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STUDIO PERSONNELITIES
Barnstormers
Metro
Singing star JANE POWELL will leave Hollywood
May 26 for a two-week personal appearance at the
State-Lake Theatre in Chicago.
Republic
MONTE HALE wound up his five-week personal
appearance tour in Oklahoma and checked back for
his next picture, "Son of Gods Country."
Universal-International
DONALD O'CONNOR returned from a four-week
personal appearance trip in the east. O'Connor
helped launch the national security loan drive with
the premiere of "Are You With It?" in New York.
Blurbers
Gold'wryn
FENTON GRESSER, assistant to William Hebert,
advertising-publicity chief, has resigned his post
and will be replaced by CHARLES SPANGLER, independent
publicist who joins the staff as magazine
contact.
Universal-International
FRANK McFADDEN wets named assistant to Les
Kaufman, director of studio publicity.
firiefies
Metro
FRED C. QUIMBY, chief of the short subjects department,
was signed to a new five-year contract.
"Tom and Jerry in Holland" will inaugurate a new
series for the cat-mouse duo that will tcdce them to
important countries all over the world. William
Hanna and Joseph Barbera will direct lor Producer
Fred Qu'mby.
Paramount
Scripters at Jerry Fairbanks Productions are readying
a new Popular Science short which will show
the correct way to carve Thanksgiving day turkeys.
The short subject will be released early in November
and will picture turkey procurement and carving
problems since the time of the Pilgrims.
Marking the start of the eighth year of the
Speaking of Animals short subjects series. Producer
Jerry Fairbanks set "Calling All Animals" as the
first of the group for the new year,
Universal-International
JIMMY DORSEY and his orchestra were booked
to star in a musical featurette for Producer-Director
Will Cowan.
Cleffers
Monogram
Producers Julian Lesser and Frank Melford ticketed
LUD GLUSKIN as musical director for their
initial Windsor Pictures film, "Michael O'Hdlloran."
,,
"MMY DORSEY and his orchestra were signed for
Ivlanhattan Folk Song," Will Jason's musical, which
will star Phil Brito and Freddie Stewart.
Universal-International
Musical directorships went to MIKLOS ROSZA for
Criss Cross," and FRANK SKINNER for Rampart
Productions' "You Gotta Stay Happy "
Loanouts
RKO
Producer Samuel Goldvryn completed arrangements
with Columbia to co-star EVELYN KEYES
y'^.P"""^ Niven, Teresa Wright and Farley Granger
J? u ^rJ"''^®
Tenses." Miss Keyes will replace
Oa hy O Donnell, who is slated to star in another
Ijoldwyn picture, "Roseanna McCoy,"
20th-Fox
Producer Frank Seltzer borrowed KRISTINE MIL-
LLH from Hal Wallis Productions lor his "West of
lomorrow.
Meggers
Eagle Lion
'^"^'='
'''"2^'^J? "'^'=d Stallion in the Rockies"
was RALPH MURPHY. Aubrey Schenck vrill produce.
Producer WILLIAM MOSS announced that he will
""? J ? ''' about medical bunko artists, tentatively
titled Medical Hucksters," Hal Smith is scripting.
Independent
Producer EDWARD FINNEY announced plans to
begin filming "The Wreckers," based on Robert
Louis Stevenson's novel, in early summer.
Metro
JOE PASTERNAK will spend three weeks in Honolulu
doing resecu^ch on an original story idea which
he will produce, titled "Hawaii."
Monogram
WILLIAM BEAUDINE checked in to direct "Kidnapped,"
Lindsley Parson's film to star Roddy Mc-
Dowall.
Paramount
Pdcted for the directorial post on "Streets of
Laredo" was LESLIE FENTON. William Holden,
Macdonald Carey and William Bendix will star in
Robert Fellows' production.
The option on the services of RICHARD MAIBAUM,
producer-writer, has been renewed for another two
years.
20th-Fox
JEAN NEGULESCO has been announced for the
director's post on "Britannia Mews," which 'William
Perlberg will produce.
Universal-International
ARTHUR PIERSON checked in to direct Douglas
Fairbanks jr.'s next starring-producing picture, "The
O'Flynn."
MICHEL KRAIKE was set to produce "Abbott and
Costello and the Invisible Man." Hugh Wedlock
and Howard Snyder will write the screenplay.
Warners
Signed to direct "The Younger Brothers," outdoor
tale of midwest outlaw days, was EDWIN L. MARIN.
Options
Columbia
Into "Undercover Man" goes GLENN FORD, who
will hove the male starring role under Joseph H.
Lewis' direction. NINA FOCH was given the feminine
lead opposite Ford. DAVID WOLFF makes his
film debut in an important supporting role in the
picture. LEO PENN will join the cast.
Veteran character actor CHILL WILLS was signed
for a top featured role with Gene Autry in "Loaded
Pistols," in which Barbcfra Britton is co-starred. A
top character port goes to JACK HOLT.
WILLIAM BISHOP steps into "The Walking Hills"
as Randolph Scott's rival for Ella Raines. Harry
Joe Brown is producing and John Sturges is the
director.
The role of a native girl in "Congo Bill," Sam
Katzman's serial, was handed to ARMIDA Mexican
actress. Character actor CHARLES KING checked
in for a featured role with Don McGuire and Cleo
Moore.
ROSALIND RUSSELL was announced for the starring
spot in "Miss Grant Takes Richmond," an original
story by Gene Towne.
Metro
MAE MARSH, star of the silent films, vets signed
by Argosy Pictures for a top featured role in "The
Three Godfathers."
DUANE HICKMAN will play the son ol Jeanette
MacDonald in "Sun in the Morning." Richard
Thorpe directs for Producer Robert Sisk.
Monogram
New castings for "Saddle Serenade" are WIL-
LIAM RUHL, TED ADAMS, STEVE CLARK, MILBURN
MORANTE, DOUGLAS EVANS, STEVE DARRELL
BOB WOODWARD, BUD OSBORNE and CAROL
HENRY.
New castings for "Manhattan Folk Song," musical
starring Phil Brito and Freddie Stewart, are
CHICK CHANDLER, HELEN WOODFORD, GEORGE
BEATTY, GERTRUDE ASTOR and ROY AVERSA.
Paramount
A 17-year-old Santa Monica high school student,
KATHLEEN STRONG, was signed to a term contract.
RALPH PETERS and BILL CARTRIDGE were inked
for the "Sorrowful Jones" cast in which Bob Hope
and Lucille Ball are starred.
A character role in "Dark Circle" was handed
MAXINE GATES. Ray MiUand, Audrey Totter and
Thomas Mitchell are starred in Endre Bohem's production.
RKO
ESTHER DALE, JOHN MclNTYHE, JOHN MERTON
ART DUPUIS, BOBBY ELLIS and JOHN MILJAN were
added to the cast of "Weep No More," which stars
Joseph Gotten and Valli. Robert Stevenson is directing.
Ticketed for a top role in "Baltimore Escapade"
was JOHNNY SANDS. Shirley Temple, John Agar
and Robert Young will appear in Richard Berger's
production. A major role goes to ALBERT SHARPE.
MARIORIE RHODES, British character actress, was
signed for her first American picture by Samuel
Goldwyn, who has cast her in "Take Three Tenses."
British actor COLIN KEITH-JOHNSTON also was
signed.
HARRY WOODS drew the chief heavy role in
"Indian Agent," the Tim Holt starrer.
Republic
GUS SCHILLING was inked for a featured comedy
role in "Drums Along the Amazon," the George
Brent-Vera Ralsfon-Bnon Aherne-Constanoe Bennett
starrer.
Featured spots' in "The For Outpost" went to
GEORGE CLEVELAND, PAUL FIX and CHARLES
STEVENS. The cast is headed by Rod Cameron and
llona Massey. GRANT WITHERS was set for a top
featured role.
20th-Fox
Signed for the toplines in 'Trouble Preferred,"
next Sol M. Wurtzel production, were CHARLES
RUSSELL, PEGGY KNUDSON and LYNNE ROBERTS.
United Artists
RUDY VALLEE was slated for a top role in Harry
Popkin's "My Dear Secretary." Signed for a twopicture
deal by Producer Harry Popkin was HELLi.
WALKER. Her initial stint will be a top spot in
the picture.
Universal-International
BENNY BAKER checked in for the comedy role
opposite Olga San Juan in John Beck's 'The
Countess of Monte Cristo," starring Sonja Henie.
TONY MARTIN'S option has been renewed, with
the star set to make one picture a year under the
new deal.
JOE COOK JR., son of the comedian, will play a
comedy bellhop in the Joan Fontaine-Jimmy Stewart
picture, "You Gotta Stay Happy."
Warners
Set to join Bette Davis and Robert Montgomery in
"June Bride" is BARBARA BATES. Bretaigne Windust
is directing the comedy for Producer Henry Blonke.
MARJORIE BENNETT will play Bette's mother.
SANDRA GOULD draws a supporting part. FAY
BAINTER has a featured role. Other cast assignments
went to JEROME COWAN and MARY WICKES.
EDMOND O'BRIEN, Broadway and film actor, has
been placed under contract.
A 20-year-old New York actress and model, JOAN
VOHS, was signed to a long-term ticket.
DANE CLARK has been set as the third member
of the starring trio in "The Girl From Jones Beach."
Others are Ronald Reagan and Virginia Mayo. LOIS
WILSON returns to films for the first time in years
as Virginia Mayo's mother in the picture.
Set to start in "The Younger Brothers," Technicolor
midwest drama under the direction of Edwin
L, Mann, were WAYNE MORRIS and ROBERT HUT-
TON. JANIS PAIGE and DOUGLAS KENNEDY were
ticketed for top berths. Set for roles were BRUCE
BENNETT and GERALDINE BROOKS.
GRACE McCORD, 19-year-old daughter of Hcn-old
J, McCord, for 25 years head of the film editing
department, makes her motion picture debut as a
featured singer with a vocal sextet in "My Dream
'h®
i?,-,/°"''^' Michael Curtiz production. SHEL-
DON LEONARD checked in for a featured role
Scripters
Monogram
GEORGE ZUCKERMAN was inked to polish the
script of "Strike It Rich," Jack Wrather's Allied
Artists production which will topline Bonita Granville.
RKO
The script of "Outlaw Valley," first of six features
in which Tim Holt will star on the 1946-49
program, has been completed by LUCI WARD and
JACK NATTEFORD.
The script of "Stagecoach Kid," the Tim Holt
starrer, has been completed by NORMAN HOUSTON.
Herman Schlom is the producer.
Republic
LOUISE ROUSSEAU completed her screen treatment
of "Low of the Golden West," scheduled to
star Monte Hale. Mel Tucker will produce.
Story Buys
Eagle Lion
Walter Wanger acquired the screen rights to
"The World and Little Willie" from R. B. Roberts
Productions. June Lockhart was announced for the
stellar spot in the modern-day story involving a
school teacher.
Independent
Producers John Ford and Merian C. Cooper acquired
JcOnes Warner Bellah's story, "Mission Without
Orders," for early production by their Argosy
Pictures, with no release set as yet. Top roles
are slated for John Wayne and John Agar.
Alan H. Posner and Sam X. Abarbcmel purchased
a screenplay by Roland Kibbee, titled "The Birds
Are Walking," and scheduled it as their next
Eronel Productions film.
SRO
A forthcoming novel by Betsey Barton, "The Long
Walk," was purchased by David O. Selznick. Set
in the paraplegic ward of a U.S. Veterans hospital,
the entire story is told in the space of a single day
in the lives of the men and women in the hospital.
Warners
"Career Girl," a novel by Isobel Moore, was pur-
56 BOXOFFICE :
: May
15, 1948