Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1940)

28 MOTION PICTURE HERALD July 13, 1940 THE HOLLYWOOD SCENE Spotty Production this week saw an increase over the week before in number of films finished ; a sharp drop in those started; a decrease in the number shooting and increases in productions being prepared and edited. As against last week's 10, 13 were finished; three started, five less than the previous stanza, 33 were shooting, compared to 44. Being prepared were 23 and edited 86, against the 19 and 77 of last week. The week's tabulation: FINISHED Columbia He Stayed for Breakfast So You Won't Talk Dead Wood Dick Paramount Victory The New Yorkers RKO Laddie Stranger on the Third Floor STARTED MGM Philadelphia Story Triple Justice Small (UA) Kit Carson Universal When the Daltons Rode Son of Roaring Dan Warners Tugboat Annie Sails Again Neufield Gun Code Paramount Touchdown Universal Ragtime Cowboy Joe One short subject was finished and three were started. V Now before the rehearsal cameras, the forthcoming Frank Capra picture, to be released through Warners and being made on that lot, is to be titled "Meet John Doe," representing three changes in title. The film was originally, and tentatively, called "The Life and Death of John Doe," then "The Life of John Doe." Starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck, the cast also includes Edward Arnold, Walter Brennan, James Gleason, Irving Bacon, Rod LaRocque, Ann Doran, Henry O'Neill, Granville Bates, Warren Hymer, Andrew Toombes, Pierre Watkin, Russell Simpson and Stanley Andrews. Actual shooting was scheduled to start July 15th, with Mr. Capra producing and directing. V The motion picture Red Cross committee, headed by Samuel Goldwyn, continued this week through the media of meetings to coordinate its activities in Hollywood. Monday the fund collection committee of Edward Mannix, Bert Allenberg, Carl C. Cooper and Edward Selzer met and formulated a program for the collection of emergency relief money. Last week-end members of the executive committee met and heard from Norman Davis, head of the American Red Cross and Dr. A. H. Giannini, chairman of the Los Angeles divisional committee. The latter SHAKESPEARE IN HILLBILLY Bob Burns, the Arkansas comic, has revealed his latest brain-child, followtip to the Bazooka. This, however, calls for an audience — since it's to be a hillbilly version of "Romeo and Juliet." Mr. Burns, when queried, said he might star in the stage production he contemplates — but as Mercutio rather than Romeo. And, further on the project, planned for New York's Broadway, he adds: "It's all about feudin', and our mountain folks of Tennessee and the Ozarks retain the customs and language of their Elizabethan ancestors of Shakespeare's time. "The country has gone for streamlined 'Hamlet' and swing 'Mikado.' Now it's our turn to bring them hillbilly 'Romeo and Juliet.' "' declared that the quota for the film industry "must be doubled." Also held was a meeting to work out details for a cooperative campaign suggested by the Screen Actors' Guild, Screen Writers' Guild and Screen Directors' Guild. Members of the industry committee organized to serve as a central authority are Mr. Goldwyn, Frank Capra, Mr. Allenberg, Fred Beetson, Walter Wanger, Ralph Morgan, Kenneth Thomson, Y. Frank Freeman, Mr. Cooper, Lew Blix, Leslie Mason, I. B. Kornblum, Ernest Pascal, John TeGroen, Harry Warner, Reeves Espy, David Selznick, William Goetz, Alfred Wright, Manny Goldstein, A. H. McCausland, J. R. McDonough, Charles Buckley, John LeRoy Johnson, Barrett Kiesling and Jock Lawrence. V Rouben Mamoulian will direct The Californian for Twentieth Century-Fox. Alan Le May and Jesse Lasky, Jr., are working on the script of Reap the Wild Wind for Cecil B. DeMille Productions. Myles Connelly is at work on the fourth in the series of Maisie screen plays for MGM. Leon Errol will star in RKO's Murder Will Out. Robert Rossen has had his contract extended bv Warners and is working on The Sea Wolf. Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart have been signed to write the music for They Met in Argentina for RKO. W. L. River is preparing the screen play of "The City That Never Sleeps" for Paramount. Martha O'Driscoll and Tim Holt will costar in a new RKO western series. John Garfield and Ida Lupino are to costar in Warners' "East of the River." Signe Hasso has been signed to an RKO acting contract. Bugle Call Immediate return to England of all British actors in Hollywood between the ages of 18 and 31 years was suggested this week by the British Embassy in Washington. Few top players are involved and an unknown number of lesser. The great majority of British actors and artists now in this country are above 31 years, the latest age at which men have been called to the colors. It was indicated the suggestion was merely that and not an order and was made because of the many offers of service which have been received from Englishmen in the United States since France capitulated. Offered to Serve All Britishers returning to England will be utilized where their services can be used "in the most advantageous manner," it was said. The call to arms was contained in a confidential release sent to newspaper correspondents, in which the Embassy said : "Since the outbreak of the war, British actors, of both stage and screen, and others connected with the profession, resident in the United States, have repeatedly offered their services to the British Government and have sought advice from the Embassy as to the desirability of their return to the United Kingdom for service. Until recently, they have been advised to stay here, as there is no shortage of man-power in the United Kingdom. "In view of recent conditions, however, British actors of all ages have again come forward with renewed offers of service ; these offers have been considered according to age and qualifications, with a view to the utilization of their services, whether here or abroad, in the most advantageous manner. Broadly speaking, those between the ages of 18 and 31 years (the present 'military age' in England) should return as soon as they can make the necessary arrangements ; those above this age should continue in their professions until they receive further instructions." United Press reported from Hollywood that British movie actors who fall within the age classification of the British Embassy order include Richard Greene, Louis Hayward, Robert Coote, Bruce Lester, Hughie Green, Ian Fulton and Patric Knowles. No well-known British actors now on Broadway are affected by the order. The Associated Press declared Laurence Olivier, 33, is over the age mentioned, as are other British stars now in New York. It is possible that a few of those affected are in Summer theatres scattered through the East. V Joe E. Brown will tour the leading summer theatres of the east, playing "Elmer, the Great," following completion of his starring role in Columbia's "So You Won't Talk?" now in production. V Brian Donleyy last week started a three week personal appearance tour of key cities to exploit "The Great McGinty," in which he stars. It is a Paramount film.