Boxoffice-12.1953

. . Republic
. . . Meantime,
. . . Robert
: December
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Several Independents Begin
Resurgence of Activity
Industry observers who have been prognosticating
a strong resurgence of independent
production—to compensate for the curtailed
schedules contemplated by nearly all of the
major studios—found their predictions supported
by several developments in the field
of unaffiliated film makers. Among them:
Producer Howard Welsch, inking Jean Simmons
to a three-picture starring ticket, began
camera work on the first of the trio, "A Bullet
Is Waiting," with Rory Calhoun and
Stephen McNally booked for the male leads.
The suspense drama is being megged by John
Farrow, in Technicolor, from a screenplay
by Casey Robinson. Welsch, formerly active
under the banner of Fidelity Pictures, has not
set releasing arrangements.
Romulus Films of London will make three
features primarily for the American market,
it was disclosed by James Woolf, co-managing
director, who is in Hollywood for a visit of
several weeks. Supplementing the just-completed
"The Good Die Young." which stars
Richard Basehart and Gloria Grahame, the
Romulus organization plans "The Wine of
Etna," "Tile Story of Esther Costello" and
"Carrington, V. C," for all of which American
players will be recruited for the topllnes.
Albert Lewin, last at MGM as producerdirector-writer
of "Saadia," booked Cornel
Wilde to star in the film version of "The
Naked King," a French novel by Albert Ades,
which Lewin will make independently in
France next year. He is now preparing the
screenplay, based on the life of a Parisian art-
By
IVAN SPEAR
FILM MAKER HONORED—Darryl F.
Zanuck (left), 20th Century-Fox vicepresident
in charge of production, is
shown here with the Milestone Award
with which he was presented recently by
the Screen Producers Guild, lauding him
for his industry achievements. With
Zanuck are Gov. Goodwin Knight of California;
Carey Wilson, SPG president; and
Shirley Temple, who made all of her
childhood pictures with Zanuck.
road yarn, first titled "High Iron" and then
switched to "Main Iron." It's more in the
nature of a historical documentary, however
Paramount purchased "Catch
a Thief," a suspense novel by David Dodge,
and inked Cary Grant for the stellar spot,
with Alfred Hitchcock to produce and direct.
It will cast Grant as a criminal who retires
and becomes a good friend of the police who
had never been able to catch him. When a
new series of robberies breaks out. he works
on the side of the law to help solve the
crimes and ehminate suspicion from himself.
One batch Includes Walter Pidgeon, Keenan
Wynn, Carolina Cotton, Lucy BeU, Sharlee
Hudson and Herb Jeffries; the second comprises
Slapsy Maxie Rosenbloom, Gladys
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Ahem, Will Ahem, Donna Brown, Dru Dalton,
Kay Dalton, Cathy Downs, Joan Elms, :
Jack
O'Connor, Maxine Marlowe and Pat Moran.
Buddy Rogers heads the Alaska unit, with
Jackie Altier, Jim Creson, Marilyn Hedley,
Marcelle Philpott, Don Price, Patti Regan and
Evelyn Russell.
Twelve USO-Camp Show musicians will accompany
the volunteers. Dick Saimders, Joe
South, Eddie Ross, Bill Loyd and Stan Buseth
are destined for Korea, while Bobby Tucker,
Ludwig Dreyfuss, Diana Morris and Donna
Morris will go to Europe, and Edmond Burr,
Onest Conley and Eddy Samuels are headed
for Alaska.
Defense department officials have emphasized
the importance of this year's overseas
entertainment program, declaring that since
the cease-fire in Korea, the monotony of
occupation duty has increased the need for
"faces from home" as part of maintaining
service morale.
Warners Cartoon Unit Plans
25 to 30 Subjects in 1954
Completely inactive for the past several
months. Warners' cartoon unit will swing
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back into action early in January, it was disclosed
by Edward Selzer, head of the department.
An output of 25 to 30 animated subjects
has been blueprinted during the comijig year.
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Due for installation early in January is an
all-purpose camera and crane, and larger
swivel units for the animation, inking and
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painting desks have also been ordered.
This new equipment will make it possible
to turn out cartoons for a 1.75 to 1 screen
ratio, also suitable for a 1.33 to 1 screen.
Key personnel, including directors, inkers,
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animators, "in-betweeners" and painters are
being placed back on the payroll. As a reunion
of the entire staff, Selzer is having the
annual Warner Club Christmas party at his
home Sunday (20).
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BOXOFFICE
:
12, 1953
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