Motion Picture Herald (Jun-Sep 1934)

32 MOTION PICTU RE HERALD September 8, 1934 IN THE CUTTING ROOM their competition in romance, on the football field, in student life and in the work-a-day world after graduation. The original story is by George Marion, Jr., who collaborated in writing "Kiss and Make Up" and the screen play on "We're Not Dressing." Adaptation is by Walter DeLeon, who did "You're Telling Me" ; Jack McDermott and Francis Martin. Norman Taurog, who made "We're Not Dressing," is directing. The cast introduces Joe Penner and his duck, familiar via the radio and vaudeville stage, to picture fans. Lanny Ross, radio broadcast favorite who made his screen debut in "Melody in Spring," is seen again. Other principals are Jack Oakie, last seen in "Shoot the Works" and "Murder at the Vanities ;" Lyda Roberti, who has been away for some time, but remembered for "Three Cornered Moon" and "Torch Singer." In support are George Barbier, Helen Mack, currently in "Lemon Drop Kid," Joseph Sauers, Mary Brian, Julian Madison and Mary Wallace (newcomers). Franklin Pangborn, Robert McWade, appearing soon in another football picture, "The Kick Off," and Harold Minjir. Music and lyrics are contributed by Harry Revel and Mack Gordon, similarly associated with many Paramount pictures, "We're Not Dressing," "Shoot the Works," "She Loves Me Not" and others. The yarn is peppy and full of the spirit of youth. Its release coinciding with the football season, plus the value of radio and screen names, suggests it as a colorful exploitation feature. ENTER MADAME Varamount This picture story is adapted from a stage play which was one of the most widely played roadshows of the present era. In touring companies and stock it has been played almost every place where legitimate attractions are played. In atmosphere, it's an exciting and hectic comedy romance. The play is by Gilda Varesi and Dolly and Archibald Byrne. This screen adaptation is by Jacques Deval, Gladys Lehman and Charles I3racket. Elliott Nugent, maker of "She Loves Me Not," "Strictly Dynamite" and the well-remembered "Three Cornered Moon" is directing. To secure proper character interpretation, the leads were assigned to Elissa Landi, currently in "The Great Flirtation" and "Sisters Under the Skin," both paralleling her character in this story, and Cary Grant, now in "Kiss and Make Up." In the story, Grant marries the tempestuous, temperamental operatic star, Elissa Landi, only to discover that she's the big shot in the family and he is merely "Mr. Opera-singer" and chief dog-leader. Life is one grand series of cyclones that eventually convince Grant that he belongs some place else. Not getting any help from his wife's manager (Overman), Landi leaves on a tour as Grant leaves for America and romance with Sharon Lynn. Informed of this and considering it an insult to her charm, Landi comes over, moves in on Grant and Miss Lynn to again completely captivate her husband and make him glad to lead the dog around. Comedy, fast-moving and explosive, appears to be the outstanding showmanship quality to back up the picture's entertainment prestige and the cast name strength. LEMON DROP KID Paramount This is a typical Damon Runyon sportingworld human interest story topical of the characters and the manner of life and love as made famous in his short stories and the pictures adapted from those stories from "Lady for a Day" to "Little Miss Marker." Screen play is by Howard J. Green, who recently did "Morning Glory," "Success at any Price" and "Shoot the Works." Marshall Neilan, responsible for many successful pictures in the silent era, who lately made "Social Register" for Columbia, is directing. Lee Tracy and Helen Mack, currently featured in "You Belong to Me," are again teamed in the leading roles. In support are Baby LeRoy, Claude Gillingwater, seen in "The ShowOff," "You Can't Buy Everything" and "In Love with Life" ; William Frawley, appearing in "Bolero" and "The Witching Hour" ; Henry B. Walthall, Kitty Kelly, Eddie Peabody and dozens of other lesser names in character and atmospheric roles. As the odd hero of Runyon's published story, Lee Tracy is assigned a character that should be right down his alley. In the same sense, the emotion touching role that is Helen Mack's should give her every opportunity to develop the promise so impressively demonstrated in "All of Me" and "You Belong to Me." Tracy is a lemon drop-eating, but always busted wise guy race track tout. Swindling the health-seeking Gillingwater out of a winning bet, he hits the road to wind up as a small town grocery clerk in love with Helen Mack. Married and actually poverty stricken but wealthy as far as ambitious words are concerned, he robs his employer to pay the doctor who delivers his baby only to have his wife die. Arrested and imprisoned, he is regenerated by his child, Baby LeRoy. Never forgetting his lemon drop penchant, he is found by Gillingwater, whose swindling had resulted in a health cure. Lively, excitingly colorful, yet carrying a tender heart sock, it calls for a campaign capitalizing on title value, author credits and the leading players' popularity. STORIES SOLD TO PRODUCERS TOTAL ,-SOURCEOFMATERIAL-i FOR COMPANY ORIGINAL BOOK PLAY WEEK Columbia I I Goldwyn I I Mascot I I Metro I . . I Paramount 3'* 2 . . 5 Radio 3 8 . . II Supreme I . . I 20th Century 2 2 United Artists I I Universal I 3 . . 4 Warners 4 I I 6 TOTAL FOR THE WEEK... 14 16 4 34 * Includes one published magazine story. Andrew's Harvest, original of the Texas plains, by John Evans, purchased by Paramount, screen play by Marguerite Roberts, to feature Herbert Wilcox. Beggar's Opera, play, by John Gay, purchased by Warner Brothers, William Dieterle to direct. Behind the Green Lights, book, by Captain Cornelius J. Willemse, purchased by Mascot. Broken Soil, original, by Paul Green and Edwin Knopf, purchased by Samuel Goldwyn (United Artists), for Anna Sten and Gary Cooper. Dangerous Corner, play, by John Boynton Priestley and Ruth Holland, purchased by RKO, for Virginia Bruce, Conrad Nagel, Melvyn Douglas, Erin O'Brien-Moore, Betty Furness, Henry Wadsworth and Doris Lloyd ; directors, Phil Rosen and Arthur Sircom. Dinky, original about "mother love," by John Fante, purchased by Warners. Escape Me Never, play, by Margaret Kennedy, screen play by Margaret Kennedy and Carl Zuckmeyer, purchased by United Artists (British and Dominions). Fighter Fool, original western, by Robert Donaldson, purchased by Supreme, for Bob Steele. Florentine Dagger, original, by Ben Hecht, purchased by Warners, screen play by Tom Reed, Harry Joe Brown supervising. FoLiES Bergere, play, by Aron Le Blanc and Cole Porter, purchased by Twentieth Century (United Artists). Forsyte Saga, book, by John Galsworthy, purchased by RKO, for Katharine Hepburn. Freckles, book, by Gene Stratton Porter, purchased by RKO. Gorgeous Hussy, novel, by Samuel Hopkins Adams, purchased by RKO, for Katharine Hepburn. Highball Limited, original, by Roger RoltWheeler, purchased by RKO. I've Been Around, original, by Gerald Beaumont, purchased by Universal, for Chester Morris, B. F. Zeidman supervising. Kayo Oke, magazine story by Sophie Kerr, purchased by Paramount, for Charley Ruggles and Mary Boland. Kick-off, original, by Nicholas Barrows and Earl Snell, purchased by RKO. Laddie, book, by Gene Stratton Porter, purchased by RKO. Living on Velvet, original war story, by Jerry Wald and Julius Epstein, purchased by Warners. Madame Tubes, book, by Homer Croy, purchased by Universal. North Shore, book, by Wallace Irwin, purchased by Warners, for Bette Davis. Ocean Swells, book, by Joseph Fields, purchased by RKO. (To use title only.) Old Folks at Home, play, by H. M. Harwood, purchased by Twentieth Century (United Artists), to be released as "Lady Jane." Piccadilly Jim, book, by P. G. Wodehouse, purchased by MGM, for musical comedy, to be produced by David O. Selznick. Puzzle of the Pepper Tree, book, mystery, by Stuart Palmer, purchased by RKO. Sacred Flame, book, by W. Somerset Maugham, purchased by Paramount, possibly for Claudette Colbert and Warren William. She Made a Million, book, by Polan Banks, purchased by Universal. Social Pirates, original, by Ralph Spence, purchased by Warners, possibly for John Blondell and Guy Kibbee. Silver Streak, book, by George Cory Franklin, purchased by RKO. (To use title only.) Such a Lovely Couple, book, by F. Hugh Herbert, purchased by Paramount, for Charley Ruggles and Mary Boland. Two FOR One, original, by Corey Ford, purchased by Columbia, screen play by Huston Branch, for Jack Holt and Edmund Lowe. Two Little People, original, by Frank Dazy and Agnes Johnson, for Paramount, screen play by Hyatt Daab. West of the Pecos, book, western, by Zane Grey, purchased by RKO, to be produced by Cliff Reid, with direction probably by John Ford. What Ladies Dream, book, by William Hurlburt, purchased by Universal, for Binnie Barnes, Neil Hamilton, Paul Cavanagh and Grant Mitchell. No Gaumon+s for United Artists United Artists will not distribute two Gaumont British pictures next season, contrary to previous reports, according to the New York office of Gaumont.