Variety (Dec 1942)

to PICTURES Wednesday, December 2, 1942 Advance Production Chart (Continued from pag« 16) fhirley, Barton MacLane, Eddie Albart, Walter Reed, ohn Miljan. I WALKED WITH A ZOBIBIE, horrorer; prod., Val Lcwton; dir., Jack Tourneur; no writing credits; cam- era, Roy Hunt. Cast: Frances Dee, Tom Conway, James Ellison, Edith Barrett, Richard Abrams, Theresa Harris. THIS LAND IS MINE, drama; Jean Renoir Dudley production; dir., Jean Renoir; no writing credits; cam- era, Frank C. Redman. Cast: Charles Laughton, Mau- reen O'Hara, George Sanders, Walter Slecak, Philip Merivalc, Nancy Gates, Una O'Connor. 2(hh Century-Fox FromlAed Com- ■4«-'4S pirled Features 46 23 §boot- OattlB* To to Pictures in cutting room or awaiting release: CHINA GIRL, drama; prod., Ben He^t; dir.. Hairy Hathaway; original screenplay, Ben necht; camera, Lec Garmes. Cast: George Montgomery, Oene nemey, Myron McCormick, Osa Massen. MT FRIEND FLICKA, drama In Technicolor; prod, Ralph Dietrich; dir., Harold Schuster; np writing credits; camera, unasslgned. Cast: Roddy McDowall, Preston Foster, Rita Johnson. LIFE BEGINS AT 8:3«, drama; prod., Nunnally John- son; dir., Irving Plchel; no writing credits; camera, > Charles Clarke. :ast:. Monty Woolley, Ida Luplno, John Shepperd. OVER MT DEAD BODT, mystery comedy; prod., Walter Morosco; dir., Mai St. Clair; no writing credits; camera, Lucien Andriot. Cast: Milton fierle, Mary Beth Hughes, Jill Warren, Reginald Denny, Wonderful Smith. QUIET, PLEASE, MDRDEB; mystery; prod., Ralph Dietrich; dir., John Larkin; original screen play, John Larkin; camera. Glen MacWillia'ms.. Cast: George San- ders, Gail Patrick, Lynne Roberts, Sidney Blackmer. MARGIN FOR ERROR, drama; prod., Ralph Diet- rich; dir., Otto Preminger; screen play, UUIle Hayward; original play, Claire Booth; camera, Lucien AndrloL Cast: Milton Berle, Otto Preminger, Joan Bennett. CHETNIKS, formerly THE SEVENTH COLUMN, drama; prod., Sol M. Wurtzel; dir., Louis King; no writ- ing credits; camera. Glen MacWilliams. Cast: Philip Dorn, Anna Sten, Virginia Gilmore, John Shepperd, Merrill Rodin. DIXIE DUGAN, comedy drama; prod., Walter Mo- rosco; dir., Ray McCarey; no writing credits; camera, Peverell Marley. Cast: Lois Andrews, Oh^es Ruggles, Charlotte Greenwood, Ann Todd, James EUlson, Ray- mond Walbum. CRASH DIVE, submarine; prod., Milton Sperling; dir., Archie Mayo; no writing credits; oameri, Leon Shamroy. Cast: Tyrone Power, Anne Baxter, James Gleason, Charles Grapewin. SECRET MISSION, commando; prod., Andre Daven; dir., John Brahm; screenplay, Waldo Salt; camera, Lucien Ballard. Cast; Annabella, John Sutton, Beulah Bondi, Leo J. Cobb, Blanche Yurka. IMMORTAL SERGEANT, war; prod-Lamar TrotU; dir., John Stahl; screenplay, Lamarr notti; Monera, Arthur Miller. Cast: Henry Fonda, Maureen (?Bar«, Thomas Mitchell, Reginald Gardiner, BriUnwell Fletcher, Melville Cooper, Morton Lowry. 2<Hh-Fex Fix in Prodnetlea HELLO, FRISCO, HELLO, musical in Technicolor; prod., William Perlberg; dir., H. Bnica Humberstone; no writing credits; camera, CharlM Clarke and Allen Davey. Cast: AUqc Faye, John Payne, Jack Oakie, Lynn Bari, Laird Cregar, June Havoo, Ward Bond. THE MOON is DOWN, drama; proiL, Nunnally Johnson; dir., Irving Pichel; nowrittbg mdnai camera, Arthur Miller. Cast: Sir Cedrio HaMwicke. Henry Travers, Doris Bowden, Lee J. Cobb, Henry Rowland, E. J. Ballantlne, William Post, Jr. CONEY ISLAND, musical, in T^hnlcolor; prod., William Perlberg; dir., Walter Lang: scrMDplfgr, Q*oW Seaton; camera, Ern^t Palmer. Cast; fisity Grable, George Montgomery, Cesar Romero, Fnll iQvera, Frank Orth. United Artists Fromljied Com- Sboot- '42-'43 pirtcd Roach 8 1 Cagney • 0 Korda 1 • Balcon i t L.tsser 1 o Loew-Lewin 1 • Pressborger Z 0 Stromberg 8 • Benny 0 0 D, O. Selznlck.... • • Maytair 1 0 Sherman M • Rogers 1 0 Cinema Gnlld..,. 8 A T Hon Ootynf To go 0 0 i 1 ToUb 38 I 8 16 12 Pictures In cutting room or awaiting release: THE McGVERINS FROM BROOKLni, formerly BROOKLYN BRIDGET, drama; prod.. Hal Roach; dir.. Kurt Neumann; screenplay, Earle SnelL Clarence Marks; camera, Bob Pittack. Cast: Arlbie Judgf, Wil' Ham Bendix, Max Baer, Joe Sawyer,. Grace Bradley, Marjorie Woodsworth, Veda Ann Borg. THE MOON AND SIXPENCE, drama; prod., Oavld L. Loew; dir. Albert Lewin; screen play, Al LewJn; camera, John Seltz. Cast: George Sanaers, Hejhert Marshall, Eric Blo^e, Doris Dudley, Horence Bates. Steve Geray, Irene Tedrow, Devi Dja Javanese Troupe. CALABOOSE, western; prod., Glenn Xiyon (Hal Roach); dir., Hal Roach, Jr.; no writing credits; camera, unasslgned. Cast: Jimmy Rogers|, Noah Beery, Jr, Mary Brian, Marc Lawrence, Paul Hurst TAXI, itlSTEB, drama; prod, Fred Oulol; dlr, Kurt ' Neumann; screen play, Earle Snell, Clarence Marks; §amera, Robert Pittack. Cast; William Bendix, Grace Iradley, Joe Sawyer, Sheldon Leonard, Jack Nor^n. FALL IN, army series; prod., Fred Guiol; dir., Kurt Neumann; no writing credits; camera, Robert Pittack. Cast: William Tracy, Joe Sawyer, Jean Porter, Arthur Hunnicutt, Robert Barrat, Rebel Randall. TANKS AHOT, army; prod., Fred Quiol; dir., Kurt Neuman; screenplay, Eugene Conrad and Ned. Sea- brook; camera Robert Pittack. Cast: William Tracy, Joe Sawyer, Marjorie Woodsworth. VHE POWERS GIRLS, drama; prod.. Charles Rogers; dir., Norman Z, McLeod; no writing credits; camera, Stanley Cortez. Cast: Carole Landls, George Murphy, Dennis Day, Anne Shirley. Powers Models. DEVIL WITH HITLER, comedy; prod, Glenn Tryon; dir., Gordon Douglas; screen play, Al Martin; camera, Robert Pittack. Cast: Alan Mowbray, Bobby Watson, George E. Stone, Marjorie Woodcvorth. NAZTY NUISANCE, comedy; prod.-dlr., Glenn Tryon; screen play, Earle Snell and Clarence Marks; camera, Robert Pittack. Cast: Bobby Watson. Joe Dev^ lin, Johnny Arthur, Jean Porter. Ian Keith, Henry Vic tor. PRAIRIE CHICKENS, comedy drama; prod, Fred Guiol; dir., Hal Roach, Jr.; screen play. Arnold Del- 5ard and Earle Snell; camera, Robert Pittack. Cast: immy Rogers, Noah Beery, Jr., Joe Sawyer, Jack Nor- ton, Raymond Hatton, Rosemary La Plancne. YOUNG AND WILLING, drama; prod.-dir.. Ed- ward H. Griffith; screen play and camera, uncredited. Cast: William Holden, Eddie Bracken. Susan Hayward, Robert Benchley. BORDER PATROL, formerly HISSING MEN, west em; prod, Harry Sherman; dir, Lesley Selander; nu writing credits; camera, unasslgned. Cast: William Boyd, Andy Clyde, J. Kirby, Claudia Drake, Duncan Renaldo. I MARRIED A WITCH, drama; asso. prod., Prescon Sturges; dir, Rene Clair; screenplay, Robert Plrosh and Marc Connelly; suggested by a story of Thome Smith and completed by Norman Matson; camera, Ted Tetzlaff. Cast: Fredric March, Veronica Lake, Susan Hayward, Robert Benchley, Cecil Kellaway, Elizabeth Patterson. Esther Howard, Robert Warwick. SILVER QUEEN, drama; prod.,'Harry Sherman; dir., Lloyd Bacon; no writing credits; camera, Russell Har- lan. Cast: George Brent, Priscilla Lane, Bruce Cabot, Eugene PaUette, Lynne Overman, Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams, Janet Beecher, Katharine Booth, THE CRYSTAL BALL, drama: asso. prod., Richard Blumenthal; dir, Elliott Nugent; no writing credits; camera, Leo Tover. Cast: Ray Milland, Paulette God- dard, Virginia Field, William Bendix, Cecil Kellaway. Mable Paige, Clem Bevans, Gladys George. HOPPT SERVES A WRIT, western; prod., Harry Sherman; dir., George Archainbaud; no writing credits; camera, Russell Harlan. Cast: Bill Boyd, Jan Christy, Jay Kirby, Andy Clyde, Victor Jory, George Reeves. AMERICAN EMPIRE, western; prod., Harry Sher- man; dir., William McGann; screenplay, Don Hartman, Frank Butler; story by Melvin Frank, Norman Panama; camera, Russell Harlan. Cast: Richard Dix, Preston Foster, Frances Giflord, Leo Carrillo, Jack La Rue. Chris-Pin Martin, Ian MacDonald. United AiUsto Plz in ProducUon UNCONQUERED, romantic drama; Arnold Press- burger; prod.-dir., Fritz Lang; original story, Fritz Lang and Berthold Brechet; screenplay, Fritz Lang and John Wexley; camera, James Wong Howe. Cast: Brian Donlevy, Walter Brennan, Anna Lee, Dennis CKeefe, Margaret Wycherley, Nana Bryant. Alexander Granach, Billy Roy, Hans Twardowski. MEET JOHN BONNIWELL, Harry Sherman produc- tion; western; asso. prod., Russell Harlan; dir., George Archainbaud; no writing credits; camera, Glenn Cook. Cast: Richard Dix, Jane Wyatt, Albert Dekker, Victor Jory, Francis BCacDonald, Douglas Fowley, Bobart Cavanaugh, Eddie Waller. STAGE DOOR CANTEEN, drama; prod, Sol Lesser; dir., Frank Borzage; original screenpl^, Delmer Daves: camera, Harry Wild. Cast: William W. terry. Cheryl V^lker, Marjorie Riordan, Lon McCallister, Fred Brady, Dorothea Kent, Margaret Early, Michael Har- rison, Katharine Cornell, Katharine Hepburn, Edgar Bergen, Kay Kyser, Gertrude Lawrence, Helen Hayes. Inside Stuff-Pictures "King of the Circus,' acquired for distribution In this country by Astor Pictures from Gregory Ratoff, was produced in England about five years ago. It was released at that time in England by Paramotmt. but had never been aold on this side. RatofT appears in the picture, together with John Loder, Benita Hume, Katherine Sergava and Richard Bennett Monty Banks directed the film from a story by Ratoll. Astor, offering two pictures a month now, will place "King of the Cir> cus' on release Dec. 26. With Warner Bros, having only one release for December, the com- pany is reissuing 'Varsity Show,' giving It the general release date of Deo IB. Single new season's picture that will be available Dec. S Is "Flyina Fortress.' * •Varsity Show,' made in 1937, has Fred Waring's orch, Dick Powell Johnny (Scat) Davis, Walter Catlett^and' the Buck-Bubbles team In the cast. Cuba Is apparently worse of? than is Mexico with regard to raw film. Some of the leading Cuban pic producers have requested producers In Mexico to let them have enough raw material to finish pictures they have started, among them a biog of Jose Marti, the great Cuban patriot. Mexi- can producers are seeing what they can do about accommodating their island republic colleagues. Understood Monogram is holding back its release on 'Silver Skates' to avoid competition with Republic's skating feature, 'Ice Capades.' Product of both companies usually is exhibited in the same theatres. Monogram originally aimed to send 'Skates' into distribution during the winter months but is holding off until March. Uniyersal PramlMd Cob- Bhaet- Kow 'it-'*3 plet«d las Cnttlnf To co Feaiurea M 14 8 0 - 18 Serials 4 2 8 10 Westerns 7 2 • 8 • An amusing story making the rounds in the trade is that concerning a foreign-made picture, just recently reissued with few changes from its original 1931 version. Film is currently playing in N. Y, after a little difficulty with the Hays office, but it's substantially the same production released about 11 years ago. In it a white woman is saved from a wreck by natives of Australia. Original script writer still Is waiting for his check for doing the job on this picture, and is reported considering seeking coin for his scripting, even at this late date. Scarcity of chewing gum, even in armed forces. Is bringing back the practice of chewing tobacco, housecleaning staffs of theatres are report- ing with alarm. Variety's expose of the zoot-suit menace called to police attention by theatre managers in scores of towns with reported excellent results. Tetals 61 18 8 6 18 Pictures in cutting room or awaiting release; - EYES OF THE UNDERWORLD, formerly DESTINY, melodrama; asso. prod., Ben Pivar; dir, Roy William NeUl; screenplay, Michael L. Simmons and Arthur Strewn; based on an original story by Maxwell Shane; camera, George Robinson. Cast: Richard Dix, Wendy Barrie, Don Porter, Billy Lee, Lloyd Corrigan, Lon Chaney. MADAME SPY, mystery; asso. prod., Marshall Grant; dir, Roy William Neil; screenplay, Lynn RIggs and Clarence Upson Young; original story, Clarence Upson Young; camera, George Robinson. Cast: Constance Bennett, Don Porter, John Lltel, Edward S. Brophy, John Eldredge, Nana Bryant. THE GREAT IMPBRSONATION, drama; asso. prod., Paul Malvem; dir, John Rawlins; screen play, W. Scott Darling, based on novel by J. Phillips Oppenheim; camera, George Robinson. Cast: Ralph Bellamy, Eve- lyn Ankers, Kaaron Verne, Edward Norrls, Charles Colman, Henry Daniel, Audrey Mathor, Mary Forbes. BEHIND THE 8 BALL, formerly OFF THE BEATEN TRACK, musical comedy: asso. prod., Howard Bene- dict; dir., Edward F. Clme; screen play by Stanley Roberts and Mel Ronson; original story, Stanley Rob- erts; camera, George Robinson. Cast; Ritz Brothers, Carol Bruce, Dick Foran, Grace McDonald, Johnny Downs, William Demarcst, Sonny Dunham and his or- chestra. SHERLOCK HOLMES IN WASHINGTON, meUer; asso. prod, Howard Benedict; dir., Roy William NeUI; screen play, Bertram Millhauser, Lynn Riggs; original story, Bertram Millhauser, based on the characters cre- ated by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; camera, Lester White. Cast: Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Marjorie Lord, John Archer, Don Terry, George Zucco, Henry Danleil, Ed- mund MacDonald. IT COMES UP LOVE, formerly ON THE BEAM, comedy drama with songs; asso. prod. Ken Goldsmith: dir., Charles Lament; screenplay, Dorothy Bennett, Charles Kenyon; suggested by a storv by Aleen L^lie and Jay Dratler; camera, George Robinson. Cast: Gloria Jean, Ian Hunter, Donald O'Connor. Louise Albritton, Frieda Inescort, Charles Coleman. CHEYENNE ROUNDUP, outdoor adventure; asso. prod., Oliver Drake; dir., Ray Taylor; screen play, Elmer Clifton and Bernard McConvllle; original story, Elmer Clifton; camera, William Slckner. Cast: Johnny Mack Brown, Tex Ritter, Fuzzy Knight, Jennifer Holt, Jimmy Wakeley Trio. RAIDERS OF SAN JOAQUIN, western; asso prod, Oliver Drake; dir, Lewis D. Collins; screen play, Elmer (Continued on page 22) Showfolk's Heroisnl Continued from page 1 safest theatre In the country—yet somebody had built the doors open- ing inward. When firemen finally chopped entrances Into the theatre, the dead were found pathetically plied up against doors that they were never able to open. Foy never got over the Iroquois Are. He shuddered whenever he heard a fire engine. Another great performer, Kate Claxton, was cast in a heroine's part when fire burned out the Brooklyn (also known as Conway's) theatre In Brooklyn, N. Y., Dec. 5, 1878. Some 295 lost their lives In that blaze, but only after one man yelled, 'It's time for us to run.' Until that time Miss Claxton, appearing in "The Two Orphans,' had managed to keep the audience quiet Holding the stage by herself, she asked the patrons to flje out quietly. Had not that one man become panic-stricken, not a life would have been lost. There were other terrible show biz fires. The Rhodes Opera House, Boyertown, Pa., burned March 4, 1908, resulting in 169 deaths. The Laurler Palace theatre, Montreal, went ablaze Jan. 9, 1927. and the toll there was 76 dead. Closest parallel to the Boston fire took place April 23, 1940, when the Rhythm Night Club, of Natchez, Miss., a nocturnal playground for Negroes that had been converted from a wooden blacksmith's shop, went up Uke tinder and 198 were killed. In the Boston blaze, show business can add to the honor roll: Eddie Pierce, of the da»ic« feom o/ Pierce and (Dorothy) Rolond, who hoisted eight companions to the roof. From there they were able to leap to safety. Mickey Alpert, band leader and m.c, who, despite poin/ul bums that later sent htm to a hofpital, repeat- edly entered the bumino buildinp and assisted guests to safety. Marshall Cook, 19-weor-old chorus boy, who raced up a flame-choked stairway to dressing rooms on the second floor and led girl entertainers to a window from which they were able to reach the roof of the adjoin- ing building, reaching the street via a too-short ladder held by Cook and another chorus boy. Jackie McGregor, girl dancer, who led a group of other girls through choking smoke to a unndow on the street floor and directed firemen to an upper dressing room where three companions toere trapped. Frank Belzarine, heodujoiter at the club, who ranks posthumotuly as probably the outstanding hero of the disaster. Repeatedly he faced the licking flames to drag the uncon- scious forms of men and women to the sidewalk. There he himself final- ly collapsed and died. TOUGH TO GET ETRAS, ALSO Hollywood, Dec. 1. Old runnery system revived by Central Casting to obtain necessary number of extras for studio calls, due to drain on certified extra reservoir by army calls and rush to defense plants. One University of Southern Cali- fornia student disclosed he was paid 35c per head for rounding up studes to work as soldiers In 'Private Miss Jones' at Metro. Soldier calls getting increasingly difficult as Screen Actors Guild un- able to provide sufficient number of supes young enough to pass as draft- ees. CoUeglates paid regular $10.30 daily scale. NO NEW FOX NEWSREE THEATRE IN MILWAUKEE Milwaukee. Dec. 1. . Work upon the new Fox news- reel theatre, which was being con- verted from a downtown mercan- tile building, has been stopped and is not likely to be resumed until after the war, although the pUn was to use the new house for propaganda purposes. The WPB authorization granted In Washington on Sept. 7, and upon which a building permit v.-as issued, has been withdrawn, due to a reduc- tion in the amount of new materials permitted to go into a remodeled structure, even though salvage mate- rials were being used for the major portion of tfre Job. There had been a number of squawks locally on the project since other theatre prop- erties are available but not in use. Wanger's Texas Shooting College Station, Dec. 1. Actual shooting of Walter Wang- er's 'We've Never Been Licked,' which will show Texas A, & M. Col- lege's contribution to the present war effort through Its contribution of 7,000 officer graduates now in the arnved forces. Is now under way here. Filming is under the direc- tion of director John Rawlins, and assistant directors Fred Frank and William Holland. Male leads in the production are Richard Quine and Noah Berry, Jr.; fcmme stars here are Anne Gwynne and Martha O'Driscoll. Shooting will continue for several more weeks with about 90% of the filming to be done here.