Variety (October 1952)

Wednesday, Octol>cr 29, 1952 28 TV-FIOIS PftRlETY TELEPIX REVIEWS j M M-4-H-4 444 4 4 4 4 4 44 f 4’444 f 4- f^ f-f 4 ♦ ft It 4 4 4 + 4 4- M 4 ♦ 4 4 4 44-4- 4 I 4 4444444 1 4 4 4- 44 4 44 4-4 4-44 4 ♦ 4 4 4 - 44 4 44 44 4 4 44 4 » -4-M 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 444^ FOUR STAR PLAYHOUSJS (The Lost Silk Hat) With Ranald Colman, Richard Whorf Director:- Robert Florey Writers: Colinan, Milton Merlin SINGER SEWING MACHINE CBS-TV, from New York (Young & Rubicam) The Lord Dunsany pl£y, "The Lost Silk Hat," was given a delight- ful, whimsical production on. “Four Star Playhouse" Thursday (23). It starred Ronald Colman, who also collaborated with Milton Merlin in the adaptation. Vehicle is a tongue-in-cheek piece about a proper Englishman emerging from a lush London house after midnight and discovering that he has left his topper inside. He allays the bobby’s suspicions regarding his loitering and tries to inveigle a passing workman and then a hen- pecked clerk ito go in and retrieve his chapeau. Each in turn is wary of entering the house and finds an excuse not to, despite the 10-pound tip offered. Next comes Richard Whorf, as a Bohemian poet, who finally elicits the reason for Col- man's reluctance to fetch his own lid—he had a spat with his fiancee and has vowed to join the Foreign Legion. The poet waxes lyrical about this romantic tale, with visions of Colman dying forlornly on desert sands, but he too refuses to go in. The natural denoue- ment finds Colman going in him- self, and a piano duet from within tips the reconciliation. Actually the plot is no more than an anecdote,' but it serves as the basis for some sly, quiet comedy— the verbal play between Colman and the hesitant passers-by, spoof- ing the British gentleman, the Byronic rhymster, the frau-beaten white-collarite and the suspicious workingman. It was shot all in one setting—in front of the woman’s house—and she was never seen. Direction and acting wen topflight, with careful understatement. The Merlin-Colman script was simi- larly on a high level. Production involved sock lensing, the camera’s mobility making up for the Single set. Plugs demonstrating Singer sewing machines were highly ef- fective. “Hat," incidentally, marked Colman’s TV debut. Bril. FORD THEATRE (Birth of a Hero) With Mark- Stevens, Ellen Drew, Gordon Oliver, others Producer: Jules Bricken (Screen Qems) Director: Robert Stevenson Writer: Lillie Hayward (from story by Alice Duer Miller) 30 Mins.; Thurs., 9:30 p.m. FORD DEALERS NBC-TV, from Hollywood (J. Walter Thompson) “Ford Theatre” is still in the so-so groove in this, its fourth negotiation of the telefilm route. Mark Stevens and Ellen Drew ac- cent the marquee, but competent acting is worthy of a better script. Lillie Hayward has supplied a lightweight, escapist-rigged screen- play, from story by Alice Duer Miller, that is almost pure cliche and succeeds mostly in'telegraph- ing its punches. Miss Drew is cast as a prim bank J exec in a tank town where Stevens invades her home to force her into breaking open the bank’s vaults the following morning. Before that can eventuate, she sets fire to the bedroom in which she is impris- oned and Stevens, saving her life, is nursed back to health by his would-be victim. The unknowing townsmen reward him with a small boodle which..he uses to buy a burglar alarm system for the bank.' The now here, now there roman- tic slant is supplied by Gordon Oliver, as the doctor who’s mad about Miss Drew and is aware of the plot by Stevens following the accident. End indicates Doc and the girl will be in a clinch ere long. Too bad a good cast is all but wasted on this sub-par fare. Trau. FOREIGN INTRIGUE With Bernard Farrel, others Producer-director: Sheldon Rey- nolds 30 Mins.; Tliurs., 10:30 p.m. BALLANTINE WNBT, New York (J. Walter Thompson) “Foreign Intrigue," the 1; hour mystery show, filmed abr came up with some new faces Thursday’s. (23) installment WNBT, N. Y. Lead role ii cloak-and-dagger" excursion handled by Bernard Farrel, wh the son of actress Francolse Ro Tall, dark and handsome in Gallic tradition, Farrel was i cast as an undercover agent as- signed to seize the chief of an espionage ring. But, although thesping was good, the script was decidedly compli- cated. Opening scene in the American embassy in Paris In which top diplomats discussed the problem of trapping a spy ring was vague and confusing. There was plenty of action after Farrel moved to carry out his mission. However, the average viewer no doubt had difficulty in following the proceedings since neither the identity of the spy ring nor its ob- jective was disclosed. Gitb. New York—Coronet mag will launch a series of three week- long saturation campaigns on WNBT, N. Y., using eight-and 20- second spots and one-minute plugs. First drive will be week of Nov. 21 for the December issue, with similar pitches set for De- cember and January. Agency is Grey. INSPECTOR MARK SABER (Case of the Star Tattoo) With Tom Conway, James Burke, others Producer: J. Donald Wilson Director: Howard Bretherton Writer: William Wolff 30 Mins.; 9 p.m., Fri. STERLING DRUG KECA-TV, Hollywood Fast-moving c o p s - n - robbers story benefits chiefly from a pol- ished performance by Tom Con- way as the deductive Inspector Mark Saber, who saves a juve framed for murder. “Saber" series was formerly tagged “Mystery Theatre," and initialer of season augurs well for the future. Scotty Beckett is the youngster framed, While Raymond Hatton as owner of a poolroom—tattoo shop and leader of a mob of junior hoods emerges as the heavy. Seems Beckett was framed so the gang would be in the clear when they pulled the job. Inspector Saber solves the case a bit too easily, but conveniently for a half- hour vidpix. Distinguishing feature of the program is Conway’s fine perform- ance, while James Burke is very good as his sidekick, and Beckett, Hatton and Shirley Pegge are able in support. J. Donald Wilson pro- duction’s technical credits are okay. Daku. CHEVRON THEATRE (The Vicar's Vacation) ° With Onslow Stevens, Murray Matherson, George ‘Wallace, others Distributor: MCA-TV Ltd. Producer: Revue Productions Director: Francis D. Lyon Writer: Howard J. Green 30 Mins.; 9 p.m. Fri. CHEVRON STATIONS KTLA, Hollywood (BBD&O) A sluggish entry in the “Chev- ron Theatre" series, “The Vicar’s Vacation” fails to generate much interest, and leaves one with TV Filins in Production - -- ■ - ----- as of Friday, Oct. 24 ------g- - - ARROW PRODUCTIONS KTTV Studios, HoUywood Second set of 13 In "RAMAR OF THE JUNGLE" half-hour jungle adventure tel- cpix series to resume shooting November 11. Jon HaU stars. •> Producers: Harry S. -Rothschild, Leon Fromkess Film producer: Rudolph Flothow Director: Wally Fox BARRY-ENRIGHT PRODUCTIONS On Location, N. Y. "OH BABY" series of 13 five-minute tcl- epix. To be sponsored by Mcnnen through the Grey agency, starting Nov. 1. Producers: Jack Barry, Dan Enright WM. BOYD PROD’NS, INC. 11700 Ventura Blvd.: Los Angeles Hopalong Cassidy series of half-hour western adventures now shooting. Star- ring William Boyd and featuring Edgar Buchanan. Executive producer: William Boyd Associate producer: Robert Stabler Production manager: Glenn Cook o Directors: Derwin-Abhe, Tommy Carr Exec chg. prod.: F. H. Fodor ProducUon manager: Glenn Miller FLYING A PRODUCTIONS 6020 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood Second series of 52 half-hour Gene Autry Western telepix shooting. Gene Autry. Pat Buttram set leads. "RANGE RIDER" shooting second se- ries of 52 half-hour videoters. Jacl^ Ma- honey, Dick Jones head cast. Producer: Louis Gray Directors-.' Wallace Fax, Geo-. Arch&lnbaud New series of half-hour wc.'item dramas entitled "DEATH VALLEY DAYS" How shooting. Producer: Darrell McGowan Director: Stuart McGowan GROSS-KRASNE, INC. RKO Pathe: Culver City Now shooting "BIG TOWN" series of 26 half hour telepix sponsored by Lever Brothers, Patrick McVey and Jane Nigh set lends Producers: Jack J. Gross and Philip N. Krasne Director: EL A. Dupont. Nov, 14. Helene Stanley, Patti Lee head cast. Producer: Michael Phillips Associate producer: Dan Hadzick Director: Jo Graham "ERNEST HAYCOX THEATRE" series of half hour telepix skedded for Novem- ber 18th start. Michael Phillips directs. REID RAY TELEFILMS, INC. 8762 Holloway Dr.: Hollywood "A SPORTING CHANCE" series of 13 half-hour mystery telepix based on adven- tures of a sports writer, skeaded to begin shooting November 3. General casting for all parts. Producer-Director: Saul Elkins ROLAND REED PRODUCTIONS * Hal Roach Studios. Culver City "TROUBLE WITH FATHER" series of 30-mlnute situation comedies now shoot- ing. Cast: Stu Erwin, June Collyer. Ann Todd, Sheila James' Producer: Roland Reed Director: Howard Bretherton Associate producer: Guy V. Thayer, Jr. JACK CHERTOK PRODS. General Service Studios, Hollywood "LONE RANGER" half-hour western series now shooting. John Hart, Jay Silverheels set leads. Producer: Jack Chertok Associate producer: Harry Poppe Directors: Paul Landres, Holly Morse BING CROSBY ENTERPRISES Hal Roach Studios, Culver City "Rebound" series of half-hour adult dramas. Sponsored by Packard Motor Car Corp. Shooting resumes Oct. 22. Executive producer: Basil Grillo General Manager: Harve Foster JOAN DAVIS PRODUCTIONS General Service Studios, Hollywood "I MARRIED JOAN" series of half-hour situation comedies currently shooting for General Electric -sponsor. Starring Joan Davis & Jim Backus. Producer: P. J. Wolfson Director: Hal Walker. Writers: Arthur Stander, Phil Sharp. DESILU PRODUCTIONS General Service Studios, Hollywood "I LOVE LUCY" half hour comedy se- ries sponsored by Philip Morris shooting for fall season. Cast! Lucille Ball, Dcsl Amnz, William Frawlcy, Vivian Vance, Producer: Jess Oppenheimer Director: William Asher Writers: Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, Bob Carroll, Jr. "OUR Mitt BROOKS" half-hour com- edy drama series now shooting for CBS- TV. General Foods sponsor. Cast: Eve Arden, Gale Gordon, Jane Mor- gan, Dick Crenna, Gloria McMillan, Bob Rockwell, Virginia Gordon. Production Executive: Larry Berna Director: A1 Lewis Assistant director: Jim Paisley Writers: A1 Lewis, Joe Quillnn JOHN GUEDEL PRODS. 600 Taft Bldg., Hollywood Art Llnkletter starring In a series of 104 15-minute vidpix titled "LINKLETTIR AND THE KIDS" Producer-director: Maxwell Shane Associate producer: Irvin Atkins PAUL F. HEARD, INC. KTTV Studios: Hollywood Series of 13 quarter-hour telcplca en- titled "WHAT'S YOUR TROUBLE?" with Dr. and Mrs. Norman Vincent Peale. Producer: Paul F. Heard Director: Paul F. Heard Production supervisor: Harry Cohen KEY PRODUCTIONS Eagle Lion Studios, Hollywood Shooting Red Skelton series of 30-mln- ute comedy telepix. Stars Red Skelton. Producer: Red Skelton Director: Marty Rackln VERNON LEWIS PRODUCTIONS Lewis Sound Films, 71 W. 43th St., N. Y. "NIGHT EDITOR" series of 15-minute weekly newspaper-localled dramas, star- ring Hal Burdick. Now shooting. Spon- sored by Kalscr-Frazer in five markets, via Welntwiub. Producer: Vernon Lewis Director: M. Baron THE McCADDEN CORP. General Service Studios: Hollywood "THE BURNS AND ALLEN SHOW" now shooting series of half hour comedy telepix. The. Carnation Co. sponsor. Cast: George Burns and Grade Allen, Fred Clark, Bea Benndarct, Harry Von Zell. Producer: Ralph Levy Director: Ralph Levy Writers: Paul Henning, Sid Dorfman, Har- vey Helm, William Burns DOUGFAIR CORPORATION RKO Pathe: Culver City First 18 of half-hour adventure series "Terry and the Flrates" shooting. Canada Dry sponsors. Castr • John- - Baer,- - W-HHam- Trocyv • Glorlfi- Sanders. Producer: Dougfalr Corporation Associate producer: Warren Lewis Directors: Lew Landers, Arthur Pierson MARCH OF TIME 369 Lexington Ave., N. Y. "AMERICAN WIT AND HUMOR" se- ries of 26 half-hour plx. Thomas Mitchell, narrator, with cast including Gene Lock- hart, Jeffrey Lynn, Arnold Moss, Ann • -Burr -and Olivo- Decringt- Producer: Marion Parsonnet Director: Fred Stephanl. MERIDIAN PICTURES, INC. FAMILY FILMS TELEVISION KTTV Studios, Hollywood Twenty-six half hour religious dramatic shows "THIS IS THE LIFE." Cast: Forrest Taylor, Onslow Stevens, Nan Boardman, Randy Stuart, Michael Hall, David Kasday Producer: Sam Hersh Director; William F Claxton FEDERAL TELEFILM, INC. Goldwyn Studios, Hollywood "MR. AND MRS. NORTH" scries of half hour situation comedies now shooting first 39. A John W. Loveton Production starring Barbara Britton and Richard Denning. Producer: Federal TV Corporation. Director: Ralph Murphy. FILMCRAFT PRODS. 8451 Melrose. Hollywood GROUCHO MARX starred in 39 half-h audience participation film product! now shooting once a week for N DeSoto-Plymouth sponsoring. Producer: John Gucdel Film producer: I. LIudenbaum «£££ ors ’ Boh Ewan. Remie Smith IT 5 A SMALL WORLD," starring Gannaway In a scries of 39 half-hour f uy-appcal programs. Now shooting. Cast: A1 Gannaway arid others Producer: Isidore Lindenbaum Goldwyn Studios, Hollywood "SCHLITZ PLAYHOUSE OF STARS" series currently shooting 13 half hour telepix. Different stars featured each week. Producer: Meridian Pictures, Inc. Associate producer: William Self PARSONNET TV FILM STUDIOS, INC. 48-02 Fifth St., Long Island City, N. Y. Casting: Michael Meads. Shooting half-hour dramas for series en- titled ‘‘The Doctor," sponsored by Procter Jc Gamble. Features Warner Anderson. Producer: Marion Parsonnet Production manager: Henry Spitz Directors: Robert Aldrich, Peter Godfrey. PATHESCOPE PRODUCTIONS 580 Fifth Ave., New York City Now shooting "MAN AGfAINST CRIMI scries of 39 half-hour telepix, sponsor* by „K. J’ Reynolds Tobacco Co. throuj William Esty. Ralph Bellamy heads cai Producer: Ed Montagne Production Supervisors: Walter. Ra; Robert Drucker Director: Oscar Rudolph. rjnuuuuAn xv .Eagle Lion Studios, Hollywood Series of 13 half-hour comedies "( RIER FOR CATHY" to begin shoot! REVUE PRODUCTIONS Eagle Lion Studios: Hollywood Half hour series of "ADVENTURES OF KIT CARSON" telepix now shooting for Revue Prods. Producer: Revue Productions Director: John English. HAL ROACH PRODUCTIONS Hal Roach Studios: Culver City "AMOS 'N' ANDY" series of character comedy telepix now shooting. Sponsored by Blatz Beer for CBS-TV. Cast: Tim Moore, Spencer Williams, Alvin Childress, Ernestine Wade, Johnny Lee, Horace Stewart. Supervisors: Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Sidney Van Keuren Director: Charles Barton Production executive: James Fonda Assistant director: Emmett Emerson SCREEN GEMS 1302 N. Gower, Hollywood . Now shooting the FORD THEATRE series of 39 half-hour telepix. Producer-director: Jules Bricken Assistant director: Eddie Seata SHELDON REYNOLDS PROD.’S Post Parislen Studios, Paris FOREIGN INTRIGUE series of half- hour adventure films for presentation In U. S. TV for various sponsors now shoot- ing In Paris, starring Jerome Thor and Sydna Scott. Producer-director: Sheldon Reynolds Assoc. Producer: John Padovano Director of Photography: Bertll Palmgren Musical Director: Paul Durand DON SHARPE ENTERPRISES RKO Pathe Studios, Hollywood Series of "FOUR STAR PLAYHOUSE" half-hour telepix dramas shooting. Producer: Don Sharpe "MY HERO" series of comedy-dramas starring Robert Cummings now shooting Producer: Mort Green onuni/Aon rnuu u criuiv a Hal Roach Studios, Culver City RACKET SQUAD" scries shooting hall hour telepix. PrudnuerrHal Roach, Ji\:-Carroll-Case- Director: Jim Tinllng —-WA. A All V/ & MUTUAL TELEVISION PRODi 9134 Sunset, Hollywood "COWBOY G-MEN" series of half-ho western vidpix now shooting. Cast: Russell Hayden stars with Jack Coogan, Phil Arnold, Jackie Cooper, J Byron Foulger, Dorothy Patrick fe; ured. Producer: Henry Donovan Associate , producer: Russell Hayden Directors: George Cahan, Reg Brownie VOLCANO PRODUCTIONS, INi General Service Studios, Hollywood "THE ADVENTURES OF OZZIE AN HARRIET," half-hour comedy series nc shooting. Cast: Ozzie Nelson. Harriet Hilliard N< son. David Nelson. Ricky Nelson, D< DcFore Producers: Robert Angus and Bill Lewis Director: Ozzie Nelson Writers: Bill Davenport, Don Nelson, B< Gcrshman, Ozzie Nelson W AW 3255 Clinton St., Hollywood SJx in "BOSTON BLACKIE" series half hour adventure telepix shoot In < tober. "FAVORITE STORY" scries of half h< telepix now shooting. General casting for all pictures. Directors: Eddie Davis, Sobey Mari a much-ado-about-nothing feeling wondering why it was ever made’ unless it was strictly for filler pur- poses. .There's scarcely enough meat in Morley Roberts’ original to warrant a half-hour, and neces- sary padding makes it rather limpid entertainment. Story concerns an eccentric vicar, who’s been chastened by his bishop for his idiosyncracies, par- ticularly his penchant lor fighting. Lolling in London on & brief va- cation, the vicar is arrested by po- lice who think he’s a thief. (The good man took off his vicar’s ac- coutrements in a fight just pre- viously, and won’t identify himself as a clergyman.) Adapter Howard J. Green whimsically has all this happening in Pickled Herring Street, this being the gayest touch in the thing. Vicar whips cop to prove in a complex v^ay he’s not the thief, and goes free. Onslow Stevens is competent in the lead, George Wallace is okay as the constable, and Murray Matherson good as the inspector. All this is directed by Francis D. Lyon, and he does a fairly good job, but both he and the cast have too anemic a story to work with. Technical features are okay, ex- ■ cept for-too heavy interlarding of stock footage of dear ol' Lunnon, where all this takes place. Ells- worth Fredericks’ camera work is excellent. Daku. COURT UPHOLDS TEI ON ‘FURY’ .RIGHTS Distribution rights to the film, “Jungle Fury,™ are owned by Tele- vision Exploitation, Inc., as of June 1, N. Y. Supreme Court Jus- tice Denis O’Leary Cohalan ruled last week. Court’s decision ended a legal wrangle between TEI and Regent Pictures, Inc.,' as to who holds title to the feature. TEI based its claim to “Fury” to a license received last June from the Chemical Bank & Trust Co., N. Y. Financial institution came into possession of the film through foreclosure of a chattel mortgage against Sig Neufeld Pictures, Inc., and the defunct Film Classics. After it discovered that Regent had sold “Fury” for $2,000 to WGN-TV, Chicago, TEI brought suit against the outfit. An Injunc- tion restraining further distribu- tion of the film was sought as well as damages. Vidpix Chatter Hollywood Dennis Morgan makes his telepix debut in Revue Productions’ “America’s Finest" series, telepic rolling early part of November at Republic studios, with Jennings Lung producing . . . Jerry Fielding and his orch recorded score for Mickey Rooney tele pilot at RCA Victor . . . Producer-director Frank Wisbar of “Fireside Theatre" took a turn before camera himself just before winding up current shoot- ing, will appear following show to intro stars . . . Walter Slezak drew lead in “The White Cream Pitch- er,” Meredian Pictures’ telepic rolling at Goldwyn studios, Roy Kcllino directing, for Schlitz Play- house of Stars . . . Wynn Nathan of United Television Programs and Sol Dolgin, repping Gross-Krasne, left on two-weeks sale-survey Junket to northwest and the Rock- ies .. . George Carillon is produc- ing “Second Chance,” quiz show . . . Mark Daniels replaced Hal Walker as director of the Joan Davis telefilm series, .“I Married Joan," at General Service studios . . . Dave Willock and Patricia Wright inked for “I’m You," first in new batch of “Rebound" series rolling at the Hal Roach lot, under aegis of Bing Crosby Enterprises, with Harve Foster producer-direc- tor . . . Screen Televideo Produc- tions moved from Eagle-Lion stu- dios to RKO Pathe, while Leon Fromkess' Arrow Productions shift- ed from KTTV to Eagle-Lion . . . Carl Ncubcrt cast in Boris Fetroff’a telefilm, “Twinkling Stars," at General Service studios, vidpic set to roll next month . . . Wanda Hen- drix, Jackie Cooper, Barbara Law- rence and Elizabeth Risdon are working in “Something Old, Some- thing New," for Screen Gems r “Ford Theatre" series . . . Edmund Gwcnn, Anita Louise and Tommy Rcttig are set for “Heart of Gold," next in series.