Variety (Dec 1940)

' Holly^V6p(^, Dec. 10.' Defense spldieirs calicd. from t^ie motion picture jricjustry .for mili|tary training will be detailed: in a way to utilize their specialized telepU to this' fullest extent, according -to. IW^^^^ Nathan Leyinson',' head ot' yfarnei-s. ^ound department and an officer In the ,U. S. Signial CorpS Reserve. Notices have beeft. posted in all tHei studios, advising employes'of draft age to sehd . ' , • Wports Vf -t^^^ mechanical ;aTid. other "quaiiflcations. Uncle Spm wants to jtiidw how he can best use-the film industry;in case of war. This is consistent, of. course,: 'With the, Government's attempt to', categorically plite': all cU'aftees' in types of work requiring , specialized' talents. " Includied'in the requests for de- tailed Information arc producers, di- recftrs, writers, actors and all tiech- hical workers, taikingi in cameramen, film lab fempioyees, sound recorders, cutters, electricians, gtips. prccisipn mechanics, prop, men, and otjiiers 6n-. gaged in fine work; in- the processing laboratories. ■' . / Major Leylnson's xbiitact .witli the film industry is only, one of the ixiany steps being'' taken by the War; De- partment .t6. make the best use of American technical skill iii the gen- eral pldn of national -defense. SlYMIE m ON BOY ASM-GOWNSmE ^ ■ ■ ■ Hollywood,. Dec.'10. ■Republic's putclJiase of the. story, •gates' Cin Broadway,' hit' a sriag when it was'learrtfed thai'th.e.ytle is the property 6f Metro. - . 'Odd kink in .the problem is. that Joseph Santiey, currenlly under, con- tract to TRepufaHc, once, produced 'Babes On Broadway' on the . stage and sold the title to Metro before he ■jpihGd^he'valley.outflti FILM ACTOB FItiipiNGS Dr. 'iito. R^steh's Research : Among \.'H'wpod'Playirs';:';-' Wedlbesd^y, December 11, 194,0' (ff Pei(}p^ Places By 1X£ SKIRT: Films to Aid "iraliiiiig Washingtoh, Dec. 10. Value of motion pictures as a mle dium for'tcBlnlng Uncle Sam's rook ies will be tried out when draftee? are glyien their flrst glimpse of . warr: time condiiibn^ via the. silver screen. War Dept. -announced Saturday (7) that films would, be, sho'wA of soldiers In the- field durinig- war gamesi diagrams, charts.-arid detailed drawinjgs- of .war: maneuvers, knd other subjects that evisry young rookie should know. Flicks will be displayed to both officers and. en- listed men, accompanied by a sound track to help the lecturers deliver- ing the necessary patter. Decision to impress the motion picture'indiistry into the national defense program - has revived re ports that plenty of ianancial backing will be forthcoming from .the Gov ernment, to glamorize army life and Instruct novices :into the' Intricacies of war training. . ' Minneapolisi^ X)ec.. 10,' With, winter gettlng.lts earliest and toughest start In many yeats and eviry indication that it-will be piie of the longest and most '•evert that the territory . eyeir:, has: encountered, film salesmen working out of - Miime-' apolis claim they're ehgagied In one of the most : hazardous of ..all occujpa:' tlons., The boys wre planning, a Joint confeirehce to , figure-^ out ways and iheahs of lessening their dangers. - . Trouble Is that nature of territoijy. makes it: essehtlal for Dim salesmen .to , travel about in their e^'ntptpr "cars for-the .inOst part, drdinariiyi' tthe bad winter weather conditions', .doii't'start: until January and usually they last, not more than tWo months at the liioist. Thlit . yeatj. however, therfe already have be«h. pne fievere bli22ard, several near-bllzzardi and other Just plain snowstorms. > There also have been sub-zero tempera>> tures. It's regarded as a certainty that the ilnow will i^maln and that highways «ind roads will be Icy and slippery for the ensuing four months. During the worst of the blizzards a fortnight ago several of the-., film salesmen, bucking the snowdrifts, almost lost their lives. The group, at that, fared better-than:salesmeh In other lin«s, four of whom •were snowbound in their automobiles and froze to death. . ' ' : V . '-Hollywood,jbec^ib, ;V ■ R<?porl of :Dr. Leo^ RbsteiVs mptibn picture research ''prtjficty ba-sed on io.terviews. with 251 GlaSs A playfers represientin^ a. crbss-seelion,. reveals that 84,7% had -some theatrical: ex- pericnde. before V/bi'king in pictures. Those without stage' .experiP'n<Se hit la.*:;., having confined, their prer^llni activity; tb,;-ra<iio as actors or dii'ec- tors''.-: ■■ ■. ■■ • :.■'■ -.- Report ■submitted;.^ to the . Screen Actors Guild alsP disclosed ^- t^^^ actors 'last longer-, thftn- actresses . -in films. Of .inales, 14.7% ..remain in TT^ilyvirdod :20 yfears .'br: rtibi-e, '\yhile only 4.5%'. of. femmes achieve that- span.. Survey show? that a Telatlvely srnall percentage of filmites;.return tp the- stage and itvpst pliayeTS, come from mid'dle.-dass families. . - \ ■ Paramount is credited With, bring- ing' 17 %, bf players' into "th^^ ixyi with Mbtro second . with .15.7% v Only i;9 % came' into: pictures;: from extra . Tanks;, -•with. v94;2;%' . Stafting careers -as.' actors, i Gollegiates In iarms rate 49.8%, while 34.7% fin- ished high- schPoL Under 30 years old are 15.8%., iii their 30's are 31:%, between .40 and 50. are 18% and oyer 70-.ar(B 2.2%. ■/ ■• ■■;'...•■'.■-:•■■.'■::,... Best dressed .worn^n of the week; JEANETTE IWacDONALD ; ; i'White; Plains Goncert ; : v Voice From t^e Gray0 Hollywood, Dec. 10, 20th-Fox. assigned Harry Lachman to dirctct 'Dead: Mei> Tell,' to be co produced by . Oliver .. Morosco . and Ralph Dietrich. " ' ; John Larkin wrote the screen play LEDERHAN'S WHODUNIT Hollywood, Dep. 10. p. Ross Lederman gets the direct- ing chpre on the Warners' whodUnit, 'Murder On the Second Floor.'- Completefd script has been turned In by Anthony ColdeWay. Studio Contracts • Hollywood, bee. 10. Metro hand6d Ruth Hiissey a nev^ contract Warners picked.. up Joan' Leslie's player option; ::.;. ; . George Reeves inked ani acting pact at. 20th-Fox. George, Murphy signed a thtee year ticket at Metro; . ' : . '^ .Warners hoisted Julia CarrpilUi acting option. ■ Constance Moore drew plfiyer ticket.at Parkmounti ' ■■: ' v . Frederick Hollander handed cbm poser conttact by '\</arhers, . -Meti>^ handed Darla^Hbbd :a player ticket, Uni'veis'al signed Jane Prazpe, 'ra- dio singer. ' \ -. Johnny Mack .drew a Metro acting pact."- A ■ Edmund C. . Reed;. Jieah Rbuveral and Diavild^heppard signed to jiihlor writing contfacts at ^Metrb. Herbert. Gimn pennied a stock con- tract at 2pth-Fox. / , RKO pickel^ up. Jane. .'Patten^is. player option, Fred Zinnemah inked a new shorts director pact at B^etro., :'. . Maurepn O'Hira dtew a new pact at RKO. •. . Warners lifted GebrKP Gaiiopeau's rintinn. .'• '. '.. STUDIOS RAISE 466C FOR COAST CHARITIES . Hollywood, Dec. 10. ■ . '. Motion picture liOidustry. pledged $485,718 to this year's Los Angeles: Community Chest, .an Increase of 47% over last reason's collections. Louis B. Mayer, chairman of' the in- dustry drive, dilsclosed that $10,000 more may ;be. raised before final re- ports are made. ; Metro . led . the JUst with $113,428. Other contributions were, 20th-Fox, $65,596; Warners, $«8,«71; Universal. $38,500; Paramount, $58,668; General Service, $1,187; Edward Small, $i;495; Principal, $2,589; Walter' Wanger, $1,822; Samuel GbldWyn, $8,844; Hal Roach, $2,993; Alexander Korda, $3,282; Republic, $e,421; Walt Disney, . . Minneapolis,' Dec,. 10. , :]<Jorthwest Allied^ again has failed in' its" efforts to knock percentage frpm the Metro . 1940-41 deals for Twin City independents.' The pir.es- eht M-G contract calls for four per- centage pictures, the same as in pre- 'vibus years,'and the Minneapolis; and Sti Paul indies, inpluding the Norths west. Allied leaders, already have bought the M-G deal or are abbut to. do so, the company's, sales: run^ ing ahead of the .corresponding pe^ riod-last year..-..-' Every year, well In advance of the new ; s.elllhg season, .9 demand . is made that Metro follow the same course: as. other major distributors and give Twin! City independents the privilege of buying flal; the threat being made tha.t the ■ boys will 'lay off' unless the company ialls In. lihe. This time . the' indies' prganizatioh was particularly Emphatic and threw the giauntlet down, harder than ever before, declaring 'positively ho fur ther exception wpuld be made for M-G-M.'. In explanation .of the'usual capitulation. Northwest Allied lead- ers now are: saying they '-waited .top long' in .laying tiieir; battle! lines and it finally was .too late to accomplish their. purpose. Next year, they in- sist, it will be a different story and. they'll finally 'win their fight.* -. In , Its latest bulletin. Northwest Allied asserts that 'early returns from .our product suryey .Indicate that IIKO, Columbia and Universal are Still: leading in volume of con tracts negotiated.' It's asserted: "The standing In volume ! of sales is due to the.fact that these companies haye ■ ■-Jeanne^r'MacbonaW'B: :Co»cer^ Jean^tte MacDonald, 'at Westciieijter County -Cehtitr ;fn JV^^ enchanted a hugie audi^pce .Wedhesday, night In snoWy, cold weather that didn't hiatt^. - Even New. -York City was repiresented. A 'well: balanced program, with Innumetabie: encories, was expertly hahdlid. by this screen soprano. Songs by ■Mbzarf, Schumnhn; Hugo Wolf, Liszt, and Debussy^ and one by hubby Gene Raymond, ■ '^' - ;-'•'' 'v.-i^ ■■'-TT A pink: chifTon gbwn was gracefuily niade. in .long; straight lines with long" Scarves crossing th^Tieck -in'^frbnt .ljangihg In long-ends frbm both., shouldet's. . ' Ail in ail, .Miss Ma'cpbnrtid iboked : ravishing. Her 1^ prised a flowered brbbch in front center ahd One hiige 'ring glistened on one'finger. -N'oticeafcile.: was the pale- pinkvhair pblish;^ • :' ?; , ^,' •,;-■•„■';The 'Ice,I>)llies^Very.ibvely' -- '- ;■;' . The 'Ice :Follie$'-is alWays an important eycnt and t^ showirig' at Madison Square Garden is >xceneht; Tile openinr ballet.;is 1 called ;^Mpoiilight'Vision^ the gkaters! in-'-three tier :dfesses. stiffly: wired -at . each hepi giving the effect of lampshades^. ."Th.e' wIuHe material is .s in black and. silverj; Hats . are: of the stove pipe , shape and 'each skater; carries a huge ballboTv- ^Talerie'and Jenna, the soloists; are in white, one. in tights and silver tunic and the Other in short siskift.. Nordic Dolls are in yellow frocks spotted in red with white pinafores. ; Ruby and .Bobhy Maxisoh are tile 'soloists in .cprre.sponding-.postumes.;.. It .js this .Max.son boy ' who' is the- hit of the show. .Phyllis and :Harxis dp the. Wpoderi Spldier humber.'ih thevregvilatidn > red and white. Down -Rio Wa#: has the Targe chPruS ih. lphg bl&ck gown's with. orange, shawls,' Bess . Ehrhardt leads the number in. short .silver scqiiins;..iihes i'n. rose,.. A nautical number has: \Eyelyn-.. Chandler wWle with an. elabprale silver trim. Pali? blue ruffled dresses are wprn by the girls at .an officers' baU.' . As piraties the costumes really .lo'yely. The shorii slcirtsjare of - greeh and red chiffon, 'th6 :h£it.s, iTed felt, and the boots green. . A fashion parade of jewel:;, lias ^ight gii-ls drejssed in beaiitiful cbstutnes.made long and elabbrate, .Maghblia. Timie . isV eye-fillingi: with the! girls in silk plaid dresses made w!ith: the Ipng:'^white! panties. showing. Parasols are of the plaid as w.ere^!the men's-waistcoats./;..' : '. ; ' : , . ■ ■ Papez and Z^yack: did the' Moth and th^. Flariie. in the Usual ibiindanca of. flowing-chitton;.. '-. "■" ■■.'-■ •"' ' .,:■. - .; ■ -. .;■ ■ , Tl>e costumes were designed by Helen! Rose and the production .Was staged by Fanchpn & Marco and -they • deseirve .a- deal of cr^it ft is truly! a great show, but hiore of that Max'son kid-' • Agents, $25>0I8; iumbia, $25,128, $6,€38; Allied Industries, • $18,81|S^ niade deals : ifor less, pr the same A^M, MKnia- RKO, $23,393; Co---^ I ■ money,..: as the previous season: lii approximately 50% of their deals. Spigelgass Ppli^hing 9tory: for tr .Leonard -Splgelgass, : UnWersal writer, arrived Jn New Vork Satui:- day 17) for a week of final pblishini with Daniori Riinyon on the. screen- play of. ItunyOn's.stOiry, 'Butch JWiftds the Baby,' It will be produced by Jules- Leyey; "■ \ . • ■■ • ~ ,-''' . Splgelga.ss, on his return! to -^e Coast, ; will.; start scripting anoth^er Runyon yarn bWned'by, Levey, 'tight Shoes.'-. He'll, bring this Into VNew York in a cpiiple months or so for. another !polishing session' with the |;author. .! - '■' y Spigelgass declared' that nothing I iiiore than the: prdlminary work of soitic months. ago on- a scrPehplay' of 'Hcll/.'innDDin' has been done.' m t..f .p t- i If«« * t .* * ; Minneapolis, bee. lOi, *Dave. Rather, exhibitor at 'White JBeari Minn., hear here, wants $60,- 00p~damages from his. landlord,: Mrs. J* L, Jensen,: who. operates ah bpj .position ;shbwhouse : and who; it l is alleged, bverbbiiight to, p|-event him from obtaining.sufficient product for iiis'.rieedsl. In the suit; filed for. Rather, fey l! B. Schwartz, local, attorney, in U S district court, ii's, alleged, that the de 'fondant 'bought pictures in excess of her needs to :deprive. the plaintiff of them' and. thus damaged him In the .amount of $60,000.' ' ' : ' ./ Mrs.. Jeh'seh .had the ohiy !iheatre until Rat!iicr cam^; in and. built an .'opposition, house.; The Ratne!r house r!ecently was bought by Mrs. Jensen at. a . sheriff's . .sale, but the plaintiff -if:'still:t!erianting.; .''...! - Hollywood's Anaeb^ From a man who prefers to remain anonymous; conies the following: 'From hundreds of photos in my collection^, you were right in your con- tention .that 'Bitter Sweet' is wi one in its period of btlstles and polonaise. "The bustle and polonaise period Was in the early .'80s and had vanished in 1891; I greatly enjoyed 'Tin Pan Alley,' .but. again I iouhd inaccuracies in details of feininine cpstumeis.:. Some of the hats With .hand at the back to hold them pin to the head were generations too early, though the chapeau worn by'Nora Bayes may haye been adapted frbni :bhe she wore. At any rate Alice Faye is not given such fantastic costumes as were assigned her in 'Lillian Russell,' capping thji climaX with a ■ typically 1940 ! -straple.ss; . e.viening goWn, a mode, undreamed of in Lillian - Russieirs time.: I am wait- ing to see Miriam Hopkins In 'The Ladjr with the Red Hair,' to discover What 'rpcks the studio has given her as Mrs. Leslie Carter. For my;flles Include many , photos of Lillian Russell and Mrs. C^ .-■';■■- ■■Etherftarrymbre'/Sltting Pr^ty. !.,,.:;. ■■■.! 'the Corn Is Green,' at the National; theatre, has Ethel Barrymorie .sit- ting pretty. It is one of those shows people. love and revisit. Emlyh Williams Wrote: the .play and only brie, of the . brilliant lines is- "That man is so stupid it sits upon his head like a halo.' Ihe Skirt. Wouldri't bit surprised if Miss Barrymprie starts a shirtwaist era, fpr this type of costume is worn during the whple! play.- All souiids- rather drab but it mattered not what this actress Wbrp. Her figure has gone;! matronly biit the famous Barrymbre face is still beautiful. Mildred Duhnock as; a. fluttery spinster wore several dresses of that era, long full skirts and puffed; sleeves..! Thelma! Schnjefe' as ah erotic brat W'th not too pleaSafit a face, looked-well only in the last act when .she came in oyer- dressed,;in a shbt sHk of blue and xedi and pUimed hat,: ^ 'Blackout'Full of Spies.. There is a picture at the Globe theatre that is doing a whale of a busi- ness. It is an English picture called -'Blackout/ dealing with Norwegian, boats. Spies and the like. It shows London in a blackout and is isomewhat cphfused as to-plot. Conrad Veidt is the star sind does a fine job but it is :'Valerle Hobspn who holds the interest. A very good looking brunett* is this young woman, and understand she bias been doing heavies hereto- fore. In this film she is the romantic, and rightfully .iso. No dressing, just one tailored suit with-ai mink coat.and ah off the face hat large as to brim is the only costume ishowh. V. In the MbntcNCrlsto Epoch At the Capitbl .theatre there is an Edward iSmall production called "The; Son of Monte, Ccisto,' StaiT6d-.afe!L6uis Haywardl and Joan Bennett. Lat- ter wears many coslumes.'an the last word in Monte Gristo period. Th* Jewelry,; for. the. most parf antiques, is lovely. - A" satin. gpwtt has a lace yoke and puffed sleeves. - A dinner go'Wn IS 'buffahte. An accordibri pleated skirt .has gold material forming the back of the bodice . with! bands-Coming; to :the front In bolero fashion, There li a' wedding scene, ;of . courses. With Miss Berinett;a;,gloriPus .bride, -"rhe dr.essjbf. brocade Was fbrrn fitting aiid the;veii;.was backed by :ia diamond-tiarrai -. • K 'ji ir: If. r , '.-..■■ ;-.-'-'';^;;.^-Thrir Favwrite-.R^ '■■■■/■■},■;;': . ..3 Clips s^ted .Swans Down Cake-Fk^ -'; . -' - : . . : ' ^ teaspoons Calumet Baking powdei- ■.•■•■■:-.■..■:■■ !% teaspoon salt - ' , ;: % Jpup-Tbutteif btf 1%. cups sugar - .' f S eggs* unbeaten ■ ■.■-!■ ;■-' 'i.; ;;-:;■'%-.cupjfinely.chbpped^-alm^^ !: .^■'■■!•'-■ '■''%cup';finely;cut-!raisins ' -'"•!.'!-. ' ;;;,,■-',; ■•;■;-.. :- :l.'cup;n)ilk'!:; -.':!..:•■; ;.|-■-;'.; ■ ■•:--'■.■■■;. 'V' - v !! V ■ i. teaspoon :vaniila !- .\v- .'■■■'■' ■■'•. • -''■: ^ •- .'• Sift .flour oncie,. measure, add baking poWdet and salt, 'and sift , together ^three timies. Cream butter thoroughly, add sugar gradually, and jtsreahi 'together, until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating thoroughly after • each.; Add nuts. and i-aisins and beat well.' Add floiir.; alternately with milk, a small ariibuht at- a time, beating after e&ch addition ;:iantil smppth.' . Add Vanilla. Bakie in tWo greased 9-inch layer: pans in moderate pyen (375-F.) 25. .minutes b'rvuritil done. : . ;:.',. Spread boiled frosting between layers and' ' tPp and .sides o£^ cake. ; Decorate top of cake with wreath-of holly,'- using piec-cs of mara.schmp cherries or red. cinnamon candies-'for berries, and Slice,s -of angelica or citron-for. leaves and stem?< .Or decorate with poinscltias made of candied cherries. - Slice cherries in rings,- cut .rings: in half,, and arrange to form petals of pbinscttias.. If depirodj lenwn hult^.^ ^ri).sfi^g. max >