Hollywood Spectator (Apr-May 1939)

BY INA ROBERTS ./ ^ anels <J From ai a.. is of the country come reqr sts for our panels. Mrs. Francis J. Waindle, Motion Picture Chairman for the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs, sends the following inspiring message, enclosed with a Christmas card: "Dear Mrs. Roberts: If grateful thoughts could build up a treasury of any value, you would indeed be wealthy. Your panels have done splendid service in the Chicago area. Your October and November panels have been displayed in fifteen clubs and two libraries. Thank you heartily. Cordially yours, Mary Waindle." Japanese Boys' Town Cfl Comes from Japan a reaction to the film Boys' Town. Horie Nagasada heads a group of business men financing a city for boys near Tokyo fashioned after Father Flanagan’s famous organization in Omaha. This Japanese school for boys’ project is a direct outgrowth of the picture. Norman Taurog, who directed Boys’ Town, has received a letter from Nagasada, asking for helpful information. Taurog has forwarded the letter to Father Flanagan. This incident shows that moving pictures are finding their real mission in life, which is to inspire. Of course this must be done through entertainment, a fact that helps rather than hinders the inspiration to find its mark in the minds of audiences. Never was more hilarious comedy provided than in You Can't Take It With You, yet what we all took home with us was the lesson contained in the title. Mice On the Set — Oh, No! •fl For obvious reasons, a bird was substituted for the mouse in Of Mice and Men. When master-minds told Director Milestone he would also have to change the title, he solved the problem by prefacing the film with the Burns poem in which appears the line that suggested Steinbeck’s title — "the best laid schemes o’ mice and men gang aft agley." Hands Across the Border CJ Northwest Mounted Police, the de Mille production now in preparation, will deal with the so-called Riel Rebellion of 1885 and will introduce a Texas Ranger into the territory of the Mounted Police. Mr. de Mille says "the story sticks to history in both letter and spirit, the wishes of the Canadian government and the Mounted Police have been respected and the story also gives both sides of the Rebellion. One of the principal themes is the friendship and cooperation between Canada and the United States. Boat Modelers, Attention For their coming film, The Sea Hawk, Warners have built the largest craft ever fashioned in a film city. The Falcon, 135 feet long, with a 30 foot beam, four decks and a full fore and aft sailing rig, stands on its ways in the carpentry mills at Warner Bros. Studio, awaiting its formal launching. Another ship, a Spanish craft, will be built for the film. Hands Across the Sea CjJ Bringing England to Hollywood for The Earl of Chicago, starring Robert Montgomery, required 1827 items for interior decoration and more than 3000 props. The film shows 33 English sets, including a mythical Gorley Castle and such historic settings as the House of Lords and the Tower of London. The Tower of London set was re-created, even to the headsman’s block and the placques showing the site of the execution of Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, the Earl of Essex and other notables. The House of Lords, pictured for the first time on the screen, required 369 props, each important to depicting the colorful ceremony, ritual and traditions of the famed governing body. Poor Mickey! After learning the Continental telegraph code in connection with his role in Young Tom Edison, Mickey Rooney learned that this code came into existence with the use of wireless, so Mickey went to work to learn the Morse code. Lesson Not "Gone With the Wind" Something to take home from this film is the realization that, through her many faults, the dominant characteristic of Scarlett stands out with striking beauty. The supreme trait was her never-failing ability to meet what came, carrying on with splendid courage and daring. Meeting the Challenge of Life and books of similar import are appropriate for display in connection with the filmed Gone With the Wind. The connection will not be missed by audiences and Scarlett's indominable and instant reaction to calamity will prove an inspiration to others beset by minor tragedies:; there could scarcely be greater trials than Scarlett endured and solved with colors flying. Systematic Film Cooperation C[ Libraries wishing to increase the reading of connecting books will do well to make film cooperation systematic and constructive. One of the essential points is to keep posted on future films in order to have extra copies of their connecting books ready for circulation to coinside with the local appearance of the film. For this reason, the list of films, grouped under "Current,” "Coming," and "In Production" to be found in this "Books and Films Department," will be found extremely useful. In addition managers of theatres in the neighborhood of the library should be contacted. Once their cooperation is secured, care should be taken to help the theatres in every way consistent with the Library’s policy as a non-commercial organization. An important way of doing this is to post displays and distribute film bookmarks somewhat in advance of local showings. The time the manager needs your aid is just before and during the time the film in question is showing in his theatre; he will repay you by booking more films with which you can cooperate. CURRENT FILMS Batata ka — Play by Eric Maschwitz : Nelson Eddy, Ilona Massey, released 12-30. MGM Charlie McCarthy , Detective — Edgar Bergen. Charlie McCarthy. Mortimer Snerd ; released 12-23. Univ. Drums Along the Mohawk — Novel by Walter Edmonds; Henry Fonda, Claudette Colbert. 20th-Fox Everything Happens At Night — Sonja Henie, RayMilland; released 12-22. 20th-Fox Gentleman from Arizona — Cinecolor-filmed in Arizona: J. Farrell MacDonald. Joan Barclay. Craig Reynolds. Mono. Gone With the Wind — Novel by Margaret Mitchell; Leslie Howard, Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, Olivia de Havilland.^ MGM Great Victor Herbert — Mary Martin, Allan Jones; released 12-29. Para. Green Hell — Screen play by Frances Marion; Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Joan Bennett; released 1-27. Univ. Gulliver’s Travels — Story by Jonathan Swift; Max Fleischer feature cartoon; released 12-23. RKO Hunchback of Notre Dame — Novel by Hugo; Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Hara, Walter Hampden, Sir Cecil Hardwicke, Edmond O’Brien. Minna Gombell ; released 12-30. RKO Judge Hardy and Son — Hardy Family; released 12-23. MGM Mr. Smith Goes to Washington — Continues adventures of Mr. Deeds : Jean Arthur. James Stewart. Claude Rains. Guy Kibbee, Eugene Pallete-; released 10-21. Col. Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex — based on play Elizabeth, the Queen, by Maxwell Anderson: released 11-11. Warnei Swanee River — Life of Stephen Foster and life of E. P. Christy, minstrel man: technicolor; Don Ameche, Al Jolson. Andrea Leeds: released 1-5. 20th-Fox We Are Not Alone — Novel by Hilton: released 11-25. Warner COMING FILMS Abe Lincoln in Illinois — Play by Robert Sherwood; Raymond Massey, Gene Lockhart. RKO JANUARY 6, 1940 PAGE THIRTEEN