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

The excitement over at the Paramount lot centers around the production of "The Big Broadcast.',' At the left is George Burns, Stuart Erwin, Leila Hyams and Bing Crosby in a scene from the production. Lower left you'll discover George Burns and Grace Allen. Lower right we present the Boswell Sisters. All these are in the picture. There is some interesting dope about this picture for you to learn in this story. RKO Studio is all of a dither, too. The reason is . "The Phantom of Crestwood." It is the first mystery picture ever made in Hollywood without even the cast knowing who committed the murder! The scenario that has been handed to the seventeen actors actually ends before the solution is reached. Only the author and the head of the studio know the answer. You may have guessed the reason : "The Phantom of Crestwood" is to be broadcast oyer the air and the radio audience will have the opportunity to write its own solution to the mystery for a large prize. Thus it is essential that the ending of the story be kept under lock and key! Ricardo Cortez, Pauline Frederick and Karen Morley ... all playing parts in the picture and yet not one of them has the slightest idea who committed the murder — or, in fact, whether they themselves committed the crime! A regular system of betting has been arranged ... the new odds (changing as the picture develops) are posted on the stage board every day. By inquiring around, it was learned that the surprising total of almost five thousand dollars will change hands the day the solution scene is made. Everyone has a different idea . . . "I'll bet it was the detective" . . . "Why, it's a cinch that the mother did it" . . . that is what you would hear all day long on the set. AND with all that going on, Paramount had to slip . out and gather in all the biggest radio talent in the business and put them in a picture! Not that this same idea hasn't been thought of before, it has ... but 82 after weeks of trying to get them all together, the other studios have given up! The huge difficulty about such a picture has always been the idea that many of the stars of the radio couldn't leave their work in New York. Paramount finally hit upon the idea of doing half of the picture in Hollywood and the rest in New York! Which may sound like an easy solution . . . but it isn't. The story calls for Bing Crosby to walk out of the broadcasting room as Kate Smith walks in. Bing will have to make his exit in Hollywood and when you see Kate Smith enter the same room she will be doing it in New York! Stuart Erwin will find it necessary to call the Mills Brothers into the room. On the screen you will see them walk right into the room. But the scene showing the Mills boys walking into the room will be taken three thousand miles away and about a month later ! AND, of course, you've heard of Burns &. Allen? George and Gracie? According to the boys inl Hollywood, they just about steal the show. Bing Crosby says so! And the Boswell Sisters! Who doesn't rave about their singing. The Boswell Sisters will probably appear on the screen in the same scene with Bing Crosby . . . and when they do, you can turn to your boy friend and say: "When that scene was made Bing was standing about three thousand miles from the Boswell Sisters . . . how do you suppose they do it?" We in Hollywood looked for {Continued on page 100)