Modern Screen (Dec 1931 - Nov 1932 (assorted issues))

• Mary Pickford left for New York by plane, accompanied as far as Albuquerque by Doug Fairbanks and Johnny Mack Brown. After all these months it turns out that Mary won't do that story called "Happy Ending" written especially for her by Frances Marion. In it she would have played the role of an old maid seamstress — and at the last minute she decided that wouldn't be such a good idea. Pollyanna mustn't go spinsterish. • England is jolly well perturbed about an American film company's acquisition of Noel Coward's "Cavalcade." The English consider this England's greatest modern play — and the monocle-wearers are put out that Hollywood has it. Herbert Marshall looks set for the lead. Maybe Fox will have to import four English children — because this play introduces four kids — and they've got to be oh-so-English in their speech. Mrs. Walter Clark. Walter Byron, Mae Clark. Russell Gleason, and Cora Sue Collins. The occasion was a Hollywood tea. Stop frowning, Russell. with an attack of "flu." She spent several days in bed, with a nurse on duty and everything. Nothing serious, but very inconvenient. • If you think about the Johnny Weissmullers at all— you probably make the mistake of thinking they're not getting on so elegantly in this Mr. and Mrs. game. From one end of Hollywood Boulevard to the other, smirkers have been saying, "Johnny and Bobbe are washed up — it won't be long now." If you could have seen Bobbe Arnst the day before her Tarzan pulled into the local train-yards — well ! It must be love. Bobbe was running around in circles, so that everything would be running smoothly when Johnny got home. If there's a break in the Weissmuller family, it won't be Bobbe who wants it. Even Johnny pooh-poohs the idea of trouble in the old homestead. Ah, well, they oughta know. • Howard Hughes was that burned Meet Harry Bannister's rumored fiancee. Nancy Lyon is the young lady's name and she appears in the new Eddie Cantor picture, "The Kid From Spain." about the story appearing in the newspapers of what Ann Dvorak and her hubby, Leslie Fenton, had to say about Hollywood producers in general. Ann is quoted by the scribes as getting off some pretty hard-hitting statements about Hollywood and studios and contracts, etc., etc. Also that the producers were nothing but a bunch of slave drivers, and that Hughes was getting $1,000 a week from Warner Brothers for her services, while he only paid her $250. What burns Hughes up is that the newspaper item didn't tell the truth. As a matter of fact, he sold Ann's contract to Warners for $40,000. Up to that time he had been paying her $250 a week every week whether she worked or not — and on two occasions did farm her out but only for $450. No wonder Ann thinks the studios harbor slave-drivers. She made something like eight pictures without a layoff in between. Nevertheless, we all think she'd have been smart to stay in the old burg long enough to George Brent and Loretta Young arrive in New York for a personal appearance tour. They were said to be that way— until George fell in love with La Chatterton. emote with Ronald Colman in "Cynara." A lead opposite Colman to her credit would have been a strong argument in her favor when she talked raises with Warners. We hear that "those-in-the-know" think that Leslie Fenton started the germs of rebellion in the Dvorak head. And maybe Ann will live to learn her walk-out was premature. • Lee Tracy's pals are hip-hip-hooraying it. 'Cause Lee has promised to be a good boy and work hard at this picture business. Warners didn't take up his option, it is said, because swell-actor Tracy was hitting the high spots too frequently for an up and coming movie actor. Now Lee's out at Columbia starring, and is being a very good boy. • William Haines' many friends are extending their condolences. Bill's mother, Mrs. Laura Virginia Haines, passed away on July 16 at the age of 54. She had made her home with her son for the past several years. Mary Pickford isn't going to make "Happy Ending" after all 17