Variety (Sep 1942)

£4 PICT1IBE8 Wednesday, September 2, 1942 Advance Production Chart (Continued from page 22) Yarbrough; no writing credits; camera tmassigned. Cast: Edith Fellowa, John Mil]an, Robert Lowery, Jan Wiley, Pat Gleason, Jotm MaxweU. BOWEBT AT HIDNIOHT, horrorer; prods., Sam Xatzman and Jade Dietz; dir., Wallace Fox: no writing credits; camera, Mack Stengler. Cast: Bela Lugosi, Wanda McKay, John Archer, Dave O'Brien, Ray Miller, John Bcrliei, vlnce Bamett. WAB DOOS, animals; prod., George W. Weelu; dir., 6. Roy Luby; no writing credits; camera, Robert Cllne. Cast- Billy Lee, Addison Richards, Kay Linaker, Brad- ley Page, Herbert Rawllnsoa MoBOfram Fix In Prodnetlon ■NEATH BROOKLYN BBIOOE. drama; prods., Sam Katzman and Jack Dletz; dir., Wallace Fox; no writing credits. Cast: Leo Gorcey, Bobby Jordan, Huntz Hell, GabrieUe Dell, Ann GUIis, Noah Beery, Jr. WEST OF THE LAW, western; prod., Scott R. Dun- lap; dir., Howard Bretherton; no writing credits; cam- era, Harry Newmann. Cast: Tim McCoy,- Buck Jones, Baymond Hatton. Stadle B, Skerman. fflelselier .... ProBlMd Com- '41-41 pl«t«d ..a M ..9 a .. 1 1 Now bta Cattlae T* go S tl t IS* • * • ToUls 52 «• • M • Pictures in cutting room or awaiting release: AMERICAN EHPIBE, western; prod., Harry Sher- man; dir., William McGann; screenplay, Don lurtman, Frank Butler; story by Melvin Fraiu^ Norman Panama; camera, Russell Harlan. Cast: Richard Dix. Preston Foster, Frances Giflord, Leo Carrillo, Jack La Rue, Cbrls-Pin Martin. Ian MacDonald. THE PALM BEACH STOBT, comedy; asso- prod., Paul Jones; dir., Preston Sturges; screenplay, Preston Sturges; camera, Victor Milner. Cast' Claudette Col- bert, Joel McCrea. William Demarest WILDCAT, (adventure); prod, Wm. Pine and Wm. Thomas; dir., Frank McDonald; no writing credits; camera,Fred Jackman, Jr. Cast: Richard Arlen, Arline Judge, William Frawley, Buster Crabbe, Arthur Bunnl- cutt, Elislia Cook, Jr.. Ralph Sanlord, Alec Ctalg, John DUson, Ed Keane, Will Wright Jessica Newcom^, Billy Benedict Billy Nelson, Tom Kennedy, Fred Sherman, WilUam Hall, John Fisher, Abdullah Abbass, Don Barclay, Dick Elliott BOEDER PATROL, formerly BOSSING HEN, west- ern; prod., Harry Sherman; dir., Lesley Selanaer; no writing credits; camera, unasslgned. CtLSt: William Boyd, Andy Clyde, J< Kirby, Claudia Drake, Duncan Renaido. I Bf ABBIftD A WITCH, drama; asso. prod., Preston Sturges; dir., Rene Clair; screenplay, Robert Pirosh and Marc Connelly; suggested by a story of Thome Smith and completed by Norman Matson; camera, Ted TetzlaS. Cast: Fredric March, Veronica Iske, Susan Hay ward, Robert Benchley, Cecil Kellaway, Elizabeth Patterson, Esther Howard, Robert Warwick. WAKE kSLAND, drama; asso. prod, Joseph Slstrom; dir, John Farrow; no writing credits; camera, Tfaeodor Sparkuhl. Cast: Brian Donlevy, Robert Preston, Albert Dekker, Macdonald Carey, William Bendix, Barbara Britton. ' HAPPT GO LDCKT, musical in technicolor; asso. prod, Harold Wilson; dir, Curtis Bernhardt; no writing credits; camera, Karl Struss; color camera, Wilfred Cline. Cast: Mary Martin. Dick Powell, Eddie Bracken, Betty Button, Rudy VaUee, Mabel Paige. Clem Bevans, Sylvia Opert Gene Cale, Frances Raymond, Irving Ba- con, Arthur Loft Paul McVey, Donald Kerr, Lorraine MiUer, Barbara Slater, Rebel Randall, Alleen Haley, Lynda Grey, Louise La Panche, Caleb Peterson, Ks^ Linaker, Jean Fenwiek, Frederick (Hark, Lillian Ran- dolph, Napoleon Simpson, Olat Hytten, Hany Harris, Edgar Norton, Rita (niristiana, Lancelot Pinard, Charles B. Moore, Leyland Hodgson. LADT BODTOUABD, drama; prod^ Sol C. Siegel; •sso. prod., Burt Kelley; dir, William (Siemens; screen- play, Edmund Hartmein, Art Arthur; based on story by Edward Haldeman, Vera Caspary; camera, Daniel Fapp. Cast: Eddie Albert, Anne Shirley, Raymond Walbum, Roger Pryor, Ed Brophy, Maude Ebume, Clem Bevans, Mary Treen. Gus Schilling, Charles Halton, Olin How- lln. Jack Norton. Donald MacBrlde, Emmett Vegan, John H. Dilson, Harlan Briggs, George M Carleton, Gordon De Main, Frances Morris, Jack Stoney, Free. Graham, Keman Cripps, Charles R, Moore, Sam Ash, Wilbur Mack, Jack Gardner. WBECKINO CREW, action-drama; prods., William Pine and Willialm Thomas; dir, Frank McDonald: no writing credits; camera, Fred Jackman, Jr. Cast: Richard Arlen. Chester Mortis, Jean Parker, Esther Dale, Pat West Joe Sawyer, Frank Melton, William Hall, George McKay, Eddie Waller, Fred Sherman, Alexander Granach. «^ • i M(P i «n i mn •■lis O ' iB B if i D CMt a B i'Jii Fort; based on story by Cornell Woolricfa; camera, Theodor SparkuhL Cast: Burgess Meredith, Claire Trevor, Sheldon Leonard, Jerome Cowan, Frieda Ines- cort, Adeline De Walt Reynolds, Louise Platt Arthur Loft Edwin MaxweU, MUton Kibbec, George Watts, Gloria WiUiams, Keith Richards, CUfl C\aA, Sonny Boy Williams, Helen MacKeUar, Ruth Gillette, Batty Tyler, Besse Wade. Ralph Dunn, James C. Morton. PsiMMWit Fix In ProdnotlOB NO TIME FOB LOVE, comedy-drama; asso. prod., Fred Kohlmas; dir., Mitchell Leisen; no writing credits; camera, Charles Lang. Cast: Claudette Colbert, Fred MacMurray, Richard Haydn, Ilka Chase, Paul McGrath, June Havoc, Marjorie Gateson, Robert Herrick, Morton Lowry. FOE WHOM THE BELL TOLLS, drama; prod.-dlr, Sam Wood; novel by Ernest Hemingway; camera, Ray Rennahan. Cast: Gary Cooper, Akim TamirofI, Katina Paxinou, Joseph Calleia, Vladimir SokolofI, Milkhail Rasumny, Edward Cianelll, Fortunio Bonanova. Dun- can Renaido, Alexander Granach, Leonid Snegofl, LUo Yarson, Martin Garralaga, Victor Varconi, Eric Fel- dary, Leo Bulgakoff, Feodor Chaliapin, Jean De Val, Armand Roland, Dick Botlller. STAE SPANGLED BHYTHM, musical; asso. prod.. Joseph Slstrom; dlr, (George Marshall; no writing credits; camera, Leo Tover. Cast: Betty Button, Eddie Bracken, Victor Moore, Walter Abel, Anne Revere, Cass Daley, Gil Lamb, Cedl Kellaway, Edgar Hearing, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, Katherine Dunham, Walter Dare Wahl and Co., William Haade, Maynard Holmes, James Mlllican, Eddie Johnson, Slim and Slam, Louise La Planche, Lorraine Miller. PEELIJDB TO OLOET, drama; asso. prod., Fred Kohlmar; dir., Frank Tuttle; no writing credits; cam- era, John Seitz. CtsU Alan Ladd, Marie MacDonald, Helen Walker, Mable Paige, Sheldon Leonard. Lloyd Corrlgan, Russell White. Dave WlUock, John Wengral HENEY ALDEICH GETS GLAMOim, comedy; prod, Walter MacEwen; asso. prod, Jules Schermer; dir., Hugh Bennett; no writing credits; camera, Dan F<mp. Cast Jimmy Lydon. Charles Smith. John Lytel, Olive Blakeney, Frances Giflord. Gail RusselL THE CRYSTAL BALL, drama; asso. prod., Richard Blumenthal; dir, EUiott Nugent; no writing credits; camera. Leo Tover. Cast: Ray Milland. Paulette God- dard, Virginia Field, William Bendix, CecO Kellaway, Mable Paige, Clem Bevans, Gladys (Seorge. HOPPY SERVES A WEIT, western; prod., Harry Sherman; dir, (George Archainbaud; no writing credits; camera, Russell Barlan. Cast: Bill Boyd, Jan Christy, Jay Kirby, Andy Clyde, Victor Jory, (George Reeves. LUCKY JORDAN, drama*, asso. prod, Fred Kohlmar; dir., Frank Tuttle; no writing credits; camera, John Seitz. Cast:- Alan Ladd. Marie McDonald, Belen Walker. Mable Paige, Sheldon Leonard, Uivd Cor- rigan, Russell White, Dave WiUock, John Wengraf, Sheldon Leonard. YOU CANT VfW FOREVER, drama; prods, Wil- inig credits; camera, Fred Jackman, Jr. Cast: Chester Morris, Jean Porter, Barry Sullivan, iams Pine and Thomas; dir, Frank McDonald; no writ- Florence Fisher Party, columnist on the Pittsburgh Press, who has been defending Major Lynn Famol in the 'great arrow hoax' outcry, last Fri- day (29), in substantiation of 'her previous contention, stated she had 'authoritative, indiqtutable aitd impersonal' sources from whom she learned that the first story on the pictures was written way back in May and was published throughout the country by both the AP and UP feature services. . . . The original stoty was approved by everyone at headquar- ters and In Washington. It was only after the Washington Star came out on that fateful Tuesday afternoon, stating that the pictures were a hoax, that anyone since involved had any Idea , that a mistake had been made! 'The breakdown In Interoflice communlcatkm, which made the mistake possible—that is, the failure of the report on the marker investigation to reach anyone at headquarters—may be a reflection upon the Army's setup In public relations, but in no way implicated its functioning officers. . . . Hie editorial writers and columnists who mentioned Blajor Famol by name stressed that he entered the Army a motion picture press agent The smear was not Major Famol's alone. The smear was directed at one of our greatest industries and—I might add—the most generous supporters of newspapers that they have.* Repoblic Features . Wcatems Serials .. '4t-'4S . M . 32 4 t bNdeStnff-Kctares .Marlon Kerby's $50,000 'cctoplaamlc playmate" damage suit dismissed three years ago in Los Angeles Superior Court, has been reinstated on the legal calendar by California Supreme Court and will be tried again, Action, aimed at Warner Bros, Hal Roach Studios, United Artists and various John Does, Is the bacUlre of a publicity stunt for the picture, "Topper Takes a Trip.' Actress claims the studios sent out 10.000 pink letters to men in the Los Angeles area asking them to show up at a down- town theatre to meet 'a girl with a gleam in her eye and mischief in her mind.' The circulars were signed, 'Your ectoplannle playmate, Marion Kerby.' PlalntlfT asserts she was embarrassed no end by letters from angry wives accusing her of attempting to wreck their homes. Warner Bros.' researchers, when first fashioning the George M. Cohan screen biog, found the best Cohaniana In the N. Y. Public Library (5th ave. and 42d at branch) endowed to the Curator of the Theatrical Divi- sion, b^ the late Robinson Locke, editor-publisher of the Toledo (O.) Bee. Long known as a friend of showfolk. he was eq>eclally a Cohan fan. and to this day the 'Yankee Doodle Dandy* of the film hasn't seen the numerous scrapbooks and memorobllia which Locke left to the N. Y. Library. Incidentally, quite by accident did the story line—revolving around the Congressional Medal of Honor to Cohan—evolve itself to the WB scripters who had long been puzzled by the problem of finding a proper peg. William Henry Hud8on*s 32-year-oId novel. "Green Mansions,* may finally reach the screen after several false starts, as a means of promoting good- will among the I.atln-Amerlcan countries. Boole, backgrounded In Vene-. zuela, has been widely read in South and Central America. RKO acquired the screen rights several years ago, but it never reached the cameras, although $62,000 is understood to have been spent on rights, treatments and scripts. Later the yam was sold for less than $10,000 to James B. Cassldy, who is now in Bollywood to produce the picture if he can find a studio. Gives Metro Cancellation gCoBttnaed from page I prod., Sol C. Siegel; asso. prod, E. D. Leshin; dir., Rol>ert Siodmak; original screenplay, F. Bu^ Ber- bert; camera. Daniel Fapp. Cast: Richard Carlson. Marttia O'Driscoll, Frances Giflord, CecU Kellaway, Florence Bates, Mabel Paige, Vehna Berg, Francis Pierlot Fem Emmett Betty Farrington. Milton Kib- bee. Jtms. WIGGS OF THE CABBAGE PATCH, comedy drama; prod., Sol C. Siegel; asso. prod., Ralph Murphy; tur, Ralph Murphy; no writing credits: camera, Leo Tover. Cast: Fay Balnter, Carolyn Lee, Hugh Berbert Vera Vague, Berbara Britton, Betty Brewer, Mary Thomas. BlUy Lee. Carl 'Alfalfa* Switzer. THE FOREST RANGERS, technicolor adventure; asso. prod., Robert Sisk; dir., George Marshall; screen play, Harold Shumate; from a story by Thelma Strabel; camera, Charles Lang. Cast: Fred Mac- Murray, Paulette Goddard, Susan Bayward, Albert Dekker, Lyrine Overman. Phillip Terry, Jim Brcftvn. THE ROAD TO MOROCCO, comedy-drama; asso. prod.. Paul Jones; dir, David- Butler; no writing credits; no camera credit set Cast; Blng Crosby, Bob Bope, Dorothy Lamour, Donna Drake, Vladimir Soko- loff, Milchail Rasumny, Jamiel Basson, Monte Blue, Louise La Planche, Theo de Voe, Brooke Evans, Suzanne Ridgway, Patsy Mace, Yvonne de Carlo, Poppy Wilde, Ralph Penney, Dan Seymour, Pete G. Katche- . nero, Brandon Hurst, Richard Loo, Leo Mostovoy, George Givot Leon Belasco. SILVEB QUEEN, drama; prod, Harry Sherman; dir., Lloyd Bacon; no writing credits; camera, Riis°°ll Har- lan. Cast: George Brent PrisclUa Lane, Bruce Cabot, Eugene Pallette, Lynne Overman, Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams, Janet Beecher, Katharine Booth. STREET OF CHANCE, rormerlT THE BLACK CURTAIN, mystery; prod., Sol C. Siegel; asso., prod., Burt Kelly; dir. Jack Bively; screen play, Garrett Totals 1* t a 3 Pictures in cutting room or awaiting release: FLYING TIGERS, air saga; prod., Edmund Grainger; dir, David Miller; original screenplay, Kenneth Gamet; camera. Jack Blarta. Cast John Wayne, John Carroll, Anna Lee, BiU Shhrley, Tom Neal, Paul Kelly, Edmund MacDonald, (lOrdon Jones, David Bruce, Bud McTaggatt, Gregg Barton, John James, Jimmy Dood (1041-42). ICE-CAPADES REVUE, leer; prod, Robert North; dir, Bemard Vorhaus; no wrltine credits; camera, John Alton. Cast: Ice-Capades skating troupe personnel. Vera Vague, Jerry Colo nna. KINO OF THE MOUNTIES, serial; asso. prod., W. J. O'Sullivan: dir, Wiliam Witney; no. writing credits; camera. Biid Thackeray. Cast: Allan Lane, Peggy Drake, William Bakewell, Bradley Page, Douglass Dumbrille, Abner Bibermaa William Vaughn, Duncan Renaido, Nestor Paiva. Gilbert Emery, Anthony Warde, Arvon Dale, Allen Jung, George Irving, Jay Novello. SUNSET SERENADE, western; asso. prod, dir, Joseph Kane; no writing credits; camera. Bud Thack- eray. Cast: Roy Rogers, (Gabby) Bayes, Bob Nolan, Pat Brady, Themselves, Belen Parrish, Joan Woodbury, Onslow Stevens, Roy Barcroft Frank M. Thomas, Jack Kirk. X MARKS THE SPOT, drama; prod.-dir, Cieorge Sherman; no writing credits; camera. Jack Marta. Cast Damian O'Flynn, Belen Parrish. Dick Purcell, ■^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^—^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Muir, Edna Barrls, Joe Kirk, Dick Wessel. Robert Bomans. OUTLAWS OP PINE RIDGE, western; asso. prod:, Eddy White; dir., WUIIam Witney. Cast: Don Hed' Barry, Emmett Lynn, Noah Beery, Jr., Lynn Merrick, Clasrton Moore, Donald KIrke, Stanley Price, George Lewis. Bepnblle Fix In.Prodaetlon JOHNNY DOUGHBOY, army; asso. prod.-dir, John B. Auer; no writing credits; camera. John Alton. Cast: Jane Withers, William Demarest Ruth Donnelly, Benry Wllcoxon. Pat Brook, Bobby Breen, Bobby Coogan, George MacFarland. Billy Lenhart, Kenneth Brown, Sandra Benville, Cora Sue Collins. Beverly Budson, Carl Switzer. RKO-Radio PismlMd Com- Shoot- Now '42-'4S plHod IBC CaMI^ To (o Stndlo 28 6 2 9 " Westerns 7 6 • • W. Disney 1 0 1 • S. Goldwya 2 110 H. Wilcox 1 • • t J. VeUoa 2 0 • • S. Lesser 2 d • t Jerrold Brandt 2 0 • • Totals 45 .13 4 9 23 Pictures in cutting room or awaiting release: SCATTERGOOD SURVIVES A MURDER, mystery; prod, Jerrold Brandt; dir., Christy Cabanne; no writing (Continued on page 32) How Cattina To s* table on average rentals accounts of 2 31 $100, and one if the rental ranged • tS from $100 to $200. Metro Increases 1 'the leniency by upping the one-pic- ture cancellation figure to $250. Also, allowing one or two out of such a comparatively small package as eight pictures runs the percentage of re- jection away up. CanecItaUen A sales oflicial of one of the decree companies, which is selling blocks- of-five in consent sales fashion, states if an exhib wanted to buy 10 pic tures at a clip, after they had been screened and they were ready for him, he*d be willing to discuss can- cellation. This very probably will become the general attitude in the view of the action taken by Metro which, in the words of one eastern sales executive, 'wants to be dif- ferent I guess.* Twentieth-Fox is In the best po- sition at present to immediately take a contract on 10 pictures since it has screened two blocks of five each so far. However, to date they are being soM under separate contracts for each block. It was decided at the 20th eastern sales regional meeting Jump on competitors on releases, for the time being the sales policy would be to offer five films at a time. Twentieth is coming up with a third block, also embracing five pic- tures, with screening dates just set They are 'Man In the Trunk.* 'Manila Calling* and 'Girl Trouble.' which will be tradeshown on Sept 17 and Young Mr. Pitt' and "Springtime in the Rockies* Sept 18. They are for October release. In addition to the 10 pictures now on sale in two blocks of five each, 20th has screened "Tales of Man- hattan* and is selling that singly. Warner Bros, has bunched a second block, also of five releases, but other companies. Paramount RKO and Metro, have not made up groups to .follow their initlalers, in the case of *^Par and RKO being five. Par*s first five includes four that were screened last week, "Major and Minor,' "The WUdcat,' 'PrioriUes on Parade' and "Glass Key,* plus "Wake Island* which was tradeshown tbreo weeks back on Aug. 12. Additionally Par is selling 'Holiday Inn* separately. Selling in RKO includes on Its leadoff of five as a group, plus Tride of Yankees* and "Bambi' singly. In the case of 'Pride* deals call for an advance In admission scales. Whiltf decree selling ended on product for release starting yester- day (Tuesday), all companies but Metro are continuing as before. Under the so-called escape clause, if the Government failed to extend the decree to United Artists, Uni- versal and'Columbia by June 1, then the Big -Five would be free to sell 1042-43 product for release starting Sept 1 without necessity of limiting the blocks to five and tradeshowingj before sale. Balance of the decree, including arbitration, remains in force to Nov. 20, 1043, under the three-year trial period agreed upon. 15 1 • 1 2 2 2 SainLefl[owitz,WB'sN.Y. DisL Sales Mgr., Quits Added to the list of names figuring in changes in distribution during the. past year is Sam Lefkowitz, New York district sales manager for Warner Bros, who resigned Monday (31). In the atisence from the city manager, and Roy Haines, eastern division chief, he handed in his resignation to Joe Bemhard, v.p. and general manager. Reported Lefkowitz may join United Artists, although understood he has other offers. He will check out of the Warner N. Y. exchange, where he makes headquarters, either the end of this week or some- time next Lefkowitz has been with Warners in sales since 1932, having come over from RKO where he had t>een a buying-booking executive. Previ- ously he had been in the old First National distribution department $15,000 Theatre Fire Harrisburg, Pa., Sept. 1. Fire of undetermined origin virtu- ally destroyed the open-air Mt Ver- non theatre at nearby Williams Grove Park recently. Roy Rlchwine, park owner estimated his loss at $15,000, which is partially covered by insurance. The fire was discovered about an hour after a crowd of several thou- sand persons had attended a vaude- ville show.