Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1942)

November 28, 1942 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 53 COMPANIES BUY 46 STORY PROPERTIES IN OCTOBER Compares with 34 Acquired in September; 12-Month Total Reaches 556 Forty-six story properties were acquired during October by Hollywood producers. This compares with 34 acquisitions the month previous and 39 in October of 1941. In the past 12 months 556 story properties were acquired for production. Of the 46 acquisitions in October 32 are originals, nine are books and five are plays. Under books are listed two published magazine stories and two songs, "Sleepy Lagoon" and "Three Little Sisters." The first will be used as the basis of a picture and the second as a title. Both were acquired by Republic. The acquisitions in October included Quentin Reynolds' war commentary, "Only the Stars Are Neutral," and "McLeod's Folly," novel by Louis Bromfield. The latter will star James Cagney in his first United Artists release. Properties Purchased During October And Now the Tides Come Back, original by Jane Fortune, purchased by Metro-GoldwynMayer. And This, Too, Is Love, original by Helene Manard, purchased by Twentieth CenturyFox for production by Robert Bassler. Bad Man of Texas, story of Sam Bass by Frank Gruber, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox for production by Lee Marcus. Bataan Patrol, original by Robert D. Andrews, puchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. By the People, original by Byron Morgan, purchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The story concerns American aircraft workers sent to England to reconstruct American bombers. Cheyenne Roundup, original by Elmer Clifton, purchased by Universal. Concertina, original by Frederick Kohner and Lt. John Huston, purchased by Columbia. Connecticut in King Arthur's Court, A, screenplay by Arthur Horman, purchased by Warner Bros, for production by Jesse L. Lasky. Cry Havoc, play by Allen Kenwand, short subject director for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, purchased by MGM. The story dramatizes the courage of army nurses at Bataan. Edwin Knopf will produce. Dawn Attack, original by Graham Baker, purchased by Columbia. It is a story of the anti-mine patrol. Diplomatic Courier, story in Reader's Digest by Frances Wickware, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox for production by Robert Bassler. Don Ameche will be starred. Fallen Sparrow, romantic novel of espionage by Dorothy B. Hughes, purchased by RKO Radio Maureen O'Hara will be starred. Fish Sergeant, original by John O. Pasco, purchased by Universal. Flare Path, London stage play by Terrence Rattigan, of the RAF, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox for production by Nunnally Johnson. Happy Land, novel by MacKinlay Kantor, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox for production by Kenneth Macgowan. STORY PURCHASES OF YEAR COMPARED Month Originals Books Plays Tota November, 1941 20 16(a) 3 39 December 16 10(b) 26 January, 1942 27 9(c) 4 40 February 44 10(d) 3 65 March 40 15(e) 2 57 April 43 8(f) 5 56 May 30 N (g) 5 46 June 35 16(h) 4 55 July 24 1 2(1) 4 40 August 35 130) 4 52 September 22 I0(k) 2 34 October 32 9(1) 5 46 TOTALS FOR 12 MONTHS 368 I47(m) 41 556 (a) Incl uding 1 published magazine story and 1 musical composition. lb] Incl uding 4 published magazine stories. (c) Inc uding 1 film and I song. (d) Incl uding 3 published magazine stories and 1 song. (e) Inc uding 4 published magazine stories and 2 musical compositions. (f) Inc uding 2 published magazine stories and 1 newspaper comic strip. (g) Inc uding 4 published magazine stories and 2 radio scripts. (h) Inc uding 1 magazine story, 1 song and 1 poem. (i) Inc uding 3 films, 1 radio script and luding 1 song. (i) Inc 2 magazine stories, 1 newspaper comic strip and 1 radio serial. W Inc uding 4 magazine stories. (1) Including 2 published magazine stories and 2 songs. (m) Inc luding 27 magazine stories. 9 musical compositions, 4 radio scripts, 4 films, 2 newspaper comic strips and 1 poem. Henry Aldrich Plays Cupid, original screen story by Aleen Leslie, purchased by Paramount for Jimmy Lydon, Charles Smith and Diana Lynn. Highland Fling, A, London stage success by Margaret Curtis, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. Hundred Girls and a Man, A, original by Myles Connolly, purchased by Universal. Imagine Us, a short story by Libby Block, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox for production by William LeBaron. Junior Commandos of the U. S. A., original by Paul Huston, purchased by Universal. Land Is Bright, the, stage play by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber, purchased by Sam Wood for an independent production to be released through Columbia. The story tells of an ambitious American family. Last Train from Berlin, war documentary by Howard K. Smith, purchased by Twenti eth Century-Fox for production by Robert Bassler. Life of Touhy, original by Crane Wilbur, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox for production by Bryan Foy. Lone Star Trail, original by Harry Crane, purchased by Universal. Malta, original screen story by Heinz Herald, purchased by Columbia. The story deals with the British defense of the Mediterranean island. Mr. Herald will do the screenplay. Bromfield Novel To Be Cagney Vehicle McLeod's Folly, novel by Louis Bromfield, purchased by William Cagney as the first United Artists release starring James Cagney. My Name Is Ruth, original by Eleanor Griffin, purchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for production by Edgar Selwyn. It concerns a young French priest and a child who help a group of refugees escape from the Germans. Never Been Lii ked, original by Jay Dratler, purchased by Universal. Night Shift, novel by Maretta Wolff, purchased by Warner Bros. Ann Sheridan and Humphrey Bogart will be starred. Once a Woman, original by Sidney Skolsky, columnist, purchased by Columbia. Only the Stars Are Neutral, war commentary by Quentin Reynolds, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox for production by Lamar Trotti. Passing the Buck, original by Harry Crane, purchased by Universal. Pass the Ammunition, original story by Wallace P. Hilding, purchased by Monogram. Prodigal's Mother, an unpublished story by Ben Ames Williams, purchased by Republic. Queen Was in the Kitchen, The, original by Marion Spitzer and Milton Merlin, purchased by Columbia. Rainbow Island, original screen story idea by Seena Owen, silent screen star, purchased by Paramount for a color production starring Dorothy Lamour. Right About Face, original by Matt Brook and Joe Hoffman, purchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Universal Purchases Stage Comedy Rollicking Rogues, The, novel by Johnston McCulley, purchased by Reublic, to be used as material for "King of the Cowboys," a high budget Roy Rogers western. See My Lawyer, stage comedy by Richard Maibaum and Harry Clork, acquired by Universal. The play was produced in the 1939-40 season. Sleepy Lagoon, song by Jack Laurence and Eric Coates, purchased by Republic, to be used as the basis of a story to co-star Judy Canova and Joe E. Brown. Susanna and the Youngsters, original by Andrew Solt, purchased by Columbia. Tall in the Saddle, Saturday Evening Post serial by Gordon Ray Young, purchased by RKO Radio as a starring vehicle for John Wayne. Three Little Sisters, song, purchased by Republic, to be used as a title for a film starring Jane Withers, Mary Lee and Ruth Terry. Trombone from Heaven, original by Maurice Rapf, purchased by Universal. Wags, The, short story, formerly known as "The Army Pup," by Robert Metzler, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. Without Notice, original by Andrew Solt and Lili Hatvany, purchased by Columbia.