Evening star., 1944-02-15
They Won't Pan
Story Content
OF the 'Follies'
BY HAROLD HEFFERNAN,
YY~y vyvrY~~~

41ob1x VNOoO.
Anoble experiment, on $4,000, ,00C
scale, Is about to get under way at
MGM when "Ziegfeld Follies" goes
before the cameras. This will mark
the first time Hollywood has at
tempted to film big musical revue
without an effort at story.
Although many times you'd never
guess it, story is supposed to be the
first consideration in plotting a
movie. ''ziegfeld Follies" will be a
succession of blackouts, dance revues
and comedy interludes, interspersed
with what the composers hope will
be half a dozen or more hit tunes.
Only actor who'll last all the way
through the picture is Fred Astaire
who is slated for more dance special
ties than he's ever done before on
celluloid. OF course, no MGM musi-
cal could be considered complete
without Mickey Rooney and Judy
Garland, so there'll be at least a
few flashes of these whooper-uppers
in action.
And for once the director will be
subordinate. At least eight fellows
who know all about dancing will
handle that phase of production, led
by Robert Alton. Broadway expert
who fashioned many of the Ziegfeld
shows.
Proud papa note: A childish voice
answered the phone at Fred Astaire S
residence when Connie Krebs, RKO
publicity man. called Fred the other
day on a matter of studio business.
Fred was out, but the youngster took
the message like an old-timer.
Later, when Fred called back, Krebs
complimented him on having such
an intelligent and pleasant boy
around to answer the phone.
why, that was my son, Fred, jr,'
explained the pleased papa. He
sure can play the piano, too. Wait
a minute, I want you to listen in
Whereupon, Fred dragged the phone
some place-and Krebs was enter
tanned for several minutes with
some of the snappiest boggie- woggie
he'd ever heard.
And he's only 9 years DID," said
Fred, ST., resuming the conversation
Sonny Tufts, Paramount's latest
hero flash, is an unfortunate young
man in that he came into proini-
nence at a time when salaries are
frozen for the duration. Sonny is
probably the most underpaid star
in Hollywood and It's a condition he
and his employers can't whip.
However, Sonny is a flend for gin
rummy-and he doesn't like to play
for fun. He met this grave eco
nomic situation nobly. In possession
of one of the finest necktie collec-
tions in Hollywood, Sonny brings a
few choice numbers to the studio
daily and stakes them in lieu OF
cash.
P. S. Sonny is no demon al
gin: his tie rack is beginning to look
pretty slim.
X X
Close-ups: "A Midsummer Nights
Dream is being revived around the
country, with Mickey Rooney getting
top billing, along with Jimmy Gag
ney. When it was first released
Rooney's name was at the bottom
of the list . Now that clocks are
priceless items, MGM has decided
to f1lm Paul Gallico's The Clock.
which has been on the shelf several
years. The whole yarn unfolds
under the clock in New York's
Grand Central Station in a period
of "a hours-with a boy meets -girl
theme Gene Tierney's baby
Antoinette, born October Is, now
weighs pounds and is out of the
hospital. Gene is due back for an
other picture start March l.
Here's real romance: Peverel
Marley gives Linda Darnell "a book
Of poetry each month on the ami
yersary Of their marriage.
tRelcased by the North American