Evening star., 1937-06-12

theme than in any past year.
Heretofore, one particular type Of
vehicle or another has managed to
work It's way into dominant place
on production charts. Musicals held
the center Of the stage for several years
In row and then, suddenly, when the
tans reared back and refused to patron
lie them, the cycle veered to horror
stories.
Three years ago every producer in
Hollywood was scrambling about in a
mad race to corner grueSome scenarios,
and actors possessing naturally eerie
looks and personalities were sitting
atop the Aim world Then, again
without warning, the public turned
cold on that cycle. 1t refused to be
frightened further. Costume pictures
then swept into the foreground and so
did detective mystery tales. A little
later the musical worked Its way back
Into q popular niche.
Lean to Balance"
But gradually producers have come
to realize that seasonal programs must
be carefully balanced and, once ar
ranged, should not be disturbed if in
vestments are to be made secure. They
agree now that certain set number
Of musicals, mysteries, costume stories
and other staple vehicles must be in
cluded on programs, with the number
Of each determined by exhibitor box
office reports from the previous year.
II one competitor happens to un-
earth a novel picture idea that sweeps
the box offices, the others have prom
ised themselves and their stockhold-
ers that they will not, as in previous
seasons, upset carefully planned
schedules in an attempt to tag after
the leader with hurriedly trumped-up
limitations.
Zanuck Leads In Musicals.
More musicals will be produced by
Twentieth Century-Fox during the
coming season than by any other
studio and that is because Daryl
Zanuck, production chief of the COM
pany, made more good song and
dance films in the last II months
than any of his rivals.
A shortage of box office name stars
for the tuneless type OF drama Is
another reason why zanuck will again
throw most Of his energies toward
the big spectacle numbers.
Even his 1888 quintuplet picture
will not be without its music, and
already plans are being made for
Little Annette, Yvonne, Marie, Emf
lie and Cecile to hum and sing bit
In scene with the ever-present Jean
Hersholt.
Zanuck will make 50 pictures
among them an Eddie Cantor comedy
~AI Baba Goes to Town; Irving
Berlins "Alexander's Ragtime Band;
. sequel to the successful "Pigskir
Parade; another Walter Winchell-
Ben Bernie feud, with a music back.
ground; three Shirley Temples, anc
An epic Of the Midwest metropolis
to Be called I'm Old Chicago"
The studio is also looking forward
to q heavy financial return through
the reissue next season Of four vii
Rogers pictures.
National magazines, rather thar
novelists, playwrights and authors o1
original screen stories, will be th<
source OF the bulk of the Warner
Brpthers output for next year. A
dozen well-known magazine stories
are slated for production there. Jacl
Warner, production chief Of the stu
dio, offers an interesting sidelight
on this phase OF his new films.
Reflect Timeliness.
We are turning toward magazine
stories because the rapidly changing
trends are Immediately reflected ir
them," said Warner. These nswel
ideas are not caught up 20 quickly