Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1940)

18 MOTION PICTURE HERALD April 13, I 940 STORIES FOR NEXT SEASON'S FILMS (Continued from preceding page) mar purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. David Burton will direct and the screenplay is being prepared by Harold Buckman. Novel Purchased Reign of Soapy Smith, The, a novel by Edwin V. Westrage and William Ross Collier purchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Romance in the Rain, an original story by Edmund Harman purchased by Universal. Scapegoat, an original story by Hugh McNair Kahler purchased by Universal. Sister Carrie, a novel by Theodore Dreiser purchased by RKO. Sanda Mala, a recently published novel in this country by Maurice Collier. The book was published in England some years ago. RKO has acquired it. Siege of the Alcazar, an original story by Jay Dratler bought by Universal. Song of the Islands, an original story by Polan Banks purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. Jules Furthman is writing the screenplay and Gene Markey will be' the associate producer. Son of Roaring Dan, The, an original story by Clarence Young purchased by Universal. Terry and the Pirates, a newspaper comic strip by Milton Caniff purchased by Columbia and to be produced by Larry Damour. Van Druten Play There's Always Juliet, a play by John Van Druten purchased by Paramount as a vehicle for Madeleine Carroll and Fred MacMurray. Too Many Girls, a Broadway stage play of the current season purchased by RKO. The book upon which the play was produced was written by George Marion, Jr. The reported purchase price for the play was $100,000. The deal includes the services of George Abbott, producer of the play, as producer and director of the picture. Too Much for One Man, an original story by Jules Furthman purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. Two on an Island, a Broadway stage play of the current season written by Elmer Rice and produced by the Playwrights Co., purchased by RKO. Unbreakable Miss Doll, a novel by Grace Perkins purchased by RKO. Untitled, an as yet unwritten or unpublished novel by Louis Bromfield purchased by Columbia. Water Gypsies, a novel by A. P. Herbert purchased by RKO as a vehicle for Maureen O'Hara, with Erich Pommer producing. Wrapped in Cellophane, an original story by Vina Delmar purchased by RKO. Acquired in March Stories acquired during the month of March, zvith all available cast and credits, follow. An Old Chinese Custom, an original story by Bartlett Cormack purchased by RKO. Equilibrium, an original story of the circus by Laszlo Vadja, bought by Metro-GoldwynMayer. Don't Bet on Horses, an original story by Martin Mooney purchased by E. B. Derr. Doomed Caravan, an original story by Johnston McCully and J. Benton Cheney purchased by Paramount as a vehicle for William Boyd. Jekyll and Hyde Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Screen rights to Robert Louis Stevenson novel purchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer at a reported price of $125,000 for third remaking. John Barrymore starred in the silent version. Fredric March portrayed the dual role in the first "OUO VADIS" A TALKER FOR HIM IN 1909 Talking pictures began 3 1 years ago for Samuel Rappeport of Buffalo, N. Y., who, with Mrs. Rappeport, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary a week ago. "Back in 1909 we showed 'Quo Vadis,' our first talking picture," said Mr. Rappeport. "We worked all day getting the phonograph record synchronized with the film. Either the operator in the booth didn't turn the crank on the projector steadily, or the phonograph would go too fast, or the needle would get caught in a groove. "Although the picture ran only ten minutes, people came from all over the city in their carriages to see it." In 1907 Mr. Rappeport opened the Royal Star at Niagara and Hamilton streets, the first motion picture theatre west of Main street. A year later he leased a building at Tonawanda and Briggs streets, in Black Rock, and opened his second "nickel show." Mr. Rappeport started the Ideal theatre at Genesee and Jefferson streets in 1912, moving a year later to the Lovejoy theatre at Love joy and Avon, which he operated until the return of his son, Jacob L., from the war. Since that time Jacob Rappeport has been operating the theatre, although his father, who is 79, retains an active interest. The Rappeports also have three daughters. talking version. Robert Donat is expected to take the title roles in the new production. Dunant, a biography of Henry Dunant who founded the international Red Cross purchased _ by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Robert Donat is expected to star in the picture. Flowing Gold, a novel of the oil industry by Rex Beach purchased by Warner Brothers as a vehicle for John Garfield. Frontier Doctor, a novel by Urling C. Coe acquired by Warner Brothers as a possible vehicle for Paul Muni. Grandmother Bernle Learns Her Letters, originally a magazine story by I. A. R. Wylie and later produced by Twentieth Century-Fox under the title of Four Sons. The sound rights have been purchased by Twentieth CenturyFox. High Sierra, a novel by W. R. Brunett purchased by Warner Brothers as a possible vehicle for Paul Muni. Curwood Novel Hunted Woman, The, a novel by James Oliver Curwood acquired by Twentieth Century-Fox and to be produced by Sol Wurtzel. Long Haul, a novel of the trucking industry by A. L. Besseriedes purchased by Warner Brothers. Men Against the Sky, an original story by John Twist purchased by RKO as a vehicle for Richard Dix. Millionaire in Prison, an original story by Talbert Josselyn as a vehicle for John Garfield purchased by Warner Brothers. Sing, Dance, Plenty Hot, a magazine story by Duane Decker purchased by Republic. Song of Love, an original story of Robert and Clara Schumann by Benare Schubert and Mario Silva purchased by Metro-GoldwynMayer. Streets of Memories, an original story by Robert Lees and Fred Rinaldo dealing with the white collar workers of Los Angeles purchased by Lucien Hubbard for Production at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Tillie the Toiler, a newspaper comic strip by Russ Westover purchased by Columbia for the production of a new series of films. To Own the World, an original story by Dalton Trumbo purchased by Metro-GoldwynMayer as a vehicle for Lana Turner and Lew Ayres. Harry Bucquet will direct. War of the Copper Kings, an original story by C. B. Glasscock purchased by Warner Brothers. George Brent and Olivia de Havilland to star. The picture will be titled "Montana." Ludwig Leaves Minnesota Circuit for Ad Business L. J. Ludwig has resigned his post of general manager of the Minnesota Amusement Company to enter the film advertising business. No successor has been announced and it is not likely that the post will be filled for some time to come, according to Paramount home office officials. No stock transfer or contract settlement is involved in his resignation. Leonard Goldenson and Sam Dembow, Jr., Paramount home office theatre executive, were to confer with Mr. Ludwig and John J. Friedl in Chicago on Thursday. Mr. Friedl is head of the Minnesota Amusement Company, which is a wholly-owned Paramount subsidiary. The resignation is effective next Wednesday. SMPE Meeting Changed Dr. S. J. Begun, of the Brush Development Company of Cleveland, will discuss a new type of recorder at a meeting of the Atlantic Coast Section of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers to be held April 17th at the Hotel Pennsylvania, New York. The date was changed from April 10th to give out-of-town members of the Society who plan to attend the Atlantic City convention an opportunity to attend the lecture and demonstration. The SMPE convention will be held April 22-25, inclusive. Raguse Named to Council Elmer Raguse, sound director of the Hal Roach studio, has been appointed a member on the Research Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The studio is now contributing to the financial support of the council's program, and under Academy by-laws is thus permitted representation on the council. Greene to Build Theatre F. A. Greene, owner of the State theatre, Timmonsville, S. C, has purchased a site on South Main Street and will erect a twostory theatre building.