Evening star., 1941-11-22

CORetner lot Lfle elimination OF 6lI
OF cast. author and director,
The credit racket has been gre
until today exhibitors are bluntly dee
forwarded to the producers by the
Decorators that their membership
be given name credit on each pro-
duction caused industry leaders TO
take fresh inventory Of problem
slowing down movie action second
by second over long period OF
years.
1t is admitted that the set
dressers are within their rights in
demanding screen credlt-under
the present Setup If Tillle 1remble-
chin. the girl who carries a tray for
the wardrobe mistress can get her
name into the credits why not the
boys and girls who set up the furni-
ture? II one so-called craftsman"
can take a screen bow. why not all?
Where can the thin line be drawn?
The whole credit system is OBJ
viouslv ridiculous and has no place
outside Hollywood projection rooms.
Fans don't know or care about the
individuals mentioned over long
stretches of celluloid, running all
the way from 40 seconds to min
ute and a half. Credits make them
restless. The theater owner is
another objector. He is robbed of
precious running time. The studio
isn't benefited either. In fact.
credits cost a studio large sums of
money. Consider the art work
and the price of all that extra
footage in 500 or more prints and
you have a tidy addition to any
budget.
The credit pruning SGheme, If
actually undertaken this Wine, will
provoke a political upheaval the
like of which Hollywood has never
experienced. None will take it Sit
ting down. And somehow it just
won't seem right to lot of us to
go into a movie house and not see
the intriguing names of Pandro
Berman. Herman Mankiewicz and
Sol Siegal flashing from the title
cards.
News in nibbles:
Prepare for another big Dinner
at Eight" and Boom Town" cast.
M-G-M is checking the play and
book stalls for vehicle to fit the
combined talents of Clark Gable,
Myrna 10y, Lana Turner. Frank
Morgan and Hedy Lamar. With all
those high-powered names. any
marquee in the land might be
short -circuited!
John Barrymore plays John
Barrymore in "Playmates." his CO.
starring movie with Kay Kyser.
What's more, he allows gagsters to
blast him and the royal family
without mercy. No actor in history
ever submitted to such a ribald
stripping of private life. An elevator
boy, discussing domestic trials with
Barrymore, says: We'll, wives are
like that Replies Barrymore,
grimacing sourly: ASK the man
who owes one!"
A riot almost ensued in a stars
home the other night. At the
height of gay party, couple Of
the guests peeped into the kitchen
and caught the $2,500-a week big
shot in shady act. He was super
vising the transfer of cheap, cut
Scotch into bottles bearing famous
1oL fric hic hol hony,
suspecting for years. Before the
star could cover up every guest in
the house tip-toed for a look-and
walked out on him.
Shirley Temples folks and
M-G-M are talking three-picture
deal at money not unlike the kind
Shirley used to draw as the No. l
box Office darling. Surprising
talents revealed in Kathleen" have
made Shirley a magnet for all
studio eyes. 1t is even whispered
that Goth Century Fox, which
coldly released her 18 months ago,
would like to do business. If Shir-
ley went back to that lot the old
baby bungalow she occupied so
long would have to be brought up
to age.
Oliver Hardy's mile air
trip to United States Caribbean war
bases, as a member of a Hollywood
entertainment group, cost him Is
of the 300-plus poundage that
makes him so comical on the
screen. 1t was the babes first
air trip-and he suffered.
John Carroll, who sang q snatch
of beautiful baritone in Lady Be
Good" will blossom forth as q IA
nous concert star. singing four
numbers in Rio Rita"
Carroll attempted to hide his
warbling talents from Hollywood
and succeeded for three years. He
doesn't like to sing on the screen.
Il feel like a sissy" he says. He
threatened to quit movies If M-G-M
persisted in forcing him to sing in
Rio Rita"
Louis B. Mayer. head of the
studio, stepped in at this juncture
and made Carroll proposition:
If you'll sing, and settle down, We