The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-24
M - Hollywood
By ERSKINE JOHNSON NEA Stan COFrespOndent

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 When Harry James wound up his record breaking, seven-shows-a-day engagement at the Paramount the- ater in New York last spring, he said he was going to Hollywood where he could lead an easy life Judging from the last 10 days. he made quite mistake. He completed work on two M-G-M films, broadcast l2 times, played four one-night stands in Fresno, San Francisco, San Ber- nardino and Balboa, did two benefits, gave noontime concerts at Douglas, Lockheed and Northrup aircraft plants, and put in 25 hours of re- hearsals. Easy life?
 Although Joan Fontaine has been mentioned, Maureen O'Hara has the inside track on Victoria Grandolet." !" The script won't be completed until after she has her baby.
 Ann Dvorak is stalling off film offers until next month. She's still recuperating from the three har- rowing years she spent in England.
 You'll soon be humming the tunes Harold Adamson and Jimmy Mc- Hugh wrote for Frank Sinatra in Higher and Higher" T Couldn't Sleep Wink Last Night" and "The Music Stopped" are Hit Parade can didates.
 Brian DOnlevy has never been regarded as the romantic type by Hollywood film makers. Yet the other day in New York, three gals tried to kiss him in a hotel lobby, he received 16 mash notes and at a night club an excited school girl got away with his necktie. May be- he says, "they think I'm healthy Frank Sinatra."
 You'll be reading an amusing foreword soon to Deanna Durbin's new film, His Buffers Sister" It reads: "The food, drinks, clothes, shoes, rubber gasoline and other ar- ticles consumed or used in this pie true are purely imaginary and have no relation to any actual food, drinks, clothes, shoes, rubber, gaso- line and other articles of today, ra- toned and unrationed. Any resem- blance is purely accidental" HOME TEAM
 Rita Hayworth and hubby Orson WelleS may be starred in a new Col umbia film. At least studio execu- tives are dreaming about the idea Which reminds us. At the Hol- lywood premeire of Lady in the Dark" the theater will hire dream analysis expert for side-show in the lobby. Well, the publicity boys can dream, too, can't they?
 Sheldon Leonard is the latest movie villain turning hearts and flowers. Goes romantic opposite June Havoc in Climber Queen.'
 And Songwriter Harry Rcvel has turned producer for PRC saga of minstrel shows, "The Minstrel Man."
 Pual Muni, who rarely tells anec- dotes, brought this one to the set of "At Night We Dream" the other day. The British author, Cecil Rob- erts, was being heckled during a lec- ture by couple of jerks, each of whom he squelched beautifully.
 Finally one shouted, Why don't you stop giving us that Limey &C., cent?"
 Sir" replied the Englishman, gently, T speak with the same &C., cent as Montgomery's Eighth Army" CARTOON COMPOTEs
 Technicolor clips showing the highlights of Hollywood which cost David Selznick plenty of 5 when used in "A Star Is Born,' will be in- cluded in new "Merrie Melodie" cartoon, What's Cookin' Doc?" travesty on Academy Award proceed ure. Oddly enough, the cartoon will be entered in the Academy Award competition this year.
 "Guadalcanal Diary" brought Lloyd Nolan a new Fox contract and also opens up the good chance that he'll get the choic, Johnny Nolan role in "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" Every actor in town is after the part.
 Promised and hoped for: George Sanders singing love song to Vir- gi1.ia Bruce in International Zone" up