Motion Picture Herald (Sep-Oct 1941)

MOTION PICTURE H ERALD October 25, 1941 HOLLYWOOD PRODUCERS BUY 50 PROPERTIES FOR FILM PRODUCTION Two W. Somerset Maugham Novels Acquired by Paramount and Loew-Lewin Unit, Respectively; 31 Originals Bought During September Hollywood acquired screen rights to 50 properties for 1941-42 production. These acquisitions included 31 original stories, two plays, 12 recent and forthcoming novels, three published magazine stories, one comic strip of some few years ago, and one silent film. Highlight of the September purchases was the acquisition of a W. Somerset Maugham novel. Paramount purchased the screen rights to "The Hour Before Dawn," a novel by Mr. Maugham which will be published first as a serial in the Red Book Magazine. Edward H. Griffith will produce and direct the film for the studio with Vera Zorina and Ray Milland in co-starring roles. The properties acquired during the month of September with all available credits follows : Above Suspicion, a novel by Helen McInnes, acquired by Metro-Golden-Mayer as another of the comedy mystery vehicles for William Powell and Myrna Loy. Amateur Detective, an original story, purchased by Hugh Herbert. And This, Too, Is Love, a Cosmopolitan magazine story by Helen Manard, acquired by Twentieth Century-Fox. Anything for a Laugh, an original story, purchased for production by Universal. 1901 Play Acquired Are You a Mason?, a legitimate stage farce of 1901, adapted from the German play by Leo Ditrichstein and filmed by Paramount in 1915 with John Barrymore in the leading role. The story has been revived by that studio as a vehicle for Jack Benny. Born Bad, an original story acquired by Metro-Golden-Mayer, which will be directed by Fred Wilcox, former short subject director for the studio. Channel Float, No. 18, an original story of the rescue buoys anchored in the English Channel to provide a refuge for fliers shot down by the Nazis. Twentieth Century-Fox has acquired the property for screen production. China Sky, a novel by Pearl S. Buck, which formerly appeared as a magazine serial. The story has been purchased by RKO and deals with two American doctors, a man and a woman, who operate a hospital in bombed China. Conductor, The, an original story acquired for screen production by Universal. Frenchman's Creek, Daphne du Maurier's new and unpublished novel of the Napoleonic era, purchased by Paramount for a reported $125,000. Gargantua, Ltd., an original story purthased by Alfred T. Mannon for independent production. Gold Importance, a novel of Alaskan adventure by Robert Ormond Case, which was published last fall. The story has been acquired by Republic as a vehicle for Ray Middleton and will be produced by Armand Schaefer. Hairbreadth Harry, an original story based on the comic strip of that title a few years ago. The property has been acquired by Paramount as a vehicle for Eddie Bracken. Hour Before Dawn, The, a forthcoming novel by Somerset Maugham, purchased by Paramount. STORY PURCHASES OF YEAR COMPARED Month Originals Books Plays Tota October, 1940 29 11(a) 5 45 November 20 8 5 33 December 30 16(b) 9 55 January, 1941 30 14(c) 7 51 February 36 11(d) 8 55 March 31 19(e) 5 55 April 17 11(f) 6 34 May 20 24(g) 4 48 June 39 9(h) 2 50 July 18 no) 2 31 August 9 7(i) 1 17 September 31 I7(k) 2 50 TOTALS FOR 12 MONTHS 310 1 58(1) 56 524 (a) Including I newspaper comic strip, I musical composition and 1 film. (b) Including 4 published magazine stories and 2 radio scripts. (c) Including 5 published magazine stories and I newspaper serial. (d) Including 3 published magazine stories and I newspaper comic strip. (e) Including 2 published magazine stories, I newspaper comic strip and I film. (f) Including 2 published magazine stories and 1 radio script. (g) Including 4 published magazine stories and 2 radio scripts. (h) Including 3 published magazine stories, I musical composition and I radio script. (i) Including I published magazine story and I newspaper comic strip, (j) Including I radio script, (k) Including 3 published magazine stories, I newspaper comic strip and 1 film. (I) Including 27 published magazine stories, 7 radio scripts, 3 films, 2 musical compositions and 5 newspaper comic strips. Husbands Are Funny People, an original story purchased by Metro-Golden-Mayer. Jackdaws Strut, a novel by Harriet Henry which was produced as a motion picture in 1931. Twentieth Century-Fox acquired the property for production this season. Juke Girl, a magazine story by Theodore Pratt, purchased by Warner Brothers. The story concerns a nickel phonograph operator in the beer halls of the Florida back country. L'Empreinte du Dieu, a French novel by Maxance de Meersch, bought by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Little Bit of Larceny, A, an original story purchased by Republic. Little Pinks, an unpublished story by Damon Runyon which he will produce as the first picture under his recently signed contract with RKO. Look for the Woman, an original story purchased by Republic. Marriage Is a Private Affair, Harper's prize winning novel for 1941 by Judith Kelly, purchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for production by Pandro S. Berman. Marshal From Helldorado, The, an original story bought by Twentieth Century-Fox. Melody Lane, an original story acquired for production by Universal. Moon and Sixpence, The, a novel by Somerset Maugham, reputedly based on the life of Gaugin, famous French painter. The story has been bought by David Loew and Albert as a possible vehicle for Paul Muni. My Favorite Blonde, an original story purchased by Paramount for Bob Hope and Madeleine Carroll. Never Love a Stranger, an original story purchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Night Before the Divorce, The, an original story acquired by Twentieth Century-Fox. No Murder to Guide Her, an original story purchased by Universal. Nothing Ventured, an original story purchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. No Time for Love, an original story acquired by Paramount as a possible vehicle for Fred MacMurray and Susan Hayward. The plot involves a romance between a sandhog working in a tunnel and a girl photographer assigned to photograph the project. Pied Piper, The, a forthcoming novel and magazine serial purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. Plague on You, A, a novel by Carroll Graham which will be published this fall. The story concerns a retired chorus girl who manages a boarding house. RKO will produce the picture. Public Enemies, an original story acquired for screen production by Republic. Recruit, The, an original story purchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Road to Montezuma, an original story acquired by Universal. Shanghai Kate, an original property purchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Clare Booth Story Purchased Six From Coventry, an original screen story by Clare Booth purchased by Paramount at a reported price of $25,000. It deals with the American adventures of six refugee children from Great Britain. Sky Over China, an original story purchased for production by Paramount. Sled Train, an original story of modern Alaska purchased by Paramount for production by Sol. C. Siegel. Song of Bernadette, a new novel by Franz Werfel dealing with the miracles of Lourdes. The story has been purchased by International Artists, a unit of RKO, for a reported price of $75,000. William Dieterle will produce and direct the screen production. Speckled Band, The, a Sherlock Holmes mystery novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, acquired by Warner Brothers. Spy Woman, an original story of modern espionage acquired by Republic. Stage Stage, a Collier's magazine story by Ernest Haycox purchased by Metro-GoldwynMayer. Stopover in New Orleans, an original story acquired by Universal. Temporarily Yours, an original story purchased by Universal. Third Alarm, The, a silent film melodrama produced in 1923 and again in 1930, has again been purchased this time by Republic. True to the Army, an original story purchased for Judy Ganoza, Allan Jones and Jerry Colonna by Paramount. Two Brothers in America, an original story acquired by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Untitled Musical, an original story purchased as a vehicle for the Andrews Sisters by Universal.