Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1934)

50 MOTION PICTURE HERALD November 10, 1934 THE HOLLYWOOD SCENE By VICTOR M. SHAPIRO Hollywood Correspondent LESS than a year ago, many observers predicted the revival of "musicals" as just another flash in the pan, to live a shorter life than the original musical cycle of 1927-28. But musical productions have increased by leaps and bounds. Whether this demand has reached its peak only time will tell. Nevertheless, the records disclose the astounding total of 25 new musicals in final stages of preparation, to go before the cameras within two or three months. Never in the history of Hollywood production have so many pictures in one cycle been ready to start, and the problem of talent shortage is giving producers and casting directors something else to worry about. The call at all agencies is for singers, dancers, instructors and directors. Chorus Girl Problem The ultimate in bizarre settings will be the keynote for every production to make spectacular numbers stand out. Backgrounds, however, are secondary to embellishing sets with beautiful dancing girls. Greater demand for vocal choruses is already in evidence, and teachers to train them are being sought, but Hollywood has but 300 trained chorus girls and decidedly fewer trained voices specializing in screen work, only enough of each to accommodate five big musicals at a time, yet ten musicals are to go before the cameras simultaneously. Of the 25 musicals planned for early production, MGM reports five; Warner, four; Fox, Paramount, Radio and Universal three each, while 20th Century and Columbia plan two each. V Trail Blazers Find Rewards While the average Hollywood producer is content to punch out "run-of-the-mill" pictures, the few trail blazers are reaping rich rewards. Harry Cohn flew in the face of tradition by attempting to give grand opera to the hoi polloi, and as if that weren't bad enough, he picked a star whose two previous pictures had had meager circulation. Now the first "yessers" and the second "guessers" are ascribing all manner of reasons for the boxoffice success of "One Night of Love," except Harry Cohn. After returns started coming in, even the Marx Brothers embarked on a grand opera comedy entitled "OperAntics." Pioneer Jesse Lasky, after a year at Fox, took courage in his hands and produced "The White Parade," eliminating anything surgical, clinical or iodoformish. "Judge Priest" was something unusual for Will Rogers. It was a gamble to put him in a story where he couldn't wisecrack about the political situation, or things he reads in the papers. Sol Wurtzel ventured the Civil War role with more heart interest than Rogers' previous roles. Eddie Small, in producing "The Count of Monte Cristo," was told it was old fashioned, a costume picture that couldn't be com pressed into six reels. But Small picked an unknown player, Robert Donat, for the lead and gave the production a modern treatment. Pandro Berman's conception of the "Gay Divorcee" exhibits the unusual. He ventured that Fred Astaire expressed more emotion through his feet than some actors do with their faces, took the big chance. The Continental also was a musical dance adventure. Samuel Goldwyn, who dares more often than any other producer, whose showmanship even is that of being different, again demonstrated his sagacity in "Kid Millions" by inserting Technicolor sequence of definite appeal to children. "Pursuit of Happiness," produced by Arthur Hornblow, Jr., is another picture different by virtue of theme, daring in treatment, but handled in good taste. "The Thin Man," produced by Hunt Stromberg, really started a new school for murder mysteries, surface gaiety and smoldering drama beneath. Frank Capra's "It Happened One Night" dared to make a comedian of Clark Gable. It glorified everyday incidents in humorous vein, making characterization as important as plot. The Return of Whimsy "What Every Woman Knows," produced by Irving Thalberg, marked the return of whimsy. Two other producers are now engaged in making the different type of photoplay. Walter Wanger, it will be remembered, caused quite a furore with "WashingtonMerry-Go-Round" and "Gabriel Over the White House." Now he is putting the finishing touches on his first independent film, "The President Vanishes," a modern drama of the White House and the puzzling influences that beset the high office. It is said the President has given it his sanction. Dudley Murphy, also a constant experimenter into realms of the unusual, after the out-of-the-ordinary "Glass Maker," a Technicolor short, is now working on something that he calls a "rhythmic film," with the entire action and dialogue in cadence and the various sequences in dynamic harmony with each other. Murphy says even the roar of the MGM lion will be done rhythmically. The film is "The Night Is Young," adapted from the Hammerstein and Romberg operetta. Rated by Hollywood as perhaps the most daring producer is Darryl Zanuck, sponsor of "The House of Rothschild." Mr .Zanuck pioneered in the revival of musicals while at Warner. V News Flashes Scarcity of United Artists product to feed the Chinese theatre with sufficient pictures on a three-a-day policy at popular prices, forced the UA circuit to enter into a temporary arrangement with Fox West Coast to play day and date with Loew's State, sans prologues at both SHORTAGE OF SINGING CHORUSES TRAIL BLAZERS GET REWARD 7 MILLIONS FOR 9 COLOR FILMS SIX STARTED, SIX COMPLETED houses. The new policy went into effect this week with Jesse L. Lasky's "White Parade" and probably will be followed up with "Kid MiUions." * * * * All Hollywood sat up and took notice last week when John Hay Whitney made the startling announcement that he would spend $7,000,000 for the making of nine Technicolor features within the next two years. ^ •i' Deciding to confine his entire picture activity here, Douglas Fairbanks sold his holdings in London Films, Inc., to Alexander Korda last week and at the same time canceled his starring contract with that company. + * * * After several months of bickering back and forth Greta Garbo affixed her signature to a new contract with MGM calling for her exclusive services for the next two years. She will make two pictures a year. * .* * * After obtaining his release from a four picture producing contract with Radio, Lou Brock signed a similar deal with Fox. His first under the new deal will be "Adios Argentina," a musical he had planned for his Radio deal. Felix Young succeeds to Brock's spot at Radio. V Six Pictures Start Six features started in the past week, while six others were finished. Of the new productions Columbia and Universal are credited with two features each and Paramount and 20th Century contribute one each. On the completed side, MGM and Warner each have a pair. Universal and Paramount accounting for the other two. At Columbia "The Depths Below" started. Its cast is headed by Jack Holt, Edmund Lowe, Florence Rice, Forrester Harvey and Frank Sheridan. In "Feud" Tim McCoy is starred. Universal started shooting on "I've Been Around," in which Chester Morris, Rochelle Hudson, Gene Lockhart, Isobel Jewell, G. P. Huntley, Jr., Phyllis Brooks and Walter Walker will be seen. Also on the stages is "Straight From the Heart." Roger Pryor, Mary Astor and Baby Jane (Juanita Quigley) are featured with Carole Coombe, Henry Armetta, Robert McWade and Warren Hymer in the cast. Another Zane Grey western is the new Paramount activity. Titled "The Vanishing Pioneer," its cast will feature Randolph Scott, Chic Sale, Ann Sheridan, George Marion, Sr., Florence Roberts, Mrs. Leslie Carter, Howard Wilson and James Eagles. As the second picture on its new season's program, 20th Century began work on "Clive of India." A big production, the extensive case is headed by Ronald Colman, Loretta Young, Frances Lister, Colin Clive, Lumsden Hare, Montagu Love and Robert Greig. First of the completed pictures at Warner is " The White Cockatoo." Jean Muir and Ricardo Cortez are starred. At MGM, "Wicked Woman," in which Mady Christians makes her screen debut, was completed. Universal completed "The Man Who Reclaimed His Head," with Claude Rains. "Behold My Wife," Paramount's contribution to the completed quota, is a Schulberg production with Sylvia Sidney and Gene Raymond.