News Around Hollywood
- Boris Karloff will start a new series at Monogram – ‘Mr Wong, Detective.’ [Two more Mr Wong films would follow in 1939. Also in 1939 Karloff would return as the Frankenstein monster, in “The Son of Frankenstein.’ And would be a ‘monster’ of another kind in Universal’s ‘Tower of London,’ when he played the henchman of Richard III].
- Rumor – director Wesley Ruggles to wed Lady Thelma Furness while in England. [Ruggles at the time was divorced from his second wife Arline Judge, so he was available. The Viscountess Furness, who retained the title from her second husband, the British noble Marmaduke Furness was divorced from him since 1933. Thelma had been a mistress of the Prince of Wales since 1930 or so. And now she had lost him too, since introducing him to her good friend Wallis Simpson in 1931. By 1934 Simpson replaced her in Edward’s affections (he abdicated his throne for her). Perhaps talk was generated by the mere fact of Ruggles and Thelma being in a room together – after all she was one of the most important hostesses in England].
- Judy Garland has left her wheel chair for light work. [She had fractured three ribs, hurt her back, and sustained an internal injury to one lung in an auto accident on May 24].
- Glenda Farrell’s stand in Frances Waverly was hit by a camera boom and knocked unconsious for twenty minutes. [This would have been during the filming of ‘Exposed’ at Universal].
- After Jack Oakie lost 45 pounds, he donated his oversize clothes from his extensive wardrobe to needy families. [See May 28]
- At MGM, 100 midgets are in consideration for the project – ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ Frank Morgan is a prospect for one of the leads.
- Deanna Durbin will make three films at Universal for their 1938-39 schedule.
The Biz of the Business
Walt Disney departs New York for the West Coast. He had been in New York to negotiate new terms for his feature releasing contract. He has budgeted $3,000,000 for the 1938-1939 period. Two features (Pinocchio and Bambi) are ready for inking. He argues that since he finances his features 100% himself, a concession in distribution charges are warranted. He is looking for a decrease from 25% to 20%.
Item of Interest
- (Credit columnist Frederick C Othman)The troubles of a producer – Samuel Goldwyn liked a story put together by Leo McCarey and Frank R Adams, entitled “Kiss in the Sun,” about a cowboy who fell in love with a senator’s daughter. Goldwyn went through a bunch of screenwriters. He started with Anita Loos and John Emerson – then Lillian Hellman, followed in succession by Bob Ardery, Howard Estabrook, and Frederick Lonsdale. Lastly he tossed the project to Sonya Levien and S N Berhman, and was finally satisfied. Next, the title was changed to The Cowboy and the Lady – but someone else had a story with that title and threatened legal action. The solution change the title to The Lady and the Cowboy. Then came all the production headaches – William Wyler, he believed worked too slow, so H C Potter was put in the director’s chair instead. And David Niven had to be recalled from his vacation overseas. It was interesting to read about another ‘writer’s’ contributions. A man was kept on set called a “business man.” His job in this context (not a rep from the main office) was to think up ‘business’ for the actors to do that was humorous. In this instance the ‘business man’ was Frank Ryan. He would do the same thing for Selznick’s production of 1939’s ‘Made for Each Other.’ [Ryan would graduate to full screenplays later, but tragically died in a railroad accident in 1948].