LATEST DOINGS FROM THE STUDIOS

Chronicle (Levin), 18 January 1947, Page 7

LATEST DOINGS FROM THE STUDIOS

M.

Murphy)

(SPECIAL — From Les.

Judy Garland jolns Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra in - a film at M. - G.- M. tentatively entitled "Ryan, O'Brien ' and O'Shaughnessy." It is a sort of follow-up to "Anchors Aweigh," with Gene and Frank- as two amorous ex G.I.'s, and Judy as the owner of a baseball leam — it sounds promising. A new English movie romance cornes from London: Basil Sydney lias announced liis engagermmt to young " filrn star Joyce Howard. They have not fixed the wedding yet. Sydney made his most recent hit as Ruflo in the Rank film of "Cacsar and Cleopatra." Deborah Kerr, the English film star, has arrived in Hollywood. According to the latest news from the film eity it is expected she will star in "Thc Hucksters" opposite Clark Gable. Stewart Granger, another English star, is being sought by Hollywood, but he is not as yet keen to leave England. Lassie, the sheepdog star, has been named in a divorce suit by its owner's wife, Mrs. Weatherwax, who alleges that her husband, Frank, spent more time and consideration on Lassie than he did on his family. Hm . . . a dog's life. Arlene Dahl, after a short career as a fashion model in New York, has been signed up by Warners for the feminine lead in "My Wild Irish Rose." Miss Dahl, who will star opposite Dennis Morgan, is a redhead from Minneapolis. She had only two bit parts in pictures on the Warner lot before being jumped to the top bracket. James Mason. the English actor, is now in Hollywood to play in R.-K.-O.'s "Mourning Becomes Electra," with Rosalind Russell and Greek aetress Katina Paxinou. Katina, who played Pilar in Paramount's version of Plemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls," will play the mother in R.-K.-O.'s adaptation of Eugene O'Neill's trilogy. This aetress, who took part in the Royal Film Show in London, made the English thriller, "(Jncle Silas" before she returned to Hollywood. So impressed was Queen Mary when she first saw the Australian production "The Overlanders," whieh is due to open its New Zealand season in Wellington next week, that she attended a second screening unannounced joining the matinee audience in the stalls of the Metrcpolitan Theatre, Victoria. The Queen Mother enjoyed every foot of the film. Ann Sheridan and Ronald Reagan, who scored their greatest screen success together in "King's Row," will b.e reunited in "The Last Fling," a romantic domestic comedy purchased for them by Jack L. Warner. Miss Sheridan has just completcd the title role in "Nora Prentiss" while Reagan recently finished "Stallion Road" with Alcxis SmPh and Zachary Scott. One of the most important contracts in Hollywood history was recently signed when W;arners announced that Jcan Crawford had agreed to a long-tenn seven-year contract. Her first picture under

the new deal will be "Need for Each Other," in which Errol Flynn and Jane Wyman will also be starred. Bette Davis age^ to 78 in "The Life of Sarah Bernhardt" — but she will not look hideous, as she did as an old woman in "Mr. Skeffingtoii," or as Queen Elizabeth in the picture she made with Errol Flynn. iii that one. she shaved ofL her ha,ir and eye-brows ! That was' being too realistic. Betty Hutton has simmered down to the subdued point. Her friends think she is sick! The naturally bouncing Betty it is said, is trying to please husband Ted Briskin, who is on the shy side and who definitely does not want his wife to oe "the life of the party." The new way of life is quite a strain for Betty. However, the real trutii of the change in Betty from the boisterous to the subdued is that the stork is in the air and it was expected about Christmas time that an important announcement would oe issued from the Briskin home. Australian composer Hubert Clifford has been appointed to direct all the musical side of Alexander Korda's films. His first major movie is David Niven's "Bonnie Prince Charlie," now in production in England, .to be followed by "The Man Abdut the House," starring Margaret Johnson. Then comes the film version of Oscar Wilde's "Salome." Probably his biggest musical jo'o of the lot will be the film version of Bizet's opera "Carmen." Clifford, who is a professor at the Royal Academy of Music, still hopes to continue his professorship and external lecturing.