Meet Irving Rapper, Director (1954) 🇺🇸
“Directed by Irving Rapper” has generally become to be regarded as the stamp of quality when seen on the main titles of a motion picture.
by Paul Manning
Looking back at some of the top films that have carried his name, one will come across such top hits as Bright Victory, The Corn is Green, Rhapsody in Blue, The Glass Menagerie, Now, Voyager, Forever Female, and other excellent film fare.
A solid background in the legitimate theatre fits him into an enviable niche when the major producers seek a top man to direct their most important, ambitious productions, particularly when they have cast some top calibre players in leading roles. Rapper, who got his start in the theatre by directing Broadway plays under the celebrated Gilbert Miller banner, finds himself quite at ease directing the real greats of both stage and screen.
Among his stage direction credits were The Animal Kingdom, with the late Leslie Howard; The Firebird, with Judith Anderson; and The Late Christopher Bean, with Pauline Lord and Walter Connolly. In London, he was feted for his brilliant direction of the stage success, Five Star Final, starring Raymond Massey.
At present, Rapper is preparing to join forces with producer Virginia Van Upp in The Big Secret. The film will be shot entirely in Europe in the actual scenes where the story is supposed to have taken place. Munich, other interesting locations about Germany, and various parts of the European continent will be visited during the filming. No cast has yet been selected, but many top film players have been rumored to have put in bids for the choice roles.
Irving Rapper is dark and dynamic. His darkness comes from long exposure to the California sun. A lean five feet 10 inches tall, he excels at sports and finds physical activity fine brain stimulation. Golf, riding, tennis, and swimming are all given a good whirl during his between-picture time.
This writer has had occasion to visit with Rapper while shooting a picture. It is easy to see that he is right at home on the set; no wasted words, motions, or film. Making every foot of film count, as well as keeping the shooting schedule right on the nose (more than often Rapper is ahead of this demon) and keeping the working crews in tip-top moods, it isn’t hard to see why Rapper is in high demand.
Today, the need is greater for such men of proven ability, who can step onto a sound stage on the opening day of the picture knowing what is expected of them from the front office, and delivering 100 per cent satisfaction. And what makes Rapper and others of his rank even more valuable is the fact that they also deliver 100 per cent okeh pictures to the box office. — P. M.
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Good Things to come from Hollywood… MGM’s “The Long, Long Trailer”
A belly laff from beginning to end, Metro’s “The Long, Long Trailer” is entertainment for all the cash customers.
by Paul Manning
Producer Pandro Berman [Pandro S. Berman] can be credited with pulling off one of the neatest switches of the day in grabbing TV’s Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz for the lead roles. As every one knows, Metro has held (for lo these many years) to the policy of no Metro stars for TV. Producer Berman found in this policy nothing about no TV stars for Metro! So, by working the reverse angle and snagging the popular TV team, he scores a big “Bingo” in the high gross department. Given a crackerjack megging by ace director Vincente Minnelli, The Long, Long Trailer will have long, long lines at box offices everywhere. Lucy and Desi have a merry field day with their dizzy antics, and the production is a truly handsome one with exceptionally fine AnscoColor lending flavor to the whole affair. Here is an all-family picture, if ever there was one. — P. M.
Seen in the usual left to right, top to bottom, order, are Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, popular with millions of TV fans, in scenes from MGM’s AnscoColor comedy, The Long, Long Trailer; Pandro Berman, producer; and Vincente Minnelli, director.
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Leads Named For “Troy”
Hollywood — Jack L. Warner has announced that a year’s search had resulted in the signing of Rosana Podesta [Rossana Podestà], Italian actress, and Jacques Sernas, European matinée idol, for the leading roles of Helen and Paris in Warners’ Helen of Troy! The film, said to have one of the highest budgets in company history, will go into production immediately at the Cinecittà Studios, Rome. It will be made in CinemaScope and WarnerColor. Many of America’s top actors and actresses tested for the roles before Warner’s decision was announced, it was said. Other roles in the spectacle of the Trojan War will be filled by leading American and continental feature players.
The search for the two leads in the filmization of the classic tale of the Trojan War had led to one of the most extrusive hunts in the history of the industry.
Warners is confident that the property will be one of the most successful on their future product schedule. A crew is on hand to check possible Italian location sites for the film.
Collection: Exhibitor Magazine (Studio Survey), March 1954