LATEST DOINGS FROM THE STUDIOS

Chronicle (Levin), 8 March 1947, Page 6

LATEST DOINGS FROM THE STUDIOS

Les. M.

Murphy)

(SPECIAL — Frojn

Lucille Ball is in favour at Metro since her success in "Easy to Wed." She is expected to secure the lead in the rem&ke of "Roberta." Ginger Rogers made her first hit in the original version. Dickie Moore, the sweet screen youngster of yesterday, who made every feminine fan want to mother him, has turned author with a novel called "Snow in- Saipan." It is about his army experiences in the Pacific. Dickie is playing a small part in R.-K.-O.'s "Build My Gallows High." Talking of forrner child players, Freddie Bartholomew, now married, is out of pictures and dabbling in stage shows; Wesley Barry is an assistant director, moving from one i lot to another and Jackie Coogan and Jackie Cooper are being discussed as co-stars in an M.-G.-M. picture. Douglas Fairbanks Jun., gives a dashing imitation of his father's technique in R.K.O.'s techriicolour swashbucking pirate picture, "Sinbad the Sailor." The girl in the case is Maureen O'Hara, Akim Tarniroff also being prominently cast. June Allyson, who recently completed work in "The Secret Heart" with Claudette Colbert and Walter Pidgeon, has just signed a new M.-G.-M. contract which gives her full ranking stardom. The latest and final star to be added to the colossal cast of the super musical, "Till the Clouds Roll By," is singer Dinah Shore. This is Miss Shore's first appearance under the Metro banner, and she joins a cast headed by Robert Walker, Judy Garland, Van Johnson, Kathryn Grayson and June Allyson. French star Annabella will not make any plans for divorcing her husband. Tyrone Power, until next October. She is sailing for France this month to make a film and can think of nothing else at present. Annabella, who has been on Broadway has returned to New York to settle domestic affairs before going to France. Gary Cooper will play the Presidential nominee in "State oi he Union." At first he thought he was not the type for such a role. but when he discovered that Howard Hawks was chosen to direct the picture he decided to accept the role and will star with Claudette Colbert. Named as 1946's "most promising young actress" by U.S. national film magazine-was Joan Caulfield, currontly starring with William Holden in "Dear Ruth." Screen Guide's decision was made on th^ basis of Joan's work in the top fiight Paramount picture, "Blue Skies" in which she is co-starred with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. She has made five films under the Paramount banner. of which "Blue Skies" a'nd "Welcome Stranger" are yet to be released and "Dear Ruth" is being made. To ascertain authenticity of the unportant New Zealand sequences in "Green Dolphin Street," M.-G.-M. has sierned New Zealander George Rangi Bennett as technical adviser for this part of the film. The story, based on the prize-

winning novel by Elizabeth Goudge, is set partly in the Channel Islands and partly in New Zealand during the Maori wars. Mr. Bennett, whc is an expert on early New Zealand history, fiew'to HbllywPod to supervise preparations for ; the film, in which he 'will 'also play the role of a Maori chief . ' ■ ' •'