Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1937)

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38 MOTION PICTU RE H ERALD December 4, 1937 IN THE CUTTING ROOM Everybody Sing (MGM) Comedy and Music They're plotting something out at MGM which, at the moment, promises to have exhibitors and audiences agog with excitement. The chief plotters are Producer Harry Rapf who, during his long Broadway and Hollywood experience, has learned that people like nothing better than to be surprised ; director Edwin L. Marin, recently credited with "Married Before Breakfast," and writers Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf. They intend that what they are plotting will result in entertainment which, in radical ways, combines the best values of a madcap domestic comedy and a musical show. Aware of the present public demand for love stories with a snap, semi-sophistication that permits an occasional old fashioned tear and melodies which blend the ultra modern swing tunes with the classics and that, most of all, comedy is the article desired, the production group is shooting just for that. That there should be no lack of name values with which to interest prospective patrons, the producing group apparently did quite a bit of picking and choosing from the MGM' star roster. The principals are Allan Jones, direct from "The Firefly," and Judy Garland, fresh from her triumph in "Broadway Melody of 1938." The featured support lists Fanny Brice, well known and remembered for her work in "The Great Ziegfeld," Billie Burke, Reginald Gardiner, Lynn Carver and Mary Forbes. Parts of lesser importance were assigned to Elise Cavonna, Cupid Ainsworth, Marie Blake and Helen Troy. Release date: Feb. 11, 1938. Sally, Irene and Mary (Twentieth Century Fox) Musical Romance The title is famous. Originally it lured millions of dollars into legitimate theatre box offices. MGM used it in 1925, and the silent picture was successful. The story which is being used this time and which is credited to Harry Tugend and Jack Yellen is peppy and modernly lively. The music, some of which was contributed by Walter Bullock and Harold Spina and some of which is credited to Mack Gordon and Harry Revel is intended to accentuate those qualities. It features three girls who go adventuring on Broadway, invade Greenwich Village take over a Hudson River show boat, where they become the focal point of many gay incidents, particularly when the boat drifts out onto the Atlantic. The cast is one of those aggregations that received Darryl Zanuck's personal attention. ■"Sally," the swingy songstress, is Alice Faye ; flirtatious "Irene" is Joan Davis, who burlesqued her way pleasingly through "Wake Up and Live" and "Life Begins at College" ; "Mary" is newcomer Marjorie Weaver, who after bit and small part roles, won featured billing in "Second Honeymoon." Then there is Fred Allen of "Town Hall Tonight" radio note, seen earlier in "Thanks a Million," Tony Martin seen in nine previous 20th Century-Fox films, Jimmy Durante, Gregory Ratoff, Barnett Parker borrowed from MGM, Louise Hovick now in "Ali Baba Goes to Town," Mary Treen, the Raymond Scott Quintet and the Peters Sisters. There will be plenty of eye glamour in "Sally, Irene and Mary." Some of the settings are among the most lavish the studio ever attempted. In the hands of William A. Seiter, much can be expected of the quality of direction. Release date: Jan. 14, 1938. Hawaii Calls (RKO RadioPrincipal) Musical Spectacle "Let's Sing Again," "Rainbow on the River" and "Make a Wish" did much to establish Bobby Breen as a screen personality. Sol Lesser expects that "Hawaii Calls" will further enhance his protege's popularity. To that end he is spending more money on this picture, giving it more spectacular production settings and assigning more important people to the cast than he has to any of the previous productions. In gist the story is a musical comedy adventure yarn. Two boys stowaway on a boat and reach Honolulu. There they become involved in an exciting series of incidents which involve the theft of naval secrets and a kidnaping. The story is based on the Islands' poet Don Blanding's novel "Stowaways in Paradise." Screen play was done by Wanda Tuchok, who received credit for "O'Shaughnessey's Boy," "Grand Old Girl," "The Champ" and "Bird of Paradise," which story also was localed in Hawaii. Lesser, who has enjoyed notable success in producing films featuring boys, such as "Peck's Bad Boy" and others in which Jackie Coogan, Jackie Cooper and Baby Peggy were starred, entrusted the job of direction to Edward Kline. The cast supporting Breen will present Irvin S. Cobb, seen with Will Rogers and Jane Withers, Gloria Holden, now in "Zola," Ned Sparks, Warren Hull, Mamo Clarke seen in "Mutiny on the Bounty" and "Hurricane," Raymond Page, Juanita Quigley, Pua Landi, Ward Bond and hundreds of natives. Release date: Jan. 6, 1938 (tentatively). Scandal Street (Paramount) Comedy-Melodrama Although what some people chose to call a potentially scandalous situation exists in this story and although there is a murder or two plus a rather difficult to explain disappearance, the character of this forthcoming release is not nearly as scandalous as the present working title might indicate. Essentially it is a comedy of family affairs which encounter bewildering complications. The cast does not offer any standout names, but it does include many capable performers. Listed are Lew Ayres, Louise Campbell now in "Night Club Scandal," Porter Hall, Virginia Weidler, Roscoe Karns, Cecil Cunningham, Edgar Kennedy, Elizabeth Patterson, Jan Duggan, George Offerman Jr., Esther Howard, Lucien Littlefield, Louise Beavers and Carl "Alfalfa" (Our Gang) Switzer. Based on a Vera Gaspary story, with the screen play credited to Bertram Millhauser and Eddie Welch, the director is James Hogan, who made "Ebb Tide." Release date: Not determined. Little Miss Roughneck ( Columbia ) Comedy Exhibitors who go in for trick, stunt and gag exploitation may just as well prepare to revive all the old ones and concoct all the new they can when "Little Miss Roughneck" comes to town. Its story is about the most ridiculous setup for an explosive comedy that has come along in many moons. It satirizes just about everything from the doting mother idea, the vaudeville, night club and motion picture business, crime, innocent, though planned deception, down to love. It features a little girl who, true to her title, is nothing but a pain in the neck to managers, impressarios, agents, film producers, police, an unsuspecting Mexican and his family, her sister, the police and all save her mother, In the picture the little girl, who happens to be Edith Fellows, and who has demonstrated her talents in many pictures does everything from recite Kipling poetry to singing grand opera. The center of everything, she is supported by Margaret Irving as her mother ; . Jacqueline Wells as her horrified sister ; Leo Carrillo, Scott Colton, Inez Palange, Thurston HalL Frank Wilson, Phillipe Urick and Gilbert Enriquez. The story is a figment of the imaginations of Fred Niblo, Jr., and Grace Neville, who had the help of Michael Simmons in adapting it. Aubrey Scotto is the director. Release date: Dec. 23, 1937 (tentatively). Benefits Forget (MGM) A Family Problem It is not Walter Huston's habit to appear on the screen unless he is convinced that the vehicle chosen for his appearance and the character selected for him to portray is solid and substantial. He has made his position known many times. And the fact that "Dodsworth" was his only picture in several years demonstrates his determination to stick to his decision. When he was invited to consider playing in the screen adaptation of Honore Willsie Morrow's classic story of a potent problem in American family life, he consented with enthusiasm. Although the time of "Benefits Forgot," and the title has definite showmanship significance, is about eighty-five years ago, its appeal is as modern as today. It's a story of a boy who couldn't get along with his father, but a boy who enjoyed a great mother love. Huston will be seen as a fanatic circuit riding preacher in the days of the pioneer midWest. His wife is Beulah Bondi. The son is James Stewart, seen in "Seventh Heaven," and presently in "Navy Blue and Gold." Character players include Charley Grapewin, Guy Kibbee and Charles Coburn, a recruit from the New York stage. Ted Healy and Sterling Holloway will carry the necessary comedy relief. Other players are Arthur Aylesworth, Ann Rutherford and Charles Peck. It may be a point of exploitation interest to note that Leatrice Joy Gilbert, daughter of Leatrice Joy and John Gilbert, will make her debut in the film. Being directed by Clarence Brown, maker of "Conquest" and "Ah, Wilderness," it may be expected that "Benefits Forgot" will be an intense study of typical American characters. Release date: Jan. 28, 1938.