Montgomery County sentinel., 1944-09-07

on the screen; has a long-term con-
tract with Universal-her latest pic.
ture is ''The Merry Monahans." She
sang for three years with the San
Carlos Opera company. Yet she
feels that she must work hard-to
get aheadl
They do say that Sweet and Low
Down" is q semi-biOgraphical story
Of Benny GoOdman's life. Whether
that's true or not, Il gives him q
chance he's never had before in
films; this time he makes his debut
as a dramatic actor and comedian.
-
Steve Cochran is stepping right
along in the path Travelled by Hum
phrey Bogart, Spencer Tracy. and
other stars whose screen wicked
ness paid handsome dividends. A
handsome six-footer, reared in Wy.
oming, he plays a gunman Of the
Broadway badlands in Samuel Gold
wyn's "The Wonder Man," starring
Danny Kaye. He was discovered
when he played in Without Love"
on the Los Angeles stage, with Con-
stance Bennett.
Kay Harding's first big role at
Universal is the romantic lead in
"The Mummy's Curse" but her
first arrival on the lot had nothing
to do with pictures. In those days
she was the helmswoman on a de-
livery wagon. "The Scarlet Claw"
started her on her way up.
-
Alexis Smith, who did so well un.
der Edmund Goulding's direction in
THE Constant Nymph," will work
with him again in the re-make Of
"Of Human Bondage" in which she
has the role of "Norah" The picture
features Paul Henreid, Janis Paige
and Eleanor Parker.
-
Victor Jory was all set to return
to acting before the movie cameras
a few weeks ago, when he was of.
fered the part of swashbuckling
adventurer on the Sunday afternoon
CHS show, Dangerously Yours
and liked the role so much that he s
renounced movies for the year to
come. He's already blossomed forth
as a radio matinee idol
-
Producer Lester Cowan has begun
to wonder II every man In the coun-
try-and some out Of it-want 10
play Ernie Pyle on the screen. Since
1t became known that Cowan Is look
ing for someone to portray the pop-
ular war correspondent In &c. 1.
Joe," more than $500 letters have
poured In from men who are sure
they resemble Pyle closely enough
to characterize him on the screen.
Ernie Pyle at present Is covering
the invasion Of France, sharing the
hardships as well as the compan.
ionship Of our lighting boys there.
-
The company Of players and tech.
nicians making objective, Burma
for Warner Bros. settled down to a
full night schedule for battle scenes
depicting the last ditch fight before
evacuation of Burma. They've been
on location for three months-a new
record for off-the-set shooting. Errol
Flynn heads the cast, which includes
George Tobias, Henry Hull and
James Brown in featured roles
-
Dick Brown. new singing star, will
tour the Purple Heart Circuit in
the East. Brown knows the value
of entertainment to wounded service
men, as he spent many months re.
covering in army hospitals after he
was injured in plane crash In the
South Pacific.
ODDS AND ENDS-Frank Sinatrt
auditiOned dozens Of girl singers be
fore he selected Eileen Barton to be hi.
first singing partner in his netc radio
program Parks (VOx POp) John
sons daughter, Mrs. WiLett, has named
his iitle granddaughter Louise John
son WitLett Gene KFupo and hi.
band have been signed tor a featured
spot in Georges Whites Scandals o.
1915" in RKO's "FGretoeu, NJ,
Lovely" Claire TreUO, commits nVt
more movie murders, her score is 88 q
date :. Frances Longford got Pernsis
siOn from Washington TO carry quite ,