The Film Daily (1932)

THE s^S DAILV Wednesday, Nov. 23, 1932 J huhm v n By RALPH WILK HOLLYWOOD J-JOWARD ESTABROOK, authorscenarist under contract to RKO, has just delivered a dictograph lecture on scenario writing. Prevented by press work from accepting an invitation to go to New York and address a university group on his experiences in adapting such scripts as "Cimarron," "Bill of Divorcement," etc., Estabrook shipped to the eastern institution 140 dictograph cylinders containing a full record of his "Cimarron" script. * * * Irving Cummings is to direct Junior Durkin in "Diamond Cut Diamond," a J. G. Bachman production for RKO. * * * "Baby Face" will be Barbara Stanwyck's next for Warners. It is an original by Gene Markey. * * * Mervyn LeRoy, who directed "I Am a Fugitive," is all smiles these days. He has been reading the boxoffice figures the picture has been piling up. » * * The Actors' and Authors' Guild is presenting a series of plays at Santa Monica. Many new plays by well known writers will be tried out and the Guild expects to attract the attention of motion picture producers seeking talent and material. "The Backslapper," by Mann Page and Paul Dickey, was the opening attraction. IN THE HEART OF HOLLYWOOD Hoi I WOOD'S most convenient hoteL ■ I id famoui itudioi, theatres, cafes and shops [, o minim s from golf courses, bridle padi Hotel is quiet, luxuriously furnish,,I. with restful bed*, glistening rile baths and showers, excellent lervii "dtrn cons. <,,,, n plan 12 SO and np, single. n.doubk $ i SO up. twin beds Lc'-' Doorway »/ Hoipitality' HOLLYWOOD PLAZA VINl ST. AT HOLLYWOOD BLVD. Sandra Shaw, beautiful society debutante who recently made her bow in motion pictures, was handed a new contract this week by RKO Radio Pictures. * * * John R. Freuler, president of Big 4, is back from New York and a definite anounncement of product will be made as soon as negotiations, which have already begun with two short subject and one feature producer, have been definitely concluded. * + * Marjorie Gateson and Dudley Digues will have important roles in George Arliss's next picture, "The King's Vacation." Others already assigned to the supporting cast are Florence Arliss, James Bell, Dick Powell and Patricia Ellis. * * * Fifi D'Orsay will have a prominent light comedy role with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and Loretta Young in Warners' "The Sucker." Aline MacMahon is also to be in the cast. * * * John Sheehan, musical comedy actor, has been engaged by Columbia for "Acquitted." * * * Julie Hayden, RKO Radio contract player, will have the leading feminine role in Tom Keene's next production, not yet titled. * * * Lai Chand Mehra, who was official attache for India at the East Olympic Games, has been signed by RKO Radio Pictures for the Oriental prologue to RKO Radio's "The Monkey's Paw." * * ♦ John Boles has been engaged by Columbia for the male lead opposite Nancy Carroll in "Child of Manhattan." * » * Dorothy Grainger, James Finlayson, Eddie Borden, Grayce Hampton, Tom Brower, Max Davidson, (raufurd Kent, Donald Reed, Tony Merlo, Rex Burnett, Jim Gordon, Charley McNaughton, Loul Payne, Maurice Black and other prominents from the Masquers are in the of "Through Thin and Thicket <>r Who's Zoo in Africa," new Masquers' comedy for RKO. Mark Sandnch directed and Walter Weems wrote the story. * * * Warren Hymer has been signed by Paramount for "Good Company." Alison Skipworth and Roland ■Younp; will be co-featured in this production, which Is to be directed by Norman McLeod. * * * Eric Linden has been assigned to "The Past of Mary Holmes," at the RKO Radio studio. Ruth Etting in "A Modern Cinderella" Vitaphone 7105 18 mins. Poor A very mechanical skit in which Ruth Etting sings a couple of numbers. Story is trifling and the acting is bad, leaving only Miss Etting's song numbers as of any value, and these would have been better if they hadn't been buried in so much ineffective production stuff. As the daughter of an Italian costumer, Ruth goes to deliver a gown to a Park Ave. address where a big party is on tap. Arriving at the house, she is scolded and abused by the hostess, who is dissatisfied with the dress and refuses to take it. Ruth decides to put it on herself to show the woman how it will look. Just as she finishes dressing, one of the male guests walks into the room, mistakes her for a guest and brings her down to the drawing room, where she sings and becomes the center of attention, only to be abused again by the snooty woman. For a finale, it develops that the persons staging the party are only servants, who beat it pronto when the master of the house suddenly turns up, with Ruth being sent home in the master's Rolls-Ritz. "Babes in the Woods" (Silly Symphony) United Artists 7 mins. Swell and Seasonal In addition to being as nifty an example of animated cartoon art, in Technicolor, this Walt Disney number has the extra advantage of holiday appeal for the kids. It's a sort of Hansel and Gretel yarn, with a little boy and girl wandering out into the fantastic woods. They come upon a colony of bearded dwarfs at work and play. Just as the kids are joining in the fun, along comes an old witch and the dwarfs run to cover. The two youngsters are carried away on the hag's broomstick, and she takes them to her cottage, where she turns kids into animals, but finally they are rescued by the dwarfs, who knock the stuffings out of the witch, and all the caged animals are turned back into children again. Mickey Mouse in "In Arabia" United Artists 7 mins. Fine Another choice bit of cartoon comicalities from the Disney shops. This time Mickey and Minnie are tourists in the Arab country. Riding into town on their dilapidated camel, Minnie is spotted by a sheik, who carries her off to his castle. Mickey follows on the trick camel and effects her rescue to the tune of plenty laughs. Roscoe (Fatty) Arbuckle in "Hey, Pop" Vitaphone 18 mins Weak Material Hurts Fatty Arbuckle's return to the screen is sorely handicapped by weak and trite material in which the gags are old-fashioned. Yarn has Fatty a chef in a restaurant. He adopts an abandoned youngster and in trying to keep him out of the orphan asylum comes to much grief. Finally, in trying to elude the au thorities, he and the lad accidental ly walk into the institution's grounds for the fadeout. Supporting Arbuckle are: Billy Hayes, Jack Shutta Dan Nolheim, Milton Wallace, Leo Hoyt, Hershel Mayall and Florence Auer. Alf Goulding directed. War ners have gotten out a press sheet to help sell the picture, the first in a series. Ted Husing in "Sport Thrills" Vitaphone 6501 9 mins. Good First of the new series of Ted Husing sport subjects. Eleanor Holm gives a swimming exhibition, which is followed by some box lacrosse played both outdoors and at Madison Square Garden, and then thrilling scenes of the Indianapolis auto races. An interesting subject of its kind. NASSAU MIAMI HAVANA CRUISES $115... 12 & DAYS. Sight-seeing trips at each port, 3 days in Nassau, 2 days in Miami, 2 Y2 days in Havana. Or take round-trip to Nassau only and stay 7 days at the Royal Victoria hotel for $125. Fortnightly sailings by S. S. Munargo on Saturdays. BERMUDA $45 ROUND TRIP Twice weekly sailings, 2 1 ,000-ton S.S. Part America and sister-ships, all airy, outside rooms mostly with beds and private baths. 5 days, including day at hotel in Bermuda $61; 7 days $73. S. S Pan America goes direct to dock at Hamilton. J~ For information on the Free Trip Slogan Contest, see any Tourist IL Agent or write the Munson Lines. All sailings from Pier 64, N.R. New York For funherinformationseelocal tourist agent or MUNSON JbS* 67 Wall Street, N.Y. Bowling Green 9-3300 J