Boxoffice-September.23.1950

—
TV and Film Directors
Argue Jurisdiction
HOLLYWOOD — Rapid-fire developments
highlighted jurisdictional disputes on the
video front.
The Screen Directors Guild was the target
of a complaint filed with the National Labor
Relations Board regional office here by the
Radio and Television Directors Guild, charging
the SDG is "employer-dominated" and is
guilty of unfair labor practices.
At the same time it was reported from New
York that a long-standing jurisdictional
argument between the Screen Actors Guild
and Television
Authority had been amicably
settled, with TV withdrawing an NLRB
petition seeking to be named bargaining
agent for actors appearing in televised films.
The Screen-Radio and Television Directors
Guild hassle involves the SDG's recent request
for designation as bargaining representative
for TV directors and floor managers
employed in local video outlets. The radiotelevision
guild contends it had already begun
negotiations several months ago on behalf of
such TV personnel for contracts and that
such negotiations were halted by the SDG's
"unfortunate" intervention.
Both organizations are APL affiliates.
• * •
Spurred by a Federal Communications commission
disclosure tentatively approving the
CBS "field sequential" color system, Jerry
Fairbanks has scheduled early production of
color television films. The commercial and
video film producer will begin lensing spot
announcements and TV packages for colorminded
clients in Kodachrome and Anscocolor.
Lindsley Parsons Sets Up
Schedule on Eight Films
HOLLYWOOD — Lindsley Parsons, Monogram
producer, has set up starting dates on
eight of his pictures scheduled to roll during
the next nine months. William F. Broidy
will be affiliated with him as associate producer
on five of the films—three James Oliver
Curwood northwoods adventure stories and
two musicals.
First picture on Parsons' schedule is "Fangs
of the North," one of the Curwood stories,
which went before the cameras Tuesday (19).
Other films based on Curwood yarns and
their starting dates are "Northwest Patrol" in
March and "Yukon Manhunt" in June.
The two musicals, "Rhythm Inn" and
"Casa Manana," will go into production October
4 and January 15, respectively.
Also on Parsons' agenda are "Trail Dust,"
to star Wayne Morris and set to go November
1; "Submarine Patrol," which gets the green
light May 10, to be made with the help of
the navy at New London, Conn., and the
"Ottawa Story," to be made in April with the
cooperation of the Canadian government.
'South of Singapore' Set
HOLLYWOOD—Added to the Eagle Lion
Classics distribution lineup was "South to
Singapore," action melodrama to star Rod
Cameron and Forrest Tucker and to be produced
by J. Barrett Mahon. Filming is slated
to get under way in November with Bernard
Szold directing.
WELCOME
news t» both Hollywood
and thousands of exhibitors was the
announcement that veteran Producer
Harry Sherman is soon to be back in action.
Known affectionately as "Pop" to hundred.s
of Cinemania toilers—actors and technicians
alike, men and women who have worked
with him for many years—Sherman's return
to the active production front will mean
employment for many people, and at a time
when work is scarce.
To the exhibition field it will mean another
source—and a long-since proven one
of product which, judging by "Pop's" lengthy
and admirable record of past performances,
can mean only profits for the showmen who
book his films.
As tradepaper news columns have already
revealed, Sherman's plans provide for the
manufacture of 50 pictures during the next
five years at the rate of ten annually. The
yearly output wiU comprise four top-budgeters,
tw^o of them in Technicolor, and six
westerns—also in Technicolor—which latter
W'ill be based on the "Hash Knife Hartley"
novels by William C. Tuttle. A new western
star will be created for the lead in the "Hash
Knife" series, and Sherman has signed
George "Gabby" Hayes for the top character
role.
Prominent in Sherman's reactivated schedule
is Neil Agnew, who will function as sales
supervisor. Distribution of the 50 pictures
will be handled through Eagle Lion Classics,
thus canceling a tentative deal whereby
Sherman had planned to produce for United
Artists.
In associating himself with Agnew, Sherman
places in his corner one of the industry's
most experienced and best-liked distribution
executives, a man well qualified to take
full advantage of ELC's effective and expanding
distribution setup.
So, from any perspective, it appears a
happy and promising arrangement for all
concerned, one to which Hollywood voices a
unanimous "Good luck!"
Leo's might must manifest itself.
Independent Producer William Cagney has
scheduled an opus titled "Two Soldiers," but
MOM'S future production slate lists "Soldiers
Three."
The AT&T cycle continues in full cry.
Twentieth Century-Fox had its "Call Northside
777," Paramount its "Sorry, Wrong Number."
Being readied for early release are
MGM's "Dial 1119" and Monogram-Allied
Artists' "Southside 1-1000."
Which should make it about time for Lippert
Productions to announce "Deposit Ten
Cents for Three Minutes, Please." And if
Murray Lerner, the veepee, personally produces,
the title could be changed to "If a
Man Answers, Hang Up."
Intelligence from Mori Goodman reports
that it was necessary to almost empty a local
cigar factory to obtain the props when 20
Cuban cigar rollers were hired for a sequence
in an opus called "Cuban Fireball."
Considering the number of politicians regularly
employed on the Republic lot, the
props should have been available from executive
pockets.
The Rubine-Irving, that i.s—contributes a
Cinderella tidbit about one Adam William,
24-year-old Broadway actor who for the past
SIX months has been assistant fountain manager
at a Thrifty drugstore. Said William,
Rubine reports, has been signed to make his
film debut in Producer Robert Stillman's
a Day."
Queen for
At Thrifty's lunch counter or on Stillman's
movie set, it's ham on rye.
Apropos of the aforementioned "Pop" Sherman,
another film-making veteran is reportedly
preparing to get back into action.
Charles K. Rogers is readying to launch a
group of pictures and has announced as his
first venture "The Son of Dr. Jekyll," a
sequel to the original "Dr. Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde."
Now Universal-International can reissue
"Dracula's Daughter" to make available another
dual horror bill. And some ambitious
independent will probably discover any minute
that Mr. Hyde, too, had a progeny.
Lou Lifton, who thumps a tub—other than
Sandy Abrahams — for Monogram, reveals
that Producer Lmd.sley Parsons is making an
actioner y-clept "Fangs of the North."
Suggested to exploit the opus: Spot announcements
following Bob Hope's radio
show. "Fangs for the Memory," ya know!
Howard Strickling's MOM rover boys permit
their imagination to run riot with a
morsel about a group of extras working in
"The Great Caruso" who, it is alleged, were
so spellbound by the voices of Mario Lanza.
Dorothy Kirsten and other operatic stars
appearing in the picture that they declined
to leave the stage when not required for
scenes.
"We should be paying for the privilege,"
the bit players were alleged to have commented,
according to the Strickling release.
To which thought the Screen Extras Guild
will reply, "You should live so long."
Boxoffice prospects seem to be getting hotter—what
with such entries as Warners' recent
"Tlie Flame and the Arrow," Columbia's
"Rookie Fireman" and the Pine-Thomas disclosure
that they intend to film "The Big
Fire."
BOXOFFICE September 23, 1950 45