Evening star., 1942-02-23

inside SOunQ Stage lOWciue U
tree-fern and tangled tropical
greenery shot through with bursts of
color from f1ame-coloreG coral trees,
etc.. made this spectacle even tech
nicolor cameras couldn't reproduce
with punch Of original.
More than 500 plants and shrubs
replanted in 10 inches of soil {.
topper in eye appeal was 30-foot
waterfall of copper-sulphate blue,
which occupied one end of set .. {.
picture represented plenty more
tinkering with nature, indoors and
out for a short scene in which
Victor Mature, Jack Oakie and
George Barber sloShed SO feet
through tropic rainstorm, technical
crew worked four days arranging
overhead sprinklers. deadening
sound of rain by yards of excelsior.
fixing rainproof covering for all
equipment and like.
Featuring two luaus, or native
feasts, food was important prop ;. {.
6 whole roast pigs, II punches ba-
nanas, $50 bounds of poi, 10 dozen
pineapples, 100 pounds of fish among
items on fare extras ordered to
report without breakfast-so chow
stoking maneuvers would seem more
realistic.
Picture was dream boat for Betty,
only blond in cast of 300 dusky hula
dancers and atmosphere players E. {.
classical island hula takes hilarious
pushing around, being woven into
irish jig and exuberant mass rug
cutting finale This was twenty
second successive role in which Tom
Mitchell worked without once laying
comb or brush to his tousled hair.
"The Lady Has Plans"-Release
schedule plays strange prank on CO.
stars of this picture. Paulette
Goddard and Ray Milland previous
ly appeared together in Cecil B. De
Miles Reap the Wild Wind" but
delay in exhibition makes their first
last and vice versa. Even so,
Lady Has Plans" originally set for
December release, was held up when
war broke out changing inter-
national events neceSSltated retakeS
on important scenes.
Since story revolves around set Of
plans for adio-controlled torpedo,
drawn in invisible ink on back of
Margaret Hayes, spy, and later
faxed by Milland on Paulette'S back,
a complete, practical ink had to be
developed by chemists. it fades
out rapidly, but reappears when
treated with reagent. Consult
ing with Hays Office censors, it was
decided fifteenth vertebra was limit
to which feminine backs could be
exposed for plan n-drawing sequences
to keep within bounds of good
taste.
Complicated sequence was fake
suicide of Milland, whose body in
sisted on revolving away from cam
era while dangling from cell rope.
-. Series of trick knots and pads
had to be used to keep Ray from
strangling. Paulette's costume
for gymnasium scene was perhaps
most unglamorous of the year
oversize sweatshirt, shorts and gym
shoes, with towel around head. :. . =.
In several sequences Paulette wears
her own sable wrap and mink coat.
She rented them to the studio;
also a sapphire ring and clips. t.
A good businesswoman is Paulette.
X
mo Hands on the Clock"-Holly-
wood reaches everywhere for ticket
selling titles For this one it
went to mOrtuary shop on Sunset
boulevard ~. Above the entrance
to this establishment is large clock
minus hands :. . Producers william
Pine and William Thomas are senti-
mental souls . In this and four
previous partnership films they have
given jobs to dozen or more old
timers who haven't found the going
so lucrative in recent years.
Old-time high light here is James
Kirkwood, many years ago one of
the screens most personable and
popular leading men Later he
became expert director Then
tough luck hit him in large gobS &.