Hollywood Filmograph (Jan-Dec 1932)

HOLLYWOOD FILMOGRAPH 47 AUTHORS Here Is Your Chance To Serve the Major STUDIOS What Have You To Offer in Stories for Filmland's Best STARS "WHAT PRICE SEX IN HOLLYWOOD" By LOU JACOBS James Young has written a book. It is called "What Price Sex in Hollywood." It is just off the Pegasus Publishing Company's (New York) Press. It should never have been put on. As an author, James Young is a very fine director of silent films. His style is as oldfashioned as The Biograph Girl and his memory of Hollywood has become sadly clouded since his sojourn in the east. The best thing about the book is its title and that is good only as sucker bait. Young evidently has a grudge against the picture hub and vents his spleen by means of a — to him — unfamiliar medium. It seems his animosity is against the Jewish race and their preeminence in pictures and so the only hero in his book is a director named Donovan and a millionaire sap called Van Rensselaer whose wife, a Jewish director dubbed Calhougn, (why the "g? ") lures to stardom — and — 1 According to Young's book, everybody connected with pictures is a Jewish rotter — except "Uncle Carl" Laemmle to whom he gives a coat of adulation towards the end of the book. But in his descriptions, Young disqualifies his authority by not even knowing the difference between a preview and a premier. The book is neither clever nor naughty — just trashy. It has neither the virility of "Jarnegan" the humor of "Queer People" nor the interest of "Extra Girl." It has not a single redeeming or worth reading feature. Nor is it authentic. It is apparent from the Young manner of telling a scenario sequence that he is not aware that sound has changed the techinque of pictures but why find fault with an effort so unworthy as to be amusingly rather than aggravatingly bad. Won't Bob Wagner or Adela St. John or some other writer of picture fiction give us a stirring novel of the honest efforts of wholesome people and the strenuous struggle for betterment being waged in this industry which is as morally decent as any other given endeavor where the sexes mix freely? Or must every has-been be allowed to satisfy his microscopic soul by fictionic muckraking? AUTHORS FINISH U. ASSIGNMENT Their current work having been completed, seven scenarists have been retired from the Universal studio writing staff. They are H. M. Walker, Earl Snell, Ayn Rand O'Connor, Al Cohn, Lieut. Comm. Frank Wead, Tom Kilpatrick and Al Austin. Walker collaborated with Gladys Lehman on "They Just Had to Get Married," a Summerville-Pitts comedy feature, soon to be released, and with Earle Snell on the forthcoming Summerville-Pitts, "Alaska Bound." Ayn Rand O'Connor sold Carl Laemmle Jr., her original "Red Pawn," and was engaged to adapt it. She also adapted "Black Pearl." Al Cohn prepared a new treatment for 'Exile Express." Wead is credited with work on "Airmail," "S. O. S. Iceberg," "The All-American" and an untitled sequel to "Airmail." Tom Kilpatrick wrote and adapted "Men Without Fear" and made atmospheric scenes for the production in Spain. • • • • • GUY SAR, author of several novels and plays, and winner of honorable mention in the 1930 O. Henry awards, has been signed by Universal to prepare a treatment on his original story, "Share My Bed." The story will be used as a Slim Summerville-ZaSu Pitts comedy. M. H. HOFFMAN, President of Allied Pictures Corporation, signed Albert DeMond to write the screen adaptation and dialogue of his original story "The Sphinx," which will be produced for Monogram Pictures as the fourth of the series of six that Mr. Hoffman is making for that organization. DALE VAN EVERY is revising the original story "Black Pearl," which will be used as a starring vehicle for Tala Birell, who recently finished her first American picture, "Nagana," with Melvyn Douglas. Ray Doyle and Gouverneur Morris have provided the original story for the new South Seas picture. Max Miller, the young San Diego newspaper reporter who scored such a sensation in the literary field with his first novel, "I Cover the Water Front" is now at his La Jolla home putting the finishing touches to a second novel, "He Went Away For Awhile," which will be published next spring by Dutton and Company. Upon completion of this novel Miller will return to Hollywood to resume his screen writing career. Miller's novel "I Cover the Water Front" will go into production under the Reliance banner at United Artists' studio right after the holidays. • • • • • FRED L. COLLINS, author of "Glamorous Sinners" based on the Harry K. ThawStanford White case and one of the best selling novels of the day, is now in Hollywood writing a series of articles for Tower Publications and plans to remain here to negotiate several studio deals now pending. Upon completion of her new serial for early publication, VINA DELMAR will remain here to close one of the many picture writing assignments now pending. The authoress' latest book "The Marriage Racket" scheduled to be published shortly, is now being considered in galley form for screen translation by several of the major studios. After acting as assistant director and script clerk on sixteen consecutive Monogram westerns, Harry O. Jones decided he knew enough about them to write a story — which he forthwith proceeded to do. His first western scenario "The Rangers Ride Again," for Bob Steele, was purchased today for immediate production by Paul Malvern, Monogram associate producer for westerns. \ D*~".~ -I J r* D..l.«. Criticism, Revision, Collaboration ( Kegmald L.. Barker AiiTyPesMss. Suite 306 307 . . . 1558 North Vine Street . . . Hollywood, GoUforruo FREULER HERE ON TRIP FOR STORY CONFERENCE New York — John R. Freuler, President of Freuler Film Associates, Inc., has arrived in town for a three of four day visit to confer with Charles L. Glett, Vice President, the heads of Monarch's eastern distributors and several exhibitors in line with a policy of keeping abreast of current trends in story material. Freuler told a representative of Hollywood Filmograph that last minute changes are becoming more and more important in developing stories for the screen, because of the rapid, right-about-face attitude of the public. It is, he believes, imperative for the head of production to be m constant personal touch with the points of contact and that the program be so elastic and the Coast personnel so adaptable that switches and eleventh hour changes may be undertaken with no undue delay. More and more," says Freuler, "the picture industry is adopting certain functions for the press. The elements of 'newsiness' and 'timeliness' are keeping fast pace with our pictures. We are finding that the schedules must be readjusted expeditiously and smoothly. Simplicity and sincerity are today's story formula. What I call 'the tabloid influence' is being in jected into our films with great success — it is the 'tell-the-scene-with-a-picture' idea — and w.th dialogue curtailed." Eddie Welch, author, has been placed under contract by Charles R. Rogers and will work on the screen plays for several of the forthcoming features which Rogers will produce for Paramount. He is now working with Willard Mack on the script of "Strictly Personal," which is to go into production next week under the direction of Ralph Murphy. Wilson Mizner and Robert T. Shannon are credited with the original story. STUDIO STORY REQUIREMENTS UNIVERSAL STUDIOS— Universal City. ALBERT J. COHEN, Story Editor. Open for any good story with an unusual background. Will entertain originals only from recognized and well established authors or agents. Prefer published magazine stories, novels and plays. At present, seeking vehicles for LEW AYRES, BORIS KARLOFF, TALA BIRELL and a comedy permitting of "SLIM" SUMMERV1LLE and ZASU PITTS as a team. Feature lengths — no shorts. WARNER BROTHERS-FIRST NATIONAL— Burbank. HOWARD SMITH, Story Editor. Considering stories from recognized agents and authors. In the market for material for EDWARD ROBINSON, RUTH CHATTERTON, JAMES CAGNEY, JOE E. BROWN, DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, JR.. and WARREN WILLIAM. PARAMOUNT— 5451 Marathon. A. M. BOTSFORD, Story Editor. No originals entertained unless presented by established writers or through recognized agents. Comedies that permit of big name casting only No musicals. No sweet engenues. Definite characterization with emotional angles. No westerns. Adventure material with unique background. He-man stuff with comedy charm. Anything suitable to important star. No light comedies. Dramatic character comedy of the "Diamond Lil" type. FOX — Foxhills Movietone. JULIAN JOHNSON, Story Editor. No orginals entertained unless presented by established writers or through recognized agents. Program at present complete. No stories required. COLUMBIA— 1438 Gower Street. MISS FRANCES MANSON, Story Editor. Originals considered from established authors and agents only. In the market for inexpensive melo-dramas and westerns. JACK HOLT. Anything suitable. Preference: combination out of-door background with society angles. RICHARD CROMWELL. No mountaineer stories. Sympathetic juvenile type. CONSTANCE CUMMINGS. Story affording opportunity for emotional lead ing woman. METRO-GOLD WYN-MAYER— Culver City. SAMUEL MARX, Story Editor. Originals by staff writers only. Entertaining only published stories and plays that have had production. Program completed but will consider shift in schedule for any OUTSTANDING story that might prove suitable. RADIO PICTURES— 780 Gower Street. KENNETH MACOWAN, Story Editor. In the market for any good story with novelty background allowing for unusual characterizations. Originals entertained only when presented by established writers or through recognized agents. Stars for whom vehicles are being sought are IRENE DUNN, ANN HARDING, CONSTANCE BENNETT and RICHARD DIX. Particular interest in story for WHEELER and WOOLSEY. CLAUDETTE COLBERT GARY COOPER. CARY GRANT. FREDRIC MARCH MAE WEST.