Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1941)

24 MOTION PICTURE HERALD January II, 1941 PRODUCERS BUY 323 ORIGINALS (Continued from preceding page) screen rights. The Gilbert & Gabriel novel "I, James Lewis," and "The Lady from Cheyenne," an original story, were purchased during November by Frank Lloyd for production under the terms of a three-Picture contract at Universal. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer at the same time bought the musical stage play "Lady Be Good," following their trend of bringing past musical plays to the screen. This acquisition leatures the music of George Gershwin. December brought a new spurt in properties purchased by the film companies with sixty properties acquired. Highlights of the December purchases was the acquisition of an original story by a trio of authors, "Buy Me That Town," bought by Paramount as a directorial vehicle for Preston Sturges, following his success "The Great McGinty." Brian Donlevy and Akim Tamiroff, both of starring roles in "McGinty" will again be starred in this latest Sturges endeavor. December Purchases A listing of the story purchases for December, with all available cast and credits follows : Almost an Angel, an original story by Ladislaus Fodor and Norman Krasna acquired by Universal. Andy Hardy's Private Secretary, an original story by Katherine Brush purchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as another vehicle for Mickey Rooney and the regular cast of the "Hardy Family" series of pictures. Babes on Broadway, an original story by George Carleton Brown bought by Republic. Baby Had a Hard Day, The, a Liberty magazine story by Anne Wormser acquired by Paramount as a vehicle for Stirling Hayden and Virginia Dale. Sol Siegel will produce the picture. Big Time, an original story on the cavalcade of vaudeville by Howard Emmett Rogers, acquired by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a vehicle for Judy Garland, Eleanor Powell, George Murphy and Walter Pidgeon. Buy Me That Town, an original story by Harry Gourfain, Murray Boltinos and Arthur Bracken, purchased by Paramount. Damned Don't Cry, The, a novel by Harry Hervey acquired by Warners. Dead Take No Bows, a mystery novel by Richard Burke which will be published within a few weeks. The story has been purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox as a vehicle for Lloyd Nolan. Stanley Rauh will adapt the story to the screen. Dive Bombers, an original story by Commander Frank Wead purchased by Warners as a vehicle for James Cagney. Lloyd Bacon will direct. Father Takes a Wife, Dorothy and Herbert Fields' original story purchased by RKO. Fifth Avenue, formerly a novel by Polan Banks entitled "Manhattan Holiday," purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. Nunnally Johnson will produce. Air Melodrama Bought Flight Surgeon, a novel by Cemeron Rogers and H. E. Halland acquired by Twentieth Century-Fox. The story concerns missions of mercy by plane. Free and Easy, Ivor Novello's stage comedy, "The Truth Game," purchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a vehicle for Robert Cummings, who has been borrowed from Universal, and Ruth Hussey. Edward Buzzell will direct. Gang Busters, a weekly radio program acquired by Universal from MGM. Universal will fum the story as a serial. Green Entry, a novel by S. Ruth Howard acquired by Lou Ostrow for production at Twentieth Century-Fox. Great Train Robbery, The. an original story by Garrett Weston and Robert Shannon acquired by Republic. Joseph Kane will produce and direct for the company. Gun Smoke Valley, an Oliver Drake original story purchased by George Weeks for production at Monogram. Hayfoot, Strawfoot, an original comedy story on conscription by Don Raye and Hugh Prince acquired by Paramount as a possible vehicle for Fred Astaire. Her First Beau, a story based on the play by Colin Clements and Florence Ryerson, "June Mad," purchased by Columbia. He's My Uncle, an original story about conscription by Earl Baldwin acquired by Columbia. Hildreth, a novel by Harlow Estes acquired by Fritz Lang as a possible vehicle for Miriam Hopkins. Improper Relations, an unpublished original story by Victor Heerman and Saray Mason acquired by Twentieth Century-Fox. Inside Story, a magazine story by Joseph Harrington, purchased by Willis Goldbeck for production at MGM. I Thinka' You Touch, an original story by Harry Burns acquired by Universal. I Won't Dance, an original story by Richard Sauber purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. Cesar Romero will star in the picture. Ladies in Retirement, a play by Reginald Denham and Edward Percy purchased by Lester Cowan and Gilbert Miller for production at Columbia. Let the Eagle Scream, an original story by Rowland Brown and Frank Fenton purchased by Columbia for production by Sam Bischoff. Harry Segall will adapt the story to the screen. Mama's Angel, an original story by Angna Enters acquired by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Miami, an original story by Stephen Powy purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. Walter Lang will direct. Mr. Twilight, an original story by Sidney Harmon acquired by Columbia. My Favorite Spy, an original by M. Coates Webster acquired by Frank Lloyd for distribution through RKO. The plot concerns spies in the recently conscripted army. Navy Blues, an original story by Arthur Horman acquired by Warners. Mark Hellinger will act as associate producer. Columbia Buys Original Obituary, an original story by Jerry Sackheim purchased by Columbia. Oh Charlie, an original by Robert Lees and Fred Rinaldo acquired by Universal. One Night in Lisbon, a stage play produced under the title "There's Always Juliet," written by John Van Druten. Paramount has acquired the property as a vehicle for Fred MacMurray and Madeleine Carrol. A war background will be worked into the picture. Quiz Kids, a radio question and answer series featuring a group of children. Paramount has acquired the screen rights and will produce a series of one-reel subjects. Rage in Heaven, a novel by James Hilton acquired by MGM as a vehicle for Ingrid Bergman and Robert Montgomery. Robert Sinclair will direct. Reflected Glory, a former Broadway stage play by George Kelly purchased by MGM as a possible vehicle for Joan Crawford. Rookie's Roost, an original story by F. McGrew Willis acquired by Republic. The story is a conscription comedy which Albert J. Cohen will produce for the studio. Roosty, a Broadway stage production by Martin Berkely acquired by MGM. Jack Chertok will produce with Harry Bucquet directing. Same Old West, The, an original story concerning a woman press agent by Aben Kandel purchased by RKO as a vehicle for Carole Lombard. Sapphire, an original story by Norman Reilly Raine purchased by Universal from Paramount. Secret Evidence, an original story by Edward Bennett acquired by E. B. Derr for Producerj Releasing Corp. Sioux City, a novel by J. Hyatt Downing acquired by Twentieth Century-Fox. Skylark, a play by Samson Raphaelson acquired by Paramount as a vehicle for Claudette Colbert and Ray Milland. Somewhere I'll Find You, a novel by Charles Hoffman purchased by M-G-M. Strange Things Can Happen in Brooklyn, an original story by Daniel Fuchs acquired by MGM as a possible vehicle for Judy Garland. Third Days Hath September, a play by Charles Grayson and Ben Markson purchased by Warners as a vehicle for May Robson. Two Bad Angels, an original story by William A. Ullman, Jr., and Arthur Landau acquired by Paramount. Mexican Novel Purchased Underdogs, The, a Mexican novel by Dr. Mariano Aztielo acquired by Norman Foster, Twentieth Century-Fox director, who will produce independently in Mexico. Uniform, The, an original story by Hans Kafka acquired by Hunt Stromberg. Untitled, an original story by John Grant* concerning conscription, acquired by Universal. Untitled, another original conscription story by Harold Shumate acquired by Universal. Untitled, an original story by Adele Comandini acquired by Universal. Joe Pasternak will produce. Untitled, an unproduced play based on the life of Nellie Bly and Alvin Brown purchased by Mariam Hopkins as a possible vehicle for herself. Miss Hopkins will seek a producer for the picture. We Dare Not Love, an original story by James Edward Grant acquired by Sam Bischoff. We Go Fast, a Saturday Evening Post magazine story about traffic cops by Douglas Walsh, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. Why Vamp the Boss, a magazine article by Clara Belle Thompson and Margaret Lukes Wise acquired by M-G-M. Widow Wouldn't Weep, The, an original story by Dalton Trumbo acquired by Warners. With Justice For All, an original story by James Ansen acquired by M-G-M. Brazil's Low Tariff on Educational Pictures The Director of Customs Revenue of Brazil, has issued a circular to all custom houses, outlining the procedure to be adopted in clearing educational films through the customs at a special low rate of duty, according to announcement, this week, by the Motion Picture Division of the U. S. Department of Commerce. Customs officials are directed to clear the imported films under bond, the importer promising to present, within 90 days, a certificate from the Departmento de Impresensa e Propaganda (Censors) classifying the film ns educational. If the censors do not classifv the film as educational, or if the certificate is not presented within 90 days, the importer is obliged to pay the difference in duties at the regular tariff rate, according to the United States Department of Commerce.