Boxoffice-Febuary.28.1953

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By
IVAN SPEAR
lo Launch 37 Producfions in March;
Six to Be Filmed in 3'D Processes
Despite fever-pitch interest being manifested
by production moguls in third-dimension
and the various devices now being
developed to impart that illusion, a tally of
filmmaking plans for the month of March
reveals the cold statistical fact that out of
37 projected features, only six are definitely
slated to be made in one or another of the
available 3-D processes.
It is, perhaps, the lull before the storm,
but the percentage is low enough to indicate
that the widely predicted 3-D landslide may
yet be only in the formative stages, and that
the filmmaking magi—or a substantial portion
of them— are clinging to the belief that
conventional, two-dimension celluloid has not
yet been outmoded to the point where it
cannot be marketed.
At any rate, the 37-picture aggregate for
the month represents an upswing from February's
tally of 32 and ranks March as the
busiest period to date during 1953. In the
appended breakdown by studios, those features
planned for 3-D treatment are so noted.
Otherwise the titles listed are due for the
two-dimensional approach.
ALLIED ARTISTS
A productional hiatus on this lot is being
halted with the projected launching of a new
Bowery Boys comedy, "Loose in London,"
which will have, as per usual, Leo Gorcey
and Huntz Hall as the topliners. The Ben
Schwalb production will be megged by Edward
Bernds.
COLUMBIA
By all odds the busiest studio in town, this
company lists eight vehicles to begin camera
work during March. The tally includes "From
Here to Eternity." film version of the James
Jones novel, with a cast including Montgomery
Clift. Deborah Kerr, Burt Lancaster
EL PASO PREMIERE—Lloyd
Bridg;es
(left) and Marie Windsor are seen here
with Joe Evans, author of several southwestern
novels, at a "ranchero"' breakfast
which was one of the events staged in
ronnertion witli the annual El Paso rodeo
and the recent world premiere of Lippert
Pictures' "The Tall Texan" at the Ellanay
Theatre in El Paso.
and Frank Sinatra, Fred Zinnemann directing.
Buddy Adler producing; "Renegade Canyon,"
a western to star John Derek, with
Ray Nazarro megging for Producer Kenneth
Gamet; "Last of the Pony Express," produced
by and starring Gene Autry, with Armand
Schaefer and George Archainbaud in their
usual respective spots as producer and director:
and five others on which various assignments
had not, at this writing, been filled.
Unca-st were "The Big Heat," a racket-busting
drama which Robert Arthur will produce,
with Fritz Lang at the megaphone; "Adventures
of Captain Kidd," a pirate serial to
be directed by Spencer Bennet for Producer
Sam Katzman; "Operation 16-Z," a story
of naval intelligence during World War II,
which Anson Bond will produce and Don
Siegel will direct; "Rough Company," a love
story with a Tangiers background, which is
on Lewis J. Rachmil's production agenda;
and "El Alamein," a Robert Cohn production
dealing with the North African campaign
during the last world conflict.
INDEPENDENT
For release through Realart, Jack Broder
Productions is gunning "Steel Bayonets," an
action story about an army platoon in Korea.
It will be produced by Jerry Thomas and
directed by Si Roth, with Lon McCallister set
for the top male role. Also due for camera
work, for an as-yet unannounced release,
is "Turmoil," a suspen.se drama written,
starring, produced and directed by Hugo
Haas.
LIPPERT
Di.'^tribution through this company has been
set for "Project X." a science-fiction opus
to be produced and directed by Arthur Hilton.
Uncast at this writing, the entry is concerned
with an advanced civilization living
underseas.
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER
Two pictures—one a 3-D subject, the other
to be photographed in conventional style
constitute the March starting lineup at this
Culver City studio. The three-dimensioner
i.< "Rope's End," a western, utilizing Ansco-
Colcr and a stereoscopic proce.-^s requiring the
USK by spectators of polarized glasses; it will
be produced by Nicholas Nayfack and megged
by John Sturges, with William Holden, Robert
Ryan and John Forsythe heading the
cast. Resuming work after a halt—called
when tcpliner Red Skelton was hospitalized
with a siege of illnes.s—will be "The Great
Diamond Robbery," a comedy about an apprentice
diamond-cutter who becomes involved
with a gang of international jewel
thieves. Featured with Skelton in the Edwin
H. Knopf production are Cara Williams and
James Whitmore. The megaphonist is Robert
Z. Leonard.
PARAMOUNT
Using the studio-developed Paravision 3-D
process and Technicolor, the Pine-Thomas
KK KOFF FILM—The principals pause
for a conference prior to shooting a scene
for "Donovan's Brain," science-fiction
thriller which is the first picture to be
launched by the newly organized Allan
Dowling Productions. From left, Dowling,
Director Felix Feist (in background), Lew
.\yres, who has the starring role, and
Tom Gries, the producer. Dowling is a
member of the directorate of the City
Investing Co. of New York, which numbers
several Manhattan theatres among
its extensive real estate holdings.
production unit will roll "Those Sisters From
Seattle," a period piece backgrounded against
the Alaskan gold rush of the 1890s. Lewis R.
Poster directs with a cast headed by Rhonda
Fleming, Gene Barry and songstress Teresa
Brewer.
RKO RADIO
Apparently squared away as concerns the
ownership-management problems in which
it has been involved for the past several
months, this studio begins a new regime
— with James R. Grainger as president and
Howard Hughes again holding the controlling
stock interest—with a March lineup of four
projected starting subjects. To be lensed
partly in Mexico is "Second Chance," a suspense
drama co-starring Robert Mitchum and
Linda Darnell, which Rudy Mate will
direct.
It is an Edmund Grainger production, with
Sam Wiesenthal as the associate producer.
Grainger also will gun "Arizona Outpost," a
historical western featuring Dale Robertson
and Arthur Hunnicut, with Alfred Werker as
the megaphonist. Minus casts, as the month
began, were "Son of Sinbad," a Technicolor
fantasy in the Arabian Nights motif, and
"Size 12," also in that color proces.s and
concerned with America's dress-designing industry.
The former, a Robert Sparks production,
will be directed by Ted Tetzlaff; the
latter is to be produced by Harriet Parsons,
but lacked a director at this writing.
REPUBLIC
Four new starters are on the docket at
this valley studio. Producer-Director William
A. Seiter will roll "The Champ From Brooklyn."
a comedy-drama with a prize-fight
background, featuring Alex Nicol, Hope
Emerson and Charles Winninger. On the
agenda for Joseph Kane to produce and
direct, but lacking a cast early in the period,
is "The Sea of Lost Ships," a story of the
coast guard academy at New London, Conn.,
which will be filmed with defense department
cooperation. A galloper, "Constable of
Carson City," W'ill get under way as a
Rocky Lane starrer, to be produced and
directed, respectively, by Rudy Raljton and
HaiTy Keller, while Producer Franklin Adreon
(Continued on page 24
22 BOXOFFICE :: February 28. 1953