Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1938)

June 25, 1938 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 13 HOLLYWOOD BUYS 36 MORE STORIES FOR EXHIBITORS' NEW SEASON Purchase by Walt Disney of Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" Books Is Reported in London Newspaper Decisions having been made in virtually all cases as to the number of motion picture productions to be released during the 1938'39 season, producers now are turning their attention to the acquisition of the literary properties needed to fill out their new programs. Although buying was not heavy, 12 producers participated as against 9 last month. The 12 acquired a total of 36 stories, of which 23, or 63.6 per cent, were originals. The preference for original material was shown by producers in all but one month during the last year, but, for the first time in more than 12 months, producers failed to purchase a single magazine story. The month also failed to bring the purchase of any stage plays, the buying being confined to the 23 originals and 13 novels. Disney Gets Carroll Books Although not included in the listing of the story purchases, acquisition by Walt Disney of the motion picture rights to Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" books was reported in The Daily Telegraph in London. The rights were purchased, the newspaper said, for the production of a cartoon and the sale included the right to reproduce Teniel's famous illustrations on the screen. The month's purchases numbered only one less than during the previous month but 25 less than in May, 1937, when 61 properties were bought. Sol Lesser's Principal Productions proved the heaviest buyer of the month, taking the rights to eight properties. The Principal purchases included six stories based on George W. Peck's novel "Peck's Bad Boy," one other novel and one original story. Metro-GoldwynMayer, the most prolific buyer of April, took second position in May by acquiring the rights to three novels and two originals. The other producers who entered the literary mart were : Twentieth Century-Fox, four originals ; Paramount, three novels ; RKO, Warner Brothers and Republic, three originals each ; Universal and Samuel Goldwyn, two originals each, and Edward Small, Monogram and Progressive, one original each. Titles and Credits The 36 purchases, with all available production credits, follow : Bat Out of Hell, original by Crane Wilbur, purchased by RKO. Big House for the Ladies, original by John Kobler, purchased by Universal. Broadway Cavalier, A, original by Dalton Trumbo, purchased by Warner Brothers. Castle in Norway, also known as "Love Interest" and as "Frozen Pudding," original by Gregory Ratoff and Frederick Kohner, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. Chi House, The, original by Mary Coyle Chase, purchased by RKO. Cobra, original by Allan Vaughn Ellston, purchased by Monogram. STORY PURCHASES OF YEAR COMPARED Month Originals Books Plays Totals June, 1937 28 8(a) I 37 July 21 5(b) 0 26 August 27 6(c) 12 45 September 24 43(d) I 68 October 22 16(e) 3 41 November 24 17(f) 7* 48 December 38 11(g) 5 54 January, 1938 24 8(h) 3 35 February 28 !0(i) 0 38 March 14 9(j) 2 25 April 25 9(k) 3 37 May 23 13 0 36 TOTALS FOR 12 MONTHS 298 155(1) 37 490 (a) Including 7 published magazine stories. (b) Including I published magazine story and 2 radio serials. (c) Including 2 published magazine stories. (d) Including 29 published magazine stories. (e) Including 6 published magazine stories. (f) Including 8 published magazine stories. (g) Including 4 published magazine stories. (h) Including I published magazine story, (ij Including I published magazine story, (j) Including 3 published magazine stories, (k) Including 6 published magazine stories and I comic strip. (I) Including 71 published magazine stories. *lncluding the American rights to one German film. Exiles, original by Vera Caspary and George Sklar, bought by Samuel Goldwyn. Jascha Heifetz will have a leading role. Flying Cadets, original by Julien Blaustein, purchased by Universal. Hands Across the Border, original, no author credits, purchased by MGM as a starring vehicle for Robert Taylor. "Brinlcer" Novel Bought Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates, novel by Mary Mates Boge, purchased by Principal Productions as a starring vehicle for Bobby Breen with Irene Dare. Release will be through Twentieth Century-Fox. Hold the Co-Ed, original by Karl Tunberg and Don Ettlinger, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. George Marshall will direct. Lost Voyage, original by Ben L. Perry, purchased by Republic. Love Carnival, story by Ferenc Molnar, purchased by MGM as a vehicle for Nelson Eddy and Ilona Massey. Mister Coronado, original by Dale Van Every and Tom Kilpatrick, purchased by MGM. Another "Mr. Moto" Mr. Moto in the Persian Oil Fields, original by John P. Marquand, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. My Own Funeral, screenplay by Gregory Ratoff based upon Leila Georgies' story "I Am the Man," purchased by Twentieth CenturyFox. One of the Finest, original by Tom Van Dycke and Henry Blankfort, Jr., purchased by Progressive. The authors will do the adaptation for release under the title "Trapped by Radio Police." $1,000 Window, original by Mark Hellinger, purchased by Warner Brothers as a starring vehicle for Edward G. Robinson. Panamints' Bad Man, original, no author credits, purchased by Principal Productions to star Smith Ballew. Release will be through Twentieth Century-Fox. "Peck's Bad Boy" Stones Peck's Bad Boy, six stories based on the novel by George W. Peck, purchased by Principal Productions for release through RKO. The titles are: "Peck's Bad Boy at the Circus," "Peck's Bad Boy at the Big Game," "Peck's Bad Boy at the Frisco Exposition," "Peck's Bad Boy at the Zoo," "Peck's Bad Boy at Summer Camp," and "Peck's Bad Boy at Coney Island." People's Choice, The, original by Lee Katz, purchased by Warner Brothers. Persons in Hiding, novel by J. Edgar Hoover, purchased by Paramount for the first in a series of three productions based on the adventures of the "G-Men" staff. Picardy Max, original by Harold Shumate, purchased by RKO. Royal Canadian Mounted Police, novel by R. C. Fetherstonaugh, purchased by Paramount for production in color. Dorothy Lamour, Ray Milland and Akim Tamiroff will head the cast. Senor Vulture, original by Johnston McCulley, purchased by Republic. Sixteen Hands, novel by Homer Croy, purchased by Paramount as a starring vehicle for Bob Burns. Three Loves, novel by Dr. A. J. Cronin, purchased by MGM. Untitled Original, by George Bruce, dealing with West Point life, purchased by Edward Small as a starring vehicle for Jack Dunn. Release will be through United Artists. Wench Craven, original by Johnston McCulley, purchased by Republic. Yard, The, original by Frances Manson, purchased by Samuel Goldwyn as a vehicle for Gary Cooper and Merle Oberon. Yearling, The, novel by Margaret K. Rawlings, purchased by MGM. Court Approves Distribution Pact Court approval was granted in Los Angeles this week to the Grand National contract with Fine Arts Pictures, Inc., calling for the distribution by Grand National of a minimum of 26 films each year for five years. The 26 films include eight westerns. William P. James, federal judge, allowed Edward L. Alperson $500 weekly as trustee of Grand National Films and the subsidiary, Grand National Studios, and a like amount was awarded to the law firm of Omelveny, Tuller & Myers, acting for the trustee. The petition of Carpenter, Babson & Fendler, attorneys for Grand National creditors, for $3,500 in fees, was taken under advisement by the court. Grand National will release four pictures during July, and an additional one has been set for August release, Mr. Alperson and Loyd Wright, co-trustee, said.