Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1940)

40 MOTION PICTURE HERALD November 30, 1940 45 STORIES, BOOKS, STAGE PLAYS BOUGHT IN OCTOBER BY PRODUCERS Paramount Acquires Hemingway's "For Whom the Bells Toll"; MGM To Remake "Bad Man", with Wallace Beery Hollywood producers during the month of October acquired for future production 45 properties. Of these 29 were originally stories, five were produced and unproduced stage plays, and the remainder were books, one newspaper comic strip to be used as a basis of a serialized melodrama purchased by Republic, one musical composition, the title of which will be used for another in the series using popular songs as themes for pictures for production at Universal, and one film originally based on the play "Bad Man" by Porter Emerson produced as a motion picture by Paramount some years ago and acquired during the past month by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a vehicle for Wallace Beery. Hemingway Book Bought Highlight of the October purchases was the acquisition of Ernest Hemingway's new novel, "For Whom the Bells Toll," concerning the recent civil war in Spain. Acquired by Paramount for an estimated $150,000. Gary Cooper, who rose to stardom in "Farewell to Arms" by the same author and produced by Paramount in 1932, will have the starring role in the picturization of the new novel. The price paid for the book startled Hollywood producers since there is an unwritten law, with only a few exceptions, of exceeding a figure of $50,000 for a novel. According to the contract Paramount paid Mr. Hemingway $100,000 for the property, agreeing to an additional 10 cents a copy for each volume sold up to 500,000. On the day the agreement was signed 100,000 copies had been sold, making the down payment $110,000, the amount set by the author when the book was first offered for film purchase. October Story Purchases Story purchases for October with all available credits follow: Adopted Daughter, Earl Baldwin's original story acquired by Warners. Alibi at Midnight, an original story by George Carleton Brown purchased by Republic for early production. Angel on Earth, an original story by Hope Ross acquired by Republic. At Night They Part, Ulrich Steindorff's original acquired by Warners. Bad Man, a play by Porter Emerson made into a motion picture some years ago by Paramount. The screen rights have been purchased by MGM to again produce the picture with Wallace Beery in the starring role. Bomb Shelter, Ben Markson's original story about the current international situation acquired by Warners. Bowery Boy, an original story by Sam Fuller acquired by Republic as a vehicle for Dennis O'Keefe and Jimmy Lydon. William Morgan will direct. Bridge of San Luis Rey, a novel by Thornton Wilder acquired from MGM, who owned the screen rights, by Herman Weisman for production in either Mexico or Hollywood. Bucharest Ballerina Murders, The, a novel by F. Van Wyck Mason inspired by the ballet corp in the Radio City Music Hall. The screen rights to the book have been purchased by Fox. STORY PURCHASES OF YEAR COMPARED Month Originals Books Plays Totals November, 1939 12 5(a) 3 20 December 17 16(b) 3 36 January, 1940 40 15(c) 6 61 February 32 14(d) 10 56 March 10 10(e) 20 April 38 27(f) 4 69 May 21 18(g) 4 43 June 12 7h) 1 20 July 27 17 9 53 August 40 70 5 52 September 19 9(i) 4 32 October 29 ll(k) 5 45 TOTALS FOR 12 MONTHS 297 156 54 507 (a) Including 1 published magazine story and 2 films. (b) Including 2 published magazine stories, 2 films and 1 radio script. (c) Including 4 published magazine stories and 1 radio program. (d) Including 3 published magazine stories and 1 newspaper comic strip. (e) Including 2 published magazine stories, 1 newspaper comic strip and 1 film. (f) Including 4 published magazine stories and 1 film. (g) Including 2 published magazine stories, 3 newspaper comic strips and 1 film. (h) Including 1 published magazine story, 1 radio script and 1 film. (i) Including 1 published magazine story, 3 films and 1 poem. (i) Including 1 newspaper cartoon and 1 musical composition. (M Including 1 newspaper comic strip, 1 musical composition and 1 film. (I) Including 18 published magazine stories, 7 comic strips, 5 radio scripts, 10 films, 1 poem and 2 songs. Buck Privates, an original story by Larry Rhine and Ben Chapman acquired by Universal. Captain Marvel, a cartoon strip from_ a newspaper to be used as a basis for a serial picture. The screen rights have been purchased by Republic. Case of the Black Parrot, The, an original story by Robert Kent, acquired by Warners. Noel Smith will direct. CCC Camp, an original story acquired by Banner Pictures for distribution through Monogram. Leo Gorcey and Bobby Jordan are scheduled to co-star in the production. City of Glamour, an original story by Aben Kandel purchased by Warners. Nathaniel West Novel Bought Cool Million, A, a novel by Nathaniel West bought by Columbia. Five Must Die, Lou Sarecky's original story acquired by Fox. For Whom the Bells Toll, a recent novel by Ernest Hemingway concerning the civil war in Spain. The screen rights have been acquired by Paramount. From Nine to Nine, a novel by Leo Perutz acquired for production by MGM. Gambling Lady, an original story by Doris Malloy purchased by Warners. Gentle People, a Broadway stage play by Irwin Shaw acquired by Warners. Give Me Liberty, an original story by Leslie T. White acquired by Warners. Kenneth Garnet will prepare the scenario. Gun Smoke Valley, an original story by Oliver Drake acquired by Monogram. Hold Back the Dawn, an original story by Kitti Frings purchased by Paramount. Arthur Hornblow, Jr., will produce with Charles Boyer and Paulette Goddard in the co-starring roles. Keeping Company, an original story by Herman Mankiewicz to be produced as the first picture in a series by MGM. John Shelton and Ann Rutherford will co-star in the series. Le Roi, a French play by Robert de Flers, G. A. de Caillavet and Emmanuel Arene acquired for production as either a stage play or film by I. E. Lopert. Mermaid in Distress, an original story by Alexander G. Kenedi acquired by Universal. Elaine Ryan will prepare the screen adaptation. Mermaids on Parade, an original story by William A. Pierce acquired by Charles R. Rogers for production at Columbia. Rinehart Story Acquired One Hour of Glory, an original story by Mary Roberts Rinehart about a veteran of the GAR acquired by Warners. Pack Up Your Troubles, an original story by George Carleton Brown and Taylor Caven acquired by Columbia. Parachute Squadron, an original story acquired by RKO to be produced by Howard Benedict. Power House, an original story by Meyer Levin and A. I. Bezzerides purchased by Paramount as a vehicle for Brian Donlevy. Replenish the Earth, a novel about New York's financial district by Stephen Longstreet acquired by Fox. She Stayed Kissed, an original story by Kenneth Garnet acquired by Warners as a vehicle for Dennis Morgan. Ben Stoloff will direct. Show Business, an unproduced play by Alexander Ruben acquired by Columbia. Sleepers East, a novel by Frederick Nebel acquired by Fox. Swamp Water, a novel by Vereen Bell acquired by Fox. Together Again, an original story by Michael Kanin purchased by RKO as a possible vehicle for Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Garson Kanin, brother of the author, will direct. Tombstone, Arizona, an original story by Dean Franklin acquired for production by Harry Sherman for Paramount. Uncensored, a play by Dennison Clift acquired by Fox as a vehicle for Evelyn Ankers, English film star, who recently arrived in this country. Vanishing Virginian, a novel by Rebecca Yancey Williams purchased by MGM. Washington Correspondent, an original story by William Bowers purchased by Robert Sherwood. Weekend for Three, an original story by Budd Schulberg acquired for production by RKO as a vehicle for Irene Dunn. Where Did You Get That Girl?, a musical composition acquired by Universal as another in the series of popular song hits used as a basis for motion pictures. You Go Your Way, an original story by Katherine Brush purchased by Paramount. Edward H. Griffith will produce and direct. You're Out of Luck, an original story by Edmund Kelso purchased by Monogram.