Evening star., 1943-01-24
Studios Have Fun
With Themselves
In Gay ayLampoon
Sfar-Sbangied Rhythm
Leaves SensifiUities
OF Fec Untouched
HOLLYWOOD

HOLLYWOOD.
1t took broad and sporting sense
of humor on the part of Y. Frank
Freeman and B. G.. Buddy De
Sylvia, Paramount's chief executives,
to stand for Star Spangled
Rhythm"
The comedy was sneak -previewed
over the week end, unleashing what
is undoubtedly the most biting satire
ever dished out on Hollywood, its
big shots and its fabulous ways
Once in Lifetime" adapted from
the Broadway play, falls by the
lampooning wayside in comparison
to this one, which, significantly, was
100 per cent Hollywood inspired.
Walter Abel, who plays De sylvia
known in the film as B. G. De Sofa
makes him a villain and a dimwit
last word in luxurious inefflciency.
The touch of buttons and buzzers
unleashes the oldest imaginable
contraptions, including hidden
bar that plays music. De Sofa has
persecution complex and often yells,
II got enemies" His most dastardly
deed on the heavy side is an attempt
to break up benefit show by pre-
venting his actors from partici-
pating.
where's My Coke?"
Freeman, Psramount's vice presi-
dent and general manager, Is rep
resented by Southern dialect
speaking chap travelling as Y. Frank
Fremont. No punches are pulled
here either. Fremont, like Freeman,
greets every knotty studio problem
with call to his secretary for a
bottle of coke"
Cecil B. De Mile plays himself,
awe-inspiring and pompous in just
the manner fans have been led to
picture him. Also playing himself is
Director Writer Preston Sturges,
who has one grand comedy scene
when he storms out of conference,
kicks over cuspidor and screams,
I'm through-I'm going over to
MGM."
Hollywood has never before kidded
itself through an original story as
in "Star Spangled Rhythm" In the
past 1t has produced novels and
plays that have prodded movie
makers, such as Merton of the
Movies" boy Meets Girl" and
Once in a Lifetime" but these
were so popular as books and plays
that 1t was almost compulsory that
they be filmed.
Besides taking its place as one of
the funniest films produced this
/ year, Star Spangled Rhythm" shows
that Hollywood has grown up. The
once sensitive boys in front Offices
now can take it as we'll as dish it out.
Deanna Struggles Through.
Deanna Durbin wound up shoot
ing last week on the most linked
and prolonged movie of her career.
When Forever Yours" closed
down, its production chart showed
a total Of 1872 days work. The orig
inal schedule called for As days,
but directors had to be changed in
mldstream, the script revised on a
number of occasions and various
suostitutions made in the cast. When
Jean Renoir was relieved of direc-
ton after two months: the lob was
taken over by Bruce Manning, the
writer.
The picture will be released early
in January. which will make a full
year since Deanna has been on the
screen, After 1T Started With
Eve" she and Universal feuded
several months over contract differ
ences.
Both Barrels Ready.
Samuel Goldwyn is preparing to
launch one of his tempestuous per-
sonality buildups shortly to make
the lilmgoing world conscious OF
Lenore Aubert, beautiful brunei
from Yugoslavia.
Like Michele Morgan, the French
actress, Miss Aubert pronounced
Oll-Dd4SJ luAlItu llSTSelI OUT Oh
France just in time to escape
Hitler's goose-steppers GoldWyn s
photographers claim she is the most
charming subject they've shot since
the days of Wilma Banky, which is
loud praise, indeed.
The AubeTt debut will be noted
briefly but nevertheless impressive
", in They Got Me Covered" with
Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour.
Lunch On The House.
Columbia studio ian up against
little unexpected expense last
week in connection with filming
Destroyer" starring Edward G
Robinson. Some $50 extras repre-.
sent United States sailors on thi,
set. They dare not leave the studio
grounds for lunch.
An assistant director bellows ovel
loud-speaker just before the com.
y1or7u hrnate of vano,o IVA, eoi1ar,