Variety (Dec 1942)

Wednesday, December 9, liI8CELI.Ainr s Report from Washington that Melvyn DousIbb la now a private In tht U. S. Army tlei in with a forthcoming faatura articla In CoUier'a by its fllm-stage expert, Kyle Crlchton, who expounda on 'Why Mur- der the Movies?" Story Isn't due lor several weeks, but understood to treat with the misguided patriotic enthusiasm of the Gables, et al., In enlisting, and argues that the Government Is equally at fault in not doing something to circumvent It. Of course, the new 38-year-old age limitation will have a quieting effect on hyper-sensitive personalities, some of whom had been de- veloping a mild psychosis because of fear what their public might •ay about their patriotism. , ^ . j , • Incidentally, the Douglas induction again revived the to-do last ■pring when, as a member of the Office of Civilian Defense, ha was payrolled to coordinate Ulent for the morale effort. Douglas reports to Fort Myer, Va., this week. NOVELS. STAGE PLAYS MOSTLY AT 20TH Hollywood, Dec. 8. Published novels and non-flction, along with legit plays In production, will form more than half of next year's program at 20th-Fox, with a soft pedal on original stories written directly for the screen, according to William Goetz, production chief. New policy is In line with the ftudio's plan to bankroll plays on Broadway, to augment the books and dramas already purchased. Fox's 'Russian People' 20th-Fox has reportedly bought a B0% interest in 'The Russian People.' I'heatre Guild production scheduled to open at the Guild theatre, New York, Dec. 29. Understood that 20th Is investing $17,500 In the venture. Studio also has a 50% interest in 'Something for the Boys' and is backing 'Flare Path' and 'A Highland Fling." 'Eve of St. Mark' Contract details for the purchase ot the screen rights to Maxwell Anderson's 'Eve o{ St, Mark' by 20th-Fox have not yet been cleared up. According to an announcement by 20th last week the deal is still being negotiated. It is understood that company execs expect the con- tract to be finalized shortly. Metro and Paramount have also been interested in the property but both studios balked at the late re- lease date, January, 1944, which was one of the stipulations. When Mervyn LeRoy was in New York he minimized the late release factor and expressed a strong inter- cs' in the film rights regardless, though Paramount continued disin- terested on account of the 1944 re- lease clause. Both Par and Metro were pre- pared to pay $300,000, reportedly the iame flgurp which 20th bid. Mary Pickford Lays Cornerstone By Proxy Toronto. Dec. 8. Because of priorities on telephone lines. Mary Pickford was unable to participate in the biioadcast cere- mony accompanying the laying here of the cornerstone by Premier Gor- don Conant of the Pickford 'dream house' which will be raffled here at $1 a ticket, all proceeds to the Brit- ish Bomb Victims' Fund. While he shivered in the icy blast blowing across nearby Woodbine Golf Club, the Premier read Miss Plckford's telegram which she was forced to send at the last minute. This.went into the cornerstone along with daily newspapers and the first dollar bill contributed In the raffle. Under the plan, spon.sored by. the. tilons Club here. Miss Pickford con- tributed a part of her Toronto real •state holdings and the cost of a dwelling to be assessed at $14,000. Contractors, electricians, plumbers, landscape artists, etc., are contrib- uting their services and materials free, with title to the dwelling being turned over to the fortunate holder ot the lucky dollar ticket Ain't Funny, McGee Hollywood, Dec. 8. For his scripting of Govern- ment messages, Don Quinn has been breveted by Office of War Information. For his recent 'Fibber and Molly' script on gas rationing, he drew a nod from William Jeflfers, rubber czar, who requested a recording. But when Quinn applied to his rationing board in Van Nuys for supplemental mileage, he was turned down. What burns him ^11 the more i« that nearly everyone in communications rated a C ration book. WB RENEWS SHUMLIN AFTER 'RHINE' GANDER Herman Shumlin will remain as a Broadway producer but is scheduled to direct at least one picture yearly for Warners, latter picking up his option for such assignments after looking over 'The Watch on the Rhine,' which he handled as a film for the company and which he pro- duced as a play. Coast deal may pend for the duration of the war, Shumlin having been called for in- duction In the Army this week, though that may be deferred indefi- nitely, according to weekend news from Washington that men of 38 or more will not be placed in uniform. Oscar Serlin was slated to be in- ducted early this week but his name on the list was skipped at the in- duction center. Shumlin Is an officer of the League of New York Theatres, which will not accept resignations because of war service. Dwight Deere Wiman, who was on the League's board, is another manager | in service, handling entertainment for the Red Cross In England. Kaye's Authors (Including Wife) to Coast Soon Sylvia Fine (Mrs. Danny Kaye) and Max Liebman, who author much of Kaye's comedy material, head for the Coast shortly to sit in on the preparation of the 'Let's Face It' star's first film for Samuel Goldwyn. Don Hartman did the film script, based on an Idea borrowed from the Owen Davis farce, 'The Nervous Wreck," which has been done before in film form (Eddie Cantor), but is being transplanted into an Army locale. Per contract with Vinton Freedley, producer of 'Face It,' Kaye i.'; due on the Coast in February and the show may have to suspend, for possible re- opening when Kaye gets over his film chore, unless a suitable comedy substitute is found. y .s; is fuctob Totalitarian Film Propa- ganda Below the Equator Practically Eliminated —South America Was Ma- jor Outlet for Fascist Ballyhoo AMERICAN TIES CLOSER Canteen Bond Gveaway Hollywood, Dec. 8. Gift ot two free $25 War Bonds to service men was inaugurated as a night feature at the Hollywood Can- teen under sponsorship of the Mo- tion Picture Committee for Holly- wood, War Saving Staff, U. S. Department of Treasury. First presentations, consisting of two bonds, were made by Dorothy Lamour. From now on, nightly do- nations will be made, with studios or allied business Arms donating the bonds and screen personalities hand- ing them out Washington, 'De<f. 8. Axis-produced films, once a major method for the dissemination of German, Italian and Japanese propa- ganda in Latin America, have been all but eliminated from that conti- nent. Credit for the smoothness and efficiency with which this has been accomplished must be shared by the American motion picture companies with the State Department, Board of Economic Warfare and Coordin- ator of Inter-American Affairs. Elimination of the Axis product has been advantageous to this coun- try from two standpoints. First, and most important, of course, is that the aggressor nations have been robbed of one of their favorite out- lets for the spewing of puffs about their own might. Secondly, each Axis film deprived of playing time makes that much more room for the Hollywood output so it helps this country commercially. Not to be overlooked, either, is that every time the Latinos see an American picture, it draws them so much closer to the United States. While many Hollywood films ad- mittedly do not picture the U. S. in a completely favorable light, they nevertheless help to create a bond. Studios, incidentally, are showing much more effort in depicting the U. S. favorably and getting away from out-of-proportion attention to the seamy and gangster side. Reason for that stems from both positive and negative Government activity. First is the Coordinator of Inter- American Affairs office, which has made Hollywood conscious of the Latin problem and aids studios to avoid pitfalls. Second is Byron Price's Office of Censorship, which has a clear mandate to refuse to allow export of pictures showing this country in a bad light. The mandate has been used. Argentina and Chile From latest reports received here, only a small handful of Latjn American theatres continue to show Axis films and all of these houses are in Argentina and Chile. They are the only countries which con- tinue to maintain diplomatic rela- tions with the aggressor states. In all other nations Axis Alms are be- lieved to have been 100% elimin- ated, although it 1s very difficult to check off-the-beaten path sections which are occupied almost entirely by Germans. Italians or Japs. There arc for instance almost completely Nazi districts in Bolivia, Argentina. Costa Rica and other countries, while Chile has a great many Japs and virtually all countries have a lari^e share of Italians. Argentina is the major hole to be plugged in distribution and exhibition of Axis pictures. There are quite a few houses there playing them, principally the San Martin in Buenos Aires. In Chile, it is believed only two theatres continue to show the blacklisted pix. They are the Teatro Comcdia in Santiago and the Teatro Serrano in Melipilla. In every case of a house playing Axis pictures, it is believed these theatres are sup- ported completely by propaganda funds from the country whose films they arc showing and are in no way dependent upon the boxoffice for their existence. Mexico and Brazil OK It has been an easy job, of course, to eliminate the Gocbbelsian product from those countries which have de- clared war on the Axis, such as Mexico and Brazil. In the latter (Continued on page 54) Hedda Hopper to Get Personal Report From Agency V.P. on Why She Was Given Run-Around As Winchell Sub Paging Mr. Nelson! Hollywood, Dec. 8. Minsky influence is growing so potent in Hollywood that three studios are clutching at each other's G-strings for priority on the Aim title, 'Queen of Bur- lesque.' RKO's announcement of a forthcoming picture of that name was followed by claims of pre- vious rights by Republic and PRC-Pa the. DEADLINE THIS YR. IS DEC. 31 FOROSCARS Hollywood. Dec. 8. Midnight, Dec. 31. has been set as the deadline for pictures eligible for 1942 Academy Awards. Heretofore studios have had until mid-Jan. to get under the wire for nominations. First meeting of the rules commit- tee has been set for Dec. 18 which will dispose of business formerly re- quired by three meetings. Partici- pating in the Academy elections will be 12,000 artists, execs, technicians and other industry workers, with the balloting for Hollywood's best get- ting under way early next month. Despite wartime handicaps and re- strictions, little' change is foressen in the Academy Awards setup. The annual dinner will take place either in Feb. or March. OWI Writes D.C. That E. G. Robinson Did a Job Washington, Dec. 8. Story of how Edward G. Robinson, during his recent Great Britain tour, 'entranced' Anthony Eden at a Glas- gow dinner is told in a personal let- ter received by a Washingtonian from an Offlce of War Information repre- sentative who traveled abroad with the Aim star. 'We were the only Americans pres- ent at a dinner given to Anthony Eden by the Lord Provost and about 20 well-known Scotsmen,' the OWI man wrote. 'Eden's after-dinner speech was mainly addressed to Rob- inson, and Eddie replied with about 20 minutes of ad lib that simply bowled them over. Eden was en- tranced.' Writer said Robinson 'as a pur- veyor of goodwill, as a morale build- er-upper, as a cooperative guy. is an absolute champ.' In weather that would discourage a mallard, we started on our Arst trip to U. S. Army and Air Force instal- lations,' writer continued. 'Robinson didn't give a hoot if the audience amounted to 35 or 35.000. The guy mu.'ihed in mud up to his armpits, fraternized with everyone, passed up eating in the otncer.s' me.ss to stand in line with the enlisted men at their kitchens in the open and in the rain, and made him.telf adaptable in every way.' Many Femmes Hollywood. Dec. 8. Indication.": of how star-packed .will be Metro's Aiming of 'Cry Havoc' aie seen in the nr-;t two casting.^ for the Aim ver.-ion of the local Little Theatre'.? stage son.^a- tion. Set aie Joan Crawford ar.d Merle Obcron, with Mervyii LeRoy di- reclinR. Yarn about 15 nur.ses on Bataan has 13 characters, all femmes. Robert W. Orr, v.p. In the Lennen & Mitchell agency, declared Monday (7) that he was going out to Holly- wood next week to explain to Hed- da Hopper, Aim colony columnist, how it happened that her engage- ment to sub for Walter Winchell was suddenly cancelled. Also why, in addition to being blacked out tor this spot, she won't go on the Blua Network In January for the same ac- count, Andrew Jergcns Co., as a reg- ular occupant of the Sunday, 9:15- 9:30 p.m. period. The Parker Fam- ily,' which has held the latter slot for the past three years, was ia^t week renewed for 1943. Orr declined to go into the where- ofs Monday (7), but it was reported that the client overnight decided to shelve the contemplated alliance with Miss Hopper rather than do anything that might have an unto- ward effect on as valuable a radio property as Walter Winchell. If Miss Hopper were hired, then Car- ter's Little Liver Pills would have had no alternative but to move its Jimmy Fidler inning out of the Sun- day 9:30-9:45 p.m. niche and spot tho Aim gossiper just before Winchell. Before he left on a mission for th« Government, Winchell had declared himself as not favorable to such an arrangement, since it was quit* possible that his script of an occasion (Continued on page 18) | BUT CAN HOLLYWOOD KEEP UP WITH HIM? Hollywood, Dec. 8. Henry J. Kaiser's shipbuilding feats are going on the screen through a high-budget picture to be produced by Republic under the title, 'Victory Fleet.' Kaiser will not be screened in person but will have the okay on the general nature of the picture. Premieres will be held in San Francisco simultaneously with other PaciAc Coast cities, hooked up with the launchlngs of 'Victory Ships. M. J. Siegel, William Saal and other Republic execs are in San Francisco to make arrangements for the pic- ture. Trade Mark Rcclatered FOUNDED BT SIMS SILVERMAN I'abllnhcd WmUj by VARIETY. Int. Rid Silverman, Prealdent. IS4 Wcel 4Sth Street, New Tork. N. T. BUBSCniPTIOiV Annum IJO Foreign Ill SInBle Coplea 25 Cenia Vol. 148 No. 14 INDEX Bills 48 Chatter 53 Concert-Opera 33 Exploitation 13 Film Reviews 8 House Reviews 46 Inside—Legit 50 Inside—Music 40 Inside—Orchestras 38 Inside—Pictures 25 Inside—Radio 2^ Inside—Vaudc-Nitery 43 Legitimate 4!) Literati 5? Mu.sic .'>9 New Acts 47 Night Club Reviews 4.') Obituary 54 Orchestras IC Pictures 5 Radio 20 Radio Reviews 41 Vaudeville 41 War Activics 4 OAII.V VARIRTI CPul>ll!ihc<l In Hollywood by Dally Variety. Md.) 110 a year—112 forelsn