COLUMBIA FILMS FOR 1939

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 93, 13 January 1939, Page 11

COLUMBIA FILMS FOR 1939

Production In England COMEDY AND ADVENTURE PREDOMINATE Completion of negotiations for the screening of Columbia films in the the' atries operated by Fuller’s Theatres, the J. C. Williamson Picture Corporation, Ltd., and New Zealand Theatres, Ltd., has been announced by Mr. B. Vinsen, general manager in New Zealand for Columbia Pictures Proprietary, Ltd. He states that his company will maintain the high standard of entertainment achieved in previous years, in its production of 40 feature films, in Columbia studios, both in America, and England. Comedy and adventure will predominate. First and foremost is the latest production to come from the director, Frank Capra, “You Can’t Take it With You,” a film which has attained outstanding success in America. ‘‘You Can’t Take it With You” won worldwide recognition first as a Pulitzer Prize play, which ran continuously for a year on Broadway. Columbia Pictures paid £50,000 for the screen rights. In choosing his cast for this unique comedy, Frank Capra favoured stars of tried ability, Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, and James Stewart, also Edward Arnold. Supporting players of note are Mischa Auer, Ann Miller, Spring Byington, Donald Meek, and 11. B. Warner, The film is already in New Zealand.

Another Mr. Deeds Film.

The notable success of the previous Frank Capra film “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town” is influencing the studios to produce a sequel, "Mr. Deeds Goes to Washington,” for the starring role of which it is hoped to secure Gary Cooper. Jean Arthur is once again to play the feminine lead. Within the last two months the Columbia studios in Hollywood have been seeking a youthful star who will be cast in tbe title role of “Golden Boy.” Jean Arthur will co-star with the man chosen to take tlie title role. ' Golden Boy” is the second eminently successful stage play to have been purchased by Columbia in recent months. In past years some of the most popular productions of the company have been the comedies in which Irene Dunne has appeared. “The Awful Truth,” last year’s success, will be followed by a comedy, as yet untitled, which will feature her in another such hilarious role. Under the direction of John Brahm a dramatic film entitled “Let Us Live” will feature Henry Fonda, who has been specially engaged for the film. Maureen O’Sullivan has been cast to play the leading feminine role.

Other films are: “There’s That Woman Again,” featuring Melvyn Douglas and Virginia Brttce, a modern, sophisticated comedy written as a successor to “There’s Al-' ways a Woman.’’ “Blondie,” a series of three pictures based on Chic Young’s comic cartoon strip. . ~ “Mr. and Mrs. Detective,” a further cpmedy detective story dealing with the escapades of “Mr. and Mrs. Reardon” of “There’s Always a Woman” fame. “Our Wife,” featuring Cary Grant and Jean Arthur, in a frivolous story of complicated modern married life. “The Lost Atlantis,” in which the camera’s magic brings to vivid spectacular life the legendary continent that vanished beneath the waters of the Atlantic. It is to -be produced on the same scale as “Lost Horizon.’’ “Good Girls Go To Paris,” a- story of modern youth set in the fast tempo of 1939. ’ “Of Lena Geyer.” from the wellknown novel, by Marcia Davenport, a story of career versus love in a woman’s life. Mr. Harry Cohn, president of Columbia Pictures, has recently engaged Marlene Dietrich to appear under the company's banner and she will co-star with Cary Grant.

Adventure Pictures. A high percentage of theatre-goers find their greatest thrill in pictures with adventurous backgrounds, aud Columbia has set aside a large proportion of its programme for this type of picture. Cary Grant will appear in a vigorous aviation story entitled ‘‘Plane N 0.4, directed by Howard Hawks, who is well known for . his previous outdoor successes, of which “Ceiling Zero was one of the most noteworthy. ‘Coast Guard” will depict the life led by th e men who guard the coast line in times of peace and war. “Lone Wolf’s Daughter” is taken from the adventure-laden pages of Louis Joseph Vance’s mystery-story, with Warren William playing the role of the Lone Wolf. ! “Smashing the .Spy Ring” is an especially timely. spy picture. Ralph Bellamy is co-starred with Fay Wray. ' “Super Dreadnought” is another or the company’s dramatizations of headline topics. “Flying Fortress” will deal with the lives of adventure and romance of the aviation corps in charge of large army planes. "Flight to Fame” is a thrilling tale of aviation problems and of the discovery of a death-dealing ray. The players are Charles Farrell, Jacqueline Wells"and Alexander d’Arcy. “Crime Takes a Holiday” features Jack Holt, who will also appear in three other productions. “The Squealer” is a dramatic story of the pulilic and private life of a “respectable” crook. A novel departure for the company is the decision to produce during the coming year at least three pictures at Denham, England. This is the first time that Columbia Pictures has departed from an all-American production policy. In making this decision it has been determined that only topgrade films will be produced at Denham. Consequently, Columbia has set forth a schedule of three pictures, which will star prominent artists in the forefront of the film industry. The first production, already completed, is “The Spy in Black,” featuring Conrad Veidt and Valerie Hobson. “Q Planes” is the second British quota picture to be produced. Its stars are Laurence Ollivier and Valeric Hobson, and it features many flying sequences. Title and cast for the third production are still under discussion.