CINEMA NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 135, 19 March 1948, Page 5

CINEMA NEWS

(By “Spotlight”)

“VARIETY GIRL” Pity the poor property man when Spike. Jones and His Cily Slickers are assigned to a picture. When. Spike and crew checked in at Paramount for their featured musical production in “Variety Girl.” the band leader promptly went into a huddle with the property man on the set. Here is the list of props Spike needed: cupid out fit. with wings, how and arrows; canoe “bubble gum; canary on string (imitation); goldfish ; frog, arrow to he shot from harp ; parrot (imitation); seltzer bottles; player-piano music rolls and wigs. Spike’s Slickers, of course, also use musical instruments!

“THE COCKEYED MIRACLE” Should blonde Audrey Totter be a permanent brunette? Hair stylist, Sydney Guilaroff, is taking no sides in the issue, which developed when she donned dark coiffure for rival roles with a. blonde Lana Turner and golden-haired June Allyson in “The Postman Always Kings Twice” and “The Bailor Takes a. Wife.” In creating the latest Totter hair-do for “The Cockeyed Miracle,” Guilaroff straddled the fence neatly. Audrey’s hair in the new picture is neither dark nor light—it’s a shade which the famed Hollywood hair stylist labels “smoky topaz.”

A .surprise birthday party was given Audrey Totter on the set of “The Cockeyed Miracle.” In recent years Audrey’s hobby, has been collecting miniature elephants of which she has obtained one hundred. At her birthday party her collection grew to one hundred and fifty in Jess than ten minutes. Members of the cast and crew, hearing of her hobby, brought the actress elephants of all sizes, shapes and colours.

Keenan Wynn, who stars: in “The Cockeyed Miracle,” is building his own auto. The actor, who has owned practically every kind of speed machine from outboard motors to airplanes, is putting a Fugoni-Falaschi streamlined racing body on a. tortsonbar type frame. And be is powering the hybrid whole with a Cadillac tank engine!

Frank Morgan was the envy of his fellow players in “The Cockeyed Miracle,” because ho wore but one outfit in the entire picture and that one probably the most comfortable ever assigned to an actor. Keenan Wynn, dressed in a stiff-front shirt, high collar, tight pants and swallow-tail coat, and Audrey Totter, garbed in a closefitting corset and prim, full-length dress of 1910, turned green every time they looked at Morgan going through his scenes dressed in slacks, smoking jacket, carpet slippers and an open-necked shirt. “It’s no move than I deserve,” said Morgan. “After all, I’ve worn everything from a suit of armour to baby’s rompers in my forty odd years of show business.”

“THE ARNELO AFFAIR” “This is the kind of job I’ve wanted all my life!” exclaimed George Murphy after his first day of acting in “The ArneTo Affair.” Recently, Murphy arose at 5.00' a.m. at his Redondo Beach home, shaved, dressed and made the one-hour drive to the studio. He spent half an hour in the make-up department, changed into wardrobe, reported on the set promptly at 8.00. George stepped in front of the camera, took beautiful Frances Gifford, who was clad in a whistle-provoking negligee, in his arms and said, “Good morning, dear.” The director called “Cut.” Murphy left the stage, removed his make-up, changed his clothes, drove homo and was snoozing on the beach by 10.00. Total time at “work”:—ls seconds!

Credit George Murphy with the most novel way of beating the heat. On the sot of “The Arnelo Affair,” Murphy was doing a scene at a dinner table with beautiful. Frances Gifford and little Dean Stockwell. Although the temperature hovered around 90, George was attired in a dark blue business suit, with vest, high starched collar and tie. Still, he didn’t appear overly warm. The secret of his cool appearance was revealed only after the scene when he arose from the table. Although impeccably attired from the waist up, below he was wearing—a pair of swimming trunks!

NEWS FROM THE FILM CAPITAL HOLLYWOOD. March 1. Gene Tierney is living in an apartment in Ottawa, Canada, loaned to her by a fan, while on location for “The Iron Curtain.” The apartment is continually filled with flowers presented by oilier fans.

Butcli Jenkins has been added to the cast of “The Big City.” Butch and Margaret,, who are teamed for tlie second time in their respective careers, are a little worried about ■just one scene—the first screen kiss for both of them. w * * T U After a four weeks concert tour of Eastern and Northern American cities, Lanrilz Melchior lias returned to Hollywood. He reports to M.G.M. immediately to record several additional songs for “Luxury Liner.” leehnicolom - musical in which he stars with George Brent, Jane Powell, and Francis Gifford.

Following completion of negotiations between Louis P>. Mayer and A 1 Jolson, it is announced. Hint. M.fl.M will bring lo the screen a. sequel to ‘‘The Jolson Story.’’ which Edwin Knof will produce. Jolson will -work direcllv with Knof on an original storv based on further colourful and exciting incidents from Iris lift', and will he associated with him in all details of the preparation and filming of the production. In the.new story. Jolson will sing and record many of the songs he made far pons.