. STUDIO NEWS Eddie Cantor Signed by M-G-M Star in Big Musical Comedy 'PIP ID -J Sf g W To Eddie Cantor will return to the screen under the banner of Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer. A contract just signed assures exhibitors at least Published In the Interests of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Studios one big Cantor musical comedy during 1939 with the star of “Kid VOL. V—CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA, SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 1939— No. 13 Boots,” “Whoopee,” “The Kid from Spain” and “Roman Scandals.” Although Cantor has not made a picture since “Ali Baba Goes to Town,” devoting Title Is Changed for all his time to radio, his activity on the New Nelson Eddy Film air has kept him closely associated with the As this issue of Studio News goes screen. to press, announcement is made His personal appear- that a new title has been chosen ances have been terrific for “Song of the West,’’ the Metro- successes in the Goldwyn-Mayer production star- and ring Nelson Eddy, with Virginia course of his radio work Bruce and Victor McLaglen. The he has constantly kept picture will be released as “The his audiences picture- Dusty Road.” minded with his screen discoveries. The latest is Cantor Terry Kilburn, the English boy actor who Wallace Beery scored in “Lord Jeff” and “Christmas Carol.” Cantor also was responsible to a Starts Work On great degree for the careers of Deanna Durbin and Bobby Breen. °Sergt. Madden' Detailed plans for Cantor’s first picture under his contract with M-G-M will be With “Stand Up and Fight” on its announced shortly. way to box-office records, Wallace Beery this week started production on “Ser- M-C-M BUYS "SWEEPSTAKES” geant Madden,” his next Metro-Goldwyn- “Sweepstakes,” an original story of the Mayer picture. Josef von Sternberg is fates that befall five sweepstakes ticket directing. winners, written by Charles Martin, has It is the story of a New York police been purchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer sergeant and one that Beery long has and scheduled for early production. Louis father, wanted to play as a tribute to his D. Lighton, who made “Captains Cour- who was a Kansas City policeman. ageous” and “Test Pilot,” will produce. The cast, thus far, includes Tom Brown, Alan Curtis and Laraine Johnson, a new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer discovery. Wells Root wrote the screenplay from -^an original story by William A. Ullman, Jr. J. Walter Ruben, who directed Beery in the eminently successful “Bad Man of Brimstone,” is the producer. London (England): “EMPIRE FOUR DAYS BUSINESS WITH ’CITADEL’ EX- CEEDS PRACTICALLY EVERY OTHER Eddy Signs New FILM'S FIVE DAYS TAKINGS DURING TEN YEARS STOP TUESDAY’S TAKINGS M-G-M Contract ESTALISHED NEW ALL-TIME RECORD ONE DAY’S BUSINESS STOP TODAY’S With concert halls of thirty-three cities ONE O’CLOCK FIGURE EXCEEDS PRE- sold out months in advance for his 1939 VIOUS RECORD BY FIVE HUNDRED tour, and with his work in “Sweethearts” PEOPLE STOP ’CITADEL’ IS ALL-TIME pointing to new screen popularity, Nelson RECORD BREAKER.” Eddy has been signed to a new long-term ^ v *1® MICKEY ROONEY, as “Huckleberry Finn,” in the new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. first showing Sandringham picturization of Mark Twain's famous character. Joseph Mankiewicz produces. The at Now in the midst of work in “The Palace during the Christmas holidays for Dusty Road,” Eddy will start his new tour Their Majesties King George and Queen in Pasadena, February appearing next 2, Elizabeth was an all-M-G-M program, MacDonaEd Sings Midgets Rescue in San Antonio, Texas, and then heading consisting of: "SWEETHEARTS,” “SYD- East. Upon his return he will make at NEY, PRIDE OF AUSTRALIA” (Fitzpat- 'Mme. Butterfly' Judy Garland As least two films in 1939, an untitled mu- rick Travelogue), “THE MIRACLE OF sical in which he will be teamed again In 1939 Setting Ponies Run Away SALT LAKE” (Carey Wilson Subject), with Jeanette MacDonald, and “Balal- and “THE CAPTAIN’S CHRISTMAS” elaborate "Madame Butterfly’’ se- Garland in a midget runaway, opposite. An Judy aika,” with Ilona Massey (Cartoon) quence, done in ultra modernistic fashion, rescued by midget heroes, provided a thrill * sje was shot this week as one of the outstand- not in the script on “The Wizard of Oz” M-G-M Paris has assembled fifteen ing eye and ear tidbits of “Broadway set at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Owen Goes Into panels illustrating the life of MARIE AN- Serenade,” starring Jeanette MacDonald. Judy was riding in the tiny coach, TOINETTE by means of rare documents Instead of the conventional black- drawn by tiny Shetland ponies, for her re- 'Fast and Loose' concerning the famous Queen of France. haired chorus, the girls appear with the gnomelike Munchkins, who ception by From his remarkable characterization Much success was obtained from a similar as she sings “One Fine played midgets. As the ponies Miss MacDonald by 116 of pinch-penny Scrooge in "Christmas exhibition of the life of Napoleon which white wigs with their pastel along the tiny path of Day” wear drew the coach Carol,” versatile Reginald Owen steps was organized for the showing of “MARIE colored kimonos and the number is staged the miniature village, a large electric into the modern role of a scheming bro- WALEWSKA.” in highly imaginative setting designed globe in one of the Technicolor lamps ker in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s "Fast and by Merrill Pye and Joe Wright. exploded with a loud pop. The frightened Loose,” comedy starring Robert Mont- SONGS ON RECORDS Serenade,” which features ponies dashed for the end of the set. KORJUS “Broadway gomery and Rosalind Russell. Miliza Korjus, who won her first film and Ian Hunter, Carl Becker, Billy Curtis and others Lew Ayres, Frank Morgan Frederick Stephani produces. contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on is directed by Robert Z. Leonard, who stopped the runaway. the basis of her European phonograph also is the producer. LENSMEN HONOR CRAWFORD VIRGINIA BRUCE SINCS recordings, last week recorded for Victor numbers which HIDES $1,000,000 FIGURE Joan Crawford, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Virginia Bruce becomes the singing the four Johann Strauss she sings in "The Great Waltz.” They Claire James, named “Miss America” star of “The Ice Follies of 1939,” has partner of Nelson Eddy in the current are “There’ll Come a Time,” "Tales from of 1938” by Earl Carroll, hides her mil- been selected by Hollywood news pho- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, "The the Woods,” excerpts from “Die lion dollar figure under a nurse’s uni- tographers as the “most co-operative star Dusty Road,” according to announcement Vienna producer. She will Fledermaus” and "One Day When We form in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “Four of the year.” They presented her with by Harry Rapf, the Young.” Girls In White.” a large gold cup. sing with the star in Drigo’s "Serenade.” Were STUDIO NEWS LUBITSCH TO DIRECT GARBO IN 'NINOTCHKA' 'Shop Around the Corner' Is Included 'Citadel' Voted MacDonaBd-Eddy In MGM Deal With Noted Director Best Film of Year Set New Records negotiations with Louis B. Mayer by Ernst Lubitsch has closed By N. Y. Critics In 'Sweethearts' which Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer takes over his services as producer and Doubly honored in the annual poll of “Sweethearts,” Metro-Goldwyn-May- director. He will direct Greta Garbo’s next picture, “Ninotchka,” New York film critics, Metro-Goldwyn- er’s latest Jeanette MacDonald-Nelson will his which will be produced by Sidney Franklin. Lubitsch limit ac- Mayer won awards both for the best pic- Eddy starring musical, has broken the box- tivity to direction on his first picture. ture of 1938 and the best feminine per- office records of every MacDonald-Eddy “The Shop Around the formance of the year. picture to date. Reports from ten key which the direc- Comer,” “The Citadel,” M-G-M’s second Brit- cities show that the opening week-end tor-producer planned to Tracy Usurps ish-made production, which King Vidor revenue exceeded that of “Maytime,” make as his first inde- directed with Robert Donat and Rosalind “Girl of the Golden West” and “The pendent venture, will be Gable Throne Russell co-starred, won top honors among made under the M-G-M Spencer Tracy has had his re- Firefly” by from $125 to more than all films. Victor Saville was its producer. banner, with Lubitsch venge against Clark Cable. $1,700. For her work in the feminine lead of producing and directing. Friendly feudists since their St. Louis, Cleveland and Baltimore re- “Three Comrades,” Margaret Sullavan Margaret Sullavan and Broadway stage days, their feud port the biggest smash openings. In was voted the finest actress of the year. James Stewart will appear flared up again recently since Cable Cleveland, the week-end business topped Joseph Mankiewicz produced the film, in the leading roles. The has been called “The King” around “Firefly” by $1,791. In St. Louis and Frank Borzage directing. picture is based on a stage M-C-M. Baltimore, where "Maytime” held the rec- Lubitsch play by Nickolaus Laszlo. Now, Tracy wears the flashiest ord, “Sweethearts” drew $1,752 and Samuel Raphaelson will write the screen of men’s fashions for his role with HARDYS NOW ALL-AMERICAN $1,570 more respectively. treatment. Hedy Lamarr in “I Take This Wom- Following her decision to make Metro- The week end grosses of “Sweet- “Ninotchka” is now in preparation for an.” The costly duds made Tracy Goldwyn-Mayer’s Judge Hardy Family hearts” were: Washington, $9,999; immediate production. feel like a king, so he had the com- series of pictures one hundred per cent Pittsburgh, $1 1,731 ; St.