Boxoffice-11.11.1950

'
GUN 45 FILMS FOR NOVEMBER;
8 ABOVE SAME MONTH IN '49
HOLLYWOOD—Although a number of
industry executives have expressed the
optimistic prediction that the bottom has
been reached in the boxoffice slump—an
analysis partially borne out in spot surveys
in key U.S. centers—that hopeful viewpoint
apparently has not yet begun to
manifest itself as concerns filmdom's production
facet.
Still beset by budgetary problems and an
array of other worries, Hollywood's filmmakers
could muster up a total of but 45
subjects which were slated to go before the
cameras as major and independent ventures
during November. This reflects a drop of
three from October's 48-picture aggregate,
but is eight above the 37 productions started
in the .same month last year.
Setting the pace is Columbia, with six entries
on its docket. In place position, with
five each, are MGM and RKO Radio, while
tied for the show money are Eagle Lion
Classics, Monogram, Paramount and Universal-International.
The lineup, by studios:
Columbia
Ranking as the busiest lot in town, this
studio has a six-picture starting schedule for
the period. Under the banner of Santana
Productions, Humphrey Bogart will have the
starring role in "Sirocco," with Robert Lord
producing, Curtis Bernhardt directing and
Lee J. Cobb in a top supporting role. Bogart
is cast as a veteran of the Foreign Legion in
Syria. Set for release through Columbia is
"No Help From Heaven," an independent
entry to be co-producsd by Lou Appleton and
Monty Shaft. At month's beginning, however,
neither a cast nor a director had been
assembled for the cops-and-robbers melodrama.
Likewise sans casts and directors were
two projected offerings from Producer Sam
Katzman — "Rookie in Korea," a topical
drama about that Far Eastern conflict, and
"The Mysterious Island," a cliffhanger adapted
from Jules Verne's adventure novel. In
western vein is "Bonanza Town," another in
the venerable "Durango Kid" series, co-starring
Charles Starrett and Smiley Burnette,
with Fred Sears to meg for Producer Colbert
Clark. Also on the docket is "The Barefoot
Mailman," a Robert Cohn production to be
directed by Earl McEvoy. Uncast as the
month began, it deals with the Florida postal
service in the early 1900s.
Eacrle Lion Classics
On the heels of the recent announcement
by William C. MacMillen jr., company president,
that ELC will distribute nearly 60 pictures
on the 1950-51 slate, a .sharp upswing
in filmmaking activity was reflected with the
scheduled launching of four subjects.
As its first for release through ELC, Horizon
Pictures—headed by Sam Spiegel—will gun
"When I Grow Up," an original screenplay
by Michael Kanin, who was al.so pegged to
direct. Uncast as the month began, the opus
is a father-and-son yarn spanning the era
Claudette Colbert Cast
As a Nun in U-l Film
Apparently, from the standpoint of
critical acclaim and public patronage, it's
s u r e-fire casting
when an established
film name
dons the vestments
of a servant of the
church. Witness:
Bing Crosby as a
parish priest in
"Going My Way,"
Spencer Ti-acy as
cleric in "Boys'
Tow n," Loretta
Young and Celeste
Holm as ener-
Claudette Colbert ^^^^^ ^^^^ .^
"Come to the Stable." ad infinitum.
Latest to join this distinguished company
is Claudette Colbert, to whose already
lengthy list of screen portrayals
will be added that of the inmate of a
Catholic convent in Universal-International's
"Bonaventure." going before the
cameras this month as the picturization
of a play by Charlotte Hastings.
With Michel Kraike producing. Douglas
Sirk as the director, Miss Colbert is cast
as Sister Bonaventure, who saves an innocent
woman from the hangman's noose
through an adroit blending of religious
faith and detective work. In the top supporting
role will be Ann Blyth as a girl
unjustly accused of murder.
from 1880 to the present. Producer J. Barrett
Mahon will tee off "South of Singapore," an
action melodrama about pearl-diving in the
Orient, in which Forrest Tucker and Rod
Cameron were slated for the co-starring roles.
Bernard Szold will be the director. The newly
formed Allart Pictures unit, headed by Jules
Levey and Arthur Gardiier, li.sts "Invaders
From Mars," a science-fiction drama, as its
initialer. The subject is to be lensed in Cinecolor,
with Paul Landres directing, but early
in the period no cast had been recruited. And
from United-International, for release
through ELC under the banner of Jack
Schwarz Productions, will come "Fighting
Rebel." a sagebrusher which was sans actors
as the period got under way. Co-producers
are Jack Seaman and Richard Talmadge.
with the latter to direct.
Independent
Heading for the cameras prior to the establishment
of distribution arrangements
were five subjects—three of them the brainchildren
of Producer Ron Ormond. who does
business under the banner of Western Adventure
Productions. To be filmed by Ormond
in consecutive order are "Vanishing Outpost."
"Thundering Trail" and "The Black Lash."
all starting in November. With Ormond pro
rucing and directing, the sagebrushers lis
Lash LaRue and Al "Fuzzy" St. John as thi
cast principals. The newly formed Gothan
Productions, headed by Tom McGowan, planned
to launch "The Hyde Side," described a;
a suspense mystery. E. A. Dupont has beer
signed to direct but, as the month began, nc
cast had been assembled. Also on the deckel
as the initialer in a projected series is "Tucson
Joe." a western in which off-beat casting
finds George O'Brien, veteran sagebrush hero
teamed with the Three Stooges. The opus
will be produced by Bernard Glasser. who al
month's beginning had not filled the directorial
post.
Lippert Productions '1
One of filmdom's stock situations—Custer's
Last Stand—is being given a new twist in
"Little Big Horn." one of three entries on
this company's docket. To be produced by
Carl K. Hittleman. with Harold Shumate
directing from his own script, the opus is
described as the story behind the massacre,
involving a cavalry patrol dispatched to res-|
cue General Custer and his men, but which
arrives too late. Early in the period the only
cast name set was Tom Hubbard. From the
producer-director combination of Sig Neufeld
and Sam Newfield will come two other
starters, "P. B. I. Girl" and "The Lost Continent."
The former, uncast as the month
began, is a cops-and-robber yarn penned
by Rupert Hughes. The latter is in the
science-fiction category and lists Preston
Foster. Barbara Britton and Barton MacLane'
as the thespian headliners.
jj
Metro-Gold'wyn-Mayer
Musicals are on the upbeat at this Culver
City film foundry, with two out of a total of
five projected starting subjects being in the.
tunefilm category. Producer Joe Pasternak,
long a specialist in the manufacture of such
fare, accounts for one of them, "Rich, Young
and Pretty," which Norman Taurog will;
direct and which includes Jane Powell,'
Crooner Vic Damone and Danielle Darieux in
the cast. From Producer Arthur Freed will
come the other, "Show Boat." a new version
of the Jerome Kern musical success, which
will have Ava Gardner, Howard Keel and Joe
E. Brown as the topliners. The megaphonist
is George Sidney. In the suspense drama
niche are "Kind Lady" and "No Questions
Asked." The former, co-starring Ethel Barrymore
and Maurice Evans, will be produced by
Armand Deutsch and directed by John
1
Sturges. It concerns a wealthy, elderly woman
living alone in a big house, who invites two
strangers to share her hospitality. They repay
her kindness by plotting to rob and murder
her. "No Questions Asked," a Nicholas
Nayfack production, deals with racketeers in
i
the insm-ance field. With Harold Kress megging,
the cast toppers are George Murphy,
Barry Sullivan and Jean Hagen. Described as
a romantic drama is "People in Love," an
Edwin H. Knopf production with Ray Mll-
24 BOXOFFICE
:: November 11, 1950