Variety (Nov 1935)

Wednesday* Noyember 6, 1935- PICT ES VARIETY FILMUSICAL CYCLE PIONEER BIDS $250,000 FOR ■•> Hollywood, Nov. 5. T^)ckd Astalre, who has still his curffeht picture, 'Follow the Fleet,' to go oh hia present contract at KidlOi which expires In February; hi(Si' Indicated to the company that he Wants a liberal tilt for his fu- ture work. This is due to a recent offer made him jjy Pioneer Pictures for one film at $250,000, with As- talre basing that offer as his fu- ture value at Kadlo. Cdrrentiy, Astalre Is getting $3,- 000 weeklisr a 40-week basis, •which means that the present year's two pictures, 'Top Hat' and •Follow the Fleet,' give him $60,000 each^ Besides, he is getting a bonus of the gross, with bonus on 'Hat' figured to reacli between $20,- 000 and $30i000.. It's riot a con- tractual percentage deal but the Btudlo's gesture of appreciation, Astaire's original contract, which was adjusted to the present one, was. for a .first picture In 10 weeks at, $2,500 weekly, and other two in 10 weeks each at $3,000 a week. Radio ha3 refused to permit i As- talre to accept the Pioneer prop- osition. Radio has purchased Erwin Gel- sey's original, 'Portrait of John Gar- rett,' as a co-starrer for Fred As- talre and Ginger Rogers. New yarn will follow the screen pair's current production, 'Follow the Fleet.' MH-FOX LEGIT UNIT; TALENT, PLAYS TESTED .Hollywood, Nov. 5. Darryl Zanuck has organized the >0th Century-Fox Play Co. to try but picture story and personality posBibilities. Henry Duffy has'been appointed head of the Jiew unit. Zanuck, JoselJjli M. Schenck and .William Goetz are the incorporators. Home theatre ■will be Henry Duffy's El Capitan here. Plays, after their local tryout, will be sent to New Toi-k If they click. First production will be 'Autumn,' author- ed by Margaret Kennedy, Rehear- sals start next week. Powell's New Deal Hollywood, Nov. 5. Warners and Dick Powell have settled their difference-s with the actor back at the studio to go into the lead of 'Colleen.' New contract is being worked out with Powell's, attorney, Martin Gang, GABLE COMING HOME Cuts Trip Short on From Studio for 'San Franci ' Rlo de Janeiro, Oct. 25. Clark Gable Is oh a boat due In New York Nov. 7. His original in- tention had been to take the Graf Zeppelin .to Europe, but -he was forced to cut his trip short to re- turn to the States and make the picture 'San Fra.ncisco.' He was mobbed by throngs of feminine admirers all the way down the west coast,' losing most of his underwear to souvenir hunters who Invaded his hotel room in Santiago, Chile. He publicly announced that he would not leave the boat on .liis arrival here, but later oscapod by ^■ay of a police launch for a quiet tour of the city. Flying to" Jail Holly wood, Nov.-5, . Martin Mooney,. New York newspaperman now under writing contract to Warners, ■ ■will pla-ne •eaGt- a-t the «xp«nse of the studio to serve an-cx- pecfed SO-day sentence. This Is for contempt imposed by New York courts for Mooney's re- fusal to reveal sources of In- forrhatloh during his paper's (N, Y, American) racket ex- pose campaign, Mooney feels the New York appellate <:ourt will sustain the lower trlburval and that he will have to serve his sentence in December. Warners will also pay the writer's return trip to Holly- wood and allow him to resume his 26 weeks' - contract with the company. H'wood Squawks That Type Actors Telegraph Plot Hollywood, Nov. Again the cry for new faces'Is In full blast. This time the etudios are attacking it from another angle. Idea Is that most players have beconie so typed as to the parts they play that audiences are aware of tlie outcoriie of picture stories as soon ais these players appear on the screen. ^Paramount, as result, has decided to weed out Its contract list, drop those who are considered plot tip- per-offers. Metro and Warners are considering the same Idea. It is Hollywood's admission that new faces are ah Immediate nec- essity in the studios. PAR BAITING MAYNARD ON SIX PICTURE DEAL ollywood, Nov, 5. Paramount is considering deal with Ken Maynard for latter to star in Zane Grey series of six features to be produced for the 1936-37 pro- gram. Understood proposition un- der discussion calls for Maynard to receive $15,000 per picture. Western star is under contract to Larry Darmour for this season, ap- pearing in series relea-sing through Columbia. Yachters in Jolson Pic Hollywood, Nov. 5. ' Yacht Cliib Boys will be featured by Warners in the next Jolson starrer, 'Singing Kid,' studio out- bidding Darryl Zanuck for the quartet. Through prior contract with the Yachters for series of Titaphone shorts, Warners held right, to top offer made by another company for the group. Zahuck's bid for a, forthcoming fllmuslcal, but Warners exercised its right of contract. Cab Calloway also set. Keaton's B.A. Rep Buenos Aires, Oct. 25. News of Huster Keaton's Illness made a large sp'.ash in the local dallies, \yliere sfevcral proniinent afternooncrs gave as much as two columns to the .star'.s career. Keaton has always been one of the most popular comics on local screens. oyers on Coast. l-]tolIywoo(l, Nov, 5, Charles Boyer and hl.s wife, Pat Patterson, . landed here Sunday (T). Uoycr reports to Paramount, on loan from Waltei Wanper, for the l<-ad with Marlene Dietrich in 'Invi- tation to Happiness.' MAMOULIAN WEST Roul)en Mamoulian left yesterday (Tuesday) for the Coast after put- ling on Tor.try' (legit) in New- York. He returns to the Radio studio which has him under Contract and permitted him to leave to stage •I'orgy,' Warners Leads Off with 'Pastures* — Columbia Scouts 'Porgy and Bess/ Has Colored Players in 'Georgianna* OLD FEAR PASSES Hollywood, Nov, 6. All major studios are planning Alms to Include colored performers, .Leader, though not a musical, is Warners' 'Green. Pastures,' which calls for a colored cast. .Other stu- dios, however, are planning black and "white musicals while Para- mount has scheduled a musical the cast of .which will comprise about 80% colored players. Latter is a pet idea of Ernst Lubitsch, Columbia has a yen for "Porgy and Bess,' Eitianuel Cohen, returned from New York Sunday (3). after seeing the play, will make his rec- ommendations to Harry Cohn this week. If Col,-takes the play. It will be an Emanuel' Cohen production. At Radio, a black and white mu- sical has been on the Are for some time, Metro Is planning a similar piece. Twentieth Century-Fox has the iiiusical Idea with BUI Rob- inson and Stepin Fetchlt In,mind, also has a story of the Southern Negroes. Columbia's 'Georgianna' will have several colored people In the cast, as will Unlversal's 'Show Boat.' Paramount's.'So Red the Rose,' Just completed, has three colored players in featured spots. The new Al Jol- son picture at Warniers has the Cab Calloway band featured. Producers have long steered clear of the colored tingle, fearing a re- action In the south. First all-col- ored picture was Fox's 'Hearts In Dixie' In 1929. Success of this pic- ture was attributed to the novelty of talkers. Later Metro made 'Hal- lelujah.' which received critical raves but failed to make any great Impression, at the box office. In the past few months London Films' 'Sanders of the Klver* has done spotty business In this coun- try, biit even at that has surprised Hollywood, with 4ts reception. ~ Studios figure that reception of colored players In Europe,, where they have been a vogue for several years, will offset any drop In busi- ness throughout the south. Two studios are flirting with Josephine Baker for colored pictures. She Is currently In N; Y. for a Shubert musical. Montgomery in Unifonn For MG 'Suicide Club' Hollywood, Nov. 6. Robert Montgomery has been set for the lead in Metro's 'Suicide Club.' This will be the first time the star has appeared in a costume pictiire in years. Louis D. Lighten will produce the picture as a special. Manny Seft and E. E. Paramore are scripting. William Kaplin, recovered from the Injuries he received In the 'An- napolis Farewell' plane crash, Jumps from Paramount to s aid to Lighten. Berg Vs. Beery—Commish Hollywood, Nov. 5. Phil Berg filed suti against Wallace Beery for cominissions al- legedly due him for arranging deals at 20th-Fox and Metro. He charges that Beery negotiated on his own after agent started the deals. Damages are based on a two- year Metro contract totaling $600,- 000 and $200,000 for a two-picture deal at 20th-Fox. H wood's Extras' Bill for First Nine Months This Year-42,0Ri)12 Goldwyn No. 1234 Hollywood, Nov. 6, Another Sam Goldwyn story concerns his exaction of a pledge, 'On your word of honor.' The writer stated he didn't; want to give his word. Whereupon Goldwyn said, 'Then promise me.' as Par Execs Knit Closer Setup Hollywood, Nov. 6, Paramount studio is rearranging Its ofUce space to facilitate intra- studlo activities and coordinate pro- duction. , All associate producers, are being, moved to the. second floor of the malii administration building. Most are already installed In their new ofilces.with only William Le Baron and Lloyd Sheldon remaining on the main floor and they are sched- uled to go up a flight next week. Main floor will house the Otter-: son-Rothacker - Lubitsch-Herzbrun menage and their corps of assist- ants. Legal and story department will remain on the ground. . Operative department will be ^pn- centrated on the second floor of the new dressing room building. Writers and directors will remain ,In the writers building with all others now there and not connected with either branch being hustled out. Studio feels that •more can be ac- complished by having all depart- ments established In its own build- ings. NEW FIVE YEAR TICKET FOR LeBARON AT PAR Hollywood, Nov, 5. After serving Paramount since 1932 as an associate producer, Wil- liam LeBaron's contract has been extended for another five year op" tional period. In addition to handling all - the Mae West pictures, LeBaron is pro- ducing 'Give Us This Night,' co- featuring Jan Klepura and Gladys Swarthout. Romeo, Where Art Thou? Hollywood, Nov. 5, Although the script and costumes are ready and most sets designed, Metro is holding up the start of 'Romeo and Juliet' due to no Roriiep for Norma Shearer's Juliet. Cesar Romero and Brian Ahearhc have been tested, but nothing dcfl- nite on outcome, although latter likely. Dvorak Ordered to Rest, Ellis Gets Lead Hollywood, Nov. "5. With' Ann Dvorak ordered to take a three month.', rest to build up weight and reserve, Warners re- placed hnr witli Patrlci JOllls in femme lead of 'liackflre.' Dance part slated for iviiss Dvorak has boon altered ,to rtinglng to ac- commodate Mi.SH Ellis, who will warble t\v() numbers by Alllf? 'ru- bel and Mort Dixon. AGENT TURNS ACTOE 'AGAIN Hollywood, Nov. 5. Bill Demarest is cast as the press agent In 'The Great Zlogfeld' at Metro. Actor recently turned ag^nt. ollywood, Nov, 6. Further indicatlpn of a decided In- crease In Hollywood production Is manifest In a checkup of monies spent for registered extras and racial groups through Central Cast- Ing during first -nine months of current year. Survey shows In- crease of $632,504 bver same period for 1934, Checkup a.Iso reveals that during: first lilne months'of 1934 a total of $1,381,608 was expended as against $2;014,012 spent for the: same period In 1935. Following table shows compari- son of placements made for bot years as per classifications: ClasBiflcation First Nine ' First Nine WHILE FRISCO BURNS, JEANETTE WILL SING Hollywood, Nov. B. Metro's Frisco fire yarn, 'San Francisco,' is set for Nov. 14,' fitart under W, S. Van Dyke's direction. Clark Gable and Jeanette Macdon- ald are set as leads, actress to slhgr several arias from 'Faust.' EASIOFF'S WB SOAKER Hollywood, Nov. B. . Boris Karloflt will do 'The Walk- ing Dead' as one picture he owes Warners, He goes to England on its com- pletion, Trade Marb Registered FOUNDED BT SIMB SILVERMAN rubllahod Weeklj hj VARIETT, Inp. SKI Silvernian, Prealdent 1S4 West 4itb Street, New Tork Cliy INDEX Bills 62 Burlesque 63 Chatter 60 Concert 69 Exploitation 27 15 and 50 Years Ago...... 50 Film Reviews .• 20-21 House Revif.-W8 17 Inside—Legit 51 Inside—Pictures 6 Inside—Radio ...., 45 International News ^4-.''5 .Legitimate 53-57 Literati 58 Music ..; , .'17-4S New Acts 50 Nf'ws from the Dailies... Ci Nlte Clubs Obituary 03 Outdoors. f3 Pictures 2-3.') Radio 33-'.C Radio Cli;ifl«»r ........... A'>. Ttadio—Nfw r-iusijK-Hs..,. A'\ Kafiirj--PvPp()rts . ?-1 Uarilo—Sli-nvmanshi)) 'l-I Times Sfiuare d Siiort .Subjects 20 Sports CI T.'nlts 50 V'fiudc ...49-31 Women 12