Lupe Velez wins her second decree for a divorce from Johnny Weissmuller. On the stand she described life the last five years with her husband as very trying, saying he behaved little better than a caveman around the house – breaking furniture and chinaware when displeased. According to the property settlement she will receive $200 weekly for 156 weeks, and their $50,000 home in Beverly Hills. Weissmuller, who does not contest the divorce, retains his $15,000 yacht and $3500 speedboat. [Velez was no angel, she was known to have physically abused the men in her life, and had once fired a pistol at Gary Cooper after he broke off their relationship. In 1939 she appeared in ‘The Girl from Mexico’ for RKO. Its success led to the Mexican Spitfire series at the studio].
Paramount and Cecil B DeMille announce that the lead role for ‘Union Pacific’ will go to Joel McCrea. The female lead is not yet decided upon. Jack Cunningham, Jeanie Macpherson, and Walter DeLeon are working on the script. [All three writers had long associations with Paramount. Cunningham, in the business since 1913, ran the gamut from swashbucklers to westerns to comedy. One of his major successes was ‘The Covered Wagon’ from 1923, hence his inclusion on the writing staff for this film. He did a lot of on the ground research for ‘Union Pacific.’ DeLeon came from the NY stage – comedies and musicals in the 1920s. He moved on to more of the same at Paramount. MacPherson was a long time collaborator to DeMille, and to D W Griffith before him. Interesting to note – growing up in South Pasadena, Joel McCrea witnessed Griffith at work on ‘Intolerance,’ and DeMille was a client on his newspaper route].
Paramount launches ‘Bulldog Drummond against Scotland Yard’ today. [The fifth film starring John Howard as the intrepid English adventurer. When this film was released in November 1938, its title was changed to ‘Arrest Bulldog Drummond.’ Howard would appear as Drummond in two more films in 1939].
Also at Paramount, production is underway on ‘Escape from Yesterday.’ In its cast are Akim Tamiroff, Frances Farmer, and her husband Leif Erikson. [This family drama about a former Russian Cossack who runs a cattle rustling ring in contemporary America went through another title change to ‘The Last Ride’ before settling on ‘Ride a Crooked Mile’ for its release in December].
Universal begins production on the Constance Bennett romantic comedy ‘Service De Luxe.’ [This marked the screen debut of Vincent Price, playing opposite Bennett].
Warner Brothers announced today their biggest production for the next 12 months. It will be entitled ‘The Phantom Crown.’ The story is built around Maximilian and Carlotta and their rule of Mexico from 1864 to 1867. Paul Muni and Bette Davis are set to star. William Dieterle will direct the feature which will be shot in technicolor. [Perhaps inspired by MGM’s production of ‘Marie Antoinette,’ WB invested a lot to ensure that it adhered to a strict interpretation of the period of history that it covered. Two historians were hired to manage the 300 plus volumes acquired, against which they would check the script which the writers were working on. And the art director prepared thousands of sketches and blueprints for the settings, interior and exterior. However, it was shot in black and white and not Technicolor. When released it was entitled ‘Juarez.’ The reasons for the change will be discussed later].
After a six year hiatus, Howard Hughes plans a return to Hollywood, with plans to make another aviation film. He has taken his other aviation titles out of release (‘Hell’s Angels,’ ‘Sky Devils,’ ‘Cock of the Air’). He looks to invest 1.5 million on this production about Amelia Earhart, and not about his recent around the world exploit. Katharine Hepburn will take the lead. [Another project that did not come to fruition. Hughes did not return to the film industry until 1943 when he produced and directed ‘The Outlaw’].
Manicurist turned actress Arleen Whelan is rumored to be headed to the altar with actor Richard Greene. [It was only a rumor, possibly fomented by the studio PR department, looking to boost Whelan with the fan popular Greene. Both were then contract players at Fox, she was between films and he was then at work on John Ford’s ‘Submarine Patrol.’ Whelan married actor Alexander D’Arcy in 1940].
A group of directors, writers, and producers want to see Will Hays replaced in the censor’s office by Herbert Bayard Swope. [Hays held on to his office up until 1945. Swope was a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and editor].
OUTSIDE HOLLYWOOD
Madeleine Carroll arrived in New York after a European holiday, on which she also lobbied the French government to allow the distribution of ‘Blockade’ there. She was successful. Carroll has decisions to make once she returns to Hollywood. Her contract with Wanger is over. She will have to decide whether to renew it, or sign with a different studio, or freelance. [At this time Carroll was the highest paid actress in the world. She landed at Paramount for two films in 1939 – ‘Cafe Society’ and ‘Honeymoon in Bali’].
Leopold Stowkowski, director of the Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra returned to New York from a European trip. He would take questions on cinema music but not on Greta Garbo. “I never speak of personal affairs.” He announces that he will be spending the early part of the winter working at the Disney studio on animated films. [The result of his collaboration with Disney was 1940’s ‘Fantasia’].
