Motion Picture Herald (Sep-Oct 1942)

October 24, 1942 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 5 = STUDIOS ACQUIRE 34 STORY PROPERTIES IN SEPTEMBER Figure Shows Sharp Drop from Previous Month and September, 1941 Hollywood producers acquired 34 storyproperties during September, a sharp drop from the 52 story buys in August, and from the 50 purchased in September, 1941. In the last 12 months, 549 recorded story properties were acquired for production. Two oi the properties acquired in September oi this year resulted from an exchange deal between two of the major companies. Warner Bros, acquired screen rights to Somerset Maugham's "Of Human Bondage" and Philip Barry's "The Animal Kingdom" from RKO Radio in exchange for the services of stars. Both stories were filmed some years ago by RKO Radio. Other outstanding purchases in September were Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's acquisition of the stage musical, "High Kickers," the George Jessel show which had a run of 171 performances on Broadway; Phil Stong's new novel of a farm family, "One Destiny," acquired by Twentieth CenturyFox, and Edward Small's purchase of the screen rights to "A Time to Be Born," by Dawn Powell. Miss Powell also is doing the screenplay. The picture will be released by United Artists. .An unusual acquisition in September was '"The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins," by Dr. Seuss, humorous writer and cartoonist. Screen rights to the book were purchased by George Pal for a "Puppetoon" short subject in color. Properties Purchased During September American Rangers, original, purchased by Paramount. The story concerns American Commandos who invaded Dieppe. Animal Kingdom, The, play by Philip Barry, acquired from RKO Radio by Warner Bros., in exchange for the services of stars. Berlin Papers Please Copy, Bl-ack Mask magazine story by Peter Paige, purchased by Republic. Bomber's Moon, original by Leonard Lee, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox, Captains Confusion, original by Joseph Marshall, purchased by RKO Radio. Joan Carroll will be featured. Career Girl, original by James Foster, purchased by Producers Releasing Corporation. Caribbean Patrol, original by James Edward Grant, purchased by Paramount for production by Sol C. Siegel. Brian Donlevy and Alan Ladd will co-star. Catherine, original by Nicholas (Miklos) Laszlo as well as adaptations by Mary McCarthy and Leslie Kardos, purchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Cyclone, original coal mining story, purchased by Pine-Thomas for Paramount release. The picture will feature Richard Dix. STORY PURCHASES OF YEAR COMPARED Month Originals Books Plays Tota October, 1941 20 15(a) 4 39 November 20 16(b) 3 39 December 16 10(c) 26 January, 1942 27 9(d) 4 40 February 44 18(e) 3 65 March 40 15(f) 2 57 April 43 8(g) 5 56 May 30 11(h) 5 46 June 35 I6(i) 4 55 July 24 I2fi] 4 40 August 35 I3(k) 4 52 September 22 10(1) 2 34 TOTALS FOR 12 MONTHS 356 1 53(m) 40 549 (a) Including 4 published magazine stories. (b) Including I published magazine story and I musical composition. (c) Including 4 published magazine stories. (d) Including I film and I song. (e) Including 3 published magazine stories and 1 song. (f) Including 4 published magazine stories and 2 musical compositions. (g) Including 2 published magazine stories and 1 newspaper comic strip. (h) Including 4 published magazine stories and 2 radio scripts, (ij Including I magazine story, I song and I poem. (|) Including 3 films, I radio script and I song. (k) Including 2 magazine stories, I newspaper comic strip and 1 radio serial. (I) Including 4 magazine stories, [m] Including 29 magazine stories, 2 newspaper comic strips, 4 radio scripts, 4 films, 6 musical compositions, I poem and 1 song. Elusive Lady, original by Frank Fenton and Joseph Hoffman, purchased by Republic. Five Doors, original by Keith Winters, purchased by Warner Bros, for production by Henry Blanke. 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins, The, book by Dr. Seuss, humorous writer and cartoonist, purchased by George Pal for a "Puppetoon" in color. Gentlemen Be Seated, novel by Dailey Paskman and Sigmund Spaeth purchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. High Kickers, stage musical, purchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The play had a run of 171 performances in New York. Homecoming, original by George Oppenheimer, purchased by MGM. Intruder, The, original by George W. Yates, purchased by Republic. London Blackout Murders, original by Curt Siodmak, purchased by Republic. Mail Boat, original by Houston Branch, purchased by Republic for filming under title "Back to God's Country." It is a story about Alaska in the present war. Mistress Mary, original by Robert Pirosh and Rene Clair, purchased by Paramount for direction by Mr. Clair. Fred MacMurray will head the cast. My Son, The Hero, original by Edgar Ulmer and Doris Malloy, purchased by Producers Releasing Corporation. Of Human Bondage, novel by Somerset Maugham, acquired from RKO Radio by Warner Bros, in exchange for the services of stars. One Destiny, novel by Phil Stong, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. The story concerns the life of a modern family of Iowa farmers. Saratoga Chips, unpublished stories, adaptations and continuities by Everett Freeman, Boris Ingster and Samuel Ornitz, purchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Submarine for Two, original by Robert Williams, purchased by Columbia for production by Irving Briskin. The story concerns Japanese miniature undersea boats. Thanks Pal, original story by Jerry Horwin and Seymour B. Robinson, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. Three Strangers, original by John Huston, purchased by Warner Bros. John Collier will write the screenplay. Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor and Sidney Greenstreet will head the cast. Time and Again, original script by James V. Kern, purchased by Warner Bros, for production by Mark Hellinger. Time to Be Born, A, novel by Dawn Powell, purchased by Edward Small, for release by United Artists. To Helen, original by Henry Moritz, purchased by Republic for a picture to be titled "Shanty town" and to star Mary Lee. Torpedo Squadron 8, war report by correspondent Sidney L. James published in Life Magazine, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox for production by Walter Morosco in color. To the Last Man, Adventure Magazine story, purchased by Warner Bros, for production by Jesse L. Lasky. A. I. Bezzerides is writing the script. Errol Flynn will be starred. True Story of Fala. original by Margaret Suckley and Alice Dalgliesh, purchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Uninvited, The, novel by Dorothy McArdle, purchased by Paramount. \ ou Are George, magazine story b}r Clara Belle Thompson and Margaret Lukes Wise, purchasedby Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer . Offer Baer Column Frederick E. Goldsmith, former judge, announced last week that he is acting in a representative capacity for Arthur "Bugs" Baer. humorist, for purposes of making a series of short subjects based on Mr. Baer's column, a feature of the Hearst newspapers.