Motion Picture Herald (Sep-Oct 1943)

34 MOTION PICTURE HERALD October 30, I 943 Hollywood Canteen to Be Film Subject 29 Properties Purchased During September, 23 of Them Originals September activity in the story field was marked by several complicated transactions whereby film companies obtained property rights through agreements with a Broadway play producer, in one instance, and a theatrical service organization aiding the war effort. Twenty-nine properties were acquired during the month. Twentieth Century-Fox negotiated for Michael Todd's play, "The Naked Genius which opened on Broadway October Zlst, under these conditions: One, a down payment of $150,000 was deposited by the company • two, the company additionally pays a sum equal to about 10 per cent of the show s receipts on the road and 15 per cent during its New York showing, with the total figure not to exceed $200,000; and finally, a share of the picture's income is to be turned over to Mr. Todd. All this, of course, came under the purview of the Dramatists Guild, which approved the arrangement. Hollywood Canteen to Get Picture Profits Warner Brothers reached an agreement with the Hollywood Canteen officials ^f or the filming of a production to be called "Hollywood Canteen," with profits to be turned over to the canteen's fund much in the same way as Army Emergency Relief is benefiting from the Warner picture, "This Is the Army." Besides the Hollywood Canteen, a share in the profits also will go to the New York Theatre Wing and various local Canteen chapters throughout the country. An unusually large number of originals were purchased by studios, 23, while a novelette, two magazine serials, and one play were among other purchases. The September story buys are listed below. Two Magazine Serials Among Purchases And Then I Saw You, original by Clarence Greene, purchased by RKO. Clock, The, original by Paul and Pauline Gallico, acquired by MGM. Cocktails for Two, original suggested from idea by Maurice Tombragel, purchased by RKO. Conjure Wife, original by Fritz Lieber, Jr., bought by Universal. Divided by Five, original story assigned to Marc Connelly for purchase by MGM. Fighting Heart, The, original by Robert D. Andrews, acquired by MGM. Fledgling, The, original by Jacques Deveal from unpublished play, purchased by MGM. Great Gabbo, The, of which a comedy adaptation is to be produced by Charles R. Rogers for United Artists release. Gung Ho, original by Lieutenant Wilfred S. LeFrancois and Lucien Hubbard, purchased by Universal. Guns on the Cimarron, magazine serial STORY PURCHASES OF YEAR COMPARED Month Originals Books Plays Total October, 1942 32 9 a) 5 46 November 12 12 b) 1 25 December 17 8 ,c) 25 January, 1943 10 6 d) 1 17 February 32 5 e) 1 38 March 23 10 f) 5 38 April 18 13 g) 4 35 May 24 10 h) i) 34 June 24 7 31 July 17 16 i) 4 37 August 21 6 2 29 September 23 5 (") 1 29 TOTALS FOR 12 MONTHS 253 1 07(m) 24 384 (a) Including 2 2 (b) Including 2 (c) Including 2 (d) Including 2 (e) Including 3 (f) Including 1 1 (g) Including 3 1 (h) Including 2 1 (i) Including 3 (i) Including 3 1 Including 2 1 (1) Including 2 (m) I Including 25 4 2 3 I magazine stories and songs novelettes magazine stories magazine stories magazine stories magazine story and song magazine stories and song magazine stories and comic strip magazine stories magazine stories and radio script magazine stories and radio script magazine stories novelette and film magazine stories musical compositions radio scripts novelettes newspaper comic strip film appearing in Western Story Magazine as "Range Finders" by Allan Vaughan Elston, purchased by Republic. Hell Afloat, Argosy serial by Eustace L. Adams, purchased for a Pine-Thomas production by Paramount. Hollywood Canteen, acquisition of film rights by Warners, to be produced by Jesse L. Lasky. Profits from picture to be shared with the Hollywood Canteen and other service chapters. Jennie Makes Her Mind Up, original by Mary Loos and Louise Rousseau, purchased by MGM. Last Salvo, The, original by Gordon Kahn, acquired by MGM. Light Fantastic, The, original by Lee Loeb and Mel Shavelson, bought by RKO. Looking for Trouble, original by Virginia S. Cowles, purchased by Universal. Louisiana, original by Samuel Coslow, acquired by Universal. Merry Monahans, The, original by Ernest Pagana and Michael Fessier, acquired by Universal. Naked Genius, The, current play by Gypsy Rose Lee, produced by Michael Todd, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. Patrick The Great, original by Dorothy Bennett and Bertram Millhauser, bought by Universal. Petticoat Fever, original by Laszlo Vadnay and Aladar Laszlo, acquired by RKO. Practically Yours, original by Norman Krasna, Paramount purchase for a PineThomas production. Sherlock Holmes vs. the Woman Smuggler, original by Bertram Millhauser, purchased by Universal. Sophie Cooper, original for preparation by Marcia Davenport, author of "The Valley of Decision," purchased by Paramount. Sunday Dinner for a Soldier, novelette by Martha Cheavens, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. To Each His Own, original for preparation by the English playwright, Dodie Smith, purchased by Paramount. Tower of Steel, A, book by Josephine Lawrence, purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox. Valiant Minstrel, The, original by Gladys Malvern concerning the life of Harry Lauder, bought by MGM. Washington, I Love You, original by Ruth McKenney and Richard Bransten, acquired by Universal. Rogers Film Gets 50 St. Louis Bookings More than 50 theatres in the St. Louis territory have booked Republic's "Man from Music Mountain," Roy Rogers Western, with a first run engagement set at the Fox in that city on November 4th. Wide advertising and publicity is being given the picture, the company said, with radio spot announcements to be heard over numerous network affiliates and independent stations in the area prior to and during the engagement. "In Old Oklahoma" Republic film based on Thomas Burtis' story, "War of the Wildcats," is receiving multiple-booking attention in prerelease engagements in key cities, the company announced this week. It is expected that during the month of November Republic will set at least 40 openings for the picture, with 27 bookings already scheduled. Film Classics Washington Franchise to Wheeler Wheeler Film Corporation, film exchange formed recently in Washington, D. C, has acquired the Washington franchise of Film Classics. Sam Wheeler, chief barker of the Washington Variety Club and formerly 20thFox branch manager in that city, heads the company. Included in the Film Classics' product to be handled by Mr. Wheeler are "A Star Is Born," "Nothing Sacred," "The Young in Heart," two Hal Roach reissues and other films. O'Brien Aids Canadian Loan Pat O'Brien, starring in RKO Radio's "The Iron Major," will appear on the Canadian Government's Fifth Victory Loan program, broadcasting from Toronto on November 3rd in the interests of a Bond rally. To Show Educational Films Jack Schwartz, operator of the West End theatre in Bridgeport, Conn., will show a series of educational films for school children who will be admitted free when accompanied by their teachers. Playhouse to Reopen The Fifth Avenue Playhouse, New York, will reopen soon with "The Challenge," an Astor Pictures release.