MGM Studio News (December 3, 1938)

Brilliant Cast With Shearer And Gable in Idiot*s Delight' Norma Shearer and Clark Cable are supported by one of the season’s most notable name casts in “Idiot’s Delight,” Metro-Gold- wyn-Mayer picture, which reunites them as co-stars for the first time since “A Free Soul” and “Strange Interlude.” Edward Arnold, Charles Coburn, Joseph Schildkraut, Burgess Meredith, Pat Paterson, Skeets Gallagher and Laura Hope Crews, head the players selected by Director Clarence Brown for the picturization of Robert Sherwood’s Pulitzer Prize winning play. Gable, as a song-and-dance man, is accompanied by the niftiest chorus of blonde beauties in America, “Gable’s Glamour Girls,” Virginia Grey, Paula Stone, Virginia Dale, Lorraine Krueger, Bernadene Hayes and Joan Marsh. Others prominently featured in the pic- ture, which Hunt Stromberg brings to the screen, are Peter Willes, Edward Raquello, Clem Bevins, Fritz Held and William Edmonds. ♦ ♦ ♦ !na Claire Joins Traey-Lamarr Cast Ina Claire this week returned to Holly- wood under a long-term contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. As her first assignment, Miss Claire started in one of the important roles in “I Take This Woman,” which stars Spen- cer Tracy and Hedy Lamarr, with Walter Pidgeon. Frank Borzage is directing and Lawrence Weingarten is the producer. Hardys Voice Xmas Greetings In Ai GAT 5 Yu Ie t i de Trailer A special holiday season trailer has been produced under the title of “Hearty Greetings from the Hardy Family” for the Metro-Gold- wyn-Mayer accounts throughout the country. The entire Hardy family appears in a scene on Christmas morning and Lewis Stone greets the audience in the name of the Hardy family and all of the stars of the studio. A special card at the end of the trailer adds the best wishes of the theatre management. Taurog Re-Signed In recognition of his work on “Boys Town,” starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney, and “The Girl Down- stairs,” starring Franciska Gaal, Nor- man Taurog this week was awarded a new long-term directorial contract at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. MacDonald Starts New Singing Role In 'Broadway' Film Making her second modern role, Jean- ette MacDonald launched work this week on “Broadway Serenade.” Lew Ayres wins his most important as- signment to date as the star’s teammate and husband, while Ian Hunter is his rival for the MacDonald hand. Also in the featured cast are William Gargan, Rita Johnson, Virginia Grey and Katherine Alexander. Robert Z. Leonard directs his own production for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Charles Lederer wrote the original story. The screen play is by Lederer, Lew Lipton and Hans Kraly. ♦ ♦ ♦ New Song Vehicle For Miliza Korjus The colorful role of a girl, reared among the romantic gypsies or rural Hun- gary will be the next screen vehicle for the golden-voiced Miliza Korjus, who made her screen debut as the singing star of “The Great Waltz.” The story, an original by Walter Reisch, is based on an incident in the life of the picturesque Hungarian bandit leader Rosza Sandor. ♦ ♦ ♦ Auto Thriller “Salute the Gods,” a murder mystery authored by the celebrated British speed king, Sir Malcolm Campbell, has been purchased by M-G-M for early produc- tion. IT’S ALL TURKEY FOR THE HARDY FAMILY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: Even Louis B. Mayer holds his plate when Lewis Stone carves the festive fowl at the birthday party given in his honor following the preview of “Out West With the Hardys” which gives him cause for added pride with record-breaking business in 29 gala opening spots, hitting high gross of 220 per cent. With the actual filming of “Father Damien” completed this week, Carey Wil- son will begin recording the usual com- mentary notes he adds to all his Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer miniatures. In this edi- tion, Wilson depicts the hardships and experiences of Father Damien in his fight to Christianize the lepers on the island of Molokai. Wilson is also working on the script of his next edition of the “What Do You Think?” series, which is as yet untitled. "The Wrong Way Out,” which went into production at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer this week, is the latest, edition of the “Crime Does Not Pay” series and deals with a young couple, who in spite of the fact that neither has a job, get married and try to live on love. Unsuccessful, they turn to crime. Jack Chertok is rushing preparations on two two-reel musicals that will go into production within ten days. The screenplay for “Happily Buried” is now being written by Jack Woodford. Chet Forrest and Bob Wright are com- posing three songs for the production. “Three Kings and a Queen,” being written especially for Billy Gilbert, the sneezing comedian, by Stanley Rauh, Will Jason and Gilbert, is the other musical. Four songs are being prepared for it by Jason and Mort Greene. Jason will di- rect. “How to Sub-Let,” Robert Benchley’s last comedy before leaving for New York, is now being edited by Roy Brick- ner and will soon be ready for national release. This is the thirteenth consecu- tive picture on which Roy Rowland, direc- tor, Jack Chertok, producer, and Benchley, actor, have worked together. Everyone knows what the weather man does, but few know how he does it. So Pete Smith is going to show the general public just how the forecaster operates. He will do this in his screen specialty, “Weather Wizards,” which went into production this week. Robert Lees and Fred Rinaldo wrote the screenplay. Fred Zinneman is directing. In the current edition of the Passing Parade series, John Nesbitt is bringing to the screen the life of Alfred Nobel. Titled “Am I to Blame?” the film is now in production at M-G-M under the direc- tion of Joe Newman and starring Paul Guilfoyle, the screen’s most murdered ac- tor. Jack Chertok produces. Upon completion of “The Practical Joker,” “Our Gang” went right into work at M-G-M on “Alfalfa’s Aunt” this week, which is also being directed by George Sidney. Hal Law and Robert Mc- Gowan wrote the screenplay. Jack Cher- tok is producing.