Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1943-05-21

technicians who are serving with
regular peacetime specialties-at
They're not kicking. Neither
clans, cartoonists, film editors who
know they're next. They want to
serve where they'll do the most
good. Studios, however, are pre-
pairing deferment demands cover
ing every department of produc-
tion.
About the army studios. One is
the Signal Corps studio, which used
to be the Hal Roach lot, sacred to
Laurel and Hardy and Our Gang
comedies. The other is the Army
Special Service studio, the original
Fox lot but for years used only
for production overflow.
Special Service production is
commanded by Lt.-Col. Frank Ca
pra, who has just been cited by the
President for genius and compe-
tence on the strength of his army
orientation pictures on the events
leading to our entry into the war.
What! Frank Capra for Free?
One of Capra's PICTURES, prelude
to War;" is being released to the
general public. This was agreed to,
however, only after weeks of de-
bate between the army and OWL,
with the opposition backed We
hemently from within the film in
dustry.
The industry's real objection
was to furnishing to theatres free
of charge a picture made by top
boxoffice director, the man who
made "Mr. Smith Goes to Washing
ton," and "Mr. Deeds Goes to
Town"
Naturally, the real objection was
not voiced. The reasons advanced
for opposing the release of a
Capra U. S. Army production were:
.--xstudio properties had been fur
Ia for army pictures without
skit on the understanding that
they would be shown only in the
army, and (2) the public is getting
fed up with war pictures and "Pre-
lude to War" might be the last
straw.
Mickey MOusers in Uniform, Too
Each army studio has its ami
mated cartoon unit. Graphic ami
nation is being combined with live
action to an increasing extent in
training and morale films. The Sig
nal Corps cartoon unit has about
20 animators, former artists for
Disney, Schlesinger, Screen Gems.
What the regular cartoon studios
have that the army hasn't is girl
artists. There are more women
than men cartoonists, because all
the detail linking and painting is en-
trusted to them.
The army is restoring the bal
ance, however, by calling on the
WAAC to round up former mixers
and painters and assign them to
the Signal Corps. The first dozen
are due to report as this is written.
COMPETITION. goth Century,
Fox wants to film a book written
by the chairman of its board, but
other companies are bidding ag-
gressively. MGM's chances look
good with a 100000 offer and
supposed Republican party pres
sure. The book is One World, by
Wendell L. Willkie.
APPEASEMENT? Possibly hop
ing labor will drop its protests at
the screen glamorizing Of Ricken-
hacker, 20-Fox promises big pic
ture next season dealing with la
boris contribution to the war ef-
fort. 1t would be about workers
family and touch on "every phase
of the labor movement"
STIPULATION. Movie contracts
with minors have to be approved
by superior court. The courts is in
sisting that each young player,
aged 16 or 6, buy war bonds as
contract condition.
EXAMINATIONS. 1t can he said
who won't play Will Rogers in the
projected Warner picture. 1t won't
be Bing Crosby and it won't be Bill
Rogers, Jr. Other possibilities are
being sought by Mark Hellinger,
the ex-Broadway columnist who
will produce the picture about the
roUhov coIun1nist