Evening star., 1948-06-23
Hollywood:
Studio May Not
Want Rhonda,
But Bine Does
By SheIioh Grohom

When Bing Crosby heard that
Rhonda Fleming, his leading lady in
Connecticut Yankee" had not been
reoptioned at Paramount through
an oversight at the studio, he called
her from the East and said, How
about my option? Let's pick that
up right now" So Bing, who Is very
smart for all his vagueness, now
has Miss Fleming under personal
contract for three more movies.
Errol Flynn and Arthur Rank
have called of their plan to make
adventure movies in Jamaica. Enrol
was all set to sign the profit-sharing
deal, when he suddenly asked for
the Rank theater in Jamaica as
sort of a PREFECTURE bonus. Rank
very politely withdrew.
Yvonne De Carlo, In agony with
q pinched nerve in her neck, tells
me on the set of 'Criss Cross" that
her next picture at Universal-Inter-
national will be Calamity Jane"
This probably will be made before
Annie Get Your Cum" and it's
direct competition.
Donna Reed is proudly driving
and owning the big gray car in
which President Truman drove
through the streets of Los Angeles
during his brief visit here. Donna s
husband, Tony Owen. had ordered
it for his third wedding anniversary
present to Donna, months ago.
When he went to get it, he was
asked to loan it for the Presidents s
ride-now Donna finally has it.
X
Claudette Colbert is a cinch to
play the lead in MY Dear Sister-in-
Law" which Fred M. Packard will
make as his second production. The
first one, an untitled comedy, prob
ably will star Robert Cummings. Mr..
Packard, who is Mr.. Ranks ex-
tremely capable son-in-law, has all
the major companies in Hollywood
beating a path to his door, because
all the pictures he produces have a
guaranteed release with the Rank
chain of the theaters in Europe and
Great Britain.
Ronald Reagan, president of the
Screen Actors Guild, tells me. in
reply to my query, I'VE are going to
do everything we can to avert an
actors strike in Hollywood. 1t will
be very awful if the producers allow
1t to take place"
Sonia Henie found some unex-
pected loot at the end of her sue
cessful party. STU Barthelmess lost
his identification bracelet" Sonia
tells me. She found it and gave it
back to him. (Stu. son of old-time
star Richard, simply was crazy
about Sonia a few months back and
wanted to marry herr And Mrs.
Jules Stein lost a diamond brooch, -
continues Sonia. which she also
found and is holding for Doris, who
now is on her way to Europe.
Douglas Fairbanks is the Holly
wood star who has been chosen to
raise about $45, 900 to help send our
athletes to the Olympic games. Doug
is the boy who can do it. He has a
very persuasive way with a dollar.
Larry Parks will break in a new
play, "A Free Hand" in eastern
stock starting July II. The play is
by Mel Frank and Norman Panama
who wrote "Mr. Blandings Builds
His Dream House"
X
Rosalind Russells mate, Producer
Freddie Brisson, Is threatening to
return here from Sweden, with a
male Greta Garbo" He needs the
boy to play his father Carl Brisson,
In Carl's movie autobiography,
without Makeup" which his and
Roz's company is producing The
boy will have to be good looking
because Carl is one of the hand
soonest men I ever have met
CReleased by North American Newspaper
Alliance, IncD