The Film Daily (1937)

? uesdayjan. 19,1937 DAILY 11 A "JUUU" $*<»» tkttuwocd "Ms // By RALPH WILK HOLLYWOOD T IONEL 0. HOUSER and Ben *-" Pivar's script of "Love Takes Flight," to be produced by Ben Pivar for George Hirliman and released by Grand National, was announced completed yesterday with production to start in three weeks at RKO-Pathe Studios. Continuity for the picture, which is based on an original by Anne Morrison Chapin, was handled by Houser. ▼ r T Following upon favorable reaction to preview showings of "Penrod and Sam," First National announces that it will make several more pictures based upon the Booth I'arkington stories involving these It wo characters. Billy Mauch will ontinue his role of Penrod in the new pictures. ▼ T T Feminine lead in Mervyn LeRoy's lew production for Warner Bros., 'Death in the Deep South," from Ward Greene's novel, will probably *o to Gloria Dickson, young drama:ic actress who has recently come nto prominence. Claude Rains will lave the lead. T ▼ T "Dance, Charlie, Dance", will go nto work next week at the Warner tudio with Olive Olsen in a feaured role. Previously cast were 5tuart Erwin, Glenda Farrell, Alen Jenkins and Richard Purcell. T ▼ » James Basevi, specialist in screen !ataclysms, and creator of the 'earthquake in "San Francisco," has WHO'S WHO IN HOLLYWOOD • • • • Introducing Interesting Personalities: No. 30 • LjARRY RAPF. Producer with M-G-M since 1924 and with few peers as a ' ' discoverer of talent. Found Joan Crawford in a Broadway dancing chorus; found Lupe Velez; found Spencer Tracy. Sponsored directorial careers of Monta Bell, Edmund Goulding. Began a theatrical career as the impresario of a barnstorming home talent minstrel show in Colorado. Next with Gus Edwards as manager, then set up his own vaude producing-booking office in New York with Lou Golder as partner. Turned to films in 1914, his first venture a releasing contract with World Film. Produced indies. Became Selznick's production manager. Entered Warner partnership in 1921. Joined Louis B. Mayer in 1924 with the merger of M-G-M. Three hobbies: bridge, fishing, career of his son, Maurice. Dynamo of energy. Tells a neat story. been signed by Samuel Goldwyn to devise the fury of a tropical storm for the forthcoming production, "Hurricane," from the book by James Norman Hall and Charles Nordhoff. ▼ T T Leon Barsha, who completed his first directorial effort, when he recently brought to the screen Charles Starrett's starring vehicle "Raiding Guns," has been placed under term contract by Columbia. T T T Frank Hawks' Columbia serial "The Adventure of the Mysterious Pilot" will be authored by Robert Newman, the same writer who has been doing the speed pilot's radio programs for the General Foods Corporation. Columbia plans to present Frank Hawks in the fifteen chapter serial. ▼ T T Two additions have been made to the all-comedy cast of "Marry the Girl," which William McGann is directing for First National. The newcomers are Olin Howland and Charles Judels. A story entitled "Racing Luck," will shortly be placed in work by Columbia Pictures. Dorothy Wil son and Charles Quigley have the feature roles. It will be directed by Lambert Hillyer. T Y T Josephine Hutchinson, who apappeared with Paul Muni in the remarkable "The Story of Louis Pasteur," will again be his leading lady in Warner's "The Story of Entile Zola." which goes into production early next month. Her role will be that of Emile Zola's wife. The picture is to be directed by William Dieterle. T T T Trem Carr has completed arrangements to use 120 long distance trucks of Pacific Freight Lines in his next John Wayne starring production, 'Short Haul," which goes into production tomorrow. ▼ T T Alice Brady and Charles Winninger have been signed to roles in Universale production "Delay In The Sun." Others already cast are Walter Connolly and Louis Hayward. Walter Lang will direct. T V T Jo Swerling has signed a longterm writing contract with Emanuel Cohen, joining a scenario staff in the Major Pictures Corp. which includes Waldemar Young, Dore Schary and Doris Malloy. T T T "Mama Steps Out" is the new title for the M-G-M picture, which entered production as "Burnt Fingers." George B. Seitz directed, with Alice Brady and Guy Kibbee as the leads. John Emerson was the producer. Committees Set For Annual Variety Club Convention Omaha — Appointment of committees to arrange the national contention of Variety clubs to be held it the Hotel Fontenelle here, ^.pril 17 and 18 have been announc;d by Edward Shafton, property nanager of the Omaha tent. Shaf -on said between 700 and 800 dele* grates and visitors are expected, pommittees are as follows: General •hairman and information: Harry *f. Shumow, M-G-M exchange. fVice general chairman: Edward hafton, Insurance building. Production and entertainment: E. R. Cummings, Tri-States district nanager, chairman; Sol Francis, ; American Distributing Corp.; William Miskell, Orpheum manager; R. 5. Ballantyne, Scott-Ballantyne Co.; .Valter Green, Fepco; Ted Emerson, Daramount manager; John J. Gillin Tr., manager Station WOW, and Trant Thomassen. Publicity: Joe Jacobs, General Outdoor Advertising Co., chairman; August Herman, Muse manager; Salter Green; Sam Epstein, Ep;tein Theater Corp.; D. V. McLucas, Jnited Artists exchange manager. Convention program and speakers: ifed Mendenhall, Paramount ex Ex-Critic Named Director of Birmingham Amusements Birmingham — Pettersen Marzoni has been appointed director of amusements by the city commission, succeeding Mrs. Harriett B. Adams, who has been made assistant director. Marzoni is a former critic of the "Birmingham News". change manager, chairman; McLucas and Shafton. Reception, transportation and hotel: Green, chairman; Leo Doty, United Artists office manager; Sol Francis, American Distributing Corp.; E. I. Rubin, R-K-0 salesman; Joe Rosenberg, Columbia salesman, and Ballantyne. Banquets and seating: Shafton, chairman; Mendenhall, McLucas, Francis, Green and Herman. Tickets — local and national: Herman, chairman; B. V. Trent, H. Novitsky, S. H. Stern, M. S. Cohn, I. M. Weiner, Roy Miller, Universal exchange manager; Jack Epstein, Epstein theaters; Joe E. Scott, 20thFox exchange manager; A. M. Avery, RKO exchange manager; Sol Yeager, Columbia salesman; E. N. Blozer, Rubin, Sam Epstein and Foley. Attend Charlotte Sales Meet Charlotte, N. C. — Robert J. Ingram, manager of Columbia exchange here, assembled his office and sales force January 15 for the purpose of joining the "Montague Sweepstakes Campaign" which was launched on that day. Attending the meeting here were Charles Picquet, president of the Theater Owners Association of the Carolinas; H. R. Berry, Hartsville, S. C; M. E. Wiman, manager of the booking department of the North Carolina Theaters, Inc.; Don Nichols, manager of the Broadway; and Cotton Eubanks of Rockingham. Foreign Press Writers Pick "Winterset" as Best Film Loew's Reopening in Meriden Meriden, Conn. — The Poli will be reopened by Loew's on Jan. 29, after more than a year of darkness. The 1,000-seat theater will operate weekends only, with amateur night, TenO-Win, new cash game, and other features as added attractions. Lou Falk, manager of Loew's other house in the city, the Palace, will be in charge. Aside from the two Loew houses, Leo Ricci operates the Capitol. Poll conducted among resident foreign press correspondents of New York by Ernest Gunther, American representative of "Der Film," German trade paper, shows RKO's "Winterset" topping the ten best pictures of 1936, as selected by the 69 who balloted. Columbia's "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town" was second choice, with "Modern Times" (UA); "Story of Louis Pasteur" (Warner Bros.); M-G-M's "Romeo and Juliet", "Fury", "The Great Ziegfeld", and San Francisco"; "These Three" (UA), and "Green Pastures" Warner Bros, picture, following in that order. Six features received honorable mention: "Dodsworth" (UA); "My Man Godfrey" (Universal); "Lloyds of London" (20th Century-Fox); Warners' "Anthony Adverse" and "Charge of the Light Brigade", and RKO's "Mary of Scotland". Deny They're to Wed Pittsburgh — Denial is made that Melba Scott and Ray Wheeler, manager of the state here, are to be married.