Evening star., 1937-06-30

odIdUOSd, Ol COulSS, S lIle 1ull III
time of her death
There was about reel to 60 when
Miss Harlow was stricken. M-G-M
cannot decide whether to go it with
some one else in the Harlow role
(retaking her sequences, naturally,
TO scrap the whole thing or allow
the film to end where it is with an
epilogue added to give it a kind of
completion. Like the British govern
ment when confronted by an issue
upon which the better minds cannot
agree, M-G-M is disposed to 'go to
the people and let them settle it,
AS result of that state of mind
on the part of corporation. any one
who is disposed to help out is well
come to write letter to Hollywood
saying what he or she thinks ought
to be done. Fans are more than
welcome to do so, in fact. M-G-M,
frankly, finds itself too dizzy in the
whirl of ideas to come to any con-
cluSion itself.
The company had a great belief
in the film as an interesting drama,
apart from the drawing power of its
stars names. 1t was looked upon as
an excellent vehicle for the team of
Gable and Harlow, but it was re-
garded as more than that. Were
that not the case, it would be easy
enough to just drop the whole thing
regardless of the heavy investment
in it. It is no loss to be absorbed
without batting an eye, even when
ones name is Metro GoldWyn Mayer,
but it could be done.
One of the factors that figures in
Hollywood's reasoning on the subject
Is that good film material is scarce.
That such is the case is evident
when cinema executives sign their
names to quarter -million-d dollar checks
for the film rights to Broadway hits.
But, even when there is an impulse
on the part of company executives to
settle it on the basis that good ma
terial is not to be wasted, comes
question that knocks all the simplicity
out of that solution. The question
concerns a substitute in the Harlow
role. The part was tailored to the
measurements of the popular blond
actress. 1t does not hand down to
any one else with the readiness one
might think.
AS far as the epilogue idea is con-
cerned, that involves some intricate
thinking. Suppose the film were to
end where Miss Harlow's death left
it, might not the addition of an epi-
logue look like catering to morbidity?
Definitely, MG-M would not want to
be In such position. But it does not
know whether it would be so regarded.
X X
F THIS department were locked in
dark room and told it couldn't
come out until it had solution of
the problem, it would suggest finishing
the film with a new actress in the
original Harlow part. Even If the part
had to be remodeled and an ambi-
tious, talented youngster was the only
talent available willing to gamble with
It AS an ambitious youngster in
Hollywood, Jean Harlow probably
would have felt the same way about
It. And the odds are large that she
would have made good. Maybe an
other youngster given the chance will
do the same thing.
IMAGINE large picture company
that can make only one feature
film every two years! Sounds impos-
sible that such an outfit could be
successful However, Walt Disney STU
dioe, which have been successful with
out even one biennial feature prob |
ably is going on some such schedule |
from now on.
It will, that is, if Snow White and |
the Seven Dwarfs," first full-length |
Disney creation. is the success its |
makers are convinced it will be- It's |
seven reels, involving 250000 draw
ings, will be the most elaborate thing |
Of its kind in film history.
William Levy, in town the last |
couple of days to talk about Disney |
and his work, has story which is a
perfect Illustration Of why the COM
pany cannot make speciality of full
length features.
During his recent visit to Hollywood
he ran across an enthusiastic produc-
tion man in the Disney studios
why so elated?" Levy wanted to
know.
Boy" said the production man,
I'VE shot 79 feet today"
You might want to remember that
when you see the film at Keith's along
about Christmas. 1t should be fin
ished and ready for release about then.
x
REST sidelight on the Roadside
Theater's second opening con-
Germs a 14-year-old girl who undoubt-
edly is the greatest melodrama enthu-
siast OF her age in the neighborhood.
One OF the puns in the play Our
American Cousin" has to do with O