Variety (Sep 1946)

Wednesday, September 18, 1946 PllG-PIKIDVCTIOX XEWS FEWER U.S. PIX AIDS BRITISH Krim's I^al With Arthur Lyons Opens E-L to More Indie Prod. Units Deal closed over the weekend for t distiibution by ^Elagle-Lion. of the product of Arthur S. Lyons* Pro- ducing Artists opens up to the in- dustry a new releasing agency for indie pictures. , Arthur : Krim, E-lj prexy, admitted Monday (16) that the PA deal,might presage th^ tak- ing on of further indie films by his outfit, although no further agree- ments were in immediate prospect. Factor in the arrangement be-; twiH-n E-L and Lyons' unit,. Krim said, was the excellent new; studio facilities recently-purchased by PA. Deal ealls for reciprocal use of E-L and 1?A lots. This is important to .E-L, since in addition to 10 pix of its own it must make on its lot tha first yoiir, it i? commtitted to provide bipace for six to 12 PRC pictures. Krim, who arrived in New York Monday after consummating the Lyons pact, said PA will turn over for release two pictures the first year and a minimum of two pictures each of the following two years. It is hii>hly probable, he indicated, that tht-re might be more than a duo each of the last two years. Initial films are "Prelude to Night," from Day- ton Stoddard's novel, wliich goes be- fore the cameras Nov. 1, with a cast headed by Zachary Scott, Louis Hay- ward and Sidney Greeostreet, and '■Imperial Venus," from the Edgar Maass book on ■ the- life of Pauline Bonaparte, Napoleon's sister. All the films are to be high-budgeters. New. lot acquired by PA will have nine stages. It is almost ready for Use. In addition to these facilities, E-T< and PA will make available to each other actors, writers, directors, and crew.s. Krim stressed, however, that there is no exchange of stock ownership and, aside from the re- ciprocal use of facilities and staffs, it is a .straight releasing deal. Alfred W. Schwalberg^ general sales manager of E-L, who is now on the Coast, will announce com- pany's complete product lineup early next wQSk. Krim said. In addition to the 10 pix of its own, E-L releases include the two from Lyons and five -to Ifl.fram i. Arthucllank. Goldwyn-Koch Won't Pull Punches in Pic Dealing With 'Semitism' Theme Montreal, Sept. 17. Howard Koch, w.k. film scripter who did the, scenarios for "Casa- blaiKa," "Sergeant York," "The Let- ter," among other things, told Vaktety last week that there'll be no beating around the bush in the screen ver- sion ot "Earth and High Heaven," bestselli(ig novel by Montreal author Gwethaiyn Graham on the problem of ctnti-Semitism. Koch , conferred , here last week with Miss Grahgm on several angles of the book and to help in picking choice sites for background shoot- Koch said that' it was Samuel Goldwyn's desire that the book, which has a Montreal locale, should not be distorted in the screen hand- ling, Scripter said that though this Is the first time this problem will be dealt with on the screen, he's not afraid of its getting a negative re- action anywhere. Goldwyn picked up the novel in an unusual deal, whereby compen- satioiv to Miss Graham, would be' made on a sliding scale,' depending on how many copies will have been sold by the time flicker is released. It's been decided to shoot some of the picture here, and the best .spots are. now being -picked, but it's not sure yet if the leads will have to come up hoi:e to do any scones. William , W.ylcr will direct, and Gregory Peck is set for the lead. There's talk of Joan Fontaine taking the femme lead, but that's not sure yet. Walter Huston is also re- poi'tcdly pacted. ■I'ic will be Technicolored and pudget is tentatively set at $1,500,000 $2.000.000. Raft, Bischoff Unit ■ Hollywood, Sept. 17. George Baft and Sam Bischoff are organising an iridie production out- fit, with Raft slated to double as co- producer and star. Releasing deal with United Artists is under negoti- ation. . . Currently Bischoft is producing the last reels of "Mr. District At- torney" for Columbia. Keaton Stays in Mexico Hollywood, Sept, 17. Buster Keaton, Currently winding up a starring role in a Spanish language film in Mexico City, has been inked for another picture by 1 Alexander Salkind, producer, Filming starts in February, with Keaton drawing a salary and a share ■ which releases through Warner Bros. Par Boiling Up 21 Pix in Big Production Sked Hollywood, Sept. 17. Total ot 21 pictures has been as- signed to 10 producers at Paramount, while a dozen or more«*ttopi<!6-are-in the writing mill, in preparation for future filming. Activity is the great- est in two years. Richard Maibaum leads the pro- ducers with four pictures on his pro- gram. They are "Abigail, Dear Heart," "The Innocent Mrs. Duff," "The Big Clock" and "The Great Gatsby." Three other producers have drawn three films apiece, On Daniel Dare's list are "Gather Ye Rosebuds," "Variety Girl," and "Life Is a Ton ot Brick.s," Val Lewton is readying "Instead ot the Thorn," "The Sainted Sisters" and "Make You-a Fine Wife." P. J. Wolfson is handling. "It's Spring Again," "Sai- gon" and a dramatic story, still un- titled. On Claude Binyon's program are two, "The Wonder -of It All" *nd "The Gauntlet," and Robert Fellows has a like number, "Dragnet" and "The Black Knight." Handling one picture each are Charles Brackett, :"Alice-Sit-by-the-Fire''; Harry Tu- gend, "Blaze of Noon"; Richard Blu- menthal, "Eagles Have Flat Feet," and Harry Grey, a musical, still un- titled. In the writing mill are ''Immortal Life," "Comin' Through the R.ye," "Lulu Belle," "Dream Girl," State of the Union," "A Connecticut Yan- kee in King Artliui's Court," "End of the World." "Royal Family of Hollywood," "The Storm," "The Vixen," "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes'" and "fiotany Bay." Rep. Establishes Ink Section; Clampett Prez Hollywood, Sept. 17. Republic is rounding out its pro- duction policy with the establish- ment .of a cartoon department, headed by Robert E. Clampett as president, Walter W. Arnold as veepee and general manager, Mur- ray Vosberg -as treasurer, and Roy- don Vosberg as secretary. First cartoon will he "It's a Grand Old Nag," startint! a series of six, to be filmed in Trucolor on the studio's 1946-47 program; Goldwyn's Mont'l Locale With loosening of transportation facilities following the war resulting in location crews being shipped all over the country, Samuel Goldwyn is: planning on sending, -a' unit to Montreal. Slated to leave the Coast for Canada ih a couple months, it will , make background; shots for "Earth and Hi.E!h Heaven," which goes into sludio production in- March. Pic is beini? made from'the be.st-? seller by Gvvethalyn Graham, who lives in Montreal and will supervise the location work , there. Howard Koch, wlio recently finished the screenplay for Goldwyn, was up to Canada last week to consult with Miss Graham on the locations to be shot. ^. ■ ■ ■ ■'. '... ■ mi UP mw Contemplated cut by most major producers in the number o£ films they'll turn out during the coming year is expected to pave the way for product from England and other countries to get more playing tinie in the world market. Most majors have announced that, under the new selling policies em- bodied in; the anti-trust decision, they'll concentrate on producing only top-budgeted pictures, deleting most of the B product. Stress on only the top budgeters, consequently, is expected to result in a slice in the number of films turned out by the entire industry. Production chiefs such as Darryl P. Zanuck have al- ready emphasized *he . belief that American exhibs will be forced to give extended playing time to each film in order to keep their houses in operation 52 weeks a year. It's believed likely, therefore, that the majors will also try to promote extended playing time for their product in foreign* countries. With the exception of England, however, most countries have: never played , , pix for more than a week at a time. P^.^'^^ 9^ ^11 important equipment Sperling-Bernhard Split U. S. Picts, Former Taking Over the Indie Unit Milton Sperling and Joe Bernhard, who joined forces in an indie pro- duction unit at the end of last year, decided to call off their part- nership during a series of huddles over the past weekend.. Sperling will buy out Bernhard'S interest in the outfit, United States Pictures, of the profits. first picture, "Cloak and Dagger," goes into distribution Sept. 28. Bernhard, former WB theatres chieftain, said yesterday (Tuesday) that his future plans have not been determined as yet, but that he would' entertain other propositions in the Industry. Sperling, former . WB writer, under the new setup will move: up from v. p. and exec pro- ducer to the presidency title which was held by Bernhard. G-B Theatre Men To Make 10-Wk. Survey of U. S. • !''':v?^"T"f"^!r'''!]' ^''.wM P'^'Ju'^ i U, S. Pictures is also aiming to in to New York Monday (16 on the e„iarge the scale of its production first s op of an extensiv^ lO-week activities, Sperling said Monday ° f Hollywood , (16). and will endeavor to turn out '^T.J^.J'^.,^ I than the three pictures a year and the demand for product turn- over is expected to open the way for foreign films into those situa- tions that have heretofore been filled by American product. Theory will probably not apply to those European countries that were under German occupation during the war and didn't have any Ameri- can pix for the last four or five years. Backlog built up by the majors during these years is ex- pected to fill the demand, although several of the majors have been' holding back on their oldies in prder to get their current releases into the world markePTas soon as possible. ^ Countries .serviced by the Motion Picture Export Assn. will also prob- ably not feel the bile of a product shortage, since those countries pres- | Robe," slated to start April 1, will ently get only a limited number of i occupy 11 sound stages, causing RKO American pix. Reports that the co- I to curtail some of its "B" product operative agreement entered into by I Most of the filming will be: done on manufacturers; contact a number of outstanding theatre architects; study operations' of important circuits in- cluding Warner Bros., Loew'Sj Na- tional Theatres, Paramount and RKO, and visit a number of Coast studios. Execs in party are J. M. Carson, GB sound and tele official; W. M. Cleminson, administration; W. E. Cucksey, engineering; Li W. Henton, heating: and ventilation; D. McDay, architecture, and R. Pulman, projec- tion. 'ROBE' SPILLOVER WILL CURTAIL RKO 8'S Hollywood, Sept. 17. Frank Ross' production of "Tht originally planned. Producer said tl e company will also build up its eastern scouting organization to create a sizable stable of acting and writing talent. Bernhard will continue to look after distribution matters for the company's first' two pictures, in which he will apparently retain an interest. Second, now in produc*, tion, is "Pursued." Third picture, to go before the cameras Oct. 1. is "Aspern Papers," starring Lili Pal- mer. It will be followed by "White Nights," starring Joan Crawfotd, next spring. Bernhard and Sperling leave for the Coast together next Monday (23). the majors to confine their export to 25 pix a year has not been renewed -for—thfi ifiming season will prob- ably not have too much effect, since most companies will probably not turn out that many films in any one year. , the RKO-Pathe lot in Culver City which has 12 stages. Studio will adhere to its schedule calling for 36 high-budget films, in addition to the Dick Tracy series and the Zane Grey westerns, lopping off other "B" pictures if necessary Briefs From the Lots Hollywood, Sept. 17. Sam Wood signed William Came- ron Menzies to produce "Ivy" for U-I release. In addition. Wood bought "Purgatory Street," by Ro- man McDougland, which he will produce himself, with Menzies as director . . . Al Bloomingdale moves from RKO to Columbia to produce "Petty Girl." . . . Romay Pictures rented space at Scientific Film studio for indoor shooting on "Return of Rin-Tin-Tin." ... Louise Albritton inked for major role in "Egg and 1,'* to be produced by Fred Finklehoffe and Chester Erskine for U-I . . . U-I borrowing Robert Hutton from Warners to co-star with Ella Raines in "Time Out of Mind." . . . Warners inked Ben Blue for comedy lead in "My Wild Irish Rose." . . . Harry Sherman will produce the Bret Harte story, "Tennessee^s Partner Diet" and "Social Terrors." . . ; Alan Hale will narrate "The Circus Horse,'' a short, at Warners . . , Walter Pidgeon draws male star spot in refilming of 'If Winter Comes," with Pandro S. Berman producing, at Metro ... RKO signed Louise Beavers for key role in "Banjo." . . . Third Autry at Republic will be "Robin Hood of Texas," starting Nov. 29, Armand Schaefer producer. . . Wallace MacDonald draws pro- ducer chores on "Prince of Stal- lions" at Columbia. P. J. Wolfson, Paramount pro- ducer, was handed two new chores, "It's Spring Again," a musical, and "Saigon," an adventure tale starring Alan Ladd. ... Metro is building a temporary stage on Catalina Island to speed production of "Green Dol- phin Street." Cast will -use the building for several sequences in- as his second picture for Enterprise, stead of going back to Culver City. ... Ned Sparks will play his first film role in four years in theRobert Riskin production, "Magic Town." slated to start Sept. 26, .. . . Phil L. Ryan \vill produce "{'ather Dunne's with Joel McCrea starring .:. . En^ terprise bought the Fannie Hurst story, "She Walks in Beauty," for future .filni . production . ; . Hal Wallis assigned Kirk Douglas for one of the leads in "The Beggars Newsboys Home" for RKO with Pat Are Coming to Town." . . .- William O'Brien starring. . •. . Nahcy Saun- ders draws the femme lead in: "West of Dodge City," Colbert Clark'pro- duction, at Columbia. , > Ca?t and crew of "The Home /Stretch,"'20th- Fox' horse racing picture, went on for a week at Santa Marshall draws one: of: the leads in "Wyoming'' at Rep , . , Joseph Schildkraut inked for "Will Tomor- row Ever Come." Allan Dwan pro- ducing'and directing at Republic . . ., Pc^gy Stewart drew femme load in | location Sidhev Picker production, ''Outlaws I ^"^'ta. of Sioux City;" at Republic . . I Ewing Scott, recently discharged Columbia handed Colbert Clark | f^'om Iho Arhiy Air Forces, draws production i'eins on"King of the f^f^' po.stwar director chore on Wild Horses." . . . Edgar Kennedy ''Tarzan and the Huntress," co- star^^^^^^^^^yg^^^^^^^^^^^Contin^e^^^gg^^^^^^ i MPA's Relaxing Dope Traffic Code Opens Up New Cycle of Mellers Columbia's plan to make a film showing the work of Ut S"."6overn*~" ~" ment operatives in breaking up il* legal dope traffic led to the action of the Motion Picture Association last week in liberalizing the Production Code's clause on drugs. Code amend- ment is expected to open a whole new Geld for mellers and action pix in showing the: work of G-men, T- mcn and Narcotics Bureau agents fighting the dope racket. Col's projected picture is "As- signed to Treasury," which Sidney Buchman will produce with Dick Powell starred. Announcement of the Code relaxation also immedi- ately brought from • Monogram, the. statement that it would buy "Co- caine," an original by Gornell Woollrich. It had previously con-: sidered the yarn, but passed it by because of the Code restrictions. Former clause in the Code read: "Illegal drug traffic must never be presented." The new, liberalizing amendment: adopted by the MPA board in New York states: "The illegal drug traffic must not be portrayed in such a way as to stimulate curiosity concerning the use of, or traffic in, such drugs; nor shall scenes be approved which show the use of illegal drugs* or • their effects, in detail." ' .MPA board also got a report from prexy Eric Johnston that the Pro- duction Code seal had been with- drawn from Howard Hughes' "The Outlaw." Board authorized a state- ment that "Mr. Hughes' company broke its WortJ" in using "Outlaw" ads: that were not submitted for MPA approval or were submitted and rejected. Chertok, Ent. Dickering HollywwJd, Sept. 17. Jack Chcrtok is hucidling with En- terjj'rise on a deal to join that:ptudio as a producer. ' : '. : Curl ently Chertok is putting the;, finishing touches on the Hody La- marr starrer, "Dishonored " Ladyj^ Which hedidforHuntStromberg.