Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1938)

November 12, 1938 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 13 16 PRODUCERS BUY 103 STORIES AND PLAYS IN 8 WEEKS FOR '38-39 Original Stories Again Supply Most Sources for Material to Round Out Product for the Current Season Acquiring new properties in the marked competitive bidding, 16 Hollywood producers, including all the large companies, have obtained 103 stories with which further to round out the 1938-39 feature commitments. Some of the acquisitions have gained marked recognition in their original forms of novel, stage play and magazine story, giving good possibilities for some worthwhile screen entertainment in the remaining months of the season. The deals were consummated in ihe past eight weeks, 51 having been closed in September and 52 in October, each month exceeding in total all but three previous months since September of 1937, the past August, with its 93 purchases, topping all. Original stories, moulded frequently by up-tothe-minute world headlines, continue to supply the bulk of film stories, Hollywood's producers buying 62 originals, 31 books, six magazine yarns and only three plays in the eight weeks surveyed. Universal was the most active story-buyer, the comparatively new management in that company building up its story reserve with 21 acquisitions. Stage and Screen Productions made the biggest purchase for an independent in years, getting 20 "Bomba" books, of the Roy Rockwood series, in one deal. MGM Acquires 18 Stories Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, always active in story buying, acquired 18 properties in the eight weeks, followed by the 12 purchased by United Artists, nine by Twentieth Century-Fox, six by Paramount, four by Warners, three each by Republic and Fine Arts, and one each for RKO, Columbia, Monogram, Eddie Le Baron Productions, Roadshow Pictures, Bud Barsky and Charles Rogers. Some of the highlight purchases in the eight weeks included Sigmund Spaeth's "Gentlemen, Be Seated," by MGM; "I Married an Angel," current Broadway play, also bought by MGM ; Evelyn Wells' "Kit Carson, Avenger," by Edward Small ; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "Hound of the Baskervilles," acquired by Twentieth Century-Fox, and Ed Sullivan's "Czar of Broadway," to Universal, to mention a few. SEPTEMBER PURCHASES All in a Lifetime, original by Edward Ellison, purchased by Universal. Almost an Angel, original by Ralph Block and Frederick Kohner, purchased by Universal for Danielle Darrieux. Burmese Silver, original by Edward Thompson, purchased by Alexander Korda (United Artists) for Sabu and Conrad Veidt. Screenplay by Sir Robert Vansittart. Burt Kelly, original by Mary Grossman and Thomas Ahearn, purchased by Universal. Call Me a Liar, original by Jerry Sackheim and Jerry Horwin, purchased by Lawrence Fox and Irving Starr for productions to be released through Universal. Captain Midnight, original by Jack Jevne and Charles Martin, purchased by Hal Roach (United Artists). Cargo of Innocence, book by Eric A. Simpson STORY PURCHASES OF YEAR COMPARED Month C Iriginai Is Books Plays 1 1 Totals oeptember, Ivj/ Oil 43(a) Z.O oo October 22 16(b) 3 41 November 24 17(c) 7* 48 December 38 11(d) 5 54 January, 1938 24 8(e) 3 35 February 28 10(f) 0 38 March 14 9(g) 2 25 April 25 9(h) 3 37 May 23 13 0 36 June 24 32{i) 3 59 July 1 1 5 2 18 August 44 43{i) 6 93 September 39 IO(k) 2 51 October 23 28(1) 1 52 TOTALS FOR 12 MONTHS 363 254(m) 38 655 (a) (b) (c) (d) le) (f) (g) (!) (M (I) (m) Including Including Including Including Including Including Including Including Including Including Including Including Including 29 published magazine stories. 6 published magazine stories. 8 published magazine stories. 4 published magazine stories. I published magazine story. I published magazine story. 3 published magazine stories. 6 published magazine stories and I comic strip. 3 published magazine stories. 5 published magazine stories and 1 newspaper serial. 2 published magazine stories and 1 newspaper cartoon-strip series. 4 published magazine stories. 72 published magazine stories. 2 comic strips and I newspaper serial. * Including the American rights to one German film. (pen name Lawrence Kirk), purchased by MGM. Condensed version of the story "H. M. S. Tremendous" from a group of short stories entitled "Mushrooms on Toast." Picture rights purchased from Selznick International. Czar of Broadway, original by Ed Sullivan, purchased by Universal. Dames, original by John Kobler, purchased by Universal. Dead Don't Care, The, novel by Jonathan Latimer, purchased by Universal. Screenplay by Edmund L. Hartmann, featuring Preston Foster and Frank Jenks. Al Rogell will direct. Dying Father, The, original by Felix Jackson, purchased by Universal. Episode, book by Walter Reisch, purchased by Warner Brothers for Priscilla Lane and Jeffrey Lynn. Flight South, original by Nathaniel West and Gordon Kahn, purchased by MGM. Flight to Nowhere, original by Lester Cole, purchased by Universal. Gentlemen Be Seated, book by Dailey Pask man and Sigmund Spaeth, purchased by MGM. Gun in His Hand, original by William A. Ullman, purchased by MGM. For the Dead End Kids Guttersnipes, original by Albert deMond and Phil Edwards, purchased by Warner Broth ers for the "Dead End Kids" and Humphrey Bogart. Heart Interest, unpublished story by George Bradshaw, purchased by Twentieth CenturyFox. Heritage of the Wild, original by Wells Root, purchased by MGM. Hollywood Number Seven, magazine story by George Bradshaw, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. Iceberg, original by Charles Martin, purchased by Universal. I Love That Man, unpublished story by Jerry Horwin and John Larkin, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox for Alice Faye. I Married an Angel, current Broadway musical, based on the Hungarian play by Vassary Janos, purchased by MGM. Kit Carson, Avenger, newspaper story by Evelyn Wells, purchased by Edward Small (United Artists). Screenplay will be written by Cameron Rogers. Lady Luck, original by G. Carleton Brown and and Emanuel Manheim, purchased by Universal. Life of Simon Bolivar, biography by Jose Vasconzelos, purchased by Eddie Le Baron, for production in Spanish. Original by Bellah Love Interest, original by Jan Warner Bellah, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. Maginot Line, The, original by George Bruce purchased by Edward Small (United Artists) to star Louis Hay ward. Miss Streamline, original by Clarence Marks and Robert Wyler, purchased by Republic. Newsboy's Home, original by Nat Ferber, purchased by Universal. New York Cinderella, original by Charles MacArthur, purchased by MGM. Lawrence Weingarten will produce with Joseph von Sternberg directing and Spencer Tracy and Hedy Lamarr in the leading roles. Plane 66, original by Adrian Levy, purchased by Universal. Racket Busters, original by Charles Martin, purchased by Universal. Rodeo in Rhythm, original by Monroe Talbot, purchased by Roadshow Pictures. Saints in Training, original by Goldie Weisberg, purchased by Universal. "Scaramouche" To Be Remade Scaramouche, novel and play by Rafael Sabatini, purchased by MGM. Special Prosecutor, original by Lou Greenspan, purchased by Bud Barsky Productions. Spring Dance, play by Philip Barry purchased by M-G-M. Edward Chodorov will produce with S. Sylvan Simon directing. Maureen O'Sullivan, Ann Morris and Truman Bradley will be in the cast. Star Maker, original screenplay by Arthur Caesar, produced by Charles Rogers. Such Mad Fun, magazine story by Jane Hall, purchased by MGM. Surprise Marriage, novel by Dale Unson, purchased by Paramount. Harold Hurley will produce. Sweepstakes, original by Charles Martin, purchased by Universal. Tailspin Tommy, cartoon strip by Hal Forrest, purchased by Monogram. Paul Malvern will produce. Thunderbugs, original by Harold Buckley, purchased by Universal. Two Bad Hats, original by Monckton Hoffe, purchased by Paramount to star Claudette Colbert. Preston Sturges will do the screenplay and Al Lewin will produce. This Time It's Love, original by H. C. BruniContimied on following page)