Variety (December 1952)

20 TV-FILMS usmerf Wednesday, DecemW 24 , 1953 »+ ♦ » ♦ M f f ♦»♦»+♦♦»+» ♦♦ ♦•» + ♦+ 44 4 Telepix Reviews ft + $ 44 . + ++ M M M M 4 M ♦HffUfUH fflHH f H ♦ 4 FOREIGN INTRIGUE (Foreign Intrigue in Gold) With Bernard Farrel, Dora Doll, Lou Van Burg, Louis Mercier, others . • Producer-Director: Sheldon Rey- nolds Writers: George & Gertrude Pass 30 Mins.; Thun., 10:30 p.m. BALLANTINE BEER WNBT, New York (J. Walter Thompson) “Foreign Intrigue*’ series came up with one of its better offerings Thursday (18) in a story about a bogus financial wizard who cons unwary investors with the promise of fabulous profits. Yam sustains interest throughout, although the denouement is obvious from the start. Nevertheless, there’s a strong pull toward learning the swindler’s mode of operating and how he’ll be exposed by a forthright news- paperman, while the character of the financier and his fiancee have good color. Script, adapted by producer-di- rector Sheldon Reynolds from a story by George and Gertrude Fass, is given topflight thesping. Corre- spondent-hero role was played by Bernard Farrel giving regular star Jerome Thor a vacation. Farrel? who acquits himself nicely, is son of Gallic star Francoise Rosay (“ Carnival in Flanders,” etc.); Lou Van Burg is believable as the mod- ern-day Midas and Dora Doll lends sex appeal as his paramour. Louis Mevcier • clicks as, the barber who exposes the racket. Cast of foreign thespers registers effectively, al- though the accents (while called for by the locale) reduce the in- telligibility. Production, shot in Paris, is of high calibre. Settings of a finance ministry and the millionaire’s lush home are lavish and convincing. Editing and lensing are competent. Bril. loves her at end, despite mitiga- ting circumstances. Marguerite Chapman is the step- mother bedeviled by the moppet who doesn’t like her, and sighs only for Alannah, a ghostly femme he and only he can see, and he views her in a nearby pool when- ever he hanker? for company. It’S learned the country house was for- merly occupied by an unhappy femme who drowned herself in the pool. No explanation is ever given of the nightly manifestations, but presumably they’re done away with when the boy finally decides his step-mom is okay. This he de- cides after almost drowing himself trying to join Alannah, and being rescued by his step-mom. Miss Chapman performs compe- tently in a difficult role, and Tom- my Retfig is very good as the kid. Anne Kimbell as the governess is good in support. Robert G. Walker’s direction is satisfactory. Howard J. Green’s adaptation of Stephen Grendon’s original is okay, except for that climax. Lensing by Ellsworth Fredericks is good. Daku. THE UNEXPECTED (Ilijrli Adventure) W5th Paula Raymond, Gordon Ge- bert, others Producer: Ziv TV Director: Eddie Davis Writer: S'uart Jerome 30 Mins.; Wed., 8 p.m. IRONRXTE IRONER KECA-TV, Hollywood There’s a familiar aura to this one, hut it nonetheless comes off with a good deal of suspense in- grained into the story of a mother and her son trapped in a mountain lodge with a killer.' Stuart Jerome story is effectively transmitted to the screen, with Eddie Davis giv- ing it top grade direction, extract; ing every inch of tension from, the yarn. Plot is about a woman and her son and his nurse, at a mountain lodge.. Nurse is slain by a killer-at- large, and femme and her ill mop- pet escape into the woods. Cir- cling feverishly, they find them- selves back at the lodge. She calls the cops, and while killer is listen- ing on the upstairs extension, po- lice tell her they can’t make it un- til morning because roads are cut off by landslides and rains. As the menace is about to bump off the pair, cops show up to save them. It’s explained police lied about roads, knowing killer was on the line, and figuring., he would take his time in the bump-off if nc thought he had till morning. ♦ Paula Raymond, who is in just about every scene, delivers a fine portrayal as the woman crazed with fear. Gordon Gehert is satis- factory as the son. Murderer is never seen; his menacing presence is only hinted or shown through closeups of his feet shuffling after the two. Curt Fetters’ lensing is very good, and other technical credits are okay. Dalai. CHEVRON THEATRE - (Alannah) With Marguerite Chapman, Tom- my Rett s s, others Producer: Revue Productions Director: Robert J. Walker Writer: Howard J. Green 30 Mins.: 9 p.m. Fri. CHEVRON STATIONS' KTLA, Hollywood ( BBD&O ) Chevron Theatre appears to have a penchant for spook stories, par- ticularly if the principals involved are moppets seeing ghosts no one else can ogle, and “Alannah” falls into this category. It’s a strangely satisfying piece of telefare which moves along cohesively and inter- estingly, only to run into a disap- pointing ending. Boy’s dislike for his step-mother is built up so strongly in the drama it’s difficult to believe it when he too abruptly Cummings Assault Charge Dismissed Los Angeles, Dec. 23. Charges of assault with a deadly weapon, filed against Robert Cum- mings by Deputy Sheriff William Conroy, were dismissed by the District Attorney for lack of evi- dence. Conroy declared that when he tried to serve Cummings with a subpoena the actor gunned the motor of his car and dragged him along the pavement. Cummings ex** plained that he didn’t know Conroy was a deputy in the act of serving papers. Subpoena was involved in the $19,000 “damage suit filed in Superior Court by Mort Greene, who recently resigned as producer of the telepic series, “My Hero,” starring Cummings. Charging breach of an oral contract for 48 week’s work, Greene’s suit is aimed at Don Sharpe, whose telefilm com- pany is making the series. p Other defendants are Cummings, Mrs. Cummings and the Golden Kefy Trust. Vidpix Chatter New York Milton Weisman, Telenews busi- ness representative, ieaves Jan. 7 for a six-month round-the-world tour, to survey his outfit’s expand- ing film coverage and also to study the growth of video in foreign countries, which can become new customers for the Telenews prod- uct . . . Mickey Schwartz has re- signed as a director with Parson- net TV studios. He’ll announce his future plans soon . . . George Fisher, formerly with United TV Programs, has joined Guild Films as a district sales chief. Hollywood Hal Roach returned from a busi- ness trek to N. Y. for a holiday visit here, and studio confabs with his v.p., Sidney Van Keuren, and returns to • Gotham after the first of the year . . . Consolidated TV Sales finalize deals in 14 markets for showing of .“A Christmas Carol” . . . Hans Conried, Jackie DeLyon and Barbara Billingsley are cast in Meridian Pictures’ “Mr. TV Films in Production ;as of Friday, Dec. 19; ARROW PRODUCTIONS , KTTV Studios, Hollywood Second set of 13 in "RAMAR OF THI JUNGLE" half-hour, Jungle adventure tel- epix series shooting. Jon Hall stars. Producers: Harry S. Rothschild, Leon Fromkess Film producer: Rudolph Flothow Director: Paul Landres BARRY-ENRIGHT PRODUCTIONS On Location, N. Y. "OH BABY" series of 13 five-minute tel- epix. To be sponsored by Mennen through the Grey agency, starting Nov. 1. Producers: Jack Barry, Dan Enright JACK CHERTOK PRODS. General Service Studios, HoUywood "PRIVATE SECRETARY" series of half- hour comedies shooting. Ann Sothern stars. Producer: Jack Chertok Director: Christian Nyby BING CROSBY ENTERPRISES Hal Roach Studios, Culver City "REBOUND" series of half-hour adult dramas. Sponsored by Packard Motor Car Corp. Now shooting. „ 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 Davfs Sc Jim Backus. Producer: P. J. Wolf son Associate Producer: A1 Simon Director: Hal Walker. Writers: Arthur Stander, Phil Sharp. FLYING A PRODUCTIONS 6920 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 vldeoters. Jack Ma- honey, Dick Jones head cast. Producer: Louis Gray Directors: Wallace Fox, Geo. Archalnbaud New series of half-hour western dramas entitled "DEATH VALLEY DAYS" now shooting. Producer: Darrell McGowan Director: Stuart McGowan REER FOR CATHY" to begin shooting January. Patti Lee heads cast. Producer: Michael Phillips Associate producer: Dan Hbdzlck Director: Jo Graham "ERNEST HAYCOX THEATRE" series of half-hour telepix skedded for January start, Michael Phillips directs. FOUR STAR PRODS. RKO Path© Studios, Culver City "MY HERO" series of 36 comedy dra- •mas starring Robert Cummings now shoot- ing. Director: Les Goodwin Assistant director: John Pommer Production supervisor: Ruby Rosenberg GROSS-KRASNE, INC. RKO Pathe- Culver City Now shooting "BIG TOWN" series of 20 half hour telepix sponsored by Lever Brothers. Patrick McVcy and Jane Nigh 1q3c1s Producers: Jack J. Gross and Philip N. Krasne Director- E. A. Dupont. JOHN GUEDEL PRODS. 600 Toft Bide.. Hollywood Art Linklettcr starring in a series of 104 15-minute vidnix titled "LINKLETTIR AND THE KIDS" Producer-director: Maxwell Shane Associate producer: Irvin Atkins ROLAND REED PRODUCTIONS Hal Roach Studios, Culver City "MY LITTLE MARGIE" series of 30- mlnute situation comedies now shooting. Producer: Hal Roach, Jr. Director: Hal Yates Associate producer: Guy V. Thayer, Jr. REVUE PRODUCTIONS Republic Studios, No. Hollywood "BIFF BAKER, USA" series of 30-min- ute situation comedies currently shooting. Randy Stuart, Alan Hale, Jr., head cast. Director: Richard Irving Assistant director: Willard Sheldon 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 Leo Horace Stewart. Supervisors: Freeman Gosden. Charles Correll, Sidney Van Keuren Director: Charles Barton Production executive: James Fonda Assistant director: Emmett Emerson DESILU PRODUCTIONS General Service Studios, Hollywood "OUR MISS 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 Bern* Director: A1 Lewis ‘Assistant director: Jim Paisley Writers: A1 Lewis, Joe Qulllan DOUGFAIR CORPORATION RKO Pathe: Culver City First 18 of half-hour adventure series "Terry end the Pirates" shooting. Canada Dry. sponsors. Cast: John Baer, William Tracy, Gloria Saunders. Producer: Dougfalr Corporation Associate producer: Warren Lewis Directors: Lew Landers, Arthur Pierson PAUL F, HEARD, INC. KTTV Studios: Hollywood Series of 1.3 auarter-hnui* felonies 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 VERNON LEWIS PRODUCTIONS Lewie Qnnnd Trnmc, 71 W. 45th St., N. Y. "NIGHT EDITOR" series of 15-mlnule weeki' 1 ' ■ newsofnor-localled dramas, star- ring Hal Bnrdiok. Now shooting. Spon- sored by Kalser-Frazer in five markets, via We*ntraub. Producer: v^rnon Lewis Director: M. Baron HAL ROACH STUDIOS "AMOS 'N' ANDY" series of character comedy telepix now shooting, Sponsored by Blatz Beer for CBS-TV. Cast: Tom Moore, Spencer Williams, Alvin Childross, Ernestine Wade, Johnny Lee, Horace Stewart Supervisors: Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Sidney Van Keuren Director: Charles Barton Production executive: James Fonda "LIFE OF RILEY" series of 30-minute situation comedies for NBC shooting. Supervisor: Sidney Van Keuren Producer: Ton; McKnight Director: Abby Berlin SCREEN GEMS 1302 N. Gower, Hollywood Now shooting the FORD THEATRE series of 39 half-hour telepix. Producer-director: Jules Brlckcn Assistant director: Eddie Scata 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 FANTASY FEATURES, INC. 315 W. 57th St., New York City Shooting 15 - minute series entitled "BOBO THE HOBO AND HIS TRAVEL- ING TROUPE," musical puppet fairy talcs fbased on an original idea by Stella Unger). w Sponsored by the Independent Bakers of America. - Producer: Lorraine Lester Associate producer: Samuel II. Evans Music: George Lessncr Lyrics: Alice Hammerstein Author Sc director: Budd Fishcl Puppets by: Nat Norbert & Zuny Maud Distributed by: Mahlon Mohr Associates, Inc. THE McCADDEN CORP. C«T.n ra i Rhidins? Hollywood "THE BURNS AND ALLEN SHOW" now shooting ser!e« of half hour comedy tfileoix The Carnation Co sponsor Ca«t,- George Bums and Grane Allen. P**ed Clark. - Bea Benadaret, Harry Von Zell Producer- Rnlnh Levy Associate Producer: A1 Simon Director- Ralph Levy Writers- Paul TTennln 0 - Sid Dorfman. vey Helm. William Bums SHELDON REYNOLDS PROD.’S Post Parlsicn 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 Jeromo Thor and Sydna Scott Producer-director: Sheldon Reynolds Assoc. Producer: John Padovano Director of Photography: Bcrtil Palmgren Musical Director: Paul Durand liar* FEDERAL TELEFILM, INC, Goldwyn Studios, Hollywood "MR. AND MRS. NORTH" Series of half hour situation comedies now shooting first 39. A John W. Lovcton Production starring Barbara Britton and Richard Denning. Producer: Federal TV Corporation. Director: Ralph Murphy. MARCH OF TIME - 369 Lexington Ave. N Y "AMERICAN WIT AND HUMOR" so ries of 26 h-if-hour nix 'fhomes MiMieU. narrator with east including Gone Lock- hart. JeCfi-ev Lvnn. Arnold Moss. Ann Bum end OUm Peering Producer- Marion Parsonnet pipn^nr- F-e»i Stenhr.ni MARK VII PRODUCTIONS W-it Dioper Studio*. Put-bank Now shooting “Dragnet" scries of half- hou'r teinnjx based on actual cases from noliee files. Producer: Mike Mechekoff D’rcctnr: Jack Webb Fveeniiv^ producer; Stanley Meyer Production supervisor: Sam Ruman FILMCRAFT PRODS. 8451 Melrose, HoUywood GROUCHO MARX starred in 30 hnlf-hour audience participation film productions now shooting once a week for NBC. DeSoto-Plymouth sponsoring. Producer: John Guedel Film producer: 1. Lindcnbuum Directors- Bob Dwan. Rernle Smith "IT'S A SMALL WOftLD," starring Ai Gannaway in a series of 39 half-hour fam- ily-appeal programs. Now shooting. Cast: Al Gannaway and others I Producer: Isidore Llndcnbaum 1 Exec -dig. prod.: F. H, Fodor 1 Production manager: Glenn- Miller MERIDIAN PICTURES. INC. GoP’wvn Unllvwood "SCHLITZ oi.AYHOHSE OF* STARS'' series eu’-ventiv shooting 13 nclf hour te'enix. Different stars featured each week. Predn^pj.. Meridian Pietures. tno. Associate producer- William Self SHOWCASE PRODUCTIONS Ha) Roach Studios. Culver City "RACKET SQUAD" series now shooting half-hour telepix. Producer: Hal Roach, Jr.: Carroll Case Director* Jim Tinling SWARTTZ-DONIGER PRODS. Motion Picture Center, Hollywood "WARDEN DUFFY OF SAN QUENTIN" series of 13 half-hour films now shooting. Paul Kelly stars. Producers: Waiter Donlgcr, Berman fjwartts .Director: Walter Donlgcr Production manager: WiUiam Stephens TEEVEE COMPANY California Studios, Hollywood Thirteen 15-minute telepix of two. vi- gnettes each shooting. Casting: Sherman Harris Producer: TecVee Company Associate producer: Sherman Harris Director; William Burke PARSONNET ™LM STUDIOS. INC. 46-02 Fifth St.. I on« [eland City, N Y. Gnetlng; mi ,•*»■» ©1 Wo-uls. Shooting half-hour dramas for series en- tU'Ad "fin, iinetor." ponnsnred hv Procter Sc Gamble Features Warner Anderson f > '-oduec»- M-rion Parsonnet Production manager?-Henry Spitz Directors: Robert Aldrich. Pelor Godfrey VOLCANO PRODUCTIONS, INC. ..(tenoral Service Studios. Hollywood L .HS, l i^ A ,PY e . N T URIES op OZZIE AND HARRIET, half-hour comedy series now shooting Cast: Oz/Je Nelson, Harriet Hilliard Ne) son, David Nelson, Ricky Nelson, Don Del’ ore Producers: Robert Angus and DU) Lewts Director: Ozzio Nelson Writers: Bill Davenport, Don Nelson, Ben Gcrshman, Ozzie Nelson Greentree and Friend,” shootino at the Goldwyn studio for the Schlit? series, with Roy Kellino directing . . . Superior Judge Frank g S wain has under advisement com- plaint by Louis D. Snader asking for accounting of funds and dis“ solution of partnership with Alex* ander Bisno and Samuel Marko- vitch, also. charge of conspiracy and fraud against United Tele- vision Programs ... Ronald Rea- gan and his wife, Nancy Davis make their telepix debuts in Screen Gems* “First Born,” with Irving Starr as producer. Tommy Rettig is also cast, and James Neil- son directs . . . David Wolpcr, v.p. of Motion Pictures for Television to Gotham for confabs with com- pany toppers Matty Fox, Elliott Hyman and Joe Harris . . . Morgan Jones nabbed a part in “Friend of the People” of “Racket Squad” series, and in “Where There’s a Will,” in Ann Sothern starrer, “Private Secretary,” at General Service studio . . . Bow Hebert of Chicago, former AM and legit pro- ducer, is prexy of newly formed Bo-Mor Productions, with Richard Morley as exec producer of telepix company, which plans series in January . . . Guild Films latched onto 36 theatrical films, some pro- duced this year, for video dis- tribution. Films, British-made, were purchased by Guild and A-B TV Movies . .. . Sheldon Reynolds is prepping a new vidpix series, “Theatre International.” in Paris . , . Hugo Haas and Osa Massen top cast in Screen Gems’ “Adven- ture in Connecticut,” with Victoj* Stoloff directing. . . . John Brom- field, Sally Fraser, Joe Sawyer, Mary Treen, Charles Meredith in 85th “Racket Squad,” shooting at Hal Roach lot, with Leigh Jason helming . . . James Gleason cast in “His Brother’s Keeper” at Hal Roach studios . . . Kenne Duncan, Francis McDonald, Terry Frost, Gregg Barton, Mira McKinney, Peter Votrain, Wes Hudraan, How- ard McNeely, Rick Vallin, Fred Krone, Bob Woodward and Jerry Scoggins cast in Gene Autry tele- pix for Flying A. “Battle Axe” and “Boots and Ballots” . . . Geor?e Fisher, formerly with United Tele- vision Programs* joins Guild Films as district sales manager. Col Screen Gems Subsid Moves Cautiously On Vidpix Vs. Theatres Hollywood, Dec. 23. Exhibitors need have no fears that Columbia’s vidfilm policy will he detrimental to theatres. That’s the reassurance of Irving Briskin, veepee of Screen Gems, the Colum- bia subsidiary which is turning out the shorts for. television. Briskin emphasized that Colum- bia has no plans in the foreseeable future for feature films for tele- vision but will, instead, concentrate on the half-hour offerings. Noth- ing will be made, he added, that will endanger the welfare of the- atres. Studio is moving cautiously into the medium, he said. Any plans for expansion will have to wait un- til the stage problem is licked, “Right now,” he added, “we’re toy- ing with a device that would make it possible to shoot three different telepix on one stage. That’s thf major problem of any big studio getting into television on a grand scale. Pespite reports in the trade that Screen Gems is solidifying its posi- tion as a major telepix producer, Briskin said that not more than three series, including the current Ford Theatre films, would be made at the Columbia studio for r<d ea3 ® at the start of next season. “We 11 add one more and maybe two to the Ford series for next season, but no more and not even if we get agency orders,” said Briskin. “We now have four or five ideas on paper and* from these will h e picked one or maybe two. H, 13 possible that one of the new senes will be made at our ranch.” PHILDAN TV Eagle H<»nvwood Series b£ 13 hajf-hour comedies 'CA- ZIV TV 5255 Giinton St.. Hollywood Two in "BOSTON BLACKIE" series or naif-hour adventure telepix shoot in l)e comber. Two In untitled series shoot In December. General casling for ai) pictures TT , — Directors: Eddio Davis, So^ey Martin. Halsey Barrett. Robeck’s Distrib Tour Peter M. Robeck, general man- ager of Consolidated TV Sales, is off on a two-week tour of the dis- trib’s branches in Philly* Cincy» Atlanta and Dallas. He’ll then turn to his Coast base.. Trip .ows a two-week stay in N. Y. con- abbing with eastern sales topP er