Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1934)

20 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, December 7, 1934 Hollywood Personals Hollywood, Dec. 6.— Charles Boyer and Pat Paterson in from New York. . . . Busby Berkeley busy with a huge Coney Island number for "Gold Diggers of 1935" at Warners. . . . Dick Powell's parents here on a visit from Arkansas Pat O'Brien and Mrs. O'B. to San Francisco for the premiere of "Flirtation Walk". . . . Ethel Hill over the flu. . . . Not so with Carole Lombard who is still at home Earl Rettig, unit man for Jesse Lasky at Fox, married to Rosalie Castner, in Tia Juana the other day Ernst Lubitsch, David Selznick, and Harry Rapf in charge of the entertainment committee for the first Mayfair ball Saturday. . . . Felix Young has had his Radio office decorated with Gallic tapestries. . . . Edmund Goulding commutes to Palm Springs every day by plane to visit Mrs. G., now almost recovered from her illness. . . . Marion Marsh up again after an attack of ptomaine poisoning. . . . Paul Muni flying to New York for a play. . . . John Stone vacationing in Palm Springs. . . The Henry Ginsbergs in Palm Springs for a vacation. . . . Roland Young to New York December 20 to appear in a play on Broadway. . . . Elizabeth Allen to spend Christmas in New York. . . . Having finished her role in "David Copperfield" at M-G-M, Jean Cadell is aboard the Reliance en route to London via the Canal. . . . Sam Cohen has another cold. . . . Ginger Rogers a blonde again. . . Dorothy Parker the sensation of the Screen Actors Ball — at least to all those within earshot. . . . George Brent gets the male lead in Warners' "Oil for the Lamps of China." . . . Una Merkel and husband and a party to Arrowhead over the week-end. . . . Errol Flynn in romantic lead opposite Kay Francis in "A Present from Margate" at Warners. . . . The second section of Marion Davies' bungalow has been delivered to the Warner lot. . . . Kent Taylor has changed the shape of his mustache. . . . Joseph Schenck in Hollywood from Europe. . . . Freddie Fox now assistant director on "The Folies Bergere de Paree" for 20th Century. . . . Jeanne Waid surprised friends by eloping with Lawrence Tarver two weeks ago The newlyweds are now in San Francisco. ... Ed Flynn a guest of Winfield Sheehan on the Fox lot. . . . Charlie Butterworth back from the east. . . . Brazil Pickup Found Gaining By MacDonald With the clearing up of the political situation and improvement in the coffee business, theatres in Brazil likewise will benefit, Karl MacDonald, assistant to Sam Morris, foreign head of Warners, states following a sevenweek trip to Brazil, Trinidad, Venezuela, Curacao, Jamaica and Cuba. "There is a tremendous improvement in both these situations and the outlook for the theatre business is also good," he said. "Theatres are operated too cheaply and the price of admission is low," MacDonald declares. However, the theatre business is headed for better days and real admission prices, he says. Quite a bit of building is going on, the Warner foreign executive says. Recently a new 2,100-seat house was opened just outside of Rio de Janeiro. Another neighborhood theatre is being built by Adhemar Riberio, who owns four downtown first runs. Riberio's new theatre will seat from 1,500 to 2,000. Jose B. Andrade of Santos, where he operates a big circuit, is building a new 3,500-seat theatre in the Braz section of San Paulo. There are already two theatres in this district, MacDonald asserts. Things in general are going along nicely in these countries, the Warner official states. This was his second trip to Brazil and the West Indies since July. On his first trek, MacDonald installed Harry Novak, formerly with Paramount, as general manager of the Buenos Aires office. On his last trip, he took Nat Liebskind to Rio de Janeiro where Liebskind replaced William Fait as manager of the Warner branch. New Transformers For Warner Studio Hollywood, Dec. 6.— Warners are installing six new 33,000-volt transformers, which will give the Burbank studio facilities for generating more electrical power than anv other major studio. Frank Murphy, head of the electrical department, is in charge of the installation, which is being rushed to be used on major Warner productions of the year which are "Midsummer Night's Dream," "Go Into Your Dance," "Gold Diggers of 1935" and "Black Fury." The new transformers weigh 15,000 pounds each and will generate power for the four new studio stages now under construction. This new equipment doubles the amount of electrical apparatus formerly used at Warners. Start Work on "Laddie" Hollywood, Dec. 6. — "Laddie," with John Beal in the title role, goes into work Dec. 10 at Radio. George Stevens will direct under the Pandro Berman production banner. Penzner Switches Lots Hollywood, Dec. 6. — Seeking larger studio facilities for the production of its first picture, "The King's Highway," Penzner Prod, has moved from Talisman studios to Prudential. Watt Joins Small Hollywood, Dec. 6. — Nate Watt, associated with Lewis Milestone for several years as assistant, has signed a nine-month contract with Edward Small to act in a similar capacity. Watt's contract allows him to do outside pictures providing Small doesn't need him. He recently completed writing, directing and editing of "A Week-End in Agua Caliente," a Spanish musical short which United Artists produced for the Mexican Government. Finish "Bengal Lancer" Hollywood, Dec. 6.— After three years of consideration with the story started and abandoned at frequent intervals, "Lives of a Bengal Lancer" is at last in the cutting rooms following 88 days of shooting. The picture has been identified as the "jynx of all jynx pictures" on the Paramount lot. More than 40 persons were injured slightly and seriously during the filming of the battle scenes. Adler Joins Roach Hollywood, Dec. 6. — Felix Adler, former scribbler for Harold Lloyd, has been signed by Hal Roach to work on an untitled feature which Sam Taylor will direct. The Ben Jacksen and Harold Leyton office set the deal. Preparing Radio Series Hollywood, Dec. 6. — Helen Hayes is preparing a series of dramatic sketches which she will deliver over the radio early in the spring. She will broadcast once a week over a national hook-up from New York. Using New RCA "Mike" Hollywood, Dec. 6. — RKO has installed the new RCA ribbon velocity microphones on the "Roberta" sets. Switches O'Brien Group Hollywood, Dec. 6. — Sol Lesser has decided to rush "When a Man's a Man," Harold Bell Wright story featuring George O'Brien, into production before completing "The Cowboy Millionaire," which still has two weeks to go. The new schedule will probably affect the release dates on the two films, the latter of which was partially filmed in England. Buy "Crimson Ice" Hollywood, Dec. 6. — Paramount has purchased "Crimson Ice," novel by Rex Deane and Courtland Fitzsimmons. It is a murder mystery woven around a hockey game. Cary Grant will be featured. Fitzsimmons is coming from New York to prepare the screenplay. Charles R. Rogers will produce. "Typee" in Preparation Hollywood, Dec. 6. — M-G-M is readying a production unit for a trip to the South Seas in two weeks to film "Typee," Phil Goldstone's first effort for the studio. The picture stars Mala. No director has been set. Start Ambulance Film Hollywood, Dec. 6. — M-G-M has "Ambulance Call" before the cameras. The cast features Chester Morris and has Robert Taylor, William Henry, Louise Henrv, Johnny Hines, Sid Silvers, Billie Burke and Mary Jo Mathews in supporting roles. Join "U" Troupe Hollywood, Dec. 6.— Irene Biller and Irene Ware have joined Universal as members of the stock company. Miss Biller's first role will be in "The Great Ziegfield." Miss Ware's first will be in "Rendezvous at Midnight." Studio Aides Seeking Work By SERA Plan Hollywood, Dec. 6. — Unemployed technicians, writers and directors will be given an opportunity for employment under a producing olan sponsored by the SERA. The employes will be paid by the state and will aid in the filming of various industrial projects and historical happenings for Government files, much on the same order of the films taken during the World War. The A. S. C. has had delegates in Washington for the past two months promoting the scheme in order to place their idle cameramen and assistants. Warner Rearranging Studio Assignments Hollywood, Dec. 6. — With increased production, caused principally by the alliance with Cosmopolitan, Jack L. Warner is reapportioning production assignments so that the whole burden may not fall upon his or Hall Wallis' shoulders. Forthcoming productions will be distributed to Robert Presnell, Harry Joe Brown, Sam Bischoff, James Seymour and Robert Lord, who will have complete charge of one group of pictures under the general supervision of J. L. Warner. "Beau Brummel" Set Hollywood, Dec. 6. — Reliance Pictures has definitely decided to produce "Beau Brummel." Other companies have announced the picture, but Edward Small, vice-president, has decided to start and has a deal on for the services of Robert Donat. Hardwicke Role Fixed Hollywood, Dec. 6. — Cedric riardwicke, English actor, is here from New York on a one-picture deal with Radio. The actor goes to the Pathe lot immediately for a lead in production, "Becky Sharp." Roach Signs Duncan Hollywood, Dec. 6. — Arietta Duncan has been handed a long-term contract by the Roach studio. The deal was set by the O'Reilly and Mann office. Boasberg on Script Hollywo id, Dec. 6. — Al Boasberg has gone over to Radio to pen the next Wheeler and Woolsey, "Murder in Tin Pan Alley." The deal was negotiated by Ben Jacksen and Harold Leyton, Inc. With Lowe-McLaglen Hollywood, Dec. 6. — Florence Rice has been signed by Fox for the romantic lead in "East River" with Edmund Lowe and Victor McLaglen. Oakie in "Milky Way" Hollywo d. Dec. 6. — Jack Oakie has been definitely set for the male lead in "The Milky Way" at Paramount. Roscoe Karns will also have a feature part.