March 9, 1944

HOLLYWOOD, March 8 — “Mildred Pearce,” all renovated, streamlined and with a snow white bill of health, has so pleased Joan Crawford that she has consented to make it for Warners. Now, here is the inside of the “Never Goodbye” story which Eddie Goulding has been whipping into shape for months: Joan was perfectly willing to make the picture and Warners wanted her, but when it was finally written the man’s part turned out to be the lead. Walter Huston was engaged and Joan agreed with the studio that it was not her “dish of tea.” So now that’s that. While I cannot say that Eddie, whose ideas are so numerous, may again rewrite it, so far it’s a starring vehicle for Huston.

From the Milwaukee Sentinel.

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March 8, 1944

HOLLYWOOD, March 7 — Just heard that Ruth Gordon’s sprightly comedy “Over Twenty-One” has been bought for Irene Dunne. As you may have guessed, Columbia paid a pretty price for the privilege of filming Ruth’s play, which is playing nightly to a packed house on Broadway. There is a touch of Hollywood in this wartime comedy, which is as timely as your morning newspaper.

Irene told me she hasn’t read nor seen the play but had been told Columbia bought it. I suggest she go to New York and see it. On the other hand, her own conception of the wartime bride might be even better.

From the Milwaukee Sentinel.

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March 5, 1944

Louella Parsons take a look at Darryl Zanuck’s personal interest in making “The Purple Heart”:

Those who are close to Darryl know that he spent many a sleepless night worrying because he had gambled $1 million of the company’s money on this picture. He, himself, under the name of Melville Crossman, had written the original story and it was his baby. So you can imagine his reaction when he learned that not only could he release the picture at once but that he had one of the biggest movie scoops in the history of pictures.

From the Milwaukee Sentinel.

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March 4, 1944

June Preisser and her good looking husband, Dick Terry, came to see me the other day. Never in all the years I have known Junie has she looked so well. The girl whose acrobatic dancing was a sensation every time she appeared on the stage has grown up. She has a new poise, a new dignity and a sophistication that becomes her.

I wondered why the little Preisser hadn’t been signed by some film company. Today I learned that matter had been taken care of by Universal. She’ll make two pictures there, and her first will be a chiller diller mystery drama, “Murder in the Blue Room.”

Anne Shirley is now Fred De Cordova’s heartbeat. He is the Warner director. Scholem Asch, author of “The Apostle,” a best seller, has come to Hollywood to live. Lt. Bill Holden has gone back to Fort Worth, leaving his wife, Brenda Marshall, very ill with flu; Dana Andrews received word that after May 16 he’s 1-A.  The famous sleeping bag used in “For Whom the Bell Tolls” will be brought out for “Practically Yours.” This time it will be used by Fred MacMurray and his dog.

From the Milwaukee Sentinel.

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