LATEST DOINGS FROM THE STUDIOS

Chronicle (Levin), 8 June 1946, Page 6

LATEST DOINGS FROM THE STUDIOS

Charlie Chaplin's mother-in-law is writing a novel. Ingrid Bergman and Walter Wanger have organised a new movie producing company called EN, taken from the Swedish word meaning one. Diana Barrymore has been objecting strenuously to the filmmg of the life of her father, John Barrymore. The film was to have oeen called "Good Night, Sweet Prince." Madeleine Carol says she wants no more of Hollywood. She intends co lecture in the States on behalf of U.S.-French relations. A Hollywood (in Florida) night club has offered Betty Hutton 25,000 dollars a week (you work it out) plus a house to live in. As someofie or other remarked, what, and 25,000 too? David Niven has been away from Hollywood six years. When he returned recently it was with the lf;39 Star, the Normandy-to-Ger-many Star, the Defence of Britain Medal and the American Legion of Merit, all won during his term in the British service. Janet Blair is being besieged by radio "biggies" for some top snows as a result of her singing in Columbia's "Tars and Spars." Two of the top tunes, "I'm Glad I Waited for You" and "Love is a Merry-Go-Round" are headed for the hit parade. Rita Hayworth and Tony Martin are being seen together again as also are Cary Grant and Joan Crawfdrd. Who was it cracked "a tight gown clinging to Ann Sothern's trim torso like a scared child." "Perilous Journey," the title of Pat O'Brien's latest film, became a reality for Pat the other day. He had just left Brentwood home for a three day vacation between scenes, when his car stalled and sudaenly burst into flames, apparently from a short circuit ip the wiring. Almost before Pat could free himself, the flames leapt out ' from the bonnet, and enveloped the body. When tliey reached the fuel tank, it exploded. Luckily Pat was unhurt, but the machine was a total loss. If Jerome Kern were alive, he would have been 61 years old this year. His very first hit song was a thing called "How'd You Like to ' Spoon With Me?" written in 1905 — j before a great many of us werej born. i Robert Scott's whistling didn't come up to siandard for director Charles Vidor on the "Gilda" lot the other day. Scott made several* attempts at a "wolf whistle" as Rita Hayworth passed him, for this particular scene. Glenn Ford tried. "That's it! That's it!" yelled Vidor. "Where did you learn to whistle like that?" "You forget," said Glenn, "I was in the Marines for almost three years!" Rita Hayworth has a pet mouse! It seems she glimpsed a tiny white mouse on the set of "Gilda" when she was playing a love scene with Glenn Ford. Instead of reacting in the usual way of the weaker sex, she completed the take without a single scream. When director Charles Vidor queriod her fortitude, she reminded him that the mouse had first made its appearance on the set while she was making "Cover Girl." That picture was a hit. Then it was seen again on several occasions while "To-night and Every Night" was in work. That too was a hit. So now Rita considers this mouse a good luck sign. I Wonder how she knows it is the same mouse? In Hollywood, you can't be too careful eveh when you say nice things about people. Comedian Stan Laurel was interviewed by a radio reporter immediately after his third marriage. When asked i about his new bride, Stan, as any! gentleman would, said she was tnei best little wife a man ever had. Now ; the little wife is bringing that

record into court in an attempt to collect alimony. Main fiying sequences for the "Smichy" film showed that the "Oid Bus" caused more than her share of grief for the camera crew. Modern pilots found it difficult to fly slow enough to enable the cameramen to shoot the Southern Cross. An R.A.A.F. Avron Anson was the only aircraft roomy enough for the camera, and slow enough to fly beside the Southern Cross. It wai, flown by Wing Commander John Kingsford Smith, nephew of tne famous "Smithy." To keep the Avro in position, J. K. S. had to fly with the flaps and undercarriage down and the motors throttieci almost to stalling speed. The Southern Cross, which thrilled the world when Smithy brought n across the Pacific from America, cruises at 95 m.p.h., compared witn the norma! cruising speed of 250 m.p.h. of modern planes. M.-G.-M.'s 13-year-old starlet Elizabeth Taylor is one of the busiest young actresses in Hollywood. After her recent sensational hit in the title role of the technicolour production, "National Velvet," she rates high with the fim-going public. Elizabeth did all the riding scenes herself and, in recognition of her excellent performance, received the horse she rode in the film as a birthday presfent. • Her dignity as a star nothwithstanding, she still likes to slide down bannisters. English-born film actress Angela Lansbury surprised her many lriends in Hollywood with her marriage to fellow-actor Richard Cromwell. Up to twenty-four hours before the ceremony the couple had kept their plans secret from everyone except Angela's mofcher, actress Moyna McGill. Miss Lansbury, whc went to America five years ago. stepped into the limelight With her amazing performance as the insolent maid in "Gaslight" and as the cabaret singer in "The Picture oi Dorian Gray." Ron Randell is sjqffering from an acute attack of self criticism. Blessed with the biggest opportunity that has yet occurred in Australian films, the part of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith was nevertheless an eXacting one, especially when the whole world remembers "Smithy" very well indeed — and most of his family were on hand to make sure that the details were correct. Betcrmined to beat this exacting ready-made audienee, Ron read up all the literature possible on the iife of Smithy. Lle aiso spent loLs of time" talking with Smithy's old friends, and managed to pick upf«?i lot of mannerisms and idiom which were typically his. Young Mr. Randell was much happier when the film was finally finished and "on fche screen."