Variety (Jul 1943)

MISCELLANY VfouXtfr Wednesday, July 7, 1913 Those Two Bills, Pine and Thomas, Turn Short-Coin fix Into Bonanzas > WHITNEY WILLIAMS . ■ Hollywood, July 8. Producing team of William Pine ' {,nd William Thomas, • couple of former pi-ess agents who are run- ning a shoestring into a tani)Ci'y,,..is branching out, after two years :and a. halt of turning out low-budget iicUon pictures- grossing, high re- turns, for ■ Paramount. .For their 1043-44 season, pair will produce 1 three musicals, as well as two big specials, in addition to.'three action films co-starringi Chester' Morris; and ' Russell Haydou, latter taking: place of Richard Arleh,- who is bowing out of P-T menage. Moye; is predicated upon theory that it's easy to get into a producing rut, in Hollywood, and. once known for certain type of picture, a. pro- ducer has a hard time lifting him- self by his bootstraps: Team wants to get o»t of this rut while therels still time early in their career; and believe time now is ripe for such » climb. Particularly,, step is being taken-'.'so that when they declare they're making a special, cxhibs won't give them the uh-uh-what-, iirc-you-trying-to-give-us argument. That's... the .reason for sidetracking Trom- the; action pictures which started them on their way, and,' ■while still continuing thrillers^ com- ing through with an entirely new type of- film. * Pine-Thomas are In unique posir tion 10 give exposition to their be-, liefs First three pictures, they made—'Power Dive.' 'Forced Land- ing' and 'Flying Blind'—all were produced . for under $90,000 per pic- ture, each; grossing more than six times negative cost, and.same divi- dend and percentage has accrued to »U their 'pictures since. Average, gross for past year has been in-ex- cess o( $500,000. which makes that •tncPthcin figures to be reckoned with oii the Hollywood producing, front. • Goldmine In 'the' Sky When pair first started, with three for half a season, premise they de- cided upon and which, they felt was nttlined to the times was to make westcrns-of-the-air. Westerns had been popular lo these many long years, so why not put out an entirely new type of action, picture but use the same formula,, hence 'Power Dive.' IForccd Landing,' Flying Blind.' Formula was so successful 1hat,,with.out their asking, Paramount called, in youthful producers and said they'd supply capital if pair would continue making such films. Initiators "were financed by • pro- ducers themselves,'but with, promise rit a Paramount release im- mediately after they were finished. Contracting for six annually. Pine-Thomas continued with their .action formula, always Utilizing some background of danger. Long before year was up, Paramount again came' through asking for an- other year's output — 1942-43 — and. this time.producers, with a war rag- ing, decided lo bring in the war. but not in such a way that their pictures would be straight war melodramas, which they felt were on the-wane: They hit upon a. happy medium— using some part of the' service to background their plots but with the action always taking place on the training end, before the war was brought in. .. Such films as 'Subv marine Alert.' 'Aerial Gunner' and 'Mincswccper' : came in this category. Producers never plan too far ahead on this- type of feature, frequently selecting their next;, picture from some story which appears- in".news'-, papers.- Groomed In Know-How • Reason producers can : hold down costs of their: pictures to such an extraordinary degree and still turn out first niu product is because both ad advantage of big-studio produc- ing experience before they teamed up.- Pine was production. aide to Cecil B. dp Mille,. Thomas being' an Associate ! producer of Paramount B'.< They, had'.an opportunity to see where .money could Be saved. Both had same conviction about such saving in production-, so decided to put theory into practice,'.: a. step, which, has borne fullblown results. Their operating procedure now is implc. They retain no permanent •tafr.- Apart from themselves and one secretary, every employee on •very., picture is on piece-work *o to speak, but each is a key man in his line: Again, they cut as they write, .' every angle in every scene being planned before 'camera turns. Metro Pacts Hepburn Hollywood, July 6. . Katharine Hepburn is returning to pictures, as a Metro conlra'ctee on a term deal: .; She lakes o ' with her stage hit, 'Without Love.' " METRO DETAILS ITS 'B00K-0F-YEAR' PAYOFF Metro's 'book-of-the-year' contest, as tentatively-outlined in discussions by Waldemar Vctlugin (Frederic Van Huyn) with book publishers in New .York, would call for the crea- tion, or a board of judges including one.- publisher, an agent, a Metro rep and a 'name writer, Vctlugin is an aide to L. B. Mayer. For the "hook-of-the-year' selected for Metro .filming, the studio would pay SiOO.OOQ directly to the author in addition to .$25,000 to the publisher, latter amount largely for: exploita- tion purposes. Metro als,o proposes a lic.-'in wilh -.magazine publishers whereby the mag serial rights would be bought for $40,000: Of. this amount Metro Would pay - around $25,000, making the cost rit serialization to mags $1.5,000. ■ . ' . Proposal is- for book publishers lo .select material from advance lists, —currently their scheduled fall pub- lications—.for submission to Metro. Plan is partly intended (o intensify scaich for hew writers, but estab- lished-authors are : alsd included. ' •. Dubbed Russe Version^ Of'In Old Chicago'a Wow -DOWNS Moscow, A Russian'version of an American iilm. "In Old Chicago,! opened this week in. .Moscow. . It is the Soviet Union's first major al.tenipt at- adopt- ing Russian soundtrack lo.a foreign cinema. After sig mohths .working in the Alma Ala studios, this film came out with one of the: best technical jobs yet achieved in; Russia and is fully comparable to anything of this type yet done in America. The only mcrican snund- - track remaining are Alice' Faye's songs and general overall sound cf feels of street and crowd noises. The remarkable thing about the film is the selection of actors-whose voices were dubbed in. Miss Faye's throaty waverings were copied by a Russian actress and a Russian comic even emulates Andy Devi.nc's pebble soprano'so. effectively that his gags and mannerisms are fully preserved. Another remarkable achievement ■ is . that the Russian script writer seems to have chosen Russian words which more or less match American lip movements. Despite the differ- ence in language, there is no time when the players: are not talking. , . The job shows extreme care and extensive rehearsal. The audience doesn't know who the Russian ac- tors are taking the American parts until the end of the film when the .cast is-given. They rate a big salvo: 'Iii Old Chicago' is packing them in foi- another reason. Rowdy love scenes and Miss Faye's portrayal of ,a woman of.questionable.reputation is a ' little shocking to the Russian public—the kind of shock that is good for the boxofficc. There is ah embarrassed silence, for. example, at the corny dancing of , the Can-Can which many Russians are seeing for the first time. However; Alice.Faye's buxom curves fits trie Russian male's ideal. of what women should look like. A lid there's many a Soviet sigh being heaved over the masCuiino ■beauty of Tyrone Power. However;: one of the' strangest things is the ..audience reaction to the Chicago, fire. Russians' who have endured Jjombings "'anil'Red- Army men who fought at Stalingrad and Leningrad, • evacuees . whose homes have/been a battlefield, all leave the theatre remarking with feeling about the horrible burning ol'Chicngo. CUGAT'S RUMBA THROAT Hollywood, July 6. Xavier Cugal in the hospital with a strep throat. He's here with his band for Metro's Mr. Cb-ed'- und Tale of Two Sisters.' It will cost money to del eat Germany, Japan and Italy. Our government calls on you to help noid. ' Buy war savings bonds or stamps today. Buy them every day if you can. But buu them on a regular basts. Judy Garland Draws Record 15,000 Patrons To Philly Dell Concert . Philadelphia, July .. Judy Garian . gave internation- ally known. ' instrumentalists and operatic stars something to. think about Thursday night U). when she set an- all-lime .'attendance record at the Robin Hood Dell. The little rod-head drew—more -■ than •15,000'j cash customers to her ill'fresco con- cert in Fairmount Park's- amphi- theatre, with at least 15.0d0 more turned away: ; . Most of the latter had already purchased their ducats and the money had lo be •refunded. It was the first'.-concert dale for Miss Garland,: but by Hie resulte shouldn't be the last. The gal is a natural for the pops. She has a small, musical voice, but a . singing personality which had the huge Dell crowd in her. mitts almost im- mediately. Even th| longhairs in the 'audience, were in her corner. They came to sneer, but stayed to cheer along-with the hep kids. 1 Andre Kostelanetz, whose, wife, Lily Pops, once set a Dell record herself, led the orchestra accom- panying Miss Garland. Slice teed, off with a Gershwin medley, 'Someone lo Watch Over Me,' 'Do, Do,. Do,' 'Embraceable You," The Man I Love' and ;Strike Up. the Band.' For . her second group she sang 'A Garland Medley,' faves from her pix 'You Made'Me Love You,' --'Our Love Affair,' 'No- body's Baby.' 'For Me and My Gal.' Her finale; had a title which was really appropriate: The Joint Is Really Juriipin' Down at Carnegie Hall,' from her forthcoming picture. 'As Thousands Cheer.'- Previous record "was Hung up li st year, when an Oscar Levant all- Gershwin concert lured .14,250 through the wickets. Conversation Between Two Ulcers -By ALAN LirSCOTT. Two Ulcers were' laTking In a gagman's interior, (Caii you think of a conversation that's eericv?) Since ulcers are nameless as you. and I know,.-' Let's christen one'Bill and the other one Joe. Said Biirto Joe: Tm in this tummy. Because of a comic who .wasn't- too. funny. A surefire, blackout With him was a clinker, The writer, not he, :w!is-al\vays the stinker. If a joke ever layed, ,fhuh.the joke, it was smelly.. Though a month ago; Hope, with this joke got.a belly. As his. Crossley. would drop; ho \<oiild rant and he'd rave And he'd-Simon-Legrce the poor brain: of his;slave. And : so out of. wi'alh, and worry and Corn, ':■ .... I, .'little. I, one morning was born,', .. aid Joe to Bill: Take poor Utile me, - I'm in this world without boiteflt of fee. You came to life through paid aggravation, While I urn a baby of pure speculation. J was. raised oil. .thf Con of an agent and actor. And 'work on the. cuff' was the primary factor. I was suckled on care and humiliation, ' .. . . Hunger and worry and self-degradation. • ■'-■ Yes, you earned your, soda, bicarb and your turn, While I am a shiftless arid ne'er do well bum.'. / -'Envoi -'■■-.. It you must get an ulcer; be sure lo"get paid tor.it Or, how in ; Ihe; wprld arc you gonna get aid for il? New York Runaround By Radie Harris f . IJbw that Ingrid Bergman is the niost in demand femme slar in' Holly- wood, it is interesting to.rccall an amusing anecdote aJient her arrival .In-: U. S. four years ago. It seems th.it when, she checked in-at the ScTznick Studios to make her American screen debut in 'Intermezzo,' it was at the same time that Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable were working on the. lot in 'Gone With the Wind.' Naturally,. Ihey were occupying the two star dressing rooms, which meant that Miss B. had to go 'slumming' in the third best—a bungalow with.-'" sitting room, dining room., dressing room, kitchenette and bath. Of, course, David Selznick was upset and" embarrassed no end. : There was nothing he could do but avoid his newest'import, even \vheii she called him two and three times. Finally, when the calls were too persistent to ignore any longer, he decided it. was best to see her. and apologize as best as he could. . Very sheepishly, he started, but-before he could make any explanation, Ingrid greeted, him with: "Why didn't you. tell me that I could live in this beautiful house? I just- rented one in Hollywood yesterday!' Scoopine Around 'Dick Hauiiies-"will be lite crooning s/t/t to 20tli Ceiuury.-Fo.r . . . Bill» . Rose has snored Miles Wliite bnck from the f/old iii llicm lluir Bcrerlj; Hills to costume 'Cfirincn Jones,' niwrjohii ltammow; Benny Goorlinnii's: bTOt/ier-inriau), will be Ici-hnicnl ndciscr on the-operetta . . . Buddy de. Sylva is rit (lie Waldorf 'Powers. . . . Irene Lee, with another Mcur to oo. on her contract as eastern slory ed 'fqr Sam Goldiuyu, has handed in her resignation''!' . while' Lf. D'ouyUis Fairbanks, Jr., is on cfrerseas duly (if/di)!. his ipi/e. Mary Lee. is the house guest of Ttic/cy. Astor on Bellerieu) avenue in Newport •.. . . ZhcIkitu Scolt. the '.Alan Ladd' of "These Endear- ing Youna Charms' is'l/ie dar/c.horse /or the title role of WB's 'George'■ 'Gershwin' . . . f/ie Cristiani family, all 26 of them, now doubling belicecii 'Spanflics' fit Madison Square Garden «ntf the Latin. Quarter, will be ntori- /iedjiMrt a Life picture spread . . it won't be Dietrich, or Carlisle! or Zorinn, or any establulied name who will play the (ciiiiiip lead opposite John Boles in ''One Man's Venus,' but a. uewcomcr lidincd Marlht Errolle, MEBBE AFTER THEY SEE IT THEY'LL PAY HIM Hollywood. July 6. Doctors on the home front, over- worked and underpaid on their daily and nightly rounds, will get an accolade in 'Silent Victory,', to be produced by Bryan Foy at 20th-Fox.. Story of the country medico and his wartime problems . is being screenplaycd by Gerald Schnitzer for autumn production. Schnoz Takes Camel West Aug. 12; First M-G Pic Set Wrinkles.in Jimmy Durantc's two picture'. per yenr deal with Metro have been, ironed out and lie will re- port on' the lot the middle of next month. Schnozzle's radio program tor Camel cigarets, which has -pri- ority over the film commitment, will originate in Hollywood, during the shooting of Two Big Sisters.' which Joe PastCrnaCk will direct. uranto, Gary Moore and others, who. will go ■•to.: the Coast for (he air shows, arc due back in New York (luring the fall- Schedule calls for ilie final Camel program from this end on Aug: 5, Xvith'the next show on Aug, 12 com- ing from the Coast, while Durante goes to the studio four days latere Durante is to pay the additional ex- pense for those in the radio show, but not inclusive; of the wire chr.rges. , Eddie Jackson, 'who went back to Akron with the idea of opening a cigar store; etc, has rejoined Du- rante and goes west with'him. f . . Ask Me Another .->'- Are Bill Gaxton and Victor Moore bowing out' of 'MexicaO Hayridc* bcc.tusc their salary demands plus the 10% interest in the show are-more than M. Todd wants to give up'.' Will M-G-M, which paid $200,000 for the scveeiv rights of The World We Make' and wrapped it in moth balls, take it off the shelf now to capitalize on Sidney Kingsley's current Pulitzer Prize reputalioh? What were Vinton Freedley. Mary-Martin, Howard Dietz and Vernon Duke seeing in Columbia's projection room the. other p.m.? What well-known star always refers to licr producer as n Mower of trivia?* - Gotham Gllmminfs Vivienne Segal has just been signatured for the revival of 'Connecticut Yankee.' Incldently, the Galileos, Paul and Pauline, are rewriting the book of 'Miss l^nderground,' In which Ml«s Segal appeared, discarding the N'axl. kidding angle and switching locale from Paris to a mythical kingdom. ■ Oscar Serlin, who Is 'heirlng* in November, has promised his p.a., Harry Forward,' that it will be 'Life With Father' on the 8th, to coincide with the fourth anniversary of his Empire attraction. And bis wife. Bobble, has also promised that because redheads'run In her family, the Serlin 'Clarence' will also be- a carrot-top! Nick Schenck's 15-year-old daughter, Martha, will be the envy of all her classmates at Ethel Walker's seminary When she enrolls there this (all. She Is taking along her own horse, gifted her by Clark-Gable! Van Ileflln's pretty, young sister. Frances, who is the only one of the original..company now playing in 'Skin Of Our Teeth' (Florence Reed Is on her vacation) has the inside track on all the other ingenue's in (own (or the role of Belt* Davis' daughter in 'Mrs. Skefflngton.' 'M* Is For . . Two ex-yaudcvitlians met iii front of the Palace Ihc other. .'Diya, Pat. Whatcha'dQihg these days'." greeted the first. 'I'm doing a Victory Cardcn turn,' answered Pat 'Whatcha featuring?' 'Only (he essentials—mint aiid marijuana!' .. Santa Fe's 'Harvey Girls' To Be Glorified by Metro ■ .Hoilywood,, July C. Gals who deal bff-tlie-arirt in eat- eries along the Santa Fe Trait will be llimusicalV.cd and Technicolorcd at Metro under the title 'The Harvey Girls.* -:[- ■ ',: Harry Wau-en and. Johnny Mercer arc writing songs and scori^based on a story of railroad restaurants by Eleanor Griflln and William nankin. TALLU COMES BACK TO H'WOOD AFTER 11 YRS, . . ' ■ Hollywood, July <5.; Tallulah Bankhcad returns to Hol- lywood ior the first time in U years to assume the • - role in -'Life- boat': at 201h-Fox. ■ War picture, predicated on .the drama of survivors of submarine at- tacks on the open sea, is slated lo slm t .July 26.. • . .