LATEST DOINGS FROM THE STUDIOS

Chronicle (Levin), 9 August 1947, Page 6

LATEST DOINGS FROM THE STUDIOS

Les. M.

Murphy)

(FYECIAL — From

Betty Grabe iias given birth to a seven pound girl. Both are doing splpndidly. Dinah Shore and George Montgomery are thrilled' to death at the prospect of a blessed event next December. Director Alfred Hitchcock is busy on "The Paradine Gase," most of the scenes of which take place in the Old Bailey. To ensure accuracy, Hitchcock brought an Old Bailey expert from London to supervisq production. Next year Hitchcock will produce in England a drama about early Australia, "Under • Capricorn," starring Ingrid Bergman. Pretty v Virginia Field, once engaged to» Richard Greene, married Howard Grode, at Santa Bar-' bara, recently. Love token: Tyrone Power gave Lana Turner the 2001b. swordfish thev caught together oif the coast of Mexico. The fish — stuffffed — is hanging over Lana's sitting room fireplace. Greer Garson has lost the £370 diamond clip given to her by her mother after she won the Oscar with "Mrs. Miniver." The clip was not insured. Elspeth Dudgeon, noted British character actress has been cost by Columbia for a prominent role in "Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back," with Ron Randell and Gloria Henry in the leading roles. It is the ambition of Esther Williams' to make a film based on the life story of Annette Kellerman, America's first feminine swimming and diving star. It certainly would be like perfect type casting. Writer-director Van Johnson has completed his first masterpiece — 10 reels of 16 m.m. film — a documenIary designed to illustrate how movies are made. He completed the film while on location for "The Romance of Rosy Ridge." On completion of his role i'n "Summer Holiday," the musical version of Eugene O'Neill's "Ah Wilderness," Mickey Rooney will play a completely , diff erent type of role. You will see him as a tough prize fighter in "Killer McCoy." Joan Greenwood, a rising young star of the Rank organisations in England, plays the feminine lead in the forthcoming British film, "The October Man." Leslie Howard discovered her, planncd to make her a big star, but died before he could do it. Rumour has it in Hollywood that Clark Gable and director JackCont wa y, whose re-union in "The I Hucksters" marked their seventh | film together, are seriously discusi sing partnership for production of I outstanding stage plays in Los Angeles area. Gable may appear in one of the plays himself, with i Conway as director. [ Ginger Rogers and Cornel Wilde are to be starred in "I Fnund a Dream," a romantic comedy which is scheduled to ao into production shortly. This will be ihe first ti ma Miss Rogers has r-^c worked on the Columbia lot. Fc- Ailde it will ba a return to the siudio where he rose to stardom in three successive technicolour productions, "A S'ng to Remember," "A Thousand and One Nights" and "Bandit of Sherwood Forest." When Gene Autry worked for Republic Studio his screen life was strictly celibate. The theory was that liorses and women did not mix. Now that Autry is with Columbia in "The Last Round Up." he has two women playing opposite. him. They are Jean Heather and Carol Thurston. Plis Republic friends say Gene has succumbed to the fleshpots.

Following her starring role with Gene Keliy in "The Pirate," . Judy Garland, who recently signed anew long term contract with M.-G.-M., will be re-united with the dancer for the third time in "The Good Old Summer Time," a baseball romance in which the pair will share starring honours with Frank Sinatra. After an extensive search and numerous tests among established Hollywood stars as well as unknown newcomers, one of the piurn roles of the year has gone. to Lana Turner. She is playing opposite Spencer Tracy in "Cass Timberla'ne." Lana, who has been a blonde for years, turned brunette for her role in "Green Dolphin Street." As Jinny she has had to dye her hair black.