PONDERS TAFT-HARTLEY WAL

',
'
'
^oUcfcuw^d ^e^Kint
The Wilcoxes of England
Here for 16-Day Visit
In Hollywood to effect an interchange of
English and American screen stars, Herbert
Wilcox, British producer
and director,
and his actress wife,
Anna Neagle, are
shown arriving in the
film capital for a 16-
day visit, their first In
six years. Both made
pictures at RKO Radio
for a number of
years, but now have
their own organization,
of which Miss
Neagle is co-producer,
as well as top star.
The Wilcoxes,
among other things,
conferred with executives
at MGM regarding
their film "Piccadilly
Incident," which
has been taken on by
Leo for American distribution.
They brought with them a print
of their most recent production, "The Courtneys
of Curzon Street."
"One hears much talk here in America
about the British film invasion," Wilcox
stated, "and it is true that recently some
very fine English pictures have been shown
here, but the so-called 'invasion' hasn't
started yet. There are many other fine pictures
either completed, or nearing completion,
which American audiences will see soon."
Wilcox and Mi.ss Neagle are affiliated with
Sir Alexander Korda's film interests, which
are, as Wilcox puts it, in "friendly opposition"
to those of J. Arthur Rank.
Columbia Has 1 1 Films
On Its Color Lineup
Colorful Columbia it was known as in those
days. With a total of U tint pictures ready
for release, in work, or forthcoming on the
summer production schedule, the Gower
street studio is in the best color situation of
Its history. The lot's color schedule divides
Itself fairly evenly between Technicolor and
Cinecolor. First of the 11 to hit the nation's
screens is the Cinecolor western, "Gunfighters,"
produced independently by Producers-
Actors Productions. Also completed and
ready for release are "Down to Earth,"
Technicolor musical; "Last of the Redmen,"
Sam Katzman production in Cinecolor; "The
Swordsman," Technicolor outdoor drama.
Being edited are "Relcntle.ss," Cavalier
Productions in Technicolor; "The Man Prom
Colorado." also in Technicolor; "The Prince
of Thieves," another Katzman production in
Cinecolor.
"The Strawberry Roan," first of seven
Cinecolor films to be made for Columbia by
Gene Autry Productions is currently before
the cameras. It will be followed In August
by a second. "In a Little Spanish Town."
"Royal Mall," al.so tentatively scheduled for
an August starting date, will be photographed
In Technicolor. "The Gallant Blade," Alexandre
Dumas story, has a tentative September
starting date and will be filmed In
Cinecolor.
Color plays a dominant part also In the
program of United Artists Producer Hal
Roach whose film making activities are
posed for resumption after considerable of a
hiatus during which the veteran comedy con-
26
By
IVAN SPEAR
cocter was working out a releasing deal and
other business details. His first four films,
all of which are set for camera debuts during
the next few weeks, will be photographed
in Cinecolor. First to go into production will
be "Mr. Wilmer," based on a novel by Robert
Lawson. It will be followed by an untitled
story featuring a juvenile cast. "Cradle 'n'
All." the third, was written by Ned Seabrook
and George Brown and will be produced and
directed by Fred Guiol, while the fourth will
be an untitled story with a European circus
background.
Out of Six Story Sales,
Four to Valley Lots
"An' Make the San Fernando Valley My
Meat" could serve as a parodied version of a
comparatively recent song hit to be sung by
the Cinemania breast beaters who keep bread
in the house through the sale of literary gems
as the basis for motion pictures. Out of a
total of six story sales recorded during the
week, four were to Valley lots.
Universal-International accounted for a
My
pair of items. "Gus, the Great" and "All
Sons." The former is a novel by Thomas
Duncan to be published in the fall by J. B.
Lippincott, and is described as drama with a
cii-cus background. "Sons" is, of course, the
current Broadway stage play written by Arthur
Miller. Chester Erskine. who just returned
from a Broadway visit, will write the
screenplay and produce the picture.
Republic purchased "Miss X," a novel by
Faith Baldwin, for Associate Producer-Director
John H. Auer, who assigned Frances
Hyland to do the screenplay. Last of the
Valley quartet was Warner Bros, which
acquired "Old Enough to Know Better," a
dramatic story by Peter Milne about a postwar
aviation venture of two ex-army flyers.
William Jacobs will produce while Milne will
prepare the screenplay from his own original.
Getting back to town, the yarn peddlers
sold Franchot Tone of Cornell Pictures, a
Columbia sharecropper, "My Sister, Goodnight,"
a novel by Gordon McDonnell which
wUl be published this fall by the Atlantic
Monthly press. It is a whodunit. Continu-
MOKi; BK.VSS KKO>I BKIT.VIN—J. Arthur
Kank was varationinR at Del Monto,
but British production still was well represented
in HollvHood. VisitinR the sets
at I'niversal-Intrrnational were E. H.
Lundy and .Arthur Brown, executives of
Gaumont BriUsh Pictures Corp. Left to
rlRht: Lundy, Douglas Fairbanks jr..
Brown.
ing his poetic bent, Producer James S. Bi
ett bought "The Midnight Express," otu'
Alfred Noyes' narrative poems. Burkett,
is readying Noyes' "The Highwayman"
i
Allied Artists release, plans to film "Expr
in England. No releasing deal has been
yet for the new property, which is a psyc
logical drama.
'Little
Shepherd' Remake
Set by Allied Artists
It had to happen.
With the current and growing proper'
of picture makers toward combing pu'
domain and lists of former successful
.
tures for material, it was inevitable '
some producer should project a remalu
"Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come."
picture will be made by Allied Artists, S'
day-suit running mate of Monogram,
will, of course, be predicated upon the n
by John Fox jr., which made its appean
in 1902 and has lived ever since as prefe
reading matter. Steve Broidy, AA head r
has assigned Walter Miriseh to produce
film which will topline Gale Storm
thereby will essay the role originally c
by Mollie O'Day in 1928 when she appei
opposite Richard Barthelmess . . . Ano
newcomer to the future production age
is 'not so steeped in sweetness. To be 'j
"Dangerous Years," it will be made by
M. Wurtzel, who cuts up profits on his I
with 20th Century-Fox, and is being hera
as a new approach to juvenile deUnque
The film's basic theme will deal with
Freudian theory—nothing less—that chili
may be started on the road to dellnqui
during the first five years of their lives
Another Sol—Lesser, that is—contributes
bit to the lineup of newies. To his prog
for the current year has been added 'E
of Bridal Hill," to stem from the bool
George Agnew Chamberlain, screen right j
which Lesser has just acquired. Lon Mc
lister, Allene Roberts and Julie London
star and the picture probably will be
tributed by United Artists, one of the i
still owed UA under Lesser's existent c
mitment.
Joan Caulfield to Star
In Alan Ladd Film
P.-
. . .
. .
Joan Caulfield has been chosen to
t
with Alan Ladd in Paramount's "The 1 I
Grey Line." and resultantly has been » •
drawn from the lead of "Night Has a T •
Another noteworthy sand Eyes"
mount casting concerns Virginia Field, ti I
English actress, who drew a topline m s
Btng Crosby starring vehicle. "A Connec, I
Yankee" . . . Melvyn Douglas will maki: '
first starring appearance under his reci r
signed RKO Radio contract opposite
•
bara Bel Geddes in "The Pittsburgh 1
padc.' formerly titled "Judgment D.v a
Pittsburgh." which Richard Berger will
duce with Jack J. Gross as executive
•
ducer . Ann Blyth and Rachael Kern 3
were set by Universal-International I'l '
femme roles in the Aldous Huxley dr '
"Mortal Coils."
Two New Westerns Added
To Durango Kid Series
Anyone ganderiuR tlic two titles. "B!; t
Across the Pecos" and "West of Sonor.^
_
i
recognize—without too much strain on
talltv—that they are to be gallopers
news Is that they have been added to
lumbia Producer Colbert Clark's chores ^
are entries in the Durango Kid series »
stars Charles Starrett and Smiley Bur
^
. . Further anent Durango, Ray N8
will direct "Six-Gun Law," second m
current series.
BOXOFFICE
:
:
June
M. "
Jil