MGM Studio News (May 21, 1940)

vy* w STUDIO NEWS Gable, Taylor Co-Star In New Prison Drama Clark Cable and Robert Taylor will team for the first time when production starts on “Osborne of Sing Sing,” dra- matic story of the career of the father of prison reform, which John W. Considine, Jr., is to produce. Cable will play the famous warden, and Taylor will appear as “Kid Dapper,” a convict, first an enemy of the warden, and later, understanding his ideals, his friend and co-worker in the fight to im- prove prison conditions. The picture is based on the book by Jonathan Finn and Harold Friedman, deal- ing with the career of Thomas Mott Os- borne. Osborne, a wealthy New Yorker, became interested in prison reform after important work in the Junior Republic. He went to Auburn as a prisoner to learn first-hand of graft, corruption, brutality and other prison evils, then became war- den at Sing Sing at Ossining, N. Y., where he was responsible for abolition of prison evils and creation of modern prison conditions. In the book two convicts be- came his friends and allies. ♦ ♦ ♦ Hepburn Arrives June 5 to Star In Noted Stage Play Katharine Hepburn arrives June 5 to start preparations for the filming of her outstanding stage success, “The Philadel- phia Story.” Miss Hepburn has com- pleted a sensationally successful run of the Philip Barry play at the Schubert Theater in New York. The start of the picture sees her re- united with George Cukor, who directed two of her greatest screen successes, “Little Women” and “A Bill of Divorce- ment.” Cukor recently completed work on “Susan and Cod,” with Joan Craw- ford and Fredric March. Miss Hepburn left Hollywood more than a year ago to return to the New York stage. While “The Philadelphia Story” was running to capacity in the theater it was purchased and she was signed for the starring role she created. Early pro- duction will follow the preliminary con- ferences of star and director with pro- ducer Joseph Mankiewicz. ♦ ♦ ♦ 'Kildare Goes Home' Next of Series to Start At Studio As soon as Lew Ayres returns from his vacation he will plunge into the most amazing of his medical adventures as Dr. Kildare in “Dr. Kildare Coes Home,” latest in the series. Lionel Barrymore, as his mentor, the veteran Dr. Gillespie, will guide his steps as he grapples with latest application medical research to a baffling, fantastic disease, the actual identity of which will be kept secret, as it will be referred to only as “X fever” in the script. Finishing touches on the script, based on a Max Brand original, are being ap- plied by scenarists Willis Goldbeck and Harry Ruskin. 'I DO' Shortest 1 Title Selected For Turner-Shelton Romantic Drama “I Do” has been announced by M-G- M as the final title for the production formerly known as “To Own the World,” featuring Lana Turner and John Shelton. The production, an original screen story by Dalton Trumbo, is a powerful drama of two young people and their struggle for existence in a big city. It marks the first straight dramatic role for Miss Turn- er, and the biggest role of his career for Shelton. “I Do” is directed by Harold S. Buc- quet, and is the first American film pro- duced by Seymour Nebenzahl, responsible for such European successes as “M” and “Mayerling.” ♦ ♦ ♦ Robt. Montgomery Completes English Film, Returns Soon With camera work to be completed this week on “Busman’s Honeymoon” at the M-C-M British studios at Denham, the Robert Montgomerys will seek pas- sage back to Hollywood immediately thereafter, according to word received this week. Reluctant to fly back on the Clipper from Ireland, they are hoping to find passage on an American boat. The star had planned to await the preview of the picture in England before coming home, but is now being urged to return as soon as possible. Meanwhile “The Earl of Chicago,” Montgomery’s last picture made at the Culver City studio, has received great ac- claim in England, according to clippings mailed from London. ♦ ♦ ♦ Marx Bros. Home From Tour, Set to Launch 'Go West!' With a week at the Paramount Theater in Los Angeles added to their road tour to try out comedy scenes for “Co West,” the Marx Brothers have piled up a total of 103 performances of their act and are preparing to begin camera work on the picture within the next three weeks. The tour to Joliet, Toledo, Detroit, Chicago and Los Angeles gave them what amounts to more than 100 dress re- hearsals of the five most hilarious scenes from their script. They plan to do these sequences while the results of their try-outs are still fresh in mind. Eddie Buzzell will direct and Jack Cummings produces. Billie Burke Wins Role and Contract Billie Burke this week was cast for a featured role in “Dulcy,” new Ann Soth- ern feature, and at the same time was signed to a new long-term contract by M-C-M. Miss Burke will play the role of Mrs. Forbes in the new comedy which will be directed by S. Sylvan Simon, with Edgar Selwyn producing. Whiteman to Play Himself In Rooney, Garland Musical With the signing of Paul Whiteman and orchestra for “Strike Up the Band,” conferences are under way regarding a special routine to be worked into the Mickey Rooney-Judy Garland musical of youth. Whiteman will arrive June 3, to go into discussions with Arthur Freed, producer, Busby Berkeley, director, and George Stoll, musical director, and then will work out his own routine for his specialty in the picture. In addition Whiteman will turn actor, to enact himself in scenes with the principals. Other music in the picture includes George Gershwin’s “Strike Up the Band,” “Our Love Affair,” by Arthur Freed and Roger Edens, “Nobody,” by Roger Edens, both sung by Miss Garland, “1 Just Can’t Make My Eyes Behave,” and streamlined version of “To Ra Ra Boom-de-Ray,” sung and danced by June Preisser, and such old numbers as “Curse of An Ach- ing Heart,” "Heaven Will Protect a Working Girl,” and “She’s More to Be Pitied Than Censured,” sung by Miss Garland in the travesty of old-time stage melodramas of 1 900. ♦ ♦ ♦ Shearer Planes From New York To Start 'Escape' Returned from New York by plane to take over her role as the Countess von Treck in Ethel Vance’s “Escape,” Norma Shearer this week went before the cam- eras with her co-star, Robert Taylor, in a Bavarian mountain setting. Taylor is seen as Mark Preysing, young American artist; Nazimova as his mother, ex-actress Emmy Ritter, imprisoned in a concentration camp; Paul Lukas as Gen- eral Kurt von Kolb. Also cast in import- ant roles are Felix Bressart as the old servant, Fritz; Bonita Granville as the schoolgirl, Ursula; Albert and Elsa Bas- sermann as Henning, the lawyer, and his wife; and Edgar Barrier as the sadistic Commissioner of Police. Mervyn Le Roy directs the picturization of the best-seller, with Lawrence Wein- garten producing. ♦ ♦ ♦ Newest Powell, Loy Comedy Ready for 'Sneak' Prevue Soon “I Love You Again,” the new, fast- moving comedy co-starring William Powell and Myrna Loy, will be ready for a “sneak” preview within two weeks. The production is the first in some time to co-star the two favorites in roles other than the “Thin Man” series. The new story tells of the plight of a man who suddenly recovers from an amnesia attack of eight years duration, and dis- covers himself to be the central figure in a new and strange world. Supporting players include Frank Mc- Hugh, Edmund Lowe, Donald Douglas and Nella Walker. It was directed by W. S. Van Dyke II, and produced by Lawrence Weingar- ten. Nine Important Star Musicals On '40-‘41 Slate Nine important musical productions are slated for the coming season, at M-C-M, all with important major stars. Two will co-star Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, and Miss MacDonald will appear in another, without Eddy, be- fore her next concert tour. Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, cur- rently at work in “Strike Up the Band,” will be teamed in another, and Miss Car- land will solo in a third musical romance of youth. James Stewart, Hedy Lamarr, Eleanor Powell and Lana Turner will form a star quartette in “The Ziegfeld Girl” and Miss Powell, with all-star cast, will appear in “Broadway Melody of 1941.” The Marx Brothers will star in “Co West.” Miss MacDonald and Eddy will start shortly in “I Married An Angel,” with Hunt Stromberg producing and Robert Z. Leonard directing. Following that they will be joined in Noel Coward’s “Bitter Sweet,” Victor Saville producing, and Miss MacDonald will star in a musical version of “Smilin’ Through.” “Babes On Broadway” will follow “Strike Up the Band” for Rooney and Miss Garland, and she will star in “Little Nellie Kelly,” both produced by Arthur Freed. Jack Cummings will produce the Marx Brothers picture, shortly to go into production, following their stage tour to work out the comedy sequences. ♦ ♦ ♦ Beery's 'Wyoming' Troupe to Shoot At Jackson Hole Final preparations for a location trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, will be com- pleted this week by Director Richard Thorpe for the filming of “Wyoming,” new Wallace Beery starring picture sched- ultd to go before the cameras on June 2. Present plans are to establish a com- pany of 100 people in the Jackson Hole region to operate over a radius of 250 miles of scenic wonders. Eight carloads of equipment, with portable camera de- vices for use in the roughest mountain country will be required by the unit. Lee Bowman has been set to play the young romantic male lead, with Ann Rutherford as the feminine lead. Mar- jorie Main plays a featured character role. Milton Bren will produce. ♦ ♦ ♦ 'Boom Town' Troupe On 21st Location Jaunt of Picture The “Boom Town” company at M-G- M this week completed its twenty-first location jaunt when Clark Cable and Spencer Tracy, who star with Claudette Colbert, Hedy Lamarr and Frank Mor- gan, did railroad yard scenes in oil fields near Norwalk, Calif. The company has filmed sequences in more than a dozen varied oil fields as well as in refineries, around storage tanks, in prairie country and at a race track. They still have several thrilling scenes to do, including an oil well fire. Jack Conway is directing and Sam Zimbalist producing. 'EVERY MAN,WOMAN, CHILD WILL WANT TO SEE 'EDISON, THE MAN"! HEDDA HOPPER, COLUMNIST