Evening star., 1945-12-16
Remakes, but You Won't Recognize Them
By Harold Hefernan
HOLLYWOOD

q AVW a6y6 68O Ny w ~ AVA SAOCs tAAUsi
a remake Of that famous old tear
jerker, "IIumoresque," was in the
cards for 1916, folks began to wonder
If Hollywood was absolutely out of
its mind. It was plain, unadulterat-
ed corn when first filmed in 1920
as contribution to the cycle for
weeping, wailing mothers whose
children had done them wrong-so
how could 1t fit into the movie mode
of modern times?
Well, Warmers say they have an
answer, with a complete change OF
story and a script that will bear no
relationship to the old lady's antics
Of 25 years ago-and that's the
way it is today with every major
studio in town. On all sides produc-
ton plans indicate that the remake
with an unrecognizable twist OF
story-will be very much in evl-
dence throughout the coming year.
Most significant OF all Is the man
ner in which Bob Hope is doing
Monsieur Beaucaire." for Para
mount. Any resemblance between
Hope and the late Rudolph Valen-
tino in this project is guaranteed by
that studio to be not only coinclden-
tai but also unimaginable.
Booth Tarkington's story OF 18TH
Century France, which starred VAL
entino in 1924, is one Of score OF
big remakes on Hollywood's coming
current and near-future schedule.
Because of the reverence in which
the Great Lover was and is still
held by millions Of fans, the modern
"Beaucaire" Is causing Paramount
more worry than anything it has
done in years.
Valentino Films Are Ticklish.
l Doing any remake for that matter
is not the simple matter Of busting
|. off story, as most fans believe, and
setting it before the cameras. On
the contrary, these revised films
! have given studios torment that
:. new ones couldn't possibly duplicate,
Refining Valentino pictures is
a considered an especially ticklish
4 business, because most of his stories
S were written specifically for his per-
: sonality and are difficult to recon
{ vert for modern stars, and also be.
e cause of the lingering loyalty anc
lengthy memory of his constituent:
u nearly 20 years after his death.
= If you ask Paul Jones, producel
IS of the present Hope picture, mos
e Of those fans have written to ex
q press their varying opinions O.
IS Paramounts temerity at starring
Hope in a Valentino film. Jone
u hastens to explain to all that 1t /
y not the studios intention to max
" Hope the matinee idol of the 4os
" A notion that Hope would b
:. funny in knee breeches and pow
n dered wig originally stimulated tn
u remake of "Beaucaire When tn
n writer's screened the old Valentin
Is film they decided they could sal
10 wage little besides the title, perlo
l. and locale. Tarkingtons origina
n character was a dashing Frenchmal
S; of royal blood who posed as bar
n Der to avoid a marriage of state
s. After long conferences, a complet
rewrite now casts Hope as barbe
is who poses as a duke, thus retain
le ing the authors mixed identit
le theme for purposes OF situate
III comedy.
Il "Of Human Bondage" Watched.
to Only one other Valentino stor
ID Blood and Sand" has been RI
rt made, the 1922 production beir
SIS modernized and reshaped by 20tt
e. Fox to fit Tyrone Power in 1874
ic This one followed the original a b
tn too closely, and although it mac
be considerable money, the Valentir
adherents howled their disapprovs
nd maintaining the memory OF the
IS idol had been profaned.
ng Studios are keeping quizzical e,
s. on Warmers forthcoming remake
n Somerset Maughams "Of Huma
e Bondage" the drama that made
IS; star of Bette Davis in 1884 aft
lie, Universal had given her up as
n hopeless prospect. Young Elean
a Parker gets a real test as Millie
ed the new version, while Paul Hel
lck reid has the role played in Il
he original by the late Leslie Howal
I'm One of the sturdiest properties
nd Owen Wister's The Virginian.h I'll
'of, filmed with Dustin Farnum in 19
ez. and again with Gary Cooper in 10:
his 1t has been made third time,
ael new advantages being Joel Nicer