Boxoffice-October.27.1951

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' ' ' a ' STUDIO PERSONNEUTIES Cleffers Metro VICTUR YOUNG is writing the score for "Scaramouche." Monogram Set as musical director on "Ghost Town," "Whip Law" and "Stage From Amarillo" was RAOUL KRAUSHAAR. Republic Composer STANLEY WILSON was handed a new contract. Warners MAX STEINER is writing the musical score ior "Room for One More." Meggers Columbia The Stanley Kramer unit boosted scenarist ALLAN SCOTT to associate producer on "The Four Poster," the Rex Harnson-Lilli Palmer vehicle, for which Scott wrote the screenplay. RAY NAZARRO will direct "Rough Tough West," an entry in the Durango Kid sagebrush series toplining Charles Starpett and Smiley Burnette. Colbert Clark will produce Warners WILLIAM JACOBS drew the production reins on "Hobby Horse," a musical, which is being penned by Ken Englund. Options Columbia PEGGIE CASTLE, JOHN DEHNER and PAUL MARION joined the cast of the Joan Davis comedy, "The Harem Girl," being megged by Edward Bernds and produced by Wallace MacDonald. Cast as the heavies in "King of the Congo," serial being produced by Sam Katzman, were LEONARD PENN and NICK STEWART. Alô set for the cliffhanger, which stars Buster Crabbe, were RICK VALLIN and NEIL MORROW. Spencer Bennet directs. Hcnded the top role of the youngster in Producer Stanley Kramer's "The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T" was TOMMY RETTIG. The opus is to be megged by Roy Rowland. GRIFF BARNETT drew a character lead in the Judy HoUiday starrer, "The Marrying Kind." The Bert Granet production is being directed by George Cukor. Signed to a term contract was GLORIA KRIEGER, blond queen of the Portland, Ore., Rose festival. Metro Inked to a term ticket was JANICE RULE, starlet last under contract to Warner Bros. ALICE MARKHAM and GLORIA NOBLE were set for supporting parts in "Skirts Ahoy," Producer Joe Pasternak's Technicolor musical, which stars Esther Williams and Vivian Blaine under direction of Sidney Lanfield. CARL "KILLER" DAVIS, wrestler, was cast as a rccketeer in "Young Man in a Hurry," the Glenn Ford starrer, which is being produced by Gottfried Reinhardt and William H. Wright, and megged by Mitchell Leisen. Set for the new Mario Lanza starrer, "Because You're Mine," was SPRING BYINGTON. The Technicolor musical, a Joe Pasternak production, will be meggfed by Alexander Hall. REX REASON has been signed to a term acting ticket. He made his film debut in "Storm Over Tibet," an independent film which Columbia acquired for release. Monogram Radio and TV announcer TOM HANLON was inked for "Hold That Lme." the Bowery Boys comedy, w.hich William Beaudine is directing for Producer Jerry Thomas. EMMETT LYNN and GEORGE TOBIAS were set for "Starlight Canyon," the Wayne Morris starrer, which George Blair directs for Producer Lindsley Parsons. Paramount GRETCHEN HALE, widow of the late Alan Hale, draws a character role in the Wrlliam Holden starrer, "This Is Dynamite," which William Dieterle is directing for Producer Irving Asher, Cast in the picture was CAROLYN JONES, Little Theatre actress. ROBERT ARTHUR was inked for the Bing Crosby- Jane Wyman-Ethel Barrymore vehicle, "Famous," soon to go into work with Pat Duggan producing, Elliott Nugent at the megaphone. Booked was BEN LESSY, nightclub comedian. Handed a term ticket was AUDREY HEPBURN, European actress soon to make her Broadway stage debut. RKO Radio DOROTHY PATRICK is Tim Holt's leading ladv in "Road Agent," the sagebrusher being produced by Herman Schlom and megged by Lesley Selander. Cast were TOM TYLER. STANLEY BLYSTONE and BOB WILKE. Producer Edmund Grainger ticketed LARRY STEW- ART for a featured part in the Robert Mitchum starrer, "The Korean Story," which T'ay Gamett is directing. JOHN MALLORY, younger brother of Robert Mitchum, was cast. Republic Inked to a new term ticket was MURIEL LAW- RENCE, singer-actress, currently toplining "Bal Tabarin," being filmed on location in Paris. Cast in "Radar Men From the Moon" was ALINE TOWNE. 20th Century-Fox Set for the Philip Dunne production, "Way of a Gaucho," being lensed in Argentina, was RICHARD BOONE. Starring Rory Calhoun and Gene Tierney, it is being directed by Jacques 'Tourneur. ANNE BAXTER and DALE ROBERTSON wiU topline the Julian Blaustein production, "Outcasts of Poker Flat," which rolls next month with Joseph Newman directing. JAMES MILLICAN was booked for the Tyrone Power-Patricia Neal vehicle, "Diplomatic Courier," to be megged by Henry Hathaway for Producer Casey Robinson. Radio-TV comic SAM HEARN was ticketed for the Mitzi Gaynor title-roler, "The I Don't Care Girl," being produced by George Jessel and directed by Lloyd Bacon. Producers Walter Wcmger and Eugene Frenke pacted PAUL CAVANAGH for a supporting part in "The Lady in the Iron Mask," which stars Patricia Medina and Louis Hay ward under the direction of Ralph Murphy. ETHEL BARRYMORE will star with Humphrey Bogart in "Deadline, U.S.A.," the Sol C. Siegel production, being written and to be megged by Richard Brooks. Inked for a character lead in "Swamp Girl," tille-roling Jean Peters, was TOM TULLY. Robert Wise will meg the Robert Jacks production. Comedian CLINTON SUNBERG was added to the cast of the June Haver-Dan Dailey vehicle, "The Girl Next Door," which is being directed by Richard Sale lor Producer Robert Bossier. Universal-International Inked for a character role in "Oh Money, Money." the comedy starring Charles Coburn and Piper Laurie, was FRANK FERGUSON. The Technicolor film is being megged by Douglas Sirk for Producer Ted Richmond. Also signed was FORREST LEWIS. Making her Hollywod film debut in "Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Paris" is BODIL MILLER, Danish actress recently signed to a long-term ticket by the studio. With Leonard Goldstein producing, the Marjorie Main-Percy Kilbride starrer is being directed by Charles Lamont. Character actor WALLACE FORD was signed for "Hear No Evil," the prizefight drama starring Tony Curtis, which Joseph Pevney megs for Producer Leonard Goldstein. Joining Ann Sheridan, John Lund and Howard Duff in the cast of "Steel Town" was ELAINE RILEY- Leonard Goldstein's production is being directed by George Sherman. Contractee HUGH O'BRIEN joined Jeff Chandler and Alex Nicol in the topline cast of Producer Aaron Rosenberg's "Red Ball Express," which is being piloted by Bud Boetticher. SUSAN CABOT was set. Warners RUTH ROMAN will star with Errol Flynn in "Mara Maru." the David Weisbart production, being megged by Gordon Douglas. RAYMOND BURR joined the cast. MICKEY SIMPSON wi\l enact a heavy role. HOPE SANSBURY joined the cast of "She's Working Her Way Through College," Also cast was RAY- 'Desert Rats' Now On Fox Schedule Hollywood — Having subjected Nazi Field Marsha! Erwin Rommel to biographical treatment in the current "The Desert Fox," 20th Century-Fox is now going to approach the subject from a diametrically opposite direction. In the works is "The Desert Rats," which will glorify the British forces which fought and defeated Rommel at Tobruk. The Robert L. Jacks production is being scripted and will be megged by Samuel Fuller. MONO GREENLEAF. The William Jacobs production is being megged by Bruce Humberstone. KATHARINE WARREN and FRANKIE HYERS were ; added to the cast of "This Woman Is Dangerous." toplining ' Felix Feist i Also Joan inked for Crawford, the Robert was Sisk JIMMY production CROSS. IS the director. In the cast is SHERRY JACKSON, 9-year-old actress. Scripters Republic JACK TOWNLEY is developing "The Hot Heiress," a Judy Canova starring comedy, for Producer Sidney Picker. United Artists The Dougfair Corp., headed by Douglas Fairbanks jr., inked D. M. MARSHMAN JR, to screenplay "Elephant Walk" from the novel by Robert Stanaish. Warners ROBERT RILEY CRUTCHER is working on the screenplay of "Smile, Please," a comedy about a woman photographer, which Robert Arthur will produce. Story Buys 20th Century-Fox "Never Too Late, comedy by George W. George and George Slavin, was purchased and assigned to Producer Frank Rosenberg. For release through this company, the independeni production team of Joseph Bernhard and Anson Bend acquired "The Story of Esther," a screenplay by Frank and Doris Hursley based upon the Biblical tale. It is being planned for Technicolor production. Universal-Intemational "Joshua, ' an original western by Irving Ravetch, was acquired for production by Howard Christie. Joseph Hoffman will write the screenplay. Technically Republic Staff assignments for "Radar Men From the Moon" include ROY WADE, unit manager; CLIFF BELL, film editor: ART VITARELLI, assistant director: FRED HITTER, art director, and JOHN MacBURNIE, cameraman. 20th Century-Fox Assigned the cinematography chore on "Diplomatic Courier" was LUCIEN BALLARD. United Artists Associated Artists and Producers, headed by Sol Lesser, Edward Small and Sam Briskin, inked BEN HERSH to a term deal as production manager. The unit has a six-picture slate for the year. Warners S'et as technical adviser on "Mara Maru" was nÊD ZANDER, deep-sea salvage diver and underwater welder. Title Changes Metro "The Naked Sky" to THE NAKED SPUR. Monogram "Down on the Farm" to PLOUGH JOCKEY. RKO Radio "Tarzan the Hunted" to TARZAN'S SAVAGE FURY. 'Dawn' in Academy Series HOLLYWOOD—"Decision Before Dawn." the Richard B.'isehart starrer produced entirely in Germany by 20th Century-Fox. was to be screened Sunday (28) at the Academy Awards Theatre as the third in the Academy's series of film forums. With Mel Ferrer as moderator, "Dawn's" co-producers, Anatole Litvak and Frank McCarthy, were to be on stage with their production staff to participate in audience discussion. Mort Goodman Is Chairman HOLLYWOOD—Suceedins Lou Smith, Columbia studio publicity director, Mort Goodman, head of tlie Republic drumbeating department, has been named ch.Tirman of the studio publicity directors' committee of the A.ss'n of Motion Picture Producers for a sixmonth term. He will be succeeded at the end of that time by Alex Evelove, Warner studio publicity-advertising chief. f I "^ I «i 48 BOXOFFICE : : October 27, 1951
— " U-I Studio to Make Television Subjects HOLLYWOOD— Significant in that it involves use of the physical facilities of a studio heretofore devoted exclusively to theatrical film production is the disclosure that United World Films, a subsidiary of U-I, has completed plans for extensive production, distribution and sale of TV subjects. From James Franey, TJWF president, came word that the U-I studio here will be utilized for most of the production, although no U-I contract players will appear in any of the films. George Bole, U-I's assistant studio manager, will serve as a liaison executive. Franey emphasized that UWF's output will not compete with U-I's theatrical product and said entire program is designed expressly for TV. + * * Expanding its organization to service the increasingly active video field, Charles K. Peldman's Famous Artists Corp. has appointed Joe C. Donohue to head the TV and radio departments of the agency. * * « Filming has been launched at Jerry Fairbanks Productions on "That I May See." a 60-minute religious film which will be made available to the video nets and independent stations as a Thanksgiving week presentation. It is being produced under supervision of the Rev. Patrick Peyton, CSC, who turned out three similar, previous entries— "Hill Number One," "The Joyful Hour" and "The Triumphant Hour." Script for "That I May See," based on a New Testament story, was written by Fred Niblo jr. * + * "Washington Spotlight," a new series of TV subjects featuring Marquis Childs, columnist and commentator, is being produced for Lou Snader Productions by Milton Hammer and Robert Maurer. Being shot in Washington, the films have a 15-minute running time, with 52 planned. * * * An announcement by station KTTV here that it had acquired a block of 25 features originally produced for theatrical release by Edward Small drew fire from the Screen Actors Guild when that organization challenged KTTV's statement that "many of these pictures were produced in the last tliree years." In a letter to Richard A. Moore, KTTV general manager, John Dales jr., SAG executive secretary, informed that all of the pictures are more than three years old. A clause in SAG-producer contracts specifies that films made after that date cannot be sold to TV without satisfactory additional payment to the actors involved—and that in the event such payment is not made, SAG has the right to cancel its contract with the producer of the film so disposed of. Purchased through Peerless Television Productions, the Small features include "Getting Gertie's Garter," "Count of Monte Cristo," "Twin Beds," "The Man in the Iron Mask" and others which originally were released through United Artists. * * * An experimental, hour-long TV subject, split into four quarter-hour segments, is in preparation by Hal Roach sr., with S. S. Van Keuren as the producer and Maureen O'SuUivan booked to emcee. Titled "Children's Hour," it will include a comedy, a fantasy, a Biblical story and a clown act. yERILY, a prophet is without glory in his own bailiwick. Ironical as it may seem, in California, fountainhead home-state of movies, the exhibition branch of the film trade gave hardly a tumble to Movietime U.S.A., the nationwide, all-industry campaign designed to revive the public's waning interest in motion pictures and its patronage of the theatres in which they are exhibited. There is no need to recap what happened at the loudly ballyhooed Hollywood huddles of COMPO at which filmdom's top brass, from all divisions, labored and brought forth the Movietime idea. Comparably unnecessary is the chronicling of subsequent developments in organization and execution of the venture. They have been so thoroughly covered in the minutest details by the trade press that blind indeed is the industryite who hasn't been familiarized therewith. As to how successful, how promising of ultimate productivity of upped grosses the campaign has been seems at this writing to be a matter of personal opinion as well as geography. From some communities have come glowingly enthusiastic reports of what the drive has accomplished; from other segments of the hinterlands such reports were a bit on the sour side. But, regardless of reactions—hot or cold there was not an exchange center—with the exception of those in California—that didn't give Movietime U.S.A. at least a chance to accomplish its purpose. In Los Angeles the organizational procedure paralleled that of all other major communities. Robert J. O'Donnell, national chairman of the campaign, and Arthur Mayer, COMPO vice-president, trekked here to meet with the area's showmen in a session which unofficially at least, was sponsored and blessed by the Southern California Theatre Owners Ass'n. Some hundreds of members of that organization, as well as other independent operators and representatives of all of the territory's large circuits, including Fox West Coast, biggest chain in the area, assembled to hear O'Donnell, Mayer and other speakers outline the Movietime project. The meeting was characterized by the same high pitch of enthusiasm as had been attained at earlier and similar huddles conducted by the O'Donnell-Mayer duo in other territories during their nationwide barnstorming junket on behalf of the drive; and from all indications at that time, the southland's showmen were willing; nay, eager to contribute their allout efforts toward making Movietime a success. But right there southern California's participation in Movietime U.S.A. ended. True, the Los Angeles city council adopted a resolution congratulating the industry upon its 50 years of glamorous operations and bidding success to the revival drive which, accompanied by characteristic Hollywood cheesecake art, found its way into one-shot print in the local metropolitan dailies. And that was it. It might have been argued that the Los Angeles area, of which the movie production capital is an integral part, could not be expected to react favorably to the Hollywood glamor modus operandi employed elsewhere throughout the nation; because the community had long since become calloused to .such glamor through decades of premieres. Academy awards events and countless more glittering clambakes. And that might be held as the reason why showmen in these immediate environs turned on the chill for Movie- . time U.S.A. But such reasoning certainly cannot be applied to San Francisco, itself an exchange center; Sacramento, San Diego. Fresno and other larger cities. Which projects the choice of two conclusions —either the exhibitors of the Golden State —and they are the closest to the source of supply of their stock in trade—never did think too well of the Movietime U.S.A. idea, or as showmen they are inferior to their counterparts in other states. Addressing a luncheon at the 70th semiannual meeting of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, Jerry Wald of the firm of Wald-Krasna, producer for RKO, devoted his remarks to "mass-kissing." According to a report from Perry Lieber's RKO praisery, "by Wald's definition, 'massliissing' is the art of making pictures the way the producer thinks the public wants them made, rather than striving for any artistic standard . . . 'Mass-kissers will learn the hard way,' Wald predicted, 'that you can't be successful trying to copy yesterday's hits or In view of the fact that Producer Wald is a fast-talking individual, the double entendre or would it be more rhetorical to describe it as a pun?—was inescapable. Individual listeners to the Waldean words of wisdom were left to decide whether it was clever or bordering upon doubtful taste. ^ "The Champagne Bandits" is the new title playing the dangerous game of follow-theleader.' for Warners' "Carson City." Any day now expect announcement that Murray Lerner of Lippsrt Productions is preparing one titled "The Beer Burglars." IN YOUR HAT DEPARTMENT (Bernie Kamins Division) Bernie, the bashful boy blurber, who won fame as a publicizer of auctions when the furniture and falsies of Hedy Lamarr went under the hammer, now informs that 'the famous colorful hats of Hollj-wood columnist Hedda Hopper will be put on the block at the American .'Irt Galleries." If Bernie could only arrange to have Hedda in one of the hats to be sold down the river, the bidding would be much brisker. BOXOFFICE : ; October 27, 1951 49
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Page 28 and 29: Republic Will Appeal Roy Rogers TV
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Page 36 and 37: Front Given Frenchy Atmosphere For
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Page 82 and 83: - staff under the late George "Dad"
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Page 86 and 87: . . Variety . . . Serge . . Sherwin
Page 88 and 89: ' Leo Jones Tests Public Sincerity
Page 90 and 91: — . . Broderick .1 CLEVELAND "The
Page 92 and 93: BOSTON Caul Simons, salesman at Col
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REVIEW DIGEST ++ Very Good; + Good;
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D. FEATURE UNITED ARTISTS CHART rr]
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.10-13-51 . ..Jean SHORTS CHART 630
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Boxoffice-October.27.1951

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