Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1942)

42 MOTION PICTU RE HERALD March 14, I 942 STORY BUYS AT NEW HIGH (Continued from preceding page) 1932, purchased from them by Twentieth Century-Fox, who will remake it as a musical. Block That Kiss, an original story by William Dozier, head of Paramount's story department, which will be produced by Sol Siegel as a college football musical with Eddie Albert. Blondie for Victory, the twelfth story in the "Blondie" series, purchased by Columbia. Bundles for Freedom, an original story by Milton Holmes, purchased by RKO as a vehicle for Cary Grant. Channel Port, an original story by Leonard Lee, purchased by Paramount. Cherie Jolie, an original story by Jacques Thery and Louis de Wohl, purchased by MGM. China Sky, a novel by Pearl S. Buck, acquired by RKO for production by Islin Auster. The Crime of Laura Saurelle, an English novel by Joseph Shearing, acquired by RKO for about $16,000 for production by Reeves Espy. Mystery Stories Crossroads, an original story by Hans Kafka and Howard Emmett Rogers, acquired by MGM for Hedy Lamarr. Dark of the Moon, a novel by Margaret Bell Houston, acquired by Paramount. Death From the Sanskrit, an original mystery story by Lawrence C. Blochman, acquired by Twentieth Century-Fox. Ralph Dietrich will produce it. Destination Unknown, an original story by David Goodis, purchased by Universal. Dragon Seed, Pearl S. Buck's best-selling novel of the Sino-Japanese War, purchased by MGM for a price reported to be $105,000. _ The Edge of Darkness, a novel by William Woods to be published shortly, acquired by Warner Bros. Robert Lord will produce it. Eyes of the Underworld, an original story by Michael Simmons, acquired by Universal. Fire in the Night, a novel by Helen MacInnes to be published in the Saturday Evening Post, acquired by MGM for a sum reported near $25,000. The First Sob Sister, a story by Jack Pollexfen, acquired by MGM. The Flying Tigers, an original story by Charles M. Ross, concerning American aviators in China, acquired by Republic. Footsteps Behind Her, a mystery novel by Mitchell Wilson which has been serialized in Liberty, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox for about $5,000. Gallant Lady, a short story by Octavus Roy Cohen which appeared in Collier's some years ago, purchased by PRC. Grand Central Murder, an original story purchased by MGM. Half Pint Kid, an original story by Borden Chase, purchased by MGM. Half Way to Shanghai, an original story by Stuart Palmer, purchased by Universal. Honorable Saboteur, an original^ story by Reginald Le Borg, acquired by Universal. It will be produced under another title. "If Winter Comes" Bought If Winter Comes, the novel by A. S. M. Hutchinson, filmed by Fox in 1923 and sold by Twentieth Century-Fox to MGM for a remake with Greer Garson. Pandro Berman will produce it. Knights Without Armor, an original story about guerilla warfare in Yugoslavia by Hollywood writers Jay Dratler and Gina Kaus, purchased by Columbia for about $10,000. The title will be changed. The Last Flight, an original story by Nat Tanchuk and Sam Neuman concerning the last Clipper from the Far East after war broke, acquired by Ed Finney for release by Monogram. Let's Face It, the Broadway musical by Herb and Dorothy Fields, with music by Cole Porter, acquired by Paramount as a vehicle for Bob Hope. The price was reported to be $225,000, of which $100,000 went to Twentieth Century-Fox for the rights to "Cradle Snatchers," on which it was based. Little Joe, the Wrangler, an original story by Sherman Lowe, acquired by Universal. London Blackout Murder, an original story by M. D. Christopher, purchased by Republic. Madame Spy, an original story by Edmund Joseph, purchased by Universal. Meet Me in St. Louis, a series of 12 stories by Sally Benson which appeared in the New Yorker, acquired by MGM. Miss Appleby Gets Her Answer, an original story by Val Burton, purchased by Paramount. Helen Hayes may be offered the title role. Mr. Elms of Brighton, a novel by Harold Mason, acquired by George Stevens, producer director. Mr. Gilder's Cup, an old stage play, acquired by Charles Ruggles. Maugham Novel Puchased Moon and Sixpence, a novel by Somerset Maughham, purchased by David L. Loew and Albert Lewin for United Artists. Mr. Lewin will direct the production. My Love for Byron, an original story by Daniel Mather, a British aviator recently killed, by Edward H. Griffith. My Wife Has Joined the Army, an original story by Bradbury Foote, purchased by Ed Gross for independent production. Now, Voyager, a novel by Olive Higgins Prouty, acquired by Warners as a vehicle for Bette Davis. It will be produced by Hal B. Wallis. Over There, an original story of an A. E. F. by Edgar Poste, purchased by Republic. The Oxbow Incident, the novel by Walter van Tilburg Clark which had been under option to Harold Hurley, acquired by Twentieth Century-Fox. Peking Adventure, an original story by Lawrence Hazard and John Kaska, purchased by Universal. Pieces of Silver, an original story by Horace McCoy and Jerry Sackheim, acquired by Twentieth Century-Fox. The Postman Didn't Ring, an original story by Leon Ware concerning a mail robbery, acquired by Twentieth Century-Fox. Sherlock Holmes Revived The Richest Gob in the World, an original story by Monte Brice and Jimmy Kern, acquired by RKO. David Butler will produce and direct it. Shadow of a Lady, an original story by Ladislas Fodor, purchased by MGM. Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle were acquired by Universal for a series of films with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. Six From Coventry, an original story by Clare Boothe, purchased by Paramount. Smart Lady, an original story by Lester Koenig, acquired by Columbia. Some Portion of Paradise, a story by Martha Cheavens, which was published in Cosmopolitan, purchased by MGM. Suicide Squadron, an original story of the R. A. F. by Douglas Darrow, purchased by Republic. Swing It, Sister, an original story by Henry Moritz and Roy Golden, purchased by Republic. Talent Scout Idea, an original story by Chester Franklin, purchased by MGM. War of the Wildcats, an original story by Thomson Burtis, purchased by Republic. Water Carnival, an original story by Mauri Grashin and Robert Shannon, purchased by Republic. Weekend Leave, an original story by Maurice Clark, acquired by Paramount. The White Evening Gown, a Dutch novel by Victoria Wolf, purchased by Boris Morros and S. P. Eagle, independent producers. White Savage, an original story by Peter Milne, acquired by Universal. Yanks Over Singapore, a story of American fliers defending Malaya, acquired by Republic. Yellow Rose of Texas, the song, acquired by Republic as a musical western title and theme. You Only Die Once, an original story by Herbert Dalmas and Malvin Ward, purchased by Columbia. Mexican Film Bank Opened by LUIS BECERRA CELIS in Mexico City Loans amounting to $125,000, have been made to several selected picture producers to enable them to step up and improve their films this year by the Banco Cinematografica, S.A., the bank that was organized by the industry and the government. While details of this financing have not been made public, it is understood that the loans are for five years, and at reasonable interest rates. The bank has been operating only a month. Code Morals Framed What it calls a "Code of Morals" is being framed by the Ministry of the Interior as a guide for its Federal Film Supervision and Censorship Department. The object of this Code, the Military says, is to assure the exhibition of only those pictures that are of the highest moral tone. The code is expected to become effective about May 1. V Mexico is assured of all the raw film necessary for the completion of the film production program to the end of this year, the industry was told by Santiago Reachi, president of Posa Films, S.A., and brother of Manuel, representative of the Mexican government in Hollywood. Sr. Reachi said all Mexican producers could proceed without the least fear of any shortage of raw materials. The supply, it is indicated, will be sufficient for the producers to complete the more than 70 pictures they have in view for this year. Sr. Reachi, however, limits his optimistic prediction to 1942. He had nothing to say about prospects for next year. The producer hade a business trip to Hollywood, New York and Washington. His company's films feature "Cantinflas," in private life Mario Moreno, the tramp comedian. "Cantinflas" is a partner in Posa. This partnership is now limited to three persons, the comedian and Santiago and Ramon Reachi, Manolo Ferrandiz having dropped out to give his exclusive attention to the operation of the Arena Nacional, prominent local prize fight and wrestling: arena.