New Order

One-man rule on the 20th Century-Fox lot ended fortnight ago when Fox announced the acquisition of a new, independent producer--the first person to have a hand in that studio's "A" picture output since Darryl Zanuck took over in 1935. He was highflying, tight-lipped Howard Hughes, whose Texas fortune has been behind two notable cinema events, Hell's Angels (1930) and Scarface (1932).

Bringing his own team and money with him, Hughes set to work on a story about Oklahoma Bandit Billy the Kid, to be called The Outlaw, to star veteran Actor Walter Huston. No sooner was the shock of this major change absorbed than Fox delivered another, announced that a second independent unit had been signed to furnish two more pictures a year. Backbone of this addition were Stars Charles Boyer, Irene Dunne, Ronald Colman, Directors Lewis Milestone (Of Mice and Men), Anatole Litvak (All This and Heaven Too).

Looking for significance in these moves, observers thought they saw one more result of the recent consent decree between Hollywood's Big Five companies and the Department of Justice (TIME, Nov. 11). Since the decree outlaws block booking in groups of more than five pictures, requires producers to show their films to exhibitors before selling, Hollywood now not only must decentralize but has to take a great deal more pains with its productions. No longer, thought some, will it be possible for one man to rule any studio's roost.

CURRENT & CHOICE

The Letter (Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, James Stephenson, Gale Sondergaard; TIME, Dec. 2).

Escape (Norma Shearer, Robert Taylor, Nazimova, Conrad Veidt, Blanche Yurka, Albert Basserman; TIME, Nov. 18).

Arise, My Love (Claudette Colbert, Ray Milland, Walter Abel; TIME, Oct. 28).

Christmas in July (Dick Powell, Ellen Drew, Ernest Truex; TIME, Oct. 21).

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