LATEST STUDIO DOINGS

Chronicle (Levin), 13 March 1946, Page 7

LATEST STUDIO DOINGS

. Les. M.

. Murphy)

A STAR FOR 22 YEARS

v (Special — From

The John Payne's new baby daughter, a real brunette, is to be christened Kathryn Hope. Kathryn's mother is young actress Gloria de Haven. Dorothy Lamour recently presented husband William Ross Howard witli a bonny son. He is darkhaired like his film star mother, and will be christened John Ridgely Howard. Ex-film star Lew Ayres, who was reported to be entering the Ministry following his discharge from the U.S. Army Medical Corps, has deflnitely decided to return to the movies instead. Lew's first role will be that of a psychiatrist. He will play opposite Olivia de Havilland in the International Picturcs' murder melodrama, "In the Dark Mirror." Ann Miller's engagement to Rees Milner, scion of a wealthy Los Angeles industrial family, made news in Hollywood last week — since Ann is giving up her fllm carcer to marry a man whose family does not approve of actresses. Nina Foch was assigned by Columbia to play the starring role in "The Woman in Red," a psychological murder mystery fllm based on a story by Anthony Gilbert, to be produced by Wallacc MacDonald. Believed to be the first time sucli a record has ever been made on a technicolour film, director George Sherman, Columbia's "mighty midget," has the super-Wes+ern, "The Kansan," with Evelyn Keyes and Willard Parker, a full two days ahead of schedule in mid-produc-tion. The illness of Lee Bowman, from an eye infection believed to be caused by make-up poisoning, caused a change in the "She Wouldn't Say Ycs" shooting . schedule at Columbia. From his intended filming of the Rosalincl Russell — Lee Bowman wedding. director Alexander Hall turned his camera to another sequence. Paulette Goddard, who should know, says that keeping your figure streamlined is a matter of four simple rules. Don't eat between meals; don't catch trams — walk;" clo 1 six somersaults in your room before i getting into bed, and again before breakl'ast; swim cvery time you see enough water to hold you up. Take ; heed, you young readers, if you | hope to own a shapcly flgure like j Paulette. Watching "The Corn is Green" at a press review of the Bette Davis picture, young Joan Larring, who takes a part in the film, found herself appiauding wildly. Her mother nudgcd her: "You're appiauding yourself." "Gosh," stammered Joan, "I forgot it was me." Australia looks like presenting a challenge to Frank Sinatra and his swooning enthusiasts. Since his success in "Voice of the Turtle," and casting in the title role of "Smithy," Ron Randell has been receiving a steady stream of fan mail. Tall, handsome Ron believes that an actor is finished when fans lose interest in autographs and photos. He tries to reply to each letter personally. The construction of a fog — peasouper or otherwise — is always a problem to the technical experts of a picture. It must be realistic, easy to operate, and at the same time non-injurious to the actors. So when the script of "Smithy" called for a couple of San Francisco "soupers," the matter was givcn

plenty of thought. A very special chenncai jusc mvented in America was ordered to do the trick. it was photogenic, it was harmless, it was a pleasure to do business! Unfortunateiy for ali concerned, shipping was cteiayed and the new powdei didn't arrive in time. The oniy available substitute was an Army smoke bomb. Pictorially it was perfect — but the cast, and everyone eise, lnsists tfiat ic was an antipersonnel mine. Bodies disappeareci in the direction of fresh air and sunlight with monotonous regularity. The faithful few who reinained were fortliwith afl'licted witn 'ackmg coifs. but they got the shot! Made originaily m 1927, "The Jazz Singer" turned out to be one of the higliest grossing films in history. At the same time it sounded the death kneli for the careers of many stars of the siient screen who could not adapt themselves to the new medium. Announcement of tlie casting of Dane Giark in the titlc role came on the heels of a release of resuits of a national Amcrican exhibitor poll selecting Clark as "The Top Star of To-morrow." The poll of circuit and indepcndent exhibitors includcd Canada as wcll, with same resuits for Clark as U.S. poll. As the ipaie lead in "The Jazz Singer" he v/ill recreate the Ai Jolson role opposite Eleanor Parker. The learning of Miss Parkei and Clark unites two oi the liottest young stars on the Warner lot in the epochai film which revolutioniscd tne picture industry by giving voice to Ihe screen. With Clark m the role originaily created by a, Jolson and Miss Parker in the May McAvoy part, ifie film is scheduied to go before the cameras shortly. Seven irnportant new story properties liave been purchased by Jack L. Warner, executive producei for Warner Bros. witlnn the pa.st few weeks, inarking oue of ihe industry 's grcatest story-buying drives in Hollywood history. Tlrc latest acquisition for early production, is "Unsuspected," now running serially in the "SaUi- day Evening Post." Tliis has been earmarkcd for Robert A!da, the Georgi Gcrshwin oi' Wavner's "Rhap >ody in Biue." The oi, her reeent storv purchases includc, "Men Without Friends," "Stailion Road," in which Errol Flynn and Ida Lupino will be starred; "Jealous House," to be an Eleanor Parker starrer; "The Iron Gate," "For Sentimental Reasons," uliuTi will have a large ca.st lieaded by Joan . Crawford a ; ihe Ma. and "Cry Wolf," scheduied for early production with Barbara Stanwyck and Ucnnis lMorgan in the starring roles. These seven irnportant story -properties added to the Warner future programme indieates • that the company contempiates the most irnportant production, year in its long history.