Boxoffice - Feb. 17, 2014

I
I
I
Continued
Metro Paces Upswing
In Picture Making
Metro, rollicking along with 11 films
in production—busiest spell for Leo in more
than a year—is setting the pace for other
studios planning picture-making upswings
during the remaining winter months, and
again confounding the dopesters who had
predicted a midseason slump throughout
the industry. The Culver City plant, further,
will increase its present speed when,
early in March, the top-budgeted "Boom
Town" gets the go-signal with a quadruple
threat cast in Clark Gable, Claudette
Colbert, Spencer Tracy and Hedy
Lamarr.
Following closely in M-G-M's footsteps
will be the Warner lot in Burbank. which
will gun four high-budgeters during the
balance of this month and in March.
Included are "January Heights." "Brother
Orchid" and "The House on the Hill."
Paramount also has four in line for
production in the immediate future, topped
by C. B. DeMille's "North West Mounted
Police." Republic, with 20 features still
to be made on its 1939-40 quota, will
plunge into a determined drive by charting
three Gene Autry westerns to be made
rapid succession.
in
Columbia moves into line as a contender
for rush-season honors when "Arizona."
its high-cost western, goes into
,vork about March 15. The Clarence Budngton
Kelland story was shelved last Sepember
as a result of the war scare, after
m elaborate location site was constructed
'or it in Arizona. Wesley Ruggles will
produce and direct with Jean Arthur in
he lead.
Director Zolton Korda and Sabu. Indian
:hild star, have arrived from London to
)egin preparations for producing "Jungle
Joy" for United Artists. Producer Alexanler
Korda is now en route from England.
Jhooting space will be lined up upon his
.rrival.
Expected arrivals in the near future are
jracie Fields, English star, and Director
/lonty Banks, who will check in at 20th
;entury-Fox to confer with Robert Kane,
he company's English production chiefain.
concerning "Molly. Bless Her," Miss
'ields' next London-made picture.
^dependent Activity Hums;
by Roach for UA
Continued activity marks the indepenent
production .scene, which got off to a
ood start at the first of the year and has
ot yet slackened perceptibly.
Lining up plans for the 1940-41 season
s a United Artists producer, in conferices
with Murray Silverstone. UA chieflin.
Hal Roach has disclosed he will turn
it six pictures on an estimated budget of
round $7,000,000. Roach has two more
-"Turnabout" and "Captain Caution"
manufacture for UA during the current
ason. The 1940-41 slate will include
Roadshow." a comedy, and "Nomads of
le North." outdoor yarn which Hal Roach
. will supervise.
RKO Radio, adding further to its lineup
outside product, has closed a release
th Jerry Brandt and Charles Ford on
e three "Scattergood Baines" films they
will make for the 1940-41 slate. Initialer
in the series, which will star Guy Kibbee.
will go into work about June 1.
Second in a series of westerns to be produced
by Golden West Productions of
Phoenix, Ariz., is being slated for an early
start following conferences here between
Charles W. Goetz. president, and his associate,
Ted Richmond. No release has
been set. although indications are it may
go to Monogram, which distributed GW's
"The Gentleman From Arizona."
first.
Following receipt of word from New
York that the bankrupt Grand National
has reported $60,000 in assets, against
which are claims amounting to some $30.-
000. Loyd Wright, attorney for local creditors
of the old GN company, is pressing
his battle to obtain an assignment on the
GN studio here. Wright represents creditors
whose claims total nearly $200,000
against the old organization before it
merged with Educational.
Metro Paying $100,000 to
Boys Town on Sequel
In conjunction with its planned sequel
to "Boys Town," M-G-M is preparing to
turn over $100,000 to Monsignor E. J.
Flanagan, head of Boys Town institution
in Nebraska, to pay off the debt incurred
through construction of a new home. The
studio will utilize the same technicians and
artists who created the initialer. including
Producer John W. Considine jr.. with Director
Norman Taurog and Spencer Tracy
and Mickey Rooney in the toplines. James
Kevin McGuinness is developing the story.
Assigned Cagney Yarn
Lou Edelman has been assigned production
reins on Warner's "Story of John
Paul Jones," next starring vehicle for
James Cagney after the actor completes
"Torrid Zone."
SPEARHEADS
from page 21
counterfeiting combine to account for one
of the most meritorious Jack Holt vehicles
yet manufactured by Producer Larry Darmour
and one that should register solidly
with he-man audiences. Albert DeMond's
script, from a story by Eric Taylor, has a
convincing ring, having been based partially
on actual occurrences, and Lewis D. Collins'
direction is patterned nicely in the
action tempo. As usual, Darmour made
his budget stretch to the limit.
In the cellar: Metro's "The Man From
Dakota." While this melodrama of the
Civil War should be welcomed by confirmed
Wallace Beery fans and those not
too particular about such technicalities as
story con,sistency, acting and directorial
excellence, the vehicle is so weak in these
departments that for general audiences it
cannot rise above the average-program
class. Production by Edward Chodorov is
up to Leo's standard, but the script by
Laurence Stallings, based upon a book by
MacKinlay Kantor, is superficial in the
extreme; its greatest asset a sizable chunk
of suspenseful action. Leslie Fenton directed.
Wurlzel's Lineup of
"B's" Cut in Half
A number of changes have been made in
the executive and production departments
at 20th Century-Fox. aimed particularly
at that division within the Westwood
studio which turns out so-called program
product under Sol M. Wurtzel's guidance.
Wurtzel himself, wlio heretofore has actively
supervised 26 pictures annually, will
handle only 13 in the future, which films
will be given considerably larger budgets
than in the past. R. L. Hough has been
transferred from the front office to function
as his aide. Joining Darryl Zanuck's
staff as a production assistant is Fred
Kohlmar. until recently a Columbia associate
producer. He will also aid in handling
acting and writing talent. Other
changes have found Royer Hastings checking
out of the designing department and
Nick Kaltenstadler being placed in charge
of the landscaping unit.
Several promotions and changes were
announced by Cliff Work at Universal.
Milton Schwarzwald has been placed in
charge of the studio's exploitation and
musical films and Jack Gross has taken
over supervision of "idea pictures." Don
Brown. Work's executive secretary, will be
Gross' assistant and Greg Dowling. secretary
to David Garber. operations manager,
moves into Brown's spot. Elmer Grether
takes over Dowling's position on a moveover
from the property department. Marshall
Grant has been boosted from story
editor to associate producer: his assistant.
Leonard Cripps. becomes story chief.
To return to his private law practice.
Mendel Silberberg has resigned as assistant
to President Harry Cohn at Columbia
after an a.ssociation of three years. Also
checking off the lot was Joan Perry, featured
player, who had been under contract
for six years. Sam Bischoff. signed as a
producer recently, will report for duty in
two weeks. Currently he is recuperating
from an illness at Palm Springs.
Cliff Reid has been given "A" status as
an RKO Radio producer and has been assigned
a number of high-budget vehicles
for production in addition to his quota of
program pictures. Syd Fogel. assistant director,
has been named assistant to Darrell
Silvera. head of RKO Radio's property
department.
Hal Roach has named Hugh Huber executive
vice-president of the company,
filling the vacancy left by the resignation
of Frank Ross. Huber has been assistant
secretary and treasurer for seven years.
J. F. T. O'Connor has joined James
Roosevelt's Globe Productions staff as
legal advisor to the new United Artists
unit.
Pat O'Brien Will Portray
Knute Rockne lor WB
Title role in Warner's "The Life of
Knute Rockne" has been awarded to Pat
O'Brien. William K. Howard will direct
as his first contract assignment from a
script by Robert Buckner.
3X0FFICE :: Febmary 17. 1940 23