Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1940)

June 8 , 1940 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 25 HOLLYWOOD BUYS 112 STORIES IN TWO MONTHS FOR '40-41 PRODUQ SEASON 69 Bought in April, Most Since August, 1938; 43 During May, Including 3 Comic Strips During the months of April and May Hollywood acquired for the 1940-41 product season 112 new properties most of which were included in the product announcements made to the exhibitors during company conventions in the past weeks. Of the 112 stories bought over this two months' period sixty-nine were purchased in April, the highest number acquired in one month since August, 1938, when the story total reached the high figure of ninety-three acquisitions. In May of this year the figure dropped to forty-three purchases. Acquisitions in April Purchases in April with all available credits, follow : Beneath Southern Seas, an original story by by Maurice Tombragel, purchased by Universal. Bethel Merriday, a novel by Sinclair Lewis to be produced by Alexander Korda and distributed through United Artists. Beyond the Law, a biographical novel by Emmett Dalton, acquired by Universal. Biography of O. Henry, a biographical novel acquired by National Pictures Corp. Ralph Spence and Mrs. Sidney Porter, widow of O. Henry wrote the biography. Blitzkrieg, an original story by B. P. Fineman, purchased by Columbia. Bride Wore Crutches, the, an original story by Ed Varier and Alan Brady, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. A Walter Edmonds Story Chad Hanna, a Saturdav Evenino Post magazine story by Walter D. Edmonds published under the title "Red Wheels Rolling," acquired by Twentieth Century-Fox. City of Conquest, a novel by Aben Kandel, purchased by Warner Brothers as a vehicle for James Cagney and Ann Sheridan with Anatole Litvak directing. Colonel, The, an original story by Parks Jackson, purchased by Sam Wood. The story deals with the life of Col. Edward Greene, son of the late Hetty Greene. Cross Country Romance, Eleanor Browne's novel, purchased by RKO as a vehicle for Wendy Barrie and Gene Raymond. Crowded Hours, a novel by Ben Holmes, purchased by RKO. Danger Signal, a novel by Phyllis Bottome, acquired by Warner Brothers as a vehicle for Bette Davis. George Raft To Star Dealer's Name Was George, The, an original story by Kitty Frings, acquired by Warner Brothers as a starring vericle for George Raft. The story deals with s-ambling in New Orleans. Doomed Caravan, an original story by Johnston McCully and J. Benton Cheney, purchased by Paramount as a vehicle for William Boyd in the Hop-Along Cassidy series of western melodramas to be produced by Harry Sherman. False Witness, an unpublished novel by Irving Stone, purchased by Republic at a reported price of $20,000. The picture will star Edward Ellis. STORY PURCHASES OF YEAR COMPARED Originals Books Plays Totals 24 15(a) 4 43 19 5(b) 2 26 19 13(c) 1 33 23 4 2 29 13 13(d) 6 32 12 5(e) 3 20 17 16(f) 3 36 40 15(g) 6 61 32 14(h) 10 56 10 10(1) 20 38 27(i) 4 69 21 I8(k) 4 43 268 1 55(1) 45 468 Month June, 1939 July August September October November December January, 1940 February March April May TOTALS FOR 12 MONTHS (a) Including 3 published magazine stories and 2 radio programs. (b) Including 2 published magazine stories. (c) Including 3 published magazine stories and I film. (d) Including 2 published magazine stories, I newspaper serial and I film. 1 published magazine story and 2 films. 2 published magazine stories, 2 films and I radio script. 4 published magazine stories and I radio program. 3 published magazine stories and 1 newspaper comic strip. 2 published magazine stories, I newspaper comic strip and I film. 4 published magazine stories and 1 film. 2 published magazine stories, 3 newspaper comic strips and 2 radio scripts. (I) Including 28 published magazine stories, 8 films, 6 radio programs, 5 comic strips and I newspaper serial. (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (I) Including Including Including Including Including Including Including Five O'Clock Girl, a musical comedy stage production of the early twenties, written by Guy Bolton, Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. The production was purchased by MGM for Lana Turner and George Murphy. For Beauty's Sake, Clarence Budington Kelland's novel, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. Lucien Hubbard will be associate producer. Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The, a novel by Ibanez originally made into a motion picture in the World War by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and starring at that time Rudolph Valentino and Alice Terry. The screen rights for a new production have been purchased by Universal to star Charles Boyer. Heil Jenny, a magazine story by Jane Eberle, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. Hired Wife, an original story by George Beck, purchased by Universal and being adapted for the screen by Gladys Lehman and Richard Connell. The picture will be directed by William Seiter. Honeymoon for Three, an original story by George Haight and Allan Scott, bought by Warner Brothers to star James Stewart and Olivia de Havilland. Earl Baldwin will adapt the story to the screen. Hot Steel, Clarence U. Young's original story, acquired by Universal. Invisible Woman, an original story by Kurt Siodmak, purchased by Universal. King and the Cowboy, The, Ralph Gilbert Bettinson's original story purchased by Monogram as a starring vehicle for Martin Spellman. Novel by Bellamann King's Row, a novel by Henry Bellamann acquired for production by Warner Brothers. The picture is expected to star James Cagney and John Garfield. Junior G-Men, an original story by A. T. Horman, George H. Plympton and Basil Dickey, acquired by Universal. Ladies of the Road, an original story by Dana Burnet, obtained by Twentieth Century-Fox. La Libre Belgique, a novel by Oscar Millard. The story tells of a clandestine newspaper published in Brussels during the German occupation of 1914-18. The property has been acquired by Twentieth Centurv-Fox for production in England. Lonnie, an original story by James Street, author of "The Biscuit Eater." nurchased by Paramount for a companion piece for the current Paramount picture. Earl Derr BIggers Novel Love Insurance, a novel by Earl Derr Biggers, purchased by Universal and to be released under the title "Riviera." Allan Jones is expected to star. The screenplay is being prepared by Leonard Spiegelgass and Charles Grayson. Lucky Baldwin, a novel by C. B. Glasscock purchased from Universal by Twentieth Century-Fox. Make Your Own Miracles, an original story by Charles Bickford and purchased by Producers Corporation of America. John Charles Thomas will star. Charles Bickford also will have a prominent role. Man With a Shovel, The, a novel by Dalton Trumbo, purchased by Twentieth CenturyFox. Walter Morosco and Ralph Dietrich will be associate producers. Marshal Law, an original story by Jack Lait, Jr., purchased by Universal. Mr. Skeffington, a novel by Elizabeth (Countess Russell), purchased by Warner Brothers. Modern Monte Cristo, an original story by Stanley Rubin and E. Hartmann, acquired by Universal. Liberty Magazine Story Money and the Woman, a magazine story by James Cain which ran in Liberty, purchased by Warner Brothers as a vehicle for Priscilla Lane and Dennis Morgan. Mr. Co-Ed, an original story by Kenneth Earl, M. M. Musselman and Curtis Kenyon, acquired by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. My Pretty Maid, Alice Duer Miller's novel, purchased as a starring vehicle for Anna Neagle, her third Hollywood-made production. Herbert Wilcox will produce and direct for RKO. Mystery Swingsters, The, an original story by Jay Dratler, purchased by Universal. New Americans in Vermont, a magazine article by Dorothy Canfield Fisher, which ran in the Readers Digest last February. The property has been purchased by MetroGoldwyn-Mayer. No Exit, an original story by Elizabeth Troy, purchased by Universal. (Listinii CO fi tinned on following page)