Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1936)

12 MOTION PICTURE HERALD June 20, 1936 HOLLYWOOD RAIDS STORY MART FOR 327 MANUSCRIPTS 36 Producers Shatter Records in Wholesale Buying Spree; Take 22 Plays, 102 Published Works and 193 Originals by JAMES P. CUNNINGHAM Unprecedented story-buying activity conducted by the producers of Hollywood developed in the past few weeks the largest single new source of supply ever opened at one time, bringing to the studios 327 manuscripts from which to select material for the motion picture screens of the world. The average monthly story-purchase prevailing heretofore was 63 and was dwarfed in comparison to the 170 manuscripts purchased in May and 157 in April. The nearest approach occurred in April, 1935, when the purchase of an even 100 stories was negotiated by all companies. Hollywood's biggest raid on record on the stage of Broadway, the book publishers, magazine availabilities and the outside vaults holding desirable original manuscripts is explained by the keen competition which this year has marked the construction of new feature programs at the pre-seasonal period. Prices paid for the plots ranged as high as $50,000. Taking the arbitrary estimate of only $5,000 expended on each deal, the 327 purchases represent an investment of at least $1,635,000. This figure in all likelihood would exceed $2,000,000 if the true prices were known. The new purchases are for the most part intended (a) To fulfill the few remaining commitments still to be made on the present 1935-36 feature programs; and, (b) To form the backbone of 1936-37 programs, as presently being announced. The stage of Broadway is growing less important to Hollywood as a source of story supply, Hollywood taking only 10 plays in May and12 in April, whereas the original story — 86 purchased in May and 107 in April — continues to build as the chief source, comparing as follows : MagaPurchases Orig zine in May inals Stories Books Plays Total Totals 86 19 55 10 170 Percentage. 51% 11% 32% 6% 100% MagaPurchases Orig zine in April inals Stories Books Plays Total Totals 107 13 25 12 157 Percentage. 68% 8% 16% 8% 100% The April and May purchases of 107 and 86 originals, respectively, compares with the previous monthly average of 31 originals ; the April and May purchases of 13 and 19 magazine stories, respectively, compares with the previous monthly average of six ; the April and May purchases of 25 and 55 books, respectively, compares with the pre YEAR'S COMPARISON OF STORY PURCHASES Month O riginals Books Plays Totals April, 1935 43 44 13 100 May 23 19 9 51 June 24 19 7 50 July 41 12 10 63 August 21 7 4 32 September 34 53(a) 4 91 October 7 2 14 November 22 12(b) 5 39 December 22 12(c) 4 38 January, 1936. . . 14 18(d) 5 37 February 35 38(e) 4 77 March 24 19(f) 2 45 April 107 48(g) 12 157 May 86 74(h) 10 170 TOTALS FOR 12 MONTHS 503 390(i) 91 964 (a) Including 4 published magazine stories. (b) Including I published magazine story, (cj Including 2 published magazine stories. (d) Including 4 published magazine stories. (e) Including 12 published magazine stories. (f) Including 6 published magazine stories. (g) Including 13 published magazine stories. (h) Including 19 published magazine stories. (i) Including 61 published magazine stories. vious monthly average of 33 books, while the April and May purchases of 12 and 10 plays, respectively, compares with the previous monthly average of seven plays bought. And with Hollywood nurturing a "mad" at Broadway over the new dramatists' pact, the tendency to look to Broadway as a story source for Hollywood is expected to lessen. Paramount participated more actively in the April-May story buying than any other company ever recorded, taking some 66 manuscripts, buying 25 of the "Elsie Dinsmore" stories in one clip, to be used in the new season and for several seasons thereafter. Radio bought 34 in April and May; MGM, 33; Columbia, 32; Warners, 32; Twentieth Century-Fox, 16; Universal, 15; the independent Leichter Productions, 14; FitzPatrick Pictures, 12, and Republic, 10. The remaining acquisitions were spread over some 26 independent producers. Some of the best books, plays and originals to be made available in years, insofar as potential box office material is involved, were taken in the heavy April-May buying activity, as witness their appearance in the complete record below. Manuscripts Bought in April Titles of the 157 original stories, magazine yarns, books and plays bought by Hollywood producers during April, principally for 1936-37 production, together with all available filming credits, are as follows : Ah, Miss Keane, magazine story, by Grace Sartwell Mason, purchased by Paramount, for Virginia Weidler and Billy Lee ; production by A. M. Botsford. Are Minded, original, by Eddie Moran, pur Purchase of 170 Pieces in One Month Compares with 63 Previous Average; Original Stories Lead Acquisitions chased by Radio ; screen play by Eddie Moran. And Sudden Death, book and magazine article (title purchased only), taken by Paramount, for Frances Drake, Randolph Scott and Charles Quigley. Title is tentative. As Good as Married, original, by Norman Krasna and Eddie Buzzell, purchased by Universal ; production and direction by Lynn Starling ; screen play by Mr. Buzzell and Mr. Starling. Assassins, original (known as "Flirting with Fate," as a silent production), purchased by Radio, for Joe Penner and "Parkyakarkas." Auld Lang Syne, original, purchased by FitzPatrick Pictures. Bard of Avon, original, based on the life of Shakespeare, purchased by FitzPatrick Pictures. Behold the Bridegroom, play, by George Kelly, purchased by Radio, for Herbert Marshall and Barbara Stanwyck ; production by Robert Sisk. Bells of St. Mary's, original, purchased by FitzPatrick Pictures. Benedict Arnold, original, by Albert Shelby Levino, purchased by Paramount, for Claudett Colbert and Randolph Scott ; production and direction by Wesley Ruggles. Bengal Killer, original, by Earl Fenton, purchased by Warners, for Barton MacLane. Bicycle Made for Two, original, purchased by London Films (United Artists), for Ralph Richardson and Lawrence Olivier ; production by Alexander Korda; direction by Rene Clair. Big Game, original, by Francis Wallace, purchased by Radio ; production by Pandro Berman ; screen play by Irwin Shaw. Blood Lines, original, purchased by Warners, for Patricia Ellis and Donald Woods ; direction by William Clemens. Body Snatcher, magazine story, by Theodore Tinsley, purchased by Columbia. Born to Dance, original musical, by Jack McGowan and Sid Silvers, purchased by MGM, for Eleanor Powell ; direction by Roy Del Ruth ; music by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed. Broadway Afternoon, magazine story, by Matt Taylor, purchased by Paramount, for Akim Tamiroff, Kent Taylor and Terry Walker ; production by A. M. Botsford. Call It a Day, play, purchased by Warners. Captain's Table, original, purchased by FitzPatrick Pictures. Chalk Dust, play, purchased by Columbia. Chinese Orange Mystery, book, by Ellery Queen, purchased by Republic. City of Conquest, book, by Aben Kandel, purchased by Columbia as possible producing vehicle for Frank Capra. Class Prophecy, magazine story, by Eleanor Griffin, purchased by Universal, as possible starring vehicle for Jane Wyatt. Clutching Hand, book, by Arthur B. Reeve, purchased by Stage and Screen Productions, for production under Louis Weiss's supervision and Albert Herman's direction, as a serial. Coast Guard, original, purchased by Radio,