Variety (Mar 1936)

Wednesday, March 25, 1936 -PICT E S VARIETY 3 JAMS METRO'S MASS SEARCH FOR Old Home Week Campaign of -major picture com- panies to go to sources outside of the theatr for new faces received a real boost last ■■week when Metro announced initial steps looking towards establishment of company's school for Howard let? and Al Altman, representing M-G-M, rthur, of. the Brooklyn Eagle> launching personality* contest In Long Island district which will cull approxi niately 7,000 prospects on film pos- sibilities. Search for talent, by this means is understood to be held as a trial bal loon by Metro-Goldwyn to test pos- sible value of the nori-professional field. Satisfactory x-esuits, it is un- derstood* will prove a clincher in speeding actual establishment of a company-operated training school. Metro's traveling 'studio train last •year discovered. Ann • Lorlng, a Brooklyn girl, whose; first film as- signment is in 'Robi Hood of El •v.porado,' Al-Altman, talent executive for Metro, intends to supervise coach- ing and spotting of suitable talent that crashes- the semi-finals. Veda Ann Borg. Terry Walker and ■Elizabeth Russell, three . graduates , 6t Paramount's eastern talent school; have been signatured by the -company. Miss Russell already has, been- assigned to her first produc- tion,. 'Murder With Pictures.' She was chosen-by Oscar ..Serlin from the . ranks of topnotch m.c'dels . in New York city. Miss Walker, who 'hag been singing with a dance orchestra, was signed for- musicals. Miss Bor ;■ selected from letter sub- mitted to Par's talent department, already has been sent to Hollywood. Success of Paramount's coaching school' and demands for .new laces now indicate that the company's dramatic academy shortly will be greatly enlarged. At present time it is being operated at capacity with two instructors and a director In charge of pupils. /wood, March 24. Cast' assembled at . Talisman f o r . remake of 'Clutching Hand,' Universal serial of 220 years ago, had so many vets it looked like Old Home week. Oldtimers included Bryant Washburn, Jack Mulhall, Rex L e a s e , William Farnum,. F.ranklyn Farnum, Mae Bush, Ruth Mix, Reed Howes and Gaston Glass. Producers Will Maintain Wage Scale for Xtras TAKE LOSS SO 10 Demand Change in Acad Award Voting to Frustrate Write-ins Metro Scraps 'Witch* and 'Musa Dagh' to Soothe Ruffled Pride of Alien Powers-—Trade Treaties Protect Smaller Nations HEAD OFF TROUBLE RKO-Arzner in Deal Hbllywood, March 24. •RKO and Dorothy Arzner are huddling over a directorial deal. Only femme director has been i - active since making 'Nan ' for Goldwyn two years ago- Hollywood, Agreement that all major com- panies will live up to wage scales foi* extras and regulations as laid down, and that casting offices be properly instructed so that no- fur- ther complaints are lodged,, was reached .at meeting of Producers'. Association last week, Makeup situation was " also dis- cussed, stress being laid on ground that one concern is operating an outside business while conducting studio makeup departments. Pro- ducers reached- decision to take cognizance nd watch develop- ments. Producers welcomed Charles R.. Rogers - and William Koenig into group, as representatives of new owners of Universal. PEARSON'S 200G SUIT VS. HOLLYWOOD HOTEL CROSBY WANTS FiiMME CO-STAR IN 'RHYTHM' Hollywood, March 24; With ins Crosby not wanting to be solo starred in 'Rhythm on the Range,' Paramount is still on hunt for femme name to play opposite crooner. Jean Arthur and Olivia de Havl- land have been mentioned but no <l(?al set. Coogan's English Pic? Syracuse, N. Y., March 24. Jackie Coogan in his late father's home, town -this, week for a per- sonal appearance at' RKO : Sc.hinc Keith's la- considering, an English JUm contract. Present revue lour for Fanchon & Marco is expected t< continue into the early summer and at its expiration Coogan may go abroad returning in the fall to re- sume, his law studies on the Coast. He's six months awav from a de- gree. Both he and his fiancee, elty Oable. are getting a heavy play in the. local press. Los Angeles, March Damages totalling $200,483.75 are asked by Humphrey Pearson, screen writer, in action filed in superior court here charging unprovoked as- sault; Suit ' directed against Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel Co, Hull Holding Co., and John Doe Hartman, asserted to be resident manager of hostelry. Writer charges that on Jan. 4, last, while seated in hotel's Cine- Grill with his wife and friend, reading and commenting on some Christmas greeting cards, Hartman approached' table a"d began violent abuse, then knocking card from hand of Pearson's wife and to have insultingly advised group to stop their noise. Preview Assault Suit Hollywood. March 24. Damages totaling- $30,000 arc asked by Tommy MacLeod, former Warner theatre press agent,.;from Fox-West Coast and Thornton Sar- geant, circuit publicist. Complaint charges that MacLeod was evicted Liv the notice from the press show- Tnjf"~oT — i lTkvFTo's" Chaplin's 'Modern Times* at .the Chinese theatre at Sargeanl's instigation. False arrest, assault and battery are charged. Hollywood, March 2f, res produced in Hollywood in which the subject material may offer foreign sensitiveness are be- ginning to take on a magnitude akin to international complications. No matter how small the nation af- fected, ramifications mak their objections look like a matter for the League of Nations. Recently Metro .was called to task by Great Britain over 'The Witch of Timbuctoo.' Subject matter of. the story was voodooism. To offend the British possessions would mean a serious crimp in the picture's rev- enue were it banned, so the changes were made to eliminate" the. objec- tionable angles. Metro at the same time had pur- chased the best seller, '40 Days of Musa Dagh' ahd prepared it for production. Story based on the Turkish atrocities against the Armenians'. Studio was notified by Turkish officials that the story was offensive to the Turks and should not be made. Investigation followed and it was discovered that 1f any picture showed a; profit of $20,000 in Turkey, it was extremely lucky. It was felt in the studio that the story would make an exceptionally, good picture and that the small loss in Turkey Would mean nothing to the eventual gross. -Here the studio discovered its mistake for it was soon notified that the picture if made would In all probabilities be banned in France, Belgium and Poland, with several other central European powers op- posing its production. This is ex- plained by these countries all hav- ing trade alliances with Turkey. In. addition, other treaties, with inter- national aspects , must be respected and that Turkey could turn on the heat with each of the countries in protest against the production of the picture. Result is that Metro has called off 'Musa Dagh.' Same pressure has been brought off and on on several other studios. Recently both Mexico and Spain brought influence to bear in cases where, the national feeling of their countries was displayed as anything but proper. Studios now find that in every case where a story is writ- ten around some foreign country, unless the nationality is fictitious; that some objectionable angle will arise that might as well be elim- inated immediately before the trans- atlantic _w_orJ\ff_come into play.- -Sur- prise has been the potency of small nations through their treaties with larger nations when their national pride has been ruffled. Can't Charge Off Femme Finery, Tax Dept. Rules Washington, March 24. retties, including. $2,262 worth of underwear, are not •'ordinary and necessary expenses,' government ruled last week, in socking Ruth Chatterton for conglomeration of mink coats, satin whatsits and other intimate . apparel. Attempt of Miss Chatterton and her husband, Ralph M. Forbes, to top 50% of her expenses for clothes from her income tax was frowned on by Internal Revenue men, who claimed that Washington should be allowed to collect its cut on a $10,- 156 wardrobe purchased in 1931. Miss Chatterton's' heaviest ex- penditures in that year" included $4,200 for a little mink number; $2,719 for a fitted case; $574 for pajamas and $331 for hankies. Score was settled when Chatter- tola-Forbes coughed up a deficiency of $1,309 to cover 5-year-old finery. Campaign change Academy method of Voting oh annual awards, launched by members of technical branch immediately following re- cent awards banquet, is expected to come to a head at next meeting of organization's boar .Sentiment }s growing against con» tinning procedure in .effect this-year whereby Warner niembers were en- abled to . stage lone. ' campaign of write-ins for various candidates, with storm clouds likely to preei tate wholesale resignations from the Academy groups; Warner surprise attack through write-ins enabled most of its can- didates to get in the runner-up posl- tl6ns, and one into first , place. Member of technicians branch, : who, was on nominating, committee for best photographic achievement, protested voting! this year that re- sulted iii write-in winning, a method he charged unfair to the 19 commit- tee members who spent two weeks judging pictures without sound so that photographic excellence could be determined- Stanwyck Wins Agcy Suit Zep Parts With Pair Hollywood, March - I. Hollywood, March 21. SIg. Marcus and Leonard. Spigel- Barbara Stanwyck has been held gass have severed connections with by. court not. lo be indebted ^0,500 to ' Zepi>o Marx -Agenc.-. Marcus, who A. and S. Lyons, agency for alleged came over from the Selznick-Joyee unpaid commission. agahcy a few months ago. plans Actress contended her contract a South American trip, with prob- *ith Paramount, obtained by the able return to Myron Sclssnick Lyons agency, was cancelled when.| agency upon his return. , ie studio failed to lind a suitable Spigelgass is joining Irving I'nal- Lory * 1 bora's unit at Metro. Garbo Defers Return Hollywood, March 2-1. C.arbo may spend an extra month in Sweden at Metro's request. Studio is having di ciilty ready- ing production of two pictures in- tended for her. 'Camille' and 'Madame YValewska.' and cabled the actress to delay her departure. Cummiiigs Clips Eight Days Off Temple Pic Hollywood, March 24. Production of 'Poor Little Rich Girl/ Shirley Temple starrer at L'Oth-Fox,. was brought under wire by Director Irving Cummiugs eight days ahc-ad or schedule. Ecfore going/on next .assignment, slated for April 25. Cummiugs will lake a month's vacash. HARDING AND DUNNE SET FOR 'OLD MAID* Hollywood, March 24. Although both Helen Menken and Judith Anderson, who co-featured in the original legit version, were tested by Paramount during show's run here, top roles in Par's screen version of 'The Old Maid' go to Irene Dunne and Ann Harding. Pair were the original choices of studio for parts. Deal was held up through Miss Dunne's contract at RKO. Ann Harding and Capitol Films. London, are discussing a one pic- ture deal, to be made following the player's completion of 'The Old Maid' at Paramount. Harry Edingtou is handling the negotiations. 'Winterset' Gets Call Oro 'Dance' As Astaire Tiffs Hollywood, March 24. Contract difficulties.betwefen 'Fred Astaire and !RKO, with halting of 'Never Gonna Dance/ filmuslcal in which stepper was to have co- starred with Ginger Rogers, has Pandrb Berman rushing., prepara- tions for 'Winterset,' picture • being moved.up/.:on schedule. George Stevens,.assigned to direct' the Astaire-Rogers film, has been switched to 'Winterset.' 0 Brien-WB Patch Up Howard's London Pic Hollywood. March 2"4r William K. Howard hops ty .Lon- don on completion of ''Princess Comes Across' to direct 'Glorianna' for Alexandra KOrda. Merle Oberon, Conrad Veldt and Lawrence Olivier will have lop spots in film.- Hollywood, March 24. Pat O'Brien was restored to Warner payroll after 10 day suspen- sion, following His refusal to ac- cept role in 'Stage Struck.' Actor reported lack to studio yes- terday (23.),' having pate cd up mis- understanding with ;ack L. Warner. "First assignment is top spot with Margaret Lindsay in 'Public Kncniy's Wife,' Nick Grintlc direct- ing. Film on Scotti's Life Hollywood. March 1M. Metro is discussing with Law- rence T/ibbett the idea of a film on the life of Antonio Scot 11. Tibbett. has. one more picture at 'JOtli-Fox. Trade Mark Registered FOUNDED DY SIMI3 SM.VEIIMAN I'libllKlied Vekly by VAItlETV, Inc Sid Silverman'. President 164 West 46th Street, New VorU City INDEX BILLY HALOP'S MG TIME-OUT Metro is preparing to lake Billy flalop, currently in 'Dead F.nd.' Broadway legit hit, to Hollywood. lialop is on the air commercially for CP.K also, but is getting a leave from the play and radio. Advance Production Chart Bills Chatter Conc ert , Exploitation 15 and 50 Year. Film Reviews. House Reviews Inside—Legit Inside—Pictures Inside—Radio International New. Legitimate Literati Music: New Acts.. News, fro N'ite. Clul s Obituary Outdoors Pictures Radio Radio—New iness. ^j-ladio—Report, -r.**-^-*--. Radio—Showmanship Short Subjects T i rries Scj uare Units < Vaudeville Wom?n 22 52 CO J>JL. 23 51 3 5 1.4 51 C .. .",3-57 ... 50 CI ... 03 O no - ">)0 . . . 11L... 4AJI 40 ... 15 ... CI ... CO .,,50-51 31 \