer. Donald Kirk. Roy Barcroft,. Kermit Maynard, Walter Shumway. •TYPHOON.' meller (Technicolor); GMO production: directed by Louis King; screen play by Allen Rivkin; based on story by Steve Fisher; photo- graphed by William Mellior. Cast: Dorothy Lamour, Robert Preston. Lynne Overman. J. Carrol Naish, Paul Harvey, Norma Gene Nelson, Jack Carson, Al Kikume. 'THE GREAT VICTOR HERBERT,' formerly. Utled "THE CAT DATS OF VICTOR HERBERT,' formerly titled 'VICTOR HERBERT.' musical drama; GMO pr«duction; directed by Andrew Stone; no writing credits released; photographed by Victor Milner. Cast: Walter Connolly. Mary Martin, Allan Jones, Susanna Foster, Jerome Cowan, Car- roll Nye, Judith Barrett, John Garrick, Pierre Watkins, Richard Tucker, Hal K. Dawson, William Newell. James Finlayson, Hank Mann, Bill Engle. Betty Bryson, Mary Currier. John Hartley. Perry "Tyler. George Ovey. Nick Mara. Eddie Borden. John 'Skins' Miller, Gertie Messinger, Jimmy Cross, Lon Poff. Joseph Swickard, Jack Gardner, Sandra Lee Richards, Arthur Stuart Hull. Par Fix Now in Prodactlon ^^ll^f^"* SfNGAPOBE,' musical-comedy, produced by Harlan Thomp- V ur-n?*^ ■^•-X','^'*"^ Schertzmger; no screen credits released: photographed Barrett * '^'"^ Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Judith 'OPENED BT MISTAKE," drama, produced by GMO: associate pro- ducer, Stuart Walker; director, -George Archinbaud: no writing credits re- leased; photography by Theodor Sparkuhl. Cast: Charles Ruggles, Janice Logan, Robert Paige. William Frawley. ' "THE BISCUIT EATER,' drama; produced by Jack Moss; director. Stuart Heisler; no writmg credits released; photography by Leo Tover. Cast: Lonnie LeRoy, Helene Millard, Richard Lane. Lester Mathews, Snowflake. Gordell Hickman. 'THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS.' western, produced by Harry Sher- man; director, Leslie Selander; screenplay by Norman Houston, original by Zane Gray; photographed by Russell Harlan. Cast: Victor Jory, Jo Ann Sayers, Russell Hayden, Morris Ankrum, Noah Beery, Jr., Ruth Rogers, J. Farrell MacDonald, Esther Estrella, Alan Ladd. Georgia Haw- kins; Earle Askam, Tom Tyler. RKO-Radio ^ <I939-M) Now Balance io Number Naniber Now In Be Pbccd SUrieti In •f Pix Con- Shoot- CuUinr Before Prepara- ■ Fronilsed pletcd Inr Rooms Cameras lion Studio 52 4 4 3 42 42 Westerns .. 6' • i •■ 5 5 Sol Lesser 2 • • • 2 2 The Plays' the ThlBf 4 • 1 « 3 3 Plays ti PIx Corp. 2 • 1 t 1 1 Major Pictures (English) 1 e • • I 1 Harold Lloyd 1 • • - • I 1 Stiephens-Lang .... 3 I t » 2.2 Boris Morros Prod. 1 1 • 0 0 B Walt Disney 1 » 1 • 6 • Totals 73 6 8 3 57 57 Pictures now in the cutting rooms Or awaiting release are; 'ABE LINCOLN IN ILLINOIS' (1939-40 release), historical drama; pro- duced by Max Gordon and Harry Goetz; directed by John Cromwell; play and screen play by Robert Sherwood; photographed by James Wong Howe. Cast: Raymond Massey. Gene Lockhart, Ruth Gordon, Mary Howard, Dorothy Tree. Harvey Stephens. Minor Watson. Alan Baxter. Howard De Silva. Aldrich Bowker. Maurice Murphy, Louis Jean Heydt, Clem Bevans, Harlan Brlggs. 'LEGION OF THE LAWLESS,* western; produced by Bert Gilroy; di- rector. David Howard; original story bv Berne Giler; screen play by Doris Schroeder; photographed by Harry Wild. Cast: George O'Brien, Virginia Vale. 'RENO,' drama; produced by Robert Sisk; directed by John Farrow; original story by Ellis St. Joseph; screen play by John Twist'; photographed by Roy Hunt. Cast: Richard Dix, Gail Patrick, Anita Louise. Laura Hope Crews, Louis Jean Heydt, Astrid. AUwyn, Charles Halton, Hobart Cava- naugh. Joyce Compton, Frank Faylen. 'THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTBE DAME' (1939-40 release), drama; pro- duced by Pandro S. Herman; directed by William Dieterle; from novel by Victor Hugo; photographed by Joseph August. Cast: Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Hara, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Thomas Mitchell, Walter Hamp- den, Harry Davenport, Edmund O'Bricni Etiene Giraidut, Fritz Licber, Katherine Alexander, Minna Gombell, Alan Mar.<;hal, George Ziicco. Arthur Hohl, Rod La Rocque, Spencer Charters, George Tobias, Curt Bois, Kathryn Adams, Dorothy Lovett. RKO PIx Now In ProdHctioB 'PINOCCHIO' (1939-40 release), Walt Disney adapUtion of child's folk I tale by C. CoUodi; an'animated feature in Technicolor, , 'VIGIL IN THE NIGHT (1939-40 release), drama; produced and directed by George Stevens: from novel by A. J. Cronin; photographed by Robert De Grasse. Cast: Carole Lombard, Brian -Aherne, Anne Shirley, JBrcnda Forbes, Robert Coote. ■THAT'S RIGHT, YOU'RE WRONGi,' musical; produced and directed by David Butler; screen play by William Conselman and James V. Kern; original by David Butler and William Conselman; photographed by Russell Metty. Cast: Kay Kyser, Adolphe Menjou, May Robson, Edward Everett Horton, Lucille Ball, Moroni Olsen, Hobart Cavanaugh, LiUian West. 'SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON,' drama, produced by Gene Towne and Graham Baker; director. Edward Ludwig; story adaptatiort- by Towne and Baker; screenplay by Walter Ferris; photography by Nick Musuraca, Cast: Thomas Mitchell, Edna Best, Freddie Bartholomew, Ten;y Kilburn, Tim Holt, Bobby Quillan, Christian Rub. John Wray, Herbert Rawlinson, Fred Kohler. •SUNSET,' meller; produced by Cliff Reid; director. Jack Hively; original story by Joseph A. Fields; screen play by Fields and Arthur Coesar; photo- graphed by Frank Redman. Cast: Jimmy Lydon, Joan Brodell. J. M. Kerri- gan. Selmer Jackson, Spencer Charters, Marjorie Main. 'MEXICAN SPITFIRE,' Comedy drama: produced by Cliff Reid; director, Les Goodwins; screen play, Joseph A. Fields; photography by Jack Mc- Kenzie. Cast: Lupe Velez, Donald Woods. Leon Errol, Linda Hayes, Elisa- beth Risdon. Ward Bond. , ■ 'DISTANT FIELDS.' drama, produced by Robert Fisk; director, John Farrow; story and screenplay by S. K. Lauren: photographed by Roy Hunt Cast; Alair Marshal, Barbara Read, Helen Vinson, Patric Knowles. Extended Runs .Contlnncd from page 2_ Features Westerns SerUls .. Nnraher Number •r Pix Com- promised pletcd , 24 3 24 3 4 1 52 7 New Balance (• Now in Be Placed Storieit In Sboot- CnUinr Before Prepara- Rooms Cameras tlon 3 18 18 I 19 19 I 2 2 39 39 Totals 52 7 • « Pictures in the cutting rooms or awaiting release: 'MAIN STREET LAWYER,' formerly titled 'ABRAHAM LINCOLN BOGGS (1939-40 release), drama; associate producer Robert North: directed by Dudley Murphy; screen play by Joseph Krumgold and Robert Presnell; from Devery Freeman's adaptation of original story by Harry Hamilton; photographed by Jack Marta. Cast: Edward Ellis, Anita Louis, Robert Baldwin. Clem Bevans, Margaret Hamilton, Harold Huber, Willard Rotiertson, Henry Kolker, Beverly Roberts. 'JEEPERS CREEPERS,' hillbilly musical; produced by Armand Schaefer; directed by Frank McDonald; original screen play by Dorrell and Stuart McCjOwan; photographed by Ernest Miller. C^st: Weaver Brothers and Elviry, Loretta Weaver, Roy Rogers, Maris Wrixon, Lucien Littlefleld, Thurston Hall, Billy Lee, Johnny Arthur, Joe McGuins, Bob Wilbur, Harold Daniels, Will Armstrong, Dirk Thane, Bill Wolfe. 'COVERED TRAILER,' Higgins Family comedy; produced and directed by Gus Meins; no writing credits released; photographed by George Mar- tinelli. Cast: James Gleason, Lucille Gleason. Russell- Gleason, Harry Davenport, Tommy Ryan, Mary Beth Hughes. Maurice Murphy, Willie Best, Maude Eburne. •ZORRO'S FIGHTING LEGfON.' serial; produced by H. H. Brown; co- directed by William Witney and Jack English; screen play by Rex Taylor. Morgan Cox. Ronald Davidson. Barney Sarecky and Sol Shorr; photo- graphed by Reggie Lanning. Cast: Reed Hadley, William Corson, Charles King, Eddie Cherkose. Ted Mapes. 'SAGA OF DEATH VALLEY.' western; associate producer and director. Joe Kane; no writing credits released; photogflraphy by Jack Marta. Cast: Roy Rogers. C>eorge Hayes, Don Barry, Doris Day, Frank Thomas. Sr.. Pete Fargo. Hal Taliafero. Frankie Marvin, Ed Brady, Fred Burns. Harry Gant. 'COWBOYS FROM TEXAS.' Three Mesquiteers western, produced by Harry Grey; director, George Sherman; screenplay, Oliver Drake; photo- graphed by Ernie Miller. Cast: Bob Livingston. Raymond Hatton, Duncan Renaldo, Carole Landis, Harry McKim, Charles Middleton, Ivan Miller. 20th Century-Fox (1939-40) Now Balance to Number Number Now in Be Placed Stories In of Pix Com- Sbcot- Cutting Before Prcpara- Premiscd pletcd inr Booms Cameras tion Totals 52 28 5 11 16 IS Pictures now in the cutting rooms or awaiting release are: •BARRICADE.' formerly titled 'WHITE LADY OF THE ORIENT,' formerly titled •GIRL FROM BROOKLYN,' formerly titled •BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIG«T (for 1938-39 season); produced by Edward Kaufman; directed by Gregory Ratoff; original by Gene Markey: photo- graphed by Karl Freund. Cast: Warner Baxter, Alice Faye. Charles Win- ninger. Keye Luke, Arthur Treacher. Willie Fung, Doris Lloyd, Leonid Snegoff. 'DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK' (1939-40 release) (Technicolor), out- door drama; produced by Raymond Griffith; directed by John Ford; from novel by Walter D. Edmonds; screen play by Lamar Trotti and Sonya Levien; photographed by Bert Glennon. Cast: Claudetle Colbert, Henry .Fonda. John Carradine. -Eddie Collins,. Linda Darnell, Edna May Oliver, Arthur Shiields, Jessie Ralph, Roger Imhoff, Francis Ford, Kay Linaker, Russell Simpson, Spencer Charters. 'THE CITY,' meller; produced by Sol M. Wurtzel; directed by Ricardo Cortez; no writing credits released; photographed by Edward Cromjager. Cast: Lynn Bari, Donald. Woods, C. Aubrey Smith. June Gale, Hal Goodwin. '20,8«« MEN A YEAR,' drama, produced by Sol M. Wurtzel; directed by Alfred E. Green: no writing credits released; photographed by Ernest Palmer. Cast: Randolph Scott, Margaret Lindsay, Mary Heaiy, Kane Richmond, Maxie Rosenbloom. •THE HONEYMOON'S OVER,' formerly titled 'THE SIMPLE LIFE,' drama; produced by Sol Wurtzel; directed by Eugene Ford, replacing William Beaudine; screen play by Clay Adams, Leonard Hoffman and Hamilton MacFadden; script by Robert Ellis and Helen Logan from original by William Anthony McGuire: photographed by Virgil Miller. Cast: Marjorie Weaver, Stuart Erwin, Chick Chandler, Patric Knowles, Russell Hicks, E. E. Clive, Barnett Parker. •HIGH SCHOOL.* family drama; produced by John Stone: directed by George Nichols; no writing credits released. .Cast: Jane Withers. Pavil Harvey, Lillian Porter. Giles V. Kellogg, Jr., Lloyd'Corrigan. Joe Brown, Jr., Marvin Stephens, Cliff Edwards, Lynn Roberts, Claire du Brey, Mary McCarthy, John Pirrone. Dorothy Moore. 'SWANEE BtVER' (Technicolor), drama; produced by Kenneth Mac- gowan; directed by Sidney Lahfleld; screen play by John Taintor Foote and Philip Dunne; photographed by Bert Glennon. Cast: Don Ameche, AI Jolson, Andrea Leeds, George Reed, Felix Bressart, Itichard Clarke. Cniick Chandler, Russel Hicks. 'THE MAN WHO WOULDN'T TALE.' melIer;'produced by Sol Wurtzel: directed by David Burton; no writing credits released; photography by Virgil MiUer. Cast: Lloyd Nolan, Jean Rogers, Richard Clarke, Mae Marsh, Joan Valerie, Douglas Wood, Onslow Stevens, Eric Blore, Irving Bacon. •THE CISCO KID AND THE LADY,' formerly titled 'THE ADVEN- TURER,' western; produced by John Stone; directed by Herbert L. Leeds; no writing credits released; photographed by Barney McGill. Cast: Cesar Romero, Marjorie Weaver, Robert Barrat, Chris-Pin Martin, George Montgomery, John Beach. •DAY-TIME WIFE,' formerly titled 'FIRST KISS.' formerly titled (Continued on page 20) cles fear exists as to whether there may be enough pictures to go around if a substantial cut is made. Those in duals who want to continue that policy are among those who would be expected to squawk the hardest if .seasonal output of the producers was importantly sheared. It is questioned whether the pio- ducers would turn out a higher per- centage of better pictures if not making so many, whether rentals wouldn't be increased although stu- dio economies oh a year's output were effected; whether it would not be necessary to install stage shows again, etc. Fewer Cluck Pix In favor of Schcnck's conchL-Jion, looking to shorter programs, are the likely savings to studios, as well as a reduction in the number of B^s and C's now required to take cure of duals and the ability to space top talent farther apart. Due to the present necessity of getting out large programs, big stars have been re- peating in films on close intervals in many cases, that also causing ex- hib squawks. Minimized production would also relieve the burden on the distribu- tion departments of all the compa- nies as well as lower the load in ship- ping, handling and other detail. There are 10 nationally-organized distributing companies now, with Grand Nationarmaking it 11. This in itself has increased the number of pictures annually despite lU years of mergers reducing the number of national prodv',;er-distribs to eight. Also in the pa;>t 10 years .some of the companies have increased in im- portance, such as Columbia. Making only around a dozen pictures 10 years back. United Artists has stepped up to where it now is .sell- ing three times this number. This has all piled a lot of features onto the market, reducing the playdatt-s of all con>".anies but some less th!,n others. In line with Schenck'.s exhortjilion for extended playing time and ex- hibitor cooperation, also iiiged by the other distribs. many theatres are reported pushing films additional days or weeks wherever po.":sible. This is particularly true of the pro- ducer-owned chains which are sym- pathetic toward the distrlb.<; in their present predicament over shrinkage of the foreign market. Late Prodnel Deals Late incoming product deals lor Monogram include the Bijou Amus. circuit throughout the South; Jefter. son Amus. in West Texas, a Par.i- mount subsidiary; Fox Intermoiin* tain, a part of National Theatre.<i; Burgin theatres in Charlotte; C. G. Diller. of Denver and William Ben- ton of the Albany territory. Cresson Smith, who has been In the south several weeks, supervised the Closing of a deal for the RKO product with Wilby-Kincy in the Carolinas, numbering 88 theatres in 32 towns. Bob Mochrie, newly in- stalled southern division manager lor RKO. and local exchange represen- tatives at Charlotte sat in on the deal. The Newbold chain ol Ken- tucky has also signed for RKO lor the coming season. Twin City Indies Ffrht % Minneapolis. Oct. 24. Twin City independent exhibitors are having their perennial light with distributors over percentage." «nd film prices. The exhibitors, mem- bers of Northwest Allied, again are refusing to buy any products, ex- cepting Metro, on percentage. As far as Metro is concerned, they ap- parently caii't help themsielves hnd have to take four releases that wfiy. During recent years, however, they've successfully resisted per-, centage demands of other companies, except in the case of such i.solaled pictures as 'Snow White,' etc. Warners now asks for four per- centage pictures out of the eight lop group, the same as Metro. •20th-Fox gives the Twin City exhibs the op- tion of buying flat or on percentatfe^ but is asking for the same deal as last year, although the exhibs com- plain that adverse boxoffice condi- tions call for lower prices. 'Para- mount also is talking percentage, but it, too, is being bucked by the indic.<^, STORY BUYS Hollywood, Oct. 24. RKO bought Arthur Beckhard's yarn, 'The $1,000 Marriage.' Charlie Williaijis sold his "Front Page Lady' to Sherwill Productions. Producers Pictures acquired 'One of the Finest,' by Thomas Vwn Dycke and Henry Blankfort, Jr. Philo Higley and Philip Dunning sold their yarn. 'Remember the Day,' to Metro.