Evening star., 1944-05-01
BY HAROLD HEFFERNAN.
HOLLYWOOD.
narade

Celluloid parade:
Some 10000 feature pictures have
been produced by the film industry,
the records show, and now comes a |
|patient Paramount statistician with
the revelation that less than hum
dred of these have been released
with one-word titles.
A mere handful of movies have
been named for human emotions.
among them "love," hate" greed
and redemption" And right there
/ is where the Paramount checker
comes in-with the announcement
that now, for the first time, film
| is in preparation that will bear the
title of what most psychologists
agree is the most potent of all emo
tions-"fear." From here, those
four haunting letters look like real
box ONCE when spread over a
theater marquee.
The story is based on a novel by
Ethel Lima White, which hit the
bookstands as Her Heart in Her
Throat" The new title was chosen
because, throughout the tale, two
children and their pretty young
governess Gail RusselD are con-
slant victims of fear OF the un-
known.
Paramount and all other major
lots have been cashing in heavily
the past few months by soaring the
customers silly darkened theaters.
Fear" is just one more in the long
list to come
Judging by the advance furry,
Bing Crosby Productions, with the
famous moaner at its head, is to
bid strongly for a permanent place
in the production sun. There are
even rumors about that Bing may
soon give up some of his other ven-
lures - possibly movie acting - to
give more executive time to the
finn making venture.
Script has been completed on the
first Crosby effort, THE Great John
L." which undoubtedly will get
title change later. John L. Sui
livan was a spectacular fistic figure
in that colorful period at the turn
OF the century, and the material
holds rich promise for great film
entertainment.
Enrol Flynn's Gentleman Jim" of
year ago proved that. Introduce
tion of John L. Sullivan, played by
Ward Bond was the most fascinat-
ing phase of that film. No John l..
has yet been selected. The Aim is
due to start June /.
Geraldine Fitzgerald's stand-in
for Wilson" is one of the prettiest
girls in Hollywood, blond Marjorie
Cooley, who played the lead in THE
Great Commandment biblical
picture made on short budget
which played to big audience four
year ago. Nothing happened. but
Marjorie hasn't yet given up hopes
of a film career. I'm going to give
it just 10 more years." she said.
News in nibbles: Helene Nelson,
cousin of Veronica Lake, gets her
first film role in "A Wave, a WAC
and Marine" at Monogram. :.
Kent Taylor, favorite leading man
OF Is years ago, takes up romantic
lead again at the same studio for
Alaska" Jack London drama. Op-
posite him is another Comeback
Margaret Lindsay. Phil Baker,
after finishing his movie, will re-
turn to Broadway for rehearsals on
Napoleon Without Brandy" Bakers
old vaudeville partner, Sid Silvers,
will be starred with him. WAL
ter Wanger, who produced a sex
hygiene film, ITO the People of the
United States has issued a state
ment saying he will release the pic
ture In spite of vigorous protests
from the legion of decency. Wan
ger says he'll open it in New York
May l. :. Slim Summerville, slim
no longer, but tall, shunky indi-
vidual, has been signed to term
contract at R-K-O. He may be
teamed with Leon Enrol in COM
edies. . Joan Davis has cute
running gag in Eddie Cantor's
Show Business" Occasionally the
lanky comedienne looks out at the
audience, mods at Cantor and says
Il Love That Boy" Tag line at
ADJUSTMENTS.