Made For Each Other – director John Cromwell – the stars, Lombard and Stewart – the writer Jo Swerling
NEWS AROUND HOLLYWOOD
At the Selznick Studios the decision has been made to scrap the script on their production ‘Made for Each Other.’ It was scheduled to start filming this day, with John Cromwell directing. James Stewart, who has been borrowed from MGM to star opposite Carole Lombard, will take a couple more weeks of vacation while the writers work on the new script. [Jo Swerling has the official credit for the script. He appears to be the original writer to adapt the story by Rose Franken. Frank Ryan is listed for contributions – humorous situations, so he must have been brought in at this point to punch up the script. He was on the Selznick lot working on ‘The Cowboy and the Lady.’ (See July 3). I found another story reported in the newspapers about Frank Ryan. He was a cartoonist, who bluffed his way onto the Harold Lloyd lot and landed a job as a gag writer on the strength of a cartoon].
‘Thanks for the Memory’ commences production at Paramount on this date with George Archainbaud directing and Bob Hope and Shirley Ross starring. Paramount plans to mount seven more films this month. [Paramount director Archainbaud had three films in 1938, and would follow with three more in 1939 – another Bob Hope comedy, and two comedies with Charlie Ruggles].
Paramount’s production of St Louis Blues was to have started today, but one of its stars, Dorothy Lamour, who had an appendectomy over the weekend, was in recovery. She had been stricken when rehearsing at a radio studio. A plan was put together to shoot around her until she could return.
Luise Rainer passed her US citizenship test. [Ed Sullivan adds that her Certificate of Citizenship will be issued on 11/18/1938].
The screen comic Billy Gilbert known for his sneezes has obtained his release from RKO and will freelance from here on out. For the past year he has appeared in 12 RKO productions, and was loaned out 18 times. [Gilbert, who lent his voice talents to the character of Sneezy in Snow White in 1937, had ten feature films in 1938, and six in 1939].
At WB, casting picks for ‘Juarez’ are being discussed. John Guilgud has been selected to portray Maximillian; Edward G Robinson for Juarez; Bette Davis for Carlotta; and John Garfield for the young Porfirio Diaz. [Brian Aherne landed the Guilgud part (and an Oscar nomination), and Paul Muni took over from Robinson. Davis and Garfield kept their roles].
Walt Disney has announced plans for a animation feature based on Cinderella. [A project that percolated until finished in 1950].
Writer Gene Fowler is flying to Fiji to write his book about Wyoming. [Fowler’s next book was entitled Illusion in Java which came out in 1939. He must have gotten sidetracked].
Irene Dunne and her husband Dr Francis Griffin left Hollywood on a vacation trip on this date. They planned to make up their itinerary as they go. [Her last film had been the comedy ‘Joy of Living’ finished in Feb 1938, and her next, one of the 1939 greats ‘Love Affair’ did not start production until Oct 1938].
OUTSIDE HOLLYWOOD
Still ill, Shirley Temple passed her third day at her Boston hotel. Her Montreal trip planned for today was postponed. Her physician Dr Leo Madson flew in from Santa Monica CA today and reports that her illness is “not serious at all.”
News out of Atlanta Georgia reports that Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone with the Wind, was unhappy with word that Norma Shearer has rejected the role of Scarlett.
Tyrone Power took the train to New York, his studio 20th Century Fox has ruled that travel by airplane is out.
