Screenland (May-Oct 1936)

for June 1936 65 TEMPUS FUGIT: the music goes 'round and 'round and movie stars forget. Grace Moore recently made a public statement that she was through with pictures, because "Hollywood treated her like a machine." Wonder if Grace remembers when she made "New Moon" for M-G-M? She held up production for hours, because she refused to wear Russian boots, unless they were specially-made with soft bedroom-slipper soles. Ah, there, Gracie ! IN this case, he who laughs last — is" designing Hepburn's clothes for "Mary of Scotland." For seven years Walter Plunkett was head of the RKO wardrobe department. During that time he did all the clothes for Irene Dunne, Ann Harding, Ginger Rogers and the Hepburn things in "Little Women." Then, as so often happens in Hollywood, someone thought up the brilliant idea of bringing out Bernard Newman, famous Eastern designer. While Newman's things are in a class all their own, after one picture they did not appeal to Hepburn. In the meantime Plunkett had resigned. In New York he made wonderful connections and was just getting settled when a wire came from Hepburn, asking him to come back. Plunkett had no desire to go and boosted his" salary. The studio met his demands because they wanted Hepburn happy. So Plunkett is in Hollywood on his own terms, Hepburn is happy and "Mary of Scotland" is shooting merrily on its way. Yes, Plunkett is returning to his job in the east, the minute the picture is finished. SIGNOR OTTO MORANDO, (who is preparing Joan and Tone for opera), has a new job on his hands. Lupe Velez arrived at his studio one morning, with Johnny Weissmuller in tow. "I want Jawnnee to seeng," said Lupe. And when Lupe says sing, Johnny warbles. Funny part of the story is, it develops that Johnny really has an unusually pleasing range. BETTY, (Hattie), Furness moved into a new house and mother nature gave her a real housewarming. The first night, Betty heard strange sounds coming from the general direction of the basement. The next morning she investigated and discovered a brand new litter of cats. They were so cute Betty couldn't part with them. Just to be different, she's named them "Pickle-Puss," "Drizzle-puss," "SourPuss," "Weazel-Puss," and if you pa-leeze, "Puss-Over." JUST what was in back of a little scene between Francis Lederer and Ida Lupino, I wouldn't be knowing. But Ida succeeded in embarrassing Francis to the point where words completely failed him. In a scene for "One Rainy Afternoon," Francis, skating with Ida, was supposed to slip and fall flat on the ice. They rehearsed it several times and Francis proved that he could take it. When it came to the first actual "shot," his elbow accidentally came up and hit Ida in the face. Francis1 was all over the place with apologies. Then, without warning, Ida suddenly turned and in front of the whole company, accused Francis of hitting her on purpose. No wonder Francis Lederer is bewildered by Hollywood! BY THE time this is printed, Hollywood will have heard about Grace Bradley. With the new executives at Paramount doing a thorough job of housecleaning, Grace was one of many to be let out. (Katherine DeMille is another). C. B. DeMille, who has several big pictures up his artistic sleeve, has had his eye on Grace for some time. Now he has her signed to a personal contract and Grace is assured that her troubles are over. Incidentally, it develops that the leading man from Jean Muir's play, who got a contract with Warners, turns out to be Grace's boy-friend, Frank Prince. ONCE upon a time the Fox studios signed an actor, who was destined to be the Clark Gable of their lot. Not only did he slightly resemble what-a-man Gable, but he played the same sort of role. The Metro Lion roared amusedly but refused to be upset. The actor, named Weldon Heyburn, had a brief career, married Greta Nissen, was divorced by Greta and dropped out of the picture. There were rumors of a romance with Pola Negri, but it never came to light. Now, Weldon is once more on the Hollywood scene. This time he has been signed by M-G-M. What of Clark Gable? He's busy hunting lions that can roar without a sound track, between pictures. IF you saw "Follow the Fleet," you will remember Fred Astaire playing a miniature piccolo. An adoring mother sent him a letter asking where Fred had purchased his, because she wanted to buy a good one for her little son. Fred purchased it as a gag, when he was on a shopping spree in the Beverly Hills five-and-ten. The dashing new team of Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray on the alert for the director's call to action. THE forecourt of the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood continues to excite the visiting firemen. Recently the imprints of Joe E. Brown's mouth and Al Jolson's knees were immortalized in the soft cement. Wonder when they are going to do something about Mae West? UNA MERKEL, who has appeared in hundreds of pictures, took a trip to New York. The first person she saw was Eleanor Powell, who has appeared in one picture, in which she worked with Una. "I talked to the studio," said Eleanor, "and I have asked for you in my next picture." This is all very sweet because the girls are good friends and Una did appreciate it. It also goes to prove, that you never know who is going to be famous and influential tomorrow and it pays to be nice to everyone in pictures. THE Hartford, Conn., Hepburn?, it seems, have another member of the family bidding for fame in the theatre. Richard Hepburn, Katharine's brother, has authored a play, described as "an economic satire," which is to be produced by Jasper Deeter at the famous Hedgerow Theatre at Moylan-Rose Valley, Pa., this month. (Continued on page 97) Wallace Beery and his hunting dogs get ready to start a trip by auto and plane from Wally's Beverly Hills home to his favorite hunting place in the Wyoming Sierras. Jane Withers has a new house, too. It's a perfect model of Colonial architecture, awarded the screen's "bad" girl, for being so very "good" in her newest film role.