Modern Screen (Dec 1931 - Nov 1932 (assorted issues))

• Always it is the producers who are in for ribbing. But, according to the Hollywood Reporter, this is the truth, so help them. At the Brown Derby a producer overheard someone praising the works of D. H. Lawrence. Immediately he wired his New York office to sign Mr. Lawrence to a contract! And didn't know the joke was on him until he got the return wire, reading: "Lawrence has been dead two years!" • Remember Stanley Smith, that wavyhaired, good-looking juvenile? The breaks for him lately haven't been any too good. Then all of a sudden he got three offers. One was for a New York musical comedy, another for a lead in Paramount's "Hot Saturday" (which he's going to snap up), and another to be soloist at the Los Angeles Biltmore supper room, which he also jumped at. Bing Crosby started to fame there. Wide World V\uch excitement— and the usual Hollywood gossip— was caused when Charlie Ihaplin arrived at an opening with lovely Paulette Coddard. Wide World Buster Keaton— maybe because he'd just been divorced fromNatalieTalmadge— gets affectionate with Polly Moran. Tom Mix seems kind of self-conscious about it. Eleanor Holm, cute Olympian, has been signed by Warners for movie work. She will be coached in acting and speaking and then let loose as a comedienne. ixty miles out of Hollywood. Why ill the secrecy, Ruthie and Georgie? fou've looked into the camera lens ogether before. ► Lily Damita and Sid Smith never vere one of those peaceful couples, Who lovy-dovied their way to ronance. One moment they'd be madly n love. The next, not speaking. But the Olympic Games intervened tn their hectic romance . . . and pronounced quits. The story, as whispered in our delicate pink ear, is that Lily reserved a box for the Games. Her guest was Sid. Then one of the jhandsome Argentenian athletes was '(brought to the box and introduced to Lily. "Sid, do you mind giving up your seat?" she is reported as having asked. Sid did mind, and strenuously it oo, it seems. So Lily ups and has an attendant eject him. "I paid for the seats . . . and I'll have whom I please sitting in them." Somehow we don't jbelieve she said it. • A famous male star and the director of his picture were arguing about the advisability of taking a certain scene. The star flatly refused to make it ; the director insisted. In desperation the actor yanked out his false teeth, threw them violently to the floor and cried : "All right, now make the scene !" • You ain't heard the last of the CagneyWarner Bros, battle to death. Not by a contract full ! Red-headed Jimmy is back in Hollywood — and looking around for another studio where he can do his hard-fisted roles. Through his attorney, Jimmy let it be known that in view of the fact that Warners hadn't exercised option on his contract, as of August 15, his contract was null and void. Just no good at all ! But the Brothers Warner aren't taking it. They claim that Cagne'y's contract still has four years and six months to go, based on Jimmy's walkout. In other words, they're standing high and dry on the claim that a clause in his contract specified that when the actor failed to appear for camera duty, his long-term ticket was merely suspended until his return. Therefore, no need of taking up that option. And Mr. Cagney won't be permitted to work for another studio in the meantime, either, if Warners have anything to say about it. Which they seem to have. © When there is any fun to be had — your screen favorites will find it — and don't ever let anyone convince you to the contrary. Hollywood's famous are spending their evenings at the Dance Marathon being held at Santa Monica. Not surprising that the two couples who held out dancing for several days more than a month, stayed on the floor as long as they did. Every night the section (Continued on page 108) THERE'S MORE GOSSIP ON PAGE 68 jReally, the way Lily Damita and Sidney Smith talk to each other! 17